Psalms 15

The occasion and time of Composing this Psalm is uncertain: but the Scope of it is plain, which is to give the Character of an holy and happy Man, and to describe the way to true Blessedness. Wherein this is observable, that he is wholly silent as to the Ceremonial or Ritual Observations of the Law, not that he does disown them, or allow the neglect of them, as is manifest from David's constant Practice, and from many other passages, but that he might undeceive the Hypocritical Israelites, who laid too great a stress upon those things, as if the diligent performance thereof would excuse their wicked Lives, which Error almost all the Prophets do observe and Condemn in them, and that he might inform the Church of that, and all succeeding Ages; that the substance of Religion did consist in the Practice of true Holiness and Righteousness.

LORD O thou who art the soveraign Lord of this holy Hill and Tabernacle, to whom it belongs to give Laws to it, and to admit or reject Persons, as thou seest fit, I beg of thee the resolution of this important question. And he proposeth this question to God that the Answer coming from him, may have the greater Authority and influence upon mens Consciences., who shall abide Heb. sojourn, to wit, so as to dwell, as it is explained in the next clause. Unless this clause be meant of sojourning in the Church here, and the next of dwelling in Heaven hereafter. Who shall enter thither and abide there, with thy good leave and liking. in thy tabernacle? (i. e.) In thy Church, either 1. Militant. Who is a true and will be a persevering Member of this Church? Or, 2. Triumphant, or in Heaven; which is called the true Tabernacle not made with mans... ands Heb. 8. 2. and 9. 11. Revel. 21. 3. who shall dwell in thy holy hill To wit, of Zion, so called Psal 2. 6. which is oft put for the Church and for Heaven. Who shall so dwell in thy Church here, as to dwell with thee for ever hereafter in Heaven.?

He that walketh uprightly Or presently, or sincerely, without guile or Hypocrisie, Loving, Worshiping and serving God, and loving his Neighbour not in word and show only, but in truth and reality, and this constantly, and in the whole course of his Life, as walking implies., and worketh righteousness Maketh it his work and business to do justly, (i. e.) to give to every one his due, first to God, and then to men; for the words are general, and not restrained to either., and speaketh the truth in his heart His words and professions to God and men, agree with and proceed from the thoughts and purposes of his Heart.?

He that back-biteth not with his tongue He does not take away or diminish his Neighbours good name either by denying him his due praises, or by laying any thing to his Charge falsely or without sufficient cause and Evidence., nor doeth evil (i. e.) Any hurt or injury. to his neighbour (i. e.) To any man; as is evident, 1. from the Nature of this precept which reacheth to all, it being plain and certain, that both by Laws of Nature and of Moses, it was not lawful to do evil to any man, except where God the Soveraign commanded it, as he did to the Canaanites and Amalekites. 2. From the Scripture usage of this word Neighbour, which frequently signifies every man, though a stranger or an heathen, as appears from Gen. 29. 4. Exod. 20. 16, 17. Levit. 18. 20. and 19. 15, &c. Prov. 25. 8, 9. Luk. 10. 29, &c. Mat. 5. 43, 44. And he useth this word, Neighbour, because he who is strictly so is most within our reach, and most liable to the injuries which one man does to another., nor taketh up To wit into his Lips or Mouth, which is understood here, as also Exod. 20. 7. Iob 4. 2. and fully expressed: Psal. 16. 4. and 50. 16. (i. e.) Does not raise it, though that may seem to be included in the first Clause, that Back-biteth not: Or, does not spread and propagate it; which men are too prone and ready to do; and which makes that a publick, which before was but a private injury and mischief. Or, nor taketh or receiveth, (i. e.) Entertaineth it cheerfully and greedily, as men usually do such things, and easily believeth it without sufficient reason. See Exod. 23. 1. Levit. 19. 1.... Or, nor beareth or endureth, as this phrase signifies, Psal. 69. 7. Ezek. 36. 15. He does not suffer another to defame him without some rebuke or signification of his dislike, Prov. 25. 23. a reproach against his neighbour.

In whose eyes (i. e.) In whose Judgment and Estimation. a vile person (i. e.) One who deserves Contempt, an ungodly or wicked Man, as appears from the next clause: where he that feareth God is opposed to him. is contemned Or, despised, notwithstanding all his Wealth and Glory, and Greatness. He does not admire his Person, nor envy his Condition, nor court him with flatteries, nor value his Company and Conversation, nor approve of or comply with his Courses, but he thinks meanly of him, he judgeth him a most miserable man, and a great object of Pity, he abhors his wicked practices, and labours to make such ways Contemptible and hateful to all men, as far as it lyes in his power. But this contempt of wicked men must be so managed as not to cause a contempt of just Authority, which if it be lodged in a wicked hand, does Challenge not only Obedience, but also Honour and Reverence; as is manifest from the Precepts and Examples of Christ and of his Apostles, who charge this upon the Christians, every where, although the Magistrates of those times were unquestionably, vile and wicked men. See Act. 23. 5. Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 13, &c.; but he honoureth (i. e.) He highly esteemeth and heartily loveth them, and shows great respect and kindness to them, though they be mean and obscure as to their wordly Condition, and though they may differ from him in some Opinions or practices of lesser moment. them that fear the LORD: he that sweareth To wit, a promissory Oath, engaging himself by solemn Oath, to do something which may be beneficial to his Neighbour. to his own hurt (i. e.) To his own damage or prejudice. As if a man solemnly swear by the name of the great God, that he will sell him such an Estate at a price below the full worth; Or that, he will give a poor man such a Sum of Mony, which when afterwards he comes to review and Consider, he finds it very inconvenient and burdensom to him, where he is tempted to break his Oath., and changeth not? s To wit, his purpose or Course, but continues firm and resolved to perform his promise, and Sacrificeth his interest and profit to his Conscience, and the Reverence of God and of an Oath. See Ezek. 17, 18, 19.

He that putteth not out his money to usury In such manner as is contrary to Gods law: Of which see in, Exod. 22. 25. Levit. 25, 36, 37. or taketh reward Or, a bribe from him who has a bad cause; that he may either condemn the innocent or acquit the guilty: Both which God abhorreth. against the innocent. He that does these things Here enumerated, and such things as naturally and necessarily flow from them, or are a kin to them, and joyned with them., shall never be moved He shall constantly persevere in Gods Church here, and though he may be shaken, and stagger and fall, yet he shall never wholly and finally be removed or fall away from it, nor from that happiness, which was proposed and promised to him, but shall abide with God here, and go to him when he dies and be for ever with the Lord..