Psalms 58

REFLECTIONS UPON PSALM LVIII.—What a plague to a church or nation are unjust rulers! Oppression by law is the most grievous tyranny; and good men often suffer by the partiality of unjust judges. Great humbling to such as see it is the wickedness of the human heart. And it makes those in whom it reigns earnest and obstinate in sinful courses. Neither the terrors of God’s wrath, nor the hopes of the gospel, can effectually change it, unless the Spirit of God open the ear to instruction. But it is a mercy for the saints that God cares for and protects them amidst such barbarous, brutish, and deceitful men, who have power on their side; that he restrains these enemies at pleasure, and makes them even to waste themselves. In a sudden and tremendous manner they are sometimes destroyed. And, however the godly now pity the folly, and bewail the conduct, of sinners, they will hereafter approve God’s justice in their punishment, and triumph in their ruin. At last God will make the most haughty and brutish to know that he governs the world; and that it is only in the way of holiness and virtue that real happiness is to be found. 2