The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

IN these words the Psalmist cautions us to beware how we receive the teachings offered us: or we may look upon them to be the teaching it self, so that having offered it, he now applies it by way of caution; the thing he adviseth to, is the ready way to experimental teaching, the advice given is a dehortation, including the contrary affirmative in it. The sin he cautions against is Contumacy, or Unteachableness under the means; and the duty insinuated is Mansuetude, or a pliableness of spirit, rendering us ready to receive instruction, and correction, with humble submission. He illustrates it by a similitude taken from the Horse and Mule: as the words give a description of the contumacious frame, so they include the most pungent arguments against it.

IN these words the Psalmist cautions us to beware how we receive the teachings offered us: or we may look upon them to be the teaching it self, so that having offered it, he now applies it by way of caution; the thing he adviseth to, is the ready way to experimental teaching, the advice given is a dehortation, including the contrary affirmative in it. The sin he cautions against is Contumacy, or Unteachableness under the means; and the duty insinuated is Mansuetude, or a pliableness of spirit, rendring us ready to receive instruction, and correction, with humble submission. He illustrates it by a similitude taken from the Horse and Mule: as the words give a description of the contumacious frame, so they include the most pungent arguments against it.

1. He insinuates that it renders us more like Beasts than men; we act more like Horses and Mules, then rational Creatures.

2. He gives a reason of this unteachableness and indocility, it is want of understanding; because they are brutes, and have not the use of reason: The word, Understanding, signifies, consideration in the mind, and a right judgment made upon it.