John Trapp on Psalms 38:13

Verſ. 13. But I as a deaf man heard not] But poſſeſſed my ſoul in patience; in quietneſſe and confidence was my ſtrength, Iſa. 30.15. As they were Maſters of their tongues, ſo was I of mine ears. Hee that cannot bear calumnies reproaches and injuries, cannot live, faith Chytraeus; let him even make up his pack, and get him out of the World. Vitus Theodorus ſends to adviſe with Melancthon what to do when Oſiander preached againſt him? Melancthon deſired him for Gods ſake to make no reply, but to behave himſelf as a deaf man that heard not. Vitus writeth back that this was very hard; yet he would obey. Another bravely anſwered one that railed upon him, Facile eſt in me dicore, cum non ſim reſponſurus, Thou maieſt ſpeak what thou wilt; but I will hear no more than I liſt, and puniſh thee with ſilence, or rather with a merry contempt. Princes uſe not to chide [illegible: 1 word] Embaſſadours offer them indecencies, but to deny them audience. That man certainly enjoyeth a brave compoſedneſſe, who ſetteth himſelf above the flight of the injurious claw.

And I was as a dumb man, &c.] He anſwered them by ſilence and taciturnity which is the beſt anſwer to words of ſcorn and petulancy; Thus Iſaac his Brother Iſmael and our Saviour, Pilat, Herod, and Caiaphas; and Giles of Braſſels, when the barking Fryers reviled him, held his peace continually; inſomuch that thoſe blaſphemers would ſay abroad, that he had a dumb Devil in him.Act. & M[illegible: 1 letter]n 811. This is a great victory, not to render evill for evill, or railing for railing, a Pet. 3.9. Nihil fortius, nihil magis egregiam quam audire [illegible: 1 span] ſaith Caſſiodore, nothing is more and return no anſwer. As on the contrary, [illegible: 1 span] he goes by the worſt that hath the better, faith Baſit. And, Sile, & funeſtam dediſti plagam, ſaith [illegible: 1 word]. Say nothing in ſuch a caſe, and thou thereby giveſt thine adverſary a deadly blow.