Psalms 32

O let us praise him with the best instrument, our heart, and let this instrument be screwed up to the highest peg: let us praise him with our whole heart. See how David rises by degrees (Psalm 32:11). Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, and shout for joy.

Such as hold perfection, need not confess sin. David confessed sin (Psalm 32:6). And Paul confessed sin (Romans 7:24).

Glorious duties soured with hypocrisy are rejected, when great infirmities sweetened with sincerity are accepted. If anything in the world bring us to Heaven it is sincerity: Sincerity signifies plainness of heart (Psalm 32:2). In whose spirit there is no guile.

(1 John 1:9) "If we confess our sins, he is just to forgive;" do but confess the debt, and God will cross the book. (Psalm 32:5) "I said I will confess my transgression to the Lord, and you forgave me." 3. Work to get our spiritual debts paid, that is, by our Surety Christ.

A man shall not know those depths and fathom them unless he has been in the depths himself, as Heman speaks. Then he shall see such wonders of God in those depths as none else ever saw, and thereby gain such wisdom as to be able to encourage others by his example to trust in God…

As it is likely David did in the case of his murder of Uriah: he had done it so cunningly that he thought he could clear himself and wash his hands of it, for it was but 'the chance of war,' he said, that cut him off — 'The sword devours one as well as another' — and so he excus…

Thus in David, when he was under the rod for his sin of murder, as the guilt of his sin so the guile of his spirit came up, and he calls for 'truth in the inward parts' (Psalm 51:6). For as his sin (verse 2), so his falseness of heart was ever before him; and with an eye to this…

For even as a debt does bind a man, either to make satisfaction, or else to go to prison: so our sins bind us either to satisfy God's justice, or else to suffer eternal damnation. Forgive] To forgive sin, is to cover it, or not to impute it (Psalm 32:1). And this is done when Go…

If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us. 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…

Some think that happiness consists in honor, some in wealth, some in pleasure, some in this, some in that: but indeed the thing which we should most labor for is reconciliation with God in Christ, that we may have the free remission of all our sins. Indeed, this is blessedness i…

And verse 6, even as David described the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness without works; it is not blessed is the man who is holy (though such a man is seriously studying to be holy, albeit not in order to his justification thereby) but blessed is he to w…

His righteousness taken hold of, and put on by faith, is as pleasing, and acceptable to God, as the unrighteousness of the sinner is displeasing to him. This was it that made David to sing sweetly (Psalm 32): Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered, b…

4. When this is made offer of in the Gospel, there is the operation of God's Spirit on the soul, enlightening the mind of the sinner, convincing him of his hazard, chasing him to Christ, and powerfully persuading him to take hold of His righteousness made offer of to him; whereu…

3. The Church (Psalm 77) acknowledges such misjudging of God, to be the soul's infirmity (Psalm 77:10): I said, This is my infirmity. Assertion 2. Yet, de facto, David a man according to God's heart (1 Samuel 12:12-13), fell in an old fever, a fit of the disease of the spirit of…

James commands not such a confession. Daniel's, Ezra's, Peter's confession were some other thing (John 1:20; Acts 19:18; Hebrews 11:13; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 4:2; Mark 3:6; Joshua 7:19; Daniel 9:4; Romans 10:10; 1 Timothy 6:13; Psalm 32:5; James 5:16; Leviticus 5:5; Leviticus 1…

1. Their world of elect and reprobate, excluding the best part of mankind, all infants, all that never heard the Gospel; sure is not in the Scripture, nor does it speak of such a world. 2. This is a begging of the question, for (John 1:29): The world whose sins the Lamb of God t…

And so he will play a friend's part — he will counsel us for the best, he will tell us this and that is the best course for us to take (Psalm 25:12). He will come and tell us what he would have us to do (Psalm 32:8). Sometimes by his word, and sometimes by his providence; and wh…

Therefore a second sort of signs, is taken from the effects of spiritual life, you see what is the causes of it, as the good pleasure of God, the word of promise, and the Spirit of grace, these be the first sort of signs. Now a second sort of signs is from the effects and fruits…

The former chapter tells us, that Abraham had been with God in prayer in secret, and this was the effect of it, God will snatch Lot out of that dreadful burning as a return of secret prayer: God takes a time to put a difference between his praying people and others: Faith and pr…

Moreover we are sometimes left of the Holy Spirit and fall into sins, as did Peter, David and other holy men. Notwithstanding we have always recourse to this article: That our sins are covered, and that God will not lay them to our charge (Psalm 32 and Romans 4). Not that sin is…

Thirdly, we are sanctified by the word of truth (John 17:17), and guided by the spirit of truth: and therefore we are to detest lying, and deceit. 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 w…

Fourthly, this obedience is the foundation of our happiness. For true happiness is, to be eased of our sins (Psalm 32:1), and this ease we have from Christ (Matthew 11:28). Lastly, the consideration of this obedience, is the foundation of our thankfulness to God.

And this has been always the help of the godly in their distress. Read 2 Chronicles 33:12; Ezra 9; Daniel 9; Psalm 32; 31; 130; 143. Consider the example of the Publican, and the Prodigal son, who condemn themselves, and make their appeal to the court of mercy and grace.

Now this comes to pass, partly by reason of original corruption, which the Apostle says is deceitful (Hebrews 3:13). Take heed lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin: partly, by reason of long custom in sin, whereby the heart is inured to deceit (Psalm 32:2…

I deny not but he also bridles and curbs his servants and children, but it is to bring them to tractableness: for the wicked, he reins them up so hard that he tumbles them into perdition, and that is the meaning of this clause where he says it is a bridle to cause them to err. F…

This exhortation therefore properly belongs to the Jews, before whom Isaiah sets the example of the Gentiles, that he might provoke them to follow them: which the Lord also had foretold, namely, that he would provoke the Jews to jealousy by a foolish nation (Deuteronomy 32:21).…

That passage too of David is well known, I said, I will acknowledge against me my unrighteousness to the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin, (Psalm 32:5.) As this father, therefore, is not merely pacified by the entreaties of his son, but meets him when he is coming,…

That God in that act of final justification that he passes at the sinner's conversion, has respect to perseverance in faith, and future acts of faith, as being virtually implied in that first act, is further manifest by this, namely, that in a sinner's justification at his conve…

This discovery of Gods anger kindly melts and thaws a gracious soul, and produces a double sweet effect upon it, namely, repentance for sins past, and due caution against future sins. (1.) It thaws and melts the heart for sins committed. Thus David's heart was melted for his sin…

This hand God put forth before, for Job. Again, it is put for his correcting power, as (Psalm 32:4). His hand was heavy upon me, that is, the afflicting hand of God was heavy upon me.

6. It has a bottom and that of gold: a bottom is to show its stability and firmness, to sustain and keep up these who ride in it, and gold shows its solidity and preciousness, it's a rich bottom, therefore the new Jerusalem is said to have her streets of pure gold (Revelation 21…

O sirs, grieve much for sin, and you shall rejoice in, and for your grief: plenty of tears prepares for, and ushers in plenty of joy. But 2. Lay up many prayers in God's book, as well as tears in his bottle, be much in approaching to the throne of grace: the sighs of your spirit…

But his falling down, seems to be from the same Cause as his Trembling. The Psalmist gives an Account of his crying out aloud, and a great weakening of his Body under Convictions of Conscience, and a Sense of the Guilt of Sin, Psalm 32:3, 4. When I kept Silence my Bones waxed ol…

Anger in the soul is like mettle in a horse, good if it be well managed: now meekness is the bridle, as wisdom is the hand that gives law to it; puts it into the right way, and keeps it of an even, steady and regular pace in that way, reducing it when it turns aside, preserving…

Something there is moreover to be done in respect of us, if after the slaying of the enmity and reconciliation made we shall enjoy life; being reconciled by his death: we are saved by that perfect obedience which in his life he yielded to the law of God. There is distinct mentio…

Answer 1. God so fully discharges and acquits the Church of all her sins, as she is in his account as if she had no speck of sin at all. David in this respect uses the metaphor of covering sin, and explains his meaning by these two phrases, forgiving, not imputing sin (Psalm 32:…

He seeks for Pardon of Sin by Repentance and Trust in the Mercy of God, Psalm 51 and 143 et cetera. And he pronounces the Blessedness of those to whom God forgives their Iniquities, Psalm 32 or to whom he imputes Righteousness without Works, as Saint Paul explains him. Romans 4:…

Therefore that Psalm that David begins with the doctrine of the pardon of sin, he ends it with an exhortation to rejoicing. Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered (Psalm 32:1). Thus he begins, but he ends verse 11: Be glad in the Lord, and rejoic…

Though he had a right to be received into heaven, to sit down at the right hand of God, and administer the kingdom for the comfort of his elect ones; yet, ask of me. And so we are to sue out our right; (Psalm 32:5) I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord; and you fo…

Man may forget his sin; but if God remember it, he is miserable: man may hide his sin, but if God bring it to light; man may put off the thoughts, but if God does not put away; man may excuse his sin, but if God aggravate it; the debtor may deny the debt, but if the book be not…

It is possible he may sometimes prevail with God's own children, to draw them to some particular act of gross sin; as (2 Samuel 11:4) as when David defiled himself with lust, that thereby he may dishonor God; for by this means the name of God was blasphemed (2 Samuel 12:14). Or…

This should be deeply impressed upon your minds, and should habituate these thoughts, how ready God is to help, and to run to the cry. Psalm 32:5: "I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin" — before his purpose could be brought…

The very first motion, how welcome is it to the Lord! (Psalm 32:5): I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. So (Luke 15:20), the father ran to meet him, when the prodigal thought of returning.

God therefore will increase punishments sevenfold unless we voluntarily submit ourselves and compose ourselves for his obedience, and are corrected by his blows and adopt a better mind. These things are to be carefully observed in this passage, just as the passage in Psalm 32 is…

God does not ask the world's vote and suffrage, whether such and such shall be justified, or received into glory yes or no. If they be infirmities and defects, humble yourself, and God will cover them (Psalm 32:1). God is accustomed to scatter reproaches cast upon his children,…

The same expression we have, (Hosea 6:7) But they like men have transgressed the covenant; in the Hebrew it is, like Adam; so, if I covered my sin as did Adam, this is the fashion of men. Now David brought his heart to this resolution with much struggling, (Psalm 32:5) I said I…

And they are loath to look God in the face; therefore the Apostle adds, If our heart condemns us not, then have we confidence toward God; that our prayers be not interrupted. As holy David had his shyness when he had been sinning away his peace, he kept silence (Psalm 32:3). He…

But a true understanding makes us more steadfast. Now all these considerations do show us our need of understanding, and that a Christian should be prudent, not headstrong and rash: like horse and mule that have no understanding (Psalm 32:9). But wise and knowing in all principl…

The world's filth may be God's jewels. Many times a contempt does but manifest God's esteem, and give us a further sense of it; they cannot impose upon God; they cannot burden your cause before the Lord; and therefore if the Lord has covered your filth, it is no matter though th…

We have not one sin but many, not one misery but many, therefore mercies are needful for us. 1. Our miseries are many; danger way-lays us on every side, therefore the mercy of God is said to compass us about (Psalm 32:10): "He that trusts in the Lord, mercy shall compass him abo…