" Jehovah my God, in thee have I found refuge; Save me from my persecutors and deliver me I" How much he felt the wrong which they had done him, and how intensely hie zeal burned against their sin against God and man, appear!! in many of his psalms (Pe. xx.iv. 13; xxxv. 11; Iii. 2; Jvi. 5; !vii. 4; lix. 7, &c.). Good men are often exposed to the calumnious attacks of men of similar character. " Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, Thou shalt not escape calumny." I. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ODIOUS OF VICES. It is "the uttering of £alee (or ,equivalent to false, morally false) speech ag~inst our_ neighbour in p~ej~dice to _his fame, his safety, his welfare, or con,~ernment rn any k_,_i:i,d, out o~ i:nahg1!1t1, v9:mty, ra8hness, ill nature, or bad design (Barrow, Ser. xvm.); an~ 1~ IB _exh1b1t~d lil an -endless variety of ways. 1. It is marked by falsehood, folly, mJust1ce, mahce, and impiety. 2. It exerts a most pernicious inJl.uence. The tongue on which it dw_ells is like a fire, which (though at first but a emgle spark) may set a whole forest m a blaze (Ja mes iii. 5) ; is "full of deadly poison," and sends forth "arrows, firebrands, and death." In private reputations, domestic life, social int~rcourse, the Church a~d the world, what mischief it works I 3. It is frequently forbidden and condemned ID tlie word of God (Levit. xix. 16; Prov. x. 31 ; 1 Cor. vi 9). "I say unto you that Cll. XXIV, 1-22.] TIIE FIRST BOOK OF SAJ\,f'UEL. 471
every idle ( empty, insincere, wicked, and injurious) word," &c. (t.fatt, xii. 36, 37). "God is angry (with the wicked) every day" (Ps. vii. 11). II. IT OTJGHT NEVfo:n TO IlE COUNTRNANCED. "Wherefore hearest thou?" NO one should listen to it; for by doing so-1. He encourages the wicked in their wickedness (Prov. xxv. 23). "When will talkers refrain from evil speaking? When listeners refrain from evil hearing" (Hare). 2. He in,jures himself; becomes a tool of design ing men, and is !eel to clo thjngs which his better nature cannot approve; whilst, o; the same time, he manifests his own unreasonableness and sinful disposition. 3. He 1,:akes himRelf "partaker of their evil deeds," and exposes himself to the same con- demnation. Although incited by others, Saul was not guiltless in "hunting after,· the soul of Dc1vid "to tc1ke it" ( ver. 11 ). III. IT SHOU~D ALWAYS BE MET IN A RIGHT MANNER by those who are c;i.lnmniated; as by-1. An open assertion of innocence, direct denial and rebuke of false state- ments, and faithful remonstrance against their being entertained. "\Vhose mouths., (says Paul concerning unruly and vain talkers and deceivers) "must be stopp~cl ·' (Titus i. 11 ). 2. A clear proof of innocence afforded by becoming, righteous, :rn,l merciful actions (vcrs. 10, 11 ; compare Ps. vii. 3, 4). 3. A sincere appeal to Gud as the Vindicator of the innocent; lowly submission to his will and firm confidenr·,• in the manifestation of his righteous judgment. "The justice of God is a refogi, and comfort to oppressed innocency" (M. Henry). 11 The Lord judge between 111e and thee," &c. (ver. 12). "Jehovah judgeth the people. Judge me, 0 Jehovah, according to my righteonsness, And according to my integrity be it done to me. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, And establish thou the righteous ; For thou that triest the hearts and reins art a righteous God. l\ly shield is with God, Who delivers the upright in heart" (Ps. vii. 8, 9, 10). Learn-1. To use the gift of speech in speaking well, and not ill, of others. 2. To rely on God more than on your own efforts for your vindication when evil spoken of. 3. The blessedness of those against whom men II say all manner of evil falsely '' for Christ's sake.-D.
Vera. 13-15. (ENGEDI.)-A proverb of tlie ancients. 11 Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked" (ver. 13). Proverbs are brief and apt sayings expressive of the general experience of men. They have been described as " the wisdom of many and the wit of one" (Russell); and, more poetically, "jewels five words long, which on the stretched forefinger of time sparkle for ever" (Tennyson). The most valuable of II the words of the wise " were uttered by Solomon, and are contained in the Book of Proverbs. But this saying was already ancient in the days of David. ·It is also " true and faithful " and very instructive. Consider- !. 1TB MEANING. 11 Ill men do ill things." "Actions usually correspond to the quality of the mind" (Grotius). 1. An evil disposition is possessed by some men. The ancient.ll noticed the distinction between evil actions (as well as good) and evil character (as well as good). There is in some men, in contrast to others, a selfish and bad disposition. All men, it is true, are sinful ; but some, instead of striving against sin and overcoming it, are the slaves of sin ; their supreme affection is set upon unworthy objects, and the ruling principle of their life is wrong. This is due to many causes-previous voluntary acts, wilful neglect of Divine aid, &c. ; but the fact is certain. Their nat~tre differs from that of good men just as (though not so necessarily or to the same extent) the serpent from the dove, and the thistle from the vine. 2. An evil disposition expresses itself in corresponding actio~. It uses power and opportunity according to its nature (ver. 19), and turns to evil the same circumstances which a good disposition turns to good (ver. 6). This is in harmony with the established order of things in the world. "A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit" (Luke vi. 43). "po men gather grapes of thorns?" &c. (Matt. vi. 16-:--20 i ,:Xii 35 ). 11 D_o_th a fou:1- tam send forth at the same place 8\\'ect ,rnter aucl bitter: &c. (James 111. 11-13 i THE FIRST DOOK OF S.\l\lUEL. [err. XXIV. l-22.