2. The despised —
[What harm has it done you hitherto, that you have been despised by an ungodly world ? Only seek your happiness in God, and you need not mind what man shall say concerning you. Man's judgment is but for "a dai/^^ :" whereas God's judgment will be for ever. The Prophets, the Apostles, and our Lord Jesus Christ, were thei/ approved of men? On the contrary, was there any thing too bad for men to say concerning them? Be content, then, to be "partakers of Christ's suf- ferings ; that, when he shall appear, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy\" In truth, to be despised for righteousness' sake is your highest honour '', and shall surely issue in your more exalted happiness'.]
i> 1 Cor. iv. 3. The margin. * 1 Pet. iv. 13.
k 1 Pet. iv. 14. Acts v. 41. i Rom. viii. 17-
Ps. xiv. 7. 0 that the salvatmi of Israel were come out of Zion ! When the Lord hringeth hack the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall he glad.
ON what occasion this psahn was written, we know not : but there are two things which render it pre-eminently worthy of our attention : the one is, that, with very httle alteration, it is repeated in another psalm''; and the other is, that a very con- siderable part of it is cited by the Apostle Paul, not for the mere purpose of illustrating any point, but for establishing that doctrine which lies at the very foundation of Christianity, the universal and total depravity of human nature''. The Psalmist has evi- dently been reflecting on the extreme wickedness of the human heart, in that men, for the purpose of prosecuting their evil ways without fear, would banish God himself from the universe", and, by impious derision, drive out all regard for piety from the world''. Being oppressed, and overwhelmed, as it were, w4th this painful contemplation, he breaks forth into this devout rapture : " O that the salvation
a Ps. liii. ^ Compare ver. 1 — 3. vdth Pvom. iii. 10 — 12, 19.
<^ ver. 1. <i ver. 6.