the time the psalm was written he was not yet exalted to the throne of Israel,) he regarded all, to whom he had access, as his children ; and was anxious, as a loving parent, to gain their attention, that he might instil into their minds those truths which he himself felt to be of supreme importance. He wished in particular to shew them, what we also are desirous to point out to you,
I. Wherein the fear of the Lord consists —
The fear of the Lord is such a reverential regard to him as inclines us to walk in all things according to his revealed will, and to approve ourselves to him,
1. In our words —
[" Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak;" and every evil that is in the heart will betray itself by the tongue. Truly the tongue is justly called an unruly member: like a helm of a ship, it is but a small matter ; but it boasteth great things. It is declared by God himself to be " a world of iniquity ;" '^ a fire, setting in flames the course of nature, and itself set on fire of hell." So untameable is it, that the man who bridles it on all occasions is pronounced to be " a perfect man :" whilst, on the other hand, the man who has no command over it, however religious he may fancy himself, or be thought by others, he is a self-deceiver, whose religion is vain**. It is therefore with great propriety that David specifies the controul of the tongue as the first evidence of the fear of God ; " Whoso desireth life, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile." Not only must all profane speeches and all impure communica- tions be forborne, but every thing that is false and deceitful, or corrupt in any way whatever. Every proud, angry, passionate, revengeful word must be suppressed, whatever may be the pro- vocation to utter it : all calumny, detraction, uncharitableness, tale-bearing, must be avoided, and " the law of truth and of kindness be continually in the lips," God has said, that *' of every idle word we must give account in the day of judgment," and that " by our words we shall be either justified or con- demned ;" and therefore the fear of the Lord must of necessity cause us to " take heed to our ways, that we sin not with our tongue."]
2. In our actions —
[Sin is " that abominable thing which God hates :" and it should be universally and irreconcileably hated by us : " We must depart from evil, and do good." Whatever evil we may have been
most » See Jam, iii. 2—8,