Verse 9. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but he loueth him that followeth righteousnesse.
THE way of the wicked] The whole course of his life and behauiour: whatsoeuer hee saith, and all that hee doth [is abomination to the Lord] is filthy and loathsome in his eies, prouoking him in anger to plague him. And this is not to bee vnderstood onely of the grosse faults of sin∣full men, when they directly transgresse the Law of God, but of euery thing else which they take in hand, as long as they walke after the flesh: as labour and trauell; their meat and drinke; their sleepe and necessarie refreshings: though in exercises not vtterly vnlawfull; though in mat∣ters that bee meerely ciuill; though in actions euery way commendable for others to performe. And heereof the A∣postle speaketh, when he saith to Titus, That to the pure all * 1.1 things are pure; but vnto them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing, nothing is pure, but euen their mindes and consciences are defiled. But he loueth him] esteemeth him, and vseth him as his own childe; causeth his heart to feele the comfort of his fauour, and will in due time make it manifest to all the world how deare he is vnto him [who followeth after righteousnesse] which is not cold, or slow, or vnstable in doing of good; but with might and maine striueth constantly to obtaine the habit and increase of goodnesse. The word signifieth earnestly to pursue, being a Metaphor taken from the eagernesse of wilde beasts, or rauenous fowles, or of any kinde of creatures that liue by the spoile of others, which will run or flie, both