John Trapp on Psalms 38:16

Verſ. 16. For I ſaid, hear me, leſt otherwiſe, &c.] He ſpread their vile ſpeeches before the Lord, as afterwards good [illegible: 1 word] did Rabſheeds Letter; and as it was ſaid of Charls 5. that he ſpake more to God than to men; ſo did David. His former ſilence therefore was not either from ſtupidity (a Sheep bitten by a Dog is as ſenſible thereof as a Swine, though he make not ſo great a noyſe) nor from inability to make his own defence, if it had been to any purpoſe, for he was both innocent and eloquent: but he thought it farre better to ſuſtain himſelf in faith and patience, and meekly to commit himſelf to God in well-doing, as unto a faithfull Creator. Beſides, he feared, leſt if he ſpake at all in this caſe, he ſhould ſpeak unadviſedly with his lips (as it is very eaſte to exceed) and ſo give occaſion to the enemy to triumph, as the Papiſts did over Luther, for his hot and haſty ſpeeches.

When my foot ſlippeth] Or, when my tongue out-laſheth in the leaſt, they deſire no other ſport, but lay it in my diſh as a foul diſgrace. My Motto therefore ſhall be, (and my practice according) Taceo, Fero, Spero, I ſay nothing, but ſuffer, and hope for better.