Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 15

1. LORD , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill ?

O thou who art the soveraign Lord of this holy Hill and Tabernacle, to whom it belongs to give Laws to it, and to admit or reject Persons, as thou seest fit, I beg of thee the resolution of this important question. And he proposeth this question to God that the Answer coming from him, may have the greater Authority and influence upon mens Consciences.

Heb. sojourn, to wit, so as to dwell, as it is explained in the next clause. Unless this clause be meant of sojourning in the Church here, and the next of dwelling in Heaven hereafter. Who shall enter thither and abide there, with thy good leave and liking.

(i. e.)▪ In thy Church, either 1. Militant. Who is a true and will be a persevering Member of this Church? Or, 2. Triumphant, or in Heaven; which is called the true Tabernacle not made with mans [illegible: 1+ letters]ands▪ Heb. 8. 2. and 9. 11. Revel. 21. 3.

To wit, of Zion, so called Psal 2. 6. which is oft put for the Church and for Heaven. Who shall so dwell in thy Church here, as to dwell with thee for ever hereafter in Heaven.

Marginal references: Heb. sojourn▪; [illegible: 1+ letters] Psal. 24. 3. [illegible: 1 word]

2. He that walketh uprightly , and worketh righteousness , and speaketh the truth in his heart ?

Or presently, or sincerely, without guile or Hypocrisie, Loving, Worshiping and serving God, and loving his Neighbour not in word and shew only, but in truth and reality, and this constantly, and in the whole course of his Life, as walking implies.

Maketh it his work and business to do justly, (i. e.) to give to every one his due, first to God, and then to men; for the words are general, and not restrained to either.

His words and professions▪ to God and men, agree with and proceed from the thoughts and purposes of his Heart.

Marginal references: Isa. 33. 15:; Or, with.

3. He that back-biteth not with his tongue , nor doeth evil to his neighbour , nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

He doth not take away or diminish his Neighbours good name either by denying him his due praises, or by laying any thing to his Charge falsely or without sufficient cause and Evidence.

(i. e.) Any hurt or injury.

(i. e.) To any man; as is evident, 1. from the Nature of this precept which reacheth to all, it being plain and certain, that both by Laws of Nature and of Moses, it was not lawful to do evil to any man, except where God the Soveraign commanded it, as he did to the Canaanites and Amalekites. 2. From the Scripture usage of this word Neighbour, which frequently signifies every man, though a stranger or an heathen, as appears from Gen. 29. 4. Exod. 20. 16, 17. Levit. 18. 20. and 19. 15, &c. Prov. 25. 8, 9. Luk. 10. 29, &c. Mat. 5. 43, 44. And he useth this word, Neighbour, because he who is strictly so is most within our reach, and most liable to the injuries which one man doth to another.

To wit into his Lips or Mouth, which is understood here, as also Exod. 20. 7. Iob 4. 2. and fully expressed: Psal. 16. 4. and 50. 16. (i. e.) Doth not raise it, though that may seem to be included in the first Clause, that Back-biteth not: Or, doth not spread and propagate it; which men are too prone and ready to do; and which makes that a publick, which before was but a private injury and mischief. Or, nor taketh or receiveth, (i. e.) Entertaineth it cheerfully and greedily, as men usually do such things, and easily believeth it without sufficient reason. See Exod. 23. 1. Levit. 19. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. Or, nor beareth or endureth, as this phrase signifies, Psal. 69. 7. Ezek. 36. 15. He doth not suffer another to defame him without some rebuke or signification of his dislike, Prov. 25. 23.

Marginal references: Or, receiveth, Or, endureth, Exod. 23. 1.

4. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned ; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD: he that sweareth to his own hurt , and changeth not?

(i. e.) In whose Judgment and Estimation.

(i. e.) One who deserves Contempt, an ungodly or wicked Man, as appears from the next clause: where he that feareth God is opposed to him.

Or, despised, notwithstanding all his Wealth and Glory, and Greatness. He doth not admire his Person, nor envy his Condition, nor court him with flatteries, nor value his Company and Conversation, nor approve of or comply with his Courses, but he thinks meanly of him, he judgeth him a most miserable man, and a great object of Pity, he abhors his wicked practices, and labours to make such ways Contemptible and hateful to all men, as far as it lyes in his power. But this contempt of wicked men must be so managed as not to cause a contempt of just Authority, which if it be lodged in a wicked hand, doth Challenge not only Obedience, but also Honour and Reverence; as is manifest from the Precepts and Examples of Christ and of his Apostles, who charge this upon the Christians, every where, although the Magistrates of those times were unquestionably, vile and wicked men. See Act. 23. 5. Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 13, &c.

(i. e.) He highly esteemeth and heartily loveth them, and sheweth great respect and kindness to them, though they be mean and obscure as to their wordly Condition, and though they may differ from him in some Opinions or practices of lesser moment.

To wit, a promissory Oath, engaging himself by solemn Oath, to do something which may be beneficial to his Neighbour.

(i. e.) To his own damage or prejudice. As if a man solemnly swear by the name of the great God, that he will sell him such an Estate at a price below the full worth; Or that, he will give a poor man such a Sum of Mony, which when afterwards he comes to review and Consider, he finds it very inconvenient and burdensom to him, where he is tempted to break his Oath.

s To wit, his purpose or Course, but continues firm and resolved to perform his promise, and Sacrificeth his interest and profit to his Conscience, and the Reverence of God and of an Oath. See Ezek. 17, 18, 19.

5. He that putteth not out his money to usury or taketh reward against the innocent. He that doth these things , shall never be moved .

In such manner as is contrary to Gods law: Of which see in, Exod. 22. 25. Levit. 25, 36, 37.

Or, a bribe from him who hath a bad cause; that he may either condemn the innocent or acquit the guilty: Both which God abhorreth.

Here enumerated, and such things as naturally and necessarily flow from them, or are a▪ kin to them, and joyned with them.

He shall constantly persevere in Gods Church here, and though he may be shaken, and stagger and fall, yet he shall never wholly and finally be removed or fall away from it, nor from that happiness, which was proposed and promised to him, but shall abide with God here, and go to him when he dies and be for ever with the Lord.

Marginal references: Exod. 23. 8.; Exod. 22. 25. Lev. 25. 36. Deut. 23. 19. Ezek. 18. 8 & 22. 12. Deu. 16. 19.