part of the law put for the whole it may also be called iudgments because that thereby hée sheweth what he iudgeth méete to be done are truth and therefore can not be accused of subtilty or falshood and it is more forcible in that hee sayth they are truth then if hee should say they are true because that speach noteth that nothing besides or without them is truth but méere lying ver 20. Sheweth the preciousnes of the lawe If we would desire store or profit we must preferre it before the finest golde that hath beene oftenest tried if present vse and pleasure before hony the hony combe ver 11. made circumspect vz. in his walking being taught what to do and what to flée from and here Dauid speaketh of himselfe in the third person yet so that it doth apperteine to all Gods children There is great reward vz. through Gods mercy for so doth the word rewarde import and not of our merit as the papists imagine ver 12. Who can vnderstand his faults i. knowe them as it were particularly either for the multitude of thē or because ignorantly we cōmit many things which we take to be no sinnes secret faults i. sinnes not only hidden from other men but from my selfe by reason of my ignorance and yet al knowne to thée ver 14. Wordes of my mouth i. the words I shal vtter with my mouth meditatiō of mine heart i. the things I shal meditate in my hart he wisheth that his thoughts words might be such as might be regarded before God and answerable to his profession and he speaketh nothing of déeds and works because this necessarily followeth that when the meditations thoughts of the heart together with the words be good then déeds also wil be good redéemer vz. through Christ none other speaking here not only of deliuerāce frō dangers but from sin that which sinne bringeth with it also vz. eternal death and destruction Do. Out of the sixe first verses we may learne to behold knowe the maiestie power goodnes of God in his creatures secondly that as they in their kind expresse preach these excellent things so yea much more should men that God hath created after so feareful wonderful a sort that not euery man in himself but also to be gods instrument to worke the same in others Out of the 7.8.9.10.11 We learne generally by the excellent cōmendation of gods law reuerently to estéeme it vnfeignedly imbrace it out of ver 7. Where it is called perfect wee haue an answere to the papists that accuse it of some want by bringing in vpon it their vnwritten verities and traditions and in these words conuerting the soule that ordinarily it is possible that any should repent and haue fayth without the hearing of gods word as Rom. 40.17 and in these words is sure there is a doctrine of comfort to the faithful because gods wil neuer faile them of terror to the wicked because gods iudgmēts shal assuredly ouertake them and in these words giueth wisedome vnto the simple we haue not only a notable effect of the law set forth but an argumēt to conuince the papists in this that they accuse the word of darknes as though none could profit by it but the learned sort ver 8. True ioy is to be fet from gods word as also true light of knowledge vnderstanding ver 9. Noteth the propertie of gods word the exact perfection that is in the whole in euery part therof ver 10. Teacheth in what great estimation we ought to haue the word and with what a holy hunger and thirst we should desire the worde ver 11. Teacheth two things first that wee can neuer bee truely wise but by learning gods word secondly that for our better incouragement to the doing thereof the Lord setteth great rewards before vs and indéed graciously in good time giueth vs the same ver 12. Teacheth that our sinnes are innumerable secondly that we must pray pardon of them generally particularly of these which we haue committed either of ignorance or of knowledge and yet remember them not ver 13. Teacheth vs to pray against the power and rule of sinne in vs. ver 14. That we should haue care and conscience ouer our wordes and thoughts that they might be approued before God Psalme 20. THis Psalme hath specially 2. partes In the first Di. there is a prayer for the king for whose welfare the people promise ioyfulnes and thankfulnes from ver 1. to the end of the fifth In the second they do assure themselues of Gods fauour and of their enemies ouerthrow and protesting for themselues that God shal be their aide and praying again for their king from ver 6. to the end of the Psalme The title is expounded before Psas 4. ver 1. heare thée i. Se. the praier that thou makest granting thy requests of Iaakob may be here taken either for the person of the Patriarth who worshipped god with great religion which God also was present with him in al his afflictions or else it may be put for the whole people of Israel who came of Iaakob both the wayes are vsuall in the old new testament ver 2. Frō the sanctuary i. from a place in the arke so called in which God gaue visible tokens of his fauor defence out of Sion this was the place wherin the arke which was a visible token of gods aide defence was receiued he putteth the place the arke therin contained for the assured fauor aid of God Some vnderstand by sanctuary heauen by Sion the visible place of god in his church what soeuer it is the prophet meaneth nothing but aide assistance to be giuen from god ver 3. Let him remēber or as Immanuel readeth let him smel meaning by that metaphor a gracious acceptation of his sacrifices as Gene. 8.21 vz. With fauor graciously accepting al thine offrings he meaneth by offrings the exercises of religion ioyned with them as confession of sins praier c. and turne vz. by fire as it were sent frō heauen Thy burnt offrings into ashes declaring therby that he alloweth thy seruices as he did to Aaron Leuit. 9.24 to Eliah 1. king 18.38 Ver. 4. According to thy hart i. as thy hart wisheth desireth all thy purpose i. whatsoeuer thou purposest he meaneth describeth here a king that asketh nothing but by the direction of gods spirit what God himself hath prescribed ver 5. Immanuel readeth this verse as it were a continuance of the peoples praier this is a reason to moue god graciously to yéeld to their praiers In thy saluatiō i. in that thou sauest deliuerest from dangers vz. our king so haue we had saluation sundry times vsed before And set vp the banner like vnto those that triumph after a victory is gotten hee putteth the signe of ioy for ioyfulnes it selfe in the name this word is taken here as ver 1.
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
not then nor long time after brought in to Sion but that it was made vppon some other particular victory gotten after Dauid was king and after hée had brought the Arke to Sion where God is sayde to dwel not that God is tyed to any place but because that there was the most manifest and often testimonies of his residence shewed ver 12. Amend thus For hee that requireth slaughter i. Hee that letteth not murther escape frée but is a reuenger of the same because he is a most iust iudge remembreth them i. The poore and afflicted which are spoken of ver 9. and follow presently in this verse Ver. 13. Haue mercy vppon me O Lord. q.d. These are the woordes of the poore that God forgetteth not speaking that in the person of one that appertained to many and was no doubt practised by them and here is the chaunge of number which maketh the place more hard from the gates of death i. from most present and assured death ver 14. Gates put here for publikely and openly Iob. 29.7 For gate in the scripture signifieth a place before the gate of a city into which the people were wont to come where also the iudges did sit to minister iustice of the daughter of Sion Daughter put for the citie or towne as Ioshua 15.45 ver 15. Knit to the former thus saying the heathen c. As though this should be the matter that he woulde publish to the praise and glory of God and in this verse by heathen hee vnderstandeth the Philistines or some other people as Moabites Ammonites and such like that bordered vpon Iudea vsing two metaphors to expresse their ouerthrowe the first taken from hunters who digge pits to take wolues and other wild beastes in the the other from fowlers who lay nets to take birdes ver 16. Is knowne i. maketh himselfe knowne though men many times regarde not his iudgments the wicked see ver 5. Or else expound it thus that vnder one hee meaneth all which he expresseth in the next verse the word wicked there being of the plural number whereas here it is but the singular ver 17. Is read by some as a wish or a praier against the wicked which I better allow of into hell againe which I take to bee the better meaning the ouerthrowe that their enemies had susteined and their destruction that way though the other may stand ver 18. He meaneth that God wil neuer forget them that are afflicted and in misery ver 19. Let not man preuaile vz. against thee and thine least hee waxe proud aboue measure hee putteth man for multitudes of men and for all that is of excellencie power and strength in him ver 20. Putteth in feare i. strike a feare of thy iudgements into the but meÌ„ i. fraile weake and of no strength or countenance Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth that God must be praised for his benefits and that not with a peece of the heart but with the whole ver 4. God alwaies defendeth his children and their iust causes also how corrupt soeuer man is in iudgement yet God is alwaies iust and true ver 6. We may sometimes merily taunt gods enemies and ours it teacheth also the vtter â—â—ne of the wicked which also in ver 5. was noted ver 9. Is full of comfort for all those that are in any manner of affliction or trouble ver 10. sheweth what hope the faithful shall haue in God and on the other side what grace and fauour the Lord beareth to them ver 13. God helpeth his children in the greatest distresses yea when no way appeareth to flesh and blood how to escape ver 15. God in his iust iudgement ouertaketh the wicked in their owne deuises as Psa 7.15 The sunne is declared also ver 16. ver 17.18 Declare gods iudgements against the wicked and his fauour to his owne children ver 20. declareth that vnlesse God bridle men strike them downe they will grow to a marueilous height of pride Psalme 10. THis Psalme hath two parts Di. In the first the Prophet largely setteth out the wickednes of the vngodly and their mischieuous attempts From ver 1. to the end of the second In the second he prayeth earnestly against them desiring the Lord both to punish them to succour his owne seruants From ver 12. to the end This Psal hath no title Ver. 1. Why standest thou farre of he speaketh of God according to man as the rest also in this verse must be so vnderstand not that God was far off for he filleth all places but that it so séemed vnto man and hidest thee vz. From vs which we gather because thou shewest not thy selfe fauourable vnto vs the latter part of that verse mend thus in due time euen in afflictions i. in the times wherein we are very much afflicted ver 2. The wicked sée Psa 9.16 With pride i. being puffed vp with the pride of his heart the poore i. he that is afflicted and in misery Psal 9.18 Let them bee taken the Prophet changeth number that they haue imagined vz. against other ver 3. blesseth himselfe i. not onely wisheth wel to himselfe but praiseth and commendeth himselfe in his couetousnes and other wickednes hee i. the wicked man generally couetous or otherwise vers 4. seeketh not for God i. hath no regard of him at al but puffed vp in his pride consisteth in himself he thinketh alwaies there is no God q.d. the wicked ones call not vppon God the reasoÌ„ is because they thinke alwaies this God regardeth not mens matters and therefore they will doe whatsoeuer pleaseth them sée Psal 41.1 ver 5. His wayes i. his purpose and trade of life alwaies i. what times soeuer fall to other men either of florishing or decaying his state alwayes prosper i. florish wonderfully in this life thy iudgements i. Thy plagues and punishments that thou layest vpon the vngodly are high aboue his sight i. he thinketh not vppon them neither considereth thereof déeply because they are aboue his reach as hee estéemeth much lesse doeth hée féele them therefore defieth hee i. hée is puffed vp into such pride that hée regardeth not his enemies though neuer so mightie or many ver 6. Hee saith in his heart i. hee perswadeth himselfe within himselfe see Psalm 14.1 I shal neuer be moued i. I shal neuer fall from the state and dignitie wherein I am meaning that hee should liue very long and so long as hee liued neuer be hurt as it were or sustaine any losse ver 7. His mouth i. the wordes and spéeches that proceed from his mouth are nothing else but cursing c. vnder his tongue i. in his heart which is vnder his tongue i. beneath his tongue as it is placed in the body is mischiefe vz. against others q.d. in his heart he imagineth how to worke mischief to others ver 8. in the valleies i. in places where there is no great resort of people against the poore vz. to oppresse or murther him q.d. hee
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 cōpassed 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 secōd part he reciteth sundry particular graces bestowed vpon him and excellent matters that the Lord inabled him to performe frō 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 thē for Dauid was neuer without enemies this title summarily cōprehendeth 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 strēgth 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 vpō 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 mē 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 Leuiathā Iob. 41.11.12 Ver. 9. he bowed the heauens i. he made them séeme so low as though they had touched mens heads which is then done when the cloudes are thick and darke and came down this also is spoken after the maner of men Now God is sayd to come downe when by euident tokens he sheweth his wrath in confounding the wicked as Gen. 9.7 and darkenes i. darke cloudes whiche are called darkenes because they séeme to bring darkenes with them hee meaneth nothing else by these maner of spéeches but that God by a very great tempest declared himselfe to be present to defend his seruaunt and to strike his enemies Ver. 10. vpon Cherub the singular for the plurall Cherubines of whiche you may read Gen. 3.24 they are certayne Angels which readilye execute Gods will whereby and by his riding vpon them the Prophet noteth nothing else but Gods swiftnes in comming to succour him which also he noteth by wings of the winde Ver. 11. Darkenesse put for thick cloudes as before ver 9. and his pauilion round about him vnderstand was euen darkenes of waters i. cloudes full of rayne or water which are called darkenes of waters because they haue a certayne darkish colour as the waters also haue and cloudes of the aire i. more bright and shining cloudes q.d. God putteth both the one kind of clouds the other betwéene himselfe and the wicked as a testimony of his wrath ver 12. at the brightnes of his presence q.d. when God beginneth to shew his maiestie his cloudes passed i. were as a man would say made more light or else did cleaue as it were in sunder and they are called his cloudes because they are gouerned and directed at his appoyntment sée Iob. 37.15 Haylestones and coales of fyre vz. came from the Lord after that the cloudes were broken for coales of fire sée ver 8. ver 13 In the heauen i. in the firmament or in that region of the aire where the thunder is as Philosophers déeme and the highest gaue his voyce i. thundered sée Psalme 29.3 c. so that it is nothing but a repetition of that whiche went before haylestones and coales of fyre vnderstand he gaue q.d. he sent forth also or gaue hailestones c. Ver. 14. Then i. after al this he sent out his arrowes i. after some his lightning but I rather take it for all the afflictions that God layd vppon the vngodly sée Psal 38.2 and scattered thē i. destroyed them for then an armye is wont to perish when the order thereof decaieth ver 15. and the chanels of waters were séene i. the depths wher the waters run or as you would say the bottom of the sea the foundations of the world he alludeth to the miracle shewed at the red sea for then were the springs of the waters which he calleth the foundations of the earth by reason of their wonderfull depth discouered so that a man mighte as it were sée from whence so many sloudes had their beginning at thy rebuking i. when thou séemedst to rebuke them turning their courses contrary to those which they had before at the blasting of the breath of thy nostrels this is spoken according to man q.d. there was no néede that thou shouldest commaund them when thou diddest but breath vpon thē it was ynough to make the drie lande appeare ver 16. He hath sent down vz. his power or his Angels for God did vse to deliuer his children by Angels frō aboue from heauen and taken me i. deliuered me vz. out of many daungers hee hath drawne me q.d. euen by violence maugre the heads and harts of mine enimies out of many waters i. not only many but very great daungers sée Psa 69.1.2 Psal 124.4 Ver. 17. from my strong enimie he meaneth enemies one number being put for an other or else by one he vnderstandeth al that one being the ringleader of the rest ver 18. They preuented me vz. by their subtiltie and had almost taken me in the snare they layd for me in the day of my calamity i. when I was in calamity and affliction was my stay i. not only on whom I did leane vpon and trust to but my helper deliuering me from them ver 19. into a large place he meaneth by this his liberty and deliuerance for his calamities were as a prison or narrow roome vnto him because he fauoured me i. preuented me with his holy fauour and that with out any merit or desert of mine at all ver 20. Righteousnesse put for righteous cause as before Psal 41. purenesse of my hands i. integrity soundnes of my déeds hands put for déedes and workes by which the workes and déeds are performed note that Dauid in this verse setteth out his good cause agaynst them that slaundered him not speaking of his whole life giuing thē to vnderstand that he attempted nothing but right and well and that according to Gods commaundements Verse 21. The wayes of the Lorde 1. Lawes and commaundements as verse 22. of this Psalme and by kéeping he meaneth a carefull minde and a certaine abilitie also that GOD hath giuen him to performe the same and did not wickedly he meaneth not of some simple fal for we read of diuers before he came to the kingdom and after but of reuolting falling away that doth quite and clean alienate turn away frō God ver 22. before me i. in my sight vz. that I might not commit any thing against thē and I did not cast away vz. as though I
by benefites past hee assureth himselfe of deliuerance from dangers present and in time to come diddest draw me out of the wombe he meaneth that by Gods speciall power and goodnes he was borne thou gauest me hope vz. that thou wouldest nourish and defend me at my mothers breasts i. when I did sucke and could not defend or helpe my selfe ver 10. I was cast vppon thée i. committed vnto thy prouidence and protection from the wombe i. so soone as I was borne came into the world not denying also but that by his goones hee was preserued continually before thou art my God vz. that doest defend nourish succour me ver 11. Be not farre c. q.d. séeing I haue heretofore receiued so many benefites from thée do not now depart from mee yea I so much the more earnestly craue thy helpe and presence nowe first because affliction is nigh secondly because there is none that can help me but thou ver 12. Many this word noteth the multitude of his enemies yong this word noteth their lustines courage bulles this word is wel expounded in the Geneua note i. are before and behind and on euery side by which we may sée that his troubles were great and almost impossible for him to escape out of them mightie this woorde noteth their force and power bulles of Bashan This is the name of the countrie which did apperteine to the people of the Iewes and was full of pastures whereof mention is made at large Deut. 3.1.2 c. And by bulles of Bashan hee meaneth very fat and mighty ones such as Bashan did féede sée Deut. 32.14 ver 13. They gape vpon me c. q.d. they come vpon me with open mouth to deuoure me euen as a deuouring roaring Lion doth for his pray sée Amos. 3.4 1. Pet. 5.8 ver 14. Amend thus I am powred out like water he meaneth by this maner of speach that he is as it were almost past al recouery as of whom no more account is to be made then of water spilt vpon the ground my bones are out of ioynt in this verse hee doeth by large maner of speaches declare the greatnes of the feare griefe he was in as he did before Psa 6.6 Mine heart is like waxe i. soft and tender it is molten in the middest of my bowels hee now sheweth in what respect his hart is like wax by these words he describeth his fainthartednes ver 15. My strength i. my naturall moisture whereby life strength is maintained is dried vp like a potsheard i. is woÌ„derfully decaied and there is almost no more moysture left in mee then in a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my iawes i. I am brought very lowe and weake so that I can not wagge my tongue in my mouth as it were into the dust of death by these wordes he meaneth the graue the earth of it which is so called because none are there laid but dead folkes His purpose is to declare that through the vehemency of his afflictions all hope of his life in a maner was taken away ver 16. For dogges before ver 12.13 He compared his enemies to bulles and Lions now he resembleth them to dogs for their snarling at him and biting of him and the assembly i. great troupes multitudes they pearced my hands and my féete this is spoken of Dauid in respect of the daungers his enemies kept him in as though he had had no féet to flée away nor hands to defend him selfe but in Christ it was most truly performed indéed as appeareth Ioh. 20.25 Where mention is made of nailes ver 17. I may tel al my bones i. I am so fallen away with griefe and anguish that I haue nothing left but skinne and bone Yet they behold me and looke vpon me vz. with great pleasure ioy whereas if they had any compassion they should pity my case ver 18. They part my garments among them If we referre it to Dauid then he meaneth by garments other things that he possessed noting that they dealt with him his goods as they that in some victory had goteen a pray but if we referre it to Christ then is it to be vnderstood of his ordinary apparell and garments in déed as appeareth Ioh. 19.23.24 And cast lottes both to auoide contention that euery one might know his share and portion ver 19. Farre off vz. from me lest I be swallowed vp and drowned ver 20. My soule i. my life as wee haue often times had it before from the sword i. from peril of violent cruel death vnderstanding by the instrument that the wicked vseth to execute his rage and wrath by the thing it selfe From the power of the dogge i. of mine enemies and wicked men sée ver 16. Of this Psalme the singular number put for the plural ver 21. Lions mouth sée ver 13. of this Psalme and answere me i. graciously here me and graunt my request from the hornes of the Vnicornes i. from the present and perilous daungers of mine aduersaries It is Dauids maner as sufficiently appeareth in this Psalme to resemble his enemies to beasts Vnicornes are very wild beasts and as some write of them wil hardly or not at al be tamed ver 22. Thy name i. thy vertue power grace as Psal 20.1.5.7 Vnto my brethren i. to the Israelites that are of the same nation and religion with me sée Rom. 9.3 In the middest of the congregation i. openly before thy people assembled to praise thée ver 23. Séed of Iaakob put for posterity and when hee saith séed of Israel hee meaneth the same thing for Iaakob was called Iaakob and Israel If you referre it to Dauids time then it belongeth to the Iewes If to Christ and his time then to all the faithfull ver 24. The affliction of the poore i. the trouble and anguish that he was in the prophet meaneth that God did not lesse regard the good people for their pouertie and affliction as commonly men do but rather made the greater account of them hid his face vz. as men are wont to do who for lothsomnes as they say but in nisenes in déed can not behold those that are in affliction he called i. praied he heard i. accepted him and his prayers ver â—5 My praise shal be of thée i. thou art and shalt be the cause of my foundation of my praises by reason of the wonderful mercies that I haue receiued from thee In the great congregation i. when the greatest multitude shal méet to prayse thee he noteth that he wil do it publikely as before ver 22. My vowes they were wont when they were in any danger to vowe a peace offring to the Lord to be performed after their deliuerance out of it so did Iephte which was done to testifie their thankfull mindes for the benefites receiued before them i. in their sight that feare him i. worship and serue him meaning God of whom he speaketh now in the
third person whereas in the beginning of this verse he had spoken of him in the second ver 26. The poore shal eate he regardeth the maner that the people had in banqueting at their sacrifices of which you may sée an example 1. Sam. 1. In Helkanah and his familie in these sacrifices hée promiseth to exerceise his charitie towards his godly brethren whom hee vnderstandeth here by poore shewing that his offrings shal be so plentiful that euery one shal be satisfied they that séeke after the Lord vz. of a single hart to serue and worship him your heart he chaungeth the person shal liue for euer q.d. the hearts that had beene before as it were dead through afflictions shall through manifestation of Gods grace and goodnes be marueilously remoued ver 27. is a prophecie of the calling of the Gentiles q.d. this grace shall stretch not to the Iewes only but to the Gentiles who beholding the wonderful works that God hath done for his people shal come to true religion which they neuer tasted of al the ends of the world i. the people dwelling in the vttermost coasts of the earth putting the places conteining for the partes conteined shall remember themselues vz. howe long they haue béene in blindnes and superstition and where he speaketh of al he meaneth of a very great nūber turne to the Lord vz. from their dead Idols as S. Paul 1. Thes 1.9 Ver. 28. For the kingdome q.d. it can not be but that the gentiles shal come to the Lorde for he that hath the kingdome in his owne hande will drawe them to his worship and seruice ver 29. The Prophet declareth that of al states some shall come to worship God with him and be partaker of those sacrifices which hee would offer to the Lord by them that be fat in the earth he meaneth the rich mightie men shal eat vz. of the sacrifices worship vz. God by giuing him thanks al they that go downe into the dust i. such as are through affliction so humbled that there séemeth to be little oddes betwéene them the graue in the 15. ver of this Psalm he called it dust of death shal bow before him i. serue and worship him in his sight the outward signe of worship put for worship it selfe euen he that can not quicken his owne soule first marke the chaunging of the number from the plural to the singular next vnderstand by soule life as before ver 20. in this Psalm thirdly by quickning of the soule vnderstand him that being at deaths dore as it were is not able to prolong his life one minute of an houre q.d. euen those that séeme to be as it were dead and not able to do any thing for themselues shal through god be restored againe come to worship him with the rest of the faithful ver 30. their séed i. the godlies posterity for a generation or rather as Immanuel readeth it in euery generation meaning that these shal be alwaies called and counted the séed of God and a people whom he wil alwaies take care of and delight in ver 31. They shal come i. the fathers and their posterity and shall declare i. set out as it were from hand to hand deliuer ouer his righteousnes i. the faithfulnes that hee vseth in the defence of his wherof Dauids deliuerance gaue certaine proofe for by deliuering him out of dangers violences he shewed himselfe iust vnto a people that shal be borne i. vnto their posterity and stocke because he hath done it i. declared his righteousnes and faithfulnes in deliuering and preseruing of mée Ver. 1. Gods children are many times in their afflictions Do. brought almost to dispaire ver 2. God doth not alwaies immediatly heare euen the heartie praiers of his seruants ver 3. Sheweth that though God do not alwaies heare the praiers of his seruants yet he alwaies remaineth holy and iust ver 4. Good fathers are in good things to be followed also trust in God to be deliuered out of danger through him as a notable meane to obteine it for God neuer destituteth his ver 5. Praier is necessary and méete in the time of affliction ver 6. Gods children are wonderfully abased in the sight of wicked men ver 7. It is no new thing that the children of God are made scoffing stocks to the people ver 8. The vngodly do not only despite gods children but euen his owne holy maiestie ver 9.10 Teach vs to hang continualy vpon God in whom wée liue moue and haue our being ver 11. The more that troubles increase the more néed we haue to be earnest with God ver 12.13 Set out the rage and cruelty of the wicked ver 14.15 Describe the pitiful state of gods children ver 19. In all our distresses we must haue recourse to the Lord. ver 22.23 Teach not onely to bée thankful our selues but also to stirre vp others thereto ver 24. Setteth out Gods wonderful mercy that neuer refuseth his no not in their greatest misery ver 27. Is a prophecie of the vocation of the Gentiles ver 29. God hath of al sorts and conditions some that feare him ver 31. Teacheth care for posterity Psalme 23. THis Psalme hath two parts first he doth darkly Di. as it were in an alegorie declare gods goodnes and mercy towards him from ver 1. to the ende of the 4. In the second hee declareth the same thing nore plainly assuring himselfe of gods goodnes likewise in time to come from ver 5. to the end of the Psalme This title is expounded before Psalme 4. Ver. 1. Se. My shepheard vnder this similitude he mindeth to set out the great care that God had ouer him I shal not want vz. any thing that he séeth to bee good or néedfull for me ver 2. Hee maketh mee to rest the Prophet proceedeth in this metaphor shewing Gods care ouer him noting thrée things to expresse it by first the swéete and quiet rest hee giueth vnto his as Psal 127.2 secondly plentifulnes of food vnderstood by these words gréene pastures and thirdly cōmodiousnes of place to drinke at to refresh himselfe ment by these words the stil waters vz. void of dangers yet hauing certaine cold aire comming from them to refresh ver 3. He restoreth my soule i. he bringeth my life which through weakenes was as it were at deaths dore backe againe paths of righteousnes i. in righteous waies vpright conuersation for his names sake i. for his goodnes and mercy sake ver 4. Though I shoulde walke vz. either through ignoraunce or weakenes through the valley of the shadowe of death i. through most manifold manifest dangers so that I were very nigh to death I will feare no euil vz. that can come vnto me for thou art with me vz. by thy power and presence to defend and comfort me thy rod and thy staffe he putteth the instruments that shepheards did vse hauing care ouer their flockes for the care that
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
thy countenaunce i. thy moste mercifull fauour and presence in whiche thou wentest before them and shewest thy selfe fauourable vnto them Sée for the proofe of this Exodus 15.13 Ieoshu 24.12.13 c. Verse 4. Thou art my King these are the wordes of the people that thorow Gods goodnesse inhabited the Lande of promise and they saye My King because all the faythfull were but as one man vnto Iaakob i. vnto the Israelites that came of Iaakob the Father of the Nation for the Nation it selfe sée Psalme 14.7 Verse 5. Thorow thée i. the might and strength that thou hast giuen vs haue wée thrust backe vz. as Beastes doe with their hornes for suche a worde hée vseth in this place sée Deutronom 33.17 they meane that they had beaten backe and ouerthrowne those that assaulted them by thy name i. by thy vertue power and grace as Psalm 20.1 haue we troden down vz. vnder our féet noting by this spéech both the weakenesse of their aduersaries the ouerthrow that they gaue them despising them also as dust vnder their féete Verse 6. By Bowe and Sworde he meaneth all maner Weapons and warlike Instrumentes whatsoeuer and by sauing he meaneth deliuering from daungers speaking vnder the person of one because all the faythfull are but one body in the name of all the rest Verse 7. Saued vs i. set vs frée and deliuered vs marke the sodayne chaunging of the number from our Aduersaries i. from all their force and subtile practises and haste put them to confusion vz. in defending vs and in ouerthrowing them Verse 8. will confesse i. thanke as often in these Psalmes and Luke 10.21 thy name sée verse seuen of this Psalme Verse 9. Farre off vz. from helping vs puttest vs to confusion i. makest vs ashamed and that before thyne and our enemyes because thou doest not helpe vs and goest not foorth vz to battayle fighting for vs as thou was wonte to doe and giuing vs victorie ouer all our enemies Verse 10. To turne backe i. thorow faynt hartednesse to flée before him spoyle vz. vs and oure substaunce Verse 11. Thou giuest vs vz. ouer to the rage and crueltye of oure enimyes as Shéepe to bee eaten i. whiche shoulde bee presentlye killed and presentlye deuoured vnder whiche similitude they set out the greate daunger and extreamitye they were in and doest scatter vs among the Heathen this was an other punishmente and that verye gréeuous to bee amongest a people among whome GOD was blasphemed and they themselues to wante the exercises of Gods Religion Verse 12. Thou sellest thy people by this manner of spéeche they mynde to declare that GOD had them not in that estimation and regarde that hée had their forefathers q.d. We are vile and despised in thyne eyes because wee are solde to the enemyes on euerye side of vs for a little or nothing neither yet arte thou thy selfe inriched by the sale of vs. Verse 13. They meane that GOD had giuen them ouer to their neighbours to bee mocked and scorned by all the meanes the vngodlye coulde deuyse as by ieasling spéeches laughing countenaunces and gestures that fauoured of scoffing Verse 14. A Prouerbe i. a common by-worde meaning that they and their name were in greate reproche amonge the Gentiles and they had them continuallye in their mouthes so that their common sentences and spéeches were not more rife in their mouthes than the calamitye and myserie of the Iewes and a nodding of the heade i. a continuall skoffe and mocking stocke as it were sée Psalme 22 7. 2. Kings 19 21. Verse 1. My confusion marke the sodayne chaunging of the number sée for this purpose also Verse 6. of this Psalme is daylye before mee i. I euery day or continuallye beholde and therefore can hardlye forget the confusion and shame that lyeth vppon vs the shame of my face i. the shame wherewith my face is as it were ouercouered hath wroughte this effecte that I am ashamed or for shame I dare not looke vp Verse 16. This verse hangeth vppon the former thus q.d. I am altogether ashamed by reason of the opprobrious spéeches of the enemyes for the voyce i. for the wordes whiche they that slaunder vs and rebuke vs vtter agaynste GOD and vs and auenger vz. of themselues and their owne causes meaning thereby the crueltye and bloodinesse of these men and this is to bee noted that they speake of all their enimies vnder the name of one and in the singular number meaning notwithstanding all whatsoeuer Verse 17. They declare that by no troubles they coulde bee drawne awaye from trust in GOD and from that trueth of his Religion whiche they had imbraced yet doe wée not forget thée vz. as those that make little accounte of thée and thy Religion neyther deale wée falslye concerning thy couenaunt vz. made with vs they meane that they had indeauoured to the vttermost of their powers to abstayne from the breache thereof Verse 18. They declare what it is to breake Gods couenaunt vz. in affection of minde to turne away from him for that they meane by hart or in action or conuersation openlye to violate vnderstanding by steppes outwarde behauiour and by Gods pathes the wayes wordes and law which hee hath appoynted them to walke in euen as it were a path beaten way Verse 19. Thou hast smitten vs downe i. cast vs downe as it were with a blowe Marke howe hée ascribeth this to GOD because the Chaldeans or other their enimyes whosoeuer they were coulde doe nothing withoute him into the place of Dragons i. into desolate and solitarie places for they delight to dwel there or else into countries the inhabitantes whereof are no lesse cruell then Dragons or as Immanuel readeth into the place of Whales i. into the moste déepe Sea whatsoeuer it is they meane that they were caste into moste horrible and gréeuous daungers and couered vs i. ouerwhelmed vs with the shadowe of death i. with moste manifest daungers which séeme to bring nothing but death with them sée Psalme 23.4 Verse 20. If wee haue forgotten i. made little account of or nothing at all regarded as verse seuentéene of this Psalme the name of our GOD i. his glorye honour worship and Religion and holden vp our handes i. by prayer and supplication soughte helpe of anye other than of the true GOD whom we worship they vse the signe of one that worshippeth and séeketh helpe for the thing it selfe to a straunge God i. to an Idoll eyther one or manye nowe this verse is ended in the nexte verse Verse 21. Searche this out q.d. It could not be but he would and addeth a reason as a proofe thereof because hée seeth knoweth and vnderstandeth euen the very secrete thoughtes and imaginations of our heartes Verse 22. For thy sake i. for thy causes as the vse of thy worde the exercise of thy religion c. are wée slayne vz. thorowe the crueltie of the enemyes wée yet notwithstanding willingly and chearefully bearing the same as shéepe
maner of delights pleasures excessiuely for otherwise to make much of our selues is not only not condemned but allowed that thereby wee may bee the better inabled to serue God and to profit our brethrē ver 19. Amend thus though he may come to the age of his fathers i. though he should liue neuer so long yea euen as long as the oldest fathers were wont to doe yet they shall not inioy light for euer i. yet their life must haue an ende in this life and they shall not inioy the light of eternall life The Geneua translation also may haue a good sense thus hee shall not enter into the generation of his fathers i. hee shall die as his fathers haue doone before him for that is the way of all flesh notwithstanding his great pampering of himselfe and they he sodainly chaungeth the number from the singular to the plurall meaning that though they be neuer so many or neuer so wealthy yet they shal not escape death nor inioy life for euer i. a long season vpon the earth Verse 20. Amend thus A man that is in honour and vnderstandeth not is like to beasts that perish i. one yea euery one that God highly aduaunceth and yet vnderstandeth not vz. how to vse the good things he hath or that they all come from God alone is like to brute beasts i. voide of true féeling light and iudgement and in respecte of Gods matters may be sayde to be as voyde of goodnes as bruite beasts are of reason and vnderstanding Verse 1. Gods worde must be diligently hearkened vnto also it is generall Do. appertayning to all people Verse 2. Yea to all sortes of people Verse 3. Wée shoulde learne alwayes to speake the wordes of edification Verse 4. They that wil teach others to hearken diligently must be examples themselues of the same thinges also they must vse all lawfull meanes to make the doctrine acceptable and gracious to the hearers Verse 5. Assured fayth surmounteth all difficulties whatsoeuer Verse 6. There is a double iniquitie in the vngodly riche the one is they make their goods their God and so commit idolatrie the other they wax proude thorow the abundaunce of their riches and so sundrye times oppresse their bretheren Ver. 7. Setteth out the insufficiency of riches and that and verse 8. teach that all mony which hath bin giuen for Masses Diriges Trentals c. hath bene cast away séeing Christ is the onely Redéemer Ver. 9. Mony can not preuent or put away death neither can wit wisedome or policy Verse 11. sheweth how vayne and deceitfull mens mindes and cogitations are and howe that all the meanes that they can deuise for the continuaunce of their name shall come to nought Ver. 12. Nothing that man hath is certayne Verse 13. There is no wickednesse so playne and manifest but some eyther for pleasure or profite will delight in it and approue it Verse 14. Nothing can deliuer from the power of death Verse 15. The faithfull hanging assuredly vpon God shall escape eternall iudgement Verse 16. Other mens prosperity or our owne aduersity should not dismay vs. Verse 17. We brought nothing into this world neyther shall we carry any thing out 1. Timoth. 6.7 Ver. 18. Epicures alwayes pamper their bellies besides the riche are neuer without their flatterers Verse 19. Death is the end of all flesh Verse 20. The more that a man hath of worldly blessings and the lesse he hath of spiritual and heauenly vnderstanding the greater is his blockishnesse and misery Psalme 50. THis Psalme may be diuided into thrée parts Di. In the first is contained an excellent description of the Maiestie power greatnesse and glory of almighty God from verse 1. to the end of the 6. In the second the Prophet taking vpon him the person of God sheweth that no outward meanes no though he himselfe prescribed them can be acceptable before God but that it is a spirituall seruice that pleaseth him from verse 7. to the end of the 15. In the third he reproueth the wicked and vngodly shewing what fruites true worshippers should yield from ver 16. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title a Psalme of Asaph I take it to be called Asaphs Psalme not because he was the Author of it but because it was committed to him and his to bee the singers thereof sée 2. Chron. 25.2 Verse 1. The God of Gods i. hee that is God to all the Rulers in the worlde who are called Gods and to all the counterfeit idols of the Gentiles who are also so named 1. Corinth 8.5 euen the Lord he sheweth more playnly whome hee meaneth hath spoken vz. by his seruauntes as Moses and the rest touching his true worship and seruice and called vz. to himselfe and his seruice the earth i. the people and inhabitants of the earth this was verifyed in the Gentils by the workes of creation as Romanes 1. and in the Iewes by the Creatures and by the worde also from the rysing vp of the Sunne vnto the going downe thereof i. all the Worlde ouer and thorow out the same sée Malach. 1.11 Verse 2. Out of Syon sée Psalme 48.2 whiche is the perfection of beautye i. whiche is the most beautifull and fayre place that canne be and seemeth to be so glorious that nothing can bee added thereto hath GOD shyned i. made manifest himselfe by his workes and by his worde in the exercises of his religion Verse 3. Our GOD These bee the words of the faithfull people assuring themselues of gracious deliueraunce from the crueltye of the wicked by the mighty power of that God whome they feare shall come i. certainlye and assuredlye shall come though hee séeme for a while to deferre put off his cōming shal not kéepe silence as he hath séemed to do heretofore eyther in not hearing the praiers of his people or in not punishing the wicked and vngodly sée verse 21 of this Psalme A fyre shal deuoure before him he compareth Gods iudgements agaynst the wicked to a consuming fyre which shall so eate them vp that nothing shall remayne and a mightye tempest this is another similitude to expresse Gods power iudgmēts by against the vngodly round about him these wordes are added to take awaye hope of escape from the wicked for if iudgement should be but before him they would thinke to créepe behinde him but the Prophet sheweth that whether they bée before him or behinde him all is one for consumed they shall bee if not with the fyre yet with the tempest or whirlewind before which they shoulde bée but as chaffe Psalme 1.4 Such yea a more large description of Gods wrath agaynst his enemies is before Psalme 18.7.8 c. Ver. 4. The Heauen aboue Heauen is here put for heauen and all the heauenly powers which the Lorde will call forth not only as witnesses agaynst the vngodlye but as aydes and helpes also for the defence of his and the earth i. not onely the
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
verse 5. of this Psalme All nations either expounde it as before verse 11. or else thus all nations shall blesse him i. speake well of him praise him for his excellent and vpright gouernement and be blessed in him this must néedes bee referred to Christ as Genesis 12.3 Verse 18. Blessed be the Lorde God i. praysed be his maiesty euen the God of Israel i. euen the true GOD who is the defender of his Church and people which only doeth marueilous thinges vz. both for his owne people and also against his enemies Verse 19. Contemeth a plaine and manifest prayer for the manifestation and inlargement of Gods kingdome throughout all the worlde and that doubling of the worde so bée it euen so bee it noteth the Prophets earnest and hearty consent to the prayers hée made in this Psalme here end the prayers of Dauid vz. which hée made for his sonne Salomon for otherwise there followe other prayers of his in this booke the sonne of Ishai this conteyneth part of his Genealogie a further description wherof may be séene Ruth 4.1.19 c. Ver. 1. Teacheth that vnlesse God assist magistrates Do. they can not well and rightly performe their dueties and that therefore it behooueth all specially those that are nigh to them to pray to God for them Ver. 2. Teacheth vs that it apperteineth to magistrates to render right to euery one Ver. 3. Sheweth that where iustice beareth sway there is abundaunce of all goodnes Ver. 4. Teacheth that the magistrats office consisteth of two partes vz. in defending the good and punishing the euill Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that good magistrates shal be continually reuerenced and feared Verse 6. Teacheth vs that good gouernours are a great blessing to the people Ver. 7. Teacheth vs that good gouernours make much of good men Ver. 8. Sheweth that God wil graciously inlarge the dominion and borders of good Princes Ver. 9. Declareth that barbarous people and al their enemies shal be subdued vnto them Ver. 10. Teacheth that other kinges shall not onely be glad of their friendship but willingly submit themselues vnder their obedience Ver. 12. Teacheth vs that the magistrates are ordeined to helpe them that can not helpe themselues Ver. 13. Teacheth that there is required of the magistrates not onely bowels of compassion to the néedy but also merciful preseruation and defence Ver. 14. Teacheth magistrates to make good account of the liues and bodies of their subiects Ver. 15. Teacheth subiects to pray continually for the prosperitie of their Prince Ver. 16. Teacheth vs that where good Princes raigne there is abundance of all blessings and namely of people Ver. 17. Teacheth vs that good magistrates shall sit long in the seates of their kingdome Ver. 18. Teacheth vs to prayse God continually for his mercy and power Verse 19. Teacheth vs to pray for the increase and inlargement of Gods kingdome Psalme 73 Di. THe Psalme may bee deuided into three partes In the first the Prophet describeth the pride prosperitie wealth and great abundance of outwarde blessings that the vngodly haue 3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12 In the second he declareth that by the consideration thereof hee was almost caried away into murmuring against God and falling from God had not God graciously instructed him by his worde and spirit of the miserable end of the wicked and his fauour towards the good Ver. 1.2.3.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22 In the third part he declareth that howsoeuer the worlde goe whether the good bee humbled and the bad aduanced it skilleth not he will alwaies hang vppon the Lord from ver 23. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title of this Psalme is expounded before Psal 50. Ver. 1. Yet God is good to Israel i. gracious fauourable ful of compassion to his Church these beginnings ex abrupto such a one as we had before Psalm 62. shewe the marueilous combats the Prophet had in himselfe betwéene the flesh and the spirit out of which difficulties hee sodainely bursting vttereth as it were disorderly this sentence q.d. howsoeuer calamities presse good men and my flesh woulde haue mee to say that therefore God is farre from them yet this is the trueth of the Lorde and I will beléeue it all the dayes of my life that God in goodnes is continually most nigh to his owne people euen to the pure in heart i. to them that haue malice and iniquitie remoued from the heart and walke in roundnes and sinceritie and this the Prophet addeth more plainely to declare what he ment by Israel that is such as are not hypocrites in the Church sée for pure in heart Matth. 5.8 Ver. 2. My féete i. I my selfe putting a part for the whole or else by féete wée may vnderstand afflictions as Psalm 119.105 also Eccles 4.17 were almost gone vz. from the right way which thou prescribedst mee to walke in and the same thing hee meaneth by that which followeth in this verse Verse 3. For I freated vz. euen with griefe of mynde to my selfe and hatred to them at the foolish i. at those that had not at any feare of God which is in déede the beginning of all true wisedome when I saw i. beheld knew and considered the prosperity of the wicked vz. which they inioy Ver. 4. There are no bands in their death i. they are not brought to death tied and bound as prisoners are vnderstanding by bandes sundry sorts of siknesses or else it may be expounded thus there are no bands in their death i. the pangs and paines of death outwardly are not bitter vnto them Immanuel his text maketh the first part of this verse more plaine saying they haue no bands vntill their death q.d. they spende all the time before their death in iolitie and mirth hauing al maner of prosperitie and no maner of griefe and this I take to bee the best they are lusty and strong i. they haue great health so by that meanes growe in strength whereas the godly by sundry sicknesses growe weake and féeble Ver. 5. They are not in trouble i. misery affliction and such like hee meaneth not that they are altogether exempted from them but that they haue them not so long and so commonly as others haue neither are they plagued vz. with diseases sicknesses c. with other men i. when other men are or in such measure as others are Ver. 6. Therefore pride is as a chaine vnto them vz. in their owne imagination and account hee meaneth by this speach that they please and flatter themselues as much in their pride thinking it to 〈◊〉 ornament and beauty vnto them as other men doe their chaines and cruelty couereth them as a garment i. they are altogether giuen to cruelty and vyâ—lence as Psal 71.13 also Psal 69.7 and this voylence procéedeth from pride as the daughter from the mother Ver. 7. Their eyes stand out for faâ—nes hée meaneth by this speach that they haue such abundance of wealth that they 〈◊〉 themselues with al dainties euen vntil their eyes swell
me i. tooke hold of me so that sore that I was almost past hope of escaping when I found trouble and sorrow i. when I perceiued my self to be much plūged in abundaunce of griefe for so much I take these two words trouble and sorrow ioyned together to import Ver. 4. Then I called vpon the name of the Lord i. I prayed vnto him himself and besought his goodnes to manifest his power in helping mee saying I beséeche thée vz. from the bottome of my heart O Lord i. thou that art both able and willing to help deliuer vz. from danger and distresse my soule i. my life which is in great hazarde by meanes of the dangers that hang ouer it and are ment against it Ver. 5. The Lord is merciful vz. towards al but specially towards thē that cal vpon him in truth and righteous vz. in performing his promises made to his people and maintaining them in their iust causes and our God i. the God which we serue is ful of compassion and therefore he wil neuer forsake his that are in misery the Prophet sheweth in this verse what was the comfort of his soule in the middest of his afflictions Ver. 6. The Lord vz. alone preserueth vz. by his mighty power and that out of all the mischieuous imaginations that the wicked can deuise the simple i. such as are destitute of mans counsel and therfore the more subiect to iniury amongst men the more easily circumuented and yet do all that notwithstanding commit themselues and their causes with a simple and quiet mind into the hands of God I was in misery q.d. I can speake this by myne own experience for when I was in wonderful and great distresse so that there was almost no hope of deliuery as ver 3. of this Psal and he saued mee i. deliuered me out of the same according to his prayer made ver 4. Ver. 7. Returne vnto thy rest O my soule i. bee no more troubled and disquieted but stay thy selfe vpon God sée Psal 42.5.12 This same returning to rest is that same stay that the faithful haue in God and his woorde in the middest of their griefes so that they vtterly fal not for the Lord hath bin beneficiall vnto thee vz. many and sundry waies al this verse together is q.d. Take courage vnto thée be quiet go vnto god in whom alone thou shalt find marueilous tranquility for he hath hertofore wil hereafter shew himself fauorable vnto thée ver 8. Because this is a proof by his own experience of that which he spake before that God had béen beneficial vnto him thou vz. alone mark the sodain change of the person from the thirde to the seconde hast deliuered vz. fréely safe and sound and through thy mighty power my soule i. me my selfe from death vz. whereunto I was almost brought or else you may vnderstande by death most extreme daunger mine eyes from teares i. thou hast taken away from me al sadnes and heauines he putteth the outward signe both for the signe and the thing it selfe and my féete from falling vz. into these deadly dangers and trappes which were layd for me and whereinto certainely I had fallen if I had not bene kept and deliuered by thée Ver. 9. I vz. being grounded and stayed vpon God shall walke vz. through his goodnes and defence meaning by walking liuing and being conuersant q.d. I shall liue before God i. safely and soundly for men thinke those things to be sure which they haue their eyes continually fixed vpon in the land of the liuing i. in this world or earth or amongst men dwelling vpon the same and so wee haue had it sundry times vsed before So that in this verse the prophet vpon the benefits which he had before receiued concludeth that he shal be alwaies vnder the care and gouernment of God Verse 10. I beléeued vz. the Lord and his word therfore I spake vz. vnto God by prayer and to my selfe in mine afflictions the wordes before expressed in this Psal for I was sore troubled i. much afflicted with assaultes both inward and outward In this verse the Prophet sheweth how weake and féeble his flesh was in the time of aduersity which almost reiected the promises of God had not Gods spirit vpholden him in faith q.d. then was faith forcible and triumphed in my mind when I called vppon God as is expressed before in this Psal ver 4. and spake vnto mine owne soule words of comfort ver 7. thē I beléeued in déed I spake nothing but that which I was fully perswaded of and my tongue and the affection of my hart agréed well together Ver. 11. I said i. I both thought it and spake it and held it as a resolute conclusion in my feare i. when I was in great feare and ready for feare to flie from the rage of Saul for the word doth not only signifie feare but hast making as appeareth Psal 31.22 q.d. with feare and flying I was caried forcibly into these perturbations of the flesh al men are lyers i. there is no certaintie and assurednes in their wordes q.d. Samuel who for his excellency might be preferred before all men promised me that I should obteine and possesse the kingdome but now I perceiue he spake not in the spirit of prophecie but of his owne brayne and lyingly Thus in the rage and heate of the flesh doth Dauid touch not God in déede openly but his prophet Samuel as though he had not sufficiently known Gods will and had gone beyond the boundes of his calling q.d. wée must no more beléeue men for there is nothing in them but vanity and lying Ver. 12. What vz. thing in al the world shal I render vnto the Lorde i. yéelde giue vnto him for al his benefits towards me i. for that innumerable number of benefites which he hath bestowed vpon me giuen me fréely This interrogation or question sheweth that hee thought himselfe so much bound vnto God for his graces as that he was not able to yéeld any thing that might counteruaile the least part therof Ver. 13. I wil take the cup of saluation or else in the plural number saluations as it is in the Hebrew text that is of very many helpes and deliuerances In this verse and the verse following the prophet promiseth publike profession of Gods name of the benefits bestowed vpō him which he will performe before the Church The meaning is that hee woulde offer to God sacrifices of praise and thanksgiuing and then that he would as the maner was in those sacrifices make a holy feast and banket also vnto the people in remembrance of that manifold deliuerance which hee had receiued from the Lord for in this place he doth no doubt allude to the custome of the law which was to make a banquet of some part of the sacrifice in token of reioysing whē they yéelded solemne thanks to God And because that those sacrifices were offred often times
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 whē they do not presently see the accomplishmēt 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
that wee should not séeke for the assurednes of gods word in the estate of earthly things which are subiect to many changes but in heauen i. in God himselfe who is not subiect to any alteration but methinketh the other is the more playne sense Ver. 90. Thy trueth i. the trueth of thy woorde but specially that part of thy woord which conteineth promises is i. lasteth from generation to generation i. perpetually and for euer so that al ages haue and shall confesse the same by their owne experience to be true thou hast laid vz. in the beginning or afore time as Psalme 102.25 the foundation of the earth hee meaneth that God had strongly made the earth so that it could not bee moued euen as though it were set vpon a most sure foundation and it abideth vz. in that estate and condition wherein thou hast placed it Immanuel readeth the latter part of the verse thus when thou vz. O Lord diddest establish i. make and create and that also to continue the same time that thou haddest set it the earth i. the world and al things therin conteined it was i. thy truth and word was then q.d. thy stedfastnes in kéeping thy promises shal continue throughout all generations as the earth indureth which thou established by thy word onely Ver. 91. They i. the world and all things therein conteined continue vz. safe sound and sure euen vnto this day vz. wherein we liue and so shall doe vnto the worldes end by thine ordinances i. by thy word and appointment q.d. as all thinges were created by thy worde so by the same worde they subsist and are preserued in their estate and continually multiplied vppon the earth for mans vse for all vz. thy creatures are thy seruants i. serue thee and at thy commandements do thy will euen as seruants obey their masters Ver. 92. Except thy lawe i. thy word he putteth a part of Gods word which consisteth of commandements for the whole had béen my delight i. had béene a continual delight and comfort vnto me which I take he meaneth by vsing the word in the plurall number though it bee not so here turned vnderstanding likewise thereby that it was his whole delight also in this life I should now haue perished in mine affliction i. it could not haue béen auoyded but both long agoe and euen at this present I should haue sunke downe and dispaired vnder my miseries Ver. 93. I vz. thy poore seruaunt will neuer forget vz. through thine assistance and grace for otherwise it is a very easie matter for flesh and blood to forget them thy precepts i. thy word a part for the whole for by thē i. by the ministery and light of that thy holy word thou hast quickned mee i. brought me out of darknes into light and out of death into life Verse 94. I am thine i. I belong vnto thée through thy goodnes euen as thy sonne seruant saue me i. deliuer me therfore from the dangers and distresses wherin I am or else am likely to fall for I haue sought vz. with a good and an vpright heart thy precepts i. thy worde as before ver 93. meaning by séeking an earnest study and affection which hee had not onely to knowe but also to performe the will and word of God Ver. 95. The wicked i. the vngodly and mighty men of the world haue waited vz. very narrowly and subtilly for me i. for my life and wayes to destroy mee vz. if they coulde finde any manner of euill by mée but I will consider vz. with care and conscience and attention of heart thy testimonies i. thy worde hee meaneth that hee woulde not be turned backe from the study and meditation of Gods lawe for any thing the wicked could do against him Verse 96. I vz. my selfe haue séene vz. both with my outwarde eyes and the eyes of my fayth and mynde an end of all perfection i. that there was nothing coulde bee so perfect in this lyfe but it had or shoulde haue an ende but thy commaundement i. thy worde is excéeding large i. so large as neither I nor any other can beholde no not with the eyes of our vnderstanding an ende thereof because it shall continue and indure for euer and euer and this serueth wonderfully for the commendation of the word Ver. 89.90 Declare for the comfort of our consciences Do. the certaintie and assurednes of Gods word Ver. 91. Teacheth vs that it is Gods word only which heretofore created and at this present vpholdeth all things Ver. 92. Teacheth vs that we should take singular delight and pleasure in Gods word Secondly that it alone is it that can comfort vs and kéepe vs from perishing in distresse Ver. 93. Teacheth vs to haue continuall meditation and study in Gods lawe Ver. 94. Teacheth vs to ground our prayer vpon Gods fauor towards vs and his election of vs. Ver. 95. Sheweth that the wicked leaue no stone vnrolled to hurt and to doe mischiefe to the faithfull and godly people also it teacheth vs that no violence should turne vs backe from the care and study of gods word Ver. 96. Teacheth vs that when all other things shal come to an end yet Gods word shal abide most firme and sure Mem. Di. THis is the xiii part of the Psalm wherin the prophet sheweth first what great delight and pleasure he had in Gods word ver 97.103 Secondly what profit he receiued by gods word ver 98.99.100.104 thirdly howe he conformed himselfe in obedience to the same ver 101.102 Se. Ver. 97. Oh how loue I thy lawe i. how much do I estéeme of it that exclamation sheweth that his affection was more then he could wel expresse meaning that he had so great a loue to gods word which hee vnderstandeth by the terme law that all his senses were as a man would say seased therwith the gate shut against the corruptions of his owne nature it is my meditatiō continually q.d. I do not speake almost or thinke of any thing else at any time Ver. 98. By thy cōmandements i. by the light and knowledge which thou hast giuen me out of thy word thou had made me wiser vz. by many degrées and that in al my actions and affaires then mine enemies i. then those which hate me wish me euil for they i. thy cōmandements wordes are euer with me i. I haue them alwaies in my thought and vnderstanding meaning that hee did thinke meditate of them continually Ver. 99. I haue had vz. through thy goodnes the light of thy word bestowed vppon mee more vnderstanding vz. in truth godlines then al my teachers i. then al they that taught me this the Prophet speaketh not as boasting of it in him-selfe but to sette foorth gods gret liberality to cōmend the excellency of the word for thy testimonies are my meditation i. I do carefully continually think vpon thy word Ver. 100. I vnderstoode vz. by the light of thy
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 cōmeth 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 cōmitting 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
wil spéedily send vs to god cried I vnto the Lord sée this expounded verse 1. of this Psal and sayd vz. froÌ„ the bottome of my hart thou art my hope i. he in whom I put my hope to be deliuered from al my distres feare for otherwise he had his hope fast setled in his hart and my portion vz. wherewith I do content my self knowing that hauing thée I haue all things wanting thée I haue nothing in the land of the liuing i. in this worlde in this very present life as Psal .. 27 13 Ver. 6. Hearken vnto my cry i. graunt my petition which I do earnestly make vnto thée and poure forth before thée for I am brought very low vz. by outward persecutions and inward gréefes as ver 3 of this Psal meaning by this spéech also that he was at the last cast and euen as it were at deaths dore deliuer me vz. of thy goodnesse thorow thy great power might from my persecutors i. from such as persecute me that without anye cause on my part for they are too strong for me vz. alone of my selfe meaning that he was not able to deale with theÌ„ any maner of way vnles God tooke his part and strengthened him Ver. 7. Bring vz. thorow thy goodnes and power my soule i. my life me my selfe a part put for the whole as Psal 14.1.8 and ver 4 of this Psal out of prison i. out of this most present daunger and captiuity wherin I am with which I am coÌ„passed about on euery side by the reason of the rage of mine enemies as the prison is with strong wals that I may praise thy name i. thy maiesty power and goodnes for that deliueraÌ„ce so we haue had the word name vsed sundry times in that sence before then i. when thou shalt haue deliuered me shal the righteous come about me i. a great number of good people shal come vnto me and heare me setting forth thy praise for thy mercy towards me shal not only reioyce be glad on my behalf but prayse thy name together with me when thou art beneficiall vnto me i. when thou shalt haue bestowed vpon me this great benefit of deliueraunce sée Psal 119.17 Do. Verse 1 teacheth vs earnestnes and feruency in prayer Ver. 2 teacheth vs that the way to be rid from affliction is harty calling vpon the name of the Lord. Ver. 3 teacheth vs that howsoeuer we be distressed either outwardly or inwardly this is our comfort that the Lord approueth vs. Ver. 4. teacheth vs of what little estimation Gods children be with the world and worldly men Ver. 5 teacheth vs that the more afflictions increase vpon vs the more chearefully should we stirre vp our fayth and hope and earnestly call vpon the Lord. Ver. 6. teacheth vs that the féeling of our own misery and weakenesse and the feare of our foes force should be good whetstones to sharpen our prayers Verse 7 teacheth vs not onlye to prayse God for those mercies which he bestoweth vppon vs our selues but also to repaire to others vppon whome God hath bestowed great graces that thereby we may be prouoked to prayse God not only for theÌ„ but for our selues also and his mercy towards vs. Psalme 143 I Doe iudge that this Psalm may very fitly be diuided into two partes Di. In the first the Prophet beséecheth the Lord to grant his petition and to remooue his sins which might be a hinderaunce to his mercies alleaging certayne reasons of his supplication as the rage of the enemie his owne weakenes the experience he had had of Gods goodnesse c. from verse 1. to the end of sixt In the second part he doth as it were renewe his prayer afresh desiring the Lord to graunt his requests to shew him his mercy to order his conuersation and to deliuer him from his aduersaries and oppressors from verse 7. to the end of the Psalme The title A Psalme of Dauid i. which Dauid made Se. this is the title of sundry Psalmes and hath bin expounded before Ver. 1. Heare my prayer O Lord i. graunt me the things that I pray for hearken vnto my supplication i. giue me the things that I humbly sue vnto thée for answere me vz. who call vppon thée and pray vnto thée vnderstanding by answering also yéelding vnto his requests in thy truth i. according to thy gracious promises which contayn in theÌ„ nothing but truth because they procéed from thée that art the God of truth and truth it self in thy righteousnesse i. according to thy righteous nature who doest deliuer a iust cause from iniustice or else by righteousnes we may vnderstand gods goodnesse by which he maintaineth those that are his for gods righteousnesse specially shineth forth in his faithful accomplishment of his promises Ver. 2. And enter not into iudgement i. be so farre of from pronouncing sentence I pray thée that I would not haue thée to begin to prepare thy selfe to lay out my faults or to come into iudgement with thy seruaunt i. with me thy seruauÌ„t speaking of himself in the third persoÌ„ as sundry times before namely Psal 119 17. for in thy sight i. before thée if thou shouldest once take vppon thée to enter into iudgement with theÌ„ shal none of what state or condition soeuer he be that liueth vz. euen now or shal liue hereafter be iustified i. be fouÌ„d iust if he be loked vpon in himself for otherwise he mindeth not to say that al shall be condeÌ„ned for God hath a remnaunt in election according to grace Ver. 3. For the enemie i. my enemy or enemies rather â—utting one who was the chéef as Saul or some such other for him al his coÌ„plices hath persecuted my soule i. hath egarly pursued me and my life to take it awaye from mee hee hath smitten vz. with his rage and crueltie my life i. me my selfe my company that I haue with me who are means for the preseruation of my life which appeareth plainly by the history of the first booke of Sam. and by Psalme 141.7 he i. the enemye as in the beginning of this verse hath layde mée in the darkenesse i. hath caused me and mine to dwell in Caues and holes and other darke places sée 1 Samuel 24.4 as they that haue bin deade long agoe q.d. By the importunitie of our enemies we are inforced to flie the light to liue in darke places euen as it were in the graues with them that died long sithence Ver. 4. And my spirit was in perplexitie in me i. I was greatlye and gréeuously troubled sée Psal 77.3 also Psal 142.3 and my hart within me was amased vz. by reason of the gréeuous assaultes that both outwardlye and inwardly I did indure Ver. 5. Yet q.d. notwithstanding al my heauy affliction do I remember vz. euen to my great ioy and comforte the time past i. the graces and blessinges whiche in former time thou diddest bestowe vppon my
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 thē 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 cōpareth 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