Psalms 19

Resp. Every creature has a voice to call to us. The heavens call to us to behold God's glory (Psalm 19:1). Conscience calls to us, God's judgments call to us — Repent (Micah 6:9).

It is pity then that ever man was made! 1. Creatures below us glorify God, the inanimate creatures; the heavens glorify God (Psalm 19:1). The heavens declare the glory of God.

Saint Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a garden; the Moral Law is a chief flower in it; the Scripture is a banquet, the Moral Law the chief dish in it. First, The Moral Law is perfect (Psalm 19:7). The Law of the Lord is perfect.

2. Positively; God made the world to demonstrate his own glory. The world is a looking-glass, in which we may see the power and goodness of God shine forth: The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). The world is like a curious piece of arras or tapestry, in which we may…

Chrysostom compares the Scripture to a garden — every truth is a fragrant flower, which we should wear not in our bosom but our heart. David tasted the Word sweeter than the honey and the honeycomb (Psalm 19:10). There is that in Scripture that may breed delight: it shows us the…

And read the Word not carelessly, but with seriousness and affection; it is the oracle of Heaven, the well of salvation, the book of life. David for the preciousness of God's Word esteemed it above gold, and for the sweetness above honey (Psalm 19:10). By reading the Word aright…

1. Get the fear of God. Why does David say, The fear of the Lord is clean (Psalm 19:8)? Because it cleanses the heart of malice, it cleanses the tongue of slander.

Use. You see all sins are not equal, some are more grievous than others, and bring greater wrath; therefore especially take heed of these sins. (Psalm 19:13.) Keep back your servant from presumptuous sins. The least sin is bad enough, you need not aggravate your sins, and make t…

Psalm 33:18-19: The eye of the Lord is over them that fear him; to preserve them from death, and to keep them alive in famine. God by his providential care shields off dangers from his people, he sets a lifeguard of angels about them (Psalm 19:11). God's Providence keeps the ver…

O then let us bestir ourselves for the kingdom of Heaven; it is a labour full of pleasure; a Christian would not part with his joy for the most delicious music; he would not exchange his anchor of hope for a crown of gold: Well might David say in keeping your precepts there is g…

9. Doing God's will on earth brings peace in life and death. 1. In life; (Psalm 19:11) In keeping your precepts there is great reward; not only after keeping them but in keeping them; when we walk closely with God in obedience, there is a secret joy let into the soul, and how sw…

First, he sends us and directs us thereunto, expressly for that purpose (Isaiah 8:20, Luke 16:19, John 5:39), and not once intimates in the least, any other way or means of instruction to the end. Secondly, he frequently affirms, that it is sufficient, able, and perfect to guide…

Q. How else may it be proved that there is a God? A. The succession of day, and night, and other seasons with the sustentation, and ordering of the creatures and the motions of them, does plainly witness that there is a God (Psalm 19:2-3; Acts 14:17; Amos 4:13 & 5:8). Q. How may…

It is taken generally among the learned, for a singular opinion of Master Wotton, that To credere, the act of believing should be imputed for righteousness. For, indeed, the act of believing is neither a righteousness according to the law; for the law is perfect (Psalm 19:7). No…

But it is a fond imagination; at least the argument from these words for it, is so. For besides that the Scripture calls all sins by the name of errors (Psalms 19:12; Psalms 25:7), and the worst, the most provoking of all sins, is expressed by erring in heart (Psalms 95:10), and…

And those who were wise and sober among them thought it sufficient to brand a person as impious and wicked, to deny an unseen judgement of men's actions out of this world, wherewith Cato reproached Caesar in the business of Catiline. This sense being that which keeps mankind wit…

For (1) it was herein the peculiar design of God to glorify his goodness, love, grace, and mercy by Jesus Christ, and he will do it in an abundant manner. He had before glorified his eternal power and infinite wisdom in the creation of the world and all things therein contained…

The Word of God is light (2 Peter 1:19). And one principal use of it, to us, is to give us light: even spiritual light, and spiritual discerning of spiritual things (Psalms 19:8 and 119:130). It does enlighten the eyes, and gives light: and if it have not this effect in us; we h…

Did the Commandment ever come with light, and power? Has the Word ever been a powerful, enlightening word to your souls (Psalm 19:8)? Yes, has there been such a sight, as could never have been obtained, by all reading, hearing, studying, and use of means, without this work of wh…

And it was practiced by David (Psalm 51) and (Psalm 32:5). The manner of making confession is this: known sins, and those which trouble the conscience, are to be confessed particularly; but unknown sins generally (Psalm 19:12). 6. Lastly, hence it is manifest, that there is no j…

The mind is made a forge for holy uses, wherein to debate and contrive how to carry on the work of grace, how to glorify God in our relations, concernments; certainly this will be found in all those that are called and converted. So in the will and affections there will be a con…

And as for secret sins, they cannot make our repentance void: for he that truly repents of his known sins, repents also of such as be unknown, and receives the pardon of them all. God requires not an express or special repentance of unknown sins; but accepts it as sufficient, if…

So the upright heart cannot be at rest till it has wept out its troubles, and poured out its complaints before the Lord. 3. It includes earnest supplications and fervent prayer for heart-purifying and rectifying grace, when sin has defiled and disordered it, so as in Psalm 19:12…

Query 1. Does religion in any way countenance or patronize the sinful practices of its professors, or does it not rather impartially and severely condemn them? It is the glory of the Christian religion that it is pure and undefiled (James 1:27); no doctrine is so holy (Psalm 19:…

The ways by which it acts. The Psalmist treating with God in prayer about sin, acknowledges that there are in all men unsearchable errors of life, beyond all human understanding or comprehension; with such daily sins of infirmity, as stand in need of continual cleansing and pard…

(1.) For the whole revelation of the mind and will of God in the Old Testament. In this sense it had grace in it, and so did give both life, and [illegible], and strength against sin, as the Psalmist declares (Psalm 19:7, 8, 9). In that sense it contained not only the law of pre…

Carefully enquire and try whether such things which you may do or approve of in yourselves, do not promote the power of sin, and help on its rule in you. This method David prescribes (Psalm 19:12). Secret sins, such as are not known to be sins, it may be to ourselves, make way f…

And it was practised by David (Psalm 51 and 32:5). The manner of making confession is this; known sins, and those which trouble the conscience, are to be confessed particularly: but unknown sins generally (Psalm 19). 6. Lastly, hence it is manifest, that there is no justificatio…

Thus the most eminent philosopher: "The sciences that are in the rational soul, which pertain to sensible things — if indeed the knowledge of these things is to be called science by us, since it would be more fitting to call them opinions — these, I say, since they are posterior…

VIII. Furthermore: from the contemplation of the works of God — both those of creation and those of providence — this residual knowledge of God can be nourished and increased day by day; for this theology, such as it is, rests not only upon human nature but upon the whole world…

But that one thing is a great matter. All the salutary external means of repentance and salvation are contained exclusively in that one thing of which God did not deem the nations worthy (Psalms 19:4, 9–11; 147:19, 20). It has not yet been proved that any saving knowledge of God…

The occasions of the origin of idolatry — The report of the dominion of the sun and moon — In what sense the sun and moon are the two great lights — The monstrous fiction of Jonathan the Targumist — Delegated dominion as a corrupt basis for worship — The vain reasonings of idola…

They are "blind," (2 Peter 1:9; Isaiah 42:7; Luke 4:18); and they are "darkness," (John 1:5; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 5:8); "their minds are darkened," (Ephesians 4:18); "they walk in darkness," (1 John 1:6); and "they love darkness," (John 3:19); they are "dead," (Eph…

Theology as a complex of spiritual gifts — Extraordinary or ordinary gifts — Ordinary gifts peculiar to the ministry or common to all — Christ the bestower of all gifts (Psalm 68:19; Acts 2:33; Ephesians 4:8) — The Hebrew word signifies both to receive and to give — Christ the a…

Here again our great coldness, wavering minds, and multitude of other like infirmities, is condemned. The end is, that we may apply all to ourselves, examine our hearts by it, and so in calling on the Lord, wholly to endeavor ourselves to put it in practise (Psalm 19:26-27; 59-6…

2. No man living on earth, but he is beholden to Christ (though many know him not) for common helps of providence, and experiences do teach him some more of God by nature. 3. The sound of Christ, God revealed in the Gospel, in the Apostles' ministry is declared, and is gone to t…

There is unbelief in it, when we dare sin against the clear light and checks of conscience, and venture upon his threatenings: You cannot drive a dull ass into the fire that is kindled before him (Proverbs 1:17): Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And the…

13. The reward of secret prayer shall be open and manifest: They have already a reward and gift in secret; communion with God is an abundant recompense. In keeping your commandments there is great reward (Psalm 19:11). But this is a [praemium ante praemium] reward before the rew…

His eyes are open upon all the ways of man, and who knows all the errors of his life? Therefore must we get alone and enumerate all the sins we know of, and desire God to show us what we do not know, and with holy David, breathe out that devout petition (Psalm 19:12): Cleanse yo…

As (Psalm 2:8): Ask of me and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. And again (Psalm 19:3): Their voice has gone through all the earth. Briefly, all the prophecies of the kingdom of Christ and of the publishing of the Go…

Answer. Known sins require particular repentance: but if sins be unknown, or unconsidered, by reason that men are carried away with the sway of the times (as the Patriarchs were) a general repentance suffices (Psalm 19:12). Again, it may be alleged, that Abraham took Hagar by th…

For this had been an improper simile, and too far-fetched, seeing he speaks here of children's first rudiments. I confess indeed that the same Hebrew word is used in the 18th chapter, where I have translated, 'From all parts,' or, 'Line after line,' and so in many other places:…

And thus he convinces their ingratitude, who being called, answered not: for God's meaning is to make us partakers of all the good things which he offers us, whereof otherwise we are utterly destitute. Where it follows, that God speaks in righteousness, it serves as an expositio…

I grant it seems very hard at the first blush, that the Prophets should make the hearts of men more hard; seeing they bring the word of God in their mouth, by which as by a light men should lighten and order their paths (Psalm 119:105). And we know that David gives it this title…

‐Mais aussi il entrera en une grande admiration de sa puissance et sagesse infinie;” — “but also will greatly admire His infinite power and wisdom.” Thus the sun and moon, though they are dumb creatures, are said to have a loud and distinct voice for singing the praises of God,…

I know of no Part of the holy Scriptures, where the Nature and Evidences of true and sincere Godliness, are so much of set Purpose, and so fully and largely insisted on and delineated, as the one hundred and nineteenth Psalm; the Psalmist declares his Design in the first Verses…

He made all things for himself (Proverbs 16:4). And they all declare his glory (Psalm 19). Nor is it said, that God rested on the seventh day from making of man, but from all the works that he had made.

For God first made all the inanimate, then animate and sensitive creatures in their glory, order and beauty. In, and on all these, he implanted a teaching and instructive power; for the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work (Psalm 19:1, 2), a…

So deals the Psalmist with the works of God's providence in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt (Psalm 136): he takes as it were that whole curious work into its several pieces, and subjoins that inference of praise to every one of them, for his mercy endures for ever.…

Besides they observe the number of the verses at the end of every book: as also that [in non-Latin alphabet] in [in non-Latin alphabet] Leviticus 11:42 is the middle letter of the Law; [in non-Latin alphabet], Leviticus 10:16 the middle word; Leviticus 13:33 the middle verse; th…