John Trapp on Psalms 19:7

Verſ. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect] Or, Doctrin: the whole Word of God, commonly diſtinguiſhed into Law and Goſpel, is perfect immaculate, ſincere, entire, compleat. It Tully durſt ſay, that the Law of the twelve Tables in Rome did exceed all the Libraries of Philoſophers, both in weight of authority, and fruit-fulneſs of matter, how much rather is this true of Gods Law, ſaith a Learned Writer? Nothing may be added to it without marring of it, Prov. 30.6. Note this againſt Jewiſh, Popiſh, and Turkiſh Traditions, and additions; as alſo againſt Antiſcripturiſts, and Anabaptiſts, who at firſt rejected all Books but the Bible; and after that grew ſo wiſe as to be religious enough without that alſo. And laſt of all, they came to blaſpheme that bleſſed Book, as a dead Letter, and a beggerly Element, &c. when as the Apoſtle telleth us, that all Scripture is pure, precious, and profitable for Doctrin, for reproof, &c. that the Man of God may be perfect, &c. 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. Here in this, and the two following Verſes, it is eaſie to obſerve; [illegible: 1 letter]. That every of them are in the Hebrew written with ten words. 2. That here is a Six-fold commendation of Gods holy Word. 1. By the ſeveral names thereunto given, Law, Teſtimony, Statutes, &c. 2. By the Nature, perfect, ſure, right &c. 3. By the effects, converting the ſoul, making wiſe the ſimple, &c.

Converting the Soul] This no Doctrin beſides can do. Plato went thrice to Sicily to convert Dionyſius the Tyrant, but could not. Ambroſe ſaith well of Polemo, Integra eſt Doctrina, ac proinde animo[illegible: 1 letter] redintegrat. Jun. De Elia & jejunio cap. 12 who of a Drunkard, by hearing Xenocrates, became a Philoſopher, Si reſipuit à vino, fuit ſemper tamen temulentus ſacrilegio, if he gave over his Drunkenneſs, yet he continued ſtill drunk with ſuperſtition. Seneca the Philoſopher wrote a Book (now loſt) againſt ſuperſtitions, but yet lived and died in them; Colebat quod reprehendebat, agebat quod arguebat, quod culpabat adorabat, ſaith Auſtin of him, he exerciſed what he condemned, and would not leave what he did ſo utterly diſlike. But the Word works a tranſmentation, an entire change of the mind, and manners, a new Creation, 2 Cor. 5.17.

The testimony of the Lord is ſure] Theſe words are faithful and true, Rev. 22.6. they are all in righteouſneſs, neither is there in them any thing perverſe or froward, Prov. 8.8. Teſtimonies they are called, 1. Becauſe they teſtifie (as a Record) to all Ages what the will of the Lord is, Joh. 5.39. 2. They were given with great conteſtation, and preſſing of all men to keep them. 3. They will be a witneſs againſt all ſuch as do not. The Goſpel alſo is called a Teſtimony, 1 Cor. 2.1. 2 Theſ. 1.10. Iſa. 18.20.

Making wiſe the ſimple] That is, the humble, teachable, and ſuch as are not puffed up with a conceit of their own wiſdom, 1 Cor. 7.18. the very entrance into Gods word giveth light, it giveth underſtanding to the ſimple, or to the perſwadable, Pſal. 119.130. It is reaſonable milk, 1 Pet. 2.2.