Psalms 141:3,4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Set a watch, O Lord, &c.— Mr. Peters paraphrases these two verses thus: "I am now going to seek a retreat from the persecutions of my master Saul, amidst a race of idolaters, who will be curious to observe all my words and actions, and will attempt to draw me in to be a partaker with them in their idol worship, or suspect me as a spy or enemy, if I refuse to comply with them. But do thou, O Lord, set a watch before my mouth, a guard over the door of my lips; that I may neither endanger my own safety by my imprudent carriage, nor violate my religion by any weak compliances. Preserve me from that greatest of all evils, the renouncing thee to follow vain and strange gods. Let me not be guilty of this heinous and presumptuous sin, nor not so much as in thought. Let me abhor to play the hypocrite, by joining in the abominations of the heathen, though but in shew and appearance only: nor let me ever be allured by their luscious rites, or their luxurious meats, to mix in their religious festivals." We refer to the learned writer's laborious and ingenious criticism in vindication of this paraphrase.