glorified Of whom it followeth Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect And this was the confession of the whole Church of k Passê° est Christo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eusebius lib. 4. Histor Ecclesiast cap. 15. Smyrna in the primitiue and purer times thereof as wee reade in the Ecclesiasticall histories The euidence of this point is so great that the Schoolemen l Lumbardus lib. 3. Distinct 18. also haue acknowledged the same though liuing in the dayes of more darkenesse and corruption distinguishing m Innocentius 3. lib. 2. de officio Missae cap. 41. Aquinas in 1. ad Tim. 2. Lectione 1. in fine pro aliquibus efficaciter pro omnibus sufficienter in 5. cap. Apocalypseos Anselmus lib. 2. Cur Deus homo cap. 14 15. de sufficientia efficientia mortis Christi the sufficiency reacheth vnto al the effect to the Elect only and they giue a reason of this n Aquinas summa contra Gentes lib. 4. cap. 55. sect 26. Vide Galatinum de arcanis Cathol religionis exponentem Esaiae cap. 53. lib. 8. cap. 14. distinction For the death of Christ is as an vniuersall cause of saluation as the sinne of Adam an vniuersall cause of damnation Now an vniuersall cause must be applyed in speciall to euery one that they may receiue the effect thereof The effect of the sinne of the first man commeth vnto all by carnall generation the effect of the death of Christ must be conueyed by spirituall regeneration whereby man in a sort is conioyned and incorporated with him It were very easie to adde to these few greater number of o De hac materia Vrsinus in oratione habita de quaestione ad quos feuctus mortis resurrectionis Christi pertineat Grinaeus Theologicorum Theorematum parte 3. de fidelibus quorum causa Christus Iesus mortnus est resurrexit sunt de ea integri Tractatus Vt Iohannis Iezleri de fructu mortis Dominicae libri quinque Iacobi Kimedoncij de redemptione gene is humani libritres 〈◊〉 Amandi Polani Syntagmate lib. 6. cap. 18. proofes but needlesse Vse First therefore for application let this teach vs to pray for faith so the Apostles Lord increase our faith Luc. 17. 5. for as in that first Sermon preached to the Gentils in Cornelius house which was confirmed by a visible signe the holy Ghost descending vpon them that were present S. Peter said To him that is Christ all the Prophets giue witnesse that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes Act. 10. 43. And prayer is the keye of heauen opening vnto vs the treasury of Gods blessings it ascends graces descends among them is this faith donum infusum p Aquinas 2. 2. q 6. art 1. So an example in Austin when he went to Millan to heare S. Ambrose eloquence Veniebant in mentem meam ait simul cum verbis quae diligebaÌ„ res etiaÌ„ quaÌ„ negligebam cumcor aperitem ad excipiendum quam disertè diceret pariter intrabat quam verè diceret c. Confess l. 5. c. 14. a gift infused therefore to you it is giuen saith the Apostle that you should beleeue Phil. 1. 29. Secondly let vs be thankefull to God for the blessing vouchsafed vs so S. Paul being conuerted after the rehearsall of his former estate and of his calling and mercy obtained breaketh forth thus Therefore to the King immortall inuisible vnto God onely wise be glory for euer and euer 1. Timoth. 1. 17. Thirdly this may be an admonition to examine our selues whether we be in Christ or no 1. Cor. 13. 5. which will be apparant by the holy fruits as faith loue hope receiuing the word with ioy 1. Thess 1. 3 4 5. obedience Ioh. 10. 28. prayer and newnesse of life 2. Tim. 2. 19. strife against sinne and victory ouer the same Rom. 7. 23 24 25. and such like So that we liue not now according to our owne wils but the will of him Christ Iesus who hath died once for vs all 2. Cor. 5. 17. And he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquities The originall word here translated Iniquities signifieth q Malum peccatorium malum vltorium Tertul. aduersus Marcionem l. 2. two things the materiall and the formall of sinne as the Schoolemen call it that is the corruption disorder defect and inclination repugnant to the law of God the inherent disease the euill of offence and also the guilt binding vnto punishment temporal and eternall according to the order of diuine iustice the euill of punishment and so it is vsed for both these oftentimes in Scripture as Gen. 4. 13. Lament 4. 3 Psal 32. 5. Esay 53. 11. and else-where The Prophet hauing a reference to that which he said before Doctrine viz. That with the Lord was great redemption now by way of Exposition adding For he shall redeeme Israel from all his sinnes teacheth that God in Christ doth perfectly free all the faithfull both from their sinnes and from the punishment due vnto them for he is that r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word but once vsed in the new Testament al-sufficient ransom 1. Tim. 2. 5. and therefore those that die in the Lord doe rest from their labours Reuel 14. 13. for Å¿ Suscipiendo paenam non culpam culpam deleuit paenaÌ„ Augustinus de verbis domini Ser. 37. Christ taking vpon him the punishment not the sinne hath put away both the sinne and the punishment so that there is now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Iesus Rom. 8. 1. The truth of which position appeareth thus First the immediate t Caúsa proxima sublata tollitur effectus nam omnis causa proxima cum suo essectu reciprocatur cause being taken away the effect must needes cease as when corrupt humours from whence distemperature and sickenesse come be purged the body recouereth former health Now what respect there is of the cause u Paena est effectus peccati paena simpliciter vt habet rationem paenae semper habet ordinem ad culpam Aquinas 1. 2. q. 87. art 〈◊〉 7. to the effect the same is betweene the offence and the punishment therefore if the offence be pardoned the punishment is released for all punishment is inslicted in regard of a fault committed And the reason thereof is that irreuocable decree of God when he forbad to eate of the fruite of the tree of knowledge of good and euill vnder that penalty What day soeuer thou eate thereof thou shalt die Gen. 2. 17. for euen then he was in a sort x Mortuus est Adam peccans r. Quoad reatuÌ„ 2. quoad moriendi necessitatem 3. quoad initia mortis corporalis per morbos c. dead in respect of the guilt as a man condemned is accounted but dead though the execution be deferred of the necessity of dying which he
AN EXPOSITION VPON THE 130. PSAL. Gathered out of some of the An cient fathers and later writers A Song of Degrees PSALME 130. 1. OVt of the deepe places haue I called vnto thee O Lord. 2. Lord heare my voice let thine eares attend to the voice of my prayers 3. If thou Lord streightly markest Iniquities O Lord who shall stand 4. But mercy is with thee that thou maiest bee feared 5. I haue waited on the Lord my soule hath waited and I haue trusted in his word 6. My soule waiteth on the Lord more then the morning watch watcheth for the morning 7. Let Israel waite on the Lord for with the Lord is mercy and with him is great Redemption 8. And hee shall redeeme Israel from all his Iniquities The Argument THIS Psalme is a liuely and expresse picture representing a soule discouraged at the sight of his sinnes troubled at the feare of the wrath of God and looking for the due stroake of vengeance And therefore vpon bended knees lifteth vp the hands for mercy Now because in the greatest Saints liuing vpon earth a valley of teares a place of temptation there is the flesh and the spirit and those contrarie one to another Galath 5. 17. this is not effected without great strife wherefore the holy Ghost layeth out here two opposite passions most plainly Feare in respect of euill-deseruing sinnes and hope in regard of vndeserued mercies for the Treatise it selfe it is mixt partly a Prayer partly an Exhortation In the prayer the Prophet sheweth his faith and hope Faith in that striuing against despaire he putteth vp his supplication and complaint Generally expressing his distressed estate Out of the deep places I haue called vpon thee O Lord particularly desiring release of punishmen Lord heare my voice And discharge of his sinne Let thing eares attend to the voice of my prayers suiters for pardon and mercy for so the word signifieth Amplified by the causes mans sinne deseruing expressed by way of confession If thou O Lord markest iniquites who can stand of Gods vndeserued mercy But mercy is with thee Illustrated by the end that thou maiest be feared This for his faith for his hope beeing perswaded that God will be mercifull he first layeth it downe absolutely I haue waited on the Lord. And this is enlarged from the efficient that it is not a formall protestation of the tongue but a sincere resolution of the heart My soule hath waited from the obiect I haue trusted in thy word that is in the sweete promises of pardon of sinnes from the constancie and continuance thereof comparatiuely expressed in a liuely picture and excelling in a higher degree that whereunto it is resembled More then the morning watch watcheth for the morning Hitherto the prayer The second Generall part is an Exhortation to the whole Church in which there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what it must doe and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherefore doe so for the first the dutie expounded or matter subiect of the Exhortation it is waiting Waite wherein be considerable the person who must waite Israel and vpon whome The Lord. For the second wherefore in it two reasons motiue one Generall for with the Lord is mercy amplified by the quantity Great and by the quality Redemption The other particular by way of application wherein the Acte and he shall redeeme Israel and the extent from all his iniquities And this is the resolution and summe of the whole Psalme the specialties are farther laied out in the Exposition of euery part by it selfe A Song of Degrees CONcerning the title of Inscription of this Psalme In it are considerable the author the forme the matter For the Author Principall the holy Ggost Secondarie as the pen man thereof either Dauid or some Prophet of that time for all Scripture is giuen by Diuine inspiration 2. Tim. 3. 16. and the holy men did not speake of themselues but as they were mooued by the holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1. 21. For the forme A song an especiall manner of indighting and that both for helpe of memorie and also to cause a deeper impression in the mind for musical numbers doe wonderfully affect the soule a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alex. Aphrodisl 1. Problem 121. Atheneê° Dipno sophiston l. 14. c. 5 Casanbonê° in suis adeundent l. commentarijs Cassiedorê° l. 2. variarum Epist 40. Librê° Giraldê° de historiae poctarum Dialog 9. Plutarchê° l. de musica As in Elisha 2. Kin. 3. 15. so Dauid playing vpon his harpe refreshed Saul when he was troubled with an euill spirit 1. Sam. 16. 23. And the Physitions attribute much vnto them as forceable to cure the maladies of the bodie b Agelliê° noct atticarum l. 4. cap 13. Alexander ab Alexandro dierum Genialium lib. 2. cap 16. Vide Iohan. Langium lib. 2. Epist 46. S. Augustine reporteth of himselfe that the Harmonie and melodie of the Psalmes sung in the Church did cause the teares to trickle from his eyes proceeding from ioy wrought in his heart c Confessionum lib. 9. cap. 6. For the matter a Psalme of Degrees coÌ„cerning the interpretation of which word there is so great variety of iudgment among the learned that it is vnpossible what to determine thereof as vndoubtedly true d Pelargus in hunc Psal Gesnerum in titulum Ps 120. The conceipts of the Rabbins are idle and meere fabulous of a deepe and bottomlesse gulfe which so swelled when the foundation of the temple was laid that it threatned the ouerflowing of the whole world but by the name of God which they call Shem-Hamphoras e De nomine Shemhamphoras Petrus Galatinê° de arcanis catholicae veritatis l. 2. c. 10. Iohan Drusiê° de Tetragammato c. 6. was restrained this opinion contradicteth the expresse promise Gen. 9. 11. or of their returne from that dispersion by which they are now scattered abroad in the world when with Messias whom they yet looke for hope to goe vp to Ierusalem f Pelargâ—◠〈◊〉 hunc Psalâ—â— a vaine imagination Others and among them some of the ancient fathers and latter writers haue their sondrie opinions gessing rather then resoluing what might be the certaine signification thereof As first That this Psalme and the rest of the same title in number fifteene be called Psalmes of Degrees g Artê° ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ in Antiquita libê° Iudaicis de Templi fabrica Buntingê° in prima parte Iteneraril sacro Nicholaus Lyranus from those steps by which the Priests and Leuites ascended from that place of the temple which is called the great court 2. Chron. 4. 9. And in the Gospell Salomons Porch Iohn 10. 23. where the people did pray into a higher roome named the inward court of the house of the Lord. 2. Chron. 24. 21. and in solemne feast daies sung these Psalmes vpon euery stayer once And this might be an outward Ceremonie admonishing all who serue God to doe it with lifted vp hearts so Cyprian
iust men that need no amendment of life Luo. 15. 7. Therefore well spake Bernard I consider three things h Sermone tertio de fragmentis septem misericordiarum in which all my hope resteth the loue of the adoption the truth of the promise the power of the performance Now let my foolish thought murmur and say who art thou how great is thy glory what are thy deserts by which thou mayest hope to obtayne it I will answere confidently I know whom I haue beleeued and will answere confidently I am assured thereof because in his exceeding loue he hath adopted me who is true in his promise and able to make performance for it is lawful for him to doe what he will This is the threefold corde hardly to be broken which let downe from heauen our Country vnto this prison where we now dwell let vs take fast hold thereof that it may draw and pull vs vp into the sight of the glory of the great God who is blessed for euer AMEN And he shall redeeme Israel from all his sinnes The conclusion of this Psalme is a promise wherein the Prophet sheweth what cause he had to pray and what in the like case might be our encouragement and it is here most comfortably to be considered that God doth not only giue vs naturall life gouerne and preserue the same Acts 17. 28. but spirituall in pardoning sinne and destroying death for this only is that which sweeteneth all other his blessings vnto vs else the griefe of conscience for sinne and the terrour of death the Kings of feares Iob 18. 14. would vtterly discomfort vs now that after the complaint of his afflictions wherewith he beganne he mentioneth redemption from sinnes and so endeth with it When God afflicteth we are not to hope for any deliuerance Doctrine vntill he doe pardon our sinnes therefore in all their troubles this is the first suite that the faithfull make so Daniel O Lord according to all thy righteousnesse let thy anger and thy wrath be turned away from thy Citty Ierusalem thine holy mountaine for because of our sinnes and the iniquities of our fathers Ierusalem and thy people are a reproch to all that are about vs O Lord heare O Lord forgiue O Lord consider and doe it Dan. 9. 16. 19. And Dauid when the iudgement was threatned against him for his manifold offences he craueth many mercies Psal 51. 1. Ezachias acknowledgeth that when he had receiued assurance of life that then God had cast all his sinnes behinde his backe Esay 38. 17. And the reason of this is for malum culpa trahit malum poenae the course of iustice requireth that euill should befall the euill man It was the floode of sinne that brought the floode of water Gen. 6. 7. Ierusalem sinned grieuously therfore shee is in derision Lam. 1. 8. And as mans i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herodot lib. 1. offences prouoking doe increase so Gods iudgments punishing Leuit. 26. 21 24 28. In all calamities therefore let vs haue recourse to God that hee who hath wounded may binde vp The precept Turne vnto the Lord. Ioel 2. 12. The practise in the Niniuites who humbling them selues obtayned mercy Iona 3. 10. A shower of teares is the best water to quench the fire of Gods wrath so doth he testifie himselfe vnto Iesiah 2. Kings 22. 17 19. Therefore the man is blessed who confesseth his sinnes and forsaketh them for he shall obtayne mercy Prouerb 28. 13. Let vs auoide all sinne and the first inticements thereunto Vse for euer for those things sake which the world maketh smal account of the wrath of God commeth vpon the children of disobedience Ephes 5. 6. the drops of the water are small yet they fill the Sea What can be lesse then k Noli contemnere peccata quo tidiana quia minora sed time quia plura sint non est bestia sicut Leo vt vno morsu guttur fraÌ„gat sed bestiae plerunque minutae multae necaÌ„t c Augustinê° de decem chordis cap. vndecimo the sand vpon the shore yet with it the greatest vessels may be suncke one sparkell of fire neglected is sufficient to consume a whole Citty and the least sinnes in our estimate may so farre kindle Gods wrath that it will not be quenched as he spake to Eli that the wickednesse of his house should not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for euer 1. Sam. 3. 14. Therefore let vs serue the Lord with feare and reioyce before him with trembling Psal 2. 11. and while it is called to day turne vnto him least we be hardened by the deceitfulnesse of sinne Hebr. 3. 13. For we shall one day appeare all before the Tribunall seate of Christ Iesus and receiue according to that we haue done in this body whether it be euill or good 2. Cor. 5. 10. happy that man that maketh that one day the subiect of his meditation euery day And he shall deliuer Israel from all his iniquities What is to be vnderstood by the name of Israel hath beene shewed euen the Church the whole number of the faithfull Here is set downe vnto vs these particulars a benefit redemption the subiect Israel the extent from all his iniquities Now to l Redemptionis vocabulum admonet nos 1. De prima nostra integritate libertate 2. De poenis amissae libertatis stile peccatis de ira Dei de captiuitate 3. De charitate Dei erga nos intercessione pro nobis 4. De liberatione nostra 5. De pretio soluto redeeme is properly to free one captiued by paying a price for him to ransome so whereas before he said that with God was mercy now he setteth downe how this mercy is manifested and so leadeth vs to the consideration of a mediatour by whom we are freed and that is Christ Iesus for we were taken aliue of the m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doctrine Diuel 2. Tim. 2. and he hath redeemed vs from him Hebr. 2. 14. from sinne Rom. 3. 14 25 26. from the curse of the law Gal. 3. 13. from death and condemnation 1. Cor. 15. 55. and that not with gold or siluer but with his owne precious blood 1. Pet. 1. 18. And this word he is very Emphaticall and put here exclusiuely he alone that Redeemer Iob 19. 25. who speaketh of himselfe I will redeeme thee from the power of the graue I will deliuer thee from death Ose 13. 14. Expounded of Christ by the Apostle 1. Cor. 15. 55 56 57. Our sinnes are taken away only by that sacrifice which Christ offered vpon the Crosse the Altar of n Immolatus est Christê° nouum verum se Patri offerens sacrificium non in templo cuius iam finita erat reuerentia nec intra septa ciuitatis ob meritum sui sceleris diruendae sed foris extra castra Vt veterum victimarum cessante mysterio noua hostia nouo Altari