but also that they were dayly more and more indurate and hardened Sée Isaiah 6.10 but my delight is in thy lawe vz. aboue and before all thinges Verse 71. It is good i. both profitable and pleasaunt as Psalme 92.1 for mee vz. thy poore and vnworthy seruant that I haue béene afflicted vz. graciously and mercifully at thy handes and that with the rods of thy children sée ver 67. of this Psalme that I may learne vz. not onely to knowe but also to obserue thy statutes i. the lawes which thou hast established Ver. 72. The law of thy mouth i. the worde which procéeded and came from thée and was vttered as it were with thy mouth is better vnto me i. is more deare and precious and swéete then thousands of gold and siluer i. then a very great number or infinite treasure he meaneth that he did preferre Gods woorde before all earthly things whatsoeuer Do. Ver. 65. Teacheth vs that God alwayes graciously performeth his promises to his seruants Verse 66. Teacheth vs that we can haue no sounde knowledge till God teach it vs. Ver. 67. Teacheth vs that afflictions are profitable instruments which God doeth vse to draw vs on to the practise of his worde ver 68. Teacheth vs to make gods grace goodnes our special ground worke of our prayers Ver. 69. Teacheth vs first that the wicked will leaue no stone vnrolled that thereby they might hurt the godly Secondly that wee shoulde striue vnfeignedly to kéepe Gods lawe Verse 70. Teacheth vs that the wicked are hardened and baked as it were in their sinnes also that wee shoulde take singular delight and pleasure in gods word Ver. 71. Teacheth vs that afflictions are euen good for vs because they pull vs on to the obedience of Gods trueth Verse 72. Teacheth vs to preferre Gods woorde before all worldly things whatsoeuer Iod. Di. THis tenth part consisteth wholly of supplications and prayers partly for himselfe verse 73.76.77.80 partly also for others ver 79. and partly against the wicked and vngodly ver 78. lastly hee sheweth what fruite the godly shal reape in that his petitions are granted vnto him and coÌfesseth that he hath deserued al punishments ver 74.75 Se. Ver. 73. Thine hands haue made me i. thou by thy mighty power O Lorde hast created mee of the flime and dust of the earth and fashioned me vz. in this order and shape wherein I nowe liue giue mee vnderstanding therefore i. make mee apt and able so to vnderstand thy will that I may learne vz. to knowe and keepe thy commaundements Marke here two thinges first that in making his prayer for holy vnderstanding hée iustly accuseth himselfe and all others of blindnesse which procéeded not from the Creator but from man corrupted Secondly that euen by his creation he conceiued hope that God woulde continue his worke begunne in him because God leaueth not his worke and therefore hee requireth God to bestowe newe grace vpon him and to finish that which he had begunne in him Verse 74. So i. by that meanes when they shall beholde and sée that they that feare vz. with the reuerent feare of thy sonnes from which as from the cause procéedeth this true effect of the right worshipping and seruing of thée séeing mee vz. thus instructed and taught by thee in the knowledge of thy lawe shall reioyce vz. for the graces that I haue receiued from thee because I haue trusted vz. stedfastly and with patience in thy woorde vz. generally but specially in thy promises Verse 75. I knowe O Lorde vz. not onely by the trueth of thy woorde but also by mine owne particular experience and practise that thy iudgments i. all thy iudgments whatsoeuer but specially these punishments whereby thou doest prouoke men to repentance are right i. are ministred in all equity and right so that no man can charge thée of iniustice and that thou hast afflicted mee i. corrected and chastened mee as verse 67.71 of this Psalme iustly i. being mooued thereto by very good right and cause Ver. 76. I pray thée vz. humbly and heartily that thy mercy i. thy singular and vnspeakeable goodnesse may comfort mee vz. alwayes and namely when I am in any sorrowe and distresse according to thy promise vz. made and giuen that is according to the promise that thou hast made vnto thy seruant i. to mée thy seruaunt for hee speaketh of himselfe here in the thirde person as sundry tymes before in this Psalme Verse 77. Let thy tender mercyes vz. which thou was wont to shewe heretofore to thy afflicted seruauntes come vnto mée vz. also that is let mee bée partaker of thy excéeding loue in trueth and féeling as they haue béene that I may liue vz. here vppon earth among men and set foorth thy prayse Sée verse 17. of this Psalme and it is as much also q.d. It is impossible that I shoulde liue till such time as I féele my selfe reconciled to thée through thy mercy for thy lawe i. study practise and knowledge of thy woorde is my delight i. all my whole delight for the Prophet vseth here a worde of the plurall number delights Ver. 78. Let the proude bee ashamed vz. euen before thee and before men what hee meaneth by proude persons sée before verse 51.69 for they haue dealt wickedly i. vniustly and cruelly against mee and falsely vz. also with mee meaning that they had both by force and fraude as lying hypocrisie c. sought his ouerthrowe but I meditate vz. earnestly and continually for all that of thy precepts i. of thy lawe and word and of the things conteyned therein Verse 79. Let such as feare thée i. loue and serue thee with an vnfeigned heart turne vnto mée i. ioyne themselues to mee agayne in familiaritie after that through thy iudgements thou shalt haue declared and made knowne vnto them the goodnesse of my cause Sée Iob. 6.29 q.d. as the good haue for a tyme through the insolency and pryde of myne enemies béene beaten backe so let them nowe take courage agayne when they shall sée mée restored and lifted vp and they that knowe thy testimonies vz. to doe them Verse 80. Let my heart be vpright in thy statutes i. let me haue a sound affection towardes thy word and obedience of it and let mee bée frée in these things that I doe of all hypocrisie and dissimulation that I bee not ashamed i. made ashamed and that before men which should in deede betyde me if I should depart from thy statutes sée ver 31. of this Psalme also Psalm 44. almost throughout specially towards the end Do. Ver. 73. Teacheth vs to pray earnestly for light and vnderstanding out of Gods word Ver. 74. Teacheth vs that Gods mercies bestowed vppon some of his children should bée an occasion of comfort and ioy to the rest Ver. 75. Teacheth vs fréely to confesse that whatsoeuer God doeth he doth it vprightly because there is no vnrighteousnes with him Ver. 76. Teacheth vs that Gods mercy and goodnes rightly
and he testifyeth by this worde so often vsed in this Psalme that euen in the middest of life we are dead vnlesse we be quickened and vpholden by the power of God according to thy iudgement vz. pronounced in thy word or we may take iudgement to be put for the word it selfe which declareth vnto vs Gods goodnesse he alludeth no doubt to the office of an earthly iudge whose duty coÌsisteth in these ij points to absolue and lose some and to pronounce the senteÌce of condeÌnation vpon other some in which sence also we say in the coÌmon coÌfession of our fayth that Christ our sauiour shal come from heauen to iudge the quick and the dead Ver. 150. They draw neare vz. to me euen to persecute hurte and destroy me that follow after malice i. that pursue the mischieuous and wicked attempts which they themselues in their own malice had maliciouslye and wickedly deuised against me and are far from thy law i. they care not either for the sight hearing or knowledge of it thus he giueth two properties to know the wicked by the first is that they are malicious the second which indéed is the welspring of al mischiefe they despise Gods law Ver. 151. Thou arte neare O Lord vz. to al thine euen to aid succour them in their distresses for al thy commaundements are true that word for would better be turned and and he meaneth that not only the words wherwith gods commandements are expressed but euen the very things commanded therein are iust true holy Verse 152. I vz. my selfe haue knowne vz. euen by mine own practise and experience long time i. not only of late but sundry times heretofore whiche I will neuer forget by thy testimonies i. by thy word that thou hast established them for euer i. that thou hast ordained that it should abide firm and stable for euer and euer sée ver 89 of this Psalm and verse 144. Verse 145 teacheth vs that in all our supplications praiers to the Lord Do. our hart and our words should concur consent together Verse 146 teacheth vs that the former experience of Gods goodnesse in hearing our praiers shoulde imbolden vs both to pray and to hope to receaue the like Verse 147 teacheth vs euen to breake our sléepes to giue our selues to prayer and calling vppon the name of GOD. Verse 148 teacheth vs to be continually diligente and carefull in the meditation and studye of Gods worde Verse 149 teacheth vs that Gods frée mercy is the first cause of the graunting of al our requests Ver. 150 doth liuely paynt out the nature and disposition of the wicked and vngodly Verse 151 teacheth vs that the Lord is neuer absent from those that loue and feare him Verse 152 teacheth vs that to know the assurednesse of Gods worde and to haue felt by proofe the certainty thereof are two notable proppes of our fayth and hope Resch Di. IN this part as in the former the Prophet continueth his prayers to almighty God vsing certaine arguments to induce the Lord to graunt him his requests as first his own misery affliction and gréefe verse 153 154 158. secondlye the desperate estate of the wicked and the greate heape of his enemies 155 157. Thirdlye the great loue mercy and truth of the Lord verse 156 159 160. Se. Verse 153. Behold mine affliction i. how great the affliction is which I presently indure not that the Prophet thought the Lord did not beholde it but because he would haue him by effect to declare that he did regard and consider it and deliuer me vz. out of the same for I haue not forgotten vz. as the wicked men doe verse 139 but I haue thought vpon it to doe it thy lawe i. thy worde as sundrye times before Ver. 154. Pleade my cause vz. against mine aduersaries that would oppresse me sée Psalme 35. verse 1. and verse 122 of this Psalme It is as much as if he should desire the Lord to defende him and his case and deliuer mée vz. from them that would oppresse me as ver 134 sée also for this phrase ver 153. quickeÌ me according vnto thy word sée verse 25 of this Psal Verse 155. Saluation i. helpe and deliueraunce out of daunger as Psalm 3 8 is farre from the wicked i. they shall haue no parte or portion of it and this he speaketh specially of his aduersaries who defended an vniust cause against him because they séeke not vz. vnfeignedlye and from a good harte thy statutes i. thy worde and that to know and to do them Ver. 156. Great are thy tender mercyes O Lord vz. towards thy sonnes and seruaunts Sée Psalme 86 5 13 15. quicken me according to thy iudgements sée verse 149 of this Psalme Verse 157. My persecutors and mine oppressors i. those that persecute and oppresse me are manye vz. in number and great in power yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies q.d. for all that I leaue not the loue and obedience of thy truth sée verse 110. of this Psalm Ver. 158. I saw vz. euen with mine eyes meaning that he did certainly know the naughtinesse of the wicked men the transgressors vz. of thy law for sinne is the transgression and breache of Gods lawe 1. Iohn 3 4 and was gréeued vz. with them and at them for their sinnes sake sée before verse 53 136 139. because they kepte not thy worde i. because they had no care eyther to know it or doe it Sée verse 136. Verse 159. Consider O Lorde the Prophet speaketh this not as though he doubted whether god knew it yea or no but to intreat the Lord by effects to declare the care that he had of him how I loue thy precepts i. how much I loue them sée ver 97 113 127 and sundry other places of this Psalm quicken me according to thy louing kindnesse this may stand vs in stéed of an exposition of that which was sayd before 149 156 if that bée not plaine ynough as that he should vnderstand by iudgements Gods promises and mercies in which sence also the word is vsed in sundry places of scripture Ver. 160. The beginning of thy word is truth i. thy worde hath bin true euen since the beginning and al the iudgements of thy righteousnesse i. all thy iust and righteous iudgements indure for euer the Prophets purpose is in this verse to note that Gods word is most certain faithful stedfast and durable Ver. 153 teacheth vs Do. that euen our very affections are good matters to moue the Lord to haue mercy vpon vs. Verse 154 teacheth vs whether we haue maÌs ayd or no yet we should continually hang vpon the Lord and pray vnto him for our iust defence euery maner of way Ver. 155 teacheth vs that a very coÌtempt of Gods word which the wicked vse is a seale vnto Gods children that no parte or péece of Gods fauour belongeth vnto them Ver. 156 doth notably set out the abouÌdant riches infinit treasure
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 coÌmeth 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 froÌ 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 theÌ 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 froÌ 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
prepare arrowes for the persecutors i. those that with him doe persecute me ver 14. Behold q.d. notwithstanding all this he shall trauaile with wickednesse but yet he shal not be able to bring forth i. to worke that which he hath deuised for he hath conceaued vz. in his vnderstanding mischiefe vz. agaynst me but he shall bring forth a lie i. such a thing as shal deceaue him of his expectation and hope which he doth more particulerly and plainly declare in the next verse Ver. 15. by which and the 16. he noteth that all the mischiefes that the vngodly deuised agaynst the good and all the daungers that they thought to take the godly in shal light vpon themselues and they themselues be taken therewith ver 17. hath this meaning q.d. Propheta When I shall sée Gods iudgements vpon the wicked and his mercy in deliuering me I wil prayse him according to his righteousnesse he meaneth not so much as Gods righteousnesse i. his faythfull kéeping and performing of promises deserueth but rather noteth the cause that God hath giuen to prayse him for and by name in this verse he meaneth the excellent power maiestie of God which then appeareth when he ouerthroweth his enemies and deliuereth his owne ver 1. Trust and confidence in God Do. is alwaies necessary in them that pray to him also we learne to pray for deliuerance from our persecutours ver 2. describeth the cruel and subtill nature of the wicked ver 3. Sheweth that many of Gods children may stand vpoÌ their innocencie to menward though not before God ver 4. Teacheth that we should ouercome euil with wel doing ver 6. Sheweth that we may sometimes pray against some enemies of the Church it teacheth this also to make Gods promises general or particular the ground of our prayers ver 8 Teacheth that when men wil not iudge rightly we may by prayer defer our causes to him that hath no respect of persons ver 9. that we shoulde pray for the direction and prosperitie of Gods people also that nothing no not the secret thoughts of our hearts can be hid from God ver 10. Teacheth two things 1. that we ought to hang vppon God 2. the fauour and loue hée beareth towards theÌ that sincerely feare him ver 11. Sheweth that God wil not the death of sinners in that he vseth so many meanes to bring them to amendmend ver 12. 13. Declare what mischieuous mindes the wicked carry towarde the godly and what meanes they wil worke to accomplish their naughtines ver 14.15.16 Shew the god shal ouerthrow al their purposes and practises so that good cause we haue to hang vpon him and litle cause to feare the other seeing that their deuises passe into smoke ver 17. Teacheth vs to thanke God either for the destruction of the wicked or the deliuerance of the good Psalme 8 Di. THis Psalme hath principally two partes In the first the Prophet sheweth that the excellent power and prouidence of almightie God may appeare in many his creatures as namely in the heauens and the things therin contained and this is comprehended in the three first verses But specially it is to be seene in man whose excellency in respect of his first creation the Prophet doth wonderfully extol From ver 4. to the end of the Psalme And this is the second part thereof The title of this Psalm hath bene expounded before al sauing this word Gittith which I take to be instruments the custody whereof was committed to Obed Edom the Gittith and to his familie or kinred that came of him of whom you may read 2. Samuel 6.10.11 ver 1. name put for power maiestie as Psal 7.17 q.d. O Lorde howe great doth the whole earth shew thy power to be which hast set thy glory aboue the heauens q.d. not onely the earth but the heauens also declare thy glory as Psal 19.1 Yea he meaneth further by these spéeches that though gods glory appeare in heauen and earth yet notwithstanding hee is infinite in maiestie and glory because his glory is farre aboue the highest heauens vers 2. Hast thou ordained strength i. thou hast strongly established vz. thy prouidence and power q.d. besides the earth and the heauens wee haue very infants preachers of thy power and goodnes and so doth our sauiour vnderstand it Mat. 12.16 Because of thine enemies i. thou hast done this that they thereby might bee confounded that thou mightest stil the enemie i. stoppe his mouth in such sort that he should haue nothing to say and the auenger he that reuengeth his own cause and leaueth not vengeance to the Lord to whom alone it belongeth Rom. 12.19 Who by their facts sheweth that they are perswaded that God careth not for mens matters or else would they neuer so violently breake into his office ver 3. The heauens are called gods both because he made them and also because he gouerneth there and they are as it were his dwelling place the worke of thy fingers i. which thou thy self hast most exactly and perfectly made the moone and the starres Hee particularly reciteth some of the heauenly creatures which thou hast ordeined vz. to bee there to giue light and to keepe their ordinary courses ver 4. That thou art mindfull of him vz. to shewe fauour and loue towardes him or the sonne of man i. his posterity here hee speaketh generally of all comparing man with the rest of the creatures sée Eccle. 1.3.4.5.6.7 that thou shouldest visit him i. haue regarde and consideration of him ver 5. For thou hast made him a litle lower then God Here hee speaketh of GOD in the first place in the second person in the second place in the third person the Apostle Heb. 2.6 expoundeth or translateth in thus Thou hast made him a litle inferiour to the Angels both in this place and in that of the Hebrewes the meaning is that the Lord gaue vnto men in this life a certaine angelicall and heauenly excellencie and crowned him i. Thou hast decked him as it were with a crowne with glory and worshippe some referre this to the mynde and reasonable soule of a man by whiche hee doeth not onely differ from beastes but draweth nigh to the heauenly nature I doe not onely stretch it so farre but vnderstand thereby also the dominion and Lordshippe that the Lorde hath giuen to him ouer all his creatures which followeth ver 6. In the woorkes i. ouer the works of thine hands i. which thou thy selfe hast made all thinges vnder his féete i. made theÌ subiect vnto him this was true in Adam by creatioÌ it is verified also in our sauiour as may appeare Heb. 2. We lost it by Adams fall but we haue it in part restored againe vnto vs by Christ in our regeneration ver 7. He doth particularise the general time all in the 6. verse Ver. 8. and that which passeth through the paths of the sea Hee meaneth the whale and other great fishes which make a smooth
would not obey them but rather vnfainedly imbraced them Ver. 23. I was vprighte also with him i. I walked vprightly before God touching this matter of the kingdome and haue kepte me sée verse 21 from my wickednesse i. from anye wickednesse hée mighte doe which hee calleth his wickednes because naturally he had it in him though it burst not forth Ver. 24. sée verse 20. in his sight q.d. as he himselfe vz. God séeth it sufficiently ver 25. with the godly i. with them that vnfeignedly loue and professe godlinesse thou wilte shew thy selfe godly i. mercifull and gracious for the word termed here godly is taken froÌ a word that signifieth merciful liberal q.d. thou wilt deale graciously with the good people declaring thy selfe such a one towards theÌ as thou hast bin towards me ver 26. thou wilt shew thy self froward i. their obstinacye is the cause that thou as it were forgetting thy wonderfull clemency doest deale hardly with them and thunder out iudgemeÌts against theÌ or else it may be vnderstaÌd as meÌ iudge suppose god notwithstaÌding dealing alwais iustly though he ouerwhelm with coÌdeÌnatioÌ sée Pro. 3.34 ver 27. wil t saue i. deliuer the pore people i. the afflicted ones wilt cast down i. ouerthrow bring to nought the proud lookes i. the proud people for mans pryde bewraieth it self in the eyes countenance therfore he put eyes for men one part for the whole ver 28. Thou wilt light i. bring to a better state make to shine forth my candle i. my prosperity which séemed to be as it were a caÌdle put out the Lord will lighten my darknesse i. bring my aduersitie into prosperity for the scriptures vse to vnderstand by darknes aduersity and by light prosperity ver 29. By thée i. by the power or strength from thée ouer a wal vz. of a citie the Geneua note is good ver 30. The way of God i. eyther the maner that he vseth towards his children whom he neuer ceaseth to aid or Gods way else is put for workes q.d. they are so sound that nothing can bée blamed in theÌ whatsoeuer God doth he doth trustily and iustly performeth whatsoeuer he promiseth the word of the lord i. his promises is tried in the fire i. is most perfect pure q.d. as metall tried by fire hath no drosse so hath Gods word no falshood or corruption in it sée Psal 12.6 he is a shielde i. he saueth and kéepeth them as a shield doth soldiers ver 31. For who is c. q.d. none by consequent seeing none can deliuer but he alone none must be trusted in but he alone such epiphonemata or acclamations are vsuall to theÌ that haue tryed Gods helpe and ayd ver 32. girdeth me with strength i. maketh me strong able so that I haue strength in my loines rounde aboute me euen as it were a girdle maketh my way vpright i. maketh the order of my life vnblameable teaching me an vpright and a holy kind of life or else he maketh euery thing that I take in hand to prosper this latter I rather allow as most agréeable to this place ver 33. He maketh my féet like Hinds féete i. not only swift if I haue occasion by flight to prouide for my selfe or to pursue my enemies flying before me but stedy also if I come into any dangerous places and setteth me vpon mine high places i. places of sure defeÌce appointed for me to defend me from the violence and rage of my enimies Ver. 34. He teacheth my hands to fight i. if I haue to do with mine enemies in the field he teacheth me singuler skill in warre to defend my selfe and to hurt my Foe so that a Bowe of brasse q.d. yea hee giueth me so greate strength that a bow of brasse or stéele is broken with mine armes i. with the power and strength that hée giueth mée or else with mine armes indéede because there is muche power and strength in the armes Verse 35. The Shielde of thy saluation i. a helpe for my deliueraunce Shielde being put for helpe and defence because men helpe and defend themselues with Shieldes and saluation for deliuerance as often times before we haue had these wordes so vsed his meaning is that God did defend him againste dangers with his ayd and help as it were with a shield that cannot be pearced and set him frée also by the same ayd out of daungers and troubles thy right hande i. thy might and power hath stayde me vz. from sliding or falling it is a metaphoricall spéeche taken from mans maners who reach them that are sliding their right hand i. the best meanes they haue to staye them from it to increase vz. in honors credit wealth and all maner of goodnes Ver. 36. Thou hast enlarged my steppes i. thou hast brought to pas that whether soeuer I go I goe into a large and ample place that is fréely and without feare yea I haue a plain ready way This is often in the Psalms by straitnes to signifie affliction and danger and by inlarging to signifie libertie and fréedome hee meaneth then that God had set him at libertie straightened the way before him and drawne him out of extreme daunger dispaire vnder me i. either for me or else as I go he meaneth that hee did now tread as it were vpon a sure ground mine héeles i. my féete a part of the féete being put for the féete ver 37. I haue pursued mine enemies vz. in the battaile I haue not turned againe vz. from pursuing them in the field ver 38. Wounded them i. mine enemies as ver 37. that they were not able to rise vz. because their wounds were so deadly they are fallen vnder my féete i. they are brought in subiection vnto mee as ver 44. This phrase also is so vsed Psal 8.6 Ver. 39. Thou hast girded me with strength sée ver 32. and it is a reason why he so mightily preuailed against his enemies to battaile i. against I was to fight or euen in the very time of the battaile whatsoeuer it be his meaning is that he was apted fitted by God to that purpose that rose against me vz. to annoy and hurt me and were in déed rebels ver 40. Thou hast giuen me the necks i. as some of the Iewes expound it thou hast caused my enemies to turne their backes vpon me because the neck is behind but I take it more simply thus thou hast giuen the life of mine enemies into my power so that there néedeth nothing but to chop of their heads or cut their throates as it were if I will and that which followeth in this verse furthereth in my iudgment this sense ver 41. They i. the wicked ones my enemies cried i. séemed to pray earnestly but not of a true affection but there was none to saue i. to deliuer vz. them out of their feare and paine euen vnto the Lord vz. did they cry and
thing that the faythfull must cleaue vnto verse 7. Our sinnes must bée confessed and pardon thereof earnestly prayde for verse 8. God calleth all to repentaunce and amendment ver 9. In those in whome God beginneth good things he will go forward with them vnto the end ver 10. God is gracious and faythfull vnto those that walke in the obedience of his law ver 11. The greater our sinnes be the more néede we haue of mercye and to come to the Lord by prayer for the healing thereof ver 12. God will adde blessing vpon blessing and knowledge vpon knowledge to those that loue and feare him ver 13. Yea the Lord will heape all manner of temporall blessings vpon him ver 14. is the same which verse 12. ver 15. We must continuallye wayte vpon the Lord and be certainly assured that he will deliuer vs from danger ver 16. The more we are destitute of all worldly helpes the more néede haue we to come to the Lord and to learne to hang vpon him alone verse 18. Prayer for remission of all sinnes is commended vnto vs Sée Hosea 14.2 ver 22. We should faythfully remember in our Prayers the state of Gods Church Psalme 26. THis Psalme hath two principal partes In the first Di. he setteth out his innocency towards Saule declaring that he was so farre off from working wickednesse that he coulde not abyde wicked mens company from ver 1. to the end of the 5. In the second part he setteth out his loue to Gods workes word promising thanks for Gods goodnes towards him from ver 6. to the end of the Psalme The title is expounded before Ver. 1. Se. Iudge me i. take knowledge of my cause and declare thy selfe to be my defender agaynst the slaunders of mine enimies in mine innocency i. innocently and without doing hurt vz. to Saule or these my enimies that pursue me without cause as Psal 7.5 Psal 15.3 not slide vz. from that stedfast hope that I haue that God will defend me and my iust cause Ver. 2. Proue me vz. to know my innocency and that I am vniustly accused q.d. I desired thée before to be my iudge and now I willinglye offer the same and trie me vz. whether there be any malice in me towards Saule sée Psal 7.8 Psal 17.3 examine vz. euen as goldsmiths doe their moste fine Golde for it is a metaphor taken from them my reines and my hart i. my inward affections and thoughts as Psal 7.9 Ver. 3. Mine eyes vz. of my minde and soule haue I walked in thy truth i. lead such a conuersation as thy truth requireth meaning by truth Gods word because it alone compreheÌdeth all truth Ver. 4. with vayne persons i. wicked and vngodly men whiche is a good place also to proue vanity to be taken sometimes for wickednesse as before Psal 24.4 Ver. 5. of the euill vz. men meaning such as accustome themselues to worke euill and to hurt others ver 6. I will wash my handes in innocency i. I will indeuour to liue most vprightly and purelye towardes thée and before men sée Iob. 9.30 and compasse thine altar i. offer aboundaÌce of sacrifices vnto thée giuing here two excellent testimonies of his vprighte dealing one good behauiour towards men and the other sincere seruice of God ver 7. that I may declare vz. thy goodnesse towards me and my obedience towards thée ver 8. The habitation of thy house i. euen the very place where thy arke resteth which séemeth to be as it were thy house because of thy continuall abode and presence there meaning that if he loued the place so wel he loued the people and the exercises better and the Lord best of all and the place where thy honor dwelleth this is nothing but a repetition of that which goeth before meaning by Gods honour his arke before which he was honoured vnlesse we would expound it thus that we should by place vnderstand the Arke and by honor Gods maiestie and honour manifested there ver 9. gather not my soule with the sinners i. when thou punishest the vngodly destroy not me with them vnderstanding by sinners notorious sinners as before psa 1.5 with the bloody men i. them that giue themselues to crueltie murther bloodshed sée Psal 5.6 Ver. 10. In whose handes is wickednesse q.d. whatsoeuer they doe is wickednesse and their right hand is full of bribes i. they are most ready for the right hande is commonlye more nimble then the other for their owne gayne sake by bribery or otherwise to commit all naughtinesse ver 11. I will walke i. behaue my selfe in my innocency i. innocentlye without hurt sée ver 1. of this Psalme redéeme me vz. from those slaunderous spéeches and dangers that I séeme subiect vnto ver 12. amend thus my foote standing vpon playne ground i. when I shall be brought to a more sure safe condition for in plaine ground there is sure footing in the congregations vz. of thy people and saints assembled to praise thée Do. Ver. 1. Whosoeuer trusteth in the Lord shal not be confounded ver 3. Gods goodnesse toward vs should restrain vs from doing euil to others ver 4.5 Euil company is perilous and therefore would be auoyded as Psal 1.1 Ver. 6. Good dealing towards men and zealous seruice of God must continuallye bée professed practised by his children ver 8. The place where God is serued and the exexcises of his religion must be carefully frequeÌted ver 9. It is a good way to shun the punishments which light vpon the vngodly to auoyde their company and naughtinesse ver 10. is a liuely description of the peruersenesse and naughtines of vngodly people ver 12. instructeth vs to bee thankfull to God and that openly before men for his benefits bestowed vpon vs. Psalme 27. Di. THis Psalme hath two special parts In the first part the Prophet setteth out the strong fayth and confidence that hée had in God assuring himselfe that God would deliuer him out of all his dangers from ver 1. to the end of the sixt In the second part he prayeth the Lord still to shewe himselfe fauourable and gracious vnto him in deliuering him froÌ the force and power of all his enemies from verse 7. to the end of the Psalme Se. The Title is expounded already Ver. 1. my light i. he from whome alone I haue in al things good successe and felicity and my saluation i. hee that deliuereth me from al daungers vsing light and saluation the things themselues for deliuerance from afflictions which in the scriptures are many times ment by darknes and al sorts of dangers whom shal I feare q.d. none for by such interrogations the Hebrues doe wonderfully deny the strength of my life i. the vpholder maintainer therof bringing good things to it and putting euil things back froÌ it for that is the vse of strength in the body ver 2. Came vpon me vz. with violent cruel minds to eat vp my flesh i. most
the Lord and the great deliueraunces that hee hath wrought for him Psalm 18.50 Ver. 11. Cruell witnesses i. such as exercised al crueltie did rise vp vz. against mee they asked of mee vz. by the way of demaund and questioning hee meaneth that they did as it were examine and worlde haue had him to haue confessed such thinges as he neuer knewe much lesse did ver 12. For good vz. which I did to them to haue spoyled my soule q.d. so farre their euill towardes me extended that they went about to take away my life ver 13. Yet I vz. behaued my selfe otherwise when they were sicke i. in some grieuous calamitie one kind vz. of sicknes put for many clothed with sacke vz. in token of heauines and mourning for them sée Psalm 30.11 Gen. 37.34 I humbled my soule i. I afflicted my life by abstinence from meates c. Now fasting is called humbling not because that euery one that fasted was humbled but because it was an outward testimony of that that either was or shoulde haue beene within and my prayer was turned c. amenâ it thus and my prayer returned into my bosome q.d. I did wish so well to them that I would gladly haue my prayer to come to my selfe so that if I wished them any euill I did as it were pray that the same might fal vppon mine owne head ver 14. As to my friend or as to my brother i. I did al dueties of curtesie to them in their aduersity so that my dearest friend or brother coulde not well haue looked for any more I humbled my selfe i. afflicted my felf with mourning yea mourning as one that bewayleth his mother i. my mourning was so earnest and vehement as his is that is wont to bewaile the death of his mother which we know by natural experience to be very much ver 15. The abiects i. the ofscouring of the common people sée Iob. 30.1.2.9 I knew not i. I did not so much as thinke of it til it was performed and ceased not i. without ceasing ver 16. With the false scoffers vnderstand the worde that goeth before vz. they gathered themselues together or assembled themselues with the false scoffers c. gnashing their téeth against mee i. raging against mee through most vehement anger shewing that their anger by gnashing their téeth for he putteth the signe of great heat and anger for anger it selfe ver 17. Behold this vz. and lettest thou this their wickednes alone vnpunished my soule i. mee my selfe or my whole man from their tumult vz. which they raise vp against me vnderstanding by tumult such things as fal out commonly in tumults as bloodshead murther c. my desolate soule sée Psa 22.20 From the Lions i. from cruell and rauenous men Psal 34.10 Psal 22.21 Ver. 18. Great congregation sée Psal 22.25 Ver. 19. Vniustly vz. in respect of any thing that I haue done against them winke with the eye as men sometimes do when they reioyce in some thing Hee meaneth that hee woulde not haue them made glad by any euil that should come vnto him without a cause sée ver 7. of this Psal ver 20. Imagine vz. first in their hearts afterwards expresse them with their mouthes deceitful words i. words to cloake and color their deceite quiet of the land Dauid speaketh this of himselfe and those that tooke his part who were charged to be rebels disturbers of the peace but he sheweth that they were otherwise and by quiet he vnderstandeth quiet people that would haue bin glad to haue liued peaceably quietly ver 21. They gaped on mee with their mouthes i. they did not onely speake against mee with an open mouth that all men might heare them but also made mockes at me with their gapings and mowings sée Iob. 16.10 Psal 22.7 Isaiah 57.4 Aha Aha these are wordes of reioycing for the hauing of that they desired One eye eye put for eyes vnlesse we would say that al the wicked are so ioyned together that they séeme to haue but one eye heart head c. hath séene vz. his ruine and destruction and the euils which wee hoped and wished shoulde come vpon him such supplies you shall sée made though in an other sense psal 54.7 Psal 59.10 Psal 118.7 And in sundry others ver 22. Séene it vz. their iniury and outragious malice against mee keepe not silence q.d. séeing thou art a iudge sit not still but prepare thy selfe to exercise iudgement against them This and that that followeth ver 23.24 Are spoken of God according to man ver 24. Reioyce ouer me vz. by reason of some calamities and afflictions that thou shalt lay vppon mee sée Psal 30.1 Ver. 25. O our soule reioyce vz. because we haue that wee desired Ver. 27. Loue my righteousnesse i. fauour and beare good will to my righteous cause sée Psalm 4.1 Which loueth i. liketh of and furthereth by wonderfull meanes the prosperitie i. the prosperous estate in all respectes Ver. 28. Shall vtter i. speake of thy righteousnes vz. which thou shewest to thine in defending them and to the vngodly in plaguing them for their wickednes euery day i. continually and without ceasing as it were Ver. 1. When men deale vniustly it is good to go to the Lord for our defence Do. who is the God of all righteousnes ver 2.3 If God be on our side wee neede not care who be against vs. ver 4.5.6 Teacheth that we may pray against the enemies of Gods church as also ver 19. Ver. 7. Sheweth that such is the corruption of the godlies nature that though they haue no cause to work mischief yet they must do it Ver. 9. We may reioyce in the ouerthrow of Gods enemies and in the deliuerance of his people Ver. 10. Gods power onely worketh deliuerance and that then when things séeme to bee most desperate Ver. 11. Cruell and false witnesses are neuer wanting to accuse Gods saintes Ver. 12. It is the nature of the wicked to requite good with euill Ver. 13.14 Gods children spare not to do good to al yea to the vngodly ver 15.16 Shew that it is no new thing that the wicked of all sortes consent and agree together against the good Ver. 17. God sometimes deferreth the punishment of the vngodly that he may in the end pay them to the full Ver. 18. Gods benefites require at our hands thankfulnes Ver. 20. The hypocrisie of the vngodly is set out Ver. 22. God séeth all things euery where Ver. 23.24 Deliuereth the same doctrin that ver 1. of this Psal doth Ver. 25. The enemies of God will reioyce in the destruction of the good when they haue performed it Ver. 26. Is the same almost word for word with ver 4. Ver. 27. The godly should reioyce in one anothers prosperity and praise the Lord for it Ver. 28. And that not in heart but in mouth also and that not once only but continually as it were Psalme 36 THis Psalme may bee deuided into
thrée speciall things first earnest prayers and supplications that the Prophet maketh that God would turne away his wrath from him and deliuer him from his enemies ver 1.9.15.21.22 In the second hee sheweth by manifold words and circumstances the great grief that hee was in by reason of his sinnes ver 2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10 In the third he declareth what his friendes and his foes did against him to the wonderful increase of his griefe also ver 11.12.13.14.16.17.18.19.20 Se. The title a Psalme of Dauid for remembraunce i. which hee made not onely as a meane to put him in remembrance of his sinne and Gods chastisements vpon him for the same but also to admonish him of the deliuerance out of the fame through Gods goodnes ver 1. is expounded Psal 6.1 Ver. 2. Thine arrows i. plagues diseases and griefes that thou hast sent haue light vppon mee vz. violently and with great force as appeareth by that which followeth in this Psalme and thy hand i. thy power and might or else heauie iudgements exercised thereby lyeth vpon mee vz. very sore and grieuously ver 3. There is nothing found in my flesh i. there is no part of my body but it is very much diseased in my bones i. in the parts members of my body because of my sinne vz. committed against thee and the plagues and punishments that thou hast layd vpon mee for the same ver 4. For mine iniquities i. both my sinnes and the punishments vppon me for the same are gone ouer my head i. either are growne to a great height or else which I rather allow of they ouerflowe me and as it were drowne mee this being a metaphor taken from waters as Psal 42.7 Psal 88.17 Psal 124.4 Meaning that hee was drowned or ouerwhelmed in his iniquities and punishments for them as one that were ouerwhelmed in a deepe water and as a weightie burthen this is an other metaphor taken from burthen by which hee noteth the greatnesse and grieuousnesse of his sinne to heauie for me vz. to beare yea they doe as it were presse mee downe vnto the grounde ver 5. My woundes i. the sores that I haue by reason of thy correction and punishments vppon mee for my sinnes are putrified i. are growne to bee full of matter and corrupt vz. so that they are almost past mee no doubt the prophet meaneth by these speaches to expresse both the greatnes of his griefe and length and continuance thereof because of my foolishnes i. because of my sinne in which respect also wicked men are sundry times in Scripture called fooles ver 6. I am bowed and crooked hee noteth the grieuousnes of his punishment which by reason of length and bodily weaknes that he receiued by it had as it were bowed him together very sore i. very much I go mourning al the day i. all the day long I doe nothing but mourne ver 7. My reines vz. of my back are ful of burning i. of wonderful great heat which the Phisitions take to be a signe of great sicknesse and dangerous weakenesse there is nothing c. sée ver 3. of this Psalme Ver. 8. sore broken vz. in my body by reason of my sicknes this is a maner of spéech that we vse in our tongue wheÌ flesh is much abated or strength much decayed the Prophet meaneth that he was as it were consumed and worne away I roare sée psal 37.3 for the gréefe of mine harte i. by reason or thorow the great gréefe that I sustayn euer in the inward maÌ ver 9. I poure i. lay out my whole desire i. whatsoeuer I wish or desire before thée q.d. All the thinges that I desire are manifest to thée yea the verye sighs and grones which I send out sometimes in my prayers and sometimes in the gréefe of my mind are naked in thy presence But to what ende speaketh the Prophet this vz. To testifye his affection to Godward and how readye he was to come to him by prayer Ver. 10. And the light of mine eyes vz fayleth me as Psal 6.7 are not mine own vz. to vse them as I was wont to do because the vse of them was not so cleare and profitable vnto him as in former time they had bin he speaketh as though he had lost them altogether ver 11. Stand aside from my plague i. by reason of my plague and sicknesse they estrange themselues from me which thing Iob also complayneth of ver 12. Lay snares vz. to catch me imagine deceit continually vz. agaynst me that they may by subteltie take me ver 13. Heard not i. made shew as though I heard not the things they spake as a dumbe maÌ which openeth not his mouth i. I replyed not againe vpon them but quietly patiently bare their words and that this is the right sence maye appeare by verse 14. and 15. following ver 15. for on thée O Lord doe I wayt he sheweth a reason of his silence q.d. I am deafe and dumbe also at the reproches and iniuries that mine enemies laie vpon me because I hope that thou shortly wilt heare my prayers and deliuer me from this calamitie ver 16. Least they reioyce ouer me a reason to mooue God to heare least otherwise his glory should be blasphemed by these wicked men my foote flippeth i. when I am but likely to fall extoll themselues i. lift vp themselues both in wordes and déedes Ver. 17. Redy to halt i. to slide and flip as mine aduersaries would haue it vnlesse thou Lord strengthen mee and my sorrow vz. for that and other causes euer before me i. continuallye vppon me and in my sight so that I cannot forget it verse 18. Declare my payne i. largely by wordes and otherwise as sighings c. set out my gréefe both outward and inward and am sorry for my sinne which was the cause to pul these heauy iudgements vpon me verse 19. Are aliue vz. to worke mischiefe wheras before they séemed to be as it were dead and hee sheweth by these 2 termes Mighty and many that they haue power and number to performe the same ver 20. reward euill sée Psal 35.12 follow goodnesse i. allow and laboure to performe the things that are good the other two verses are verye plaine in which the Prophet prayeth for present ayde and spéedy deliueraunce Ver. 1. Gods wrath and indignation is much to be feared ver 2. Do. God verye sharpely punisheth many of his children Ver. 3. Sinne draweth vpon vs wonderfull iudgements Ver. 4. We are not able to beare the multitude of our sinnes much lesse to satisfie for them ver 5.6.7.8 shew that sinne the punishments of God therefore doe bring vpon Gods children many times bodilye sicknesses and wonderfull infirmities ver 9. It is good for vs to lay out our causes before God ver 11. A mans enimies many times are they of his owne houshold sée Iob 19.13.14.15 Ver. 12. Describeth the malice and subtilty of the vngodlye Ver. 13.14 Teacheth vs many times to bury
euill wordes vttered against vs and not to be redy to reproue euery thing spoken against vs. ver 15 In GOD alone must we trust in al distresses ver 16. Our praiers to GOD must be effects of our hope also the sliding of the Godly openeth the mouth of the wicked and therefore we haue néede to pray that we may stand ver 17. It is good to féele our own infirmities but withall to haue recourse to GOD for strength to stande verse 18.19 Declare that the more paine Gods children are in the more doe the wicked insult and grow vp in might and number Verse 20. It is no new thing that Gods children receiue euill for good also that the enemies hate them not for euill but for goodnesse sake Verse 21.22 Praier to God and to him alone in the time of all our distresses is highly commended vnto vs. Psalme 39. Di. THis Psalme may be deuided into two partes In the firste the Prophet sheweth how that after a long debating in himselfe whether he shoulde bée silent or no he burst out into prayer describing the vanity and shortnesse of mans life whiche being well considered maketh him to confesse that hee trusteth only in the Lorde from verse 1. to the ende of the seuenth In the second he prayeth deliueraunce from sinne and from those punishmentes which were layde vpon him for sinne desiring the Lorde to cease from wrath and graciously to heare his prayer from verse 8. to the ende of the Psalme Se. The title to the excellent Musitian Ieduthun This is the name of one who for his skill was preferred before the rest of his stocke and familie Sée 1. Chron. 16.41 also chap. 25.3 but yet he so nameth the chéefe man that vnder the same he meaneth also those excellent Musitions that were of his stocke and race Verse 1. I thoughte vz. in my selfe thus to my wayes i. to the whole order and course of my life and namelye that I sinne not with my tongue vz. in vttering ill spéeches vsing the tongue which is an instrumente of spéeche for wordes or spéeche vttered thereby my mouth brideled or mufled it is a metaphor taken from wilde beasts into whose mouthes or ouer whose mouthes something is put least they should hurt sée Psalme 32.9 while i. so long as the wicked is in my sight i. it pleaseth God by wicked men to exercise me least if I should speake any thing awry they being presente they should take occasion therby to speake euill ver 2. I was dum vz. for the time as Psalme 38.13 or as a dumme man q.d. I did not otherwise hold my tongue then if I had bene dumme euen from God vz. words or matter the Prophet meaneth that though he had a iust defence and an honest cause to complayne yet he put it all vp in silence and bare it patiently as you may sée one particular 2. Samuel 16.5 c. and my sorrow was more stirred vz. by my silence discoursing and dilating with my selfe whether I were best to speake meaning that by that meanes his gréefe was increased others reade it thus when my sorrowe waxed rawe i. was not onely not healed but by reason of newe calamities waxed more vehemente the sence commeth all to one though the wordes somewhat differ Verse 3. By heate of harte and fyre kindled the Prophet meaneth not onlye the greatnesse of his gréefe as they that are gréeuouslye sicke féele greate force and power of heate but he meaneth also some motions that hée had to impatiencye and fretting to whiche fault they are very muche subiecte that are hote and giuen to heate Verse 4. Myne ende i. the tyme of his ende meaning the time wherein hée shoulde dye of my dayes vz. whiche I haue to liue What it is i. Howe long for by seuerall wordes in this verse the Prophet meaneth all one thing vz to knowe howe long he should liue in this World q.d. Séeing thou handlest mée so sharpely let mée at the least knowe howe long I haue yet to liue and indure this payne But this prayer was not good because he required to know that whiche the Lorde had kepte close in his owne counsell Verse 5. My dayes i. the dayes of my lyfe as an hande breadth i. very short as a measure of foure fingers broade yea myne age i. the tyme of my life as nothing vnderstande is or else thou hast made it as nothing in respecte of thée i. if it be compared with thée that arte altogether eternall in whose sight a thousand yeares are but as one daye sée Psalme 90.4 2. Peter 3.8 in his best state i. that hée eyther canne bée in or imagine himselfe to bée in touching this life altogether vanitie i. nothing else but vayne brittle and transitorye Verse 6. Man i. hée and his whole life walketh in a shadowe i. hath his conuersation in this life quicklye to passe awaye as a shadowe doeth meaning that there is nothing founde in mans life certayne and that hée hath nothing but a vayne shewe disquieteth himselfe vz. by heaping and getting vp goods in vayne i. without cause the reason followeth in this verse because he knoweth not who shall be his heire shall gather or rather receaue them vz. from him when hée shall departe from them Verse 7. And nowe q.d. Séeing that all men are so vayne whome shoulde I trust in or whome doe I hope in but in thée alone Verse 8. A rebuke vz. by suffering myne afflictions to preuayle vppon mée vnto the Foolishe i. Wicked men as Psalme 14.1 Verse 9. I shoulde haue bene or make c. q.d. In stéede of reasoning disputing the matter with thée as ver 4. I should haue bin silent towards thée as I was towards others ver 2. of this Psal because thou diddest it This is a reason why hee shoulde haue borne his afflictions patientle ver 10. Thy plague i. the punishmente and scourge that thou hast layde vpon me consumed i. as it were brought to nothing by the stroke of thine hand i. by the punishment and affliction which by thy power thou hast striken me withall Ver. 11. With rebukes i. plagues and punishments procéeding from thy wrath which are called rebukes because that the Lord by them doth as it were rebuke them for their euill for iniquitie vz. committed eyther directly or indirectly against thy maiesty and by these termes he meaneth not only sinne but a iust and full punishment such as sinne deserueth as a Moth these wordes may haue a double sence eyther that God shoulde consume the wicked as mothes doe precious garments which best agréeth with this translation or else that the beautie of all other excellent thinges in the vngodlye should be destroyed thorow Gods iudgements as Mothes in killing of whom there néedeth no great strength as Iob 4.19 and this agréeth with Immanuel who turneth this verse far otherwise Ver. 12. At my teares q.d. Let my teares mingled with my prayers moue thée to pitie me for I am
i. declare by some one signe or other whatsoeuer pleaseth thée that thou wilt bee good and mercifull vnto mee that they which hate mee vz. without a cause may sée it i. plainely perceiue acknowledge and confesse the same and bee ashamed vz. in themselues and of that which they haue purposed against mee séeing that I haue not without cause trusted in thee because thou O Lorde vz. onely and no other hast holpen mee vz. out of all my daungers and distresses and comforted mée vz. in the time of miserie and trouble Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth that the more our néed misery wretchednes is the greater occasion we haue with earnestnes spéed to repayre vnto God by prayer Ver. 2. Teacheth that vnlesse God kéepe vs we shal vtterly perish also that we ought to haue a stedfast trust in Gods mercy and goodnes Verse 3. Teacheth vs importunity in prayer and not to leaue of though God graunt not our requests at the first also that in our prayers wee must flée to Gods mercy onely and not to any thing in our selues Ver. 4. Teacheth vs that vnlesse God make vs ioyfull wée can neuer bée rightly glad also that the hart as wel as the mouth must consent in prayer or else our prayers are nothing Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that Gods mercy rightly considered and felt is an excellent spurre to prouoke vs to prayer Ver. 6. Teacheth that God onely is to be prayed vnto Ver. 7. Teacheth vs in our afflictions to runne vnto God and to comfort our selues in this that if he haue once heard vs he wil heare vs againe Ver. 8. Expresseth the vanity of al idoles images whatsoeuer Ver. 9. Setteth forth Gods power in all and ouer all so that none is exempted from it Ver. 10. Is a plaine proofe of the vnitye of the godhead Ver. 11. Sheweth that vnlesse God do teach vs what is good we are vtterly blinde also that vnlesse he hold vs in obedience and feare of his maiesty we shall easily decline and runne aside Ver. 12. Teacheth vs not onely to cary with vs a purpose to prayse the Lorde but also vnfeignedly and continually to doe it Ver. 13. Teacheth that then God worketh the deliueraunce of his when there séemeth otherwise no way for them Verse 14. Doeth not onely set out the mischieuous mindes of proude and outragious persons but also declareth the fountaine of all their sinnes vz. forgetfulnesse and contempt of god Ver. 15. Is the same almost with verse 5. of this Psalm and is a verse of great comfort as in many respectes so namely in this that it setteth before vs not onely Gods goodnes but also the faithfull and assured perfourmaunce of all his promises Ver. 16 Teacheth vs that Gods fauourable and louing countenance is the onely matter of mirth strength and deliueraunce to his seruants Ver. 17. Sheweth that in the deliuery and safe kéeping of Gods Saintes not onely Gods glory and power is manifested the good are thereby conforted but also the enemies confounded and ashamed Psalme 87 THe whole Psalme it selfe consisting only of seuen verses Di. is nothing else but a commendation of gods Church which is commended sometimes of the firmity and stedfastnes therof Ver. 1. Sometimes of gods loue towards it Ver. 2. Sometimes of the glorious report that it hath abroade euen among the enemies therof Ver. 3.4 Sometimes for the fruitfulnes of it Verse 5. Sometimes of the delight and comfort that the faithful haue in it Ver. 7. And sometimes for one cause sometimes for an other which the diligent reader may obserue The title a Psalme and song sée Psalm 48. Se. in the title committed to the sonnes of Korah this is sundry tymes expounded before Ver. 1. God layde his foundations i. GOD established and set his Church Sée 1. Tim. 3.15 where the Church is called the pillar and ground of trueth among the holy mountaines hee calleth the mountaines holy not that they were so of them selues but because God that was holy had chosen them to a holy ende and it is not to be doubted but that he speaketh here of the lande of Canaan which was a hilly Countrey sée Exod. 15. ver 13.17 and amongst other parts of that land the hil of Sion where the ark was placed in the days of Dauid and the hil Moriah where the temple was builded by Salomon and so by consequent also of the whole City of Ierusalem sée Psal 125.1.2 Verse 2. The Lord loueth vz. with a singular and wonderfull loue the gates of Sion i. the meanest places of his temple or tabernacle some thinke that he putteth Sion for Ierusalem and these wordes gates for the inclosure thereof whatsoeuer it bée this we are to note that this loue of God procéeded from his frée election and not from any worthines of the place aboue al the habitants of Iaakob i. aboue al the places wherin Iaakob and his posterity dwelt the reason because in Ierusalem where his tabernacle and temple was he gaue most manifest declaration of his power presence and goodnes Sée Deut. 12. ver 5. c. Ver. 3. Glorious thinges i. thinges tending to thy great glory and prayse are spoken of thée vz. both by them that appertaine vnto thee and by others as may appeare by the verses following O city of God i. O Ierusalem which is called Gods Citie of God because the Lorde chose it as a peculiar place for him to dwell in Sée Psalm 48. almost throughout and Matth. 5.35 Verse 4. I will make mention this the Prophet speaketh in the name of the Church as it were noting the inlargement and increase thereof q.d. by occasion of them that shal be ioyned vnto me I will speake of them to those that are already knit to me of Rahab i. of Egipt putting some part of the land for the whole and the people therein conteined Sée Psalm 89.10 also Isaiah 51.9 and Babel i. the people inhabiting Babel the City of Assyria of which sée Gene. 10.10 among theÌ that knowe mee i amongest them that allowe of mée and are become my familiar friendes and Citizens as it were behold q.d. looke vpon a wonderfull thing Palestina i. the people inhabiting that Countrey called Philistines sée Psal 83.7 Tyrus i. the people dwelling in that citie Ethiopia i. the people possessing that land vz. shall bee ioyned vnto mee for hee meaneth that the people which were enemies and strangers to Gods people shal be ioyned vnto them and become Citizens of the same City there vz. in the bosome of the church as it were is he i. euery one of the faithful people conuerted vnderstanding by one al of the like sort borne vz. by a newe kind of birth and that according to the eternal purpose and counsel of God Ver. 5. And of Sion i. of the Church of God it shal be said vz. to her great prayse and commendation many are borne in her vz. by spirituall regeneration and newe birth and he vz. this also
by word and déede to Iaakob Isaaks sonne yet so that he vnderstandeth vnder him his posterity also for a law i. as a thing that should continue and abide without any alteration or chaunge and to Israel i. vnto Iaakob for he had two names as appeareth Genesis 32 28. for an euerlasting couenaunt i. referred to Iaakob and his posteritie to last and continue for a long while sée Genesis 28 13 14 15 for his séede hath not alwayes possessed that lande but referred to Christe and his it is true for euer and euer Verse 11. Saying the Prophet reciteth Gods owne wordes vnto thée vz. and thy posteritie after thée but he nameth him as the chéefest will I giue vz. of my frée goodnesse and mercy onlye the land of Canaan he meaneth the whole Countrie wherein dwelt seuen nations greater and mightier then the Iewes sée for this promise also Gen. 35.12 the lotte of your inheritaunce q.d. which lande falleth for your inheritaunce as it were by lot sée Deut. 32 9. the worde that we turne lot is in the Hebrewe text corde or line because that by cordes or lines in those dayes they vsed to measure out inheritaunces see Psalme 16. verse 6. and that word your inheritaunce that God made his couenaunt in that respect with the whole people generally Verse 12. Albeit they were few in number q.d. in this gracious couenaunt making as the multitude did not moue him as Deut. 7 7. so the paucitie or fewnesse of them did not discourage him yea very few and as a man would say scarse two persons in respect sée Genesis 34 30. and straungers in the lande vz. which he had promised them and they possessed Verse 13. And walked about vz. so vncertaine was their estate being inforced so to doe sometimes by occasion of famine and somtimes thorow other means sée Gen. chap. 12 10 also chap. 20 1 2. c. chap. 26.1 c. sée also chap. 46. throughout from nation to nation and from one kingdome to another people he meaneth that they had no long continuance in any place but were stil flitting and remouing too and fro sometimes here sometimes there Ver. 14. Yet q.d. for all their distresses miseries he suffered no man to doe them wrong he meaneth by this spéech vtter oppressing iniuring of them for otherwise it cannot bee denyed but the taking away of Sarah the deflowring of Dinah and such lyke were all iniuryes but reproued Kings for their sake as appeareth Gen. 12.17 also 20.3 Verse 15. Touch not vz. to their hurt or hinderaunce mine annoynted i. those whom I haue annoynted to my selfe with the graces of the holy spirit and he meaneth the holy fathers vnder this name because he had peculiarly consecrated them vnto himself or as it were sanctified them for his speciall inheritance do my Prophets no harm he calleth the Fathers Prophets not only because God did sundry wayes declare himselfe vnto theÌ but also because they were his instruments faithfully to spread abroad the heauenly doctrine that the remembrance therof might be in force among their posterity sée Gen. 18.19 Gen. 20.7 compare theÌ with this place Ver. 16. Moreouer d.q. besides their waÌdring to fro ver 13. of this Psal and as he did not destitute theÌ in that so not in this famine he called i. by his mighty word power he caused to come sée 2. Kin. 8.1 Hagg. 1.11 a famin which was as the minister messenger of his wrath to the wicked so a rod of trial to the good vpon the land i. vpon the people of the land meaning also that he did strike the land with barreÌnes which was the cause of famine amongst the people sée this history Gen. 42 in the beginning vtterly brake i. tooke away so that it was of no force the staffe of bread i. the strength of foode and sustenance I take this prase in this place to mean not only the God did withdraw the secret force power that bread hath by his appointmente to nourish maintain mans life which is threatned in the Law Leuit. 26. ver 26. because men leaue vpon bread for their maintainance as they doe vpon a staffe for their defence vpholding but also yea rather this then the other that God sent a gréeuous famine vpon theÌ so that they had little or nothing to âat Ver. 17. But he vz. God q.d. He did not for al that famin forsake them sent a maÌ vz. an excelleÌt and singular man before theÌ vz. into Egipt to prouide both for himself and them that they should not perish by famine sée Gen. 45.5 This declareth that whatsoeuer fell vpon this people was guided by the hand counsel of god Ioseph now he nameth that excellent maÌ was sold vz. euen by his brethren for a slaue i. to be a slaue not as though he were changed for a slaue read this history Gen. 37 28. Ver. 18. They i. eyther the Egiptians thorowe their cruelty or else his brethren by wickedly selling him thither held his féete in the stocks i. kept him a long while in prison and dealt hardly with him as though he had bin guilty of some deadly crime sée Gen. 39.20 and he was layd in yrons i. hee was hardly and roughly handled Ver. 19. vntill his appoynted time came i. vntil the time which the Lorde had appoynted for Iosephs deliuery was fulfilled But it shal be good to ameÌd it out of Imma thus vntil the time in which his word i. gods word should come vz. to be fulfilled performed by god himself who had in a dream shewed to Ioseph what shuld come vnto him Gen. 37 7 9 the councell of the Lord had tried him vz. so far forth as to him séemed good he meaneth by this spéech al that which god had ordeined decréed should fal vpon him Ver. 20. The King vz. Pharaoh sent vz. his seruants messengers losed him vz. out of prison meaning that by special coÌmandemeÌt he appointed him to be set at liberty euen the ruler of the people deliuered him vz. out of prison danger sée Gen. 41 14. Ver. 21. He i. the King of Egipt made him i. Ioseph Lord of his house i. gouernor of all both men and things in his family ruler of al his substaÌce i. of al that he had whether it were at home or abroad sée Gen. 41.40 Ver. 22. That he i. Ioseph should bind his Princes i. Pharaohs noble men gouernors vnto his wil i. to the executioÌ and performaÌce of that that Ioseph himself wold haue coÌmaund in these words he noteth the largenes of gouernmeÌt which Pharaoh gaue to Ioseph so that all the King himself only excepted was at his beck sée Gen. 41.44 teach his antieÌts wisdom as he did Gen. 41 33 34 c. vnderstaÌding by antients al his wise noble men counsellors how wise soeuer they were Ver. 23. TheÌ vz. after that god had thus
Isaiah 1 25. and though I know others to interprete it otherwise yet I approue this sence therefore i. because thou defendest thine as verse 114. and art a iust iudge against the wicked as ver 118 119. I loue sée ver 113 thy testimonies i. thy word which is called a testimony or testimonies because God therein testifyeth vnto vs his will Ver. 120. My flesh i. my whole man putting one part for the whole trembleth vz. excéedingly and verye much for feare of thée vz. who art such a iust iudge against the wicked and vngodly and I know gréeuous faults and offences by my selfe He speaketh not this as though he were afrayde of Gods presence as Adam was Gen. 3 10. for hee greatlye desireth that but by reason of his owne wretchednesse and weakenesse least either he had or might prouoke him to iudgement agaynste him which also may appeare by that that followeth in this verse and I am afrayd of thy iudgemeÌts vz. poured forth vpon the wicked meaning by iudgements punishments Verse 113 teacheth vs to hate all maner of euill and to loue all good thinges Do. and the meanes whereby we may be drawne to them Ver. 114 teacheth vs that God is a mighty defence for those that are his also that Gods worde is the ground of our hope Verse 115 teacheth vs to shake of the society and companye of wicked men who would draw vs away from the obedience of our God Ver. 116 teacheth vs that Gods promises is the grounde of our hope and prayers Verse 117 teacheth vs that vnlesse God vphold vs we shall slyde and fal Ver. 118 teacheth vs first that the wicked for all their might and subtiltie are not able to resist God secondly that their wicked imaginations shall tend to their owne hurt Verse 119 teacheth vs that Gods iudgementes exercised vpon the wicked and his mercy towards his children should make vs the more to loue him and his word Verse 120 teacheth vs alwayes to haue a reuerence of Gods iudgements specially when we sée them threatned or executed Ain IN this xvi part which specially standeth of prayer Di. the Prophet first desireth to bee deliuered from the wicked and their mischieuous practises Verse 121 122. Secondly he prayeth for patience féeling of Gods mercy knowledge and vnderstanding of Gods lawe and a spéedye redresse of thinges amisse Verse 123 124 125 126. Thirdlye that hée mighte the better mooue God thereto he setteth out the mischéeuous rage of the wicked Gods accustomed goodnesse and his own loue and obedience to God and his word ver 126 127 128. Verse 121. Se. I haue executed iudgement and iustice i. I haue giuen my self ouer to doe vpright and good thinges and I haue not only abstayned from all iniury and wrong doing to them that persecute me but I haue done them also good leaue me not to mine oppressors i. to them that would oppresse mee and doe with me what they pleased neyther doth he here alleage his good doing as a cause why God should graunt him his request but as a testimony to his own conscience that the Lord would not doe it answere vz. to mine enemies for thy seruaunt i. for me thy seruaunt He speaketh of himselfe in the third person in that which is good i. in his good and vpright causes I suppose the Prophet alludeth here to the custome of earthly Princes courts q.d. Appeare for the defence of my good cause and pleade it and set thy selfe against mine enemies in my iust defence and let not the proude oppresse me vz. at their pleasure for this word proude sée before verse 78 and 85. Verse 123. Mine eyes haue fayled vz. euen of their sight in so much that they haue bene dazeled and dimmed and were not able to behold any thing and this hee speaketh not of bodily eyes only but euen of the eyes of his fayth and perswasion sée before Verse 82 in wayting vz. a very long time yet in care and patience for thy saluation i. for deliueraunce from thée out of all my distresses So we haue had the word saluation vsed sundry times before and namely Psalme 3 verse 8. and for thy iust promise i. for the performaunce of thy promise whiche thou hast iustly made and wilte iustlye kéepe Verse 124. Deale with thy seruaunt vz. in this his distresse and miserye and here he speaketh of himselfe in the thirde person as before 122 according to thy mercy vz. manifested to him and other thy children and teache mée vz. that am blinde and ignoraunt thy statutes sée before verse 12.26.33 Verse 125. I am thy seruaunt vz. thorow thy goodnesse I am aduaunced to this honour for hée boasteth not here of his dignitye but setteth out the grace which he had receaued from God to moue him to finish that which he had begun graunt mee therefore vnderstanding vz. to guide my selfe so as thou mayst be glorifyed I my selfe comforted and others builded vp that I may know thy testimonies vz. to do and practise the same for otherwise the knowledge of theÌ is to little purpose Verse 126. It is time he speaketh not this as though he prescribed God a season but the rather to set out the abundance of wickednesse which did ouerflow the world q.d. If the Lord did not in time cut off sin and wicked men all would be as it were infected therewith for the Lord to work i. to declare by his work that he wil take punishment vpon the transgressors of his law for they haue destroyed i. the wicked men by their lewdnes and euil conuersation haue done what they could to ouerthrow thy word not that they are able to do it q.d. they are become so bold and fierce that they doe not only séeke my destruction but set themselues agaynst God and his word thy law i. thy word as before verse 113 and 109. Verse 127. Therefore i. because I am sure that the wicked shall not escape vnpunished It may also be taken for a reason why Dauid desyred to be instructed in the Law because of the excellency thereof loue I vz. willingly and vnfeignedly sée verse 113 thy commaundements i. thy word a part for the whole aboue gold i. more then gold yea aboue most fyne gold i. aboue all things in the world though for their excellency and beauty they be neuer so much desired Verse 128. Therefore vz. also euen because thy iudgements are poured forth vpoÌ the wicked which also thou hast manifested by thy word I estéeme vz. I doe not only reuerence but also iudge and take all thy precepts i. al the things which thou hast commaunded in thy law most iust i. to be or that they are most iust and righteous and hate sée before ver 113 al false ways vz. how glorious soeuer they be in mans eyes or whosoeuer forged and deuised the same Do. Verse 121 teacheth vs that it is a hard thing to fall into mens handes Verse 122 teacheth vs to beséech the Lord to pleade
people but specially the Priests and Leuites to whome hée giueth this title by reason of the offices whervnto they were appoynted and that therfore they to the end also that by their example they might draw on others to do the like should be so much the more carefully stirred vp to the spiritual exercises of true religion ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord i. whiche doe not only serue God in the day time but in the night kéeping watch and ward about the temple of the Lord sée Num. 18.1.2 c. 1. Chron. 9.33 And though it be true that many of the people had that affection to remain day and night in the temple as it is reported of Anna Luk. 2.37 yet I refer it in this place only to the Priestes and Leuites and when he sayth stande hee meaneth their continuall aboade there as it were And by house of the Lorde hee meaneth eyther the place where the Arke was or the temple after it was builded Verse 2. Lift vp your handes i. praye and giue thankes the signe of prayer or an outwarde gesture vsed in it put for the thing it selfe as Psalme 141 2. also 1 Timothie 2 8. to the sanctuarye i. towardes the Sanctuarye meaning the place where the Arke was and the Arke it selfe out of which God had promised to aunswere his people and to heare their prayers and prayse the Lorde vz. for his mercyes as verse 1. and here hee sheweth that the principall ende of outward ceremonies is to set forth Gods praise and glory Verse 3. The Lord that made heauen and earth i. the God of all maiestie glory power c. sée Psalme 121 2 also Psalme 124 8 blesse thée vz. with all goodnesse and fauour out of Sion where the arke the sure testimonye of his fauoure and presence was so that here they acknowledge in the firste place his power and in the seconde his fatherlye loue which two must neuer be sundered but alwayes ioyned together for the strengthening of the fayth of gods children And whether he speaketh this in the person of the Priestes whose office it was to blesse the people as Numbers 6 23 or in his own person as praying for them and testifying his great loue vnto them it is not muche materiall Do. Verse 1. teacheth vs to exhort and prouoke all men yea the very ministers of God if they be negligent to the performance of their dutie Ver. 2 teacheth vs that Gods children should alwayes ioyne prayer and thanksgiuing vnto God together Ver. 3 teacheth vs in all holy affection and vnfeigned loue to pray for others as for our selues Psalme 135. IN my iudgement Di. this Psalme may bee diuided rightly into two partes In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faythfull of what state or condition so euer they bee to prayse the Lorde shewing certaine causes that may leade them thereto as his mercy his power his wonderful workes c. from ver 1. to the end of the 12. In the second he sheweth what great difference there is betwéene the true God and all the counterfeite Gods of the Gentiles exhorting al the faithful generally and the Priestes and Leuites particularly to prayse that true God whose seruice they professed from ver 13. to the end of the Psalme The title is prayse yée the Lorde sée this expounded before Psalme 106. Se. also Psalme 113. in the titles so that this title séemeth to comprehend the argument of the Psalme as though the whole Psalme did nothing else but prouoke men to prayse God Ver. 1. Prayse the name of the Lord i. his maiesty power goodnes c. as sundrie times before and namely Psal 20.1 and Psal 124.8 ye seruants of the Lorde this I referre generally to all as Psalm 134.1 but specially to the priests praise him this doubling of the exhortation séemeth to set out as mens dulnes and vnaptnes to the same so the excellency of the thing it selfe Ver. 2. Ye that stand in the house of the Lorde i. ye priestes specially and chiefly because they ought by their duety to shewe the way vnto others and in the courtes of the house of our God i. in those courtes that did appertein to the temple of the Lord amongst which the people had some which place is called 2. Chro. 4.9 the great court and this is the reason why though I referre it chiefely to the Priestes and Leuites yet I would haue it also to be vnderstood that this exhortation is directed to the people likewise Verse 3. Prayse ye the Lorde vz. for his wonderful kindnes and loue sée Psal 134.1 for the Lorde is good vz. euen of his owne nature and from that abundaunt goodnesse which is in him floweth all goodnesse which wee haue and this is as it were the first generall cause why men shoulde prayse him sing prayses vnto his name i. extol his maiesty power c. as before ver 1. for it is a comely thing vz. to do so meaning by comely pleasant and profitable sée Psal 133.1 also Psalm 92.1 Ver. 4. For the Lorde vz. whom I exhort you to praise and magnifie hath chosen vz. of his infinite mercy goodnes Iaakob i. the faithfull séede and posterity of Iaakob to himselfe i. to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe and vz. he hath fréely chosen for here you must repeat or vnderstand that word Israel i. the true Israelites or the Israel of God as Psal 124.1 for his chiefe treasure i. for a people whom hee maketh more account of by many degrees then men do of their chiefest treasures Sée Exod. 19.5 The Hebrewe worde signifieth treasure gathered together of verse most exquisite thinges as pearles precious stones or such like And in this verse is conteined a particular cause to prouoke thankfulnes vz. that GOD chose from al the nations of the earth the issue and séed of Abraham to bee his people Ver. 5. For I know vz. both by his worde workes and myne owne experience that the Lord vz. whom we serue is gret vz. in power might and that our Lorde vz. whom we worship according to his will reuealed in his word is aboue al Gods i. is higher and mightier then they whether they be Angels and magistrates to whom this name is sometimes giuen or idoles which the vaine people worship whose vanity he doeth afterwardes declare in this Psalme Ver. 6. Whatsoeuer pleased the Lord i. whatsoeuer it liked him to do that did he vz. because no power was able to resist him in heauen and in earth in the Sea and in al depthes i. euery where for no place is excepted from his power and presence as Psalm 139.7.8 c. and howe true this is the particular examples of his woorde doe declare specially these two the vniuersall flood and the confusion of Babel Gene. 7.8.11 chapt and in this verse is conteyned a thirde cause wherefore men should prayse God and that is the great power of God declared not onely in
al my dangers Verse 8. The Lorde vz. whose purpose and power none is able to withstand will performe vz. graciously and in good time his worke i. the worke that hee hath begunne in me towardes me i. vpon me and for my cause q.d. hee will procéede ãâã declare that hee hath care ouer my saluatioon and will bring to perfection that which hee hath begunne Sée Philip. 1.6 O Lorde thy mercy vz. towardes all but chiefely towardes thy children indureth for euer i. shall neuer haue ende for though that in the life to come wee shall not sinne no more then the Angels in heauen doe nowe yet as they stand now so must wee then by his only mercy in Christ forsake not the woorkes of thine handes i. leaue not mee in myne affliction and the good thinges that thou hast begunne in mee Ver. 1. Teacheth vs vnfeignedly to prayse the Lorde for his mercies Do. yea that wée shoulde not bée ashamed to doe it before men of might and countenaunce Verse 2. Teacheth vs that Gods continuall grace towardes vs and the faythfull accomplishment of his promises shoulde alwaies prouoke vs to bee thankefull vnto him Verse 3. Teacheth vs that GOD is nigh to the earnest supplications and prayers of his seruauntes Verse 4. Teacheth vs that it is the duety euen of Kinges to serue the Lorde euen as well as the meanest of the people and that the hearing of Gods woorde is a good meane for mens conuersion Verse 5. Teacheth vs to take singular delight in the meditation and speach of Gods workes and worde Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that God considereth the conuersation both of the good and the bad but to diuers endes and effectes Verse 7. Teacheth vs that when Gods children are in the greatest distresse that euen then they should assuredly beleeue that God will worke most comfortably for their deliueraunce Verse 8. Teacheth vs that GOD beginneth nothing in his children but hee doeth accomplishe and make the same perfect and yet that it is our duety notwithstanding to vse continuall and hearty prayers vnto him for the performance thereof Psalme 139 Di. I Doe suppose that this Psalme may rightly bee diuided into foure partes In the first the Prophet sheweth that the Lorde did thorowly know him and al his waies both inward and outward and this reacheth from ver 1. to the ende of the 6. In the seconde hée declareth that nothing neither in heauen nor in earth nor in places vnder the earth is able to hyde him from this great presence and exact knowledge of God from verse 7. to the ende of the 12. In the thirde parte hee setteth out certaine reasons thereof taken from mans creation concluding with the excellency of Gods workes and wayes from ver 13. to the ende of the 18. and in the fourth part hee prayeth earnestly agaynst the wicked desiring the Lorde more and more to try him that in the ende hee may bee founde fit for him from ver 19. to the ende of the Psalme Se. The title to him that excelleth a Psalm of Dauid sée this expounded before Psalme 4. in the title Sée also the title of Psalme 14. Ver. 1. O Lorde vz. who alone art the searcher of the heartes and reynes thou hast tried vz. by sundry and many meanes mée vz. whome men speake so much euill of and knowne mee vz. thorowly both inwardly and outwardly so that my thoughtes wordes and déedes are open in thy sight and that which hee speaketh here generally hee vttereth in the next verses more particularly And this Dauid doth appealing to the iudgement of God and making him witnesse of his heart because hee sawe that hee was vniustly accused of his enemies Verse 2. Thou knowest vz. thorowly as before verse 1. my sitting and my rising i. whether I sit downe or ryse vp or doe any thing else it is naked before thée vnderstanding also by these two al the actions of the whole life of a man thou vnderstandest i. knowest and perceiuest my thought i. both it and the thinges that in it I thinke vppon a farre off i. long before it bee brought to effect yea long before it come into my minde or I haue conceiued any thing in my selfe Verse 3. Thou compassest my pathes and my lying downe i. thou art alwayes with mée whether I iourney trauayle or lye still and are accustomed i. well acquainted and as it were familiar with all my wayes i. with the conuersation and actions of my whole lyfe Verse 4. For there is not a woorde in my tongue i. I am not about to speake any thing at all hée putteth the instrument of speach and woordes conceiued and ready to bée vttered for woordes vttered already as it were but loe thou knowest it wholly O Lorde vz. euen before I speake it so that neither it nor any part of it can bee hidden from thée Verse 5. Thou holdest mée straite vz. by thy almighty power behinde and before i. on euery side as aboue and belowe on the right hande and on the left q.d. thy power and presence enuironeth mée on all sides so that I can neither thinke doe nor speake any thing but thou séest it and knowest it and layest thyne hande vppon mee i. thy power q.d. euen as though thou haddest arrested mee and made mee thy prisoner thou kéepest mée in such sort that I can not goe out of thy sight nor doe any thing but thou knowest it yea and guidest and gouernest mee also Verse 6. Thy knowledge i. the knowledge of thy maiesty and of thy wonderfull and excellent woorkes is to wonderfull i. ouer high and marueilous for mee vz. to reach vnto it it is so high i. excellent and exquisite that I can not atteine vnto it vz. by any wit or industrie that I haue q.d. I am not able to comprehende of my selfe or by any thing that is within mée or without mee to knowe thée and thy great woorkes because they are farre beyonde the reach of my reason capacitie and vnderstanding Verse 7. Whither i. into what place of heauen and earth shall I goe from thy spirite vz. to hyde mee from thy knowledge and vnderstanding because men conceiue and vnderstande thinges by the spirite which is a facultie and power of the inwarde man hee speaketh thus of God not meaning it of the holy Ghost which is the thirde person of the godheade q.d. I knowe not whither to goe but thou wilt alwayes perceiue and vnderstande where I am whither shall I flie from thy presence q.d. I knowe not whither to get mee from thy sight as may appeare by the particular enumeration following Verse 8. If I ascende i. goe vp into heauen vz. which is thy seate and dwelling house as it were thou art there i. I shall certainelye finde thee there if I lye downe in hell i. in the graue as wee haue had it sundrye tymes in this booke of Psalmes q.d. if I should rest in the graue and lower partes of the earth as men
17. How deare i. how precious yea incomprehensible to my iudgement or to al mens iudgement whatsoeuer therefore vz. for the causes aboue rehearsed are thy thoughts vnto me i. are the meditations which I my selfe haue concerning thée and thy great workes howe great is the summe of them i. both of thy workes and of the thoughts and meditations which I haue of them q.d. they are so many as they are able to ouerwhelme al the vnderstanding of men that they are not able to count them much lesse to comprehend them sée Psa 40.5 Verse 18 If I should count them i. go about or indeuour to count them they are moe then the sand q.d. I might as well number the sand of the sea whiche is infinite and innumerable sée for this spéech 1. Samuel 13.5 2. Sam. 17.11 Psal 78.27 when I awake vz from my sléepe and naturall rest I am still with thée i. I doe continually meditate of thy wonderfull workes and wisedome q.d. Except it be when I sléepe I spend little or no time otherwise then in the meditation of thy maiesty and workes Verse 19. Oh that thou wouldest stay vz. in thy iust iudgements O God the wicked and bloody men i. meÌ that giue themselues ouer to wickednesse and murther q.d. Then should I muche reioyce to haue this my wish and prayer performed and I and others should be instructed to turne from their wayes and not to follow them to whome I saye vz. vnfaignedly and with a good hart depart ye from me sée Psa 6.8 Immanuel readeth this verse farre otherwise giueth a contrary sence but I sée no reason or ground for it for the place of the 2. Chron. 30.18.19 hath no such thing in it Ver. 20. Which vz. wicked bloody men speake wickedly of thée i. doe openly shew both by wordes and déedes withoute any maner of hipocrisie or counterfeiting a full contempt both of thée thine and that of hatred agaynst both and being thine enemies i. opposing and setting theÌselues agaynst shée and thine are lifted vp i. aduaunce themselues and are swelled in pride as though that in the loftines of their harts they would doe whatsoeuer pleased them vpon the earth but all this is in vayne i. to no purpose for downe they shall be cast and haue terrible falles Immanuel readeth this latter part thus who doe vainly extoll i. not only without a cause but also proudly presumptuously set vp fauour and allow of thine enemies of which sée Rom. 1.32 Ver. 21. Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thée q.d. thou knowest that I do it for that I take to be the force of the interrogation and doe not I earnestly coÌtend with those that rise vp against thée i. doe I not striue as it were for lyfe and death agaynst those that are thine enemies for this phrase rising vp agaynst one sée Psal 3 1. Ver. 22. I hate them with an vnfeigned hatred i. not as men who séeme to hate and yet to loue but I doe vnfainedlye and with a round hart as they were mine vtter enemies vz. yea and more to if it be possible for a man to hate more He sheweth that he had gods glory in such regard that he would not haue any familiaritie with the contemners of God Ver. 23. Trie me O God vz. thorowly and know mine heart i. not that hee doubted whether God knew it yea or no but to declare that he did willingly subiect him selfe to Gods triall proue me and know my thoughts this repetition doubling séemeth not only to note his earnestnesse in prayer but also the vnfeignednesse of his hart sincerely submitting it selfe to the examination and tryall of God and all is q.d. thou art a witnesse of all my matters and I am thy seruaunt therefore if néede be behold I am ready to indure thy trials sée Psal 26 1 2. c. Neyther doth he here boast as though he were without sinne but assureth himselfe that God will accepte his godlinesse and indeuour although that thorow infirmitie he fall sundry times Ver. 24. And consider vz. thorowly and narrowly if there be any way of wickednesse in me i. whether I follow an vngodly and rebellious kind of life against thée yea or nay for it is one thing to fall of infirmitie and another thing to sinne rebelliously Paul Rom. 7 expresseth it by sinne dwelling in vs sinne reigning in vs and lead me vz. thorow thy goodnesse and mercy in the way vz. of thy commaundements i. in a godly and holy conuersation for euer i. continually He prayeth vnto God that he may be constant in his obedience and that he may finish the course of his life in his faith and feare Verse 1. teacheth vs that God is the searcher of the hart and raines Ver. 2 teacheth vs that the Lord doth not only know but also dispose of al the affairs of our life also that he looketh euen vnto our thoughts and that therefore wée should striue euen to a reformation of them likewise Verse 3 teacheth vs that God is the protector and defender of those that be his in euery thing that they take in hand Ver. 4 teacheth vs that God regardeth euen our words and that therefore we should labour to make them approued vnto him Ver. 5 teacheth vs that we can doe nothing without God Verse 6 teacheth vs that we cannot of our selues attaine to the knowledge of God and his maiestie Verse 7 8 9 10 11 12 teach vs that nothing nor no place can hide vs from the presence and power of God neither heauen nor hell nor the sea nor the darkenesse nor any thing else whatsoeuer They teach further that it is a very vaine and false perswasion for a man to thinke that by going or flying he canne escape from God They shew also that God by his power and prouidence is euery where Verse 10 doth specially teach vs this that whatsoeuer we purpose yet wee can goe no whither but thither whither the Lord will haue vs to goe Verse 13 teacheth vs that God preserueth and kéepeth vs euen before we be borne or else should we neuer behold this light Verse 14 teacheth vs but euen to looke into our selues and our creation and we shall finde great occasion offred vs thereby to be thankful to God Verse 15. setteth out Gods prouidence as to whole man generallye so euen to the particular partes and members of his body Verse 16 teacheth that God alone worketh in all in our conception creation c. Verse 17 teacheth vs reuerently to estéeme of Gods wayes and of his workes and not to let them passe with so slight a consideration as commonlye men doe Ver. 18 teacheth vs that Gods workes are infinite and we not able to comprehend them no not any one of them in such sort as we should and as the excellency of them requireth it teacheth vs also in the meditation and beholding of them that thereby wee may more and
afflictions or aduersities or whether they bee already fallen into the same God reacheth out his hande and either keepeth them from falling or else deliuereth them being fallen Verse 15. The eyes of all vz. thinges whatsoeuer wayte vppon thée vz. with patience and that for their ââââre and sustenaunce and thou giuest vz. euen in thy mercy them their meate i. that portion of foode that thou hast appointed for them in due season i. in that time that thou séest with thy selfe to bee good and méete for them Verse 16. Thou openest thyne hande i. thou stretchest forth thy power and giuest plentifully and largely to all thy creatures and fillest all thinges liuing i. whatsoeuer liueth and moueth or hath sense féeling and groweth of thy good pleasure hee noteth here the cause why all the creatures are norished vz. Gods good pleasure and will Sée for these 2. ver Psalme 104. ver 27.28 c. Verse 17. The Lorde is righteous i. iust and equall in all his wayes i. in euery thing that hee taketh in hande hée meaneth that God obserueth a most vpright course in euery thing he doeth howe corrupt or partiall so euer men be in their dealings and holy in all his workes i. his very workes declare that there is a certaine kynde of vnspeakeable holinesse in his maiesty that woorde holy would bee better turned good or mercifull and so doeth Immanuel turne it sée to this end ver 9. of this Psalme Ver. 18. The Lorde is néere i. euen ready at hand not onely to heare them but to helpe them vnto all that call vpon him i. to those that worshippe and serue him a part of Gods seruice put for the whole as Gene. 4.26 1. Corinth 1.2 also 2. Timot. 2.19 yea to all that called vppon him in trueth i. without feigning or hypocrisie or else that call vppon him in such sort that they perfourme not the inuocation of his name by their inuentions and superstitions In summe hee setteth trueth against infidelitie doubting impacience murmuring counterfeite humilitie and vicious affecting of thinges which are the fruites of lying for true worshippers Sée Iohn 4.24 and this hée addeth in the way of correction q.d. though I sayde before that the Lorde heareth all them that call vppon him yet I meane it of al them that call vppon him in trueth Verse 19. Hée will fulfill i. accomplish and perfourme the desire of them i. the thinges which they shall desire and will according to his will Sée 1. Iohn 5.14 because God setteth vppon their affections a lawe of obedience that feare him i. that serue and worshippe him this hath béene sundry tymes expounded before hee will also heare their cry i. graunt them their requestes which they pray euerlastingly vnto him for and will saue them i. both deliuer them out of all the daungers of this lyfe and at the ende bring them to eternall life Verse 20. The Lorde preserueth vz. from any notorious hurt or daunger or if not so yet hée maketh away for them to escape out of it as shal bee most for his glory and their comfort all them that loue him vz. vnfeignedly and with a good heart Sée Roman 8.28 but hee wil destroy vz. in his wrath and iust iudgement all the wicked vz. of the worlde of what estate or condition so euer they bee Verse 21. My mouth shall speake the prayse of the Lorde i. I will boldly and openlye in wordes set foorth his prayses hee putteth the instrument wherewith wordes are vttered for the wordes themselues all flesh i. all men for when this word is so put alone without adding any thing to it doeth most commonly in the Scriptures respect men shall blesse his holy name i. shall prayse his maiesty power and goodnes for euer and euer i. continually sée ver 1.2 of this Psalme Verse 1. Teacheth vs not onely to be thankfull to God for his mercies Do. but also to continue in the same because his mercies are continually powred forth vppon vs. Ver. 2. teacheth vs that wee shoulde let no day passe without heartie thankesgiuing to the Lord for his graces Ver. 3 teacheth vs that Gods power and incomprehensible maiesty should prouoke vs to thankfulnes Verse 4. Teacheth vs to haue a care to conuey the remembraunce of Gods benefites to our posteritie Verse 5. Teacheth vs to imploy more time in the meditation of Gods workes then heretofore we haue done Verse 6. Teacheth vs as well to publish Gods iudgements as his mercies that the wicked may bee pearsed with a feare of his maiesty Verse 7. teacheth vs neuer to be ashamed to publish gods promises Ver. 8 9. Are excellent descriptions of god by his qualities and comprehende much matter of comfort for those that bee afflicted and also conteine very excellent causes why we should prayse and thanke God Ver. 10. Teacheth vs that it becommeth all Gods creatures but specially his faythful people to blesse and prayse the Lorde Ver. 11. and 12. Teach vs not onely for our owne good and the discharge of our owne duety but that others also therby may be drawne to do the like Ver. 13. Teacheth vs that howsoeuer mens kingdomes be brittle yet Gods gouernment ouer all but specially ouer his indureth for euer Ver. 14. Teacheth vs that God so prouideth for his children in their daungers and distresses that howsoeuer they bee afflicted yet they do not vtterly perish Ver. 15. Setteth out Gods gracious prouidence fatherly care ouer his children Ver. 16. Sheweth that the Lorde is liberall handed towardes his creatures and that al the good thinges which we haue procéede from his good will and pleasure Verse 17. Teacheth vs that whatsoeuer God doeth he doeth in all vprightnes though perhaps we through the blindnesse and corruption of our nature can not conceiue so thereof Ver. 18. Teacheth vs that God quickly heareth the earnest and vnfeigned prayers of his Seruauntes Verse 19. Sheweth that God will graciously deliuer his out of all their daungers Verse 20. Sheweth the vnlikely reward betweene the godly and the vngodly Verse 21. Teacheth vs both in our owne persons and in others to stirre vp and prouoke our selues to continual thankfulnesse Psalme 146 Di. THis Psalme may bee diuided into two partes In the first hee prouoketh himselfe to prayse God promising to perfourme it as long as he liueth to which he addeth a dehortation that we should not trust in any man nor giue them the matter of praises Ver. 1.2.3.4 and 5. In the second he sheweth certaine causes why he and other should prayse the Lord from ver 6. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title Prayse ye the Lorde sée Psalme 106. in the title Ver. 1. Prayse thou the Lorde O my soule vz. for his mercy and goodnes towardes thée vnderstanding by soule the seate of his affections which is the heart Sée Psalm 103.1 Ver. 2. I will prayse the Lorde vz. for his mercies during my life i. as long as I liue and all the dayes
A RIGHT GODLY AND learned Exposition vpon the whole Booke of Psalmes Wherein is set forth the true Diuision Sence and Doctrine contained in euery Psalme for the great furtheraunce and necessarie instruction of euery Christian Reader Newly and faithfully set forth by a Godly Minister and Preacher of the word of God 2 Tim. 3. Ver 16.17 For the whole Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach to improue to correct and to instruct to righteousnesse That the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes LONDON Printed for T. Man and W. Brome 1586. ¶ The printers of this present worke to al godly and Chrystian readers do wish all increase of knowledge and strength of faith in Christ for euer THere are two thinges especially that behoueth all good men to haue regarde of in this life The one is the inlarging of the kingdome of Christ to the vttermost of their powers in a lawfull and holy vocation And the other is simplicity and plainnes in the places that God putteth men into or in the words or workes that he inableth them to performe therein At both which things we our selues haue aimed so farre forth as humaÌe infirmytie would suffer in the pulishing of this present work for the further declaration whereof wee haue beene contented to prefixe these fewe lines By Gods good prouideÌce the booke it selfe came into our haÌdes from amongst the writings of that religious worshipful GentlmaÌ M. Herlakinden of Kent esquier late deceased and for whose cause onely as we suppose the penning of this was performed at the first Which hauing once gotten into our handes we could not let lie and perish amongst the wormes and moaths as the prouerbe is vnles we would closly vnder hand haue hindered the edification of the Church but indeuour to our vttermost the publishing of the same Wherein if any man thinke we did it for glory or gaine vnto our selues wee can not but tell them that as they doe vncharitably surmise against vs so they doe fondly and fouly deceiue themselues as for glorye how can we attayne sith the labor is wholy an others and no part ours except men would thinke vs to be so conceited that wee would count it credit to be decked with other birdes feathers and to waxe rich with the robbery and vniust spoyles of others And for gayne there is as litle if not lesse reason for besides that we know not what vent we shal haue the sale being very vncertaine what likelyhood is there that our aduantage can be much in publishing coÌmentaries vpon that booke of which there are so many learned expositions extant already And yet least any should imagine that we haue without cause caused this to be printed besides the reasons before alleaged we say that both the soundnes of the matter it selfe and the manner of deliuery obserued therein which is both plaine and short the one seruing for the more simple sort of people and the other fitting such as either can not or will not allowe themselues leasure to read long commentaries hath drawen vs on hereto Wherein we do willingly giue al the world to vnderstand that we speak not so much our own minds for we confesse our selues to be men not greatly able to discerne of such high points but we vtter that that men of good countenance in the Church of sound iudgement as in respect of religion haue deliuered and that we hope all that read it shal well find and perceiue There resteth no more but this that euery good man labour to referre it to good ends and holy purposes namely to the building vp of theÌ selues and others in knowledge in faith in repentance and obedience of al such good things as God hath reueiled in his worde praying the Godly reader for his better more plain direction in that behalfe diligently to obserue these few points following First that all that is spoken vppon all the Psalmes or any of them respecteth either the diuisioÌ of the Psalme it selfe into his members and parts or the true sense and natural meaning of the very words or the doctrines touching faith and manners that are therein conteined Secondly that wheresoeuer they shall finde these letters markes or directions ensuing i. vz. q.d. they would take paines to resolue and interpret them thus namely that i. signifieth that it is to say vz. signifieth to wit and q.d. meaneth as if he should say Thirdly that the framer of this work in all his notes at the least for the most part we are sure of it had speciall respect to that english text of the Psalmes and Bible that was Imprinted at Geneua which was as it shoulde seeme the first yere of the raygne of our gracious Queene which also we thought good to aduertise the reader of that so he may haue an eye always in his reading to that text or others conformable to the same printed vpon good authoritie though it be not wholly put downe here nor the wordes of it in other letters for difference sake as had been to be wished Lastly wee are earnestly to intreat the godly reader fauourably to interpret and with loue to correct whatsoeuer hath escaped here through the negligence or ignorance of the workemen imployed about this busines some taste whereof also euen we our selues haue thought good to giue vnto them by putting downe some fewe scapes obserued in the ouer reading of it that so if there be any such like as we hope there are not many they may by these amend the rest And thus beseeching God to giue a blessing vnto this work in the heartes of all these into whose handes it shall come we end the 28. of Aprill 1586 Lord Iesus begin and make an end An Exposition vpon the whole Booke of Psalmes The penners of the Psalmes were diuers men as Dauid Moses c. but all led by one and the selfe same spirit so that the holy Ghost may rightlie be said to be the Author of this Booke SOme Psalmes haue titles and inscriptions of which we will shew somewhat when we shall come to them othersome are without Titles or inscriptions of which we shal not néede to say any thing These that haue Titles do eyther containe the name of the writer of that Psalme or the instrument wherevpon it was sung or the end wherevnto it was appoynted or the principal matter therein contayned As they were diuers Writers so they comprehended diuers matters some are full of instruction touching both fayth and maners as Psal 1.37 c. Othersome containe confession of sinnes and prayer for repentaunce as Psalme 25.51 c. Othersome are Prayers agaynst the enemies of the Church as Psal 79.83 c. Some containe the histories of the olde Testament as Psal 78.105.106 c. Some are commendations of Gods lawes as Psa 19.119 c. Some descriptions of Gods wonderfull power as psal 18.164 Some are particuler prayers of
prieth and watcheth diligently to intrap them that are already afflicted Vers 9. and 10. Hee setteth out the secret councels that the wicked vse to take the godly by Sée for the Lions disposition Iob. 36.1.2 draweth him into his net it is a metaphor taken from foulers who vse closly to lay their nets and snares to catch birds vers 10. He croucheth and boweth i. The vngodly spareth no paine to his owne body that hee may woorke mischiefe Yea hée counterfatteth and pretendeth humilitie but all is hypocrisie Heapes i. Great number and multitudes as it were ver 11. In his heart see ver 6. Of this Psam he noteth in this verse what maketh the wicked so bolde to sinne vz. A false perswasion that they haue of God ver 12. Arise vz. to helpe the oppressed as Psalm 12.5 lift vp thine hand i. declare thy power in striking thine enemies forget not the poore q.d. shewe that thou art not forgetfull of them For in déede he is not forgetfull of them though it so seeme to vs which thing the wicked perswade themselues thou doest as ver 11. ver 13. contemne God Sée ver 3. of this Psalme Thou wilt not regard vz. their sinnes committed against thée and thy seruants ver 14. Mischiefe and wrong vz. which the vngodly haue done to thy children That thou mayst take it into thy hands Not only to iudge betwéen right wrong but also to punish those wicked persons with thy power Himself i. His life al his causes he coÌmendeth to thée For thou art the helper this is a reason why the afflicted fléeth to God Of the fatherles i. of those that are voyd of mans help Sée Iob. 29.12 Hosea 14.3 ver 15. breake thou his armie i. al his power and force and whatsoeuer he hath to execute it by Search his wickednes q.d. cal him to account for his sinnes and thou shalt find none vz. To answere thée He meaneth that if the vngodly be sifted the giltines of his owne vngodlines will make him to flée his presence and the iudgement of God will so ouerthrow him that he shal no where appeare neither his place any more be known ver 16. He putteth heathen for the Iewes and Israelits not that they were heathen by nature but because they were corrupted with heathenish maners ver 17. In the Lord part must be read not as a thing already performed but as a praier for the godly Thus strengthen their heart q.d. confirme them more and more in the truth of thy promises dispose their harts to the imbracing thereof bend thine eare i. diligently hearken and yéeld to the praiers of thy poore people as Psal 86.1 ver 18. To iudge i. To reuenge and set frée the fatherles and poore Sée ver 14. Of this Psal That earthly man i. man not only dwelling in the earth but also made of earth cause to feare no more i. Be no more a cause of terror and feare to thy seruants Se. Ver. 1. Teacheth that gods children are wonderfully assaulted when they féele not gods present helpe ver 1.2 c. Till you come to the ende of the 11. ver the holy ghost doeth so diligently set out the wickeds nature not that the godly shoulde feare them For all the mischiefe they can imagine or performe but to teach the Godly the more earnestly therefore to come to God by prayer that they may auoyd these daungers and the more carefully to looke to their steps that they be not ouertaken with these wickednesses Verse 12. Teacheth vs to pray vnto God in the middest of the confusions that wicked men bring into the earth and to desire him to take his owne cause and the cause of his children into his owne hands Ver. 13.14 declare that though the wicked thinke God regardeth not yet hee séeth it and in his good time wil punish them for their sinne Ver. 17. sheweth that it is comfortable for the children of god to think vpon his power because it is their defence and terrible to the wicked because it is their ouerthrow Psalme 11. THis Psalme hath two partes Di. In the first the Prophet flieth to God by prayer that vnder him he might be defended against the violence and mischieuous practises of the vngodly from ver 1. to the end of the third In the seconde part he setteth out Gods iustice in defending his owne seruaunts and in punishing the wicked and vngodlye from verse 4. to the end of this Psalme The title of this Psalme is expounded Psalme 4. Ver. 1. Se. To my soule i. to me a part put for the whole Flie not to as in the Geneua Texte but out of your mountayne Mountaynes are sure places to lodge in from the force of aduersaries but here the enemies tel Dauid and those that were with him that they shal not preuaile to keepe them safe and therefore it were better for them to get them away It may be that by Mountayn hee meaneth the lande of Iudea because it was full of Mountaynes q.d. Get you out of Iudea but the other me thinketh is more simple sée 1. Samuel from chap. 21. to the 27. as a bird vz which séeth the Fowlers snare and therefore flieth away swiftly q.d. You are forewarned of a daunger therefore get you away with all spéede Ver. 2. Bende their bow i. prepare and gather together all the force and subtilties that they haue or can deuise at them vz. at me and those that are with me which are vpright in hart i. which meane no mischiefe or hurt to them or any of them Ver. 3. For the foundations vz. of the places wherein Dauid and his might trust are cast downe he speaketh of that that shall be as though it were alredy done for the certaintie of it in mans iudgement what hath the righteous done q.d. haue I and the people with me committed that these mischiefs should be ment against vs and our liues so sought for Ver. 4. Holy palace i. Heauen as may appeare by that which followeth the Lords throne is in heauen i. he is a heauenly Iudge to reuenge these outrages done vpon the earth agaynst me and mine His eyes will consider or after some doe consider eyes attributed to God after the maner of men meaning that he beholdeth vz. all things that the wicked doe and the godly suffer His eylids i. his eyes it is eyther Metonomya the things contayning for the things contayned or Synecdoche one parte for an other or a part of the eye for the whole eye Chyldren of men i. men of what state and condition soeuer they bee q.d. this one thing comforteth me that though GOD bee in heauen yet from thence he doth withoute respecte of persons behold all things done by men vppon the earth and namely how vngodlye the wicked are agaynst those that trust in him Ver. 5. Will or doth trie vz. by afflictions and calamities that he might make him pure golde vnto him selfe the righteous i. righteous men one
number for another doth his soule hate i. he can at no hand away with him and this is spoken of GOD according to man not that this affection of hate is or euer can bee in God from whiche he is farre Ver. 6. he i. God who hath all power in himselfe shall rayne snares i. shall swiftlye sende multitude of troubles where the vngodlye shall bee caught and ouerwhelmed as it were with snares Fire and Brimstone c. i. most horrible iudgements this is the portion of their Cuppe q.d. this is that that they must make sure account to haue euen as if it were a portion of meate and drinke allowed for a daye to liue withall whiche was a vsuall custome amongest the people of the East and namely the Iewes Ver. 7. For or rather But which I allow of as better correcting this verse with the former loueth righteousnesse i. righteous men the qualitie being put for the person his countenaunce i. he himself a part of God which is spoken also according to man put for the whole doth behold vz. with fauour and goodnesse for otherwise he doth beholde also the wicked as ver 4. of this Psalme and Psalme 14.2 Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth to trust in God how great soeuer their daungers be also that we shall be many times assaulted to put far from vs this trust Ver. 2. noteth the cruelty and subtilty of the vngodly agaynste the good people Ver. 3. sheweth that the children of God are many times persecuted without any cause on their behalfe giuen Ver. 4. Setteth out Gods wonderfull prouidence and gouernment who beholdeth all things and before whose eyes all things are naked and playne Ver. 5. Teacheth two things first that God will sundrye tymes afflicte his owne secondlye that he cannot awaye with the vngodly Ver. 6.7 shewe the iudgementes of God agaynst the wicked and his goodnes toward the righteous with the vnlikely reward of the one and the other Psalme 12 Di. THis Psalme hath two partes In the first the Prophet prayeth the Lord to set too his helping hand to redresse the vnfaithfulnesse pride and other wickednesses of the vngodlye from ver 1. to the end of the 4. In the second hee assureth himselfe and the rest of the faythful that God wil punish the wicked notwithstanding their great pryde and defend his own euen for his truths sake from ver 5. to the end of the Psalme In the title vpon the eyght time sée Psalme 6. in the Title Se. where this is expounded ver 1. For there is not this is a reason of his prayer a godlye man he meaneth that the number of good people was very small from among the children of men i. from among men themselues as Psalme 11.4 meaning also by this true children of men those that presently liued not speaking of the time past or to come ver 2. They speake deceitfullye c. q.d. No man may trust one anothers words with their lips i. with their wordes and spéeche putting some of the instruments wherewith the words are vttered for the wordes themselues sée Psalme 10.7 and speake with a double hart i. they speak one thing and thinke another and this may serue to explane somewhat that hath bene sayd vpon Psalme 10. ver 7. when the tongue is put for the hart for the Prophet meaneth they had one harte in their body and an other in their mouth ver 3. Is a prayer agaynst his enemies procéeding not froÌ heat or affectioÌ of the flesh but by the guiding of gods spirit wherin he beséecheth the remouing of false flatterers and proud boasters ver 4. which haue sayd yea are accustomed to say with our tongue i. with our spéech vttered by the tongue will we preuaile vz. against Dauid and those that take his part I suppose he meaneth the cunning flatterers of Saules Court our lippes are our owne i. we are not only apt and méete to speake with finenesse and eloquence when we our selues list but wee will speake indéed who is Lord ouer vs vz. to hinder vs by his authoritie from vsing our spéech as we lust so wickedly doe these men speake against God Ver. 5. oppression of the néedy vz. wherwith they are afflicted on euery side I wil vp sayth the Lord vz. to helpe them q.d. although hitherto I haue séemed to winke at the vngodly in their sinnes yet I wil now arise and that presently being moued thereto by the calamitie that I sée the poore to be afflicted withall and will set at liberty him c. i I wil set him frée from the violence subtilty of the wicked whom the wicked hath snared vz. by his craft and deceit ver 6. The wordes i. the promises q.d. doubte not of that which hath bin sayd before ver 5. for they are Gods words therefore shall be performed are pure i. simple and playn without any guile or falshood as the siluer an excellent similitude meaning thus much in effecte as the gold siluer that hath bin most tried doth neuer deceaue men so shal Gods promises neuer deceaue because the truth goodnes of theÌ hath bin coÌtinually tried by others graciously performed by god himself tried in a fornace of the earth he meaneth in a fornace made of the best méetest earth to try metals withal seuen fold i. sundry times a certayn number put for an vncertain as Prouer. 6.31 Psal 119.164 ver 7. is reade by some as a prayer thus O Lord kéepe thou theÌ kéep euery one of theÌ c. as in the Geneua text q.d. hauing this promis of thin I make my praier to thée for thou wch I alow better of froÌ this generation i. froÌ the meÌ that liue in this age sée ver 1. of this Psalme Ver. 8. The wicked walke on euery side vz. séeking occasion to destroy the good and godly people Immanuel readeth the last part of this verse thus as though drunkennesse were exalted i. They run vp downe to doe mischiefe as though they were drunke and drunkennesse had made them mad aptly comparing them whose mindes are caryed violentlye to commit wickednesse to drunken men amongst the sonnes of men i. amongst men as verse 1. of this Psalme and Psalme 11.4 or else this Texte may stand thus expounded when they i. the wicked men are exalted i. preferred and set vp aloft it is a shame for the sonnes of men i. other men are not only contemned that happily deserue greater preferment but are vilely handled by such men so exalted and set vp on high Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs in the midst of all confusions to haue recourse to God by prayer for the amendment thereof it teacheth also that gods number is the smallest and is a good place agaynst them that presse multitude ver 2. Teacheth vs to auoyde deceyte and flattery and on the other side to speake the truth from our harts Psalme 15.2 ver 3.4 Teacheth vs not onlye to auoyde proude boasting and flattering spéeches but
verse otherwise but I like this sence as well as his Ver. 8. As the apple of my eye i. most dearely and tenderly as men are wont to doe the apples of their eye who cannot abide that any thing should touch it hide mee vnder the shadow of thy winges an other similitude to the same purpose q.d. deliuer me with such diligence from present perill as the hens are wont to doe their yong ones vnder their winges when the Kite houereth ouer them or lieth in wait for them The scripture in sundrye places attributeth winges to God that therby it might declare Gods great care to saue and defend the godly such a similitude Christ vseth Math. 23.37 Ver. 9. for my soule i. for my life vz. that they might take it away from me ver 10. They are inclosed in their owne fat i. they are monstrously fat by reason they liue in al plesures and delights q.d. They abound in all delights therefore they spare not to speake proudly which he addeth in this verse describing in this and so on in the rest the maners of the vngodly Ver. 11. They i. the vngodly and wicked enemies haue coÌpassed vs i. me Dauid the people that are with mee in our steps i. in our iornies or as we were iornying q. d. In all our iornying they haue most diligently obserued me mine many times haue in the mean while beset vs about they haue set their eyes i. they are earnestly and diligentlye bent as one that fixeth his eyes vppon one to marke him or to know him agayne to bring downe vz. me and mine to the ground i. to destroy and ouerthrow vs as townes and castles rased and made euen with the ground ver 12. He noteth first their crueltie vnder these wordes gréedye of pray next vnder these words lurking in secret places their subtelty craft sée Psalme 10.9 Ver 13. Vp Lord q.d. thou hast deferred a long while vp now and take weapon into thy hand as a notable defender disappoint him vz. of the crueltye he purposeth he speaketh of one as the principal meaning notwithstanding others ioyned with him in the mischiefe cast him down vz. to the ground see ver 11. in these words to bring downe to the grounde deliuer my soule i. my life as before ver 9. of this Psalme with thy sworde i. with thy might and power sée Iob 40.14 Ver. 14. from men vz. deliuer my soule as ver 13. by thine handes i. by thy power and might vsing hande here as he vsed the word sword before from men ad these words I mean for the more playne sence of the world i. worldly men all whose delighte is in things of this life who haue their portion in this life and not in the other which shall be reuealed to Gods sonnes whose bellies i. whose desires and appetites thou fillest with thy hidden treasures i. giuest them great abundaunce of outwarde benefites and blessinges which are called Gods hidden treasures not because they are not séene but because they are not so wel perceyued and vsed of the vngodlye as were méete their children this serueth to amplifie the aboundance of outward blessings that the wicked haue hauing not only more then ynough for themselues but to leaue mountains of mony as it were to their posterity whether sonnes daughters neuewes or any other kindred for so I take the worde children to be vsed in this place ver 15. in righteousnesse i. hauing a good and righteous cause on my side Psalm 4.1 and Gods face is here taken for a more playne and manifest knowledge of Gods mercy then he had set before in the time of his affliction with thine image i. with so much of thy goodnes and grace as it shall please thée in my deliuerance to make knowne vnto me Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth earnestnes in prayer ver 3. that we should kéepe our selues from wicked thoughts and wicked words expressing these thoughts ver 4. Gods word is a notable meane to kéepe vs from wickednesse ver 5. we shall fall vnles the Lord vphold vs. ver 6. He that prayeth to God must bée well assured of the truth of his promises ver 7. If God helpe vs not the enemies rage wil ouercome vs. ver 10. aboundaunce of wealth and pleasure maketh the vngodly proud against God and his people ver 11. setteth out the mischieuous mind of the vngodly ver 12. expresseth their crueltie and craft ver 13. teacheth vs in the time of our afflictions to haue recourse to God by prayer ver 14. sheweth that outward blessings are as well bestowed vpon the wicked as the good and that therefore there is no certaine iudgements to be giuen of gods fauour by these outward things ver 15. Howsoeuer wicked men set their minde on worldly wealth that our delight and pleasure should be onlye in the Lord and his fauour Psalme 18. Di. THis Psalme handleth diuers matters but principally 3. In the first part the Prophet promiseth thankes giuing for benefites receaued and describeth Gods wrath and power from ver 1. to the end of the 15. In the secoÌd part he reciteth sundry particular graces bestowed vpon him and excellent matters that the Lord inabled him to performe froÌ ver 16. to the end of the 45. In the third part he yéeldeth praise and thankes vnto the Lord promising neuer to forget these benefits and to publish them continually amongst the people from verse 46. to the end of the Psalme The title is easie these words which spake put for which sung Se. In the day i. at the time from the hand i. from the violent power and raging might and so it is vsed immediatly following of al his enimies he meaneth of the mighty and of the greatest number of theÌ for Dauid was neuer without enemies this title summarily coÌprehendeth the occasion of the making of this Psalm ver 2. My rock this spéech calling God a rock is a metaphor taken from séeking refuge for men are wont for feare of their enemies to go to the rocks or mountayns Mat. 24.16 my fortresse another metaphor meaning that in and by God he might be kept as safely yea more safely from his enemies then in or by the strongest hold in the world my shield another Metaphor because he did as a shield ouershadow and defend him the horne of my saluation saluation here is put for deliuerance and horn put for streÌgth or strong meates Another metaphor for euen as horned beasts doe defend themselues with their hornes so Dauid vsed Gods helpe and defence as it were a horne Ver. 3. worthy to be praysed vz. of me and all others that for his wonderful goodnes bestowed vpoÌ vs ver 4. Sorrows of deth i. most gréeuous deadly sorrowes which are therfore called the sorrows of deth because they brought him almost to deaths dore the floods of wickednes i. gret multituds either of wicked deuises or of wicked meÌ for so I take wickednes to be vsed
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 LeuiathaÌ 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 theÌ 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 theÌ 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 froÌ 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 theÌ 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 froÌ God ver 22. before me i. in my sight vz. that I might not commit any thing against theÌ and I did not cast away vz. as though I
care and conscience diligently to instruct others ver 9. Beware of stubbornes in sinne for besides that it maketh men brutish it draweth Gods iudgement vpon them ver 10. The vnlikely rewarde of the wicked and the vngodly from the Lord. ver 11. Exhortation yea euen to those that haue made good procéedings in godlines is very necessary Psalme 33 THis Psalme hath two special parts Di. In the first the Prophet exhorteth good people to be thankful shewing sundry causes that shoulde moue them thereto as his power prouidence faithful performaunce of his promises and such like from ver 1. to the end of the 11. In the seconde hee sheweth that all thinges in respect of God bee as nothing shewing what a fatherly care that great God hath continually ouer his children and praying also the continuance and increase thereof from ver 12. to the end of the Psal This Psalme hath no title such a one is Psalm 10. Ver. 1. Se. In the Lorde sée Psal 32.11 it becommeth this is a reason to induce praises to God set from their duty vpright men sée Psal 32.11 to be thankeful vz. to God for all his benefits ver 2. instruments of tenne strings the proper name of this instrument is not expressed but it should séeme to be very melodious by reason of the number of strings ver 3. A new song i. not a common song but a very rare and exquisite one chearefully for such countenances the Lord loueth in his seruice ver 4. Al his workes i. whatsoeuer he doth are faithful i. true firme in respect of him from whom they come and profitable vnto vs. ver 5 He loueth i. he so fauoureth that he performeth righteousnes and iudgment I make this difference in this place betwéene these two termes that righteousnes should be referred to the good people vnderstanding thereby faythfull performance of all his promises made to them and iudgement to the vngodly meaning the punishments that he will powre forth vppon them and yet which I thinke also wil not be a misse for this place in consideration that iudgement consisteth of two partes vz. of acquiting and clearing the intent and of condemning the guilty it may be referred to the faithful also is full i. hath wonderfull plenty of the testimonies and tokens of Gods mercy ver 6. Worde of the Lord i. his commandement or effectuall speach as Psal 148.5 Heauens i. not onely heauens but the earth and al creatures whatsoeuer some creatures or a part of the workemanship for the whole and al the host of them if you referre it to the heauens alone he meaneth Sunne Moone Starres c. but if you referre it to the whole worke of creation hee meaneth then all the seuerall creatures the breath of his mouth i. by his word only sée Iob. 15.30 ver 7. He gathereth i. he hath sundred them appointed them their place as appeareth Gene. 1.9 and euer since hath as it were kept them in that compasse and so wil do of all which hee speaketh in the present tense the depth i. the waters that séeme to haue no bottome in his treasures i. hee hath shut vp the depths to be kept in a certaine place euen as it were his treasures or amongst other his treasures ver 8. Al the earth i. al the people of the earth by Metonymia ver 9. He spake c. q.d. he did with a becke as a man would say create al things sée ver 6. of this Psalm It was done i. al the worke of his creation and it stood vz. firme sure and vnmoueable ver 11. the counsell of the Lord i. whatsoeuer he hath purposed and decreed stand vz. sure and stedfast yea neuer to be ouerthrowne the thoughts of his heart the prophet speaketh herof God according to men and as they are able to conceiue of him ver 12. Blessed is that nation q.d. seeing it is so that man can do nothing and God is all in all O blessed are that people that hath the Lord for their God that is for their iudge and gouernor ver 13. All the children of men i. all men whatsoeuer and not only their persons but their deeds and workes as ver 15. ver 14. from the habitation of his dwelling i. from heauen as 1. king 8.30.43 ver 15. He fashioneth i. he not only made but now directeth and disposeth their harts and the thoughts of the same ver 16. Is not saued i. deliuered from danger or getteth the victory by the multitude of an host i. by an host consisting of very many people deliuered vz. from the danger and power of his enemies by great strength vz. of himselfe or others for him teaching that all is done and gouerned by the Lord. ver 17. A horse is a vaine helpe q.d. a horse can not helpe And we may vnderstand by horse al aide succour that man can haue deliuer any vz. that rideth vpon him by his great strength i. by any thing that is in him courage swiftnes c. sée Iob. 39.22.23 c. ver 18. The eye of the Lord i. his fauourable countenance and goodnes is yea and shal be continually ver 19. Their soules i. their liues from death i. from all manner of daunger and destruction that might bring death with it and to preserue i. féede and norish them aliue as he did Elijah by rauens in famine i. in the tyme when other people shall be oppressed with great want ver 20. Our soule i. our whole life and being our inward and our outward man wayteth for the Lord i. patiently taryeth the Lord and his leasure q.d. séeing God doth thus and thus for his children as he had declared before ver 18.19 This is it that we do and will do al the daies of our life trust in him with patience Our helpe i. he that helpeth vs and our shield sée Psal 3.30 Psal 11.2 Ver. 28. Our heart a principal part for God specially regardeth the heart put for the whole man q.d. we will reioyce c. in his holy name i. in his vertue power and grace as Psal 29.1 And God is called holye because there is nothing in him but holines nay hée can not away with wickednes Psal 5.4.5 Ver. 22. As wee trust in thee vz. that thou wilt shewe vs mercy not meaning that they woulde haue no more mercy shewed them then they had trust Ver. 1. The consideration of the duety we owe to God Do. should stirre vs vp to thankfulnes ver 3. God loueth chearfulnes in all the exercises that are to bee performed towardes him ver 4. Whatsoeuer God doeth is righteous good and therefore they are to blame that will dislike of his doings ver 5. God giueth plentiful testimonies of his mercy to the ende hee might thereby prouoke men to continual thankfulnes ver 6. Confirmeth this article of our faith God is the maker of heauen and earth ver 7. Gods prouidence guideth al his creatures and namely and particularly the Seas and great
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 coÌmon to al the kings of that couÌtry 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 maÌ 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 diligeÌtly 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 theÌ 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 guiltâ 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 whoÌ 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 coÌtrary 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
Iewes as Gentile clappe your handes vz. for ioy as Nahum 3. ver 19. Hee putteth the outwarde signe of ioy for inward and outward ioyfulnes sing loude vnto God c. in this part of the verse the Prophet requireth of the people on the Lordes behalfe willingnes chearfulnes and gladnes for in all seruices performed to him hee specially regardeth these thinges as 2 Corinth 8.12 Ver. 2. Is high vz. not onely because hee dwelleth in the high heauens but also because hee hath highest yea all authoritie and terrible i. fearefull or méete to bee feared not onely of his children for their good but of the wicked for their punishments a great king vz. as whose power no creature is able to resist ouer all the earth i. such a king as to whose authoritie all the quarters corners of the earth are subiect Ver. 3. He i. God hath subdued vz. by his word spirit the people i. of all the people of the world some vnder vs i. vnder the exercises of his religion seruice which wee professe putting the persons professing a thing for the thing professed vnder our féete by this maner of speach is ment that the gentiles shold be schollers the Iews scholemasters as it were to them for to sit vnder the feet or at the feete is vsed in scripture for being a scholler or learning as Act. 22.3 And not that the Iews had euer such a large Lordship ouer the Gentiles Ver. 4. May be the words as it were both of the Iewes and Gentiles conuerted to Christes kingdome shewing what graces he hath bestowed vpon them hee q.d. he that knoweth what is better for vs then wee our selues hath chosen i. not onely layd out but also appointed and that of his owne good will and mercy towards vs our inheritance i. not onely all thinges méete for this life as landes countries possessions c. but euen all other things that concerne the hope of a better life euen the glory of Iaakob i. euen all these excellent thinges that he gaue and promised to Iaakob wherin he might glory and reioyce The faithful meane that they had as great both abundance and assurance of Gods grace and goodnes as Iaakob euer had Ver. 5. God i. the arke of God which was a true token of Gods presence and so is the word Lord also vsed as Psal 132.5 Is gone vp hee speaketh this no doubt in respect of bringing the Arke into the mount Sion of which sée 2. Sam. 6. Throughout the chapter with triumph vz. against the enemies which also was ioyfull to Gods people euen the Lord with the sound of the trumpet this is euen the same that was sayd in the first part of this verse sauing that here hee addeth the instrument which many times striketh terrour into the enemies and addeth courage to the faithful and by this manner of speach hée meaneth to note out the great glory of the Lord and of the triumph and victories that our Sauiour gotte as Colos 2.15 Ephes 4.8 Ver. 6. The foure times repeating of these woordes sing prayses hath great force q.d. let all your care and study tend to this to prayse the Lorde and his sonne Christ Ver. 7. For God this is a reason why they shoulde extoll the Lorde King of all the earth i. hath power ouer all and exerciseth an Vniuersall kingdome the particulars and the maiesty whereof hée setteth out in the next verse Ver. 8. Holy throne hée meaneth either the Tabernacle or else the heauen for both of these in scripture are called Gods holy throne because he that had the fulnes of holines in himselfe gaue manifestation of himselfe from both these places sée Mat. 5.34 Matth. 23.22 Whatsoeuer it is or howsoeuer it is to be taken the Prophets purpose no doubt is to describe God as a iudge ready to yéelde iustice both to good and bad according to their seuerall causes Ver. 9. The Princes of the people q.d. not onely meane men from among the Gentiles but euen the mighty are gathered vz. by the mightie woorking of Gods spirit and the exercises of the word the Prophet meaneth by this manner of speach that the Gentiles should make profession of true godlines as well as Iewes and he speaketh of it as though it were already performed for the certainty of it people of the God of Abraham i. the Iewes for from Abraham they came according to the flesh And he calleth him the God of Abraham thereby to distinguish him from al the false Gods of the Idolatrous gentiles the shields of the world i. the defence and the protections of the whole earth he vseth shields which are good meanes of defence for defence it selfe belong to God is his right q.d. seeing that the worlde is preserued and maintained by God great cause is there why men shoulde reuerence his so great and high maiesty and therefore he addeth hee is greatly to bee exalted i. feared and praysed Ver. 1. It becommeth all sects of people to praise God Do. and that willingly and chearefully Ver. 2. Sheweth that wée ought to praise him for his maiesty and power Ver. 3. Declareth that it is God alone that draweth mens heartes to the imbracing of his trueth Ver. 4. Gods loue is the first and onely cause of all the graces we haue Ver. 5. Setteth out his maiesty and might Verse 6. Teacheth how earnest we should be in praising our God Ver. 7. Sheweth that both our praises and all the seruices that we shall yéeld to the Lorde must procéede from an vnderstanding heart Ver. 8. In that God is described as a iudge it conteineth matter of comfort to his children of terror to the wicked Ver. 9. God calleth of all states some to the imbracing of his truth also God alone is the defender of the whole world and of all the people 's therein and that therefore he is worthylie to be magnified Psalme 48. Di. THis Psalme may bee diuided into three partes In the first is conteined a commendation of Gods power and goodnes manifested especially to the citie of Ierusalem from Ver. 1. to the end of the third In the seconde is declared that all the conspiracies practises and forces of the wicked against that Citie shal be ouerthrowne because God will defend it from ver 4. to the end of the 8. In the third the faithfull set out the assured perswasion that they had of Gods goodnes towardes them praying for the continuance therof both vppon themselues and the whole Church from verse 9. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title would bée thus a song or Psalme meaning such a Psal or song as both by voyce and instruments was sung the rest is expounded Psal 42. Ver. 1. Great is the Lorde vz. in respect of his power and glory and greatly to be praysed q.d. and therefore no smal prayse doth belong to him in the citie of our God i. in Jerusalem which is called Gods Citie because God had
verse sixe of Psalme 23. Verse 9. I will alway prayse thée Dauid promiseth thankfulnes for that thou hast done this he sheweth a cause why he will be thankefull and marke the manner of spéeche he speaketh as the Prophets also do oftentimes of a thing that should be done as though it were alreadye done because of the certaintie of it I will hope in thy name i. I will trust in and patiently wayte for thy vertue power and grace as Psalme 20.1 so that here he promiseth patience because it is good i. is found to be gracious fauourable and redy to helpe afflicted ones before thy saynts i. euen in the verye sighte iudgement and experience of thine owne people For this word Saynts sée before Psal 50.5 also Psal 16.3 The vngodly reioyce and glory in their sinne and shame Do. also Gods kindnes continueth for euer towards those that feare him Ver. 2.3.4 sheweth how that the vngodly vse all the meanes they can of words déeds c. to worke mischiefe and hurt by Verse 5. setteth out Gods iudgements against the wicked and that the hope of the vngodly shall perish Verse 6. Gods iudgements vpon the wicked strike two contrary passions as it were into the hartes of his children vz. feare and ioyfulnes Ver. 7. sheweth how vaine a thing it is to trust in any thing saue in God alone and to take pleasure and delighte in vngraciousnesse Verse 8. describeth the flourishing estate of the faythful Ver. 9. Teacheth praysing of God and patience Psalme 53. THis Psalme is the same not only in matter but in wordes almoste with Psalme 14. and therefore that that hath bene sayde there must be looked vpon agayne where it varieth something shall bée put down In the title are these words on Mahalath which I take rather to be an instrument then a tune and such an instrument as was made to go with blowing or breath by the reason of the hollownesse of it all the rest of the title hath ben expounded before Psal 42. and else where Se. Verse 1. For the word Worke in Psalme 14. here is put downe Wickednesse seuerall wordes tending all to one end vz. to set out the naughtinesse of these wicked men Verse 3. For all are gone out of the waye Psalme 14. there is read Here euery one is gone backe vz. from the obedyence of God and his commaundementes whereof they séemed to make some profession Verse 5. differeth almost altogether from Psalme 14. the Prophet declaring what great iudgement the Lorde bringeth vppon the wicked though neuer so stoute and couragious noting that though they feared GOD no whit at al yea and they themselues were greatlye feared of men yet when they thoughte least of it and no cause of feare appeared the Lorde stirred vp the terrours and prickes of their owne consciences to trouble them scattered the bones vz. being firste broken as it were in péeces By this manner of spéeche the Prophet meaneth that the Lorde by his iudgementes entereth and pierseth euen into their inward parts and breaketh and weakeneth all their force and strength whatsoeuer and you so shal haue the word bones vsed for strength before Psalme 32.3 of him that besieged thée the Prophet speaketh of Gods people as of one person because of the vnitye that is or oughte to be amongst them and of their fellowlike suffering So also hee speaketh of the wicked as of one man by reason of the consent that is in them to doe mischiefe vnderstanding also by the worde besieging all the mischieuous attemptes deuices and procéedings of the vngodly thou hast put them to confusion this may be referred eyther to the Churche as that the Churche had gotten victorye agaynst the wicked because GOD woulde haue it so or else to Christ the heade of the Church or GOD the Father speaking to him and of him in the first place in the seconde person and in the latter place speaking of him in the thirde person I woulde rather referre it to the Churche All the rest sée before Psalme 14. Psalme 54. Di. THis Psalme though it be short hath yet notwithstanding 3. parts In the first the Prophet prayeth deliuerance from his enemies shewing the cause that moueth him so to doe from verse 1. to the end of the third In the second he declareth what mercy God wil shew to him and what iustice he will execute vpon his enemies and this is in the two next verses vz. 4.5 In the thirde he promiseth hartye thanksgiuing vnto the Lord and sheweth the cause thereof and this is conteyned verse 6.7 Se The title to him that excelleth on Neginoth sée this expouÌded Psal 4. in the title A Psal of Dauid to giue instruction sée this expounded Psal 32. in the title when the Ziphims i. diuers of the people that dwelt in Ziph for the expounding of this and all that followeth in this Title Sée 1. Samuel 23. verse 14 15 16 17 18 19 c. also 1. Samuel 26. verse 1.2 c. Is not Dauid amongest vs This demaunding doth more certainly affirme q. d. certaynelye and withoute all doubte hée is in our countrye and therefore we come to tell it thée Verse 1. Saue me i. deliuer me and set me frée from these daungers wherin I am so haue we had this word vsed sundry times before and so haue you it afterwardes Psalme 69.1 by thy name or else for thy names sake i. for thy strength vertue power and graces sake as sundrye times before and namelye Psalme 20.1 and by thy power q.d. myne enymyes are stronge and I am weake therefore I come vnto thée that arte stronger than all Iudge me i. defende my righte pleade my cause and sette mee frée from the force and subtelties of mine enemies Verse 2. Heare my prayer i. shewe by effect that thou hast or wilte graunte my request for otherwise Dauid doubted not but that the Lorde hearde him praying vnto the wordes of my mouth i. vnto the prayer whiche I vtter with my mouth for prayer speciallye is a lifting vp of the harte vnto GOD though wordes sundrye times bee not vsed or hearde before men as Exodus 14.15 Also 1. Samuel 1. Verse 10.11.12.13 Verse 3. For strangers i. the Ziphims and others taking part with Saule who although they were Israelites according to the flesh and outward profession yet by their déedes declared themselues to be straungers from God his religion and all humanity for very humanity it selfe would haue taught theÌ to haue bin so farre off from deliuering the afflicted into Tyrauntes handes that they should rather haue pittyed him are risen vp agaynst vz. both with bodily violence and with their tongues to doe me euill and tyraunts i. men not onely of great might but also of great crueltye like vnto wilde beastes séeke my soule i. diligently searche after my life to destroy it Sée Matth. 2.20 Soule is put here for life as in other places before and also verse 4. of this Psalme they
men and mark here the sodayn change of the nuÌber haue brought iniquitie vpon me these wordes haue diuers sences some expounde them thus they slaundered mee as though I had bene a wicked man some thus they imagined a wicked purpose against mee séeking by all meanes to bring me to ruine and destruction Some thus They did vniustly and wrongfullye rushe in vppon me and agaynst mee to destroy me some thinke it to bee suche a manner of spéeche as is Genesis 20. verse 19. For mine owne parte I take this to be the Prophets meaning that the vngodly did by all meanes thoughtes wordes and déedes séeke his hurte and ouerthrowe which dealing of theirs hee calleth iniquitye because they practised it agaynst him without anye cause on his part giuen them and that in no small measure but in wonderfull heapes whiche I take hée meaneth by these wordes they brought vppon mée and furiously hate me hee noteth in these wordes the Fountayne of all iniustice and harde dealing to wit outragious hatred so that he sheweth in this verse foure causes of his mourninges and outcries their wicked spéeches agaynst him their great gréefes done to him the heaping of them vp to a full measure thereof and their cruel outragious hatred Verse 4. My hart trembleth within me nowe hee sheweth what great feare possessed him by reason of the mischiefs that the wicked attempted against him He sayth not without cause any hart trembled meaning by that manner of spéeche that courage and boldnesse whiche haue their seate in the harte were remoued and in stéede thereof came all trembling and feare And the terrors of Death i. moste gréeuous terrours and as it were the pangues of death for bitternesse and sharpenesse are fallen vpon mee i. haue seased me and taken holde of mée and the reason thereof was because hee thoughte hee should haue fallen into the handes of his aduersaries to bee murthered of them at their pleasure which thing declareth that notwithstanding the faythfull people haue a wonderfull trust in GOD yet they are not for all that insensible or vtterly voyde of feare whiche also hee noteth in the nexte verse Verse 5. Feare and trembling are come vpon mée this verse is almost the same with the fourth Betwéene feare and trembling I make this difference that feare is inward and is as it were the cause of the other trembling is outwarde and as it were the effecte of feare and an horrible feare i. an extraordinarye and moste terrible feare hath couered mee i. besette mee aboute on euerye side and as it were ouerwhelmed mee whereby we sée that he was in greate distresse Verse 6. And I sayde vz. in that great extremitye for in this verse and some others following hee doth amplifye his calamitie and miserye by wishing the auoyding thereof if it were possible whiche thing declareth that hee was so compassed in on euerye side that hee coulde hardlye hope to bee deliuered vnlesse it were myraculouslye and that hee coulde hardlye fynde anye meane to saue himselfe though hee were readye and willing to forgoe all that hee hadde and to goe into exile Oh that I had winges like a Doue true it is that hee vseth the worde Doue in some respecte to set out the miserable estate wherein hee was as one hath noted because that it is a sielie and fearefull birde but yet I suppose that he meaneth rather in this place to wish vnto him selfe swiftnes that thereby hee might auoyd the dangers and troubles that his enemies intended against him Many fowles are more swift of flight then Pigeons or Doues are we confesse but yet he that were able to flie from his enemies as fast as the Pigeon néeded not much to feare all their forces then would I flie away vz. from their force and fury hee meaneth that he would giue place to the rage and fury of his enemies and rest vz. in some place free from their attempts and mischiefes Ver. 7. Séemeth to bee of the same sense and meaning for when he saith farre off he meaneth not only from the places of their aboade but from their fearcenes and fury and lodge i. dwell and as it were make my aboad in the wildernes i. in some place either vninhabited or else not so peopled as other places are so you haue the word vsed Matth. 3.1 Whatsoeuer it is hee meaneth that hee woulde dwell in a place where hee might not bee knowne of any or at the least but onely of those that should wish him well Ver. 8. In the beginning for he read I and so the sense is plaine the Prophet shewing what he would do if he had wings as swift as a Doue that is he would make no delay that hee might escape and bee set free from the outragious daungers wherein hee and his were by that continuall pursuite which Saul and other his complices made against him for so much I thinke in a metaphor he meaneth by stormie wind and tempest Ver. 9. Destroy vz. them and their counsels The Hebrewe worde signifieth to swallow or suppe vp by which hee noteth an vtter ruine that neither they nor their imaginations may any more appeare and this kind of punishment was exercised towardes Dathan and Abiram Numeri 16.31.32 Diuide their tongues vz. in such sort that they may not vnderstande one another which iudgement was powred foorth vppon the builders of Babel Gene. 11.7 c. For I haue séene cruelty and strife i. all maner of naughtines and disorder hee putteth two sortes for all of what sort soeuer and when hee sayth he hath seene it hée meaneth that he certainely knew of it the sense of the sight being a notable instrument to ingender knowledge of thinges that be done before it in the citie i. in my iudgement not Ierusalem though in Sauls time all things were very disorderous there but in Keilah of which sée Ioshua 15.44 also 1. Sam. 23.1.2 c. Ver. 10. Day and night i. continually as Psal 1.2 They are about vz. cruelty and strife of which before ver 9. he noteth the disorder that was there to wit in Keilah all iustice order and right being banished and al cruelty strife and all manner of naughtinues being the principall and continuall watchmen of the Towne whose duety it was to goe about the places where they watched as may appeare Cantic 3.3 vpon the walles thereof i. in the highest and chiefest places for the walles in Townes besieged are the most méete places to kéepe watch and warde on All that followeth both in this verse and in the next verse is nothing but a particular recitall of the iniquities that were bolstered and practised in this place as vniust dealing mischieuous practises all maner of wickednes and namely to their tyrannie they ioyned deceit and subtilty If any man list to referre it to other Cities subiect to Sauls kingdome besides Keilah I will not greatly contend This alwayes being prouided that it must bee principally vnderstood thereof Ver.
12. Myne enemy i. mine open enemy or one that I had giuen any good cause vnto to bee mine enemy for otherwise no doubt hee or they whosoeuer they were that put this in practise against Dauid were his foes and here note that though hee seeme to speake but of one yet no doubt hee meaneth more or else vnder one most singular in that craft of dissimulation hee vnderstandeth others for hee meaneth here that by secret deuises which hee coulde not preuent hee was vnder the pretence of friendshippe almost cast away did not diffame mee sée verse 3. of this Psalme for I could haue borne it vz. better then I doe nowe because I looke for nothing from mine enemie but enemy like dealing Exalt himselfe against mee i. set himselfe against mee by worde or deede All this the Prophet speaketh by the way of comparison not denying but that his foes did defame him and oppose themselues against him but if that were compared with the hypocriticall dealings of his counterfeit friends it would appeare to bee nothing as a man would say and this wee call a denyall by the way of comparison I would haue hid me from him i. I woulde haue kept my selfe close and safe from him and his cruelties Verse 13. Hee sheweth who it was that wrought him this iniurie my companion i. my equall and of the selfesame state and condition that I my selfe was of by which wee see that this Psalme was made before hée came to the kingdome for when hee was exalted thither once none was equall vnto him my guyde vz. in matters of counsell and affaires that I had to doe and my familiar i. my deare and tender friend He meaneth no doubt some whom hee had in great regarde and estimation Ver. 14. Which delighted in consulting together q.d. with whom I tooke wonderfull pleasure to conferre of many matters and namely of the exercises of Gods religion which I suppose the Prophet meaneth by going into the house of God as companions consulting as it were together howe they might prepare themselues to his seruice behaue themselues therein Ver. 15. Let death sease vpon them vz. not onely sodainely and or euer they beware for so much the Hebrewe worde in a metaphor séemeth to import but let it take such holde of them that it may neuer leaue till it haue taken them away from amongest men Let them goe downe quicke into the graue as Korah Dathan and Abiram did Numb 16.31 Hee meaneth that hee woulde haue them dye of some sodaine death no disease or sickenesse going before it for wickednes i. all manner of vngodlinesse sée before Psalm 36.1 In their dwellinges i. in their congregations assemblies and fellowshippes putting the places where such wicked persons did méete for their méetings euen in the middest of them i. they norish it within them and haue it alwayes in their company Ver. 16. I will call vnto God i. earnestly pray vnto him will saue mee i. deliuer mee from these cruelties and daungers as Psalm 54.1 Verse 17. Euening and morning and at noone will I pray i. I will bee importunate and neuer cease till I haue obteined from hence and out of Daniel 6.10 wee may gather that in those dayes the faythfull set themselues certaine houres to pray in thereby the better to awake their sluggishnes And make a noyse i. I will bee feruent and earnest in it for many haue prayed long and yet haue wanted feruency and hee will heare my voyce i. graunt the petitions and prayers that I shall powre foorth before him wherein wee see howe hee assureth him selfe of Gods goodwill and mercy Verse 18. My soule i. my life as sundry times before in peace i. safely and soundly and with great quietnes from the battaile that was against mee i. from the great conflictes and daungers wherein I shoulde haue béene snared because they were layde and prepared against mee for many were with mee q.d. though to sée too wee were but fewe yet wee had Gods Angels with vs to dismay our enemies and to comfort vs as 2. Kinges 6.16 Ver. 19. God shall heare vz. mee and my prayers and afflict them i. whereas hee shewed mercy to mee hee shall afflict them and punish them euen hee that reigneth of olde i. hee which in nature counsell and iudgement is eternall and alwayes like to himselfe which thing the Prophet expresseth to giue the wicked to vnderstande that there is no starting holes to hyde them in from GOD because they haue no chaunges vz. from wealth honour and credit to pouerty disgrace and misery but alwayes they goe forwarde in abundance of these outwarde blessinges therefore they feare not GOD i. they neither reuerence him nor his iudgements but abusing his mercye runne riot to all wickednes and so in this verse hee putteth them out for their harde hartednes in vngodlynes Ver. 20. Hee layeth his hand first marke the sodaine chaunge of the number before he spake of them in the plurall nowe of them in the singular next note that by laying of handes vppon others hee meaneth exercising of violence towardes others yea and this outragious discurtesie is aggrauated by howe much it was practised towards them that were at peace with him i. not only such as liued quietly with him but also loued him and so by that meanes hee brake his couenaunt vz. which he had made with him all this Dauid speaketh principally of Saul and himselfe and of the couenant that passed betweene them Sée 1. Samuel 24. from verse 17. to the ende of the Chapter Verse 21. The woordes of his mouth were softer then butter i. hee made shewe in his woordes of nothing but gentlenesse and mildenesse yet warre was in his heart i. inwardly hee imagineth nothing but mischiefe and destruction for so is the woorde warre vsed here vz. put for thinges that commonly followe warres his woordes were more gentle then Oyle this I take to be but the same thing repeated in an other metaphor in summe the Prophet toucheth him here for his peruerse hipocrisie and wooluish mind as it were against him Verse 22. Cast thy burden vppon the Lorde q.d. if there bee any thing that troubleth thee or that thou thy selfe standest in neede for so much I thinke hée meaneth by the worde burden commit all the care thereof into Gods hands and power staying thy self altogether vpon his prouidence and he shall nourish thée i. vndoubtedly thou shalt not want for God wil play the part of a good Father whereunto in deede the Prophet in this place resembleth him giuing vnto euery one of his in measure and as hee shall sée to bee necessary for them for so much doeth the worde import hee will not suffer the righteous to fall for euer vz. into the wicked mans power that he should vse him as hée himselfe lusteth Verse 23. Shalt bring them downe vz. from the wealth credit and authority that nowe they are in and this hee speaketh of the vngodly and
wicked into the pit of corruption i. into the graue meaning thereby death putting that which followeth death vz. the graue and buriall for death it selfe the blody and deceitfull men i. the cruell and crafty persons shall not liue halfe their dayes Albeit this doth not commonly fall out as is declared Iob. 21.7 Yet we finde it true in many particular examples and when hee sayth halfe their dayes hee meaneth not as these yeeres are numbred to them from God for wee knowe they can not passe theÌ but this hee will that they shall not liue halfe so long as they themselues imagined they shoulde because in Gods iustice they shal bee taken away for their sinnes and hee vseth this worde dayes for yeeres an vsuall speach in scripture because the yere and yeeres consist of dayes sée for this purpose the inscription of the Prophets prophecies and namely Isaiah 1.1 Hosea 1.1 but I wil trust in thee q.d. whatsoeuer fal out vpon the wicked I wil alwaies in a stedfast faith cleaue vnto thée and thy goodnes Do. Ver. 1.2 Teach vs two things first in our distresses to come to God by praier and next to vse feruency and earnestnes therein Ver. 3.4.5 Teach vs that the mischieuous mindes of the vngodly and our owne fearefull state and condition should be continuall spurres in our sides to prouoke vs to earnest prayer Ver. 6.7.8 Teach vs sundry times to giue place to the violence and rage of our enemies and that with some hast and spéede also lest otherwise wee bée ouertaken and preuented Ver. 9. Teacheth that wee may sundry times safely pray against the enemies of Gods Church Ver. 10.11 Teacheth vs not to forbeare the displaying of sinne in what place so euer wee bee specially when it is growne to so great a head that in all places it ouerfloweth Ver. 12. Teacheth vs that many good men can better beare with vncurtesie from the wicked then from those that they make account of as friends and that they can more safely preuent daungers from their open aduersaries then otherwise Ver. 13. Teacheth vs that it is no newe thing that a mans enemies should be they of his owne houshold Ver. 14. Declareth that the vngodly to atchieue their purposes wil many times make profession of religion Ver. 15. Sheweth that when God hath discouered some hipocrites and wee sée them goe forward from one sinne to another we may then pray against them Ver. 16. Teacheth vs when we sée all out of order to call vppon the Lorde and to be rightly and assuredly perswaded of his good will towardes vs. Ver. 17. Teacheth vs that for the shaking off of our drousines it shall bee good for vs to set vnto our selues some ordinary times of good exerise Ver. 18. Setteth out Gods fauour and mercy towards those that are his and that by his owne helpe and sometimes by the ministery of his seruants and Angels Ver. 19. Sheweth howe gracious God is towardes the good and howe iust in executing vppon the wicked his heauy iudgements it teacheth further that the vngodly abuse Gods mercies to a contempt of his maiesty Ver. 20. Declareth the inhumanitie and vnfaythfulnes of the vngodly Ver. 21. Setteth out their hypocrisie dissimulation and cruelty Ver. 22. Teacheth vs in all thinges to hang vppon the Lordes power and prouidence with full hope and assurance that hee will neuer destitute vs nor forsake vs. Ver. 23. Comprehendeth Gods sharpe iudgements against all the wicked and namely against bloody and deceitfull men it teacheth the godly also still to hang vpon God howe peruerse and setled in wickednes so euer the vngodly bée Psalme 56. THis Psalme may bee diuided into thrée partes Di. In the first the Prophet prayeth vnto God for deliuerance from feare promising to bee thankefull for it and to learne thereby not to feare flesh from ver 1. to the end of the 4. In the second he declareth that both in respect of his owne misery and of the force subtilties of his aduersaries there is good cause why the Lorde should succour him from ver 5. to the end of the 9. In the thirde hee promiseth thankefulnes for all Gods mercies and namely for his deliueraunces from ver 10. to the end of the Psalme The title to him that excelleth a Psalm of Dauid sée Psalme 4. Se. in the title on Michtam which is either the name of a tane as Psal 16. in the title or else of some musicall instrument concerning the dumbe Doue some take this to be the beginning of a common song after the tune that Dauid woulde haue this Psalme sung and then michtam must bee taken not for a time but for an instrument others thinke that these wordes must bee applied to Dauid by a metaphor who calleth himselfe a dumbe Doue not onely because hee sought no reuenge but also because committing all things to Gods will he opened not his mouth to answere the aduersaries in a farre country vz. from the land of Iudea and namely from the place where the seruices of God were practised when the Philistines tooke him in Gath for the vnderstanding of this sée 1. Samuel 21. from ver 10. to the ende of the Chapter Some I knowe read this title thus To the master of the harmony that is all one in sense with these wordes to him that excelleth A notable song of Dauid this answereth in sense to a Psalme of Dauid in michtam which worde is sometimes vsed for gold as though that for the excellency of it it shoulde bee as good as gold touching the soule that suffered violence the reason of this varietie is because the worde in his proper and naturall signification is sometimes vsed for a Doue sometimes vsed for a soule but the sense is all one and this agréeth with that concerning the dumbe Doue by a band of people that were farre of i. by a company or multitude of Philistines as appeareth by that which followeth in this title Ver. 1. For man i. great numbers of men as when we say man can do nothing against God no doubt he meaneth both Saul his complices together with the Philistines and other enemies of his would swallow vp he coÌpareth his enemies to a whirlepoole or rauenous beasts meaning that they had a mind vtterly to destroy him except God put to his hand for his deliuerance he fighteth continually vz. against me as ver 2. doing what he can to ouerthrow me work me mischief at the least which I suppose he meaneth by these words and vexeth me Ver. 2. Is very plaine and is the same almost with the first ver Ver. 3. When I was afraid i. when any thing fell out that might make me afraid I trusted in thée q.d. and so I will do stil because I neuer haue as yet beene frustrate of my hope Ver. 4. I wil reioyce in God vz. in the middest of al my troubles because of his word i. for the certainty and assurednes of his promise
haue laide snares in my way to trappe me as I go that I may thereby fall into their daunger and this latter I rather allowe of and my soule i. my life and body as sundry times before is pressed down vz. with their cruelty and mine owne misery the Prophet meaneth by this manner of speach the great daunger that hee was in They haue digged a pit before me i. they haue craftely deuised wayes and meanes to intrappe mee and that in the way as I should walke for I thinke that by laying of nets digging of pits the Prophet meaneth to note their subtilty and are falleÌ into the middest of it i. the mischiefe and hurt which they had prepared against mee is light vpon their owne heads sée Psal 7.15.16 Ver. 7. My heart is prepared O God my heart is prepared by doubling the speach the Prophet noteth not onely how ready he was but also howe resolute a purpose he carried with him to praise God and when he speaketh of the heart hee setteth it against hypocrites who haue nothing in their hart but all in their mouthes sée ver 1. of this Psalme I will sing vz. thy prayses and by singing he meaneth that he would publish them aloud with his tongue as well as haue them in his heart and giue prayse vz. to thee that art worthy all praise Verse 8. Awake my tongue hee stirreth vp the partes and members of his body to a certain liuelines and praysing the Lord sée Psalm 16.9 Awake viall and harp the better to inforce himself to this great duety he addeth certaine musicall instruments sée Psal 32.2 also Psal 43.4 I will awake earely vz. in the morning q. d. I will not be sluggish to praise GOD yea I will breake my sleepe rather then fayle that duety Ver. 9. The Prophet meaneth that hee will spreade abroade the prayses of God in all places and to all persons among whomsoeuer hee shall come and no doubt but in spirite hee did foresée the vocation of the gentiles who were to bee called to the knowledge of God Ver. 10. For thy mercy is great vnto the heauens and thy trueth vnto the cloudes i. thy goodnes and faithfulnes fulfil the whole worlde so that all people in euery place vnder heauen knowe thee to be mercifull and true in thy promises Ver. 11. Is the same with ver 5. both in wordes and meaning in which the Prophet beséecheth the Lord to declare his power not onely in the country of Iudea but also to exercise his iudgement throughout the whole world in succouring the innocent and in punishing the wicked Ver. 1. Teacheth vs in all our prayers to cleaue to Gods mercy Do. and not to our merits it instructeth vs also in our distresses and at all other times to hang vpon his great power and wonderful prouidence Ver. 2. Gods power Gods promise are two very good grounds of our prayers Ver. 3. Teacheth vs to bee assured to obtaine those things that wee shall aske according to his will Ver. 4. Setteth out the cruelty outrage and wonderful bitternes both of word and heart that the wicked haue Ver. 5. Teacheth vs to pray for the manifestation of Gods iustice and glory Ver. 6. Describeth the mischieuous subtilty of the wicked against the vngodly into which notwithstanding through Gods iust iudgement they themselues do fal Ver. 7. Teacheth to bee ready and willing to praise God Ver. 8. Teacheth vs to inforce al the parts and members of our body thereto and to vse al holy meanes either inwarde or outward wherby we may be prouoked to the performance of that duty Ver. 9. Teacheth vs neuer to be ashamed to do it in euery place and before all persons that other men may be drawne by our examples to do the like Ver. 10. Declareth for what causes wee shoulde praise God vz. for his mercy and for his faythfulnes Ver. 11. Is the same with verse 5. of this Psalme both in sense doctrine Psalme 58. THis Psalme may be diuided into two parts Di In the first hee declareth that the wicked are not onely frée from al goodnes but replenished on the other side with all maner of corruption and vngodlines and this reacheth from ver 1. to the ende of the fift In the second he maketh an earnest praier against the wicked shewing that in their ouerthrow the godly shall haue an occasion of mirth giuen them and other men shal be instructed in the iustice and righteousnes of God and this reacheth from ver 6. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title of this Psalme is expounded before Psal 57. Ver. 1. Is it true vz. that yee pretend and speake that yee speake iustly and deale vprightly q.d. no. For by such interrogations they doe certainely deny the thing O congregation hee speaketh no doubt of Sauls counsellers and courtiers against whom he inueigheth here speake ye iustly vz. concerning me my causes or do ye not rather for Sauls pleasure flatter him and flaunder me O sonnes of men sée this expounded before Psal 4.2 Iudge ye vprightly vz. of me and my matters q.d. no. The sense of this verse together is this much Hee directeth this speach to his enemies who were of Sauls court and counsell as if he should say thus I make you iudges whether vnder the shadowe of assembling your selues to consult for the common wealth and for a good iust matter you go not about to oppresse me that am innocent guiltlesse Ver. 2. Yea rather q.d. yee are so farre from that that yee execute the contrary in your heart i. secretly and priuily your handes execute cruelty the Prophet chargeth them with two thinges here first diuising of wickednes then practising and performing of the same by hand he meaneth not only the power they had to worke wickednes but that they theÌselues with their owne hands were the executioners of the cruelty they had deuised sée Micah 2.1 vppon the earth i. vpon the people inhabiting the earth meaning also by this manner of speach that their cruelty was manifest as being séene and felt of men Ver. 3. The wicked in this verse the other following he setteth out the cause why Sauls courtiers commit al these things first by reason of the natural corruptioÌ which is in them maketh them to goe astray from God secondly because they carry with theÌ a fetled purpose to al maner of euil and wil not be reclaimed from it by any meanes Are straungers vz. from God and godlines as with whom they haue no maner of acquaintance at al froÌ the wombe vz. of their mother euen from the belly vz. of their mother haue they erred to wit from the right way of holines goodnes q.d. it is not to bee marueiled at that they are so wicked for it is no new thing because they haue had it eueÌ from their birth Ver. 4. Their poison i. the malice of their harts and the mischieuous wordes that they vtter like the
thou diddest dearely loue to féele and sée things that might minister and haue ministred great sorrowe and heauinesse to them thou hast made vs to drinke the wine of giddinesse he speaketh of some venemous and infected drink which taketh from men their sence and vnderstanding and as a man would say bewitcheth people and maketh them drunke q.d. Thou hast made vs dull and blockish in our euils euen as drunkards are or people that are inchaunted Not that God was eyther the author of euil or did theÌ any iniury but that he had iust cause thus to plague theÌ and giue them ouer for their sinnes Verse 4. But now thou hast giuen a banner i. a playne signe of thy fauour and of good hope to vs ward giuing vs by the chaunge that is fallen out matter and occasion of courage and reioysing in hope that the dispersed shall be gathered together and thinges broughte into good order he meaneth that God by the light of his promises and by his ayde and namely by the new victory he had giuen them whereof mention is made in this Psalme would take into his guiding againe the people whome he had séemed before to forsake and go before them now as it were with a banner displayde sée Psalme 20.5 because of thy truth because of thy most true and assured promises that thou hast made to them in that behalfe Verse 5. That thy beloued i. those whome thou cariest a singuler fauour to may be deliuered i. set from daunger and distresse helpe with thy right hand i. with thy woÌderfull might and power as sundry times before and heare me i. graunte my request and prayer Verse 6. God hath spoken vz. by his seruaunt and Prophet Samuel in his holinesse some reade it by his holinesse if we reade in his holinesse then he meaneth thereby Gods sanctuary and Arke whiche is called his holinesse because he that is holinesse it selfe did dwell and appeare there If we reade by his holinesse it is as much as if he should saye hee hath called his holinesse to witnesse and pawned it as a man would saye for the certainty and assuraunce of that which was promised him I will reioice i. comforte my selfe in this as good cause I haue indéede so to doe I shall deuide Shechem and measure the valley of Succoth Shechem was the name of a place on this side the Riuer Iordan as the valley of Succoth was on the other side this riuer He nameth some parts of the land putting them for the whole kingdome in the full possession thereof though he were not by reason of the diuision betwéen him and Saules house yet he assured himselfe vpon the promise of God that hee should inioy the same in good tyme and by deuiding and measuring he meaneth nothing but that they should come vnder his subiection as the other parte of that land was alluding to the manner of diuiding and measuring out lands by cordes the owners thereof being the principall dealers most commonlye in that matter and it is as much as he should say I will not looke to haue my share measured out by others but I will diuide it and measure my selfe and will be the right owner and possesser thereof Verse 7. Giliad shall be mine and Manasseth shall be mine these are other partes of the kingdome whiche Dauid assureth himselfe shall come into his possession Ephraim also i. that whole tribe and people shal be the strength of mine head i. the stay and power of my kingdome because that this tribe was very mightye and well peopled in so muche that the very name of it in the Prophets is put for the whole kingdome of Israell Iudah is my lawgiuer i. that Tribe obtayneth the righte of gouernment and kingly authority amongest the people of GOD. Sée for the better vnderstanding of these two last spéeches Deutronom 33.17 Genesis 49.10 Verse 8. Moah i. the Moabites and nowe he speaketh of forrayne people shal be my Washpot i. so base and contemptible in my sighte that I will fréelye breake them as a potshearde and if I shall reserue anye of them I will put them to filthye seruices as 2. Samuell 8.2 ouer Edom i. the Edomites will I cast out my shoe i. I will boldlye treade them downe as altogether in subiection to me for I will bring them altogether vnder mine obedience and that with as much ease in a manner as casting my Shoe ouer them Palestina i. O ye Philistines shewe thy selfe ioyfull for me q.d. at the least make outwarde shewe though thou haue nothing inwarde that yée are gladde that I shall raigne ouer you Verse 9. Who will leade mee i. me and mine that are with me q.d. none canne doe this but God alone into the strong Citie vz. of myne aduersaries and here he putteth one for many Verse 10. Whiche haddest cast vs of vz. for a tyme and diddest not goe forth vz. to Warre ayding and strengthening the hands and hartes of ours in the daye of Battaile Verse 11. Vayne is the helpe of man vz as it commeth from man Verse 12. Through GOD i. through the assuraunce we haue of his succour and ayde and by the strength that hee shall giue vs we shall doe valiauntly vz. agaynst his and our enimies for he vz. eyther by himselfe extraordinarilye or by our ministerie as by a meane but whatsoeuer it is he ascribeth all to God shall tread downe our enimies vz. vnder his féete and vnder our féete so that they shall not bee able to rise vp agayne Do. Verse 1.2.3 Teach that God doth sundry times and in sundry sorts afflicte his people and that very sore Verse 4 teacheth that yet he doth neuer vtterlye take away his louing kindnesse and mercy from them but that at the length he giueth them assured testimonies and signes of his fauour Verse 5. Teacheth that Gods power is all in all for the sauegarde and deliueraunce of his Seruaunts Verse 6.7 Teacheth Princes that it is GOD alone that tyeth the hartes of their owne people in holy affection fast vnto them Verse 8. sheweth that it is God onely that must subdue all enemyes both forrayne and at home Verse 9. Teacheth that strong cities and peoples are nothing when God will haue them subdued and sacked Verse 10. deliuereth the same doctrines that Verse 1.2.3 and 4. of this Psalme Verse 11. Teacheth two thinges firste earnestly to pray to God in all our troubles and secondly neuer to make accounte of man otherwise then of man that is as of a vayne thing without God Verse 12. Teacheth that God is our only strength and that whatsoeuer victorye wee get we must ascribe it to him alone Psalme 61. THis Psalme hath thrée partes Di. In the firste the Prophet prayeth vnto the Lord to graunt him his request and to set him frée from the force of his Aduersaries and this is comprehended in the two firste verses In the seconde the Prophet strengtheneth his owne fayth by the particular
experience he had had in times past of Gods goodnesse towardes him and this is in verse 3.4.5 In the thirde hee prophecieth of the continuance of his kingdome and promiseth thankfulnesse vnto God for the same and this is in verse 6.7.8 The Title of this Psalme is expounded before Psalme 4. Verse 1. Se. Heare my crie i. graunt my earnest request and the same is meant by giue eare vnto my prayer not that Dauid doubted whether God heard or no but that he would fayne with some spéede haue had his sute yéelded vnto Verse 2. From the ends of the earth it should rather be from the ends of the lande vz. of Israell for Dauid flying fore feare of his sonne Abshalon vpon which occasion I suppose this Psalme was made passed ouer Iordan to Mahanaim whether also Abshalon followed him Samuel 17.24 will I crye vnto thée i. Pray earnestlye and feruently when my hart is oppressed vz. with sorrow and gréefe to sée my sonne rise vp agaynst me and my people also to followe him bring mée vnto the Rocke i. set me vpon a verye high and safe place from whence I may behold my enimies and be safe from their force that is higher then I i. that is more sure and safe then I and all the forces I haue or am able to make Ver. 3. For thou hast bin mine hope i. he alone in whom I haue hoped and trusted and a strong towre i. a most sure defence kéeping me always safe sound from the force of mine enemies for though he speak but in the singular nuÌber of one yet no doubt he meaneth the rest and this verse containeth a reason of his prayer taken from former experience Verse 4. I shall dwell in thy tabernacle tabernacle is not put here for the Arke but it is put for a tent or pauilion being a metaphor taken from warfare where those that are in the kings tente dwell as it were in a very safe place because the king and those that are with him be alwayes the safeliest prouided for To dwell then in Gods Tabernacle is to haue abiding in such a place as where nothing can hurte him and this sence may appeare to be right by the other member of this verse for euer i. al the dayes of my life vpon the earth and euer after when I shal be receiued to thée and my trust shall be vnder the shadow of thy winges q.d. This shall bee my trust that lying vnder thy protection I shall be safe sée Psalme 17.8 Ver. 5. Hast heard my desires i. graunted the thinges I prayde for thou haste giuen an heritage both in this life vz. the lawfull inioying of earthly things which doe indéede appertain to the only seruaunts of God and also in the life to come prepared for those that feare his name i. that of a certayne childlike reuerence that they haue of his Maiestie in their harts yéeld vnto him that seruice in this life that he requireth of them Verse 6. Thou shalt giue the King i. me that am the King speaking of himselfe in the third person a long life his yeares shall be as many ages vz of men and their posterity layde together he meaneth nothing else but that he should liue and raigne long This was fulfilled certaynly in Dauid who raigned King forty yeares but specially it is accomplished in Christ whose Kingdome indureth for euer Verse 7. He Marke how he speaketh still of himselfe in the thirde person shall dwell before God i. shall haue God alwayes gracious and fauourable vnto him by reason of his fatherly prouidence and care that he hath ouer his For to dwell before God is not only to liue in his preseÌce for the wicked are neuer remoued from that but to fynde him gracious louing as those whom the Prince continually vouchsafeth his sight for euer i. a long time if you referre it to Dauid but perpetually if you referre it to Christ prepare vz. for the King mercy and faithfulnesse i. by mercy he meaneth compassions that Magistrates vse as when in pronouncing sentence agaynst any they shew that they do it with a tender hart and by faythfulnesse he meaneth truth equity and vpright dealing rendring to euery man according to his cause that they may preserue him vz. in his kingdome and make his raigne and gouernment sure Sée Prouerbs 20.28 also Prouerb 29.14 Verse 8. So will I alwayes sing prayse vnto thy name i. continually prayse thy maiestie for inabling me to execute my office in performing dayly my vowes q.d. by this meanes shall my prayse and thanksgiuing appeare in that I will performe as signes of my thankfulnesse and obedience the vowes that I haue made vnto thée Do. Verse 1. Teacheth vs so to be earnest in prayer with our God not that he hath néede thereof but for our owne cause because it is a good meanes to cause vs to spéede Verse 2. Teacheth that prayer is not tied to any place as to think that for the places sake our prayers should be the better it teacheth also that in the heauinesse of our hart we should then specially praye as also Iames 5.13 Verse 3. Teacheth that nothing can more forciblye cause vs to hope in God then the vnfayned remembraunce of the ayde that we haue receiued from him Verse 4. Teacheth that God alone must be our refuge and protection Verse 5. Sheweth that God graciously graunteth the holy prayers of his Seruaunts and neuer destituteth those eyther of bodily or spirituall blessings that call vpon him Verse 6. Long life to all and namely the long raignes of Kinges and Princes is a speciall gift of God Verse 7. Teacheth that Magistrates knowe not how to rule vnlesse the Lorde apt them for it it teacheth also that tender hartednesse and vpright execution of iustice be the proppes and stayes of kingdomes and countries Verse 8. Teacheth Gods children thankfulnesse yea continuall thankfulnesse and the manifesting of that thankfulnesse by the exercises of Gods holy religion and the fruits of obedience Psalme 62. THis Psalme though somewhat shorte Di. hath yet foure speciall parts In the first is comprehended his entraunce or Exordium wherein the Prophet sheweth that he hangeth only on God and this is in the two first verses In the second he reproueth his enemies for their mischieuous imaginations lyings flatteries c. shewing what iudgement shall fall vpon them therefore Verse 3.4 In the third part he propoundeth the doctrine of confidence in God exhorting the faithfull to hang vpon him because man is but vaine and dehorting the wicked from their sinne and this reacheth from verse 5. to the end of the 10. In the fourth he confirmeth his doctrine shewing that God hath iudgement in the one hand and mercy in the other to render to euery one according to their déeds and this is in the two last verses The title of this Psalm is expounded before Psal 39.1 Ver. 1. Se. yet my soule q.d. notwithstanding al the afflictions
delighted in sinne and vniust dealing and solde themselues as it were for fauor or flattery both to work wickednesse and that with gréedinesse Verse 3. Which haue whet their tongue like a sword i. they haue sharpened it prepared it to cut pierse déepely shoote forth their arrowes bitter wordes he coÌpareth their corrupt dealing agaynst him by wordes to arrowes shot out of a bow which wil gal wound this is an allegorical amplification wherin the Prophet compareth their false slaunders with warlike weapons sée Psalme 5.9 Psal 11.2 Psal 57.4 Ver. 4. At the vpright i. me and here hee speaketh of him self in the third person and he giueth himselfe this name not as hauing regard to God but as it were comparing himselfe with his enemies agaynst whom he had neuer done any thing blameworthy in secret i. closelye and priuilye he meaneth it no doubt of the secret accusations they broughte to Saule agaynste him they shoote at him sodaynlye i. when hee thinketh not of it and feare not vz. Gods maiestie or the afterclaps that may insue vpon that mischiefe q.d. They are not with-helde with any reuerence or feare of God or with any humanity or curtesie of man Verse 5. They incourage themselues in an euill purpose vz. to go forward in the performance therof of that wickednesse they haue deuised against me they come together vz. closely and secretly among themselues to lay snares priuily vz. to intangle and intrappe me who shall sée them q.d. They suppose that GOD perceiueth neither them neyther the snares that they haue layde against mee for I referre the word them both to the persons and to the thinges Verse 6. They haue sought out vz. very diligently iniquities i. mischiefes and vniust dealing against me and haue accomplished that which they sought out vz. as they themselues suppose so blinded are men in sinne that they thinke a thing to be done when it is neyther so nor so or else it may be vnderstood thus that they thought themselues so sure of it as that it were impossible they shoulde be deceyued and that made them to make so full account of it as though they had done it already euen euery one his secret thoughtes and the depth of his hart i. whatsoeuer they or any of them had secretlye deuised and that in the depth of their own hartes they thought it was done in the same sence as before but they were fouly deceiued Verse 7. But God will shoote an arrowe at them sodaynly i. God by his iudgements will quickly dispatch them for all the sure account they make of the performaunce of their mischiefe their strokes i. the blowes meaning the plagues that God will lay vpon them shall bee at once q.d. God will not be long in dispatching of them but will make a spéedye riddaunce Verse 8. They shal cause vz. by their wickednesse and vngodlinesse their owne tongue i. those things which their own tongue hath spoken against others to fal vpon them vz. from God and whosoeuer shall sée them vz. when Gods hand and iudgement is vpon them shall flée away i. shall make haste from them vz. seing euident markes and tokens of Gods iudgements against them and vpon them for feare least they should be partakers of their punishments and this he speaketh specially of the wicked as may appear by that which followeth in the next two verses specially ver 10. Ver. 9. And all men shall sée it vz. Gods iudgements vpon them by which maner of spéech the prophet noteth that it shall be a visible and manifest iudgement and declare the worke of God vz. which he in his iust iudgement hath executed vppon the wicked they shal vnderstand what he hath wrought vz. agaynst them for their sinne Ver. 10. But the righteous i. I my selfe for he speaketh of himself in the third person as before ver 4. of this Psalme shall be glad in the Lord vz. because of that which he hath done for my cause and trust in him for euer after and all that are vpright of harte i. those that are voyde of hipocrisie and hang wholy vpon god shal reioyce vz. not only for the ayde that God hath giuen me but also because in me they may behold that God will ayde them q.d. The ouerthrow of mine enemies shal not only minister matter of ioy to me but to the rest of Gods children wheresoeuer Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs that when we are sore assaulted earnest prayer made to God is very necessary and profitable Ver. 2. Teacheth that vnlesse God do kéep vs we shal be made a pray to the wicked Ver. 3. describeth the wickeds prophaning and abusing of their tongue Ver. 4. Setteth out their close sodain practising of wickednes and that the fountaine of all is want of true feare Ver. 5. Sheweth that the wicked are bold in their mischiefs because they imagine that God regardeth not their doings Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that the wicked are caried away many times with an idle conceite of their owne thinking they haue dispatched al wheÌ it is neither so nor so Ver. 7. Sheweth that the wicked shal not escape vnpunished also that Gods iudgements shal bee swift and short vppon them yet mighty inough to ouerthrow them Ver. 8. Teacheth that the wicked many times are taken in the mischieuous words of their own mouth also that Gods iudgments vpon them shal cause others to flie from them Ver. 9. Teacheth that Gods punishments powred vpon the wicked is an effectual meane to make not onely the parties punished but others to sée their wickednes and his iustice Ver. 10. Teacheth that euen those iudgements prouoke the good on the other side to reioysing and thankfulnes Psalme 65 THis Psalme may be diuided into three parts Di. In the first is coÌprehended a thankesgiuing for the chusing preseruation gouernment and other graces of God towards the faithful from ver 1. to the end of the 4. In the second is conteined a notable description of the feareful power maiesty might of the Lord from ver 5. to the end of the 8. In the third is set out a most coÌfortable description of Gods generall graces towardes al but specially to his Church from ver 9. to the end of the Psalme For the title of this Psalme sée Psalme 48. and the title thereof Verse 1. Se. Praise waiteth for thée i. is not onely due vnto thée but is ready nowe to bee rendered to thee in Sion i. in the Church as Psal 51.18 He meaneth that God commonly giueth his people occasion to praise him in his Church whither meÌ assembled to praise him to thanke him to heare his word and to serue him according to the same for so much he vnderstandeth by the word prayse and vnto thée vz. alone shall the vowe be performed i. the sacrifice of thankesgiuing shal bee offered vnto thée which hee calleth a vowe because Gods people did commonly vowe such sacrifices vnto the Lord.
Ver. 3. Teacheth that there is no wisedom power nor policy against the Lord. Ver. 4. Setteth out the inlargment increase of Gods kingdome vpon earth Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that gods works would be diligently déeply considered otherwise they shall litle profite vs. Ver. 6. Teacheth that for the benefite of his children the Lord can and will inuert the nature of thinges Ver. 7. Teacheth first that Gods power ruleth ouer all secondly that nothing can be hid from his preseÌce thirdly that the wicked howe mighty so euer they be shal neuer preuaile against him Ver. 8. Deliuereth the same doctrines that ver 1.2 doe Ver. 9. Teacheth that in God we liue and moue and haue our being also that it is he alone that vpholdeth vs that we sinke not downe vnder the burthen of sinne and calamities Ver. 10.11.12 Teach that God sundry ways exerciseth the faith and proueth the patience of his children whereby also we learn that it is no new thing that the godly are afflicted Ver. 12. And these wordes but thou broughtest vs out into a wealthy place doeth teach that howe great and gréeuous soeuer the afflictions of Gods saints be yet in the end hee remembreth and deliuereth them with an euerlasting mercy Ver. 13. Teacheth vs to frequent the publike assemblies of the Church and to shewe our selues thankeful to God for his graces Ver. 14. Teacheth that affliction is the time that maketh vs to drawe nigh to God both in word and déede Ver. 15. Teacheth vs to yéeld vnto God such a seruice as he hath prescribed and not as we deuise Ver. 16. Teacheth vs reuerently and diligently to hearken vnto good thinges that others speake to vs also that we should declare to other the graces of God shewed to vs that therby their fayth might be increased Ver. 17. Teacheth that mother tongues and all the members that we haue shoulde bee earnestly occupied in hearty calling vppon God Ver. 18. Teacheth that when we come to pray to God wee must labour to cast away from vs our wickednes and corruption Ver. 19. Teacheth that god is nigh to the earnest supplications of his children Ver. 20. Teacheth vs to yéeld humble and hearty thanksgiuing to our God for al his mercies towards vs. Psalme 67. Di. THis short Psalme may be diuided into thrée partes In the two first verses is comprehended a prayer for that people whome God had prepared vnto himselfe and for the blessing of them with al maner of knowledge In the second part is comprehended an other prayer for the increase and inlarging of Gods kingdome throughout the earth and this reacheth from ver 3. to the end of the 5. In the third is declared what great benefites and blessings shall insue after that God shal haue thus multiplied his Church and this is in the two last verses Se. The first part of the title of this Psalme is expounded before Psalm 4. A Psalme or song sée Psalm 48. in the title Ver. 1. God be merciful to vs vz. who by the meanes of sundry our infirmities stand in néede of it and blesse vs vz. with all good things both bodily spiritual and cause his face i. his fauour to shine i. to appeare and bee felt among vs vz. though there bee no cause on our partes why he should so do The Church prayeth that God would shewe not onely lay aside that wrath which hee had exercised vppon it but also that hee would shewe himselfe gracious and fauourable putting into their hearts by the working of his holy spirite a true tast and féeling of his fatherly loue Verse 2. That they they change the person from the first to the thirde they meane that by Gods fauour practised towardes his Church the Church is more and more confirmed in the obedience of Gods trueth and not onely the Church it selfe but euen diuers that are without may knowe vz. by thy word and spirite thy way i. which thou thy selfe hast prescribed vnto them in thy lawe to walke in vppon earth i. so long as they liue here and thy sauing health i. that saluation and deliueraunce which thou bestowest and giuest to men among all nations vz. of the worlde in what quarter soeuer they dwel Verse 3. Let the people vz. of the earth meaning chiefely the Gentiles let all the people vz. if thou sée it so good or else hee putteth all for an infinit number which I take to bee the more simple sense Verse 4. Bee glad and reioyce q.d. they haue no cause of sorrowe that thou gouernest but rather of vnspeakable ioy for thou shalt iudge the people righteously i. with great equitie and vprightnes shalt thou rule and beare sway after the manner of Iudges Kinges for wee knowe that the people of the Iewes were a long time ruled by Iudges and Kinges to which here hee alludeth and gouerne the nations or else as some read which also I like better lead them out vz. as sheepeheards doeth their flockes noting thereby Gods tender care towardes his Church and all that is here spoken of Gods gouernement must be vnderstood of the spirituall iurisdiction which hee exerciseth in his Church by the scepter of his word and discipline to bring all peoples in obedience to him Ver. 5. Is the same in wordes and sense with ver 3. Ver. 6. Then shall the earth vz. which was cursed for mans sinne and striken with barrennes bring forth her increase i. all manner of fruite and that in abundance through Gods especiall blessing and God euen our God i. the onely true God shall blesse vz. with all good thinges both bodily and spirituall as ver 1. of this Psalm Ver. 7. All the endes of the earth i. people out of al parts and quarters of the world hee putteth the places inhabited for the people inhabiting them this worde all for the great multitude that God will drawe to himselfe shal feare him i. imbrace his religion and seruice and that either soundly in déede or else in hypocrisie and flauish feare Verse 1. Gods mercy must bee fled to Do. as the onely fountaine of all goodnes to vs warde Verse 2. Teacheth vs to pray for increase of knowledge in Gods worde also that wee shoulde wish the same not to our selues only but to others also Verse 3. Teacheth vs to wish and pray for the inlarging of Gods kingdome and his prayses in the same Ver. 4. Teacheth vs that it ought to bee the greatest ioy that can come to vs in this life to bee vnder the gouernement of our God by his worde and discipline Ver. 5. Repeating the same both words and matter with ver 3. Teacheth the earnestnes of the Church in prayer and continuall care for the conuersion of others Ver. 6. Teacheth that when God is fauourably reconciled to his people there can be no want of good things Ver. 7. Teacheth all to haue a care to imbrace Gods religion and to followe his worship Psalme 68 Di. THe Prophet in
vz. with thy gracious raigne or abundance thereof when it was weary i. faint and not able to yéelde fruite through drought or some other discommodious season Ver. 10. Thy congregation i. thy people of Israel which is called the Lordes congregation because hee had gathered it out of all the people of the world dwelled vz. long agoe and euen at that present when this Psalme was made therin i. in the land of Canaan hast of thy goodnes i. of thy méere mercy without any merite or desert at all on mens behalfe prepared it i. long agoe appointed it for the poore i. for thine owne people as ver 7. of this Psalme not onely to set out the great goodnes of God who despised them not for that but also because they came of poore auncestry and were in miserable case in Egipt and when they came out of it sée Deutron 26.5.6 Ver. 11. The Lorde gaue matter vz. not only of speach but also of praise and thankesgiuing to the women who were wont amongest Gods people to sing songes after a victory gotten against the enemies as Exodus 15.20 Iudg. 5.1 c. Iudg. 11.34 1. Sam. 18.16 to tell i. to speake largely and to set abroad of the great army vz. ouerthrowne and cast to the ground by Gods people and by one armie hee vnderstandeth many Ver. 12. Kinges of the armies i. Kinges furnished with mightie armies comming out against Gods people as Sihon king of the Amorits Og the king of Bashan c. did flée vz. away from the face and presence of Gods people they did flée i. they were in déede discomfited and not able to stand for the repetition of the worde maketh for the certaintie of the thing and she that remained in the house i. weake women who in deede shoulde bée housekéepers as appeareth 1. Timothie 5.13 Nowe he speaketh of one comprehending vnder her all the rest who this was can hardly bee determined but most likely it was to bee Iael of whom sée Iudges 5.24 deuided the spoyle i. either was an instrument that the spoyle was diuided amongest others by slaying Sisera or else hee meaneth that the bootie shoulde bee so great that euen the weake women which taried at home in their houses or tentes shoulde haue part thereof Verse 13. Though yee haue lyen among pots i. haue béene in very great misery and liued as it were in great deformity for lacke of trimming or looking too for this is a metaphor taken from slaues or skullions that followe campes who in the night season labour in some sort to keepe theÌselues from wind and weather as we say by sitting in chimney corners or lying on hearthes and therefore commonly are all ouer black Now this is vsuall in Scripture by blackenes to haue aduersitie and affliction signified yet shall ye bee vz. through the grace and fauour that I will shewe you as the winges of a Doue i. yée shall shine and haue a glorious colour and shalbée purged from all your blackenes for yée shalbée like to the wings of a Doue that is couered with siluer i. yée shalbée all white and cleane and glittering for so much hee meaneth by this similitude and that which foloweth in this ver and not that any Doues were couered ouer with siluer or had golden fethers but hee speaketh it thus q.d. if it were possible for a Doue either in winges or feathers to haue as goodly a shewe as golde or siluer yet assure your selfe of this that you shall come to as much cleannes Ver. 14. Scattered kinges i. confounded them causing them either to flee or killing them sée verse 1. of this Psalme in it i. in the lande of Canaan which hee gaue to his people it was white i. florishing and fresh by reason of the slaughter of the enemies and the great victory God had giuen that people against them as the snowe in Zalmon this was a mountaine on this side Iordan Iudg. 9.48 Which some affirme was wont to haue snowe continually lying vpon it whether it were so or no it is not much material I rather take it to be a part of the land of Canaan put for the whole meaning that after the ouerthrow of these kings the land was as glorious and glittering to behold to as any snowe could bee Ver. 15. The mountaine of God i. mount Sion which is called Gods mountaine because it pleased him that in that place his worshippe should be vsed is like the mountaine of Bashan i. most fruitfull and plentiful in all blessings as Bashan is but it excéedeth it in spiritual graces it is an high mountain as mount Bashan q.d. there is nothing commendable or praise worthie in Bashan but a maÌ may find as much and more also to coÌmend in mount Sion Ver. 16. Why leape ye i. why do ye reioyce for ioy lift vp your self in pride you high mountains vz. because of your height q.d. there is no cause why you should so do as for this mountaine vz. of Sion God delighteth to dwell in it vz. by his spiritual presence the exercises of his religion the Lord wil dwel in it for euer i. for a long season as sundry times before we haue had the word so vsed q.d. GOD hath not chosen you or any of you for al your height to that purpose and therfore good cause why you shoulde leaue of lifting vp your selfe in pride and no doubt but by Sion he signifieth the estate of the kingdome of the Messias and of his Church which is farre aboue all height in the world Ver. 17. The chariots of God i. the armies that God hath or his power putting the thinges wherein men were caried for the men themselues or else because in olde time they thought great strength to stand in chariots and horses hee vseth them for Gods might are twenty thousand thousand Angels i. infinite and innumerable Angels a certaine number for an vncertaine sée 2. King 6.17 and the Lorde is among them vz. to commaund order direct and guide them that all things may be rightly done as in the sanctuary of Sinai i. in as great glory as he appeareth in the holy place or mount of Sinai where the lawe was giuen The Prophet meaneth that the maiesty of God did shewe it selfe no lesse forth in the sanctuary at Sion then it did in the mountaine at Sion when the lawe was published Verse 18. Thou art gone vp on high the Prophet speaketh vnto God meaning that by the manifestatioÌ of his power he had obtained excellent honour thou hast led captiuitie captiue hee putteth captiuitie for persons in captiuitie as prisoners alluding to the custome of those dayes wherein the princes after victory obtained were wont to haue the prisoners takeÌ in warres lead before them in token of renowne and victory and marke in this verse that though in Dauids time warres were made vnder his conducting notwithstanding the prayse of the victory is wholy ascribed to God and receiued gifts
followeth in the Psalme Ver. 8. I am become a straunger vnto my brethren i. euen the dearest friendes I haue haue as it were thrust me out of their familiaritie friendship acquaintance and euen an aliant i. as one that were vtterly vnknowne vnto my mothers sonnes sée Psalme 50.20 he meaneth nothing else but that they who by nature were bound to loue him did most hate and despise him and therefore no maruaile though other did so so that he was as it were forsaken of all Verse 9. For the zeale of thine house i. the great and earnest affection that I haue to maintaine thy honour and glory and to vphold thy Church hath eaten me a notable metaphor by which the Prophet sheweth that care and affection to promote Gods glory and Church had euen as it were consumed him this is applyed to Christ Iohn 2.17 and the rebukes of them i. of the wicked that rebuked thée vz. vniustly and without cause whereby the Prophet noteth the vilenesse of the vngodly who spared not to lode the Lord with reproches are fallen vpon me i. haue wounded me euen as though they had bin directed against my selfe Verse 10. I wept vz. Seing all things so disordred and the name of God so reproched and my soule fasted by soule he meaneth either the body as psalme 16.10 or else the whole man putting a part for the whole fasting being an effectuall instrument to humble the same but that was to my reproofe q.d. mine enemies did so much more mock and despise me therefore Verse 11 I put on sacke also vz. in signe of mourning which was a common thing among the Iewes sée for this verse and the other that went next before Psalme 35.13 and I became a Prouerbe vnto them i. they made mee and my doings a by-word amongst them q.d. when they woulde note a contemptible person or thing then they would name me and my matters Verse 12. They that sate in the gate i. the Iudges Counsellors or magistrates whose order it was to sit there that the people might haue frée accesse vnto them sée Gen. 34.20 Prouerb 22.22 Spake of me vz. in mockery and scornefully and the drunkards sang of me by drunkards he meaneth those that haunted the places of drunkennesse as Tauernes Alehouses c. And by singing hee meaneth that they made songes and ieasts against him q.d. all persons both high and lowe contemne me and they vtter their reproches both publikelye and priuately Verse 13. In an acceptable time i. in such a time as it shall please thée to heare me for that time specially is acceptable euen in the multitude of thy mercy i. I come to make my prayer vnto thée trusting in that and not in any thing in my selfe sée Psalme 51.1 heare me i. graunt me my request as sundry times before in the truth i. according to truth the word in being put for according of thy saluation i. of that deliueraunce and succor that thou hast promised to send me and all those that trust in thee Verse 14. Deliuer me out of the myre i. out of the afflictions wherein I am that I sinke not vz. vnder the burden or in the myre of those troubles that I indure and not of the déepe waters sée verse 2. This verse and the next following is nothing but the same in sence with verse 1 of this Psalme Verse 15. The pit shut her mouth vpon me by pit he vnderstandeth the troubles and afflictions in which he was and by not shutting the mouth vpon him he meaneth that hee woulde not haue the multitude nor the weight of his afflictions to swallow him vp q.d. bring to passe that I perish not in this trouble and great crosse Verse 16. Heare me O Lord vz. in my prayers and graunt my requests for thy louing kindnesse is good d.q. I aske it for thy goodnesse sake only and hope to obteine because in goodnes thou deniest not thy children turne vnto me i. make it appeare by effect that thou hast heard my prayer in giuing me succour according to the multitude of thy tender mercies sée Psal 51.1 Verse 17. And hide not thy face i. thy fauoure and goodnesse make hast vz. to helpe me and heare me i. graunt me my requests and prayers Verse 18. Draw neare vnto my soule i. showe that thou hast care of me and my life and this he speaketh according to the féeling of the flesh for men thinke that God is farre from them when they perceiue not his succour and ayde and redéeme it vz. from the rage and violence of the enemies deliuer me vz. from daungers and distresses because of mine enemies i. not only because mine enemies doe assault me but also least they should reioyce in my ouerthrow or else that being set frée I may reioyce ouer them Verse 19. My reproofe my shame and my dishonour i. the reproofe shame and dishonor which I beare and suffer sée ver 5. of this Psalme he vseth 3. wordes signifying one thing therby to set out the greatnesse of his reproch are before thée i. naked and open in thy sight as al other things are sée Heb. 4.13 Ver. 20. Reproofe i. the slaunders and reproches of mine enemies hath brokeÌ my hart i. hath brought great gréefe vnto me and as it were wounded me at the hart and I am full of heauinesse vz. by reason thereof i. of their reproches backbitings but there was none vz. that woulde pittie me in my distresses and for comforters i. I looked also for some to comfort me but I found none at al Verse 21. For they i. mine enemies gaue me gall i. moste bitter thinges such as were rebukes taunts c. in my meate i. in stéede of my meate meaning by meate comfort and in my thirst i. in my great afflictions putting thirst or want of drinke which is one for many they gaue me viniger i. they added affliction to my affliction noting by this manner of spéeche their hard hartednesse and that they did vnto him the worst that possible they could and note that this which Dauid here speaketh of himselfe in fygure was playnelye and according to the letter accomplished in our Sauiour Christ as appeareth Matt. 27.48 Verse 22. Let their Table meaning them that had dealte so wickedly and ill with him By Table other Metaphors and similitudes which he vseth he meaneth al thinges that serue to this present life and the commodities thereof He meaneth that all the good and prosperity they haue shoulde bee turned to euill and to torment vnto them and this is the sence generallye but let vs looke vpon it somewhat more particularly By Table wee may vnderstande their daynties sette vppon the Table and by these wordes Bee a snare before them he meaneth not only in their sight but also to intangle and catche them q.d. Euen in the middest of their daynties let them perishe Nay let their very daynties be turned into destruction to them and their prosperity their
our selues and to hang wholy vpon God for deliueraunce Ver. 5. Sheweth that we néede not much to regard what men saye of vs so that wee haue a cleare conscience before the Lord. Verse 6. Teacheth vs two thinges first the care that we should haue to pray for other men that they fall not from God through our afflictions secondly that other mens troubles shoulde not cause vs to reuolt from the truth Verse 7. Teacheth that it is good to suffer for a good cause Verse 8. Sheweth that in afflictions both friends and kinsfolkes doe many times forsake those to whom they are bound Verse 9. Teacheth vs to be earnestly moued for God and his glory Verse 10. Sheweth the mischieuous nature of the wicked who misconster euery good thing that the godly doe Ver. 11. Teacheth vs not to leaue off mourning when mourning is required though the wicked deride vs for it Ver. 12. Teacheth vs that al for the moste part high and low good and bad are enemies to Gods children Verse 13 Teacheth vs first to come to God by prayer in the time of our néede secondlye to doe it hauing a trust in his abundance mercy and thirdlye to cleaue for the strengthening of our prayers to the truth of Gods promises Verse 14. teacheth vs to craue deliueraunce out of troubles at Gods handes who onely can and will performe the same for vs. Verse 15. Teacheth vs the more that afflictions are multiplyed the more earnestlye to call vppon GOD. Ver. 16. Our prayers must bee grounded vppon the wonderfull and vnspeakeable mercies of our God towardes vs. Verse 17. Teacheth vs that the féeling of Gods fauour is no smal comfort in the time of our afflictions Verse 18. teacheth vs to praye for deliueraunce and that least the enemyes insulte ouer much Verse 19. Teacheth vs that it is no small comforte to vs that God knoweth vs and our afflictions and our aduersaries and their dealinges Ver. 20. Teacheth vs that it is no new thing that the godlye are many times destituted of those helpes which they made account of Verse 21. Teacheth vs that the wicked are voyde of bowels of compassion adding affliction to miserye Verse 22. Teacheth that the wicked thorowe Gods iust iudgementes maye many times bee snared in their pleasure and prosperitye Verse 23. Teacheth that GOD sundrye tymes in iustice depriueth them of all iudgement and taketh from them all strength and courage Verse 24. Sheweth that the wicked are not able to escape Gods wrath and displeasure Verse 27. That GOD also sometimes leaueth them childlesse Verse 26. Setteth out the hard hartednesse of the vngodlye who neuer pitie any though in neuer so greate miserie Verse 27. Teacheth that Gods iudgementes manye tymes doe ouertake the wicked in their transgressions Verse 28. Sheweth that Hipocrites are not within the compasse of Gods election howsoeuer they bee admitted to the societye of the Churche Verse 29. Teacheth that GOD is all in all for his to deliuer them from distresse Verse 30. Teacheth vs to prayse and thanke GOD for his benefites bestowed vppon vs. Verse 31. Teacheth vs that spirituall seruice is more acceptable to GOD then all outwarde Sacrifices whatsoeuer Verse 32. Teacheth vs that greate pleasure shall come vnto Gods Children by consideration of the blessinges that hee bestoweth vppon some of them Verse 33. Teacheth vs the wonderfull prouidence and care that God hath ouer those that suffer any thing for his cause Verse 34. Sheweth that if dumbe Creatures must prayse the Lord much more the reasonable are bounde to it and amongest them those that he accounteth as his Sonnes and Seruauntes Verse 35. Teacheth not onelye Gods care and loue for his Churche but that in the middest of all miseries hee will haue a people that shall continuallye call vpon him in spirite and truth Verse 36. Sheweth that incorporation into the Churche appertaineth vnto the faythfull and their posteritye after them Psalme 70 Di THis Psalme séemeth to be the same both in wordes and matter almost with the last part of Psalme 40. from verse 13. to the ende of the Psalme whether it shall be good to looke backe agayne for the more playne sence and vnderstanding thereof and yet notwithstanding something shall be sayd here First the Psalme it selfe may fitly be deuided into two parts vz. first that the Prophet maketh prayer for himselfe that he may spéedily be deliuered out of his daungers and this is comprehended in the first and last verses of this Psalme Secondly he prayeth for the ouerthrow of the wicked and for the prosperity of those that loue the Lorde and this is comprehended in verse 2.3.4 Se. The title is expounded before Psalme 4. and psalme 38. in the titles therof Verse 1. To deliuer me vz. from the daungers and enemies whiche doe as it were ouerwhelme mee make haste to helpe mee vz. oute of this distresse wherein I am Verse 2. Let them be confounded vz. among themselues and in their owne vnderstandinges and put to shame vz. euen in the sighte and presence of men before whome they thinke to attayne great glorye in banding themselues agaynst mee that séeke my soule i. my life vz. to destroye it and take it awaye let them be turned backwarde vz. as men discomfyted in warre that flée before their enemies and put to rebuke vz. openly and before others that desire myne hurt vz. eyther secretlye within them or openly by wordes and wishing Verse 3. For a rewarde of their shame i. as a iust recompeÌce of that shame and ignominie which they thought to bring vppon me whiche sayde vz. when I was in trouble Aha aha i. did outwardlye by wordes and countenaunce testifye the great ioy they had conceaued for mine affliction Verse 4. But let all those that séeke thee i. call vppon thée in their afflictions and that according to the rule of thy will sette foorth in thy worde bée ioyfull and glad in thée i. for thée thy power and great workes that thou performest on their behalfe that loue thy saluation i. like of allow and wishe for the great deliueraunces that thou bestowest vpon thy people Verse 5. Now I am poore and néedâ i. I am destitute of aide help and succour make hast to me i. to deliuer or help me as verse 1. of this psalm thou art mine helper vz. in time of daunger and distresse and that word thou importeth as much as if he shoulde saye thou alone and my deliuerer vz. oute of affliction and trouble make no tarrying i. delaye not or put not off to helpe me Do Verse 1. Teacheth vs that in extremity of daunger prayer to God is a notable refuge Ver. 2. Teacheth vs first that we may sometimes pray agaynste the vngodly secondly is pointeth out the mischieuous minds and nature of the wicked thirdly it teacheth vs not so much as to wish euill muche lesse to doe euill to Gods children Verse 3. Sheweth that God can and will sometimes in his iudgement bring
in their heades they haue more vz. of worldly prosperitie and wealth then heart can with i. theââ 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 Metâââmia 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 âse 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
which thou O God hast appointed me for the obteining of the ful gouernment for that time only is conuenient which God hath set Immanuel readeth this part of the text better thus when I shal receiue the couenant i. when I shal be admitted king ouer all Israel according to the couenants that the Israelites consented vnto Abners Counsell sée for this purpose 2. Sam. 3.17 2 Sam. 5.1.2.3 c. also 1. Chronic. 11.3 1. Chronic. 12.23 to the ende of the Chapter I will iudge vz. the people and their causes righteously i. with vpright iudgment this saying he wil do meaneth not that he had not done it before but that then though his charge should be the greater yet hee woulde not be discouraged but rather incouraged therby to the faithful executioÌ of his office and though thinges had passed vnder Sauls gouernement very corruptlye yet hee woulde deale vprightly Verse 3. The earth i. the land and kingdome and the state both of the Church and common wealth as you would say and al in the inhabitants thereof i. all the people are dissolued vz. from their strength glory and fruitfulnes and that by ciuil warres slaughters and dissentions betwéene the house of Saul and Dauid But I will establish the pillers of it I will labour through Gods assistance to repayre the ruine and decaies thereof the Prophet vseth in this verse two excellent metaphors the one to set out the ruine of the state conteyned in this worde dissolued as though it had beene like water powred vpon the ground or like a house out of frame or a body out of ioynt in euery particular member The other to expresse the restoring thereof when hee sayth hee will set vp the pillars of it meaning that hée will looke that the kingdome shall haue a good foundation and sure proppes which are specially two godlines and righteousnesse Verse 4. I sayde vnto the foolish i. vnto the wicked men the Prophet sheweth what good counsel hée gaue them bée not so foolish i. bée not so wicked as to resist God and set your selues against him lift not vppe the horne i. bée not proude and fearce it is a metaphor taken from wanton lusty and butting beastes vnderstanding by horne strength and power q.d. lift not vp your selues in your power for you can not preuaile Verse 5. Lift not vp your horne on high this is the same metaphor that weÌt before ver 4. Immanuel readeth it thus lift not vp your horne against the high GOD q.d. GOD is the author of my kingdome as appeareth 2. Samuel 3.18 so that you can not set your selues against mee but you striue against him and this I take to bée the better sense neither speake vz. against mee and of your selues with a stiffe necke i. loftily and proudly as though you woulde wrastle and striue against Gods will and it is a metaphor taken from stubburne cattle that refuse to beare and drawe in the yoke Verse 6. For to come to preferment i. to bee exalted aboue other men and to obteine the gouernement of a kingdome is neither from the East to the West nor from the South i. it commeth not from this place or that quarter of the worlde out of the earth as other naturall thinges doe but onely from God who as he sheweth in the next verse onely beareth sway in it That worde that wee reade South in the Hebrew text is Wildernesse and therfore Immanuel turneth it nor from the Wildernesse that is from the North or from the South for Judea was on both these quarters compassed in with a wildernesse whatsoeuer it bee the sence is all one and this is nothing but a reason of his former spéech Verse 7. But God is the Iudge q d. it is he alone that rightly determineth these causes he maketh low and he maketh hye sée Psalme 113.7.8 also 1. Sam. 2.7.8 Verse 8. For in the hand of the Lord i. in his might and power as we haue had the word sundry times vsed is a cuppe i. iudgment and vengeance and by saying it is in his hand he noteth also the readinesse and preparation thereof and the wine vz. in the cuppe is red i. strong and pearsing and that sodainlye to the brayne The redder the Wines are in these easterne partes the more pearsing they are both in respect of their own nature and in respecte of the heate of the countrie Sée Prouerbs 23.31.32 Immanuel readeth for red troubled but me thinketh that is the better and is full mixed i. full of mixture he séemeth to allude to those that mingle spices with their wines to make them more hote and pearsing noting by this spéech the greatnesse of Gods vengeance againste the wicked and he i. God poureth out vz. in great abundaunce and plentye of the same vz. Wine that is iudgement and vengeaunce vppon the wicked surely this word serueth to note the certaintie of Gods plagues all the wicked of the earth i. all they that on the earth continue in their sinnes and sette themselues in it shall wring out and drinke the dregges thereof this parte would be better translated thus shall drinke the dregges thereof i. shall haue it euen euery droppe poured vpon their heads in despite of their téeth vnderstanding thereby the great vengeaunce that God will take vpon the wicked which vz. dregges they haue wrung out vz. agaynst themselues and that by their notoriousnesse and setlednesse in sinne Sée Isaiah 51.17 and Iere. 25.15.16 c. Verse 9. But I will declare vz. Gods wonderfull workes and excellent prayses as it followeth in the end of this verse the God of Iaakob i. the God of Israel or of the Israelites putting the name of the Father from whome they came for all his posterity vsing it also as a difference betwéene him and all the false Gods because he whom that people worshipped was the onely true God sée 1. King 18.31 Verse 10. All the hornes i. all the forces might and power of the wicked yea their very pride as verse 4.5 of this Psalme will I breake vz. to péeces and poulder so that they shall haue no hope to hurte the godlye but the hornes of the righteous i. the strength and power of good men shall bée exalted i. lifted vp and as it were daylye more and more extolled by mee And all this Dauid speaketh in his owne person shewing what hée will doe when God shall haue once aduaunced him to the quiet gouernment of the kingdome Verse 1. Do. Teach the faythfull to be thankfull to God for his mercye goodnesse Ver. 2. Teacheth Gods people to purpose good thinges with themselues and to labour to performe the same Verse 3. Teacheth that no disorder or confusion should hinder vs from doing of that which God requireth of vs. Ver. 4.5 Teach vs to admonish reproue the wicked in and for their wickednesse Ver. 6. sheweth vs that Fortune as men call it is a wicked dotage of their own yea that all that man
the first that is roote taking their florishing and prospering in that lande and it filled the lande i. it increased and grewe mightely in number greatnes and glory Verse 10. The mountaines were couered with the shadowe of it among many senses I take this to bée the simplest that the people of Israel was so mightily multiplied and increased throughout the lande of Canaan that not onely the valleis which are for the most part fruitfull but the mountaines which are commonly barren were well inhabited and peopled Sée Matth. 3.1 Luke 1.39 and the boughes thereof i. the yong people that came of that roote or stocke were like the goodly Cedars i. beautifull to beholde as tall straight strong c. Ver. 11. She stretched out her braunches i. she replenished the land with inhabitants vnto the Sea vz. Mediterranium and her boughes vnto the riuer vz. of Euphrates he doeth describe the bredth of the land of Canaan and howe farre Gods people had extended their gouernement sée Psal 72. verse 8. and they recken vp Gods benefites towardes them in times past that they might presently the more easily obteine his fauor and goodnes Verse 12. Why hast thou then broken downe her hedges i. why hast thou destitute her of succour and ayde and why doest thou no more take her into thy sauegarde and protection but hast withdrawne thy power and strength with which shée was compassed as hée threatned Deutronom 31.17 also Isaiah 5.5 so that all they which passe by the way haue plucked her i. spoyled and destroyed her hee meaneth by this manner of speach the gap as it were that GOD made and gaue to the enemies to afflict his people by Verse 13. The wilde Bore i. the most vncleane and rauenous Gentiles the worde wilde out of the wood noting their rauening and the worde Bore noting their vncleannes for the Iewes might not eate swines flesh because it was accounted vncleane by the lawe Leuittic 11.7 hath destroyed it i. hath vtterly rooted it vppe by the rootes as though it woulde finde some thing hidden vnder it for the worde that he vseth here is a compounde worde and signifieth to digge vp some thing that is hidden as Treasure or such like and the wilde beastes of the fieldes haue eaten it vppe i. it was giuen for a pray to all sortes of beastes both of the forrestes and of the fieldes hee meaneth that their neighbours nigh about them and others farre off them did grieuously afflict the people of Jsrael which enemies of theirs hee compareth to wilde beastes by reason of their cruelty Verse 14. Returne we beseéch thée vz. to thy former loue and grace q.d. set aside thy wrath and be mercifull vnto vs as thou hast béene heretofore O GOD of hostes this properly respecteth his power whereby wée sée that they made his might one grounde of their prayers looke downe vz. vppon this vine from heauen q.d. though thou dwell on high yet looke vppon vs belowe in fauour and mercy and beholde and visite this vine i. not onely remember it but perfourme deliueraunce vnto it as thou hast promised sée the worde visiting so vsed Gene. 21. verse 1. Verse 15. And the vineyarde i. the whole body of the people putting the thing conteyning for the thing conteined that thy right hande hath planted i. which thy mighty power hath not onely brought out of Egipt but setled fast in this lande and the young vine so hee calleth the people either because they were small and fewe at the beginning or else because that in the time of these troubles they were become as it were but a handfull which thou madest strong for thy selfe i. to which thou gauest great strength that in it thou and thy glory might appeare Verse 16. It is burnt with fire and cut downe i. it is destroyed by fire and swoorde noting by these two termes of fire and cutting downe all the wayes and meanes that the wicked vsed to destroy the children of GOD with all and they perish i. all thy people of Israel and Iudah at the rebuke of thy countenance i. when thou shewest by thy countenaunce that thou doest rebuke them and art angry with them q.d. the force of the enemy néede not confound them for the very signe and token of thy displeasure doth consume them Ver. 17. Let thy hand i. thy power might grace and goodnes he vpon i. be present with in effect and féeling the man of thy right hande he putteth the worde man for men and people one for many and by man of right hande hee meaneth those that God did so tenderly loue and for their sakes hée continually manifested his mighty power in leading and gouerning them and vppon the sonne sonne is here put for sonnes or posterity as man for men before whom thou madest strong i. whom thou gauest might and power vnto not onely to defence themselues but to wounde their enemies for thine owne selfe i. for thine honour and glory that thou in them mightest bee glorified Verse 18. So will not wee q.d. if thou shew vs the fauour prayed for we wil continue alwaies in thy obedience This must be vnderstood not as though they conditioned with God but alledge their purposed obedience as a reason to moue the Lord to pity them go backe from thée vz. to false and strange worships deuised by men but will kéepe our selues fast to that seruice that thou hast prescribed by thy word reuiue thou vs i. take from vs the great heauines that hangeth vpon vs by reason of our sorrowes and afflictions and quicken vs and so we shal cal vpon thy name i. profes thy religion sincerely and pray vnto thée only Ver. 19. is the very same in words and sence with verse 3 and verse 7 of this Psalme Verse 1 teacheth vs to haue recourse in all our afflictions to God by prayer Do. and in the same to consider as good grounds of our supplications his mercye and his power Verse 2 teacheth that not onely the féeling but the manifesting of Gods strength and power is comfortable to his saints Ver. 3 teacheth that Gods fauour is the only cause of all goodnesse towards vs. Verse 4 declareth that it is no small affliction of conscience to Gods children to féele that their prayers are not forcible Verse 5 6 teach first that all the afflictions of Gods children come by his prouidence and appointment secondly that he bringeth them very lowe euen in this life to the end that they may haue their harts and soules the more lifted vp to him Verse 7 sheweth that we cannot know till the Lord turne vs and so is stong agaynst frée will Verse 8 setteth out Gods great and vnspeakeable loue towards his Church and his plaguing and punishing of the wicked for their sakes Verse 9 sheweth that the beginning increase and continuance of the Church and of euery particular member of it is from the Lord. Verse 10 11 doe vnder excellent Metaphors set out the
glorye and inlargement of the Church Verse 12. Sheweth that the enemies of the Church can doe nothing further then the Lord appointeth them Verse 13 doth paynt out the cruelty and rage of the enemies of the church Verse 14 teacheth vs to pray the Lord in mercy to beholde the poore and afflicted state of his Churche Verse 15 teacheth vs that the taste and tryall of GOD his power before shoulde strengthen our hope for the feeling of the same in tyme to come Verse 16 describeth the wonderfull Maiestie of GOD and the greatnesse of his power which is so mightye that euen the verye manifesting thereof though it bée not executed is sufficiente to consume all Verse 17. teacheth vs to praye for the Church and the particular members of it also that we haue no strength of our selues but that then we are strong when the Lorde maketh vs strong and lastly that strength and whatsoeuer else wee haue is giuen vs that he only in the same might be glorified Verse 18 teacheth the faythfull to carry with them a full purpose to stick fast to the Lorde and to call vpon him Verse 19 deliuereth the same doctrine that verse 3 and 7. of this Psalme doe Psalme 81 THis Psalme being made as it shoulde séeme Di. after the time of the Iudges when either Samuel or Dauid restored Gods worship may be deuided into two principal parts In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faithful people to praise the Lord shewing theÌ that they haue good causes and reasons so to doe from verse 1. to the ende of the 7. In the second hée taketh vpon him the person of God instructing the people how to walke shewing withall their disobedience by whiche not onlye Gods loue was contemned but they themselues depriued of wonderfull benefites from verse 8 to the end of the Psalme Se. The Title of this Psalme is expounded in the Title of Psalme 8. and Psal 73. Verse 1. Sing ioyfully i. chearefully and with a good courage q.d. praise him by all the meanes ye can and in al places specially in the holy and publike assemblies and that for the benefites you haue receaued from him vnto God our strength i. vnto him who alone giueth vs strength to doe the things we doe sing lowde vz. that all may sée and heare as it were vnto the God of Iaakob i. vnto him that is a good and gracious God to al his faythfull people that come of Iaakob putting the name of the father both for himselfe all his posterity Ver. 2. Take vz. vnto you or into your mouthes the song vz. of praise and thanksgiuing q.d. sing prayses to God and bring forth vz. to be playde vpon the Timbrell the pleasant harpe with the violl vnder the lawe they vsed musicall instruments to expresse their ioy withall sée Iudges 11 34. some other places vnder this scholemastership it pleased the Lord to kéepe his people till Christes comming and by these thrée he meaneth all of the like q.d. With all Instruments of Musick expresse and set out the gladnes of your hart Verse 3. Blow the Trumpet in the newe Moone q.d. bée as earnest to serue GOD now as if it were at any time of our solemne Feastes Sée Leuitticus 25 15. Num. 10 10. and by one feast he vnderstandeth all and so must bee vnderstoode all that followeth in this verse Verse 4. For this vz. to sing reioyce and to vse musicall instruments is testimony of thankfulnesse as also the obseruation of feasts is a statute vz. that God himselfe hath appointed as appeareth Exodus 23 ver 14 15 c sée also Numb 28. and 29. chap. almost thorow out for Israell vz. to obserue and kéepe and a law of the God of Iaakob i. a law which he that is the God of Iaakob hath published Verse 5. He vz. God set this i. ordeined and appointed this kind of seruice worship as verse 4. of this Psalme in Ioseph i. amongst the Israelites putting Ioseph the father of Ephraim and Manasses two excellent Tribes for all the tribes and this he doth as I suppose for two causes not only because that Iosephs stock was counted the chéefe before that Iudah was preferred because hée was the means that al their fathers were maintained in Egipt in the time of the famine but also because they had the largest possessions in the whole land of Canaan as appeareth Iehosh chap. 16. and 17 for a testimony i. in stéede of a testimony witnes vnto them how he would be serued when he this worde he may be referred eyther to God or to the people but I rather refer it to God who is sayde to come out of the land of Egipt not only in the person of his people but also because he brought them thence in a mighty hande and outstretched arme manifesting in the same his mighty power where I hearde a language that I vnderstoode not i. in which place vz. of Egipt I was a straunger for this is a spéech vsuall ynough in the scriptures to note and signifye a stranger by and this sodaynly altering the person which also would be marked from the third to the first must be vnderstood of God not that god knewe not their tongues or vnderstood not their language for he knoweth all things but he sheweth to the end he might testifye his good will that his peoples wantes were as his owne and all this he doth to the end he might amplify the benefite of their deliueraunce which was so much the greater by how much it is verye gréeuous to remaine amongst those whose lips and language we vnderstande not Ver. 6. I vz. the Lord haue withdrawne his shoulder from the burthen i. from most hard bondage of which see Exodus 1 14. and chap. 6. ver 9. and he nameth the word shoulder because men commonly carry burdens vpon it and his hands haue left the pots i. the making of pots of earthlye claye and by making of pots which was one péece of their slauerye hee vnderstandeth all the rest as setting vp of buildinges making of Tyle or Bricke gathering of Strawe sée Exodus 5. verse 4 5 6 7 c. Sée also Exodus 1. verse 11 and 12. Verse 7. Thou calledst i. prayedst vz. vnto me in affliction i. in the time of thy trouble and oppression or when thou wast afflicted of others Sée Exodus 2 23. and I deliuered thée vz. out of that hard bondage wherein thou wast and marke howe hee speaketh of the people as of one person because they were all but one bodye and aunswered thée i. shewed the testimonies and signes of my fauour in graunting thée thy requestes in the secrete of the thunder i. after a secrete and wonderfull fashion but yet in suche sorte notwithstanding that they had very manifest signes by which they knew that GOD succoured them some referre to that which is written Exodus 14 24. but I take it more generallye I prooued thée i. by experience I knew
own Ver. 6. teacheth that God alone is he that deliuereth his people from all dangers and distresses Ver. 7 teacheth that the Lord is nigh to earnest supplicatioÌs requests of his poore afflicted ones Ver. 8.9 teacheth that our obedieÌce to God is no better manifested by any meanes then by remouing al idolatry al the occasions therof whatsoeuer Ver. 10. setteth out Gods large liberalitie towards his people who many times giueth more then they do aske Ver. 11. describeth the malice corruption stubbornesse of mans hart Verse 12. sheweth how God iustlye punisheth sinne by sinne and that there are no ways so hurtful to man as those which he himselfe deuiseth Verse 13 expresseth Gods singuler care loue that he hath to man and his saluation Ver. 14.15 teach that obedience faithfully performed to the Lord not only draweth from him iudgements against all the enemies of his people but continual fauour and flourishing to themselues Ver. 16. teacheth that those that feare and serue the Lord shall want nothing that is good and that rather then Gods children shal want the Lord wil extraordinarily nourish and maintaine them with abundaunce of al things both profitable and pleasaunt Psalme 82. Di. I Take it that this Psalme maye bee deuided into two partes In the firste the Prophet reproueth vngodly Magistrates for their partialityes exhorting them to the faythfull execution of their office from verse 1. to the end of the fourth In the seconde he setteth out their carelesnesse and pronounceth iudgement agaynst them for the same beséeching the Lord to execute iustice and iudgement seing they were negligent from verse 5. to the ende of the Psalme Se. The Title hath bene expounded sundry times before and namelye Psalme 50. in the Title thereof Verse 1. GOD standeth vz. as the théefe and principall to sée what matters passe and howe they passe in the assemblye of Gods i. in euery Session or sitting of Princes Magistrates or Iudges whom he calleth Gods because in them appeareth some speciall part of Gods Maiestie now when God is present with them it is not as an inferior but as the Lorde of Magistrates and the Author of all iust iudgementes sée Deutron 1. ver 17. also 2. Chronic. 19. verse 6. he iudgeth among Gods i. hée kéepeth his authoritye and preheminence aboue all the Iudges and Gouernors of this worlde Verse 2. How long will ye iudge vniustly q.d. Will ye go still on forward in corruption and naughtinesse shall not Gods forbearing of you bring you to amendment and accepted the persons of the wicked i. peruert iustice and iudgement for their sakes and causes Verse 3. Doe right nowe he teacheth them what they shoulde doe indéede to the poore and fatherlesse i. to those that are in misery distresse and not able by any mean of man to helpe themselues or their causes sée Hosea 14 3. doe iustice i. performe that with iustice and equitie requireth at your handes and this is the same matter expressed in other wordes Verse 4. Deliuer the poore and néedy vz. from the outrage and iniurie that the mightye men offer them saue them i. set them frée safe and sounde from the hande i. from the mighte and power of the vngodly Ver. 5. They i. these wicked vngodly iudges or Magistrates know not i. approue not neither allow or performe good things for otherwise it is not to be doubted but they had knowledge sufficient sée Matth. 7.23 vnderstand nothing vz. of right and iudgement to put the same in execution practise for it must not be vnderstood as though that they were sencelesse they walke in darkenesse i. they take euen delight and pleasure as it were to bleare their own iudgements and light and then how great is that darkenesse Mat. 6.23 albeit al the foundations of the earth be moued q.d. al the troubles confusions of the land procéede from this iniquitye of theirs and yet they though all things be out of order sit stil and take their ease neuer séeking redresse Dauid was of another mind as appeareth Psal 75.3 vpon which looke for the better vnderstanding of these wordes foundations of the earth Ver. 6. I haue saide we may refer these words either to God or the Prophet but I rather referre them to the Prophet q.d. I haue before vz. verse 1. confessed you to be Gods yeare Gods i. not only excellent great personages but such as exercise the very iudgements of God when you doe your office rightly 2. Chron. 19.6 and such as to whome God hath giuen his word Iohn 10.34 35. such as to whom God hath communicated part of his power Rom. 13.1.2 c. and ye are all children of the most high vz not in name only because he hath communicated vnto you some of his Titles but because you doe by his appointment succéede into some part of his iudicial authoritie which he hath coÌmitted to you as princely parents doe to their children Ver. 7. But q.d. for al your glorious titles and great renoune by which you might séeme to promise vnto your selues loÌg life and immortality as it were ye shall die as a man i. a coÌmon ordinary death q.d. death shal no more feare you then other men sée Psal 49. almost thorowout and ye Princes vz. of the people for al your great state and pompe shal fal vz. by death like others vz. of the common sort of people some expounde it thus like others vz. Princes and mighty men which haue gone before you I would not greatly coÌtend but me thinketh the other sence is plaine ynough Verse 8. O God the Prophet seing iustice to bee perished from the earth praieth the Lord to take the matter into his own hands rise vp vz. to iudge iustly séeing men are so negligent and carelesse iudge vz. with iustice and equitye the earth i. the people inhabiting the earth He prayeth that God would bring things which amongst men were confused into good order for thou shalte inherite al nations q.d. Thou whether they wil yea or no shalt haue power and gouernment ouer al people and therfore seing that office belongeth vnto thée take into thine own hand séeing men neglect the duties and charges that thou hast committed vnto them The first verse teacheth two things Do. first that Magistrates should deale with good consciences seing God beholdeth them secondly that people should reuerence Magistrates seing some part of Gods glory shineth forth in them Ver. 2. teacheth how wicked men abuse good things to their own condemnation and other mens hurt Ver. 3. 4. set out very liuely the Magistrates duety whiche consisteth of two parts in maintaining the good and punishing the euill Rom. 13.3 Ver. 5. Simple ignorance or malitious ignorance or both in Magistrates be the very nurses of all confusions in coÌmon wealths kingdoms Ver. 6 teacheth vs to giue iust titles and honors euen to vniust magistrates alwayes reseruing that which belongeth to God sound and safe
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 conscieÌces of mercy to be afterwards shewed Ver. 50 teacheth vs in our afflictioÌ 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 eueÌ from euerlasting to euerlasting i. froÌ 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
of thy promises in the night i. euery night by these two woordes morning and night hée meaneth continuall thankesgiuing for as his goodnes and trueth abydeth towardes vs continually so it behoueth vs to giue continuall all thankes vnto him for the same Ver. 3. Vpon an instrument of ten stringes and vpon the viole sée before Psalm 33.2 with the song vppon the harp hée meaneth that the song and the tune of the song played vpon the harpe shoulde both goe together And in this verse he speaketh not onely according to the vse that was then vnder the lawe at what times musicall instruments and songes were a part of the tutorshippe of the Iewes but meaning somewhat further vz. that men shoulde inforce themselues what in them laye to prayse the Lord earnestly by all the meanes they could Ver. 4. For thou Lorde hast made mée glad vz. both inwardly and outwardly so that both my soule and my body reioyce by thy workes i. by the contemplation and consideration of thy works in which thou settest forth thy great maiesty mercy power wisedome c. and euen thy whole selfe as it were and I will reioyce q.d. séeing thou hast giuen me so great and so good an occasion I will not faile but be glad therein in the workes of thine handes i. in the excellent things that thou thy selfe hast by thy almighty power created and made he attributeth handes to God because hée speaketh of him according to mans capacity and not that he hath any handes at all Ver. 5. O Lorde howe glorious are thy workes q.d. they are so great and ful of maiesty that no tongue is able to expresse it nor heart effectually conceiue the excellency of them and thy thoughtes are very déepe i. thy counsels purposes and manners of doing are incomprehensible and passe al vnderstanding of men The interrogation and exclamation which the Prophet vseth in this place doe sufficiently declare that God otherwise gouerneth mankynde then al mans reason is able to conceiue Verse 6. An vnwise man i. a wicked man which also he vnderstandeth by foole afterwardes the worde which hée vseth signifieth brutish as a beast meaning him that giueth himselfe ouer to his sensualitie and pleasure beastlike not regarding either Gods woorkes or his worde sée Psalm 28.5 so that wee sée what account he is of before God vz. estéemed as a bruit beast knoweth it not i. neither coÌsidereth neither approueth the excellency of thy workes and iudgements and a foole i. a wicked and vngodly person as Psalm 14.1 and also generally throughout the whole booke of Prouerbs doth not vnderstande this vz. which followeth vz. that the wicked and vngodly for al their florishing state shall come to perpetual ruine and decay no they vnderstand it not though it please thée O Lorde in other mens persons to giue them dayly experience and tryall thereof Ver. 7. When the wicked growe i. increase and florish prosper and triumph as the grasse hee meaneth hereby not onely their florishing estate but withall secretly hee setteth out their quicke and flitting estate of which see before Psal 90.5.6 and al the workers of wickednes i. all they that worke wickednesse with gréedinesse delight and pleasure doe florish vz. in this worlde and here marke that if the parenthesis in the Geneua text were left out the sense woulde bee very plaine that they shal bee destroyed vz. from amongest men and that through Gods iudgements for euer yea and for euer meaning the eternall punishment that shall light vppon them Ver. 8. But thou O Lord art most high for euermore Sée the note in the Geneua Bible for the sense of this text but I rather like Immanuels translation which readeth it thus And that thou O most high art the Lorde for euermore q.d. this is an other thing beside the former which the wicked forget vz. that thou rulest and gouernest all thinges according to the good pleasure of thine owne will and power Ver. 9. For loe thine enemies O Lorde i. those that set themselues againste thée for loe thine enemies O Lorde shal perish vz. through thy mighty iudgements and this repeating of the thing twise together with that terme lo doubled do note the certaintie assurednes thereof al the workers of iniquitie sée before ver 7. of this Psal and these words all the workers of wickednes shal be destroyed vz. as things broken into pieces and shal vanish away as matters of no regarde Verse 10. But thou shalt exalt mine horne i. thou shalt not onely increase but also cause to be reuerenced my strength like the vnicornes vz. either horne or strength whose horne howe greatly it is estéemed experience teacheth for the strength of it you may sée Deut. 33.17 Num. 24.8 and I shal be annoynted he speaketh this according to the manner of the countrey wherein hee liued vnderstanding by annointing powring forth vz. of giftes and hauing also the same giftes bestowed vppon him with freshe oyle vz. whiche hath not lost his strength and power hee meaneth that hee shall not onelye inioye but bee adorned also with the graces and benefites of GOD sée Psalme 23.5 Verse 11. Mine eye also shall sée my desire vz. executed against mine enemies hee meaneth that he shoulde behold his enemies plagued and punished vnderstanding by the word enemies such as looked narrowly to his behauiour and hoped to sée destruction come vpon him the same worde is vsed Psal 5.8 when hée speaketh here of desires and wishes hee meaneth not such hasty and rash wishes as we are prouoked to through the corruption and malice of our own hartes neither as though hee desired any thing against Gods will but being throughly perswaded of the obstinate malice of the vngodly on the one side Gods iudgements ready to be powred forth vppon them on the other side for their sinnes he vttereth these spéeches and mine eares shall heare vz. by true and faithful report q.d. my hearing as well as my féeling shal be satisfied my wish vz. accomplished and performed against the wicked that rise vp against me vz. with al their force and power q.d. I shal sée them ouerthrown Ver. 12. The righteous i. he whome God accepteth as righteous and frameth to righteousnes shall florish vz. through Gods grace and goodnes towardes him like a palme trée some thinke the iust to bee compared to a palme trée for the swéetnes of the fruite which for mine owne part I sée no reason of The Rabbines and amongest the rest Abeu Ezra thinke them to be compared to palme trées for their lastingnes All knowe this and Plinie also maketh mention of it that the nature of this trée is though when weight is layd vppon it bende and bowe somewhat yet the weight being remoued it standeth vpright again and spreadeth it selfe so the faithfull notwithstanding their affliction shall when their miseries are remoued recouer newe strength and come to more force then they haue had before and shal grow vz.
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
haue no title yet it appeareth Hebre. 4.7 Se. that Dauid was the author thereof and did write it Ver. 1. Come these are the wordes of the Prophet exhorting others with him to prayse the Lorde Sée Isaiah 2.3 let vs reioyce vz. together and that from the hearte singing prayses by which the Prophet sheweth that the outwarde seruice of God consisteth not in dead ceremonies but especially in the sacrifices of prayses and thankesgiuing vnto the Lord vz. our God let vs sing aloude i. with a cleare and high voyce euen as if it were with a trumpet vnto the rocke of our saluation i. vnto him that is the assured groundwork foundation as it were of our deliuery meaning by this spéech god who is vnto his people in stéed of a rock of defeÌce deliuery in which they may bée safe froÌ al assaults Ver. 2. Let vs come vz. quickly and chearefully before his face i. not onely into his presence for men can bée in no place but they are in his sight but also to the tabernacle of witnesse in which place the Lord gaue glorious testimonies of his presence fauor with praise i. with songs conteining his praise for the benefites which we dayly receceiue of him let vs sing loud sée ver 1. of this Psal vnto him vz. alone and to none other but him with Psalmes vz. conteining his praises our thanksgiuing for the blessings which he continually bestoweth vppon vs. Ver. 3. For the Lord vz. which we serue and who giueth vs these graces is a great God i. is the God of al power might who hath both wil and strength to do what soeuer pleaseth him a great king aboue al Gods i. hee is more mighty excellent then any thing or al the things that haue the name of god giuen vnto it whether they be Angels or idoles or magistrates to all which Gods name is attributed in one respect or other in the Scripture sée Psalm 82.1 Psal 86.8 Psal 89.6 Ioh. 10.34.35 1. Cor. 8.5 Ver. 4. In whose hand i. vnder whose power prouidence gouernment are the déepe places of the earth by this spéech he meaneth the most deepe places of the world which if he guide and gouerne then much more doth he gouerne those that are not so déepe he setteth depths against the height of the mountaines expressed in the other part of the verse meaning by both these laid together that God gouerneth al the whole worlde whether it be high or low the heights of the mountaines i. the most high mouÌtains are his vz. to guid gouerne theÌ as him liketh best q.d. God according to his good pleasure ruleth both the most secret and the most mighty thinges yea all the things of the world Ver. 5. To whom the sea belongeth vz. to bée guided and gouerned according to his will for hee made it vz. by gathering the waters together into one place sée Gene. 1.9.10 and his handes formed i. his almighty power gaue forme being to the earth the dry land i. that part of the earth which is dry and separated from the water which hée calleth drye in respect of the other ouercouered with water Verse 6. Come vz. together with me sée ver 1. of this Psalm let vs worship vz. by al the meanes we can this Lord our God and fal down the word signifieth to bowe the head to the earth as they were wont to do which receiued either a blessing or som good turne from others q.d. let vs by al meanes testifie the huÌbling of vs before god which also he meaneth by the worde kneeling afterwardes put downe before the Lord our maker i. hee that hath made vs. This worde maker conteining a double argument to moue men to his worshippe and seruice the one taken from Gods excellency who is the creator and the other from our basenesse who are his workemanship made of the dust of the earth Gene. 3.19 Verse 7. For hee vz. alone and no other but hée is our God i. our vpholder maintainer and defender and therefore good cause wee haue to serue him and we are the people of his pasture i. such a people as hee with a speciall and fatherlye care nourisheth and defendeth and to whom hee giueth all sortes of blessings True it is that this worde sheepe shoulde agree better to pasture but yet the holy ghost hath vsed the worde people that hée might the better expounde the metaphor and the shéepe of his hande i. the tender ones for so are sheepe which hée guideth and gouerneth by his Fatherly prouidence and power meaning also by that worde his that GOD himselfe taketh care ouer them and committeth them not to an other To day if yée will heare his voyce vz. speaking vnto you out of his worde q.d. If yée mynde as yet to yéelde obedience vnto his trueth then harden not your heartes as followeth in the next verse for so must these two verses bée ioyned together Verse 8. Harden not your harts i. be not obstinate and setled in your sin by this word he generally meaneth al contempt offred to Gods word as vz. your fathers and ancestors did many times striuing against God and namely in Meribah this history is largely handled Num. 14. as in the day of Massah this history is put down Exod. 17. Sée also Numb 20. and conferre all these thrée chapters together for though it shoulde séeme out of Exod. 17. ver 7. that Massah and Meribah were al one place yet by comparison of the chapters and the matters together we shal find that they tempted the Lord more then once and more then in one place in the wildernesse the holy ghost obserueth these circumstances of place time persons maner of doing c. for the certaintie of the history Ver. 9. Where i. not only in the wildernes though that were a principall place but in the other places also your fathers i. your auncestors progenitors of whose stocke you come sée Psal 78.3 tempted me i. would haue more experience and triall of my power then I thought méet and good for them and proued me vz. what I could do through my power might though they had séene my worke vz. which I did before them in their sight vnderstanding by the worde worke in the singular nuÌber manifold works q.d. although they had had sufficient testimonies of my power might and knew wel inough what I was able to do yet they woulde not leaue off but still proue my power Ver. 10. Fourtie yeeres vz. long and together haue I contended vz. striuen by diuers punishments yea death it selfe as appeareth Numb 14.33 and yet haue nothing profited or preuailed with this generation I wil rather read that noting the rebellious people which perished in the wildernesse and vz. I haue sayde vz. by reason of their continuall wickednesse they are a people i. such a people that erre in heart i. not only without iudgement and reason but also
for his excellent gouernment and prouidence Verse 13 teacheth that howsoeuer men be corrupted in their iudgements and gouernment yet God is not sée Psal 94. verse 20. Psalme 97 THis Psalme may be diuided into thrée parts Di. In the first is described the greatnesse and excellency of almightye God and and his power From verse 1 to the end of the sixte In the seconde is declared that this power of his is terrible to the wicked and comfortable to the godly whome the Prophet therfore exhorteth to yéeld obedience and thankfulnesse to the Lorde from verse 7 to the end of the Psalme This Psalme hath no Title as sundry both before it and after it haue not likewise and therefore we cannot determine eyther who was the Author of it Se. or when it was penned Certaine it is that the holye Ghost therein purposeth to exhort the faythfull to shew themselues ioifull for the Lordes fauour loue and power towards them Verse 1. The Lord reigneth sée Psalme 93.1 let the earth reioyce i. people inhabiting the earth as Psalme 96.1 q.d. Let the people be excéedingly glad euen in that respecte that the Lordes power beareth a sway Let the multitude of the Iles i. the multitude of people inhabyting the Ilandes be glad vz. for the same cause and occasion Ver. 2. Clouds and darkenesse i. most fearefull and terrible maiestie and power sée Psalm 18.11 And he doth thus describe God that he might more liuely touch mens harts to yéeld him reuerence and honour are round about him i. compasse him in on euery side meaning that he hath both plenty of them and in a readinesse also to performe whatsoeuer pleaseth him righteousnesse i. all vprightnesse and equitie and iudgement i. true and right iudgement and this the holy Ghost addeth as it were to preuent that which the wicked might obiect as though gods power and maiestie were full of iniustice are the foundation of his throne i. are so tied to his kingdom that they can no more be separated from his kingdom then the foundation of his building Vnderstanding by throne the signe of a kingdome the kingdome it selfe and by foundation the straight and narrowe coniunction of iustice and sound iudgement to it Verse 3. There shall goe a fyre before him he vnderstandeth by the word fire the wrath and vengeaunce of God and burne vp his enemies round about i. it shall vtterlye consume those that set themselues agaynst him and that on euerye side before him and behinde him on the lefte hande and on the right hand so that none shall escape Verse 4. His lightninges i. the lightnings that come from him and are sente by his appoyntment gaue lighte vnto the world i. were so great that all the Worlde mighte sée them the earth i. the people dwelling on the earth saw vz. with their bodilye eyes and sensiblye it i. those lightninges one number put for an other and was afrayde vz. of his great power and maiesty whiche appeared therein By this and the thyrde verse before going and the nexte verse following it the holy Ghost myndeth nothing but to shewe the greatnesse of almightye Gods power in so much that nothing though it be neuer so stoute and stéedye is able to stande before it Verse 5. The Mountaynes vz. though they were neuer so greate strong and mighty melted like waxe vz. helde agaynst the fyre or the heate of the Sunne He meaneth by this Metaphor that they quickly consumed at the presence of the Lorde i. so soone as the Lorde gaue some shew of his presence or maiestie at the presence of the Lorde of the whole earth i. of him that ruleth the earth and all thinges therein contayned Verse 6. The Heauens declare his righteousnesse i. euen those thinges whiche are done in the Firmament as fyre hayle thunder lightning the Lorde thereby plaguing the wicked doe sufficientlye declare him to be vpright and iust in all his wayes and all the people vz. of the earth sée i. plainlye and sensiblye perceyue by the thinges done there his glorye i. his great power and mighte In this verse the Prophet mindeth to declare that God is most glorious manifest tokens of whose glory and iustice appeare in the very heauens and are set out before mens eyes to make them without excuse sée Psalme 19.1 Romanes 1 20. Verse 7. Confounded vz. thorowe the mightye power and iudgemente of almightye GOD bée all they vz. of what state or condition soeuer they bee q.d. let them bée confounded and ouerthrowne that serue vz. any manner of waye or with anye sorte of worship grauen Images i. images or pictures made framed and grauen by the hande arte and cunning of man and that glorye i. eyther boaste of or speake of them as to allowe them anye manner of waye in Idols see before Psalme 96 5. Leuiticus 19.4 Worshippe vz. according to the prescripte rule of his worde him vz. onelye all yée Gods i. not only mightye men and Magistrates of the world but all thinges that in the worlde is esteemed as God The Prophet meaning that eyther they shoulde doe it willinglye and of a good mynde or else by constraynt and inforcemente because they coulde not resist his power Verse 8. Sion i. the Church as Psalme 48.11.12 hearde vz. by thy workes and by thy worde of it vz. that goeth before i. the confusion and ouerthrowe of the idolatrers and was gladde vz. for the iust execution of thy iudgementes vppon them and the Daughters of Iudah i. not onely the Cittyes and Townes of that Lande in whiche sence you shall sundrye tymes haue the worde Daughters taken but the people inhabiting the same places meaning notwithstadding the particular members of the Church reioyced i. were excéedinglye glad because of thy iudgementes O Lord vz. executed vppon the wicked and vngodlye by whiche also it hath pleased thée to prouide for their deliueraunce and safetie Verse 9. For thou Lord vz. alone arte moste high aboue all the earth i. arte greater in power and mighte then all thinges in the earth because that they whatsoeuer they be are subiecte to thy authoritie and power Thou arte muche exalted vz. in thy iustice and iudgementes aboue all Gods sée Psalme 95 3. Verse 10. Yée that loue the Lorde vz. indéede vnfeignedlye and with a good hearte hate i. detest and abhorre from the bottome of youre hartes sée Romanes 12.9 Euill i. whatsoeuer is sinne and transgression before him or inclining that waye sée 1. Thessalonians 5.22 hée preserueth i. God mayntayneth defendeth and kéepeth the soules i the life and whole person of his Sayntes i. of those whome hee hath framed to holynesse and inflamed with the loue thereof hée will deliuer them i. set them safe and sounde from the hande i. from the cruell power and outrage of the wicked vz. that séeke to destroy them Verse 11. Lighte i. ioye prosperitie and eternall blessednesse Sée Ester 8 16. as by the contrarye vz. darkenesse is signifyed myserye is sowne
i. is prepared and layde vp and yet lyeth hid as it were séede committed to the earth which shall in good time come forth sée Colossians 3.3.4 1. Cor. 12.12.1 Iohn 3.2 The Metaphor that he vseth in this place is excellent q.d. Euen as wheate or other séede cast into the earth dyeth and lyeth hidde for a certayne while before it waxe gréene and bring forth fruite so the iust suffer manye thinges before they féele ioye but theire ioye shall in good time bee made manifest and they shall haue great increase and store thereof as of one grayne cast into the grounde commeth plentie and abundaunce of Corne for the righteous i. for them whome GOD frameth to righteousnesse of life and holye conuersation and ioye this sheweth playnlye what he meant by light vz. ioye both in this lyfe and in the lyfe to come for the vprighte in harte i. for them that are voyde of hypocrisie and dissymulation Sée Psalme 33 1. Verse 12. Reioyce yée vprighteous in the Lorde q.d. Let him bee the matter of your ioye that doth suche great thinges for you and giue thankes vz. vnto him onelye for his holye remembraunce these wordes maye haue a double sence eyther thus for his holye remembraunce i. for that it pleaseth him that is holye to thinke vppon and to remember you or else thus for his holye remembraunce i. for that you haue good and often occasion giuen you by his continuall graces bestowed vppon you to remember and thinke vppon him that is holye and iust and this latter I take to bee the more simple Verse 1. Teacheth vs that it is a matter of great ioye Do. to knowe that the Lorde ruleth and gouerneth all thinges Verse 2. teacheth vs what greate power and iustice is in the Lorde Verse 3. teacheth vs that the wicked and vngodly shall not escape vnpunished Verse 4. teacheth vs that the least of Gods creatures is able to terrifie all the world Verse 5 sheweth that nothing is able to withstand the Lord in his purposes and that the strongest and gretest thinges are as nothing before him Verse 6. teacheth vs that Gods goodnesse and vprightnesse are so cleare euen in his creatures as none can pretend ignoraunce Verse 7 teacheth two things first that we may pray agaynst idols and Idolaters secondlye it sheweth what greate iudgementes shall ouertake them Verse 8 teacheth the godly to reioyce euen in Gods iudgementes executed vpon the wicked Verse 9 setteth out the excellency maiestie and almightie power of God Verse 10 teacheth first that our hatred and lothing of euill must be a seale of the law of God in our harts secondlye that God hath more then a fatherly care ouer the liues of those that be his and thirdly the wicked for all their power can not doe what they would against Gods children Verse 11. teacheth that howsoeuer the good be afflicted for a time yet is abundaunce of ioy layde vp for them Verse 12 teacheth the faithfull to shew themselues alwayes thankefull to God Psalme 98 Di. THis Psalme contayneth thrée speciall parts In the first hee exhorteth the faythfull to prayse the Lord shewing some causes that should lead them so to doe Verse 1.2.3 In the seconde he sheweth how this thanksgiuing and prayfe should be yéelded to the Lord and that is partly with the voyce and songes and partly with musicall instruments Verse 4.5.6 In the thyrde parte by exhorting dumbe creatures to yéelde thankes vnto the Lord he prouoketh men to the performaunce of that excellente and holye duetye Verse 7.8.9 Se. The Title a Psalme this hath bene expounded before and namely Psal 3. and Psalme 4 in the title Verse 1. Sing vnto the Lord a new song sée for this Psalme 96. verse 1. for hée vz. alone hath done vz. by his power and might marueylous thinges i. matters to be wondred at and farre passing the reache of man his right hand vz. alone meaning by right hand his almightye strength and power and his holy arme i. the arme of him that is holye yea holinesse it selfe vnderstanding by arme the same thing hee did by hande vz. might and strength hath gotten him i. him himselfe and in him his Church the victory vz. against all his and their enemies The Prophet meaneth that God deliuered his Church from the enemies thereof not by the meanes of man or any accustomed order but by his owne power and strength sée Psalm 44 2.3 also Isaiah 59 16. and agayne Isaiah 63.5 Ver. 2. The Lord declared vz. by the meruailous and great workes which he hath done his saluation i. his gracious deliueraunce of his Church out of al daungers and distresses and this is called his saluation because he is the only worker of it and doeth fréely bestowe the same vppon his people and his righteousnesse i. his faythfull and vprighte executing of iustice and iudgemente hath hée reuealed vz. in his mightye and marueylous workes in the sighte of the Nations i. openly not only before the Iewes but before all other Nations of the worlde Verse 3. He hath remembred i. he hath not onelye thoughte vpon but in his remembraunce performed his mercye and his truth i. his gracious goodnesse and his faythfull promises made towardes the house of Israell i. to the people of the Iewes whome hée calleth the house of Israell because they procéeded from Iaakob who was also called Israell and came from him as from one stocke or Fountayne all the endes of the earth i. all the partes and quarters of the worlde and some people inhabiting the same haue séene vz. playnly and sensibly meaning by this spéech that they haue bin made partakers of the saluations vz. mercifully promised graciously to be performed in Christ of our GOD i. of that true and euer liuing GOD whome we serue He speaketh here no doubt of the calling of the Gentiles and of those gracious promises expressed Genesis 12.3 Genesis 22.18 Verse 4. All the earth i. all people inhabiting the earth q.d. Consider this great benefyte euerye one of you and chearefullye prayse the Lorde for it sing yée lowde i. prayse him willinglye and openlye vnto the Lorde vz. who hath bestowed these greate graces vppon you crye out q.d. inforce your selfe to prayse him and reioyce vz. for the mercies which you haue receaued and sing prayses vz. continually and that to the Lorde who hath dealt so fauourablye with you as to make you of no people a people vnto himselfe The Prophet repeateth one and the selfe same thinges vnder diuers termes not only to expresse his own earnestnesse but also to declare mens dulnesse in the performaunce thereof and with all to expresse that the thinges themselues giuen from God and receaued of vs are so excellent that we can neuer be sufficient thankefull for the same Ver. 5. Sing praise vz. for the grace and blessinges receaued to the Lorde vz. who hath freely giuen the same vppon the Harpe i. vppon musicall instrumentes vnderstanding by one many or
the person from the second to the thirde sendeth vz. by his eternall appoyntment and power the springs into the valleyes the Prophet meaneth that by Gods decree and appoyntment the fountaines and springes keepe their course euen in those places that he hath assigned them that is in the vales and lenelles of the lande which vz. fountaines or springes runne betwéene the mountaines q.d. not withstanding that they séeme to bee little thinges yet God doeth sometimes so increase them that they rise as high as some part of the mountaines This serueth to set out Gods power in the ordinarye gouernement euen of his creatures also Ver. 11. They i. the waters and springes shall giue drink vz. in great plenty and abundance to all the beastes of the fielde vz. so that not one of any kinde shal bee excepted and hee speaketh rather of beastes then of men the better to set out the grace of GOD not only in that he prouideth for bruite beastes but also in that hee giueth them which drinke more then men such great abundaunce of it and the wilde asses shall quench their thirst q.d. euen the beastes that drinke most by reason of their heate shall not onely be satisfied but leaue abundaunce beside of the wilde asse Sée Iob. 39. ver 8.9 10.11 Ver. 12. By these springes vz. spoken of before shall the foules of the heauen i. the birdes of the ayre heauen put for the aire Sée Matth. 6.26 dwell i. abide and continue and that with delight which hée expresseth afterwardes and shall sing vz. for ioy and pleasure that they shall take therein among the braunches vz. of the trees that stande along by the riuers sides Ver. 13. He i. God watereth the mountaines i. powreth downe abundance of waters vppon the mountaines so that by reason of the rayne which he sendeth hee maketh the mountaines otherwise barren very fruitfull from his chambers i. from the cloudes which are sayde to bee Gods chambers because it séemeth to vs that the Lorde dwelleth in and aboue them so that chambers is taken in an other sense here then in verse 3. of this Psalme and the earth i. the whole worlde so that there is no part exempted no nor no creature either man or beast as may appeare by that which followeth in this Psalme is filled vz. plentifully and in very great abundaunce with the fruite of thy workes i. with those fruites which by thy workes thou doest graciously minister vnto them which fruites also through thy blessing and commaundement the earth it selfe doth yéeld And marke the sodaine chaunge of the person from the thirde to the second Ver. 14. Hée i. God causeth vz. by his almighty power as the first cause and by rayne and dewe from heauen as the seconde cause grasse to growe vz. vppon the earth for the cattle i. for the vse of cattle that it may bee meate vnto them and herb i. euerye gréene thing sée Genesis 1 29. for the vse of man i. for man to vse eyther necessarily or of pleasure that he vz. man being strengthened by the vse of the hearbes trées c. may bring forth vz. by his ordinary labour and trauayle bread though the Prophet meane it principally of bread yet he vnderstandeth also thereby all manner of sustenaunce out of the earth vz. laboured and tilled in the sweat of mans face Gen. 3.18.19 Immanuel readeth the latter part of the ver thus that they i. both man beast reading it in the plural number may fet meat out of the earth i. may haue al maner of food ministred vnto them out of the earth for the maintaynaunce of their life whatsoeuer it be all commeth to one end vz. to shew that God by his power doth this and doth that Verse 15. And wine vz. God giueth that maketh glad the hart of man i. maketh mans hart to reioyce when it is striken downe with heauinesse sée Prouerb 31.6.7 and oyle to make the face to shine i. to make him séeme to haue a merry and chearefull countenaunce he speaketh this according to the manner of those hote countries wherein men vsed with sauours and oyntmentes both to strengthen and refresh themselues and bread vz. he giueth also vnderstanding by bread as before verse 14 that strengtheneth mans hart i. whiche is a good meane to ad strength and courage to a mans stomach And mark the Prophets course he sheweth in this place that God plentifullye giueth vnto all his creatures and namely vnto man not only life but al thinges necessary for the maintaynaunce thereof Whether they be thinges necessary as breade and foode or profitable as wine and drinke or seruing to pleasure delighte or comlinesse of the body as oyle and oyntments c. Verse 16. The high Trées he passeth from men to trées shewing that euen Gods power and prouidence also watcheth ouer them are satisfyed vz. with moysture dew and rayne sent from the Lord to make them grow and increase euen the Cedars of Lebanon sée Psalme 29 5. which he hath planted i. which the Lord himselfe hath caused to grow which sort of Trees must néedes excell them that are set by Art Verse 17. That the birdes vz. of the Woods and Forrests yea the very foules of heauen may make their neasts there vz. in those trées because they are so great high and mighty The Prophet doth not meane only as I take it that God ordeyned the Trées to this end that birdes might build their neasts therin but also to shew the greatnesse of Gods power in creating such great trées as are able to receiue the Fowles of the ayre the storke dwelleth in the Firre trées he meaneth not only that they build their neasts there for their yong ones but also haue as it were their continuall abode Verse 18. The high Mountaynes vz. otherwise barren and bare are yet notwithstanding good and profitable are for the Goates vz. good to féede on and to liue in the Rockes are a refuge for the Conies vz. to kéepe them safe in as it were from al distresse and feare Verse 19. He vz. God appoynted vz. by the order which he himselfe set in creation the Moone i. that glorious and excellent creature for certayne seasons i. not only to distinguish the night from the day and other times spoken of Gene. 1.14 c. as monethes yéeres c. but also for some principall feastes obserued in the lawe and the sunne i. that other great and excellent creature knoweth vz. by the boundes and orders which God hath set out his going downe i. in what part it shoulde set according to the seuerall quarters of the yéere Verse 20. Thou makest darkenesse i. thou causest darkenes to come in an ordinarye course And not as though GOD did euery night make newe darkenesse for hee did once create the same Gene. 1.2 to continue as the rest of his creatures and it is night i. night commeth presently for none is able to let or withstande it wherein i. in
all that faile theÌ of any thing that is méet for theÌ it teacheth also that nothing is done without gods prouideÌce 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 theÌ from al false slanderous accusations wch time it behoueth theÌ 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 theÌ wheÌ 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 meÌs harts that they caÌnot hate or loue the good without Gods sufferance the power that he giueth theÌ therto yet hée remaineth pure froÌ 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 vpoÌ 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 coÌmaundement to vse theÌ at his pleasure for the plaguing punishing of the vngodly Besides this Ver. 30. teacheth that God in pouring forth his iudgemeÌts 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 coÌtinual care watchfulnes the Lord hath ouer his seruants to kéep theÌ froÌ 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 theÌ 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 coÌfort theÌselues with the consideratioÌ 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 caÌnot 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
you may behold Numb 14.45 Numb 21.1 Deut. 1.44 and to scatter them vz. by reason of captiuity and bondage into which they shoulde fall through out the countries hee meaneth strange countries which either lay nigh about them or else farre of Verse 28. They ioyned themselues vz. euen as it were two oxen in one yoke such a metaphor also the Apostle vseth 2. Corinth 6.14 he noteth hereby the straigth coniunction that was betwéen the idole the idolater vnto Baalpeor this was the idole of the Moabits as appeareth Num. 25.3 meaning that they worshipped the idoles and gods that idolatrous people worshipped and did eate vz. with the idolaters the offringes of the dead i. such things as were offred to their idoles whome hée here calleth dead not because they were at any time liuing but because they neuer had life or breath in them of the vanitie of idoles Sée Psalm 115.45 c. and of meats consecrated to idols sée 1. Corinth 8. throughout and 1. Corinth 10. in sundry places Ver. 29. Thus vz. in maner before rehearsed ver â8 they prouoked him vnto anger vz. against themselues and their soules with their own inuentions i. with those thinges that they themselues had deuised both in his seruice and for the satisfiyng of their owne lustes for so largely would I take the worde inuentions in this place and the plague vz. sent from God brake in vpon them i. did vehemently and violently destroy sundry of them as a breach in a battry doth for such a metaphor I suppose he vseth in this place Verse 30. But Phinehas who was Aarons sonne stoode vppe vz. beeing mooued with the vilenes of the peoples sinne and executed iudgment vz. vpon Zimri and Cozbi and the plague vz. sent from God wherein there dyed 24. thousand was stayed i. ceased Phinehas did this by a secret particular and extraordinary motion of Gods spirit being assured in his conscience that though hee had no publike power of the sword in his hand yet hee ought to doe it the like did Moses in slaying the Egiptian but these particulars ought not to bée drawne into examples Ver. 31. And it vz. that fact of slaying Zimri Cozbi was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse vz. through Gods frée goodnes hée meaneth not that Phinehas was iustified by this worke for no man can bee iustified by the workes of the law vnlesse hée perfectly accomplish them but that this worke was imputed vnto him for righteousnes as the worke of the faithful people are not for any merite that is in them but of his frée mercy onely Sée for this phrase Gene. 15.6 from generation to generation for euer i. always and continually he meaneth that both God and men approued Phinehas for his fact Sée for this story Numb 25. throughout Ver. 32. They i. the people of Israel angred him i. God meaning by the worde angred prouoking of him to fearce wrath against them also i. besides their other sinnes before recited at the waters of Meribah hee meaneth the place for the more certainetie of the history and they are called the waters of Meribah that is the waters of strife and contention because there for want of waters they contended with the Lorde and with Moses so that Moses vz. so notable a Prophet and so excellent a man of God sée Psal 90. in the title was punished vz. grieuously for hée was not onely rebuked but depriued of entrance into the land of promise for their sake hée meaneth not that God punished him for their sin for that had béen iniustice but because he did after a sort doubt with them hée was punished for that transgression Ver. 33. Because they vexed his spirite so i. they so troubled him with their continuall murmuringes and rebellions that he spake vnaduisedly vz. of God and his power with his lippes i. openly not onely conceiuing it in his heart but vttering it with his mouth All this history is largely described Numb 20. from ver 1. to the end of the 13. Ver. 34. Neither destroyed they the people vz. which inhabited the land of Canaan and by destroying he meaneth an vtter destruction of them and rooting of theÌ out but left some remaining Sée Iudges 1. euen to the ende of the 21. also Iudges 2. and 3. chapters throughout as the Lorde had commaunded them vz. by his faithful seruant Moses Sée Deut. 7.1.2.3 c. Ver. 35. But were mingled among the heathen vz. not onely in that they dwelt among them but also in that they matched with them in mariages and were sundry times brought into captiuity by them as the booke of Iudges doth plainly declare and learned their workes i. they did not onely knowe but also practised al the wickednes of the Gentiles as may appeare by the verses following Ver. 36. And serued their idoles i. worshipped the same images counterfeited gods that the heathen did which were their ruine hee meaneth that their straunge worships and idolatries were the cause not onely of their sinning as God had foretold Exod. 23.33 but also of their destruction as appeareth in the very same place Ver. 37. Yea q.d. they procéed to such height of iniquitie they offered and that against Gods commaundement Leuit. 20.2 Deut. 12.31 Deut. 18.10 their sonnes and their daughters i. such was their rage to idolatrie that they spared not that which was most deare vnto deuils sée Deut. 32.17.1 Cor. 10.20 and specially he meaneth Molech as may appeare 2. king 23.10 Verse 38. And shed innocent blood he calleth it innocent blood both because they had not done euil to deserue death and also because it was shed as without cause so without warrant of a sufficient and lawful magistrate eueÌ the blood of their sonnes and of their daughters hee sheweth in these two verses a monstrous kynd of idolatrie because the people caryed with a rage spared not their owne children but defiled their owne handes and the whole land also with innocent blood whom they offred vz. as burnt sacrifices or offrings vnto the idoles of Canaan i. vnto the idoles which were worshipped in the land of Canaan by the inhabitants thereof and the land vz. of Canaan wherein they dwelt was defiled with blood vz. shed guiltlesly and without cause Sée Num. 35.33 Ver. 39. Thus were they steyned i. fouly defiled and had receiued such spots and blots as hardly coulde bee gotten away with their owne workes i. with the sinnes and iniquities which they themselues had deuised and done and went a whoring i. leauing the mariage duety which they ought to God they chose rather to follow any thing according to the lust of their owne heartes then God himselfe sée Numb 15.39 The Prophet meaneth that they brake their faith giuen vnto God as if a wife should breake her faith in committing whoredome for this is spiritual chastity to cleaue wholy to God and his worde 2. Corinth 11.2 with their owne inuentions i. with the idoles and Gods which they
godly magistrates and ministers which the Lord giueth vs. Ver. 17.18 Teach vs that God doth fearefully punish rebels and contentious persons of what state or calling soeuer they be Ver. 19.20 See out the dotage and blockishnes of idolaters who suppose the Godhead can be fashioned or resembled by any outward thing Ver. 21.22 Teacheth that the forgetfulnes of God his benefites and workes is the high way to all manner of sinne and iniquitie Ver. 23. Teacheth two things first that our sinnes do pul destruction from the Lord vppon vs Secondly how forcible the prayers of Gods children are both for themselues and others Ver. 24. Teacheth that contempt of Gods graces offred and giuen and distrust in the trueth of his promises are two horrible grieuous iniquities Ver. 25. Setteth out what great sinnes murmuring and rebellion against the Lorde are Ver. 26.27 Declare that neither these nor any other sinnes shall escape vnpunished in the parties that do them whether they be fathers or sonnes Ver. 28. Sheweth mans readines and earnest affection to commit idolatry Ver. 29. Sheweth that mans inuentions specially in the worship and seruice of God prouoke Gods angers and bring a plague vppon them Ver. 30. Teacheth vs in the example of Phinehas to lothe and abhorre sinne Ver. 31. Teacheth vs that God graciously accepteth the déedes words of his seruants though many wayes fraught with great defectes Ver. 32. Teacheth vs how peruerse and frowarde mans nature is though the Lorde deale neuer so plentifully and mercifully with him it teacheth also that God spareth no man for his person sake in that hée punished Moses Ver. 33. Teacheth thrée things first that other mens peruersnes shoulde not make vs sinne against God secondly though it doe yet wee shall not escape vnpunished thirdly that rash and vnaduised speaches are sinne against the Lord. Ver. 34. Teacheth vs to strike and not to spare where the Lord will haue vs to destroy for then we must not be lead by our owne fonde affections Verse 35. Teacheth vs that ill company is a shrewde meane to peruerte men from goodnes Ver. 36. Teacheth vs that to serue any besides the Lorde is the next way to come to destruction both in this life and in the life to come Ver. 37. Setteth out the rage of idolaters who spare nothing no not the dearest thinges they haue Verse 38. Teacheth vs that the shedding of innocent blood slayeth the whole lande and that therefore murther shoulde not onely not bée pardoned but sharpely punished Verse 39. Teacheth vs that there is nothing that hurteth man more then in ouerwening of his owne deuises Verse 40. Teacheth vs that our sinnes turne Gods loue and fauour into hatred and displeasure Ver. 41.42 Teach vs that sinne doeth drawe euen all temporall punishmentes vppon vs as forraine gouernement oppression captiuity c. Verse 43. Teacheth vs that God doeth not once onely but sundry times deliuer his people Secondlye that many the more graces they haue from God the more they are puffed vp in their owne deuises Thirdly that sinne against God is not onely a cause to humble vs but doeth in déede humble vs though perhaps wicked men will not sée it or féele it Verse 44. Teacheth vs first that GOD hath a tender eye ouer the afflicted ones Secondly that hée neuer forsaketh them if they call earnestly vppon him Verse 45. Teacheth vs that Gods frée couenaunt and eternall mercy without any thing of ours at all are sufficient inough to mooue him to take pity vppon vs in our afflictions Ver. 46. Teacheth that GOD onely hath the touching of mens heartes to bowe them hither or thither according to his good pleasure Verse 47. Teacheth vs to pray for other and euen Gods dispersed members as for our selues also that our owne ease and prosperity or preferment shoulde not so farre preuayle with vs as to make vs to forget them Verse 48. Teacheth all men continually to prayse the Lorde and to prouoke others thereto what in them lyeth Psalme 107 I Woulde diuide this Psalme into two partes Di In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faythfull to prayse the Lord for his mercy goodnes prouidence and power towardes them from verse 1. to the ende of the 10. In the seconde hée prouoketh them to praise the Lorde for his general power prouidence and goodnes towards others from ver 21. to the end of the Psalme Se. This Psalme hath no title or inscription at all Ver. 1. Is the same both in worde and sense that verse 1. of this Psalme 106. is and therfore sée that Ver. 2. Let them which haue béene redéemed of the Lord vz. out of bondage captiuity and dispersion q.d. let them that haue receiued this benefite at the Lords handes to bée set at liberty when they were in bondage prayse him shew vz. openly and to others howe vz. graciously and mightily hée vz. alone and none but hée hath deliuered them i. fréed them being sore oppressed through the cruelty and tyrannie of them that held them vnder from the hand i. from the power and might of the oppressor i. of them that oppressed them hée putteth in this place the singular for the plurall Verse 3. And gathered them vz. againe and together and that by his mighty power out of the landes vz. rounde about them into which they were dispersed for their transgressions sake from the East and from the West from the North and from the South i. from all quarters whereunto they were dispersed that word that we turne South signifieth also Sea and so shall you finde it translated in sundry textes but the meaning is because the red Sea lay southwarde from the land of promise Verse 4. When they wandered vz. a long tyme vp and downe in the desert and wildernesse out of the way hée meaneth out of the right way which did leade them whither they woulde haue come for GOD for their disobedience made them to wander fourty yéeres in the wildernes that so they might die and not come into the lande of Canaan and found no Citie vz. all that while of their wandering to dwell in i. to stay and refresh them selues in Verse 5. Both hungry and thirsty hée meaneth that whylest they were in the wildernesse they suffered many times great want of bread and drinke yea so much that their soule faynted in them i. their life was ready to decay and there séemed to bée but little difference betwéene death and them Verse 6. Then they vz. being in this great distresse and affliction cryed vnto the Lord in their trouble i. prayed earnestly vnto him and hée deliuered them i. set them frée from their distresse i. from the distresse that they were in Verse 7. And ledde them foorth vz. of the wildernesse and that safe and sounde by the right way vz. into the promised lande that they might goe vz. through his good direction to a Citie of habitation i. not onely to a citie inhabited but to a Citie whose
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
and earth This verse and the verses following conteine and answere to the blasphemous scorning of the aduersaries conteined ver 3. and in this answere the true GOD is manifestly set out ver 4. and further it is declared that the false may not onely not be compared with him but not with men no not so much as with the smallest creature liuing ver 4.5.6.7 and therefore that men shoulde no more feare the worshippers of idoles then the idoles themselues ver 8. so that here he opposeth the assurance of fayth against the blasphemies of vnbeléeuers and declareth that God hath an infinite power and such a one as can not bee limited in so much that all the worlde being vnder his gouernement hée fréely executeth whatsoeuer pleaseth him no man being able to let him therein yea that he is not onely aboue all lets and hinderaunces but also that he vseth the same to serue to the furtherance of his purposes and therefore hée addeth that hee doeth whatsoeuer pleaseth him Ver. 4. Their idoles i. the idoles of the heathen ver 2. of this Psal and which they serue as siluer and golde i are made of siluer and gold q.d. that is the best they can bee made of the worke of mens handes i. they are such woorkes as mens handes haue made Verse 5. They haue a mouth i. the proportion and similitude of a mouth and speake not i. can not speake therewith they haue eyes i. a shewe and likenes of eyes and sée not i. can not sée therewith and after the same sort must you vnderstande all that is sayd of them ver 6.7 The faithful do hereby declare that it is an absurd thing for men demaund of idoles that which they want or to put any trust in them séeing that they haue neither mouing féeling nor any other sense And in these verses hée maketh an opposition betwéene the true God and the false gods which are nothing but dead idoles and haue no power at all in these verses is conteined also a laying of that iustly vpon these false gods which the idolaters vntruely did charge the true God withall and the argumentes are taken first of the effect because their idoles were nothing but terrors and such as did trouble mens myndes with grieuous superstition from whence also they séeme in Hebrewe to haue their names and not comforting and sauing any as God doeth all his continually Secondly of the matter because that though they bee very precious yet they are earthly thinges and without life but God is the author of life and dwelleth in heauen thirdly of their beginning because mens handes made them whereas God is eternall and vncreated who also by his very word made al things lastly because they are idle and vnprofitable and not indued with any power of life but rather vaine shadowes of liuing thinges whereas the Lorde doeth whatsoeuer pleaseth him And by this meanes hee beateth downe the vayne confidence and pride of the wicked who bragged of the helpe of their gods to whome they themselues gaue a beginning and though they bee made of golde and siluer vnderstanding thereby any other precious matter whatsoeuer yet so it is the value of the matter causeth not that the idoles should bée more excellent if they might be compared with GOD. Verse 8. They that make them i. the caruers grauers painters c. are like vnto them i. brutish as it were and insensible q.d. they are no more able to resist thée and thy power then those dead images are able to resist a liuing man neither are they able more to hurt thy people then a blocke or a stocke of it selfe can hurt a liuing creature so are i. in the like case and condition also are all vz. of what state or condition soeuer they bee that trust in them vz. either litle or much and here they shewe one cause wherefore God hateth idoles vz. because the honour due to him alone is giuen to theÌ Ver. 9. O Israel now he speaketh to the faithfull and exhorteth them to trust in God onely q.d. But thou O Israel séeing thou hast had proofe of the alsufficiency of God and of the vanity of idoles trust thou in the Lorde vz. alone ioyne no other with him for hee is their helpe i. of the faithfull and of those that truste in him q.d. he alwayes helpeth them and their shield vz. in the day of distresse meaning vnder this terme shielde his protecting and defending of them Sée Psal 18.2 Ver. 10. O house of Aaron i. O ye priests and Leuites which were ioyned vnto the priests for their ease he speaketh specially vnto these because they should shew the way vnto others trust ye in the Lord vz. also that ye in féeling the same your selues may the better teach and perswade other men to imbrace it for he is their helpe and their shield sée ver 9. of this Psal Ver. 11. Yée vz. of what nation soeuer ye be and are now come to the knowledge of God that feare the Lord i. worship him and serue him according to his word trust in the Lord for he is their helpe and their shield sée ver 9.10 of this Psalme Ver. 12. The Lord vz. himselfe hath beene mindfull i. by effect and déede hath declared his care and remembraunce of vs vz. being in distresse and that by reason of the couenant which he made with vs hee will blesse vz. vs al of what state or condition so euer we be vnderstanding by blessing all maner of prosperity whatsoeuer hée will blesse the house of Israell i. all the race and posterity of Israel nowe hée applieth that particularly which hée spake before generally hée will blesse the house of Aaron i. the Priestes and Leuites as before verse 10. Ver. 13. Hée will blesse them that feare the Lorde i. such as worship and serue him as before verse 11. Marke also howe he speaketh of God in the thirde person And this often repeating of the woorde blessing serueth not onely to note the continuall course of Gods graces vpon his children but also to expresse the certaintie and assurednes thereof both small and greate i. as well those that are vile and contemptible in the world as those that are in greatest estimation and regard the reason of it is because GOD respecteth no mans person Verse 14. The Lorde will increase vz. through his great goodnesse and mercy his graces towardes you vz. which are his people hée meaneth that he will giue them a dayly supply of new benefites and greater then they haue had before towardes you and towards your children hée noteth in these woordes the largenesse of Gods blessing to be bestowed vppon the godly and their godly posterity Verse 15. Yée are the blessed of the Lorde i. you are such as the Lorde himselfe hath not onely promised bur perfourmed great blessinges vnto and therefore you néede not doubt or feare which made vz. by the worde of his power in the beginning and
for some deliuerances he addeth the cup of saluation that is deliuerances how Dauid performed this sée 1. Chro. 16.1.2.3 c. and will call vpon the name of the Lord i. pray vnto him also q.d. I wil not only thank him for his benefites but pray vnto him for the increase and continuance thereof Ver. 14. I will pay vz. with a frée and willing heart my vowes i. the thinges that I haue vowed or the sacrifices of thanksgiuing which I promised vnto him if he deliuered me out of distresse for amongst other that vsed to make vowes they did it that were in extreme danger distresse q.d. I wil not only by wordes confesse my self to be safe from danger so witnes the thankfulnes of my mind but I wil declare it also by offring the sacrifices which I vowed to the Lorde at what time Saul did pursue me very hardly The ende of vowes was to seale in the hearts of Gods children a hope to obtaine that which they did aske and moreouer to prouoke and bind them to thanksgiuing and this liberty to vow is permitted vnto Gods children to comfort them in their infirmities and not otherwise and that word pay noteth that it is due debt and that it can not be omitted without sinne if the thing vowed be lawful euen now q.d. I will not deferre it in the presence of all his people i. in the temple or place of publike exercise whether al Gods people resorted or else before all the Israelits whom he gathered together to Ierusalem to bring the arke of the Lorde thither Sée 1. Chro. 15.3 Ver. 15. Precious i. deare and of great account and regard in the sight of the Lord i. before him and his iudgement is the death of his saints i. death or mischief imagined or performed towards those whom he alloweth of q.d. God by my example hath declared how deare vnto him is the life of faithfull men séeing that hee hath so often preserued me assaulted so many wayes and with so great force or thus God doeth grieuously take good mens deathes and therefore they shall not escape vnpunished that kill them And marke this that for his comfort he setteth this against the malice of his enemies that God doth not at al aduenture deliuer his vp to death but maketh great account of them for the word saints sée Psalm 30.4 Ver. 16. Beholde Lord q.d. most true is it Lorde that thou wilt not haue the godly slayne for thou hast preserued me thy poore seruant for I am thy seruant vz. and thou hast shewed mée this grace and fauour I am thy seruaunt hee repeateth the same againe as a matter of no small comfort vnto himselfe neither must wee so vnderstand him as though hée grounded the causes of his deliuerance vpon his seruices perfourmed to God but vppon Gods frée election q.d. from my mothtrs wombe yea before I was borne this honour and goodnes was prepared for mee and the sonne of thy handmayde i. of a woman who did purely worship thée and this he speaketh because that children by reason of their first education imitated the disposition and manners of their mothers for which cause also it should séeme that the names of the kings mothers are so commonly expressed in the bookes of kings sée for this phrase Psal 86.16 thou vz. alone hast broken vz. in pieces or a sunder by thy almighty power my bands i. either the bands that I was bound in or else the bandes that were prepared to bind me in by this maner of spéech he meaneth that god had deliuered him from the danger wherin he was or else he had kept him that he came not into the troubles that his enemies had prepared for him Ver. 17. I will offer vnto thee a sacrifice of praise vz. for thy mercy goodnes shewed vnto mee he meaneth that he wil acknowledge confesse gods goodnes praise him for the same for here he protesteth again as he had done before ver 13.14 that hee would giue God thanks which is a signe that he was not vnthankful and I will cal vppon the name of the Lord marke the sodaine change of the person from the seconde to the third he meaneth by this speach that he wil neuer cease to worship God to praise God sée before ver 13. of this Psal Ver. 18. I wil pay c. This is the same with ver 14. before going both in words meaning therfore we shall not néed to stand vpon it Ver. 19. In the courtes of the Lordes house i. in the place of publik resort and assembly whether the people came together to serue God meaning no doubt the Church euen in the middest of thée O Ierusalem i. openly in that most famous City in which was at that time the only place appointed for gods sacrifices and seruice because there was but one only altar and that was placed there from which also it was not lawful for any man to withdraw himselfe Ver. 1. Teacheth vs vnfeignedly to loue the Lord Do. also that he is nigh to the supplication praiers of the faithful Ver. 2. 3. Teach vs that the time of affliction is an acceptable time to pray to God in that affliction it selfe addeth also an edge vnto our praiers Ver. 3. Doth further teach into what great anguish distresse the children of god are many times brought Ver. 4. teacheth vs earnestnes continuance in praier vnto almighty God Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that the consideration and féeling of Gods mercy is ought to be a notable spurre vnto prayer Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that Gods mercy towards other men our selues also should assure vs that our prayers shal be heard and we deliuered Verse 7. Teacheth vs to comfort our selues what wee may in our distresse and heauinesse also that God himselfe is the onely proppe and stay of those that are his Ver. 8. teacheth that god doth graciously preserue those that depend vpon him how great or how many soeuer their troubles bee Ver. 9. Teacheth that those which are vnder the sauegarde prouidence and protection of almightie God shal neuer miscary Ver. 10. Teacheth vs that faith in God and his promises maketh vs bold in prayer to him and ouercommeth all assaults of Satans malice our owne corruption Ver. 11. Teacheth into what extremities gods children oftentimes fal specially wheÌ they do not presently see the accomplishmeÌt of Gods promises Ver. 12. Teacheth vs that Gods benefites are so many and excellent that wee are not able to comprehende much lesse to answere the least part of them Ver. 13. Teacheth that vnfeigned and humble thankesgiuing is the most acceptable sacrifice to almighty God Ver. 14. Teacheth vs that when we haue vowed any thing which is lawfull and holy wee ought to performe it but what serueth this for vowes of monkery single life c. Ver. 15. Teacheth vs that god careth for that very tenderly those that are his which is a
felt is the speciall matter of comfort to al his children Ver. 77. Teacheth vs that wee can not liue no not in this life much lesse in the life to come without Gods great mercy Ver. 78. Teacheth vs that wee may pray against the wicked also what the nature of the wirked is vz. to vse force and flattery against Gods Saintes to worke them hurt if they can thereby lastly that serious meditation in Gods lawe is a singular comfort agaynst the assaultes of our enemies Ver. 79. Teacheth vs to pray for them that bee shrunke away euen as for our selues also that there is no right worshippe of God without the knowledge of his woorde Ver. 80. Teacheth vs to pray earnestly against the sinne of hypocrisie and dissimulation Caph. Di. THe Prophet in this eleuenth part maketh hearty prayer to the Lorde for helpe and deliuery first because of the miserable estate wherein hee himselfe was in respect of his owne person verse 81.82.83.88 Secondly in respecte of the great outrage and cruelty of his enemies verse 84.85.86.87 Se. Verse 81. My soule faynteth i. my life is euen as it were consumed for thy saluation i. with looking for helpe and deliueraunce from thée yet q.d. notwithstanding all this great distresse wherein I am I doe wayte vz. in hope and patience for thy worde i. for the accomplishment of those thinges which thou in thy worde hast promised q.d. I haue in great patience waited for deliuerance from thée and wil waite for it still for by fainting hee vnderstandeth a certaine patience whose force though it séeme to be vtterly lost yet doeth it not altogether forsake them in whome it is who séeme notwithstanding to bee dead but putteth into their heartes secret gronings yea such as men cannot well expresse Ver. 82. Mine eies i. the power strength and sight of mine eies faile i. decayeth and waxeth dimme for otherwise hée had his eyes still for thy promise i. with looking for the accomplishment of thy promise so long thou séemest to mée to deferre and put it off saying i. in so much that I burst foorth into this speach and saide when wilt thou comfort mee vz. distressed and afflicted on euery side such a sore conflict and battaile had Dauid within himselfe Verse 83. For I am like a bottle vz. made of beastes skinnes in the smoke i. hanged vp in the smoke hee meaneth that through griefe and misery hée was wrinkled withered dryed away and consumed as it were yet do I not forget thy statutes q.d. my miseries driue me not into a forgetfulnes of thée and thy word but make mee more to remember thée it Verse 84. Howe many are the dayes vz. of affliction and trouble of thy seruaunt i. which thy seruaunt shall indure Sée Psalme 116.2 in the Prophetes also we shal read this phrase the dayes of Egipt the dayes of Babilon c. when wilt thou execute iudgement i. when wilt thou punish on them that persecute me vz. without a cause Verse 85. The proude Sée before ver 51.69.78 haue digged pits for me i. haue secretly and by ambushes as it were sought my death and destruction Sée Psalm 7.15 which vz. craftie and subtil kinde of dealing is not after thy lawe i. consenteth not with the trueth of thy woorde but directly fighteth against it and this hee addeth to moue the Lorde the rather to execute iustice Immanuel referreth it to the persons thus The proude who conforme not themselues to thy lawe i. will not bee ruled after thy woorde nor order their life according to it haue digged pittes for mee but me thinketh the other sence is as playne Verse 86. All thy commaundements i. they all generally and euery one of them particularly are true i. most true yea trueth it selfe and in all trueth and vprightnesse enioyned men to obserue them they i. the proude and wicked men persecute mée falsely i. not only without a cause on my part but lyingly and slanderously in respect of themselues helpe mée vz. thus distressed and deliuer mee from these bloody and cruell men Verse 87. They had almost consumed me vz. through their wicked deuises and cruell practises vppon the earth i. liuing here vppon the earth with them Immanuel readeth it better thus cast downe vppon the earth i. being very much humbled and afflicted q.d. my miserie coulde not moue them to pity mee but the more weake I was the more cruell they were against mée but vz. for all that I forsooke not thy statutes i. I ceased not to beléeue thy woorde and to walke in obedience of it Verse 88. Quicken mee i. recreate and refresh mée ouer all my troubles and as it were call mée backe from death to life according to thy louing kindenes vz. which thou wast wont to shewe to thy seruaunts and hast heretofore declared vnto mee so shall I kéepe vz. diligently and carefully the testimonie of thy mouth i. thy woorde and lawe which is thus named to set out the authoritie that it hath in it selfe and shoulde haue amongest men Sée ver 13. of this Psalme Ver. 81. Teacheth vs that howsoeuer the faith hope Do. and patience of Gods children bee for a time darkened yet is is neuer vtterly quenched or put out Ver. 82. Teacheth vs that God many times bringeth his children to a lowe ebbe and doth for a long while withholde his aide yet doeth he not altogether for euer forsake them it sheweth also what great conflicts the godly haue in their troubles Ver. 83. Teacheth vs that no misery shoulde make vs to forget Gods word nay rather the more our miseries are the more should we meditate therin because in it only is sound comfort to be found Ver. 84. Teacheth vs that euen Gods children do many times desire to know those things which the Lord hath not particularly reuealed vnto them in his word Ver. 85. Teachech vs that the wicked are both cruel and crafty Ver. 86. Teacheth vs that the more egerly men molest vs the more earnestly we should call vpon God for his helpe Ver. 87. Teacheth vs two things first that the vngodly are without bowels of pity and compassion secondly that we should be so rooted in the loue and knowledge of God and his trueth as nothing shoulde pull vs away therefrom Ver. 88. Teacheth vs that wee can performe nothing obediently to God till it please him to giue vs the grace and strength Lamed Di. IN this part the Prophet maketh plaine proofe of the certainety continuance and truth of Gods word first by the very works of creation ver 89.90.91 secondly by his owne particular experience and practise ver 92.93.94 and so on to the end of this part Se. Ver 89. O Lorde thy woorde indureth for euer in heauen q.d. euen the very heauens can be witnesse of the continuance and constancie of thy worde séeing that they in the strength of thy word continue and abide much more shall thy word it selfe indure Some expound it thus the Prophet affirmeth
our causes when the ordinarye course of a iust defence is stopped against vs. Verse 123 teacheth vs neuer to leaue off hanging vppon the Lorde though the Lorde a long while deferre his ayde Verse 124 teacheth vs in all our supplications and prayers to flie to Gods mercy Verse 125 teacheth vs that till GOD giue vs vnderstanding we are vtterly blind Verse 126 teacheth vs that the heaping vp of wickednesse will doubtlesse procure the Lorde to come with swifte and sharpe iudgement Verse 127 teacheth vs to preferre Gods worde before all pleasures and profites of this life whatsoeuer Verse 128 teacheth vs vnfaignedlye and from the bottome of our hartes to abhorre all subtill and deceitfull wayes Pe. THe Prophet in this seuentéenth part Di. painteth out both the excellency of gods law and his great desire loue to the same ver 129 130 131. Secondlye hée prayeth the Lord to be mercifull vnto him to order his conuersation to saue him from the wicked to instruct him in his law ver 132 133 134 135. Thirdlye he expresseth how much he was gréeued when he saw the law of his God traÌsgressed and broken ver 136. Verse 129. Thy Testimonies i. thy law and word sée verse 111 Se. 125 are wonderfull i. comprehend wonderfull things because it containeth misteries which are high and hidden from mens reason and vnderstanding and hereby he was moued to reuerence estéeme Gods word therefore i. because they are so excellent doth my soule i. I my selfe both in the outward and inwarde man kéep them i. striue and labour to kéepe theÌ and thorow thy goodnes many times performe them Ver. 130. The enterance into thy word i. the beginning to be acquainted and familiar with it q.d. the word of God is so cleare that euen at the first sight of it it lighteneth mens eyes The hebrew word which is here turned entraunce signifieth dore gate or opening q.d. Euen the verye first rudiments or instruments of thy word sheweth light vz. to such as resort and repayre to it he meaneth that it lighteneth their mindes and chaseth away the naturall darkenesse which is in them giueth vnderstanding i. abundance of vnderstanding and knowledge to the simple i. to theÌ that be rude or ignoraunt and specially to such as being voyde from presumption and pride doe willingly submit themselues to GOD that they maye bée instructed in and by his worde Verse 131. I opened my mouth i. I very earnestlye desired as they doe that eyther are hungrye or thirstye verye muche whiche they declare by opening their mouth or gaping euen as though they woulde swallowe vp the ayre and panted vz. for an earnest desire which I had sée Psalme 42 12. I take these same to bée metaphors borrowed from thirstye and wearie wayfaring men q. d. I doe so earnestlye hunger and thyrste after thy lawe as the hungrye and thirstye doe after meaâe and drinke yea I doe by all the meanes I can striue to attayne it because I loued vz. earnestlye and vnfeignedlye sée Verse 113.127 thy commaundementes i. thy whole word a part for the whole Verse 132. Looke vppon mée vz. continuallye and at all times speciallye in the dayes of myne affliction and bée mercifull vnto mee though there be nothing in me to mooue thée vnto it as thou vsest to doe vnto those i. euen as thou arte accustomed to shew mercy and loue to such that loue thy name i. that loue thée and that vnfeignedly and from a good hart The name of God put for God himselfe as may appeare by Rom. 8. â8 where this phrase loue God is vsed Verse 133. Direct my steppes i. order my conuersation and course of life some turne it thus direct my feete but the sence commeth all to one in thy worde i. according to that truth which thou hast sanctifyed and set forth in thy word and in that he prayeth God to direct him he sheweth what great weakenesse is in maÌ by nature and let no iniquitie i. sinne either against thy maiestie or men my brethren haue dominion ouer me vz. to carry me from the wayes of thy coÌmaundements for though we haue a will sometimes to doe good yet euill is present and sinne dwelleth though it raigneth not in this our flesh sée Rom. 7. thorowout Verse 134. Deliuer me i. set me frée and that thorow thy goodnesse and mercy from the oppression of men i. from men that would oppresse me and doe mee wrong or else from the oppression and wrong whiche they purpose against me sée verse 121 of this Psalme and I wil kéepe thy precepts sée verse 115. of this Psalme Verse 135. Shew the light of thy countenaunce i. be mercifull and fauourable you haue such a phrase before Psalme 67 1. vpon thy seruaunt i. vpon me thy seruaunt or vnto me thy seruaunt speaking of himselfe in the third person and teach me thy statutes sée verse 64 68. Verse 136. Mine eyes gush out with riuers of waters i. I wéepe and sheade abundance of teares yea I am altogether in teares q.d. I wéepe continuallye not only for mine own cause but euen for the wicked mens sakes whome I pitye and specially for the law of God which it gréeueth me to the harte to bée violated and broken because they i. the men of the worlde and wicked ones kept not thy law i. haue neither care nor conscience to kéepe it Do. Verse 129 Verse 129 teacheth vs that the excellency of Gods word should drawe vs to a loue liking and obedience thereof Ver. 130 is an excellent place to aunswere the Papistes who accuse Gods word of darkenesse and hardnesse Verse 131. teacheth vs earnestly to hunger and thirst after the foode of our soules whiche is the word of God Verse 132 teacheth vs that God vseth continually to shew mercy and loue to those that loue and feare him Verse 134 teacheth vs that the more God doth set vs frée from daunger the greater care wee should haue to walke in obedience Verse 135 teacheth vs that Gods fauour is the Fountaine of all goodnesse to his children also that til he teach vs we are but blind and ignoraunt Verse 136 teacheth vs to be gréeued not only for our own sins but for other mens transgressions also Tsaddi Di. IN this part the Prophet speciallye propoundeth two thinges the firste is a singular commendation of God and his law Verse 137 138 140 142 and 144. The second is a description of his own misery trouble and gréefe and this is put down in verse 130 141 and 143. Verse 137. Righteous art thou O Lord vz. euen thou alone Se. and none other but thou q.d. if a man should séeke for righteousnesse without him hee shall not find a drop thereof and iust are thy iudgements vz. which thou exercisest towards men meaning also by this spéech that all of them and euery one of them are iust Ver. 138. Thou hast commanded and therefore good cause thou shouldest be obeyed iustice i.
deceitfull tongue bring vnto thée i. what doe thy false woordes profit thée or what gaine gettest thou by speaking so wickedly against other men thus he speaketh to one as it were particularly yet in him noting others also giuen fouly to that fault or what doth it auaile thee vz. that thou doest by euil speach hurt othermen Ver. 4. It is i. the tongue it selfe and slaunderous woordes procéeding from it as i. as dangerous and hurtfull the sharpe arrowes of a mighty man i. as sharpe and pearsing as are those sharpe arrowes which a mighty man shooteth q.d. they are very deadly and bring euen as it were present death with them as the coles of Iuniper i. as the coles which come of Iuniper wood being burned which are most hot and liuely as Hierom writeth vnto Fabiola and though hée yéelde not a reason of it yet I suppose that the gummy or salty matter in the trée may bee one cause of it and he vseth the rather this similitude because as is before sayde these coales burne and pearce more déeply the thinges which they take hold of then coales of other wood q.d. they burne whatsoeuer withstandeth them Of the inconueniences of the tongue Sée Iames 3. ver 1.2.3 c. Ver. 5. We is mee q.d. my case is pitifull miserable and grieuous that I remaine i. that by occasion of persecution at home I am inforced to inhabite and dwell in Meseel this is the name of one of Iaphets sonnes Gene. 10.2 whereupon some suppose that both the place wherein he and his posterity dwelt and also the people that came of him were called by this name and dwell in the tentes of Kedar Kedar was Ismaels sonne as appeareth Genesis 25.13 and likely it is that both the people and the countrey were so called of him Sée Psalm 83.6 and he maketh mention of tents because al the oriental people did for the most part dwel in tents Some thinke that vnder these names Mesech and Kedar hee meaneth the bastardly Israelites who had degenerated from their holy fathers and that therefore hée resembleth them to these two people because of their barbarous crueltie rage Some thinke that hee vnderstandeth by these places and persons places and people nigh vnto the land of Canaan whither he did sundry times flie as appeareth by the first booke of Samuel whatsoeuer it was hee was greatly wounded no doubt with the calumnies and slaunders of his aduersaries which also may appeare by this exclamation of his woe is to mée Verse 6. My soule i. I my selfe as verse 2. of this Psalme hath to long dwelt vz. if the Lorde sawe it so good with him that hateth peace i. with men much grieued against mee and here hee putteth the singular number for the plural meaning by him that hateth peace such men as did euen of set purpose and malice make warre agaynst good people Verse 7. I séeke vz. by all the meanes that I can and this sense I giue by reason of that which is read Psalme 34.14 peace vz. with those mine aduersaries and I woulde rather turne it but when I speake thereof vz. vnto them q.d. I doe no sooner open my mouth about such a matter but they are bent to warre i. they are prepared and ready for it and cry as a man woulde say alarum Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs to call vppon God in our troubles with confidence that we shal be deliuered and set frée from the same Verse 2. Teacheth vs to pray particularly that we may be deliuered from slaunderous and lying speaches Verse 3. Teacheth vs that such as giue themselues to backbiting and slaundering shall in the ende get nothing thereby Verse 4. Declareth how raging and violent slaunderous tongues are Ver. 5. Declareth in what a miserable estate they are that liue amongst the wicked Verse 6. Teacheth vs that the shorter while wee haue our habitation amongest the vngodly the better it is for vs. Ver. 7. Teacheth vs if it be possible and as much as in vs lyeth to séeke to haue peace with all men Secondly it painteth out the nature of the wicked that the more they are sought to the worse they are Psalme 121. THis Psalme standeth especially of thrée partes Di. In the two first verses the Prophet sheweth that he wil hang vpon God alone because he alone both can and wil helpe him In the second part hee setteth out the fatherly care and singular prouidence of almighty God towards those that are his ver 3.4.5 In the third part he declareth how they shal be continually deliuered from al dangers and euil whatsoeuer ver 6.7.8 The title A song of degrées this is expounded before in Psal 120. Ver. 1. Se. I wil lift mine eyes i. I wil looke vpon set mine affection vpon vnto the mountaines vz. of the land of Canaan for it may be that in them I may haue succor defence from my enemies such counsell the wicked gaue him as appeareth Psal 11.1 Canaan was ful of rockes mountaines and therfore in that respect it is called the mountaine of gods inheritance Exod. 15.17 from whence i. from which mountaines mine helpe i. helpe ayde and succor for mee shall come vz. as I suppose So that the prophet speaketh here as though he were debating the matter with himselfe from whence he should looke for aid q.d. the rockes and hils of Canaan shall defend mée from the rage and cruelty of myne enemies yet reiecting that opinion of his he doth in the second verse correct himself saying Ver. 2. Mine help i. help for me coÌmeth from the Lord vz. alone q.d. what meane I to talke of mountaines it is most certaine that I can haue no help but in the Lord only for though I fixe mine eyes vpon the mountaines trouble my self much with the meanes which are before me yet I shal in the end know that I can haue succor no where else but from God so that here he doth both correct that which he said before sheweth a victory against his assaults wholy coÌmitting himselfe vnto God for his Christs sake because in God there was power wil both to helpe him which hath made vz. in the beginning Gene. 1.1 and that of nothing Heb. 11.3 heauen and earth i. both those elements themselues and all things whatsoeuer in them conteined and this title is here and in many places attributed to God to the end that men might learne to assure and stay themselues in his power and might Ver. 3. Hée i. God will not suffer vz. through the prouidence and care that hee shall haue ouer thée thy foote i. thou thy self putting a part for the whole meaning notwithstanding that Gods prouidence shal reach not only to the guiding of the whole man but to euery particular member of him sée Psal 34.20 also Matth. 10.30 to slippe i. to stumble or fal so that thou shalt be hurt or lye downe vnder thy fall and thus vnder one hee turneth his
were from a fountayn the particular blessing floweth all the dayes of thy life i. so long as thou shalt liue in this life Ver. 6 Yea thou shalt sée thy childrens children i. thou shalt perceaue the singular fauour and blessing of God towards thée and thy family first by the length of thy own life as Exod. 20. in the fift commaundement secondly by the plentifull increase of thy posterity and séede and peace i. all maner of blessing and goodnesse as Psalme 122.6.7 vpon Israell i. vpon that people whiche serue God sincerely sée Psal 124.1 Ver. 1. Teacheth vs first that such as serue God Do. according to the rule of his word shal receiue al maner of blessing from the Lord secondly that a godly coÌuersatioÌ is a notable testimony of the right worship seruice of god Ver. 2. teacheth vs that not only gaines gotten by labor are gods blessing but to haue the fruition vse of them after we haue obteined them is gods blessing also Ver. 3 Teacheth vs that the fruitfulnes of our wiues and store of children is a blessing from the Lord likewise Ver. 4. Teacheth vs that the blessings which God hath promised vs shal be most assuredly performed Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that this is the blessing of al blessings in this life to sée the florishing and prosperitie of the Church Ver. 6. teacheth vs that old age and large posterity both are good blessings from the Lord. Psalme 129. Di. THe Psalme may be deuided into two parts In the first the faythfull declare that they were gréeuouslye oppressed by their enemies but yet that the Lord did graciously deliuer them verse 1 2 3 4. Secondly in the spirite of Prophecie as it were they doe foretell the assured destruction and ouerthrowe of all their enemies from verse 4 to the end of the Psalme Se. The title is expounded before Psalme 120 in the Title thereof Ver. 1. They i. our wicked and cruel enemies whom as a man would say he will not vouchsafe to name haue oftentimes vz. heretofore and eueÌ at this present one time after another doe afflicted i. troubled gréeued and persecuted and that after sundry sorts and by sundry meanes and wayes me i. vs hee speaketh of the holy body of the faythfull as it were but of one person by reason of the vnitye and fellow-like féeling that is or should be amongst them from my youth i. euen from the beginning of the world when the Church then began may Israell i. the faythfull people as Psalme 124 1 also Psalme 128 6. now i. euen at this present So we sée that the Church counteth those afflictions that the faythful haue indured before hir owne euen as those which she presently suffereth say vz. iustly rightly and vpon very good cause They meane by this and that which followeth after that the Church thinking diligently vpon auntient examples and experiences might easily gather both after what sort God had exercised his people from the first beginning of the world as from Abel Abraham and other Patriarks from whom the churche came and also howe they had a blessed ende of all their afflictions and this is done to the end that by the former deliueraunces they might in a good hope comfort and confirme themselues that God woulde deliuer them from the like in time to come Verse 2. They haue oftentimes afflicted me from my youth this is the same with verse 1 the repeating of it serueth to this ende both to shewe that they were sore afflicted in déede and also to set out the assurednesse of their deliueraunce but they could not vz. for all their subtiltie and for all their power preuayle vz. at any time or by any meanes agaynst me the reason because God hath bin on our side as Psalme 124 1 2. Verse 3. The Plowers i. the emies which God did vse as husbandmen to plow and till his Churche plowed vpon my back i. went quite and cleane ouer vs by which he noteth both the weake estate of the Church and the hard hartednesse of the enemies made long furrowes vz. vpon vs not sparing vs any whit at all for all the miserye that we are in In this verse he compareth the people of God to a fielde which men till and plough that he might the better shew that the crosse hath alwayes bin fastened vpon the back of the Church meaning that they suffred many gréeuous thinges from the enemies and that they did both a long season and very sorely afflict them Verse 4. But the righteous Lord i. he that dealeth and doth vprightly howsoeuer men deale cruelly and iniuriously hath cut vz. euen in sunder and that of his goodnesse towards vs thorow his almightye power the cordes i. all the powers of the wicked whether they consisted in couÌsels purposes practises or any such like of the wicked i. whiche the wicked men did imagine and vse All tendeth to this end that here he putteth downe a comfort and sheweth that God hath very easily and with little adoe repressed the rage and crueltie of his enemies and set his owne people at liberty as if one should cut in sunder all that belongeth to the horses that goe to plowe which as I take it in some countrye they call the geares and so by that meanes the plow and the owner thereof should stand still and the horses be at libertye from their labours and so he continueth still in his allegory or Metaphor Verse 5. They that hate Sion i. the Churche of God as Psalme 125 1. also Psalme 128 5. Now if the haters shal be punished hate being an affection of the hart only how shall they escape whiche put their hatred in execution and practise shal be ashamed vz. not only before God but euen before men and that word all noteth of what state or condition soeuer they be whether high or low rich or pore c. for with God there is no respect of persons and turned backward vz. as those that in the day of battaile come forth with fiercenesse and yet thorow a sodayne feare are glad to turne their backes so that in this verse he setteth out the ruine and destructioÌ of the enemies which thing also he doth in the next verses amplyfiing it by similitudes or metaphors taken from husbandry Ver. 6. They i. that hate Sion and such other wicked and vngodlye persons shall be as the grasse vz. which groweth on the house toppe as wee sée by dayly experience that grasse groweth on the tops of houses and in gutters specially in those houses which are not much inhabited whiche withereth vz. thorow the great and parching heat of the sunne afore it come forth vz. so farre as that it may be cut downe with the sithe or sickle This is the firste allegory or metaphor wherein the wicked are resembled to haye or grasse by the which he meaneth that they shall presently perish though they be lifted vp very high euen as the grasse or hearbe that
obey the wicked no though they haue the mastery of vs in euery thing that they demaunde specially when God and his glory shal be prophaned thereby Ver. 5. Teacheth vs continually to thinke vppon Gods Church and the misteries thereof that thereby we may be prouoked to powre forth earnest prayers to God for it Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that we should rather forget our selues then Gods Church it teacheth vs also that nothing in this life shoulde bee so ioyfull vnto vs as the restitution and florishing therof Verse 7. Teacheth vs that wee may safely pray against the wicked and vngodly Verse 8.9 Teach vs that God many times punisheth one sinne with an other as cruelty with crueltie not that he delighteth in sinne but to shewe that sinne shall not escape vnpunished and that to this ende and purpose hee rayseth vp one wicked man and people against an other Psalme 138 THe Psalme may bée deuided into thrée partes Di. In the first the Prophet promiseth humble and hearty thankesgiuing to the Lorde for his mercies towardes him verse 1.2.3 In the seconde hee doeth by the spirite of prophecie as it were foretell that other kings and people shall doe it as well as hée shewing the cause wherefore they shoulde so doe ver 4.5.6 In the thirde hee setteth out the assured perswasion that hee had of God and his goodnes towardes him praying for the continuaunce therof ver 7.8 The title A Psalme of Dauid i. a Psalme that Dauid made Se. to set foorth his thankefulnesse to God-warde Sée Psalme 4. in the title Ver. 1. I will prayse thée vz. O Lorde and that for thy mercies and benefites and this Psalme shoulde séeme to bee a publike confession that Dauid made vnto GOD for the blessinges which hee had receiued at his handes with my whole heart i. in sinceritie of heart with a sounde and not an hypocriticall heart and this is opposed against a double heart q.d. no parte of my heart nor of the affections thereof but they shall bée all wholly occupied in praysing of thee euen before the Gods i. openlye and before the Kinges and Magistrates of the worlde for so haue you the woorde Gods vsed Psalme 82.1 which thing also Dauid him-selfe promiseth Psalme 119.46 and in other places will I prayse thee vz. continually and vnfeignedly Verse 2. I will worshippe towardes thy temple i. I will call vppon thee bending my presence towardes the place where thou art serued Sée Psalme 5.7 and prayse thy name i. thy maiestye power goodnesse c. as sundry tymes before because of thy louing kindnes vz. towardes mee and for thy trueth vz. in accomplishing thy promises so here hee putteth downe the causes of his thankesgiuing Sée Psalme 115.1 for thou hast magnified thy name aboue all thinges i. thou hast made thy maiesty and power appeare more excellent and great then all thinges whatsoeuer by thy word i. by faithful accomplishment of those thinges which thou hast promised in thy word It may also receiue this sense q.d. the things which thou speakest and performest in thy woorde are more great and large then that men can either name them or thou bee sufficiently praysed for them Sée Psalme 71.15 Ver. 3. When I called vz. vpon thée by prayer then thou heardest mee i. grauntest mée my requestes and petitions Sée Psalm 120.1 and thou vz. alone for none could do it but thou hast increased strength in my soule i. hast made my soule and inward man very mightie and strong with patience to suffer all calamities whatsoeuer it may be also vnderstoode thus that God had more and more strengthened himselfe putting a part for the whole Ver. 4. All the kinges of the earth This séemeth to bee a prophecie of the calling of the Gentiles he meaneth that many kings their people shal bee conuerted to the Lorde shall prayse thee O Lorde vz. by myne example for they haue hearde the woordes of thy mouth i. they haue not onely with their eares heard but with their eyes séene and with their heartes consented vnto the trueth of thy word generally and particularly this that thou hast by wonderfull meanes brought mée to the kingdome and this hee speaketh specially of Hiram king of Tyrus and others néere vnto him Verse 5. And they shall sing vz. openly and in the hearing of others of the wayes of the Lorde i. of the thinges which the Lorde doeth and of the order and course which he obserueth therein he meaneth that they shal both acknowledge gods workes and prayse him for the same specially for the course which hee hath kept in preseruing Dauid from his enemies and exalting him to the kingdome because the glory of the Lorde is great i. because the thinges that he hath done gloriously and openly as it were a conquerour are very high and excellent Verse 6. For the Lorde is high i. mightie and passing the very heauens them-selues and so it may bée a reason of the great glorye of the Lorde whereof hée spake before yet q.d. notwithstanding the great distaunce betwéene him and vs hee beholdeth vz. with a fauourable and louing countenaunce and that not idlely but effectually and as one that hath altogether care ouer such the lowly i. such as are humbled despised and contemned amongest men but the proude vz. men of the earth hee knoweth vz. thorowly both within and without a farre off vz. howe farre off so euer they bée from him and it may bée that hee meaneth that as the proude doeth scornefully and as it were a farre off beholde others so dealeth the Lorde with them Immanuel readeth the whole verse thus though the Lorde bee lifted vppe vz. in great and exceeding glorie yet hee beholdeth the lowly i. such as are depressed and beaten downe of men and though hee him-selfe bee high i. lifted vppe euen aboue the heauens hee knoweth a farre off q.d. GOD hath both sight and certaine knowledge both of the good and of the bad the senses in my iudgements differ not much Verse 7. Though I walke i. though I bee much conuersaunt in the middest of trouble i. in very great daunger so that I am compassed about with both before and behind on the right hande and on the left Sée Psalme 23.3.4 yet wilt thou reuiue mee q.d. though my dangers were so great that I shoulde séeme to be dead yet thou wilt quicken me and preserue me from death Thou wilt stretch forth thine hande vpon the wrath of mine enemies i. thou wilt not onely set thy power betwéene mee and their rage to the end that they doe me not any hurt but thou wilt also oppose and set thy selfe against them Immanuel readeth it thus thou stretchedst out thy hande agaynst the face of mine enemies i. thou wilt strike them and that openly as it were with thy left hande and wilt defende mée with thy right as followeth in this verse and thy right hande i. thy gracious and mighty power shall saue me i. deliuer me out of
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 maÌs 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 prouideÌce 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 stoâks 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 prouideÌce 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
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 childreÌ 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
of my life as long as I haue any being vz. either in this life or in eternall life for the action of prayse and thanksgiuing to God shal not cease then I will sing vz. prayses and thankesgiuing vnto my God i. vnto him whom I serue and whom I haue founde by particular experience to haue bene a singular God to mee Ver. 3. Put not your trust i. haue not any confidence or affiance in them as though that without God or against him they were able to helpe you in princes vz. how litle or how great soeuer they be in authority nor in the sonne of man i. in any man whatsoeuer and this he doeth to the end that God may haue his whole gloryââecting and abolishing all peruerse hopes specially those which we haue in great personages for there is none helpe in them i. he or they altogether are not able of themselues to helpe either themselues or other distressed and this is one reason why they shoulde not trust in men Verse 4. His breath departeth i. euen his soule and vitall spirite that is hee dieth and so the hope which men repose in him or them perisheth and hée returneth to his earth vz. out of which he was taken as Gene. 3.19 and this must bée vnderstoode in respect of his body then vz. when hee dieth his thoughtes perish i. all that hee thought vppon and deuised in his imagination come to nothing and this is an other reason taken from the vanity of mans life Verse 5. Blessed is he i. he is in a good and blessed state that hath the GOD of Iaakob for his helpe i. that hath the true GOD to helpe and deliuer him in all assayes Sée Psalme 144.15 whose hope is in the Lorde his GOD i. that putteth his trust onely in that true god howsoeuer men do destitute forsake or faile him Ver. 6. Which made heauen and earth sée Psalme 124.8 also Psalme 121.2 the Sea and all that therein is i. whatsoeuer liueth and moueth in the same Sée Psalm 8.8 which kéepeth his fidelitie for euer i. which doth faithfully and continually performe whatsoeuer he hath promised Ver. 7. Which executeth iustice vz. vpon the wicked and vngodly and that woorde Iustice sheweth that God doeth them no iniurie when hee punisheth them for the oppressed i. on the behalf of the oppressed q.d. when they are oppressed and none able to deliuer them then doeth God take vppon him the defence of their iust cause against the oppressours which giueth bread to the hungrie i. foode and sustenance to them that want it the Lorde loseth the prisoners vz. out of their prison and bondage as he did Ioseph by bowing rulers heartes to set them at libertie Sée Psalm 105.20 Verse 8. The Lorde giueth sight to the blinde the Lorde raiseth vp the crooked i. hée healeth all diseases yea though they be neuer so harde and incurable howe true this is the whole body of the Scripture declareth and specially the miracles of our Sauiour Christ in the newe testament and by crooked he meaneth them that bee broken and bowed as it were together with afflictions and infirmities the Lorde loueth the righteous i. pursueth them especially with his fauour séeming after a sorte to restraine that to the godly which hée had generally spoken before Ver. 9. The Lorde keepeth vz. safe and sounde and free from hurt and daunger the strangers vz. which are tossed from one place to an other and haue as it were no body to comfort them hee relieueth the fatherlesse and widowe i. hee comforteth them in their distresse and heauinesse vnder these three hee comprehendeth all them that bee destitute of ayd and defence or haue no means to come by the same of these see Exodus 22.22.23.24 but hee ouerthroweth vz. in his iust iudgement the way of the wicked i. all his deuises woordes and workes Sée Psalme 1.6 Ver. 10. The Lorde vz. our God which we serue shall raigne for euer vz. do his Enemies against him and his what so euer they can O Sion he speaketh to Sion that is to the Church because God speciallie raigneth for the preseruation thereof thy GOD vz. whom thou seruest endureth from generation to generation i. ruleth and raigneth for euer and euer as Psalme 145.13 Prayse yee the Lord sée Psalme 106. in the end Do. Ver. 1. teacheth vs that our praysing of God should procéed from the harte Ver. 2. teacheth vs that we should continue in it and neuer be wearie of well doing Ver. 3. teacheth vs earnestlie to fight against that naturall corruption which is in vs that is to trust in others besides the Lord. Ver. 4. setteth out the breuitie and brittlenesse of mans life Ver. 5. teacheth vs that how soeuer wée be forsaken of men yet we are in good case if we trust in the Lorde Ver. 6. teacheth vs to prayse God first for the workes of creation secondlie for his mercifull promising and faythfull performinge of that which he hath promised Ver. 7. teacheth vs that how soeuer men deale vniustlie one with an other yet God alwayes executeth Iustice Secondlie it teacheth vs that he doth not for euer forget the pore afflicted estate of his people Thirdlie that we ought to prayse him for his prouidence towardes the poore and néedie and his pitie towardes the prisoners Verse 8. teacheth vs that many times in matters past mens reache the Lord worketh most mightilie to the end that all the glorie might be geuen to him Ver. 9. teacheth vs that these whom men commonlie make least account of GOD most highlie regardeth and estéemeth it setteth out also the vnlikelie rewarde of the wicked and of the godlie Verse 10. teacheth vs that it is a singular comfort to the Church and to euerie member thereof to knowe that GOD is the King thereof and his Kingdome and gouerment shall endure for euer Psalme 147. THis Psalme standinge chieflie in exhorting men to the prayse of GOD Di. may be deuided into thrée partes First he prouoketh men to prayse God speciallie for his Graces and goodnesse towardes his Church from Verse 1. to the ende of the sixt In the second he exhorteth men to prayse him speciallie for his prouidence to all creatures and namely towardes Men. from Verse 7. to the ende of the 11. In the thirde he prouoketh them to prayse him for his might power and goodnesse towardes all but chiefly towardes his Church from Verse 12. to the ende of the Psalme Se. This Psalme hath no title as many other before going haue none Ver. 1. Prayse ye the Lord vz. for his mercy and goodnesse for it is good i. profitable and comfortable euen to vs sée Psalme 92.1 To singe vz. prayses and thankes giuings vnto our god i. vnto him who hath testified by infinit tokens his great care and loue towardes vs and we agayne on the other side do serue and worship for it vz. prayse and thankes giuinges is a pleasaunt thing i. is an acceptable thing euen vnto
GOD also as who requireth the same at our handes as a péece of his seruice Psalme 50.15 and prayse vz. giuen vnfeynedly vnto GOD is comelie vz. both before him and all good men though the wicked of the worlde make no account of it but as a deformed thing sée for these two wordes good and comelie Psalme 133.1 Verse 2. The Lord vz. him selfe doth buyld vp vz. thorowe his goodnesse and power Ierusalem i. his Church and vnder the terme builde the Holy Ghost doth meane that GOD is the author the founder yea all in all for his Church and gathereth to gether vz. by the voyce of his worde and the vse of his Sacramentes the dispersed of Israell i. the straying members of his Church If we referre it to Ierusalem and the Iewes he meaneth that GOD hath bene alwayes a gracious Father vnto that people and that howsoeuer they were now scattered abroad into other cuntreyes yet he would bringe them home agayne to theyr owne If wée referre it to the Church as wée may and ought to do in déede he meaneth then that it is not builded by mans power but by a heauenly and diuine power that is by GOD himselfe who gathereth into the bosome or lappe of his Church all those that are strayed from it and appertayne to his election Verse 3. Hee i. the Lorde healeth vz. by his worde and most comfortable promises conteyned therein which are the medicines of our soules and the diseases thereof and this he doth for his promise sake broken in harte i. humbled in the inward man for their sinnes committed agaynst him sée Psalme 51.17 it may also be taken for such as be grieuouslie afflicted either outwardly or inwardly yea throwen downe and ouerwhelmed as it were with their affliction and buildeth vp their sores i. remedieth and redresseth their hurtes and euills and cureth as it were theyr griefes like a good Shéepheard Ezech. 344. and as the good Samaritane Luke 10.34 and as a good Surgion is wont to doo after that he hath opened and dressed his patients woundes Verse 4. He i. the Lorde counteth the number of the starres i. knoweth the very certayne number of them and not that we should thinke that he sitteth there to reckon them after the manner of men calleth them all by their names i. knoweth howe to name euery one of them q.d. that GOD which sitteth in heauen and knoweth all thinges yea euen the least thinges that are and who also ruleth all thinges euen in the very Heauens and doth by name beare rule ouer euerie one of them according to his authoritie and might sée Isaiah 40.26 yea euen that God is worthie to be praysed declaring also that it is no more harde matter for God to gather his Church the dispersion thereof then to number the starres and to giue to euery thing his office might property guiding them all by his prouidence and wisedome in such sorte that nothing shal be disorderous in that great multitude Ver. 5. Great is our lord vz. in goodnesse great is his power vz. also d.q. both his goodnes and power is very great yea infinite Sée Psal 135.3 his wisedome is infinite vz. to men as who can neither account it nor throughly comprehende it vnderstanding by wisedome his most fatherly and wise gouernement also and the particulars thereof Ver. 6. The Lorde relieueth i. comforteth by his woorde and spirite and many times in his prouidence exalteth to great honour as Psal 113.7 the méeke i. the humble hearted and such as by their afflictions are brought to true lowlines and abaseth the wicked to the ground i. casteth them downe from the top of their honour euen as lowe as can bee Ver. 7. Sing vz. prayses and thankesgiuing vnto the Lorde vz. our God with prayse i. with ioyfulnes also as well as with prayse sing vz. Psalmes of prayse vpon the harp hee addeth instruments for the better stirring of men vp Sée Psalme 144.9 and yet this was but temporal and arbitrarie vnto our God sée ver 1. of this Psalme Verse 8. Which couereth the heauens with cloudes i. casteth thick cloudes conteining raine in them ouer the firmament meaning thereby that God doeth by that meanes chaunge as it were the face of the heauen which shoulde drawe vs euen to wonder at his power and prepareth vz. by that meanes raine for the earth i. for the good and profit of the earth because without raine and moisture from heauen it woulde bee vtterly barren and maketh vz. through his speciall blessing as the first cause and the raine as the instrument the grasse to growe vz. in great plenty and abundaunce vpon the mountaines i. in most barren and drie places which are for the most part very scant of grasse because they are nigh to the parching and pearsing heate of the Sunne Verse 9. Which giueth vz. in mercy to beastes their foode i. the nourishment wherewith they are maintained and liue and to the young rauens which are not able to féede themselues which crye vz. through want of foode and sustenaunce Sée Iob. 39.3 and in this verse the Prophet setteth out Gods fatherly care and prouidence which stretcheth it selfe euen to Rauens or Crowes whiche are the most contemned foules almost that are men making no account of them as for foode but vtterly to destroy them as hurtefull and noysome Verse 10. Hée i. GOD hath not pleasure i. careth not for nor delighteth in in the strength of an horse of which you may reade a liuely description Iob. 39.22.23 c. and vnder this and that which followeth hee comprehendeth all meanes of flesh and blood whatsoeuer in which many men put their trust but that is a peruerse thing and much to bee condemned and yet without that wee may lawfully vse all holy meanes which God shall giue vs neither delighteth hee in the legges of man vz. howe strong well proportioned swift and nimble so euer they bee meaning notwithstanding that God exerciseth this goodnes towards vs of the vse of the meanes not for any worthinesse that is in any of the Creatures but for his owne glory fake and the good of his Church Verse 11. But the Lorde delighteth in them i. both careth verye much for them and taketh singular pleasure in them that feare him i. sincerelye worshippe and serue him hauing a reuerent feare of his maiesty in their heartes and attende vz. in hope and patience vppon his mercy i. the time till in mercie hee perfourme that which hee hath graciously promised them Verse 12. Praise the Lorde vz. for his mercy and goodnes O Ierusalem i. O thou his Church prayse thy God i. the GOD which thou seruest O Sion by Sion and Ierusalem he vnderstandeth both one thing vz. Gods Church and congregation Sée Psalme 51.18 meaning also by this often prouoking of men to prayse the Lorde to teach them this that they can neuer want occasion or matter in that behalfe Ver. 13. For he hath made
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 heaueÌs 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 coÌmonly 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 theÌ 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