Psalms 50

Some can contend earnestly for trifles and ceremonies, but not for the truth: we should count him indiscreet that should contend more for a picture than for his land of inheritance, a box of counters, than for his box of evidences. 11. We glorify God by praising of him; doxology…

2. His truth. God has made promises to his people, when they are under great pressures to deliver them, and his truth is engaged in his promise (Psalm 50:15): Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you. (Job 5:19) He shall deliver you in six troubles, and in seven.

Resp. 1. We take God's name in vain, when we speak slightly and irreverently of his name (Deuteronomy 28:58): That you may fear this glorious and fearful name, the Lord your God. David speaks of God with reverence (Psalm 50:1): The Lord, even the most mighty God. (Psalm 83:18):…

The thoughts of God's eternity would make us have high, adoring thoughts of God. We are apt to have mean, irreverent thoughts of him (Psalm 50:21): You thought I was such a one as yourself; weak and mortal. But if we would think of God's eternity, when all power ceases, he is Ki…

A gracious heart censures himself, and has charitable thoughts of others; the hypocrite on the contrary. 6. The evil tongue is the slanderous tongue (Psalm 50:20): "You sit and slander your own mother's son." Slandering is when we speak to the prejudice of another, and speak tha…

2. We show our honor to our Heavenly Father by doing all we can to exalt God, and make his excellencies shine forth; though we cannot lift up God higher in Heaven, yet we may lift him higher in our hearts, and in the esteem of others. When we speak well of God, set forth his ren…

Second Branch. 2. It reproves those who make no conscience of slandering others; they come under the breach of this Commandment. Psalm 50:20: You sit and slander your own mother's son. Jeremiah 20:10: Report, say they, and we will report.

If it be so terrible to hear the lion roar, what is it when he begins to tear his prey? Psalm 50:22: "Consider this, you that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces." O that men would think of this, who go on in sin!

1. There is no denying the debt — other debts men may deny, if money be not paid before witness, or if the creditor lose the bond, the debtor may say he owes him nothing; but there is no denying this debt of sin. If we say we have no sin, God can prove the debt (Psalms 50:21): I…

Certainly God, who is a Spirit, and will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth, designed at one time or other a worship more suited to his own nature, though the imposition of these things on the Church for a season, was necessary. And as they were carnal, so they might be exactl…

Therefore by Bulls and Goats, by an usual Synecdoche, all the several kinds of clean Beasts, whose blood was given to the People to make Atonement withal, are intended. So is the matter of all Sacrifices expressed (Psalm 50:13), Will I eat the flesh of Bulls, or drink the blood…

It was the High Priest alone who was the Surety of that Covenant. It was made and confirmed by sacrifices (Psalm 50:5), as we shall see more at large afterwards (Chap. 9. 19, 20). And if Moses were concerned herein, it was as he executed the office of the Priest in an extraordin…

In Deuteronomy it is applied to such a judgment of them as tends to their deliverance. But the general truth of the words is, that God is the supreme Judge, he is Judge himself (Psalm 50:6). This the Apostle makes use of, concluding, that the righteousness of God, as the supreme…

It does not so, as though he had need of it, or put any value on it for its own sake. Hence he rejects all those multiplied outward services which men trusted to, as if they obliged him by them, because without them or their services he is the sovereign possessor of all created…

And indeed all that peace and security which ungodly ones, and unsound professors have, arises chiefly from a secret contempt of God, in their hearts, and slighting thoughts of sin. See (Psalm 50:21) You thought I was altogether such an one as yourself. Ungodly ones don't know G…

We read of them that are blamed, and that justly, for forsaking the Covenant which God made with their fathers (Deuteronomy 29:25; Judges 2:20), but that owning this Covenant should be a forsaking of it, and an usurping of it without warrant from God, and a presuming — we do not…

By these things, although they should any of them, not be real living members of the mystical body of Christ, to whom he is an head of spiritual and vital influence; yet are they mere members of that body of Christ to which he is an head of rule and government; as also mere to b…

His blessings bestowed are legacies, not debts. Praise is a glorifying of God (Psalm 50:23), and will not you cheerfully pay this peppercorn? Will you not do it constantly (Psalm 146:2)?

The Lord himself telleth you (Isaiah 52:5): My Name every day is blasphemed; that was all he got by it: his people suffered in person, and God himself in his reputation; all that he got was blasphemies, and reproaches, and injuries. So (Psalm 50:21) I kept silence, and you thoug…

Thirdly, the agents or the qualification of the persons: [Christians] not Turks, Indians, etc. Saints (Psalm 50:5, 16, 17). [Called to fellowship with Christ] so (1 Corinthians 1:9) else if they be not united to Christ by faith, they are not fit materials for such a building as…

We have the like throughout that song. So, Psalm 50:6, 7. The heavens shall declare his righteousness; for God is Judge himself.

XXXI. For some, converting the goodness of God into a certain perpetual leniency — which is either a vice or at least situated on the border of vices, and unworthy of the supreme Ruler — utterly cast aside all thoughts of the wrath and severity of God, charging with the most fou…

Second, consider the ineffectualness of all other things to satisfy justice, though we would multiply offerings — what cares God for these? All the beasts on the mountains are his, he delights not in the blood of bulls and goats, as it is (Psalm 50). Thousands of rams, and ten t…

Verse 11. Your lips, O my Spouse, drop as the honeycomb; honey and milk are under your tongue, and the smell of your garments is as the smell of Lebanon. Zion is the perfection of beauty (Psalm 50:2). All this beauty and sweetness comes from Christ; there is no such thing in the…

(Romans 12:2; Romans 13:14; and 1 Thessalonians 5:17): pray without ceasing. (Psalm 50:15): Call upon me. (Matthew 26:41): Watch and pray.

1 John 5:12. He that has the Son, has life, and he that has not the Son, has not life. We now come to speak of the third way of having Christ, and that is by way of covenant (Isaiah 49:8): I will give you for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit…

1. Partly because like does best sort with like, friendship is founded in suitableness, and maintained by it, eadem velle & nolle, to will and nill the same things breeds a harmony of minds; the godly will have special love to the godly, and they that fear God will be companions…

2. Providence, whether in his way of mercy or judgment. Mercy: what a majestic description of God is there (Psalm 50:1-5), yet there his presence in his Church is described. The drift of the Psalm is, to set forth God's power and majesty when he comes to call the Gentiles, and t…

For albeit in regard of the reproof itself, it be not greatly material, yet it is not so expedient, nor so profitable in regard of the reprover, 1. because he seems unworthy to reprove another, who is to be reproved himself, being as deep in fault as any: 2. because it will be t…

Wherein he shows, that all the observation of the ceremonies did depend upon the word; and that they are vain and unprofitable, if they be separated from it, even as if one should divide the soul from the body. Hereunto also belongs the argument of Psalm 50: Will I eat the flesh…

The like end are all reprobates to look for; namely, to be sacrificed by the hands of those that are as wicked as themselves. Some take the word Abbirim, for Strong: I had rather follow them which translate it Bulls, it being so taken (Psalm 50). Albeit by Bulls here, under a fi…

For those do but glory in vain who hold a place therein, and yet make little or no account of prayers, nor of true invocation. In what place whatever we be then, let us beware we despise not this exercise of faith, seeing it sufficiently appears by the words of our Prophet, that…

The Prophet blames the Jews for thus abusing the patience and long-suffering of God: which notwithstanding should have softened their hearts (Romans 2:4). But such is man's malice, that he thereby emboldens himself in sinning: and thinks he has good leave to do whatever he pleas…

Now he speaks expressly of his making of them, to teach men that he has no need of this external service. As in (Psalm 50:10) he protests that all beasts are his creatures, and by right belong to him: and yet (forsooth) the Jews would needs pacify him by sacrificing of them. But…

In a word, the first thing necessary for believers is, to be able to rejoice that they have their salvation in God. The next ought to follow, that, having experienced God to be a kind Father, they may "offer to him thanksgiving," (Psalm 50:14.) The Greek word σωτὴρ, Savior, has…

A righteousness was to be brought in, that might answer the justice of God, and abide its trial. Of what nature this righteousness must be, the Scripture declares; and that as well in the revelation it makes of the holiness of God (Psalm 5:4, 5; Joshua 24:19; Habakkuk 1:13) as o…

Thirdly, the Scripture expressly rejects all the Sacrifices of the Law, when they are trusted in for any such end and purpose, which sufficiently demonstrates that they were never appointed thereunto. See Psalm 40:6, 7, 8; Psalm 50:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13; Isaiah 1:11, 12, 13; Chap…

That is to say: Nature has three parts, namely: the spirit, the soul, and the body, and all three may altogether, be either good or bad, and is then called the spirit and the flesh, of which we will not speak at this time. The first part (that is) the spirit, is the most excelle…

And thus to have her vineyard before her, signifies watchfulness and tenderness, as those who have their eye always on their orchard or vineyard. And it does import, 1. Watchfulness, as has been said. 2. Diligence and carefulness, so it's opposed to the hiding of the talent (Luk…

Now here first, certain it is, that God is the great Lord and proprietor both of heaven and earth, and of all things in them (Psalm 24:1): The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. And (Psalm 50:10): Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hill…

Secondly, whoever puts his trust and confidence in any creature more than in God, is guilty of this inward heart-idolatry; as when we depend upon interest, or power, or policy for our safeguard and success, more than on that God, who is able both with and without created helps a…

I answer briefly: to take the name of God is no other than to make use of it, either as the object of our thoughts, or the subject of our discourses: and so we find this phrase used, (Psalm 16:4) "I will not take up their names into my lips." And (Psalm 50:16) "What have you to…

The King of glory against whom you have rebelled, and who could crush you so easily without any injury to himself, is not only willing to lay aside his anger, but also entreats you to accept of reconciliation; heartily embrace Jesus Christ upon his own terms, and the work will b…

There are good Evidences that they never had Communion in those Ordinances which God had appointed as Seals of his Covenant, wherein they themselves were to be active, such as their Sacrifices etc. until they had done it. It is plainly implied in Psalm 50 that it was the Manner…

Learn hence the grievous folly of those that embolden themselves in sin, on presumption of God's mercy. The truth is, the foolishness of impenitency in nothing appears more, than in the arguings by which men strengthen themselves in it: and among these, I know none more amazing,…

2. The Lord forbids rather, and rebukes such an use of means, as includes sinful defects in the principles, manner and end. Psalm 50:16. But to the wicked God says, What have you to do to declare my statutes? Isa. 1:12. Who required this thing at your hand, that you should tread…

The man in a fever cries for a drink, the physician forbids to give him drink, and yet gives to quench the thirst some other thing than drink; so the sick man's suit is profitably heard. Yet my meaning is not, that the Lord cannot, or will not at all take off an arrestment of de…

Loose professors delay their repentance upon this, when they are old and a dying they shall be more fit for repentance. An indisposition to pray is a great affliction to a godly soul; and the so afflicted is to pray to remove that indisposition, and to seek in prayer a spiritual…

As for Christ to pray, to believe, to exhort his disciples to watch, and when pain, wrath, the actual pressing curse puts him to tears and hideous cries (Hebrews 5), is a perfect copy to all obedience: less thanks to you to pray when the heart is oiled with real influences, and…

The most of the natural notions of men about it are corrupt, and the best of them weak and imperfect. Generally the thoughts of men about it, are, that he is of a facile and easy nature, one that they may make bold withal in all their occasions, as the Psalmist declares (Psalm 5…