Second point. That these plots usually begin in pride ; for David saith here, ' The proud have digged pits for me.'' Therefore it is pride that puts men upon designs of mischief and ruin to others. Pride showeth itself in the envy of superiors, contention with equals, or the disdain of inferiors.
1. Take pride as it venteth itself by envy at any excellency, or sup- posed excellency, in others. Search the scriptures, and you will say this puts men upon plotting the mischief of their neighbours' religious eminency. Man cannot endure to be outstripped in religion ; there- fore men malign and liate what they will not imitate, and then seek to destroy and undermine God's people. It was Abel's goodness that made Cain plot against him, to draw him into the field that he might kill him, 1 John iii. 12. The power of godliness is an eyesore to those that would look no further than the form of it. Or it may be the men of the world do envy the godly should thrive by them. This made the presidents lay a snare and gin for Daniel. When the gospel is likely to get credit, ' the Jews, moved with envy,' seek to suppress it. Acts xvii. 5. Pride is loath to stoop, or to see opposites in any honour and request. The Pharisees conspired to take Christ : John xii. 19, ' Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing ? the whole world is gone after him.' They were galled to the heart to see such flocking and resorting to Christ after he had raised Lazarus from the dead. Some men will neither serve Christ themselves, nor endure that others should do it, therefore Christ must be taken out of the way. The plots of Sanballat and Tobias were their envy at the Jews.
2. As pride venteth itself by contention with equals ; for only ' by pride cometh contention.' Thus the Jews conspired to kill Paul ; they looked upon him as one that had cried down the customs of their nation. This made Absalom plot the death of Amnon, because of the quarrel he had with him, and the dishonour he had done his sister : he bids him to dinner, and plieth him with cups till he is merry, and then killeth him, 2 Sam. xiii. 22.
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3. As it A'enteth itself by the disdain of underlings. Haman could not endure to see Mordecai in the king's gate, Esther v. 13, and there- fore contriveth how to root him out and all his nation. Pride disdaineth the meanness of God's people, and that they should have any subsistence, and think they may oppress them freely, and root them out : Ps. cxxiii. 4, ' We are filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.' They scorn the people of God, and think they may do what they please with them witliout control.
Well, then, this informeth us how much we should look to things betimes. The wickedness of David's enemies began in pride, went on in malicious plotting, and then they stick at no iniquity. When once we are engaged in a course of sin, there is usually no stop. Pride in some sense is the original of all wickedness, but more especially of malicious dealing with tlie people of God : Ps. x. 2, ' The wicked, in the pride of his heart, doth persecute the poor.' The godly many times are in a mean condition when their adversaries are in power, and can easily oppress them as underlings ; but men forget the great God, who is their defender, and whose work and business it is to cast down the proud : James iv. 6, avrLrdaaerai, he standeth in battle array. And proud they are certainly who use their power to oppression, and care not what terms they put upon them.
Third point. That God can, when he will, and usually doth, protect his people against the plots of the proud ; for therefore David bringeth the cause before God.
First, That God can, when he will, protect his people against the fraud and violence of their enemies. There are two grounds of trust — his wisdom, and the vigilancy of his providence.
1. His wisdom. As we have God's power to trust in against their violence, so God's wisdom against their frauds and deceits : Job xii. 13, ' With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and under- standing.' Wisdom implieth his accurate knowledge of things ; counsel, his advised government of them ; wisdom, his disposing and ordering things aright with respect to their ends. He hath understanding to find out all secrets, counsel to know fit means to bring his purposes to pass, and wisdom to order the means for attaining these ends.
Observe there, first, how wisdom and strength are there coupled ; as in that text, so elsewhere : Job ix. 4, ' He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength.' As he hath wisdom to judge, so power to execute or effect all his counsels. So Job xxxvi. 5, ' Ijehold God is mighty in strength and wisdom.' There is no standing out against supreme wisdom and invincible power ; both together make God the most dreadful enemy and the most desirable friend.