[1.] The terror of kings or men in power may be supposed to be a hindrance to the free confession of God's truth ; therefore he saith, ' I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings.'
[2.] Carnal shame may breed a loathness to own God's despised ways ; therefore he addeth, ' I will not be ashamed.' David would neither be afraid nor ashamed, if called thereto, to make this open con- fession, to own God and his truth.
First, His resolution against fear deserveth a little opening : ' I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings.' The words may be looked upon as a direction for them who are called to speak before kings. Men may suppose to be called —
1. Either by the duty of their office, to speak to them in a way of instruction ; or
2. As convened before them in a judiciary way, to give an account of their faith.
1. In the first sense, those who are called to instruct kings ought with the greatest confidence to recommend the ways of God to them, as that which will enhance their crowns and dignity, and make it more glorious and comfortable to them and their subjects than anything else. And so David's resolution showeth what faithfulness becometh them who live in the courts of princes. It concerneth jn-inces to be instructed : Ps. ii. 10, ' Be wise now therefore, ye kings ; be instructed, 3"e judges of the earth.' Few speak plainly and sincerely to them, as Nathan to Dnvid : 2 Sam. xii. 7, ' Thou art the man;' and God to
Ver. 4G.] sermons upon psalm cxix. 487
David : 2 Sam. xxiv. 13, ' Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land ; or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee ? or that there be three days' pestilence in the land ? ' John tlie Baptist to Herod : Mat. xiv. 4, ' It is not lawful for thee to have her.' Jehu to Jehoshaphat : 2 Chron. xix. 2, ' Shouldest thou iielp the ung-odly, and love them that hate the Lord ? therefore is w-rath upon thee from before the Lord.' j\Iany times tliey are impatient of truth, as Ahab could not endure Micaiah : 1 Kings xxii. 8, ' And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, ' There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord ; but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil,' Sec. (Josephus, lib. viii. cap. 10 ; Theodoret, lib. iv. cap. 30).
2. If convened before them in a judiciary way, as the three children were before Nebuchadnezzar : Dan. iii. 13, ' Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and they brought these men before the king;' and ver. 16-18, ' They answered and said to the king, 0 Nebuchadnezzar ! we are not careful to answer thee in this matter ; if it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of thine hand, 0 king ; but if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve tiiy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up ; ' Mat. x. 18, 19, ' Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a tes- timony against them.' There are some kings that have not submitted their crowns and sceptres to the King of kings ; so pagans and wicked princes who can neither endure the truth, nor those which profess it. 'Oi KaXkiVLKOi /xdpTvpe<; tmv Svcrcre^cov Karecfjpovrjaev j3aaL\ecdv. The children of God ought not to be daunted by any power and fear of princes. Their power may be a terror to us, and in other cases ought to be reverenced by us ; but it should not be a snare to us, to make us desert our duty to God. We must never forget the honour put upon them ()y God : they bear his image, and in all lawful cases Ave acknowledge God's authorit}'' in them ; they are those by whom God wall govern us ; but if anything be decreed against God, we only urge our obed- ience to the Lord paramount : Acts iv. 19, ' Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than God, judge ye ;' Acts v. 29, ' Then Peter and the apostles answered and said. We ought to obey God rather than men.'
The latter branch needeth little explaining. What shall we ob- serve ?
1. If I should take the first reference, and urge the duty of kings and princes, that would be unseasonable for this auditory. It is a })re- posterous solecism to preach to the people the duty of kings, and then to kings the duty of their people ; as foolish a course as to make fires in summer, and adorn the chimney with herbs and flowers in winter.
2. If I should speak of the second reference, the clemency of the government we live under maketh it unseasonable also ; for our king (whom God preserve) hath often avowed his resolutions against ])erse- cutions for conscience' sake. Therefore, waiving all other things, I shall only insist upon two points, which are necessary, partly to show the excellency of our religion which we profess, partly to guide our practice.