Psalms 35

We injure others in their name when we calumniate and slander them. It was David's complaint (Psalm 35:11), They laid to my charge things which I knew not. The Primitive Christians were traduced for incest and killing their children, as Tertullian writes: Dicimur infanticidii, i…

Slandering is to report things of others unjustly. They laid things to my charge which I knew not (Psalm 35:11). It is usual to bring in a Christian beheaded of his good name.

So he who was once of a sour, crabby disposition, given to revenge, when he is once ingrafted into Christ, he partakes of the sap of this heavenly olive, and bears sweet and generous fruit; he is full of love to his enemies, and requites good for evil. As the sun draws up many t…

And so you read of Stephen, the first Christian Martyr (Acts 7:60), when they flung stones about his ears, he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice: Lord lay not this sin to their charge. Reason 1: It is first taken from the compassion which we owe to our brethren, we ought t…

The Lord takes pleasure in his people, he will beautify the meek with salvation. The Lord loves their persons, and he loves their prosperity and happiness (Psalm 35:27). He has pleasure in the prosperity of his servants.

Your bodies are a part of Christs purchase, as well as your souls, 1 Corinthians 6:19 They are committed to the charge and Tutelage of Angels, Hebrews 1:14 who have performed many services for them. They are dedicated by your selves to the Lord, and that upon the highest account…

Secondly, it is interpreted as "without cause": does Job fear God without cause? So the word is translated in Psalm 35:7, where David, complaining of his enemies, says, "without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have dug for my soul." As if…

The sin of slandering is one of the worst sorts of lying; and the teeth of slanderers are compared to spears and arrows, and their tongue to a sharp sword (Psalm 57:4), and when they utter their slanders, they bend their bow, and shoot their arrows, they whet their sword, and wo…

Justly may we say, that we serve a good Master, whose yoke is easy (Matthew 11:30) — it is [non-Latin text], not only easy, but sweet, and gracious (so the word signifies) not only tolerable, but amiable and acceptable: wisdom's ways are not only pleasant, but pleasantness itsel…

In the ordinary dispensations of providence, some tell us, they have found it remarkably true in times of public trouble and calamity, it has commonly fared best with the meek and quiet; their lot has been safe and easy, especially if compared with the contrary fate of the turbu…

The scoffers of the last days are men that walk after their own lusts, whose carnal, fleshly interest retains them on that side. David was abused by the abjects (Psalm 35:15), and the Christians at Thessalonica by certain lewd fellows of the baser sort (Acts 17:5). Such as those…

And as superstition is a cause of this, so prophaneness and sensuallity causes it likewise; that is observable in the forenamed place of Hosea, when he was made sick with wine, then he streched out his hand with scorners; when wicked men pamper themselves with good cheer, and th…

You heard what the Martyrs have suffered, but all that is nothing to the least spark of Gods revenging wrath, when it is mingled with hatred. That is a fearful expression that we have, Psalm 35:6 Let their way be slippery, and the angel of the Lord persecuting them. It is a more…

Instead of calumnies, and lies, and vanities that are the carrion that flies, base minds, feed on, to delight in divine things, and the extolling of God, is for a man to eat angels' food. An excellent task for the tongue that David chooses (Psalm 35:28): And my tongue shall spea…

When other persecutions cease, yet those continue when all other martyr fires are put out, these burn still; in all times and places the malignant World ready to revile Religion, not only avowed enemies of it, but the greatest part even of those that make a vulgar profession of…

1. When we choose and cleave to him, as our all-sufficient portion: "The Lord is my portion," says my soul (Lamentations 3:24). Sometimes the Lord speaks to us, "I am your reward, I am your salvation" (Psalm 35:3). So the soul speaks to God, "You are my portion."

Many times he complains of his reproaches, often in this Psalm, more in other Psalms (Psalm 31:13): For I have heard the slander of many, they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. Sundry sorts of persons made him the butt, upon which they let fly…

(Job 42:8): My servant Job shall pray for you, and him will I accept: God will hear his servants for others, when he will not hear them for themselves. If our prayers had returned into our own bosoms, as David's for his enemies (Psalm 35:13); if God as an answer had given you on…

The manner of toils among the Jews was digging pits, and covering them over, and hiding snares in them: that as the beast pressed the clod, and fell therein, he might be caught, and kept from getting out again. Therefore David says, (Psalm 35:7) Without cause have they hid for m…

As the sun draws up many thick, noxious vapors from the earth and sea, and returns them in sweet showers; so a gracious heart returns all the unkindnesses and discourtesies of his enemies with the sweet influences and distillations of love. Thus David (Psalm 35:13): They rewarde…

But Melanchthon, who wrote his life, affirms that he died in a most pious, holy manner, and made a most excellent prayer before his death. It was David's complaint (Psalm 35:11): They laid to my charge things which I knew not. The Greek word for devil signifies slanderer.

Thus Christ who did cast out devils, was charged to have a devil (John 8:48). The primitive Christians were falsely accused for killing their children, and for incest (Psalm 35:11). They laid to my charge things that I knew not.

Hence much tenderness and smiting of heart where the Spirit is (1 Samuel 24:5). Indeed conscience to weep as one over his mother's grave, for his enemies (Psalm 35:13, 14), and strict doubling of faith in greatest deeps — in which Christ proves himself to be more than a believin…

And all these beings or non-beings owe themselves to God to hold forth the glory of goodness, wisdom, mercy, justice, etc. suppose there had never been sin: far more now, who wants matter of meditation, or can write a book of all the pains, [reconstructed: achings], convulsions,…

4. Closing with contrary providences, reproaches, work not on mortification to fire the man. Psalm 35:12. They speak mischievous things. 13. But I as a deaf man, heard not.

Nay, it is the policy of some to declaim against the hypocrisy of others, thereby to hide their own. Hypocrites are none of the most modest censurers of others (Psalm 35:16). Rule 4.

There are some cautions here that are considerable. 1. God leads some strong ones to heaven whose affections are soft, as David's were (Psalm 35:13 and Psalm 119:25, 28, 136, 53; Psalm 6:6), and yet faith is strong (Psalm 22:1) — God possibly immediately working upon the assenti…

In that day it shall be said, Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us, we will rejoice and be glad in his salvation. (Psalm 35:20-21) Our soul waits on the Lord, our heart rejoices, because we have trusted in him: it is from our trust, that we have waite…

Time was, when David's bones were broken (Psalm 51:8) and all the comfort of his soul shattered to pieces, and does God now show David mercy? Then all my bones shall say, Lord who is like to you? (Psalm 35:10). You whom God has forgiven much, he looks for much love from you.