Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 51:4

4. Against thee, thee onely have I sinned, and done this evil in thy fight : that thou mightest be justified , when thou speakest ; and be clear when thou judgest .

Which is not to be understood simply and absolutely, because he had unquestionably sinned against [illegible: 1 word] and Uriah, and m[illegible: 1+ letters]ny others who were either injured by it, or scandalized at it, but Comparatively. So the Sence is this, though I have sinned against my own Body and Conscience, and against others; yet nothing is more grievous and Terrible to me, than to consider that I have sinned against thee; Partly, upon a general Account, because this is the chief Malignity, and sinfulness of sin, that it offends and injures the Glorious and Blessed God; and Partly, upon particular Reasons; Because I set thee at Defiance, and having used all wicked Arts to conceal my sin from Men, and being free from Fear of punishment from them, I went on boldly in sin, casting off all Reverence to thy Holy and Omniscient Majesty, and all dread of thy Judgments, and because I sinned against thee, to whom I had such numerous and peculiar and eminent Obligations, as thy Prophet Nathan truly [illegible: 1+ letters]suggested to me, 2 Sam. 12. 7, 8.

With g[illegible: 1+ letters]oss Contempt of God, whom I well knew to be a Spectator of my most secret Actions.

The Particle, that, is not taken Causally, or Intentionally, as if this was David's Design, but Eventually, as it is Exod. 11. 9. Psal. 30. 12. H[illegible: 1+ letters]s. 8. 4. This will be the Fruit or Consequent of my sin, that whatsoever severities thou shalt use towards me and mine, it will be no blemish to thy Benignity, or Righteousness, or Fidelity, but the blame of all will rest upon my Head, as I desire it may, and thy justice will be Glorified by all Men.

Heb. In thy Words, (i. e.) In all thy Threatnings denounced against me by Nathan; and in any further Sentence which thou shalt see fit to pass upon me.

When thou dost plea[illegible: 1+ letters] or contend with me, or execute thy Sentence or Judgment upon me. Or, when thou art [illegible: 1+ letters]udged, as it is rendred, Rom. 3. 4. for the Word may be taken Passively, as well as Actively. When any man shall presume to Cen[illegible: 1+ letters]ure thee, as not keeping thy Covenant and Mercy promised to David.

Marginal references: Rom 3. 4.