Psalms 15:2 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

But as the Holy Ghost delights to set forth the glories of the Redeemer's person, offices, and character, he here enters into a more particular description of some of his features. Now, Reader, do not fail to remark, that this walking uprightly, this working righteousness, and this speaking the truth from the heart, never did, nor ever will belong fully to any but Jesus. Even his people that are renewed in spirit, still carry about with them a body of sin and death, under which they groan, and under which, as long as they are in the body, they must groan, being burdened. I consider this so important a point to be well understood, and thoroughly impressed upon the mind, that I beg the Reader not to pass over the view of it too hastily. It is of Jesus the Psalm wholly treats. And though by virtue of his people being righteous in him, they do fully partake in all that belongs to him, and share in all his blessedness, yet they still feel a heart prone to wander, prone to depart. They desire to be conformed to his lovely image in all things, to be holy as he who hath called them is holy, in all conversation and godliness, yet they are constrained frequently to take up the language of the Apostle, and say as he did, When I would do good, evil is present with me. Hence their ascending now by grace upon God's holy hill, in the ordinances of his church, and partaking of all the privileges of Citizens of Zion, and hereafter their dwelling with him in glory, are blessings wholly derived from their acceptance in Jesus, and being members of his body, in a oneness with him. No inherent holiness in them, no righteousness of theirs, first brought them to God's holy hill, nor becomes the cause of preserving them there. Reader, if you know anything of what passeth in your own heart, there you will find the fullest conviction of these precious truths. If you know anything of the Lord Jesus, let him have all the glory, for it is his most certain due.