And farther, (saith the Psalmist) although I suffer affliction for the sake of that true and sound doctrine to which I cleave, and though, by afflictions returning again and again, my bones be broken in pieces and scattered like clods of earth before the penetrating and dividing plough; yet I had rather be reproved and smitten by godly and true teachers, and so acknowledge my sin, and rest upon the promise of God, than hear all the flattering words of those hypocrites who deceive themselves and others; and who pretend to have peace with God, when there is no such peace unto them. For all such teachers and their hypocrisies shall be hurled, as it were, from a mighty precipice, and they shall suddenly be dashed to pieces and shall perish together; their glory shall be hurried into confusion, and their end shall be utter destruction; and then it shall appear how bitter their pleasing doctrine is. PSALM CXLII. _David sheweth that in his trouble all his comfort was in prayer unto God._ Maschil of David; a Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the LORD with my voice: with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him: I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path; in the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on _my_ right hand, and beheld, but _there was_ no man that would know me; refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou _art_ my refuge, _and_ my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors: for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shall deal bountifully with me. This Psalm is a prayer; wherein the Psalmist, being now surrounded with peril on every side, cries unto God out of prison, as it were, by reason of the great cruelty and malice of false teachers, who persecuted him on account of the word. As the people of Israel were a stiff-necked people, their Cainish malice and bitterness had so hardened them, that they stoned, rejected, and killed the true prophets, on account of their preaching of the word, and maintaining the true worship of God; and had given themselves up to hypocrisy and idolatry; and all this, their histories of them testify; as does Christ also, (Matt. xxiii.) and Stephen. (Acts vii.)