18. TSADDI.

IN this Octonary David again commends the Law of God from the Author, * from the equity contain'd in it, from the purity, and perpetuity of it. 2. The consideration of which wrought in him zeal and love to it, a care to remem∣ber it, and a joy and delight in it. 3. Notwithstanding all opposition.

1. [Ver. 1] David being rempted to impatience and distrust at the prosperity of the wicked, * comforts himself with the consideration of Gods righteous Nature, Righteous art thou, O Lord; Thou alterest not with times, thou changest not with persons, thou art alwayes unto all the one and the same Righteous God.

2. 2 And just are thy Judgements, in giving rewards, and distributing punish∣ments; righteousness is so essential to thee, that thou canst no more defraud the godly of their promised comforts, [Ver. 2] nor let the wicked go unpunished in their sins, than deny thy self to be God, which is impossible.

2. And from a righteous God hath proceeded a righteous Law. For God for∣bid that the Judge of all the world should do unjustice.

The Testimonies which thou hast commanded, are exceeding righteous, and very faithful. So that God is not only just in himself, and just in his re∣tributions, but that very Law which he hath commanded us to keep, con∣tains in it exact justice. The Laws of men may be unequal, but Gods Law hath in it nothing but equity and Truth; it gives liberty to no injustice or ini∣quity.

3. * Now the first affection that this consideration wrought in David, was an ar∣dent zeal; it anger'd and griev'd him, that so just a God should be dishonored, and so just a Law forgotten. [Ver. 3]

• 1. My zeal hath even consumed me. My zeal to thy Law, and he expresses the cause.
• 2. Because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. I did even pine away for grief and anger that men should be so prophane to forget so just and use∣ful Laws.

4. 3 And now he returns to a nother commendation of Gods Law, and shewes another affection that from thence arose in him, to wit, love.

• 1. [Ver. 4] Thy Word is very pure, or proved most pure. 'Tis like gold that is tried in the fire, from which all drosse is by melting purged, Psal. 12.6. Up∣on trial Gods law will be found to be far from all injustice. Unjust he is not, when he chastiseth his children, for there is sin in them; nor un∣just he is not, when he suffers the wicked to flourish, for it is their porti∣on. Luke 16.25. Righteous are thy judgments.
• 2. * And this raised in David another affection, viz. Love. Therefore thy servant loveth it. Love in God is the fountain of all his benefits bestow∣ed on us, and love in man is the fountain of all our service and obedi∣ence to our God. Love is such a duty, that it cannot be excused in any, without which, all that we can do in his service, is nothing. He must love Gods Law, because it is his Law, and a just Law, that means to keep it: for Love is the fulfilling of the Law.
• 3. A third effect that this wrought in David, was, a careful remembrance of it, yea albeit he was in a mean estate, and for it despised by his ene∣mies.
  • 1. [Ver. 5] I am small, the youngest and least among my brethren.
  • 2. *And despised, and little set by, by my brethren, Saul, &c.
  • 3. Yet do not I forget thy precepts, nor my poverty, nor contempt can bring me to that passe, that I forget my duty to thee. Many there are who will professe Religion as long as they see peace and honour follow∣it, but rather than they will endure trouble and contempt, will utterly forsake it. Thus did not David, he kept in memory Gods Law. And indeed the first step of defection is to forget what God hath commanded, for upon this the transgression easily follows.

5. 3 And here he interserts a fourth commendation of Gods Law, viz. The immu∣tability, perpetulty, and eternity of it. It is immutable, and may never be di∣spensed with, it is a righteousnesse, and it is everlasting.

• 1. [Ver. 6] Thy righteousnesse is an everlasting righteousnesse. No man may change it, no man may dispense with it, so long as the world stands, so long it must be rul'd by it.
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• 2. Thy Law is the Truth. The Truth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it hath the priority of all Lawes in this; it contains no falshood, the promises and threats in it shall certainly be fulfilled.

6. Upon which he makes mention of a fourth effect that it produced in him, * viz. joy and delight, yea, non obstante, all his troubles and sorrows.

• 1. Trouble and anguish hath taken hold upon me. The righteous are often under the crosse, that sin may be subdued, [Ver. 7] patience and the graces of the Spirit increased, the pleasures of the world contemned, and the joyes of heaven desired.
• 2. Yet thy Commandments are my delights: Yet, even in this great tribu∣lation, the meditation of thy truth contained in thy Law doth delight me; it is the remedy against all my afflictions to call to mind what thou hast promised, This is it that sanctifies all afflictions to me, and makes me rejoyce in them.

7. [Ver. 8] That Gods Word and Truth was everlasting that gave him so much comfort and joy, that he repeats it again. 1. * The righteousnesse of thy testimonies is e∣verlasting, and adds only his accustomed Petition unto it. 2. Give me under∣standing and I shall live. Live and revive in all my troubles. It is no life that men have, who are destitute of this knowledge, they live uncomfortably, and therefore the Word of God is contemned by none, but such as know not the ex∣cellency thereof, and the comfort it brings.