John Trapp on Psalms 14:1

PSAL. XIV.

VErſ. 1. The fool] That ſapleſſe fellow, that carcaſe of a man,Nabal, a foo[illegible: 1 letter] or a churle. Nebalah a [illegible: 1 word] kaſs, Levit. 1[illegible: 1 letter].40. that walking ſepulchre of himſelf, in whom all Religion and right Reaſon is withered and waſted, dryed up and decayed. That Apoſtate, in whom naturall Principles are extinct, and from whom God is departed; as when the Prince is removing, hangings are taken down. That meer Animal that hath no more than areaſonable ſoul, and for little other purpoſe than as ſalt, to keep his body from putrefying. That wicked man hereafter deſcribed, [non-Latin text not transcribed] 1 Cor. 2.14. that ſtudieth Atheiſm,

Hath ſaid in his heart] As David proves afterward by his practice; for there are practicall Atheiſts as well as Dogmaticall. See a like paſſage, Pſal. 36.1. the tranſgreſſion of the Wicked ſaith, within my heart (that is, my mind gives mee, and I am ſtrongly perſwaded) that there as no fear of God before his eyes. This is the charge; but what proof is there? proof good enough, verſ. 2, 3, 4. For hee flattereth himſelf, &c. So here; Hee is a flat Atheiſt; for corrupt hee is, and become abominable, &c. That which Cicero ſaith of Epicurus, that leſt hee ſhould offend the Athenians, verbis reliquit deos, re ſuſtulit, De nat. Deor. in words hee affirmed there were Gods, but in deed hee denied a deity, is found true in many even at this day; for all places are full of them, and ſo is Hell too. Lucian is their old Teſtament, and Machiavell their New. Worſe they are than Agrippa, who was almoſt a Chriſtian; worſe than Protagoras with his De diis utrum ſint, non anſim affirmare. For in their hearts and lives there is heard this helliſh language,

There is no God] Oh horrible! Not that Atheiſm can ever find a perfect and continuall aſſent in mans heart: For there is no Nation under Heaven ſo barbarous, but yeelds that there is a God. When man fell from God, this Truth ſtood; as when Cities and great buildings are overthrown by war, ſome Towers, ſome Pinnacles ſurvive the violence. They lye, ſaith Seneca, whoſay that they hold there is no God;Theat. Hiſt. 127. for though to thee they ſay ſo by day, yet to themſelves and by night they doubt of it, at leaſt. And when they come to dye, they ſometimes cry out they are damned; as did Thomas Blaverus chief Counſellor ſometimes to the King of Scots; and one Arthur Miller a profeſt Atheiſt, and before them both, a certain deſperate Dean of Pauls. Sword againſt Swearer[illegible: 1 letter] Pa. [illegible: 1 letter]4.

Corrupt are they and become abominable] Or loathſome; how ſhould they bee better, that have laid hands upon al the principles in their heads, and made a clean riddancſt of them; that they may run riot in ſin without reſtraint or controule? which while others ſee, they alſo are ready to ſay with that Poet, Sollicitor nullos eſſe putare Deos.

I have read of a Woman who living in profeſſed doubt of the God-head, after better illumination and repentance,Mr. Wards Hap. of Par[illegible: 2 letters] did often proteſt, that the vicious life of a great Schollar in that Town did conjure up thoſe damnable doubtings in her ſoul.

There is none that doeth good] i. e. None to ſpeak of, no conſiderable number, Apparent rarinantes in gurgite vaſto.