Psalms 15

Pythagoras being asked what made men like God? answered, Cum vera loquuntur, when they speak truth. It is the note of a man that shall go to heaven (Psalm 15:2). He speaks the truth from his heart.

And as it is a sin against this commandment to raise a false report of another, so it is a sin to receive a false report before we have examined it. Lord, who shall dwell in your holy hill? Quis ad Coelum? (Psalm 15:1). He that backbites not, nor takes up a reproach against his…

Whatever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them. First, take heed of a deceitful tongue in selling: The Scripture makes it the character of one that goes to Heaven (Psalm 15:2). He speaks the truth from his heart.

But that Condition God would have concealed, because it would not have been for the good of the Ninevites to have known it; since the concealing of it caused them more speedily, and earnestly to repent. But out of these cases, a man (being called to speak) must declare the whole…

Men are deceived that let their children be the devil's slaves here, and think to have them free in heaven; let us then bind our children prentices to God, that is, make them his servants here: then assuredly, as in their repentance and regeneration here, they are born free-men…

Joshua knowing this bond of the spies to Rahab (as we may read) gives special charge for her preservation. Hence David says, If a man bind himself with an oath, he must keep it, though it be to his own hindrance, Psalm 15.4. Every single promise binds a man's conscience, if it b…

Remember David, he ventured presumptuously on sin, and what got he? He lost his peace, he felt the terrors of the Almighty in his soul: Though he had all helps to cheerfulness, he was a King, he was of a ruddy sanguine complexion, he had skill in Music, yet nothing could adminis…

And is not truth banished out of our coasts, considering that for gains and outward commodities men make no bones of glossing and dissembling? But alas, the practice is damnable, and the contrary is the fruit of the Holy Ghost, namely to speak the truth from the heart, and he wh…

Indeed in one sense God's love to Christ and believers is not alike; for Christ is loved purely for his own sake, but believers are loved for Christ's sake; yet in another sense God the Father loves believers as he loves Christ: it is the same love for the quality, the same for…

Fourthly, truth is a fruit of God's spirit (Galatians 5), and a mark of God's child (Psalm 32:2): he has the pardon of his sins in whose spirit there is no guile. And (Psalm 15:2) he shall rest in the mountain of God, who speaks the truth from his heart. Lastly, destruction is t…

This vice the law of God expressly forbids (Leviticus 19:16). And it is the property of a good man, not to take up a false report (Psalm 15). And David reproves [reconstructed: Saul] because he did but lend the ear to tale-bearers saying, why do you give ear to men's words that…

In this we see the fashion of the world; which is to raise rumors, reports, and slanders of all persons, especially upon Magistrates and Ministers, and that upon every light and unjust occasion. But good men will take no such occasions of raising reports (Psalm 15:3). But how di…

For although there are many hypocrites full of iniquity, mingled in the Church with the elect of God; yet notwithstanding they are like to the Ishmaelites, whom God will drive out from there when his time is. To this purpose we are to note that which is said in (Psalm 15:2 and 2…

—Keep your Tongue from Evil, and your Lips from speaking Guile; depart from Evil, and do Good, seek Peace, and pursue it.' Psalm 15 at the Beginning, etc. 'Who shall abide in thy Tabernacle?

1. Uprightness of words. 2. Of works; so upright walking is expounded and branched forth (Psalm 15:2-3): He that walks uprightly and works righteousness and speaks the truth in his heart. He that does not backbite with his tongue.

After this manner has he also thrown his only beloved son Jesus Christ in the depth of all misery, and evidently declared his seeing, work, help, nature, counsel and will, that it might [illegible] to what intent he suffers it to [illegible]. Therefore remains in Christ such not…

2. It's pleasant and delightsome for its manner, like a sweet, comely and pleasant voice, opposite to some kind of voices that are harsh and unpleasant; it's by prudence and love sweetened, and made savory, and therefore is said in Scripture to be seasoned with salt (Colossians…

Thus we have the ways of holiness called ways of righteousness (Psalms 23:3). And the works of holiness, work of righteousness (Psalms 15:2; Isaiah 64:2, etc.). This evangelical perfection is attainable in this life, and indeed is attained by every sincere and upright Christian.

Indeed, in all our bargains and agreements, though they be never so much to your own prejudice, you are bound to stand to them, unless the other will voluntarily release you from the obligation. For this is one of the characters given of a godly person (Psalm 15:4): he that swea…

It is an expression of Cleopatra to Marcus Antonius, It is not for you to be fishing for Gudgeons, but for Towns, and Forts, and Castles: And so those that are acquainted with the ways of godliness, it is not for them to be trading for poor things, but for eternal life, glory an…

And this is a piece of men's natural perverseness to drink in tales and calumnies, and he that does this will readily from the delight he has in hearing slide insensibly into the habit of evil speaking; and it is strange how the most dispense with themselves in this point, and t…

For not all who have the outward sign and profess themselves to be the church of God are in fact such. As the prophet says in Psalms 15 and 24, that many come into the church and offer sacrifices to God with the faithful, who nevertheless will not abide in God's house. But, he s…

Well therefore Samuel admonishes the people not to persuade themselves that it is enough to obtain God's grace to be reckoned in His people, and to have the sign of circumcision, which to them was then what to us today is baptism: but rather that they should follow the Lord. For…

It is hard to say which is worse, railing or receiving. Psalm 15:3: when an inhabitant of Zion is described, it is said, he that receives not a report, and takes it not up against his neighbor. So (Proverbs 17:14): a wicked doer gives heed to false lips, and a liar gives ear to…

He is a slanderer that wrongs his neighbor's credit, by upholding an evil report against a man. It is hard to say which is worse, railing, or receiving (Psalm 15:3). A Citizen of Zion is described to be one that takes not up a reproach against his neighbor, and you shall see on…

If they think you fools for preferring Heaven before inconsiderable vanities, remember they can no more judge of these things than a blind man of colors. 7. If some dishonor, others will honor us who are better able to judge; (Psalm 15:4) In whose eyes a vile person is contemned…

That is, his love and kindness was towards the godly, esteeming them more excellent and precious how mean soever in condition, above the ungodly world how great soever their rank and quality be, and taking pleasure in their society; them he valued, and them he esteemed above all…

If you tell me, it's the custom of the city and all the world, I ask you, whether that will answer God, and make it no sin? 5. Take heed of breaking bargains and covenants, when you perceive you can buy cheaper of, or sell dearer to another: I am almost afraid that this practica…

There is a contrariety and natural enmity between the two seeds; between the children of the world, and those whom the Father in his eternal love has chosen out of the world. It is likeness which is the great ground of love; now there is the highest dissimilitude and unlikeness…

Leviticus 19:16: You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people. A good man does not evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor (Psalm 15:3). We must not only not raise a false report, but not take it up.

First, by prizing their persons above others. He who is born of God honors those who fear the Lord (Psalm 15:4). The saints are the dearly beloved of God's soul (Jeremiah 12:7).

It appears by scripture; the scripture knows no other way to happiness but practice. Psalm 15, final verse: he that does these things shall never be moved. It is Calvin's gloss upon the words: the Psalmist does not say he that knows these things shall never perish, but he that d…

Then is love right and genuine, when we can rejoice in the graces of others, though they seem to eclipse ours. 4 Love to the Saints must be appreciating, we must esteem their persons above others, Psalm 15. 4. He honors them that fear the Lord:

But let us again keep this in mind, that the accomplishment of the mercy of God hangs not upon the works of the faithful: but that he therefore fulfills the promise of salvation to them which answer to their calling in uprightness of life, because in them he acknowledges the nat…

For, that general calling is also common to the wicked: but this special calling brings with it the Spirit of regeneration, which is the earnest and seal of the inheritance to come, with which our hearts are sealed up against the day of the Lord. In sum, since hypocrites boast o…