John Trapp on Psalms 14:5

Verſ. 5. There were they in great fear [illegible: 1 letter] There? and they? and in great fear? where? and who? and what kind of fear was it they were in? For anſwer; There, that is, in the generation of the righteous, in the aſſemblies of the Saints, according to that, Pſal. 76.3. There brake he the arrows of the Bow, the Shield, and the Sword, and the Battel. Selah. There, that is, in Salem, where is Gods Tabernacle; and in Sion, where is his dwelling place, verſ. 2. in the Congregation where the Saints were praying. Or, There, that is, in the very place where they oppreſſed and devoured the poor, they were ſurpriſed with a ſudden horrour; even there where they had ſaid,In locoubi opprimu[illegible: 2 letters], R. David. peace and ſafety &c. and where no fear was, Pſal. 53.5. no apparent cauſe of ſuch an amazement, Iſa. 13.8. A panick terrour fell upon them; they feared a fear, as the Hebrew hath it, but could not tell why: The Hornet within ſtings them, and they have many a ſecret twinge that the World is never aware of. Saul was afraid of David, and Catiline trembled upon the leaſt noyſe made.

For God is in the generation of the righteous] And natural Conſcience cannot but do homage to the Image of God, ſtamped upon the natures and works of the godly. See it in the carriage of Nebuchadnezzar and Darius toward Daniel, ſticking ſtoutly to his Principles. The piety, patience, mercy, goodneſs, expreſt by the righteous when oppreſſed, makes the hearts of wicked men ake within them; and they are ſore afraid of the Name of God called upon by them, Deut. 38.10. Or, God is in the generation of the righteous, ſcil. Ad juvandum eum, ſaith Aben-Ezra, to ſupport and ſuccour them; and that ſtrangely many times, the enemies themſelves being Judges, to their great aſtoniſhment.