Psalms 12

They say, they give God their hearts; but let the Devil take possession of their tongues. (Psalm 12:4) Our lips are our own, who is Lord over us? Who has anything to do with our words?

1. He is holy in his nature; his very being is made up of holiness, as light is of the essence of the sun. 2. He is holy in his Word; the Word bears a stamp of his holiness upon it, as the wax bears an impression of the seal (Psalm 119:140): "Your word is very pure;" it is compa…

It is for the matter of it so full of goodness, justice, and sanctity, that it could be breathed from none but God: the holiness of it shows it to be of God, it bears his very image. The Scripture is compared to silver refined seven times (Psalm 12:6). This book of God has no er…

The Apostle says, All Scripture is of divine inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16). God's Word is compared to a lamp, for its enlightening quality (Psalm 119:105), and to silver refined, for its enriching quality (Psalm 12:6). Among other parts of sacred writ, this in the text is not the…

2. The exactness of this prayer appears in the excellency of the matter. I may say of this prayer, it is as silver tried in a furnace, purified seven times (Psalm 12:6). Never was there prayer so admirably and curiously composed as this.

Clamitat in Coelum vox Sanguinis — there are three sins in Scripture said to cry. (1.) Oppression (Psalm 12:5). (2.) Sodomy (Genesis 18:21).

1. The word "men" is used for Adam, and all his sons (Hebrews 9:27). (2.) Often in the fullest sense, not regenerated, nor wholly reprobated, are called men (Job 11:11, 12; Psalm 12:1; and 4:2; and 53:2). (3) Believers are called men (Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 3:21, 22).

Then we have not Christ for our Governor, we do not put the government of our thoughts, and actions upon his shoulders, and are not in subjection to him, but cast his cords from us (Psalm 2:3), and say we will not have this man to reign over us (Luke 19:22). What, are not our th…

1. God is a governor, as well as a benefactor; and must be respected in both relations; and therefore we must not only desire and wait for his benefits, but submit to his government; his government is seen in his laws, and providence. In his laws he appoints our duty, in his pro…

More plainly, in a lie there be 4 things: the first is, to avouch and affirm that which is false. The second is to speak with a double heart (Psalm 12:2), that is to speak against knowledge, and conscience, as when a man says that is true which he knows to be false, or that is f…

As in Zechariah he witnesses, that as often as his children are oppressed by any, they even touch the apple of his eye (Zechariah 2:8). He sees the tears and hears the groans of the afflicted which call upon him (Psalm 12:5, Psalm 38:9, Psalm 102:20). And however this always com…

Where it follows, that God speaks in righteousness, it serves as an exposition: as if he should say; My word by which I seek to draw the saints to me, was never yet tainted with any untruth, but contains things that are altogether righteous (Psalm 19:9). The words of the Lord, s…

What is here said with a special reference to riches, may be properly extended to every other description of vice. As God pronounces everywhere such commendations of sincerity, and hates a double heart, (1 Chronicles 12:33; Psalm 12:2,) all are deceived, who imagine that he will…

That an estate of bondage is a miserable restless estate. There the prisoners rest together; captives and bondmen have little rest until they rest in the grave: the language of prisoners is a sorrowful language; their speech is sighs (Psalm 79:11): "Let the sighing of the prison…

Secondly, there is a sinful flattering of others; and that, either by an immoderate extolling of their virtues; or what is worse, by a wicked commendation even of their very vices. This is a sin most odious to God, who has threatened to cut off all flattering lips (Psalms 12:2).…

Truth is pure (Psalm 119:140). It is compared to silver refined seven times (Psalm 12:6). There is not the least spot on truth's face, it breathes nothing but sanctity.

May it not satisfy us, that by our meekness and quietness under reproaches, we engage God for us, who has promised, that he will with righteousness judge the poor, the poor in spirit, and will reprove with equity for the meek of the earth (Isaiah 11:4)? He that has bid us to ope…

The power of religion is not only disliked and denied, but contradicted and condemned by those that rest in the form. They that call the evil, good, will call the good, evil (Isaiah 5:20); and it is not strange if they, who abandon themselves to work all uncleanness with greedin…

The sixth particular, in having God to be their portion, is the Rest that the foul has in God: The term of all motion is rest, every thing that moves, moves that it may have rest: Now here in this world the creature is altogether in motion, and especially man, because he is not…

He has such an absolute right, that you can call nothing your own. We think indeed, our lips are our own (Psalm 12:4), and our estates our own: as Nabal (1 Samuel 25:11), Shall I take my bread, and my water, and my flesh? All you have, it belongs to this king, by right of creati…

They do but no, as Plutarch said of Alcibiades. Their Lips do not drop as an Honey-comb, but run as a Spout; their speaking is Just like a Childs scribling, Psalm 12:2. They speak Vanity every one with his Neighbor.

And indeed we often see by God's just judgment that wicked men gain dominion over the good, and that on account of the iniquity of the ungodly the good are afflicted by them. An example of this is conspicuous in Job, and well known is the complaint of the prophet David in Psalm…

Your whole is God's, your spirit, your body, and every part; your wit, strength, hand, tongue, is all God's, and therefore he expects to be glorified by your tongue. They were rebels that said, (Psalm 12:4): Our lips are our own, who is Lord over us? There is nothing we have tha…

Now in our words we are said to lie two ways, assertorily or promissorily. (1.) Assertorily in a matter past or present, when one speaks that as false which he knows to be true; and that as true which he knows to be false; which is called speaking with a double heart in Scriptur…

Aristotle makes it the property of a servant to be one that cannot live as he would, that has no will of his own, but has given up himself to be commanded and directed by another, and sometimes contrary to his own inclination. They are rebels and not servants that said, our tong…

As Pharaoh said (Exodus 5:2), Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice? Or those rebels (Psalm 12:4), Our tongues are our own, who is Lord over us? We will speak and think and do what we please, and own no law but our own lusts.

See an instance in the wicked, whose ungodliness and rebellion against God comes from looking upon themselves as [reconstructed: their] own. (Psalm 12:21) "Who have said with our tongues will we prevail, our lips are our own, who is Lord over us." Their time their own, wealth th…

1. An acknowledgment of the debt, that man being God's creature is obliged to serve him; as he was not made by himself, so not for himself; and should no more cease from intending God as an end, than he can cease from depending on God as a principle. Now it is long ere we are br…

Would not have their lazy course upbraided and disgraced, by the seriousness and strictness of others: they malign what they cannot imitate. And it is carried on by their pride, or abuse of power: God counts it pride (Psalm 12:5): For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing…

A winnowing storm may be sent to this purpose; we think our faith and resolution strong, now God will try how we can stand alone. And partly to drive us to God — with you the fatherless find mercy (Hosea 14:3); (Psalm 60:11): Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of ma…

As I have endeavored before to clear the heart, so now to clear and cleanse the mouth, that as there might not be an evil thought in that, so not an evil word in this: persons too many are apt to think that words are but wind, things that they shall not account for, and therefor…

(1) It deposes the sovereignty of God, as much as in it lies; it will not that the King of Kings should be on the throne, and govern this world which he has made: it was by this instinct that Pharaoh said, who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know no…

I know not the Lord, nor will I let Israel go (Exodus 5:2). In the time of their prosperity see how the Jews turn their backs and shake off the authority of the Lord: we are Lords (say [illegible]) we will come no more at you (Jeremiah 2:31), and our tongues are our own — who sh…

Second characteristic: the sincere Christian serves God with the whole heart (Psalm 119:2). Hypocrites have a double heart (Psalm 12:2) — a heart for God and a heart for sin (Hosea 10:2). Their heart is divided.

It is a childish thing, as I said before, to restrict this to particular doings, whereas Christ speaks without exception, that not a sparrow of never so small a price does fall to the ground without the will of his Father (Matthew 10:29). Surely if the flying of birds be ruled b…

And Virtus sola & unica Nobilitas: virtue is the only true nobility. And the Scripture tells us, that the vilest men are exalted (Psalm 12:8), and that the most high rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men (Daniel 4:17)…

What makes them to cry out, Holy, holy, holy, etc.? Why, the prophet was now to be sent about this very business we have now in hand, he was to go to the people (verses 9, 10, 11), to make their hearts fat, and their ears heavy, lest they should be converted: God is proclaimed t…

Therefore, try and you may know whether ever the law had any kind of working upon your spirits or not. If we be such as stand upon our own freedom — "our tongues are our own and we will speak" (Psalms 12:4) — and we break the bonds and cast the cords from us (Psalms 2:2-3), if w…