forefathers and me He putteth time for the things done in the time he meaneth that by former examples trials he strengthened himself in the faith against the bitter assaults which he suffred I meditate vz. carefully and continually in all thy workes i. in all that thou hast wrought yea I meditate i. I doe diligentlye and déepely think vpon in the works of thine hands i. in those excellent workes which by thy power and prouidence thou hast performed Verse 6. I stretch forth mine hands vnto thée i. I doe earnestlye and hartilye pray vnto thée he putteth the signe for the thing signified as Psalme 141 2. to declare that we must euen as it were lift vp our selues vnto God my soule i. I my selfe but chéefely my inward man desireth after thée i. longeth sore after thée sée Psalme 42 1 2 also Psalme 84 2 as the thirstye lande vz. doth desire water rayne or dew He vnderstandeth by thirstie lande the earth which is dried and chopped for lack of water gaping gréedily as it were to receaue the moysture or raine that shal fal from heauen sée also Psal 63.1 Ver. 7. Heare me i. graunt the requests which I make vnto thée speedily O Lorde i. quickly and in good time not that he prescribeth god a season but expresseth rather his great misery q.d. vnlesse thou quickly helpe it is like in maÌ„s iudgment that I shal be destroyed for my spirit fayleth i. I faint euen in the inward man and this is a reason of his prayer taken from his own person the misery that he was in hide not thy face from me i. shew not thy selfe angry against me as men many times do who wil not vouchsafe to looke vpon theÌ„ with whom they are displeased else vz. if thou hide thy face I shal be like vnto theÌ„ that go down into the pit i. there wil be no difference betwéene me those that are dead Ver. 8. Let me heare thy louing kindnesse i. make me to know féele and perceiue thy mercy in the morning i. in good time and spéedily for in thée is my trust i. I depend and hang only vpon thée and shew me the way that I should walke in i. direct not only the order and conuersation of my life but euen my very steppes also from daunger for I lift vp my soule vnto thée i. I do both trust in thée cal vpon thée from the hart Ver. 9. Deliuer me O Lord from mine enemies i. from the power and rage of them who séeke nothing else but to destroy me for I hid me with thée i. I did hang vpon thy prouideÌ„ce and protection only sée Psal 31.5.6 Ver 10. Teach me to doe thy will i. to do the thing which thou willest commaundest in thy word for thou arte my God i. thou art he alone whom I wil serue worship let thy good spirit i. thy blessed and holy spirit which is called good because it is Gods effectuall instrumente to lead vs into all goodnesse leade me vz. which am so often and continuallye straying and wandering from good thinges vnto the land of righteousnesse i. guide me not only in this life to righteousnesse of life but to that same eternall life wherein righteousnesse shall dwell for euer sée 2. Peter 3.13 Ver. 11. Quicken me O Lord i. cause me to passe safe and sound thorow this danger wherein I séeme to be as it were in death for thy names sake i. that I others may praise thy name as Psal 142.7 and for thy righteousnesse i. for thy righteous and faythful accomplishment of thy promises bring my soule i. me and my life out of trouble i. out of this trouble wherein it presently is and vnder which it wil quaile if thou assist me not Ver. 12. And for thy mercy sake vz. toward me thy seruaunt slay mine enemies i. destroy them by what meanes or wayes soeuer thou shalt think good and destroy vz. in thy iustice and iudgements against the wicked al them vz. of what state or condition soeuer they be whether it be Saul as the chéefest or his complices that oppresse my soule i. me and would faine take away my life from me for I am thy seruaunt i. I am such a one as whom thou in mercy hast vouchsaued worthy of this honour to commit some part of thy seruice into his hands sée 1. Timoth. 1.12 13. so that he boasteth not here of his merits but magnifieth the grace of God from whom this goodnesse came Ver. 1 teacheth vs Do. first in our distresses to run vnto God by earnest and harty prayers secondly to ground our prayers vpon the righteousnesse truth and faythfulnes of our God Ver. 2 teacheth vs two things first to pray the Lord to remoue al things that might hinder the course of his mercy toward vs secondly it is a strong place to ouerthrow al imagination of mans righteousnes Ver. 3 teacheth vs that God suffereth and appointeth the wicked many times to preuaile very far against the godly Ver. 4 is a notable place to proue that euen gods children in their troubles haue their affections against that blockish dotage of the stoâ—ks Ver. 5 teacheth vs that the consideratioÌ„ of Gods goodnesse in former times should minister no smal comfort vnto vs in the time of our present heauines Ver. 6 teacheth vs to hunger and thirst after the Lord and to bee earnest with him in our supplications vnto his maiesty Ver. 7 teacheth vs that the more our miseries grow increase vpon vs the more earnest and often we should be with the Lord our God in prayer Ver. 8 teacheth vs that there is nothing more comfortable then plentifully and in good time to féele Gods mercy Ver. 9 teacheth vs in all distresses to commend our selues to Gods power and prouideÌ„ce as to a most sure rock and tower of defence Ver. 10 is a notable place againste fréewill because we are blind til God teach vs and we can do nothing without the assistance of his holy spirit Ver. 11 teacheth vs that vnlesse God set vs frée from trouble we can neuer be deliuered Ver. 12 teacheth vs that we may safelye praye agaynste the malicious and obstinate enemies of Gods Churche and people Psalme 144 Di. THis Psalme may be diuided into thrée parts In the first he prayseth God for his goodnesse and confesseth his own vnworthines and this is comprehended in the 4 first verses In the seconde he prayeth to GOD for the ouerthrowe of his enemies whose corruption he toucheth and for his owne deliueraunce and this reacheth from the fifte verse to the ende of the eleuenth In the thirde he sheweth what fruite shall redound thereby both to GOD and his people vz. he shall be praysed and they shall bée comforted from verse 12 to the end of the Psalme Se. The Title A Psalme of Dauid vz. which he made after his comming to the kingdome when he had obtayned diuers victories and yet notwithstanding his enemies were very
here ver 5. The sorrowes of the graue i. such extreme sorrowes as in a maner kil men and bring them to the graue the snares of death i. deadly snares in which if I had bene taken I had died for it ouertake me i. almost seased vpon me being in a most extreme danger for almost being catched therein q.d. there was but a little betwéene me and death ver 6. Out of his temple i. either out of heauen or else from betwéen the Cherubins for the temple materiall was not builded in Dauids time but in his sonne Solomons sée 1. Samuel 1.9 and my cry vz. which I made or poured forth ver 7. Then i. after that the Lord had heard my praiers the earth trembled and quaked i. there was a great earthquake which that he might the better expresse he vseth two words signifying almost one thing q.d. God shewed by wonders and signes that my prayer came vp to him the foundations also of the mountains q.d. this earthquake was not only vpon the vpper parts of the earth but euen the rootes as it were of the mountains wch lie déepe within the ground were shaken also by which he meaneth nothing else but a most vehement earthquake because he was angry vz. agaynst my enemies and that for the iniury they offered me Ver. 8. Is vttered by the way of a similitude q.d. God was so greatly angry that it séemed that smoke c. sée such a maner of spéech attributed to Leuiathā Iob. 41.11.12 Ver. 9. he bowed the heauens i. he made them séeme so low as though they had touched mens heads which is then done when the cloudes are thick and darke and came down this also is spoken after the maner of men Now God is sayd to come downe when by euident tokens he sheweth his wrath in confounding the wicked as Gen. 9.7 and darkenes i. darke cloudes whiche are called darkenes because they séeme to bring darkenes with them hee meaneth nothing else by these maner of spéeches but that God by a very great tempest declared himselfe to be present to defend his seruaunt and to strike his enemies Ver. 10. vpon Cherub the singular for the plurall Cherubines of whiche you may read Gen. 3.24 they are certayne Angels which readilye execute Gods will whereby and by his riding vpon them the Prophet noteth nothing else but Gods swiftnes in comming to succour him which also he noteth by wings of the winde Ver. 11. Darkenesse put for thick cloudes as before ver 9. and his pauilion round about him vnderstand was euen darkenes of waters i. cloudes full of rayne or water which are called darkenes of waters because they haue a certayne darkish colour as the waters also haue and cloudes of the aire i. more bright and shining cloudes q.d. God putteth both the one kind of clouds the other betwéene himselfe and the wicked as a testimony of his wrath ver 12. at the brightnes of his presence q.d. when God beginneth to shew his maiestie his cloudes passed i. were as a man would say made more light or else did cleaue as it were in sunder and they are called his cloudes because they are gouerned and directed at his appoyntment sée Iob. 37.15 Haylestones and coales of fyre vz. came from the Lord after that the cloudes were broken for coales of fire sée ver 8. ver 13 In the heauen i. in the firmament or in that region of the aire where the thunder is as Philosophers déeme and the highest gaue his voyce i. thundered sée Psalme 29.3 c. so that it is nothing but a repetition of that whiche went before haylestones and coales of fyre vnderstand he gaue q.d. he sent forth also or gaue hailestones c. Ver. 14. Then i. after al this he sent out his arrowes i. after some his lightning but I rather take it for all the afflictions that God layd vppon the vngodly sée Psal 38.2 and scattered thē i. destroyed them for then an armye is wont to perish when the order thereof decaieth ver 15. and the chanels of waters were séene i. the depths wher the waters run or as you would say the bottom of the sea the foundations of the world he alludeth to the miracle shewed at the red sea for then were the springs of the waters which he calleth the foundations of the earth by reason of their wonderfull depth discouered so that a man mighte as it were sée from whence so many sloudes had their beginning at thy rebuking i. when thou séemedst to rebuke them turning their courses contrary to those which they had before at the blasting of the breath of thy nostrels this is spoken according to man q.d. there was no néede that thou shouldest commaund them when thou diddest but breath vpon thē it was ynough to make the drie lande appeare ver 16. He hath sent down vz. his power or his Angels for God did vse to deliuer his children by Angels frō aboue from heauen and taken me i. deliuered me vz. out of many daungers hee hath drawne me q.d. euen by violence maugre the heads and harts of mine enimies out of many waters i. not only many but very great daungers sée Psa 69.1.2 Psal 124.4 Ver. 17. from my strong enimie he meaneth enemies one number being put for an other or else by one he vnderstandeth al that one being the ringleader of the rest ver 18. They preuented me vz. by their subtiltie and had almost taken me in the snare they layd for me in the day of my calamity i. when I was in calamity and affliction was my stay i. not only on whom I did leane vpon and trust to but my helper deliuering me from them ver 19. into a large place he meaneth by this his liberty and deliuerance for his calamities were as a prison or narrow roome vnto him because he fauoured me i. preuented me with his holy fauour and that with out any merit or desert of mine at all ver 20. Righteousnesse put for righteous cause as before Psal 41. purenesse of my hands i. integrity soundnes of my déeds hands put for déedes and workes by which the workes and déeds are performed note that Dauid in this verse setteth out his good cause agaynst them that slaundered him not speaking of his whole life giuing thē to vnderstand that he attempted nothing but right and well and that according to Gods commaundements Verse 21. The wayes of the Lorde 1. Lawes and commaundements as verse 22. of this Psalme and by kéeping he meaneth a carefull minde and a certaine abilitie also that GOD hath giuen him to performe the same and did not wickedly he meaneth not of some simple fal for we read of diuers before he came to the kingdom and after but of reuolting falling away that doth quite and clean alienate turn away frō God ver 22. before me i. in my sight vz. that I might not commit any thing against thē and I did not cast away vz. as though I
haue not set God before them q.d. all this outrage against me springeth from this fountain to wit that they neglect God as he is manifested and reuealed vnto them in his word neyther take they counsell of him but preferre their owne iudgements and deuises in all their attempts whatsoeuer Verse 4. Beholde GOD is mine helper q.d. notwithstandinge all this see howe graciouslye GOD helpeth and succoureth mee is with them i. taketh their parte and is on their side as Romanes 8.31 For otherwise GOD by his presence is with all his creatures and no doubte he meaneth not only those that fledde away with him but euen Ionathan and suche others as euen in Saules Courte fauoured him and his cause that vpholde my soule i. that beare mée good affection haue care ouer my safegarde and take my parte and ayd and helpe me so farre forth as GOD inableth them Soule is here put for lyfe as before in the thyrde Verse not that men are able to vpholde eyther their owne lyues or other mens otherwise then as God maketh them instruments to doe the same Verse 5. He shall reward euill i. God by pouring forth his iudgements vpon them shal in a iust measure recompence them the mischiefe that they haue deuised and done agaynst me for euill here is put for euil of punishment as sundry times before oh cut them off vz. eyther from amongst men rooting them out of the lande of the liuing or else from power and means to performe their mischiefs by in thy truth i. according as thou truely hast promised so make me effectually to féele the performance therof we haue had the same phrase sundry times before Verse 6. Then will I sacrifice vz. the sacrifice of prayse and thanksgiuing fréely i. not onelye with free and chearefull courage but with greate liberalitie also So that he promiseth to shew himselfe after his deliueraunce euery manner of way thankfull to God I will prayse thy name i. goodnesse strength power c. as before verse 1. of this Psalme because it is good i. mercifull almighty c. for so much doth the word God comprehend in this place Verse 7. For he hath deliuered me this is the reason why he will giue hartye thankes to the Lord vz. because God hath set him frée from wonderfull daungers and troubles for so much I take it he meaneth by all troubles and not that he should not indure any moe afterwards And mine eye hath séene i. I haue not only in my vnderstanding perceaued but with these bodily eyes of mine for he putteth one for both I haue beheld poured forth vpon my enimies the iustice and iudgements of God which I prayd for or desired mighte fall vpon them which also we may doe to wit holily reioyce in the execution of Gods iustice vpon the wicked so that our eyes be pure from all naughty affections and our minds clensed from desire of reuenge Do. Verse 1. Teacheth vs not only in our distresses to pray vnto God alone but for the strengthening of our fayth to haue recourse to his goodnesse and power Verse 2. Teacheth vs in prayer to vse both hart and voyce Ver. 3. Doth not only set out the cruelty of the vngodly agaynste the good but also noteth the fountayne of all wickednesse that is the neglect and contempt of God and his will reuealed in his word Verse 4. instructeth the faythfull to assure themselues of Gods present ayde who is mercifull not only to them but also to all those that take their partes and therefore wee sée it is not good to destitute Gods seruaunts vnlesse we will pluck God vpon our owne backes Verse 5. setteth out Gods iustice against the wicked of which sée Psal 18.26 it teacheth also to make Gods faithful promises the grounds of al our supplications and prayers Verse 6. Teacheth vs both to giue God thankes for his mercies and also the maner how we should yield it that is willingly chearefully fréely and plentifully Verse 7. sheweth that it is God alone that must set vs frée from all daungers whatsoeuer the doctrine of the latter part of this verse is put down in the sence Psalme 55. THis Psalme I take it may well bee diuided into thrée partes Di. In the first the Prophet maketh his prayer vnto the Lorde shewing also what great causes he had to moue him thereto and this from verse 1. to the ende of the 8. In the seconde he prayeth agaynst his enimies describing their mischieuous malice hipocrisie and other vices from verse 9. to the ende of the 15. In the third he returneth agayne to his prayers both for himselfe and agaynst his enimies concluding with a comfortable exhortation to the faythfull with a terrible denouncing of Gods iudgements against the wicked and this reacheth from verse 16. to the end of the Psalme The Title is expounded before Psalme 4. and Psalme 32. Se. in the Titles thereof Some there be that thinke Dauid made this Psalme when hee was afflicted with the Rebellion of his sonne Abshalon Othersome vnderstand it of that great and wonderfull daunger wherein hée was in the Citie Keilah whether Saule came to besiege him whereof sée more at large 1. Samuell 23.1.2 c. And to this doe I rather enclyne Verse 1. Heare my prayer sée Psalme 54.2 hyde not thy selfe i. turne not thy selfe away he séemeth to speake after the manner of men who sometimes if they be not disposed to graunt a request will not speake with the parties that sue vnto them but séeme to hyde themselues from presence spéech from my supplication true it is that in scriptures prayers and supplications are many times vsed for one and the selfe same and it may be that they are so taken here but yet you shall sée them sundry times seuered as Ephe. 6.18 Philip 4.6 1. Tim. 2.1 where by supplicatiō the Apostle meaneth requests made to God for deliuerance from those things which trouble vs and by prayers requests which are made for benefits Ver. 2. Harken vnto me i. the praiers that I make before thée as Psal 54.2 and aunswere me i. graunt me my request for those whom we louingly aunswere we séeme in some sort to graunt vnto I mourne i. I am sorrowful and heauy harted and make a noyse he meaneth that by violence and vehemency of his affliction hee was as it were inforced sometimes to heauinesse of heart mournful bewailings sometimes again into most pitiful outcries Ver. 3. For the voice i. for the hard gréeuous threats which are vttered with the voice of the enemy i. Saule vnderstāding notwithstāding vnder him as the principal all those that cleaue to him in these outragious words déeds against him for the vexation of the wicked vz. which they do against me and not wch they thēselues suffer for here the vexatiō of the wicked is vsed actiuely vz. for the oppression wherewith they did afflict the innocent because they i. the enimies and wicked
who sweareth for the further strengthening of our fayth in the truth of his promises Verse 36 Teacheth vs that posteritie and the continuaunce thereof is a speciall blessing from the Lord the same thing doth verse 37. teach Ver. 38 39 40 shew that no affliction commeth to Gods children without his special prouidence and appointment which is comfortable to consider not only because he that doth chastise vs is our father but also our enemies can go no further then he hath appoynted them Ver. 41 teacheth vs that God many times bringeth his children to a low ebbe and yet graciouslye afterwards deliuereth them out of al their feare Ver. 42. teacheth that the wicked and vngodly can not doe what they list nor go beyond the bonds which god hath set them Ver. 43. teacheth that al munition and ayde of men is vaine vnlesse it please God to blesse them and giue them force Ver. 44 teacheth that it is God alone that pulleth downe and setteth vp Ver. 45. teacheth that the dayes of our life are in Gods hands to be disposed of as pleaseth him Ver. 46. Teacheth vs in the middest of our greatest heauinesse to haue recourse to God by prayer and to craue the remouing of his rods Ver. 47. teacheth the vanity and shortnes of mans life Ver. 48 teacheth that death spareth none but that all must tast therof Verse 49 teacheth vs to thinke vppon Gods former graces that they may assure our consciēces of mercy to be afterwards shewed Ver. 50 teacheth vs in our afflictiō to repaire vnto God also that not the meanest sort of the people only but the chéefest are enemies to Gods faynts Ver. 52 teacheth vs that the iniuries and opprobries offred to Gods people are as done against his own maiesty and person Ver. 52. teacheth vs in all estates and at al times to be continually thankfull to God and also to yéeld both to thanksgiuing and prayer an earnest consent Psalme 90 Di. THis Psalme may be deuided into thrée partes the firste is an Exordium or a beginning whiche setteth out the care and good will of God towardes his people from all eternity and this is comprised in the two first verses The second part very excellently paynteth out Gods great prouidence and gouernment and our frayle and miserable condition from ver 3. to the end of the 11. In the third is contayned a prayer for grace and comforte in all heauinesses and distresses of this life whatsoeuer from verse 12. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title a prayer of Moses i. a prayer whiche Moses made vnto God for himselfe and the people at that time as it should séeme that the spies came backe againe and the people murmured agaynst God for which thinges sake the Lord threatned them that they shoulde not enter into the lande of promise sée Num. 13.14 thorowout the man of God i. not onely an excellent man but a Prophet and one called to some publike office sée Deut. 33.1 also 1. Kings 18.24 Verse 1. Lord thou vz. alone and no other hast bin at al times heretofore and specially all the while of our trauaile in the greate and huge wildernesse our habitation i. thou art he alone vnder whose defence we dwel safe and sound see Deut. 33.27 and this hee speaketh of himselfe and of the people that were with him and of all their auncestors gone before them comprehending them vnder that terme our from generation to generation i. euen from the beginning of the world vnto this present time and in this verse he setteth oute the wonderfull gouernment and grace of God towards his people as in the nexte verse the eternall purpose and counsel of God procéeding from the pleasure of his good wil and this he doth specially for two causes the one is that he might publish Gods glory in setting out his mercy the other that he might by laying forth former mercies moue the Lord to haue mercy vpon them now in that distresse Ver. 2. Before the mountaines were made vz. by thy almightye power and word and before thou haddest formed the earth and the world vz. for men to dwell in vnderstanding by forming not only the fashioning of it but euen the very creating of it sée Gen. 1 1 2 and these two sentences layde together be as much q.d. before the world or any part or péece of it were made euē from euerlasting to euerlasting i. frō al eternity and so for euer here after thou art our God i. thou arte hee that hast chosen vs to bee a people to thy selfe and that will wée take also as an argumente to instructe vs to hang vppon thée Verse 3. Thou turnest man i. thou causest man to returne and that by thy worde onlye to destruction i. to Death whiche is called destruction not because it destroyeth in déede but because it séemeth vnto vs to destroye Othersome vnderstande by destruction dust and power and the dissolution of the body both sences are good agayne thou sayest i. also thou doest but speake the word only and then it is done returne vz. in respect of your body into the earth out of which it was taken Genesis 3.19 and in respect of your soule to God who gaue it Eccle. 12.7 ye sonnes of men i. ye mortall creatures for this word expresseth the miserable and fraile condition of men and in these wordes he sheweth how brittle frayle and short mans life is he compareth the course of our life to a race in a Tilt or Turney wher we quicklye runne to the ende of the race as it were and then returne backe agayn Ver. 4. For a thousand yeres vz. of mans life q.d. though it were possible for a man to liue a thousande yeares in thy sight i. before thée and in respect of thée are as yesterdaye when it is past i. yea they are soone passed ouer in respecte of thée as one daye onelye in respecte of vs or else as Saynte Peter expoundeth it in his second Epistle Chapter 3 verse 8 that a thousand yeares are with the Lorde as one daye or as a Watche in the night i. of verye shorte continuaunce for a watche in the night was but thrée houres long the people of the Iewes in olde time diuiding the night into foure Watches and appoynting also to euerye watche thrée howers Matth. 14.35 Luke 12.38 Verse 5. Thou haste ouerflowed them vz. by thy iudgementes sodaynlye taking them awaye oute of this life as a floude ouerwhelmeth all or men beware For this Metaphor of the ouerflowing of them noteth two thinges the one is the mighty hande and power of GOD the other is the sodayne ende of mans lyfe and the vanitie thereof they are as a sléepe or as a dreame that one hath sléeping which passeth awaye and is quite and cleane forgotten in the morning i. when man is in his force and strength hée groweth like the grasse i. hee is flourishing and lustie and marke the sodayne chaunge of the number from
inhabitauntes being cast out of it they themselues might possesse enioy and dwell in the Prophet meaneth not that they that were dead coulde amongest men prayse the Lorde for these thinges but in as much as the benefite thereof did reach vnto their posterity hée exhorteth their séede being aliue to acknowledge Gods mercyes in that behalfe and to prayse him for the same Verse 8. Let them i. their posterity after them therefore i. for the benefites and blessinges before rehearsed confesse i. prayse and magnifie God before the Lorde i. in his presence and from a good heart whether it bee secretly in their owne selues or openly before the Arke according to the custome of those dayes his louing kindnes vz. fréely and plentifully bestowed vppon them and his wonderfull workes i. the wonderfull workes that hee hath done for his people before the sonnes of men i. openly in mens sight and to them and their posterity Ver. 9. For hee satisfied vz. with abundaunce of all good thinges the thirsty soule i. him that stoode in néede of any good thing putting the word soule a principall part of man for the whole person and filled the hungry soule i. the hungry man with goodnesse i. with abundance of good thinges Ver. 10. They that dwell in darkenesse i. such as were kept prisoners in darke places and in the shadowe of death i. in great extremitie of death and daunger Sée Psalme 23.4 Isaiah 9.1.2 being bounde in misery and yron i. being kept in miserable and harde bondage hée beginneth here to recite how many sortes of people afflicted with diuers afflictions haue alwayes founde the Lorde mercifull and fauourable specially when they came vnto him Verse 11. Because they rebelled vz. both in thought woorde and deede agaynst the woordes of the Lorde vz. manifested and put downe in his Lawe and despised i. regarded not and set nought by the counsell of the most high i. the purpose ready inclination and power that the Lorde had to doe them good if they had yéelded obedience vnto him hée sheweth in this verse the cause of mens correction that hee might thereby deliuer Gods iustice from mens slaunders and reprehension And withall he teacheth that the onely rule of good life is to followe Gods commandement Verse 12. When hee i. God humbled vz. though not rightly and truely not that God was not able to doe it but because hée woulde not vouchsafe them that grace by humbling hée meaneth casting downe Sée 2. Kings 21.29 their heart with heauinesse i. hée made them heauy sorrowfull and sadde there they fell downe vz. before their enemies and there was no helper i. there was none that woulde helpe them This is the Prophetes meaning when they were wounded with a worldly sorrowe in their heartes and by meanes thereof their courages and stomackes were decayed then they laye as an open pray to their aduersaries and none pitied their cases or were able to helpe them Verse 13. Then vz. when they were thus destituted of mans ayde they cryed vnto the Lorde i. they called earnestly vppon him this and all that followeth in the verse is the same both in woordes and sense with verse 6. of this Psalme Verse 14. Hee i. GOD brought them vz. by his almightie power out of darkenesse and out of the shaddowe of death i. out of affliction oppression anguish c. Sée before verse 10. of this Psalme And brake their bandes i. the bandes wherewith they were bounde whether they were the bandes of affliction captiuity c. a sunder i. in pieces and so set them at libertie For the better vnderstanding of this speach Sée Sampsons story Iudges 15.13.14 also Iudges 16.11.12 Verse 15. Is the same both in woordes and sense with verse 8. before going Ver. 16. For hée vz. the Lorde hath broken vz. by his almightie power the gates of brasse and brast the barres of yron a sunder vz. for his peoples sake vnderstanding by brasen gates and barres of yron either most straite bandes and prisons Sée Acts 12.10 or else the bandes of cruell and perpetuall bondage In which respect also Egipt is called in the Scripture a house of bondage Verse 17. Fooles i. wicked and vngodly men as may appeare throughout all the booke of the Prouerbes and Psalm 53.1 by reason of their transgression vz. committed against GOD and because of their iniquities vz. against men are afflicted vz. by the Lord and that with sundry sortes of his iudgements And hée calleth them fooles because they haue no feare of God before them which is the beginning of wisedome Prouerbs 1.7 So that wée may perceiue that he meaneth not that wicked men who are here called fooles fall through ignoraunce or error onely but that their affections being blinded doe take away from them all right iudgement Ver. 18. Their soule abhorreth all meate i. they themselues putting one part of man for an other and not as though the soule were fed with bodyly foode hée meaneth that they are withoute all appetite and lothe euen the verye sighte of meate a punishment wherewithall GOD many times plagueth the gluttonous persons and they are brought to deathes dore i. they are euen ready to dye hée speaketh in this place of vncurable diseases and of which seldome fewe or none at all escape for deathes doore Sée Psalm 9.13 where he speaketh of the gates of death Verse 19. Is the same with verse 6.13 of this Psalme both in wordes and meaning and there is no difference sauing that the former speake it in the tyme past and this in the tyme present Verse 20. Hée sendeth his woorde i. hée commaundeth or speaketh but the word onely Matth. 8.8 and healeth them vz. of all their infirmities and diseases and deliuereth them vz. through his great goodnesse and almightie power from their graues i. from present death and the graue made ready as it were for them by their sicknesses and maladyes Verse 21. Is the same with verse 8. and 15. of this Psalme Verse 22. And let them offer vz. vnto GOD for these his graces the sacrifices of prayse i. not only of praysing but also of thankesgiuing Sée Hebrewes 13.15 and declare his woorkes vz. which hée hath graciously done for them with reioycing vz. both to himwarde and chearefully and gladly in respect of themselues for God requireth chearefulnes in our actions Verse 23. They that doe come into the Sea by shippes i. the mariners for I take it to be a special periphrasis of them and occupy vz. into diuers quarters and countreyes by the great waters vz. of the Sea This I doe especially referre to marchauntes q.d. whether they bée mariners or marchauntes trading by Sea or the armes thereof and that woorde of going downe into the Sea woulde bée marked because the waters séeme to bée belowe the earth Verse 24. They sée vz. sensibly and playnely and that with bodyly eyes if they haue any grace to beholde it the woorkes of the Lorde i. the great workes that
my misery shaked their heads vz. at me that in sign of mockery contēpt sée 2. King 19.21 this verified in Christ as appeareth Mat. 27.39 Ver. 26. Help me vz. in these distresses O Lord my God q.d. vnles thou help I shal be ouerthrown saue me i. deliuer me frō the power of the wicked according to thy mercy vz. promised to thy seruants performed to many of them Ver. 27. And they i. euen the very wicked vngodly shal know i. féele confesse that this vz. my deliuerance and help is thine hand i. is done and wrought by thy mighty power that thou Lord vz. alone none other with thée hast done it vz. for my good and safety Ver. 28. Though they i. the wicked curse i. speake and doe all manner of euil against me yet thou wilt blesse vz. me meaning by blessing a plentiful giuing of al graces this the Prophet speaketh in the assured perswasion of Gods mercy in contēpt of his aduersaries enterprises q.d. let thē curse as much as they wil or can yet this is my cōfort that thou wilt blesse me with thy fauour they shal arise vz. vp and that to do mischéef against me and be cōfounded vz. by thy mighty power in their wicked enterprises but thy seruants shal reioice vz. in thy goodnesse towards him the destruction of his and thine enemies marke that in these 3. verses 26 27 28. He prayeth for his own safety deliuerance as in the next for his enemies ouerthrow Ver. 29. Let mine aduersaries be clothed with shame i. let them be vtterly confoūded ashamed or couered with shame as men are with their clothes let thē couer thēselues with their cōfusion as with a cloke he meaneth that they should be compassed in on euery side with shame confusion wishing also that the best couerture that they might haue for themselues in the daye of distresse might be but only shame confusion of face This doubling of the sentence serueth not only to note the Prophets earnestnesse but also to set out the abundance continuance of shame to be poured forth vppon the wicked Ver 30. I vz. being thus deliuered from the vngodlies power will giue thanks vnto the Lord greatly i. will oftē and as it were continually prayse his name for it with my mouth i. openly and before others q.d. I wil not do it inwardly only in my hart but openly with my mouth and tongue putting the word mouth wherby voices are vttered for the very words of praise thanksgiuing and praise him vz. for his great power goodnes mercy towards me amōg the multitude vz. of his people assembled also for to praise him Ver. 31. For he i. the Lord wil stand vz. continually at the right hand of the poore i. hard by him that is afflicted meaning by standing at the right hand the continuall power prouidēce goodnes of God watching ouer those that are his to saue him i. to deliuer him and set him frée though he speake but of one yet hee meaneth al the faithful for that which God is to one of his he is to all of them from them that would condemn his soule i. from thē that would condemn him to death By soule he vnderstandeth the whole man and by the word condemn he sheweth that he had to do with the King and other mighty enimies Ver. 1 teacheth vs earnestly to cōmend our selues our causes into gods hāds by prayer Do. Ver. 2 setteth out the deceit hipocrisie lying of the vngodly Verse 3 sheweth how the wicked spare not to speake do euil also though they haue no cause giuen them Ver. 4 sheweth that the wicked many times recompence good with euil it teacheth the faithful also in the midst of alcōfusion to betake themselues to praier Ver. 5 sheweth that it is a portion alotted to Gods childrē in this life to be many times molested of them of whom they haue best deserued the Lord working this because he would thereby bring them out of loue with this life teach thē not to hang to much vpō men Ver. 6 7. c. teach first that we may pray against the malicious obstinate enemies of Gods people Ver. 6 teacheth further that it is a sign god is very angry whē he causeth one wicked man to punish another Ver. 7 sheweth that god wil somtimes make the very intreaty of the wicked serue to his own hurt Ver. 8.9.10 teach that it is many times a token of Gods wrath to be cut off in the middest of our dayes to haue our offices giuen to other to leaue behind vs poore fatherles children widdows I say many times because it is not always so Ver. 11 doth liuely describe the nature of the hard harted extortioner cruel stranger Ver. 12 teacheth that it should be no smal gréefe vnto vs if mens bowels compassion be shut vp against vs. Ver. 13 sheweth that God in his iudgmenes doth many times root out men their rases Ver. 14 teacheth that god punisheth the sinnes of vngodly fathers in their wicked children walking in the same ways Ver. 15 teacheth that it should déepely wound vs to know that God beholdeth al our sins Ver. 16 teacheth that God in his iustice doth punish men with those sins that they haue cōmitted against other Ver. 17 teacheth vs that they wch delighte continue in euil shal frō the Lord haue abundance of euil poured vpon them The same thing doth verse 18 19 teach Ver. 20. teacheth that al punishmēts poured vpon the wicked procéed frō the Lord. Ver. 21 teacheth that whē men sée or know that God wil deale in punishment against the wicked it then behoueth that godly to flie to his mercy by praier Ver. 22 teacheth vs that euē our own miseries shold moue vs to make harty supplicatiō vnto the Lord. Ver. 23 24 shew into what pittiful estate Gods children are many times brought Ver. 25 teacheth that it is no new thing for the wicked to scoffe skorn at the godly Ver. 26 teacheth vs in al our praiers to flie to Gods mercy Ver. 27 teacheth that the very wicked shal be constrained to confes gods hand in their punishment the deliueraunce of his children so did Pharaoh the Egiptians Ver. 28 teacheth that mans cursing cannot hurt where God hath promised his blessing Ver. 29 teacheth vs that we may pray against the wicked in that the Prophet doubleth his praier he teacheth vs that we should do so specially then when Satan bewraieth his subtilties and crafts Ver. 30 teacheth vs both secretly and openly to giue thanks to the Lord for his mercies Ver. 31 teacheth that God is nigh to his children euen to deliuer them in their greatest distresses and feares Psalme 110. THis Psalme being principally a prophecie of the kingdom priesthood of Christ consisteth especially of two parts Di. In the first are described the offices
being once manifested hee promiseth to yeelde heartie thankes vnto the Lord from vers 11. to the end of the Psalme The title of this Psalme is Shigaion of Dauid Se. that is a Psalme of Dauid sung according to the tune of an ordinary song the beginning whereof was Shigaion which is also in vse with vs to haue latter songs song according to the tune of other songs made before them concerning the woordes I take it to be more large then accusation and that it is to be stretched to deedes practised against him for this is vsuall among the Hebrewes by words to vnderstand deeds also Cushe some take it for Saul I rather think that he meaneth some stranger of Ethiopia for Cushe is the Hebrewe name for Ethiopia whom Saul had gotten to his court and made great account of yea so much that hee rebuked him as it were in his owne stocke and familie which he meaneth by these words The sone of Iemini which man for hatred against Dauid and flatterie toward Saul both falsly accused him villanously practised all maner of mischiefe against him vers 2. Least hee the Prophet noteth one speciall man amongst those all that hee had touched vers 1. Deuoure my soule i. Me my selfe sée Psalm 3.2 Psal 6.4 Like a Lion i. crueltie and subtiltie as Iob. 39.1.2 Psal 10.9 His crueltie also being noted by tearing him in peeces and his subtilty in taking him at such a time as there is none to succour him ver 3. This thing vz. wherwith he was charged i. the affecting of the kingdome sée Psalm 131. Or the taking away of Sauls life from which hee was free as 1. Samuel 24.5 2. Samuel 26. par totum any wickednes vz. in this behalfe wherewith I am charged and not otherwise for Dauid was a sinner some read it thus if this iniquitie hauing respect to that whereof he was accused which is good I better allow of In mine hands these words may haue a double sense in my hands that is in my facts and deeds performed by my hands or else in my hands i. in my selfe putting a part of man for the whole vers 4. euill put for mischiefe or a shrewd turne that had peace with me i. that seemed friendly vnto me or wished me or did me any good yea q.d. I haue been so far from that that I haue set him frée from danger that vexed me or after some that did enemy like pursue me which I better allow meaning Saul without cause i. no cause on my part giuen to himward not in these wordes respecting his sinnes against God verse 5. My soule see verse 2. of this Psalme tread my life c. as a most vile and contemptible thing and lay mine honour in the dust i. let him so put out my glory honour that there may be no more remembrance of it in the posteritie to come so that honour here is vsed for the remembrance of his honour and glory yea and for himselfe also verse 6. Arise O Lord in thy wrath i. shewe thy selfe angrie against this people and lift vp thy selfe i. shew thy selfe high and mightie against or after some because of the rage of mine enemies according to the double reading there is a double sense If you take the first reading the mening is this shewe thy selfe mightie in beating downe the rage and cruell attempts of mine enemies If you take the latter then this is the meaning let the cruelties and rages of mine enemies moue thee to defend me by thy might q.d. if thou lay not to thy hand I shall vtterly be destroyed and this latter I do approue awake for me i. not only be careful but take pains on my behalfe by bringing me to the kingdom that thou hast promised me verse 7. He noteth what good shall come by the ouerthrowe of his enemies and the establishing of him in the kingdome vz. that the whole land shall stand about him with reuerence at his iustice as the people doe iudges when they are to pronounce a sentence returne on high hee alludeth to the place wherein iudges were wont to sitte to giue sentence and was higher then where the people stoode q.d. thou hast seemed to come downe from the bench as it were and to haue no care of iudgement but goe vp once again and declare thy power vers 8. The Lord shal iudge or after some iudgeth all cōmeth to one purpose for the Prophets drift is here to lay down this as a preamble that seeing the Lord eyther shal or doth iudge it would please him amongst other causes to take knowledge of his according to my righteousnes vz. in this cause and behalfe see verse 3.4 of this Psalme that is in me q.d. so pronounce giue sentence vers 9. correct thus Oh let the malice of the wicked i. that mischiefe that the wicked haue diuised intended fayle and neuer come to any effect or purpose that thou mayst stablish the righteous because the ouerthrow of the one is the strengthning of the other euen as thou O iust God art the trier of the heartes and reines he putteth these two words for thoughts and affections or lustes q.d. thou alone searchest seest mens harts inward thoughts which seeing it belongeth vnto thee alone I doubt not but thou seest what difference there is betweene me and my enemies vers 10. My defence is in God q.d. I trust for helpe from none but frō him vers 11. must be amended thus God I say the iust iudge q.d. vpon him alone doe I hang that is iust in all his iudgements yea the strong God that troubleth thē euery day i. layeth continually some iudgement or other vpon the wicked to see whether by that means they wil come to amendment verse 12. and 13. is diuersly read according thereto hath diuers senses if we take it as it is here then it hath this meaning except he turne i. except that wicked person whether it were Saul or any other it skilleth not much vnlesse we take it thus that vnder one the Prophet mindeth to note many except I say he or they turne i. alter their purpose and repente them of their euill he i. the enemie or els God if you referre it to the enemie he meaneth that he hath prepared him al the weapons that possibly he could to hurt Dauid if you referre it to God then he meaneth by these weapons that Gods iudgments are readie to preuent the wicked frō doyng their mischiefe which I rather allow of because it is sayd verse 13. He will ordeine his arrowes for them that persecute me If we reade it as Immanuel readeth it then thus it must be vnderstand and read if he vz. the wicked and vngodly be not conuerted i. chaunged from his purpose amended he may whet his sword he may bend his bow and direct it vz. as though he did ayme to hit and getting vnto himselfe deadlye weapons hee may
diuision The thing propounded generally is godly life Ver. 2. but particularlye to auoyde slaundering lying inconstancye vsurye briberye c. verse 3.4.5 which done he sheweth what blessings belong to those that walke after that sort Se. This Psalmes Title is easie Ver. 1. In thy Tabernacle i. in the visible Church q.d. who shall be accounted a visible member thereof In thyne holy mountayne i. in Heauen Psalme 3.4 Ver. 2. He that walketh vprightly it is vsuall in scripture to haue walking put for conuersation it is as much then q.d. he that leadeth an vpright life worketh righteousnes i. doth the thing that is right in his hart as he hath it in his hart so hee maketh his mouth and tongue the instruments to expres it Ver. 3. He that slaundereth not this is one particular of truth from the harte with his tongue that is he that maketh not his tongue the instrumente to vtter the slaunder hee hath within him whereby wée sée that there is a double slaunder one inwarde in the mynde and not expressed the other inwarde and besydes that vttered with the mouth nor doth euill this expoundeth righteousnesse verse 2. meaning that a man must doe no manner of iniurye whatsoeuer to his neighbour I take this worde Neighbour to bée vsed here generallye for any as Exod. 20. in the tenth commaundement Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house c. as also our Sauiour séemeth to meane Luke 10.29 30. c. nor receaueth a false report c. we must not only not slaunder our selues but wee must not admit a slaunder broughte vnto vs by other Ver. 4. In whose eyes i. before whome and in whose iudgement a vile person i. a wicked man is contemned i. a little or nothing set by and regarded he that sweareth i. he that hath with an oth promised a thing lawfull to his own hinderance i. and yet it falleth out in the end to be hurtfull to him in respect of his wealth and substaunce and chaÌ„geth not vz. that which he hath promised though he lose neuer so muche by it ver 5. he that giueth not his monye to vsury i. he that without anye profite at all to himselfe helpeth an other man by the vse of his monye nor taketh reward vz. of them which haue an vniust cause hée séemeth to speak specially of Iudges against the innocent i. that thereby the innocentes cause may be ouerthrowne and iudgement though wrongfullye pronounced against him shall neuer be moued i. he shall be stedfastly rooted in the church in this life and after the course of this life ended be made a citizen for euer of the Heauenly Ierusalem Ver. 2. Teacheth that godly life and vpright dealing be very excellente fruites it teacheth also vnfaynedly to speake the truth touching all men and matters as time and occasion shall serue ver 3. Teacheth vs to auoyd slaundering iniury or wrong doing and acceptation of false tales and reports ver 4. Teacheth that we should not much regarde vngodlye men though they be neuer so highly aduaunced in this world and on the other side that we should loue reuerence the godly though they be neuer so pore and contemptible at teacheth further that honest promises lawfull othes touching things of this life should be performed though the performance therof should much impaire our wealth ver 5. Teacheth that vsury and bribery must be shunned of all the godly and the better to incourage vs to the performance of these holy duties the Lord in mercy setteth before vs a promise of this life present and of the life to come which godlines hath alwais annexed vnto it as a coÌ„panion that cannot be sundered froÌ„ it sée 1. Tim. 4.8 Psalme 16. THis Psalme consisteth of two principall parts In the fâ—â—ste is contayned a prayer that the Prophet maketh to â—â—â—d Di. in which prayer he layeth not forth his workes but cleaueth only to God and his goodnesse from verse 1. to the end of the 6. In the seconde he yéeldeth thankes to the Lorde for the aboundaunce of goodnesse and mercy which hee continuallye receyued from him from verse 7. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title is Michtan of Dauid and differeth from any Title wee haue had yet I take it to be q.d. a Psalme that Dauid made to bee sung after a certayne tune named Michtan commonlye knowne amongst the Iewishe songes for the excellency of it wherevpon also it should séeme to bee named as though it were as excellent as gold Ver. 2. thou art my Lord i. I acknowledge none for Lord vnto me but thée alone my weldoing extendeth not to thée i. thou art nothing profited thereby in respect of thy selfe sée Iob 35.6.7.8 Ver. 3. That are in the earth i. that are liuing amongst men whereby we may learne also that it cannot profit them that are departed and to the excellent vz. in vertue and goodnesse all my delight is in them expound this by Psalme 15.4 Ver. 4. Offerings of blood the Prophet alludeth as I take it to the idolatrous manner of the Gentiles who made their children passe through the fyre to their idols which he calleth offrings of blood or bloody offrings because mans blood was shed therein make meÌ„tion of their names with my lips sée Exo. 23.13 Eph. 5.3 noting by this maner of spéech his detestation of idols and Idolatrie vnderstanding by lips his spéeche and talke ver 5. The Lorde is the portion of my inheritaunce he had sayd before he would haue no fellowship with the Idolaters neyther idols now he sheweth to whom he will cleaue vz. to the Lorde who is a portion euen as it were of inheritaunce alotted vnto him and one that filleth him with goodnesse for so I take the word Cup to be vsed here sée Psal 23.5 thou shalt mayntaine my lot q.d. thou alone for in thée doe I truste and not in my selfe or any other for if it were in vs to be vpholden it could not be mayntayned shalt mayntaine i. vphold and kéepe sure my lot i. the portion which is come to mee by lot as it were he putteth lot for the thing that fell to him by lot as in the next verse he putteth the word lines for that that fell to him by the measuring of the lines or cordes Touching lots and lines or cordes sée Deut. 32.9 Prouerb 16.33 ver 6. in pleasaunte places both for pleasure and profite a fayre heritage i. fine and excellent vnderstanding by these spéeches portion inheritaunce cuppe lines heritage c. all one thing as it were vz. assuraunce of Gods goodnesse towards him for things appertayning to this life and the life to come ver 7. Hath giuen me councell i. instructed and taught me what was right vz. by his holye spirit my reines i. my inward affections as Psalme 7.9 reformed by the mighty working of Gods spirit teach me vz. to thinke vpon nothing as it were but goodnesse in the night when commonly we are prone to euill and
the Lord who shewed his glory and presence from betwéen the Cherubins in the arke ver 8. who is this c. the demaund or question of the faithful people the Lord strong and mightye this is an aunswere to the former question whereby for the strengthening of their faith they are admonished that God armed with inuincible power commeth to defend his people and to beat downe his enemies ver 10. The Lord of hostes i. he whom al hosts both heauenly and earthly do obay and therfore most strong mighty euen in battaile i. not only in warlike strength but in the very pinch and brunt of battaile Do. Ver. 1. describeth the largenesse of Gods gouernment so that nothing is exempted therfrom for though he speake only of the earth and thinges contayned therein yet he mindeth not to exclude the heauenly creatures Ver. 2. Setteth out Gods power and prouidence Ver. 3. Teacheth men to haue regarde to ioine themselues to his church in this life and to haue a speciall care of etexnal life Ver. 4 Teacheth the brideling of our hands the reformation of our harts the subduing of the vaine and wicked affections of our minds and to take héed that we abuse not an othe so that to sweare is not forbidden as the Anabaptists imagine but to sweare deceitfully and wrongfully ver 5. setteth out gods goodnes plentifully rewarding the holy indeuours of his children ver 6. Teacheth that care and zeale to worship God must be in his children ver 7.9 Teacheth men to be prepared to receaue the Lord when he commeth to them ver 8. and 10. is a particular description of Gods power and glory which serueth for comfort to his children because he will deliuer them and for terror to his enemies because he will punish them Psalme 25. IN this Psalme Di. the Prophets prayers are wonderfullye intermedled and therefore it canne be hardlye well diuided Sometimes he prayeth deliuerance frō his enimies shewing what fruit shall come thereby to him and others ver 1.2.3.15.16.17.18.19.20.21 sometimes he prayeth the Lorde to instruct and teach him and others also in the right way shewing how God dealeth with his children ver 4.5.6.8.9.10.12.13.14 and sometimes he confesseth his sinnes praying pardon for them and shutteth vp this Psalme with a prayer for the Church ver 7.11 18.22 The title is expounded before Ver. 1. My soule i. Se. hart and all that is within me his words shewing that in the outward he gaue himselfe to the Lordes seruice and this spéech proueth that his inward man was ioined therewith ver 2. Let me not be confounded vz. by receiuing a repulse at thy hands ver 3. mend thus yea let none that trust in thée be confounded and ioyne it to the former thus q.d. I pray not only for my self but for the rest of the faithfull that transgresse vz. against me in resisting my kingdom that without any cause on my behalf giuen them and so doth the Chaldee paraphrase expoūd it ver 4 shew me thy ways vz. by or in which thou wouldst haue me to walk meaning by waies the order of life which God himself prescribeth the same he meaneth by his paths as we haue had it before ver 5. Lead me forth vz. without daunger of mine enimies in thy truth i. as thou hast promised to shielde mee from them and teach me vz. the same thy truth teaching me to finde it and féele it by experience the God of my saluation i. such a one as I fynd a present helpe to saue me frō and in al dangers all the day i. continually with an vnwearied constancy Ver. 6. Remember thy tender mercies that I maye féele them now as thou hast shewed them always hertofore ver 7. The sins of my youth i. those that I did commit in my youth nor my rebellions vz agaynste thy maiestie euen for thy goodnesse sake q.d. though my sinnes deserue the withdrawing of thy fauor yet think vpon thy mercy and not vppon my iniquities ver 8. Gracious righteous i. merciful to penitent persons and vprighte in the execution of his iudgements Dauid vseth these termes to strike vp himself therby to praier sinners i. all one and other for none are without sin in the way or rather the way for so it is in the Hebrue text meaning a conuersation the God himselfe alloweth of for so it is ver 9. though al do not imbrace it ver 9. in iudgement i. with a thorow iudgement meaning therby aduisedly rightly it séemeth to be a metaphor taken from them that guide others shew thē the way ver 10. paths of the Lord sée ver 4. of this Psalm are mercy and truth i. are most mercifull faithful because that in thē God giueth testimony vnto thē of his mercy truth meaning by truth gods faithfulnesse in performing that which he promiseth his couenant his testimonies i. his Law which is called his couenaunt because that thereby God maketh a couenaunt or bargayne as it were with vs that we should kéepe his law for testimonies sée Psalme 19.7 Verse 11. For thy names sake i. for thy glory and mercies sake least otherwise by my iniquity thy glory might be called into question Verse 12. The way sée verse 4. of this Psalme Verse 13. His soule i. his whole man a part put for the whole Ver. 14. Secrete of the Lorde i. the law of the Lord which is called secret because we cannot vnderstande it of oure selues without light from him Ver. 15. Mine eyes vz. not of my body only but of my fayth and soule are euer toward the Lord i. are earnestly lifted vp and stedfastly fixed vpon him as Psalme 123. ver 1.2 my féete i. me my selfe a part for the whole out of the net i. out of the snares and daungers that myne enemies haue layde to catche me in Ver. 16. Turne thy face i. thy fauourable and louing countenaunce for I am desolate i. vtterlye destitute of helpe vnlesse thou helpe as Psal 22.11.20 and poore i. maruailously afflicted and so haue you this worde sundry times vsed in the Booke of Psalmes Ver. 17. The sorrowes of my harte i. The gréefes and sorrowes that touche and possesse of my harte are inlarged i. multiplied to a wonderfull numbers so that I am hardly able to thinke vpon them with my hart ver 19. with cruell hatred i. with hatred that will neuer be appeased but by committing some crueltye agaynst me ver 20. Soule put for whole man as ver 13. before in this Psalm ver 22. Israell put for the faithfull Israelites and Gods church as Psalme 14 7. Psal 125.5 Psal 131.3 Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth that prayer must ve made to GOD onlye Verse 2. that seruice cannot bee performed but by trust in God ver 4. We are ignoraunt euen the best of vs in Gods worde till the Lorde lighten and teache vs. ver 5. We must continuallye hang vppon GOD by an assured fayth ver 6. Gods mercye is the onely
afflictions ver 8. God alone preserueth his children from the rage of their enimies and if they come into thraldome setteth them at liberty when it pleaseth him ver 9. the afflictions of Gods children in this life are very long in respecte of time and gréeuous in respecte of greatnes ver 11.12 It is no newe thing that those whiche should most loue men do many times eyther for feare or flattery of others make lesse account of them ver 13. Greate men are many times enemies to Gods children also Gods children haue their passions of feare when they are in dangers ver 14. It is a singular thing to haue fayth in the hart and true confession of God his goodnes in mouth ver 15. God hath numbred our dayes and neyther can we passe them nor our enemies abridge thē ver 16. Gods fauour and mercy the only cause of deliuerance from dangers in this life and of eternal saluation also ver 17. that wee maye sometimes pray against the vngodly and ver 18. likewise ver 19. Setteth oute Gods vnspeakeable goodnes towards those that are his ver 20. It is God alone that kéepeth his children safe from the outragious déedes and wordes of the vngodly ver 21. Thankes must be giuen to God for benefits receaued ver 22 Many of Gods children in hast both thinke and speake that they should not as Psal 30.6 Ver. 23. We must prouoke others as wel as our selues to praise the Lord there is also contained the vnlikely reward of the faythful the wicked ver 24. There is none that trusteth so much in God but he hath néede of continual incouragement thereto Psalme 32. THis Psalme hath thrée parts Di. In the first the Prophet reckoneth vp their blessednesse that are fully assured of the ful forgiuenesse of al their sinnes and this is in the two first verses In the second he sheweth what gréefe both of body and soule he was in til such time as by sincere confession of his sinnes he felt that great benefit declaring also what profit came to him and others thereby ver 3.4.5.6.7 In the third be exorteth all to liue godly shewing that they that liue otherwise haue iust occasiō of sorrow the godly of spiritual reioising ver 8.9.10.11 The title A Psalme of Dauid to giue instruction vz. Se. to al sorts of men but chiefly the faithful ver 1. forgiuē i. so takē away that they are not any more thought vpon Ier. 31.33.34 is couered so that not so much as prints or steps much lesse the filthinesse of sinne appeare ver 2. imputeth not i. calleth not his sinne or iniquitie into an account but burieth the same in perpetual forgetfulnes and in whose spirit i. soule and inward man there is no guile i. subteltie he meaneth by this spéech such men as did of a sincere mind turn vnto God truly loue him which hipocrits do not though they make a shew thereof ver 3. whē I held my tongue from humble sincere confession of my sinnes my bones i. my strength which indéed consisteth in the bones for the bones vphold the body it selfe and strengthen al the parts therof I consumed i. wasted and weare away or when I roared amend it thus in my roaring i. when I was caryed away with the féeling of some present aduersitie though not with true touch of my sinne I cried roared like a wild beast rather then poured forth gronings and complaynts beseeming a man ver 4. For thine hand i. thy iudgement mighty power is heauy vpon me i. in a manner presseth me downe day and night i. continually and without any ceasing almost and my moysture i. the naturall moysture of my body whereby life is mayntained is turned into the drought of Summer i. as in the time of summer when the sunne is most hot the moysture of the earth is dryed vp so fareth it with me meaning that Gods iudgements and his own gréefs had wrought that effect in him ver 5. I acknowledged i. confessed hid I as Adam Iob 31.33 as my natural corruptiō would teach me for I thought vz. thus with my self against my self q.d. Yea though it be against my selfe the punishment he meaneth both the punishment and the sinne it selfe for he respecteth the first verse of this Psalme where hée affirmeth not only sinnes to be forgiuen but that it was wel with such mē and they were blessed in deede ver 6. When thou mayst be found which is specially the time of néed as Psal 50.15 and marke that he sayth in the beginning of this verse therfore q.d. Because thou hast shewed thy selfe so mercifull to others namely to me the godly shall repair vnto thée by praier great waters i. manifold dangers as psal 18.16 psal 69.1 him i. the faithfull godly man by one vnderstanding all the rest Ver. 7 Thou art this is the spéeche that the godly shall vse when they praye vnto the Lorde my secrete place vz. into whiche I will withdrawe my selfe to be sure and safe from mine enemies sée Psal 18.45 with ioyfull deliueraunce i. thou doest bestowe deliueraunces vpon me which are ioyfull vnto me and minister matter of greate mirth vnto others also Verse 8. in the way sée psalme 25.8 He meaneth an vpright way and godly life I will guide thée with mine eye i. I will not onelye teache thée but also ouerlooke or ouersée thée that thou mayst profite in goodnesse Verse 9. He noteth that rebellious persons agaynst God bee as bruite beasts sée Isaiah 1.3 and deuoyd of all heauenly vnderstanding be yee not c. i. Be ye not dul brutish as beasts he nameth some whom they had the greatest vse and experience of doest binde i. rule and gouerne come nere thee vz. with their mouth to hurt harme thée the Prophet meaneth that hee woulde haue them diligentlye to applye themselues to the consideration of Gods gouernmente and to profite thereby least otherwise going forwarde in their rebellion against God they inforce him to vse the bridle of his might to tame their fearcenes ver 10. Many sorrowes i. plagues and punishmentes sent from God which are called sorrowes because they make those vppon whome they light sorrowfull mercie vz. from God shall compasse him vz. on euery side noting thereby the abundance thereof ver 11. In the Lorde vz. because hee is your strength and helper vpright in heart vz. towardes God and man Ver. 1.2 Teach that true felicitie in this life Do. consisteth specially in these two partes vz. forgiuenes of sinnes and sanctification towardes God man ver 3. Sheweth that cloaking or close kéeping of sinne bringeth foorth better fruites ver 5. Teacheth humble and vnfeigned confession thereof forgiuenes alwaies following it ver 6. Teacheth the faithfull alwaies to haue recourse to God by praier also that God sundry times deliuereth his children from manifold dangers ver 7. God is al in al vnto his seruants ver 8. Euery faithfull man should haue
waters ver 8. The consideration of Gods prouidence and gouernment should strike a feare of his maiesty into the hearts of al people ver 9. The Lorde néedeth not great power either to build vp or destroy ver 10. There is no witte nor wisedome of man can take place against the Lorde ver 12. True felicity consisteth in this that God doeth loue those that are his and defend the same ver 13.14 Declare that nothing can be hid from Gods presence and knowledge the same doth ver 15. Ver. 16.17 Teach that we must only hang vpon the Lord and that no outwarde meanes can doe any thing without his special blessing ver 18. Setteth out gods fauour and goodnes towards his children so doth ver 19. Ver. 20. Teacheth vs patiently to abide the Lordes leasure ver 21. Teacheth vs ioyfulnes and thankefulnes to the Lord for his mercies ver 22. Teach vs to pray for the continuance of Gods mercy towards vs and others Psalme 34. THis Psalme may be deuided into thrée partes Di. In the first the prophet promiseth that he will praise the Lorde exhorting others to do the like shewing sundry causes why they shold so do from ver 1. to the end of the 7. In the second hee exhorteth the faithful to feare the Lorde and to leade a holy life before men shewing what fruits shall followe the same from ver 8. to the end of the 14. In the third he declareth the excéeding good will of God towards his children and his heauy iudgements against the vngodly from ver 15. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title A Psalme of Dauid i. which Dauid made when he changed his behauiour i. when being wise and witty hee faigned himselfe to be madde as 1. Sam. 21.13 Before Abimelech he is called in Samu. Achith named there king of Gath whiich was a city of the Philistines but here he calleth him by a name cōmon to al the kings of that coūtry as Pharao was to the Egiptians and Cesar is to the Emperours Who droue him away vz. from his presence and country ver 1. Alwaies i. in the time of prosperity or aduersitie q.d. in what state soeuer I shall be I will praise him his praise shal bee in my mouth continually i. I will praise him and that with my mouth i. the wordes of my mouth without ceasing ver 2. My soule i. my inward man for hee had before said that he would do it with his mouth or else take it for the whole mā a part put for the whole shal glory i. much reioyce and euen as it were boast in the Lord i. of him and the help that he hath giuen me and be glad vz. not only for me but also for themselues because that by my example they shal conceiue good hope of like deliueraunce ver 3. Hee speaketh to the humbled and faithful people willing them to ioyne with him in the prayse of God that so his prayses may be more large and publike ver 4. I sought i. had recourse vnto him by prayer vz. in the time of my affliction heard me i. yéelded to my petition and granted it out of al my feares he putteth the effect for the cause meaning dangers which made him afraid ver 5. They i. the humble faithful of whom before ver 2. shall looke vnto him i. diligently and carefully attend for aide and succor from him sée Psal 123.2 And runne to him vz. with hast in their troubles and boldnes in respect of obtaining and their faces shal not be ashamed i. they shal not hang downe their heads and countenances for shame as they were wont to do but shal lift vp their heads and looke on high and go vnto God without any doubting ver 6. The Prophet sheweth what ground these good men shal haue of their praiers vz. his particular example and deliuerances bestowed vpon him This poore man vz. Dauid in the time of his greatest pouerty and affliction cryed i. praied earnestly vnto the Lord and saued him i. deliuered him sée ver 4. of this Psal ver 7. The Angel i. angels one number for an other For the word Angel is in this place the name of the kind of them as you would say and therfore must not be referred to one alone but to many pitcheth round about them i. doth not only watch diligētly ouer them and care for them but defendeth and saueth them against the force of al their foes yea and as he saith in the last part of this verse deliuereth thē vz out of their dangers not that the Angels haue this of themselues but because they are furnished with such power from god for the comfort of his children ver 8. Tast ye and sée vz. with the mouth of your mind and the eyes of your faith for otherwise Gods goodnes can not be perceiued it is a metaphorical speach from bodily to spiritual thinges ver 9. Serue the Lord i. addict your selues wholy to his seruice a part of Gods shorship put for the whole as ver 11. of this Psalme For nothing wanteth vz. that God who knoweth what is better for them then they themselues séeth to bee méete and good for them ver 10. The Lions or rather the yong Lions that are of great force and ready to catch or deuoure a pray vnderstand it either of the beastes themselues or else of rauenous men which in power are like to Lions the latter by reason of that which followeth in this verse seemeth to be most agréeable do lack for al their cruelty and rapine and suffer hunger i. many pine away miserably perish séeke the Lord sée ver 4. of this psal Ver. 11. He speaketh vnto the godly calling them children to declare how dearely he woulde loue them that would learne Gods true religion hearken vnto mee vz. not onely with your outward eares but with your mind imbrace that sound doctrine that I shall propound vnto you ver 12. Desireth life vz. good and blessed both here in this worlde and in eternall glory long dayes i. long life the dayes wherein men liue being put for life it selfe o sée i. to haue experience trial and cast as it were of those things which may make this life good and pleasant a metaphor from one sense to an other ver 13. Kéepe thy tongue from euill vz. speach he meaneth that men should take héede that they offend not with their mouth nor words procéeding out of it as Dauid in an other place faith of himselfe he was vtterly purposed that his mouth should not offend so that hée meaneth that men must beware of backbiting slandering lying filthy talking and idle words lips he putteth tongue and lippes which are natural instruments wherby the voice is framed for wordes vttered by them no guilt◠i. no manner of disceate whatsoeuer nor for any cause ver 14. Euil i. al maner of euill whatsoeuer and do good i. carefully striue to performe al good and holy duties séeke peace i. indeuor to
liue peaceably with al men as Rom. 12.18 And followe after it vz. if thou sée it going away q.d. vse all the meanes thou canst to entertaine and vphold it yea pursue it and that with egernes rather then lose it or depart from it ver 15. Hee speaketh of God according to man vnderstanding by eies fauor and goodnes and by eares the ready inclination in God to heare the prayers of his vppon the righteous vz. for their good that so he may graciously prouide for them their cry i. their earnest prayer ver 17. sée ver 6. of this Psal Ver. 18. the Lord is neere vz. by his maiesty power and helpe either in respect of himself or else by his creatures which he hath at commandement by contrite heart and afflicted in spirite the Prophet meaneth all one thing vz. them that be ouerwhelmed with euil and as it were in extremity so that they are in a manner killed as it were with the greatnes of their calamity and are at the point of yéelding vp their life in whō notwithstanding these afflictions worke that they are not of a lofty minde either against God or man but humble rather and lowly sée Psal 51. ver 17. Saue such i. deliuer them out of their dangers and in fine bring them to eternal blessednes ver 20. Hée kéepeth all his bones i. God defendeth his in part and in whole for by bones which are a part of man he meaneth the whole man not one of them is broken vz. without Gods will as Mat. 10.29.30 Meaning by broken hurt or perished howe litle soeuer it bee ver 21. But malice or mischiefe rather that they haue done against God and his children or as Immanuel readeth affliction vz. sent from the Lord which I very wel like of for as he had shewed in the other verse Gods care ouer his so here hee sheweth his iudgements against the wicked and so it is an amplification by the cōtrary ver 22. Redéemeth i. from death and al dangers the soules i. the liues Do. Ver. 1. Because Gods goodnes is continuall our thankes should be continuall ver 2. Gods goodnes towards vs and our thankfulnes to God should bée meanes to draw on others to a spiritual ioy ver 3. It is good to exhort one an other to holy duties and to ioy all together in the exercises of Gods seruice ver 4. God graciously heareth his childrens prayers and mercifully deliuereth them out of their daungers ver 5.6 Gods mercy to some one of his children should be not only a spurre to prouoke the rest to came to the Lord but an argument of assured hope that they shall obteine and receiue deliueraunce at Gods hands ver 7. The vnspeakeable goodnes of God appeareth in that that not onely hee himselfe watcheth ouer vs which is all in all but for the strengthning of our faith giueth vs a gard of Angels ver 8. Trust in God is the meane to true blessednes ver 9. All good thinges belong to those that sincerely serue the Lord. ver 10. Gods children are many degrées in better case then the wicked and vngodly ver 11. Wee are to teach others according to the measure of giftes that wee haue receiued ver 13. The tongue lippes and wordes must bee rightly gouerned and all subtilty must bee auoyded ver 14. All euill must bee shunned and all good performed and namely a peaceable and quiet conuersation must bee pursued ver 15.18 Expresse Gods careful prouidence and watching ouer his children ver 16.21 Set out his iudgements against the vngodly ver 17 God graciously heareth the praiers of his seruantes ver 19. Though this be the portion of Gods children to suffer many afflictions yet they néed not to be discouraged for God standeth by them to deliuer them out of all ver 20. Expresseth Gods prouidence ouer his ver 22. The way to auoyd al dangers is stedfast trust in the Lord. Psalme 35 Di. THis Psalme specially propoundeth two things first the prayer that the Prophet made against his enemies declaring what good shall come thereby both to himselfe and others ver 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.17.18.19.22.23.24.25.26.27.28 Secondly a discription of the malicious and harde hearted nature of the wicked men who neither for the misery that the Prophet was in nor for the kindnes hee had shewed them would pity his case but proceeded notwithstanding to al maner of outrage against him ver 11.12.13.14.15.16.20.21 Se. The title is expounded before ver 1. He prayeth the Lord to defend him and his cause against those that pursued him euen to death as it were ver 2. Lay hand vppon thy shielde hee speaketh to God as though hee were a mighty warrier or captaine for mine helpe i. to defend and helpe me ver 3. Stop the way i. let myne enemies that they rush not in vppon me to doe mee outrage Say vnto my soule i. make me to féele inwardly by the mighty working of thy grace saluation sée Psal 3.8 Ver. 4. After my soule i. life vz. to take it away let them be turned backe as men that are discomfited in the battaile and haue an ouerthrowe Hee continueth in his metaphor taken from warre and vsed before ver 2.3 Ver. 5. As chaffe sée Psalm 1.4 Hee meaneth that hee woulde haue them flée and bée like to chaffe which can remaine in no place safe and steadie by reason of the wynde The Angel sée Psal 34.7 For as God vseth his Angels in the defence of his seruauntes so hee doeth exercise his iudgements against the wicked by their ministery scatter them i. their persons and their mischieuous practises ver 6. Let their way vz. wherein they shoulde walke and by which they would thinke to escape bee darke so that they may not sée which way safly to flée and slippery that they may not quickely and with speede flie away thinking to escape the Angel of the Lorde sée ver 5. of this Psalme persecute them i. pursue them with grieuous punishments from thée for persecute is not here taken in the il part as vsing a tyrannie against them ver 7. Without cause vz. on my behalfe the pit vz. which they dig to make me fal into And their nets vz. which they laid to snare and catch me withal sée Psal 7.15 Psal 10.9 for me i. to catch mee in for my soule i. life vz. that they might take it away ver 8. Vppon him either it is the singular number for the plural this being a sodain change of the number or else by one that was chiefe amongst them hee vnderstandeth all the rest into the same destruction sée Psal 7.15.16 Ver. 9. My soule i. my heart and mynde and all that is within mee Psal 103.1 In his saluation i. in the deliuerance that hee worketh for me and mine sée Psal 3.8 Ver. 10. All my bones a part of the body for the whole as Psal 34.20 He had sayd before that in the inward man now hee sayth that in the outward man also hee will be ioyful in
this Psalme respecting rather matter then order doeth somewhat confusedly expound diuers things generally hée expoundeth in déed Gods power which hee manifested in sauing and deliuering his in ouerthrowing their enemies for which mercy towards the one and iudgement towards the other he exhorteth all the faithful and all others to yéelde both thankes and power vnto him The ouerthrowe of the wicked is foretold and confirmed by examples similitudes Ver. 1.2.6.12.21.23.30 The mercy of God towards his seruants is set out Ver. 3.5.6.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.19.20.22.27.28 Exhortation to humble confession of Gods might and hearty praysing of him for his benefites are comprehended Ver. 4.19.26.32.34 The rest of the verses of this Psalme doe for the most part most excellently séeke the maiesty and power of God as 7.8.17.18.24.25.27.28.29.31.33.35 Se. The title is expounded before sundry times and specially Psal 48. of Dauid i. which Dauid made It shoulde séeme that Dauid writ this Psalme after he had ouercome the Philistines Iebusits and went about to cary the Arke into Ierusalem as 2. Sam. 6. and 1. Chronic. 13. and it is so much the more confirmed vnto me because he beginneth this Psalme with the same words almost that Moses vseth Numer 10.31 When the Arke should remoue Ver. 1. God wil arise i. God by effects wil declare that he is not only present with but that also he taketh care for his Church by exercising his power against the enemies therof and his enemies i. those that molest and trouble his people they are called his enemies because he estéemeth any thing done against theÌ„ as done against himselfe shal bee scattered vz. like chaffe before the wind sée Psal 1.4 meaning that they shal not be able to stand before him they also that hate him vz. either himself or his people shall flée before him vz. as men discomfited in the field and turne their backes Ver. 2. As the smoke vanisheth i. sodainly for we sée the smoke soone passeth away and this is one similitude hee vseth to set forth their hasty and present destruction so shalt thou driue them vz. by violence and that whether they will or no away vz. from the place of their aboade and where they thought their nest was most sure and as waxe melteth before the fire this is an other similitude expressing their sodaine and assured destruction so shall the wicked perish i. come to naught bée ouerthrowne and destroyed as Psalme 1.6 at the presence of God i. when God beginneth once to shewe some testimonies of his presence Ver. 3. But the righteous i. good and holy men who haue the righteousnes of God imputed vnto them shal bee glad and reioyce before God i. shall shewe themselues ioyfull because God declareth himself terrible to the wicked which also is for their good and the saluation of his Church yea they shall leape for ioy i. they shall expresse the inward ioy of their heart by outward gestures and signes Ver. 4. Sing vnto God he exhorteth the faithful to praise God and sing praises vnto his name i. to his power goodnes maiesty and nature for al these are his being substance exalt him vz. with songes and prayses that rideth vpon the heauens i. that hath an infinite power and is lifted vp farre aboue all the world in his name Iah i. in his eternal nature which is of it selfe and is the cause that all other thinges are for so much the worde Iah importeth and amongest other names and titles of God hee taketh that which is in déede most significant for the which he is especially to be praised reioyce before him vz. in the place where he is worshipped which was wheresoeuer the Arke was till the temple was builded Ver. 5. He i. God is a father i. a gracious prouider for maintainer of the fatherles i. of al those that bee in affliction misery as Hosea 14.3 and a iudge i. one that taketh knowledge of reuengeth iniury offred to the widowes by these two fatherles widowes he meaneth that God caryeth a singular affection towards those that are oppressed which he wil maintaine against all those that labour to put them downe and oppresse them by violence in his holy habitation hee meaneth either heauen or the tabernacle of wicnesse The sense is that for as much as God had chose him a dwelling place amongst men the poore might haue more bold assurance when they vnderstoode that they néed not séeke God farre off Ver. 6. God maketh the solitary to dwel in families by solitary he meaneth those that were childles who are so called not onely because barennes which was reprochful among the Iewes made theÌ„ sundry times to liue as it were solitarily i. not so much to reioyce in company as others did but also because not hauing séede they were as it were alone in as much as they did not increase the house or stocke and by dwelling in families hee meaneth blessing of them with children and posterity sée Psalm 113.9 and deliuereth i. setteth frée from bandes and the daunger of their enemies power them that were prisoners in stockes i. those that were kept most straitly and locked most surely as Paul and Silas Actes 16.24 Sée Psalme 107.10.13.14.16 also Psalme 146. throughout but the rebellious vz. against GOD and his truth shall dwell in a dried lande i. a barren place as Psalme 63.1 Hee meaneth that they shalbée destitute of gods blessing and in continuall misery expressing one kinde of affliction for al. Ver. 7 O God when thou weâ—test foorth i. when thou diddest take the charge and gouernement and so wentest in and out for them and on their behalfe before the people vz. of Israel what tyme thou causedst them to come vp out of Egipt when thou wentest vz. with them and that fortie yeeres long through the wildernes sée Psalme 95.8.9.10 also Numb 33.11 Verse 8. The earth i. not onely mount Sinai but also the ground about it sée Exodus 19.18 yea hee meaneth that all thinges gaue place vnto him bringing his people out of that bondage as the historie sheweth from Exod. 7. Vnto the 20. chapter the heauens dropped vz. either manna which God gaue the people or else raine and water sée Psalm 18.7.11 at the presence of this God i. when this our god would giue vs some tast of his maiesty euen Sinai q.d. that great notable and strong mountaine was moued i. trembled and shooke as before in this verse Verse 9. Thou O God diddest send for so it must be and not sendest a gracious raigne he meaneth that of his free and onely goodwill did giue the land which of it selfe was a lande of mountaines and valleis as Deutrono 11.11 good store of raine which here also hee calleth gracious because it procéeded of Gods onely grace and good-will vpon thine inheritance i. vpon the land of Canaan which he calleth inheritance because he gaue the same for an inheritance to his people and thou diddest refresh it
grounds of our consciences Verse 23 Declareth what great iudgements God will bring vpon the wicked and all for his chosen peoples sake Verse 24. Teacheth that though the vngodly haue had manifest demonstrations of his power agaynst them and of his goodnesse toward his own people yet they leaue not off to worke what mischiefe they can agaynste them Verse 25. Teacheth all to be thankfull to God for victories atchieued thorowe his goodnesse Verse 26 teacheth all but chéefely the faythfull to prayse God openly for his mercies Verse 27. Teacheth that none neyther high nor low should be exempted from praysing of God Ver. 28. Teacheth vs to praye for the continuaunce and increase of Gods fauour towards vs and the good things he hath begun in vs. Verse 29. Teacheth vs that Gods fauour doth most plainly appear in his Church for which it beséemeth all yea euen the highest to shew themselues thankfull Verse 30 teacheth vs that we maye sometimes praye against the multitude the rage the crueltie the vnbridelednesse and pride of the wicked and namely of those that take pleasure in continuall contention Verse 31. comprehendeth a playne prophecie of the vocation of the Gentiles Ver. 32. teacheth vs to declare our selues ioyful and thankfull to God for his graces Verse 33. Sheweth that God is a God of gouernmente maiestye and power Ver. 34. Teacheth vs that his gouernment maiestie and power is made manifest both in heauen and in earth Verse 35. Teacheth vs that God is terrible to his enemies but comfortable and powerfull to and in his people it teacheth vs also that for these and other graces of his bestowed vpon them it behoueth them to shew themselues continually thankfull Psalme 69 DAuid being moued with great gréefe Di both inwardly and outwardly prayeth earnestly sometimes for himselfe and sometimes agaynst his enemies alleaging his own miseries and their malice as it were reasons to induce God to take pitie of him And though it can hardly be diuided yet me thinketh that the matters which it doth propoūd may wel be brought to these heads first Dauid sheweth his own misery and their malice ver 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 19 20 21 26. Secondly he prayeth for himselfe and against them ver 1 6 13 14 15 16 17 18 22.23 24 25 27 28. Thirdly he gathereth cōfort in his affliction promising thankfulnes and prayse shewing what good also shal come to others thereby and namely to the faythfull and this reacheth from verse 29. to the end of the Psalme The title of this Psalme is expounded before Psal 45. Se. Saue me i. defende and deliuer me O God q.d. There is none besides thée that can doe it for the waters are entred euen to my soule i. I am oppressed with most gréeuous afflictions and they so great that I am as it were wounded therewith to the hart and in very great daunger of my life for so I take the word soule to bee vsed here Verse 2. I stick fast in the déepe mire vz. so that I cannot get out vnderstanding by déepe mire the same which he meant before by waters that is extreme aduersitie which did driue him to dispaire almost as it were where no stay is this amplifieth his afflictions q d. I am in a bottomles pit or quare-mire wherof I shal be swallowed vp I am come into déepe waters i. into most dangerous distresses and perils for the more déepe the waters are the more daungers we think our selues commonly to be in the streames runne ouer me he meaneth that his afflictions were many and were ful of anguishes and troubles euen as a man ready to be drowned and were past hope of recouery Verse 3. I am wearye of crying vz. for helpe vnto God because I sée none come and this the Prophet vttereth vnaduisedlye in the corrupte passions and heate of his flesh my throat is drie vz. with crying and calling mine eies fayle i. the sighte of mine eyes decayeth and they are become wonderfull dimme sée Psalme 31.9 also Psalme 38.10 Whiles I waite vz. in fayth and patience notwithstanding these hastie spéeches for my God i. for helpe and succour from him that hath promised and I haue founde to bee my God Verse 4. They that hate me without cause vz. on my behalfe giuen them are moe then the heares of mine head i. infinite and innumerable but he meaneth no doubt that there are very great multitudes and numbers of them they that would destroy me i. take my life from me and cut me off from being amongst men and are mine enemies falslye i. wrongfullye meaning the same matter that he sayd before without cause are mightye vz. in subtiltye power and practise so that I restored that vz. by suffering punishmente for the fault which I committed not which after some sort may be called restitution which I tooke not vz. from them either by force fraude or any other way Verse 5. My foolishnesse i. that foolishnes which mine aduersaries burthen me withall q.d. Thou knowest whether I be such a one as mine enimies by their wicked words publish me to be so it is called his foolishnesse not because he had committed it but because they vniustly had layd it vpon him and so must you vnderstand these words my faults i. wherewith they charge me are not hid from thée vz. because nothing can be hid from his knowledge and sighte q.d. Thou knowest whether the thinges be true yea or no that they lay agaynst me Verse 6. Be ashamed vz. by doubting of thy mercy or dispayring of thy goodnesse for me vz. by reason of the misery and poore estate that I am in q.d. Let them not fall from thy maiestie into distrust because I séeme to bee forsaken whereby the Prophet testifieth his wonderfull loue towards others those that séeke thée i. those that pray vnto thée and call vpon thée and that according to thy will reuealed in thy word The word of trust in the first part of this Verse respecteth hope and this word séeking includeth prayer by which we sée that the faythfull of Gods children is not idle because it prouoketh them to pray vnto God be confounded thorow me this hath the same sence that these words be ashamed for me haue O God of Israell i. of thy Church and faythfull people as sundry times before Verse 7. For thy sake vz. in following the vocation wherevnto thou hast called me haue I suffered reproofe vz. of mine aduersaries vnderstanding by that worde all the wicked sayings and doinges which they had practised against him shame hath couered my face by this spéech he meaneth eyther the abundaunce of reproches which hee had indured q.d. I haue sustained so many that I am euen full or laden therewith or else he noteth the effecte whiche those reproches and opprobries had wrought in him vz. that they made him as it were for shame to hide his face this latter I rather encline vnto by reason of that which
in their heades they haue more vz. of worldly prosperitie and wealth then heart can with i. theâ—â— they themselues in their owne affections can desire sée Psal 17.14 Verse 8. They are licentious i. they giue themselues in their conuersation and behauiour to al licentiousnes doing whatsoeuer they themselues like of and speake wickedly of their oppression hee meaneth to note their impudencie and shamelesnes that not only did euil but would with wicked words publish the same abroad and speak presumptuously i. fearcely against men and proudly against God as though they were not like other men Ver. 9. They set their mouth i. they spare not to speake putting the word mouth an instrument of speach for speach against heauen i. against God chiefely that is in heauen and these blessed ones that are there with him and their tongue i. their speach tongue is vsed here as the word mouth was before in this verse walketh through the earth i. they speake outragious wordes also euen against men that inhabite the earth and in these words heauen and earth there is Metâ—â—â—mia Ver. 10. Therefore his people i. Gods people turne vz. from God hither i. to wickednes and sinne with the vngodly the Prophet meaneth that many that were supposed to be faithful people straied from the right way or else stoode not so stedfastly therin as some imagined they did for waters of a ful cup are wrung out to them the Prophet noteth the cause of their falling to bee on the one side the wickeds prosperitie and abundance and on the other side the plentie of their owne afflictions vnderstanding by waters of a full cup wrung out vnto them the abundance of calamities that they sée dayly prepared to fall vppon them euen as it were bitter potions for them to drinke Ver. 11. And they say i. the godly or these that haue a shewe of godlines and are readye to fall from it by reason of the wickeds prosperitie as verse 2. of this Psalme howe doeth God know it vz. their wickednes and vngodlines is there knowledge vz. of their sinnes and trasgressions q.d. no surely for if there were hee must néedes punish them or else deny his owne nature so farre doeth fleshly weakenes cary them that it maketh them to doubt of Gods prouidence and gouernment Verse 12. Loe these vz. that thus florishe are the wicked vz. of the worlde yet prosper they alway sée verse 4. and 5. of this Psalme hee meaneth that whatsoeuer they take in hande goeth well forwarde and besides are not afflicted as others are and increase in riches vz. euen as much as their heart can desire Ver. 13. Certainely q.d. séeing the case so standeth to what ende haue I striuen to do well and note that the Prophet expresseth rather his assault shewing whereunto hée was tempted then vttered his perswasion I haue cleansed mine heart i. I haue laboured to remoue corrupt and filthy affections from mee not meaning that hee had power in himselfe but that God had giuen him a will to beginne in vaine i. without any cause why séeing that the wicked haue more abundance many times then the godly and washed my handes in innocensie by handes hee vnderstandeth workes performed by the handes as it were q.d. I haue in vayne béene carefull that my workes shoulde be cleane and iust meaning by purging his heart inward soundnes specially towards God and by washing his hands outwarde behauiour specially towardes men q.d. I haue without cause walked in honest conuersation before men and perfourmed dueties of godlines towardes God Sée Psal 26.6 also Iob. 9.30 Ver. 14. For dayly haue I béene punished i. continually afflicted with some one crosse or other for this is the portion of Gods children that in this life with them the latter end of one trouble is the beginning of an other chastened euery morning vz. for my amendment and bettering Ver. 15. If I say vz. to my selfe in my owne heart and thought I wil iudge thus vz. of the wicked that they are good and that thy prouidence beareth not such a sway as I haue beléeued behold the generation of thy children vz. which shal conuince me of vanitye and falshood because thou alwaies preseruest them to thy selfe what danger so euer come I haue trespassed q. d yea I must further confesse that in hauing these motions I haue sinned against thée Ver. 16. TheÌ„ thought I to know this i. I laboured painfully to come to this matter and the depth of it vz. whether matters were gouerned by thy prouidence yea or no but it was to paineful for me vz. to atteine vnto and that by mine owne natural wit and vnderstanding as may appeare by that which followeth in the next verse Ver. 17. Vntill I entred vz. with déepe consideration hearty prayer c. into the sanctuary of God i. into the word of God in which his wil is declared putting the place where the word was most vsed for the word it selfe then i. after that I had looked into thy word I vnderstood vz. rightly and soundly their end i. the wicked mens ende which is called their end not that it was in their choyse to make what end they would but that it was that end which GOD in his iudgements layde vppon them euen when they thought him to haue no care of their doings and themselues in the greatest safety Ver. 18. Surely thou hast set them in slippery places i. in an vncertaine and chaungable estate whereof they can haue no more assurance then if they went vppon â—se or some slippery matter and from which they shall as easily and as soone fall as they haue béene exalted thereto and castest them downe into desolation i. thou doest so ouerthrowe them that they are vtterly wasted and destroyed as may appeare by the next verse Verse 19. Howe sodainely are they destroyed vz. by thy iudgements perished vz. from among men and horribly consumed vz. by thy feareful iudgments which by reason of the noueltie strangnes of them astonisheth them and bringeth them to naught Verse 20. As a dreame when one awaketh vz. so passe the wicked and their felicity away hée meaneth that they sodainely vanish away as a dreame is quickely forgotten yea many times knowe not what they dreamed and though they doe yet they finde that it is nothing but a vayne perswasion and so shall the wicked mens felicity bee when thou raysest vs vp vz. either in honour and estimation for the lifting vp of the good is the depressing of the wicked or else in right and sounde iudgement Immanuel readeth when thou arisest vp referring it to GOD i. when thou beginnest to execute thy power vppon them which also is good sense thou shalt make their image despised vz. of the godly by image hee meaneth either their outwarde shewe which blearing their eyes vanish away as sodainely as an image that sheweth it selfe in a glasse or else the men themselues who are of no longer continuaunce then an
some lesse triall Verse 19. In the multitude of my thoughtes in my heart i. while I did secretly and within my selfe thinke vppon many thinges hee calleth these perillous and doubtfull cares which hee had in his thoughtes which no doubt woulde haue ouerwhelmed him if the comfortes of God of which he speaketh afterwards had not refreshed him thy comfortes i. those comfortes that by thy spirite I receiue from thy nature and worde haue reioyced i. haue caused to reioyce or haue made glade my soule i. my life and whole man distressed with sundry sortes of heauinesses Verse 20. Hath the throne of iniquitie i. hath vniust iudgement and sentence hee putteth a wicked place for wicked matter and iudgement pronounced out of that place fellowshippe with thée i. doest thou iudge vniustly as wicked iudges doe Sée Gene. 18.25 which forgeth wrong for a lawe i. which deuiseth frameth and performeth cruelty as though it were right and according to the lawe and iustice and marke that hee calleth it the throne of iniquitie both because vniust men sit there and vniust sentences are pronounced there the whole verse together is q.d. thou in thy dealings O Lorde hast nothing common with vniust iudgement seates with vniust iudges or vniust sentences all which doe nothing else but oppresse other men with iniurie and wrong and that many times vnder the pretence of lawe and right Ver. 21. They i. the wicked and vngodly gather them together vz. in troupes and great companies and all to take counsell against the soule of the righteous i. against the life of the good man howe they may take it away from him and spoyle him of al that he hath and condemne vz. vniustly without cause the innocent blood i. the man that hath done them no harme putting blood a part of man for man himselfe and his whole life Verse 22. But the Lorde q.d. notwithstanding the mischieuous malice of the vngodly mentioned verse 21. yea the rather for that is my refuge i. a sure place whereunto I will flée to bée preserued from mine enemies and my God i. hée that hath alwayes shewed himselfe careful for mee and gracious to mée is the rocke of my hope i. is the sure stay and foundation of the hope that I haue q.d. I assuredly staye my selfe in none but in him alone Ver. 23. And hée will reuenge them their wickednesse vz. which they haue committed against him and others meaning by this manner of speach that hée will giue them the wages and hire which is due to so great transgression and destroy them i. vtterly ouerthrow them and bring them to naught in their owne malice i. in the mischiefe and euill that they haue deuised against the good meaning that their euill deuises shall fall vpon their owne heades and they shal be taken in the mischiefes wherein they thought to intrappe the good yea the Lorde our God shall destroy them q.d. he wil certainely destroy them and that by his great and sodaine iudgements the repeating of the same words noteth nothing else but the assured perswasion of the faithfull and the certaine destruction of the wicked Verse 1. Teacheth that it is comfortable to Gods children Do. and terrible to the wicked to knowe and féele that GOD is the auenger of al iniuries and wronges Verse 2. Teacheth that wée may safely praye against the malicious and insolent enemyes of Gods trueth Verse 3. Teacheth vs not to bée dismayed though the wicked preuaile much and long neither to prescribe GOD a tyme of deliuerance but with patience to beare and by earnest praier to labour the remouing of those crosses and trials Verse 4. Describeth the proude and cruell both wordes and gestures of the vngodly Verse 5. Setteth out their cruell and outragious déedes against Gods seruants Verse 6. Sheweth that they growe to such a height and harde heartednes and cruelty that they pity not them whome nature and curtesie woulde shewe compassion to Verse 7. Sheweth not onely that the vngodly flatter themselues in their sinnes but also that they imagine that either God will not beholde their iniquity or if hee doe that hee will not greatly regarde to punish them for it Verse 8. Teacheth vs to haue a care to instruct euen those that are most desperately wicked Verse 9. Teacheth vs that nothing that we doe or speake can bee hid from Gods eyes or eare Verse 10. Teacheth vs that God is no respecter of persons and that therefore wee shoulde not flatter our selues as though hée woulde forbeare vs. Verse 11. Teacheth that man and all his deuises are nothing in respect of the Lorde Verse 12. Teacheth that Gods corrections are to Gods children seales of his blessing vppon them also that this is a singular benefite to haue Gods will and worde made manifest vnto vs. Verse 13. Sheweth two thinges first that GOD will deliuer his out of all their distresses Secondly that the wicked shall bee ouertaken in the mischiefes of their owne heartes Verse 14. Teacheth that howe slippery or inconstant soeuer man bée to man yet GOD is alwayes fast and sure to those that are his Verse 15. Teacheth that howsoeuer GOD séeme for a time to deferre the execution of full and perfect iudgement yet hee will in the ende perfourme it in déede and the godly shall reioyce therein Verse 16. Teacheth that the number of those which boldly defende Gods seruants is very smal Ver. 17. Teacheth that vnlesse God kéepe vs euery steppe that wée steppe is a steppe vnto death Verse 18. Is very comfortable teaching vs that GOD is alwayes present with his to preserue them from all euill Ver. 19. Teacheth that nothing can more gladde men in this life in the middest of their heauinesses then to haue an eye to the comfortes which GOD hath set downe in his worde Verse 20. Setteth out the vprightnesse of GOD and of all his iudgements so that though men bée neuer so corrupt yet he is alwayes iust and holy in all his workes Verse 21. Paynteth out the conspiracye and crueltye of the wicked against the godly Verse 22. Teacheth vs in the middest of all these mischiefes to hang vppon the Lorde onely by an assured and stedfast fayth Verse 23. Setteth out the certaintye of that destruction and iudgement of the vngodly with which they shalbée ouertaken from the Lorde Psalme 95. Di. THis Psalme may bée diuided into thrée partes In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faithful to praise and serue God and this is conteyned in the two first verses and in the sixt verse In the seconde part hée sheweth the causes wherefore vz. for the gouernement of the worlde which is general and for the chusing of his Church which is particular Verse 3.4.5.7 In the thirde part the better to bring them vnto the perfourmance of this duety hée setteth before them a fearefull example and that in their owne fathers for the neglect of it from verse 8. to the ende of the Psalme Though this Psalme
all that faile thē of any thing that is méet for thē it teacheth also that nothing is done without gods prouidēce ver 18 setteth out the hard hartednes of the wicked the miserable estate that the Godly many times are brought vnto Ver. 19 sheweth that there is a time set with God wherein he wil deliuer his out of danger cleare thē from al false slanderous accusations wch time it behoueth thē with patience to wayte for Ver. 20 sheweth that God wil make euen Princes to pity his poore seruants Verse 21 sheweth that after long humbling God wil exalt his seruants very highly the same lesson doth ver 22 deliuer Ver. 23 sheweth that God hath many wayes to bring his purposes to passe as for the deliuery of his people out of Egipt which he had promised to bring them into Egipt by the means of the famin Iosephs being there Verse 24 teacheth iij. things first that al increase is of the Lord secondly that do men what they can to hinder Gods purposes they cannot preuaile thirdly that euen thē whē men striue most against God his people then doth he make them principally to flourish Ver. 25 teacheth that gods prouidence and counsel entreth euen vnto wicked mēs harts that they cānot hate or loue the good without Gods sufferance the power that he giueth thē therto yet hée remaineth pure frō al euil holy and as it were an excellent workeman who in performing his work bringeth good out of euil light out of darknes Ver. 26 teacheth that God doth by means worke the deliuerance of his people wch should teach vs to vse means secondly it sheweth that none should take vpō them any office but they that are sent of God as was Moses Aaron Ver. 27 Teacheth men faithfully to do those things that God hath giuen them in charge to perform Ver. 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 teach especially two things First that nothing is don either in heauen or earth but by the very finger power of almighty god secondly that God hath al his creatures at cōmaundement to vse thē at his pleasure for the plaguing punishing of the vngodly Besides this Ver. 30. teacheth that God in pouring forth his iudgemēts is not partial to any person sparing kings or Princes Ver. 31.34 declare that euen Gods word is his déed for when he speaketh any thing it is done as appeareth in the creation Gen. 1. Ver. 37.38 39 40 41 42 43 44 teach first that God maketh al his creatures to serue for the good of his children secondly that euery good thing they haue they haue from the Lord only But more particularly Verse 37 teacheth vs that siluer gold strength c. are the Lords gifts Ver. 38 sheweth that God can make the very name and countenances of his seruaunts feareful to them which had oppressed them Ver. 39 teacheth what a cōtinual care watchfulnes the Lord hath ouer his seruants to kéep thē frō dangers things that might annoy them Ver. 42 teacheth vs that Gods frée promises are the cause of all our goodnes blessednes both in this life the life to come Ver. 45 teacheth vs that the end wherefore God bestoweth al blessings vpon vs is that we should imploy our selues more diligently and faithfully in his seruice which if we do we shal bee sure of his graces in great abundaunce and continuance which if we do not we may for a time haue and inioy many outward things as the vngodly haue but the very hauing of them will be in the end to our great iudgement Psalme 106 THis Psalme may be diuided into thrée especiall partes Di. In the first the Prophet exhorteth men to praise God and yet considering his own weaknes the excellency of gods works he thinketh himself and others far vnméete for it and yet notwithstanding goeth forward to pray both for himself and his people from verse 1 to the ende of the 6. In the second part he doth largely resite as the singular graces and goodnes of God towardes their forefathers so their particular rebellions and iniquities multiplyed against God who had bene so good vnto thē with the iudgements also that for those sins he layd vpon them from verse 7. to the end of the 46. Now gods mercies are resited ver 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 21 22 30 31 43 44 45 46. Their sinnes ver 7 13 14 16 19 20 21 24 25 28 29 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39. Their punishments verse 15 17 18 23 26 27 29 32 40 41 42. In the third part hée prayeth the Lord to gather together the dispersion of his people by which it should séeme that this Psalm was made when they were in some captiuity eyther in Babilon or vnder Antiochus promising therefore to prayse his holye name and inuiting others to doe the like and this is comprehended in the two last verses of this Psalme The title is praise ye the Lord by this we may sée that it was a Psal appointed Se. to stir vp men to the praysing of god Sée the last verse of Psal 104. also in some measure to cōfort thēselues with the consideratiō of gods former graces Ver. 1. Praise ye vz. O ye faithful and good people the Lord vz. only and none but him because he is good vz. towards al but specially towards you for his mercy endureth for euer this is another cause why they shoulde prayse the Lord because his mercy towards his is perpetual neuer shal haue end Ver. 2. Who vz. amongst al his creatures can expresse i. is able eyther by thought to conceaue or by words to declare the noble actes of the Lorde i. the greate and singular workes of creation preseruation c. of all his creatures more particularly of men but most specially of his children or shewe all his prayse i. the prayse that he doth deserue for the same The Prophet vttereth not this as though he would haue vs vtterly leaue off to prayse God because we cānot thorowly sufficiently perform it but that considering on the one side our own weakenes we should earnestly pray the Lord to strengthen vs thereto and on the other side the excellency of his works shoulde indeuour what wee maye to praise him therfore knowing that he accepteth vs according to that we haue not according to that we haue not Ver. 3. Blessed are they that kéepe iudgement Imman readeth it in my mind better thus that kéepe this order vz. of praising magnifying God for his graces though they cannot do that which either they would or should do righteousnes at al times i. that do continually frame their life as an euident patern and a constant and perpetuall example of the prayse of God for so I suppose righteousnesse in this place to be vsed Verse 4. Remember me vz. thy poore and vnworthy Seruaunt hee meaneth not that God doth at any time forget
i. performe and accomplish for though Gods worde bee alwayes sure both in respect of his maiesty from whome it cōmeth and of it selfe and the things propounded in it and of vs also in respect of assured faith yet it is then most liuely confirmed vnto vs when it is performed and it declared to bee true and certaine by effect as it were thy promise vz. made to me he putteth one promise for many vsing also promises for the word it selfe conteining promises as ver 11. of this Psalm to thy seruant i. to me for he speaketh of himselfe in the thirde person q.d. make the effect of thy promises to come vnto me who serue thée with a good heart for though it be true that Gods promises perfourmed to others may comfort men yet nothing so much can they comfort vs as this which we féele perfourmed to our particular persons because he feareth thée it woulde rather be turned thus who feareth thée for our feare of God is not a cause why God shoulde performe his promises to vs and the Prophet meaneth by the word feare not onely a reuerent perswasion which he had in his heart of God but the effects and fruits of that reuerence that is the worship and seruing of him according to his word Ver. 39. Take away vz. of thy mercy and goodnes my rebuke i. the euil which I might commit against thy good lawe and so it might tend to my shame as though hée prayed to be kept from notorious transgressions as ver 31. of this Psalm or else thus for as much as by some sinnes and namely the sinne of adultery with Bathsheba and murther of her husband Vriah hee had purchased rebuke and shame amongst men hée beséecheth the Lord euen to remoue that that I feare vz. will not onely fall but increase vppon mee vnlesse in mercy thou cure and couer it for thy iudgements vz. which thou hast pronounced in thy word are good vz. to them that rightly vnderstand them vnderstanding by iudgements not onely the threates of the lawe but also euen those comforts which God hath pronounced in the same Ver. 40. Beholde I desire vz. earnestly and with a very good affection thy commandements i. both the knowledge and obedience of thy commandements quicken mee Sée ver 25.37 of this Psalme in thy righteousnes i. in thy woorde and lawe which is called righteousnes because it is the onely rule of that righteousnes which we ought to performe to God or man Do. Ver. 33. Teacheth vs to pray to the Lord onely for light and instruction out of his holy worde also to cary with vs a holy purpose of perseuerance and continuance in the obedience of God all the dayes of our life Verse 34. Teacheth vs that the vnderstanding kéeping of gods law is a singular gift of his own bestowed vpon his children also that our obedience to god should be vnfeigned and without hipocrisie Ver. 35 Teacheth vs that vnlesse God kéepe vs in obedience wée shall continually wander out of the way also that our continual delight and pleasure should be in Gods word Ver. 36. Teacheth vs what a foule fault the sinne of couetousnes is also that there is no better meane to subdue it in our selues then care and conscience to walke in the obedience of Gods worde Ver. 37. Teacheth vs first to nippe off sinne in the beginning thereof secondly to labour the mortification of our earthly members and the partes of our bodyes inclined to euill and thirdly to pray for liuelines continuance in the obedience of Gods trueth Ver. 38. Teacheth vs that if wee haue by experience either in our selues or others but specially in our selues felt the trueth of gods promises perfourmed to vs wee haue not onely a notable testimony of Gods goodnes but a seale set vpon our fayth for the greater strengthning of it in the same Ver. 39. Teacheth vs to pray the remouing of shame amongst men specially if our shame shal bring with it some dishonour to God also it teacheth vs not to be shameles as many men are who are without blushing and haue gotten to thēselues harlots faces Ver. 40. Teacheth vs to haue an earnest desire both to knowe and walke in the obedience of Gods lawe This part in summe declareth what great weaknes there is in man to vnderstande loue and followe Gods lawe vnlesse he be taught and renued by the power of his spirit Vau. Di. THis is the sixt letter and noteth out the sixt part In which the Prophet specially propoundeth two thinges first he maketh prayer vnto God for the continuaunce of his mercies specially for manifesting his word vnto him with the fruites and effectes which shall follow thereof ver 41.42.43.44 Secondly hée promiseth and voweth as it were a thankefull heart to the Lord for his benefits which he wil declare openly before all men yea euen kings magistrates Ver. 45.46 By a holy and religious life towards God himselfe ver 47.48 Se. Ver. 41. And let thy louing kindnes i. thy most tender and infinite mercy come vnto mée O Lorde vz. from thée q.d. let me haue it plentifully powred forth vpon mée and make mee to féele it effectually and thy saluation i. ayde helpe yea and eternall life it selfe hée setteth louing kindnes or mercy before saluation as the cause before the effect according to thy promise vz. graciously made vnto me q.d. make mee to féele that louing kindnesse and saluation of thine which thou hast promised and I pray for Ver. 42. So i. by that meanes onely and no other shall I make answere i. bee inabled sufficiently to answere vnto my blasphemies i. vnto them that reuile and speake euill of mee q.d. I will not then dissemble any whit at all but speake euen as the thing it selfe shall require for I trust in thy worde vz. which thou hast giuen mee q.d. I perswade my selfe in the trueth of thy woorde that when I shall once sensibly féele thy mercy and goodnes I shal be wel able to answere all my gainsayers Sée Luke 21.14.15 Verse 43. And take not vz. though for my sinnes in iustice thou mightest the worde of trueth i. thy worde which only conteyneth trueth in it vtterly i. altogether or for euer Immanuel readeth this part of the verse thus But take not out of my mouth the very true word i. the word which is most true referring the word which is here translated vtterly not to the word take away as our English text doeth but to the worde of God which in déede is most true out of my mouth in this speach hee doeth not exclude the heart by which we must beginne but it is q.d. vpholde not only my heart in faith lest I bee ouerthrowne through temptations but bring to passe also that my tongue may haue full liberty so that I may praise thee amongst men without any feare so also Saint Paul prayeth the Church to pray for him that vtterance might bée giuen vnto him that he might
side from the hand of strangers sée for the vnderstanding of this and all that followeth in this verse the 7. and 8. verse of this Psalme where you shall sée the very same wordes Ver. 12. That our sonnes i. the posteritie that we shal leaue behind vs through thy fauour towardes vs and thy iudgements vpon thine and our enemies may be as the plants i. tender faire gréene and florishing growing vp in their youth this may be referred either to the childrē or to the plants but I rather refer it to the plantes q.d. euen as plantes set in good grounde grow vp a pace so by this thy blessing the séede that we shall leaue behinde vs shall increase in all comelines beautie and good thinges and our daughters i. our seede and posteritie for vnder these two sonnes and daughters hee meaneth all posteritie either male or female which they coulde leaue behinde them as the corner stones vz. of the house builded or in the foundation of the house which were not onely profitable to vpholde the whole building as Psalme 118.22 but also was finely hewen cunningly wrought grauen i. curiously wrought and cut after the similitude of a pallace i. after the forme of most costly stones wherewith most costly buildinges as palaces are built But I like better Immnuel who readeth it thus that our sonnes being as the plantes growing vp in their youth our daughters being as the corner stones al this agréeth with the sense before giuen may bee the building of the temple i. may be such stones as may be vsed to the building and polishing of Gods church that we may altogether grow vp to an holy temple in the Lord Ephe 2.21 also Ephe. 4.12.13 Ver. 13. That our corners i. not onely the barnes and store houses which we haue but euery corner of our dwelling house maye bee full vz. through thy blessing and abounding vz. in great measure and plenty with diuers sortes vz. not onely of graine and corne but of all maner of prouision and that our shéepe may bring forth vz. through thy especial blessing thousandes and ten thousandes i. may increase infinitely and as it were without number for he putteth a number certaine for an vncertaine in our stréetes i. openly so that not only we our selues to our great ioy but our aduersaries to their great griefe may beholde the same Verse 14. That our oxen vz. also through this thy blessing may be strong to labour i. méete and fit for all that labour whereunto thou hast appointed them and we shal according to thy will vse them he meaneth by this that the people may bee rich and abounde with al maner of worldly blessings that there bee none inuasion vz. of the enemie against vs that is that the enemy runne not in vppon our lande and vs neither make breaches in our wals nor enter into our cities nor going out vz. to battle and warre which can not be if none come to assault them nor no crying in our stréetes i. neither noyse or sodaine tumult as commeth to passe in the taking of townes nor no mourning by any occasion either when the enemies slay vs or otherwise q.d. that no euill thing at all may come vpon vs that no good thing may passe from vs and that we haue no heauines nor cause therof within vs our Cities but al things ioyful and pleasant Ver. 15. Blessed are the people that be so i. in so good a cause d.q. most happy surely are they yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lorde i. they in déede are blessed who howsoeuer they haue or inioy the outward blessings before rehearsed or haue them not yet so do tast and féele the grace of God that they are still perswaded of his fatherly loue towards them and in the apprehension thereof goe on forward towards the obtaining of the heauenly inheritance Ver. 1. Teacheth vs that we can do nothing no not outwarde things well Do. vnlesse the Lorde teach and instruct vs. Ver. 2. Teacheth vs first that God alone is the whole aide and defence of his children secondly that it is not kings powers and pollicies that kéepe the people in good order and subiection but hee alone who boweth their heartes thereto Verse 3. Teacheth vs that there is nothing in man as of man that can commend him to God Ver. 4. Setteth out the vanity brittlenes and shortnes of mans life Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that God néedeth not to vse any great power for the ouerthrowe of his enemies Verse 6. Teacheth vs that wee may safely pray agaynst the malicious and obstinate enemies of his trueth Verse 7. Teacheth vs that vnlesse GOD deliuer vs out of our great daungers there is no way or meanes for vs to escape out of them Verse 8. Teacheth vs that there is nothing but vanitie lying and falshoode to bée looked for at the handes of the wicked Verse 9. teacheth vs to bee alwayes thankefull to the Lorde for his mercies and because wee are very dull thereto to stirre vp our selues by all the meanes wee can Verse 10 teacheth vs that Kinges victories and their deliuerances from daungers procéed from God as well as the poore mans doeth Ver. 11. teacheth vs that because we can not helpe our selues wee shoulde pray the Lorde to deliuer vs from distresses Verse 12. teacheth vs that it is a singular blessing to haue a posteritie grafted into Gods Church Verse 13 teacheth vs that abundance of al things come from the Lorde onely Verse 14. Teacheth vs that neither our cattell nor any thing else can stand vs in steede without Gods especial blessing and al these three verses layde together doe teach vs further what great commodities insue to Gods people by the ouerthrow of their enemies also that euen these outward blessinges are to Gods seruants sure seales and testimonies of a better hope Ver. 15. Teacheth vs that they in déed are in some measure blessed that haue these outwarde benefites bestowed vpon them but yet they are in better case which though they wante them féele with assuraunce of perswasion the eternal fauour of God towards them in the hope and certaintie of a better life Psalme 145 Di. THis Psalm propounding specially the matter of thanksgiuing and praise vnto the Lord may bée diuided into foure partes In the first hee himselfe promiseth to praise the Lorde shewing a cause wherefore Ver. 1.2.3 In the second he doeth as it were prophecie that all Gods creatures and workes shal serue to set forth his praise from ver 4. vnto to the end of the 12. In the third he sheweth reasons and causes why men should praise the Lorde to wit for his gouernement his mercy his prouidence c. from verse 13. to the 20. And lastly hee shutteth vp the Psalme with promise of thankesgiuing as he began it ver 21. Se. The title A Psalme of Dauid i. which hee made of prayse vz. vnto the Lord i. of such prayse and thankesgiuing as
onely and not from any policie or deuise of man whatsoeuer Ver. 15. Sheweth that the Lorde can by his worde doe watsoeuer pleaseth himselfe Ver. 16.17.18 Teach vs that howsoeuer God vse secondarie causes in the accomplishment of his wil yet it is his power only that directeth disposeth of al things see to this end Iob. 37. throughout Ver. 19. Teacheth vs that gods word is the most singular iewel and blessing that God can giue vs in this life Ver. 20. teacheth vs that God wil haue mercy vpon whomsoeuer he wil haue mercie and he wil shew compassion to whomsoeuer he wil shewe compassion as for the other he wil harden psalme 148 THis Psalme may be diuided into three partes In the first Di. the Prophet exhorteth al the heauenly creatures to praise and glorifie God from ver 1. to the end of 6. In the second he stirreth vp earthly creatures to the performance of that great duety and al this he doth that hee might the better prouoke men therunto from ver 7. to the end of the 12. In the thirde hee exhorteth them al together to prayse the name of the Lorde shewing certaine notable causes wherefore they should do it and this is comprehended in the two last verses of the Psalme The title Prayse ye the Lord Sée before Psal 106. also 111. also 112. Se. also 113. also 146. also 135. and 149. 150. Verse 1. Prayse yee the Lorde from the heauen q.d. al ye things that are in the heauens and haue your abiding there magnifie the Lord and extol him for his goodnes praise ye him in the high places i. ye that are in the heauens haue your dwelling places as it were there and the heauens are called high places because they are high aboue vs and note that in this verse he speaketh generally vnto them al meaning them parcularly as it were one after another in the verses folowing ver 2. Praise ye him all yee his angels hee speaketh this not as though the Angels did not their duetie in that behalfe but because he woulde haue them to shewe men the way as it were to praise God and they are called Gods angels both because he created them and also because they are alwaies ready to execute his commandements praise him al his armies or hostes this is a general word and is to bee referred to all the heauenly creatures as Gene. 2.1 which are called Gods armies and hostes because he vseth their ministery and seruice either in the defence of his children or in the ouerthrow of his and their enemies yet notwithstanding it may very wel be applied to Angels especially as who are the chiefe and principall instruments which he vseth in those cases Verse 3. Prayse ye him sunne and moone he directeth his speach to the insensible creatures though they haue no vnderstanding because they glorifie their creator in doing their duty and kéeping the order which he hath set them and because Gods glory shineth forth in them and they do as it were with a loud cleare voyce publish and set foorth his prayses sée Psal 19.1 and Psal 145.11 all this hee doeth to shewe that it should be great vnkindnes if men should degenerate from the end of their creation prayse ye him al bright starres i. all starres for there is no starre but he hath brightnes and light in him to shine vppon the earth as Gene. 1.16.17 Ver. 4. Prayse ye him heauen of heauens i. not onely the circles and spheres wherein the planets are as it were in diuers seates dwelling houses as the Philosophers affirme but euen the very true heauēs the place of eternal ioy prepared for the elect sée for this phrase 1. King 8.27 and waters i. raine that bée aboue the heauen i. are in the cloudes aboue the firmament and are there vpholde by his almightie power Sée Genesis 1.7 so heauen in this place is put for the aire or the nethermost region of the aire aboue which the cloudes conteining the raine are Ver. 5. Let them vz. altogether and euery one of them prayse the name of the Lorde i. celebrate and set forth his maiesty power goodnes c. for hee commaunded i. hee spake the worde onely and they i. all and euery one of them were created vz. immediatly and presently as Psalme 33.6.9 Verse 6. And hee hath established them vz. by the strength and power of the same word whereby hee created them for euer and euer i. to all perpetuitie and this must chiefely be vnderstoode of the Angels and ministring spirites he hath made an ordinaunce i. he hath set a decrée or decréed by which they are lead to do the office wherunto they are appointed which shal not passe i. which shall not vanish or fléete away or rather thus which they shal not passe i. which they shal not transgresse or goe beyonde doe what they can Verse 7. Prayse yee the Lorde from the earth i. yee earthly thinges as from the heauen verse 1. was heauenlye thinges and this is a general terme comprehending the particulars expressed afterwardes ye Dragons the Hebrewe worde properly signifieth great fishes such as are Whales but yet it may bee applied generally to all great beastes whether they liue in the lande or in the waters and all depthes i. all déepe places or rather by the signe metonomia all thinges conteyned in the déepe places as whether they be in the bottome of the sea or in the caues of the earth Ver. 8. Fire i. lightning and haile i. which cōmonly commeth with stormes of thunder and lightning snow and vapours vz. in the ayre which are drawn vp thither by the power attractiue of the sunne stormie wind which vz. wind or else all of them together but I rather refer it to the wind execute his word i. obey his commaundement after their maner and fashion the accomplishment whereof we sée Exod. 14.25 And this he sayeth because alterations come not by fortune or chaunce but are guided and gouerned by Gods secret will Verse 9 Mountaines and all hils by this particular enumeration he declareth this to be his meaning that he would haue no creatures excepted though he do not reckon them vp all fruitfull trees i. trées that beare fruit for the nourishment of man and beast which thing many trées doe not being replenished only with boughes and leaues and all Cedars vz. how high and tall soeuer they be meaning that if the best were not excepted thē the worst should not Verse 10. Beasts and all cattel vz. of what kind or forme so euer they be the particulars whereof he reckoneth vp afterwardes créeping things vz. as wormes snakes serpents and such like which créepe or craule vnderstanding also by those the very fishes as may appeare Gen. 1.20 feathered foules i. euery thing that hath winges and flieth Ver. 11. Kings of the earth i. al maner of rulers and men of mighte by what title or name soeuer they are called and