Homilist Psalm 17:3 You have proved my heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tried me, and shall find nothing… Such was the pious resolution of the Psalmist when the tongues of his enemies were transgressing both against him and his God. Silence would produce the better effect, both on his own mind and on his enemies. I. THE EVIL WHICH THE PSALMIST DREADED. Transgressing with his tongue. The tongue, indeed, is only the channel through which the depravity of the heart proceeds, but it is a channel of remarkable facility. It is liable to transgress — 1. Against God. By murmuring at the providence of God. 2. Against mankind. There are cruel expressions of malice and revenge sometimes uttered by one man against another to ruin his character. There are those who injure religion and their character by a propensity to speak with levity or bitterness. There are those who transgress by flattery-an evil more injurious than the keenest reproach sometimes. II. THE BEST MEANS OF AVOIDING THIS EVIL. "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man." What does this purpose imply? 1. A serious regard to Divine inspection and authority. 2. Attention to the state of the heart. 3. We should aim to cultivate religious knowledge, and promote, at every proper opportunity, religious conversation. The most likely way to preserve the tongue from evil is to employ it in what is valuable and useful Prepared by the secret exercises of piety and devotion, we shall enjoy the full delights of domestic and social life without injury and without remorse. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. |
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