bosome Psal 73.6 because they prosper therefore pride compasseth them about as a chaine violence covereth them as a garment Note All their joy is without and not within because they want a good conscience the Bird of the Bosome which sings most sweetly in the day of trouble they are rocked in securitie and often live in outward ease untill the end come then doth the Lord cast them down to destruction As a dreame vvhen one avvaketh he will despise their image Psal 73.20 that is their shadowes their transitorie estate the moment of their fugitive folies and fadding pleasures He that hath beene in the Sanctuary a Scholler of God will never envie their prosperitie No not let them keep still their honours and their rents and their riches and their glory and all their good things I leave them in their pestilent path unto him who is the righteous Lord who is preparing for them Tophet a pit Isa 30.33 a lake of fire eternall flames streames of brimstone and gnashing of teeth hell it self is groaning for them My chief earand in this psalme is to seeke out wisedome for to teach the godly what to do in the dayes of their distresse the text is most fit for this purpose it sends you away from men to seeâ— the help of God Give us helâ— from trouble for vaine is the helâ— of man through GOD vve shaâ— do valiantly c. These are word most fitting for a Commander when with his troupes he marcheth to the Battell THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON are the matter of mâ— Text. Of the Title of the Psalme BEfore I come to the words will first illustrate unto yoâ— the title or inscription of thâ— psalme whereby ye may the beâ—ter understand the nature the occasion and subject of the whole the inscription is in these words To the chief Musician upon shâ— shan-eduth Michtam of David to teach vvhen he stroâ— vvith Aram Naharaim and vvith Aram-Zobah vvhen Joab returned and smot of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand 1. Shushan BY Shushan here some understand a six stringed instrument upon which the chief Musician was ordained to play the praises of God contained in this psalme we have the like title prefixed to the fourtie five psalme To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim that is a six stringed instrument so called from the Hebrew word Shesh which signifieth six 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others not without good reason think that this psalme be so called for its beautie because it is pleasant and of a good savour like a Lillie who for its six leaves is in the Canticles called Shoshan Cant. 2.1 I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lillie of the Valleyes Dearly Beloved this day have brought for yoâ—â— comfort this most pleasant Lillâ—â— from the Garden of God 2. Eduth SEcondly it is called Eduth thâ—â— is the testimonie this declaretâ— the Psalme to be a testimonie oâ— Davids faith in the day of troublâ— wherein both through God anâ— for God he did most valiantly or it may be called Eduth the testâ—monie because it was ordaineâ— to be sung by the Priests befoâ—â— the Arke Exod. 40.5 which was called Aron-Eduth the Arke of the testâ—monie because it was a Testimonie or witnesse of Gods presenâ— among his people 3. Michtam of David to teach THirdly the Psalme is calleâ— Michtam of David to teacâ— that is a golden Psalme full of â—olden doctrine to teach chiefly â—en of warre on whom to reâ—â—y in a day of Battell The Heâ—rew word Michtam is from that other word Cethem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signiâ—ieth most fine gold the Spouse â—n her Song giveth this word to Christs head My beloved said â—he is white and rudy Cant. 5 10 the fairest â—mong ten thousand his head is Cethem as the most fine gold Massa auri vel auram obrizum Such â—s this Psalme well in the margent â—f your Bibles called a Golden Psalme there be great riches I â—ring unto you this rich propine â—rom God a most excellent treaâ—ure and offer it unto you this day The thieves the men of warre may steele or spoile you of your Gold as the Danites did to Miâ—ah when they bereaved him of his Silver-images Judg. 18.18 but if ye get this gold ye shall live and die rich â—n despight of all the world I think that there was Silver and Gold in great aboundance iâ— Laodicea whose words were sâ— rich Rev. 3.17 I have need of nothing but because that Church had verâ— little of this Gold Christ Jesuâ— proclaimed her a begger misâ—rable and poore If ye consider this most finâ— gold this land of all lands is thâ— most rich in Gold mines there 〈◊〉 no such plenty of Gods word under the cope of heaven as by hâ— favour we have this day Goâ— word is our gold for this golâ— we must all be ready to lay dowâ— our lives Rev. 3.11 It was Gods counseâ— to Philadelphia Hold fast thâ— which thou hast that no man taâ—â— thy crown let us do so with thâ— gold of GODS word let nâ— man take it from us This gold is better then anâ— gold of the earth the earth golâ— is both dumb and dead it can saâ— nothing for the comfort of itâ— owner in the terrours of death but this gold is a teacher it is heer called Michtam of David for to teach This is not the gold of Papists idols Elilim teachers of vanities So called from Elil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lev. 26.1 that is nothing these golden nothings with their golden beards have mouthes and speake not eyes and see not eares and heare not Behold a great plague these that make them are like unto them Psal 135.18 so is every one that trusteth in them or maketh any religious use of them It is no wonder that Papists can not easily be drawne from their idolatrie the reason is this there is a fearfull curse upon them they are by GOD in his wrath stupified and made deaf like their golden idols Blessed be the Lord our Bibles are Michtams jewels of gold for to teach souls what to do in such terrible dayes as are these wherein we live therein we have comforts both in life anâ— death 4. When he strove withâ— Aram Naharaim and with Aram-Zobah when Joab returned and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelvâ— thousand THe occasion and Subject oâ— this Psalme were many enemies Syrians and Edomites gathered in Battell against David whâ— fought against them and by thâ— power of GOD ouercame them The enemies who were Syrianâ— are here called Aram Naharaiâ— and Aram-Zobah the Syrianâ— are called Aramites from Aram the Son of Shem the Son Noah Shem had Elam and Ashur and Aram and Arphaxad the Assyrians came of Ashur and the Syrians of Aram Gen. 10.22 and the Israeliteâ— came of Arphaxad for Arphaxad begat Salah and Salah begat Heber from whom GODS people were first
the lame 1 Sam. 5.6 might keepe them against all forces of men yet when the Lord is away are nothing but a lye Psal 20.8 Some trust in Charets and some in Horses But we will remember the LORD our GOD from him is our deliverance And therefore in dayes of danger Let every man here learne what to say to God O LORD deliver my soul from the wicked with thy Svvord The thing he desires GOD to deliver here it is his soule that is his life for the soul is the cause of our life Also by the soul here may be understood the soul properly and that the LORD would deliver it from danger either in doing or suffering for when a man doth evill he endangereth his soul or when a man is persecuted his soul also is not without danger If he live except God save and sanctifie him his soul will fret impatiently or will be enflamed with revenge 1 Sam. 25 13 as David was against Nabal for his churlishnesse Or if at the running out of his last sand he die in battell the bloudy sword in the hand except the Lord deliver his soul he cannot be but in great danger The 3 use The third use Let us make good use of these words Deliver my soul they are good for dayes of trouble either for life or for death when it like a ster ne Serjant shall come to arrest our bodyes in the grave By this prayer our life is guarded against the rage of men and by this prayer the Soule is fenced from the danger of damnation In these wordes is advantage both in life and death these words should at all times be in all mens mouthes both at our rysing and at our lying downe in sicknesse and in health But above all let all men of warre in their greatest dangers arme themselves with this ejaculatory prayer LORD delâ—ver my Soul these aâ—e words which every Christian must take with him while he goeth to the battell But because God heareth not the prayers of sinners and this time of trouble is a time of prayer let us endeavour by all meanes with all haste to bee reconciled unto God Truely the best of us may say that we have a huge bottome of sinne to unravell by repentance which we have beene many yeares winding up by our great disobedience the worke is great the time is short wee know not but this warre may make an end of us all Let us therefore no more hazard our salvation upon a may bee we live unto another yeare I confesse that no man should dispaire of GODS mercie at any time but this is as true that no man should presume of it at any time One hath observed this well There was one theese at his lives end saved to take away desparation and but one so saved to take away presumption These from whom David heere prayeth to be delivered are called the wicked Such were the enemies that sought his life The doctrine Observe here that it is no new thing that GODS servants are troubled by the wicked This controversie began very earely For Cain the wicked killed the righteous Abel Gen. 4.8 He had no quarrell against him but because he was more sincere in Gods service then he A thief hateth the light as Ahab hated Micaiah 1 King 22 8 because by the torch of the word he shined upon his workes of darknesse The use The use As long as wicked men are in the world let Gods children look for dangers to their souls There is nothing that will content wicked men but the souls or lives of Gods servants King Ahab was sick ay untill Naboth was dead but as soone as the poor man was dead the wicked King arose up in health 1 King 21 16 and went down to the poor mans vineyard to take possession of it it is health for the wicked to destroy the children of God They are like the Divel it is their meat and their drink to do evill Let this teach us to pray continually that God would deliver our soule from the vvicked Againe whereas the wicked heere according to some interpretation is called Gods Sword Let us learne here when the wicked persecute us not to look so much to them who are the rod Sword or stafe as unto the hand of God in which the rod sword or staffe are it is but for beasts as dogges to bite the staffe when they are stricken but Gods children must fixe their eye upon the hand When wicked Shimei railed upon David and cast stones at him calling him a bloody murderer David would not suffer Abishai to touch him for hee had his eye upon GOD. The LORD 2 Sam. 16 10 said hee hath said unto him curse David who then shall say wherefore hast thou done so This is a great argument of patience for Gods children when they are afflicted or persecuted by the wicked for all the wicked while thâ—y afflict us are but a rod or staffe in the hand of GOD Isa 10.15 If we can get Gods favour we need no more be afraid for the wicked then for a Staffe or Svvord lying upon the ground they should once see this our Captaine with his Sword in his hand they should all fall down as dead-men at his feet when Captaine Gideon went out against the Midianites hee cryed Judg. 7.20 THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON After that not a man had either heart or hand to fight against Gods people The use The use Let us by all meanes endeavoure by a good life to please GOD that this great Captaine with his sword may be on our side in these dayes of warre the Papists idoll is nothing Hos 8.5 thy Calf O Samaria hath cast thee off But O the LORD will never cast us off If he bee with us wee need not fear who be against us Lappers of water Judg. 7.5 any bodie though both few and weak will prevail easily Luk. 12.32 if GODS Sword be in the Battell Feare not little flock said Christ stand still said Moses to his six hundreth thousand fighting men ye need not draw a Sword the Lord shall fight for you Exod. 14.13 Onely stand still and yee shall see what GOD can doe Yee shall see the Salvation of the LORD Psal 68.21 Who shall wound the head and breake the hairie scalp of all these that in their pride shall rise up against us We shall bee able to stand against all weathers and stormes whatsoever What ever our dangers be the LORD shall give us a riddance We shall be in Covenant with the Stones of the Earth and the Starres of Heaven who as in the day of Sisera shall fight in their courses against all our enemies Judg. 5.20 In the day of Battell the Lord shall breake the Horse hooves of our enemies Judg. 5.22 by the meanes of the pransings the pransings that is tramplings or plungings of
if such temporisers keep fast their earthly good things Luk. 16.25 their cursed bagges with holes they care not for crownes in heaven Hag. 1.9 their earthly ease is To sweet that they purpose not to passe thorow the pikes for to have need of this prayer Give us helpe from trouble what ever side is strongest they minde to laugh with these like our swallowes who forsake us in winter In terras apricas for to flie most swiftly unâ—o lands warmed with a hoter Sunne If our ship go well before the winde they will saile with us they will make up a navie and goe in companie but as soone as they finde the winde blow another way they follow the blast and set their sailes according to the weather being fully resolved never to run hazard so but that they may ever have one foot loose the fear of troubles so nettles their nature which is of such a cowardly constitution that they can not want their ease Let such know that by the doome of divine wisdome a great woe is denunced against all their ease and pleasures which shall soone come to an end whetheâ— they be Nobles or Church-men or Gentlemen or of the Common sort that will not quite theiâ— ease for to follow Christ with a Crosse at the houre of death they shall all finde that they have been but fooles After that thesâ— Nobles or Gentlemen havâ— in their worldly pleasures scoured the plaines with their horses and the fields and woods witâ— their hounds and the heauens witâ— their hawkes and have enjoyeâ— heere what their heartes coulâ— wish the short gleame of their glory shall passe in a moment â—hen death shall cry to these fools soaked in ease and vanitie Alight from your horses and goe to the dungeons of stinke As for Church men who are cowards behinde whereas they should be Captaines before like the seven Priests with their seven trumpets Josh 6.4 for to encourage the men of war to fight Gods battels they shall be greatly disappointed like a poore man in a golden dreame or a hungrie man at a feast in his sleepe behold when they are wakened there is nothing but poverty and emptinesse Of all that sort of whatsoever ranke they be that are not zealous for God truely may be said they are lovers of pleasures more then of God 2 Tim. 3.4 they may have â—ome forme of godlinesse but â—eeing they deny the power thereof the Apostles counsell is that we turne away from such leâ— them be untill their day comâ— when GOD shall let loose thâ— cordes of their conscience upoâ— their bed of death so that in manner they shall bee strangle with the horrours of hell anâ— damned above the ground wormes scorpions feare fire furies wormewood and gall shall be the last portion of thesâ— fearfull Rev. 21.8 who have no couragâ— for the trueth while it is iâ— any danger 2. The reason For vaine is the help of man WEE have heard of the petition Give us help from trouble now let us heare hiâ— reason it is in these wordes foâ— vaine is the help of man as if he had said to God O Lord we depend upon thine help alone and not upon the strength of our armie which without thee is but a vaine thing David had learned this when he fought against armed Goliah having nothing but a scrip and a sling If David had not known that an armed man had beene a vaine thing he durst never have looked Goliah in the face It is written that when the Israelites armie saw the man 1 Sam. 17 24 they fled from him and were sore afraid vers 25 and the men of Israel said one to another Have yee seen this man that is come up as if they had said we never saw such a man as this But David who had the Lord with him cared not for him for he saw him but a vaine man and that all the help that he could make for the Philistines should be nothing but a vaine help for aâ— is heere said vaine is the helâ— of man whether mans help bâ— for us or against us this remaines sure and true Vaine iâ— the help of man the Hebrew word Shave signifieth a lie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rash false vaine idle of nâ— vertue or worth Observe here what are these most mighty armies that men can make either for to help us The doctrine or to hurt us they are but men the Scriptures say What is man He is but flesh Psal 8.4 and all flesh is grasse 1 Pet. 1.24 what are his bones theâ— pillars and master timber of his tabernacle how easily are they broken and bruised into powder I said Hezekiah reckoned till morning Isa 38.13 that as a Lion so will he breake all my bones the most valiant Captaines the bravest souldiers if the Lords strength sinew not their armes and leggs are all but a deceiving lie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lie â—ntill it be known seemes to be some thing whether it be to â—ejoice us or to affright us but as soone as it is known either â—he joy or the fear it brought unto us perish away like smoak If we see a great armie for us if Gods help be not with us mens help will be but a lie even a staffe of a broken reede Isa 36.6 whereon if a man leane it will goe into his hand and pierce it Men without God have neither hearts nor hands to fight Behold said Nahum thy people in the midst of thee are women that is Nah. 3.13 fearfull and faint hearted bodies when Israel went out with their armie against the Philistines having the Arke of God with them they thought that the victorie was certaine and therefore they all shouted with a great shout so that the earth rang againe 1 Sam. 4.5 but because God was not at thâ— battell with them all their coâ—rage and force was found to bâ— but a lie All the Captaines oâ— Israel were that day like the greaâ— grassehoppers Nah. 3.17 which camp in thâ— hedges in the cold day but wheâ— the Sunne ariseth they flee away and the place is not known wherâ— they are likewise on Gilboaâ— where Saul and Jonathan werâ— slaine in the Battell all the captaines that day were found to be but a lie How 2 Sam. 1.25 said David are thâ— mighty fallen in the midst oâ— the battell When Israel wenâ— to battell against the Benjamites for the quarrell of the Levites concubine that ruefull spectacle they understood not this part of my text vaine is the help of man they knew not that mans strength and courage was but a lie and therefore relying upon the strength of men they resolved to bring to the battell against Benjamin the tenth man of the land wee Jud. 20.10 said they will take men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel and an hundred of a thousand and a thousand
time Remember not against us our former iniquities forgive them and forget them pitie us and pardon us Be pleased with us for the sake of Christ Jesus in whom thou art well pleased Now LORD this day is appointed for the Battell and every battell of the warriour is with confused noise Isa 9.5 and tumbling of garments into bloud Wee know that he that girdeth on his harnesse 1 King 20 11 must not boast as he that putteth it off The prosperous successe of all good enterprises is to bee looked for from thee It is as easie for thee to save by few as by many and therefore we all heere armed for thy honour depend onely upon thy assistance Wee trust that according to thine infinite goodnesse thou wilt bee powerfully vvith us and for us who stand heere ready to lay down our lives at thy feet for thy glory the good cause for that holy Covenant which wee have made with thee and which now we minde to seale with our bloud Though wee deserve to bee deserted of thee because of our manifold sinnes and great ingratitudes yet for the honour of thy Name Let not thine Israel this day shamefully turne their backe before the enemie Deut. 32.27 O LORD fear the bragges of thy foes who if wee be tread downe will scornfully say where is now their God and where is their Covenant and where is their good Cause they will surely say Ibid. Our hand is high and the LORâ— hath not done all this Seeing now LORD vve are presently for to rencounter with the forces of men and for to set our breasts before the Canon Musket Sword and Spear in this valley of the shadow of death be thou our Captaine Psal 23.4 goe before us give us wisedome and courage and strength take the hearts from our enemies make their hands faint and their knees feeble make thy promise good five of you shall chase an hundred and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight Lev. 26.8 O LORD the protector of thy servants make all feare of death now flee farre from us give us the boldnesse of David with his good successe in going out against these uncircumcised enemies of thy truth They come out â—â—ainst us with the force of Men â—â—d Munition vvith Horses Svvordes Speares and Shields but vvee goe against them under thy standart in the name of the LORD of hostes the GOD of Armies of Israel Through thee we shall do valiantly But LORD if for such causes as are knovvn to thee it be thy will that at this time an end bee made made of any of our lives let it please thy sacred Majestie to receive our soules into the bosome of thy love Though our bodies fall into the hands of men Let our soules fall into the hands of God vvhose compassions faile not Now Father into thy hands we commend our Spirits Now in thy Name under thy Banner we thy Servants and Souldiers goe to this chocke O Lord be our captain and go before us and fight for thine own cause Generall Moses wordes to his Armie in a great strait at the red Sea Exod. 14.13 Feare yee not stand still and see the Salvation of the LORD which he will shew to you the day Calebs wordes of courage to Israel concerning the Cananites Numb 14.9 They are bread for us their defence is departed from them and the LORD is with us fear them not Captaine Joabs wordes to Abishai immediatly before the Battell against the Syrians and the Ammonites 2 Sam. 10.12 Be of good courage and let us play the men for our people and for the Cities of our GOD and the LORD doe that which seemeth him good Asas wordes when Zerah the Ethiopian came in Battell array against him with a thousand thousand men and three hundred Charets 2 Chron. 14.11 And Asa cryed unto the Lord his God and said Lord it is nothing with thee to help whether with many or with them that have no power Help us O LORD our GOD for wee rest on thee and in thy Name we goe against this multitude O LORD thou art our GOD Let not man prevaile against thee Hezekiahs prayer after that he had received King Senacheribs blasphemous letter full of threatnings 2 King 19.14 And Hezekiah received the letter off the hand of the messengers and read it And Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said O Lord God of Israel which dwellest between the Cherubims thou art the God even thou alone of all the Kingdomes of the earth thou hast made heaven and earth Lord bow downe thine ear and heare open Lord thine eyes and see and heare the words of Senacherib which hath sent to reproach the living God Of a trueth LORD the Kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands And have cast their gods into the fire for they vvere no gods but the work of mens hands wood and stone therefore they have destroyed them Now therefore O Lord our God I beseech thee save thou us out of hâ— hand that all the kingdomes of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God even thou only Davids prayer against his Enemies Psal 68.1 Let God arise let his enemies be scattered let them that hate him flee before him As smoke is driven away so drive them away As waxe melteth before the fire so let the wicked perish at the presence of God Victory promised to the Church Mic. 4.11 Now also many nations are gathered against thee that say let her be defiled and let our eye look upon Zion 12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD neither understand they his counsell For he shall gather them as the sheaves into the flooore 13 Arise and thresh O Daughter of Zion for I will make thine horne yron and I will make thy hooves brâ—sse and thou shalt beat in pieces many people and I will consecrate their gaine unto the LORD and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth Mica 4.11 Now also many nations Are gath'red against thee That say let her now be defil'd On Zion cast our eye 12 But they the Lords thoughts do not know Nor yet his counsell pure For he by force shall gather them As sheaves into the floore 13 Arise O deare daughter Zion Thine enemies to threin For I will now make thine horne yron And will make thy hooves brasse And I unto the Lord of Hostes Will consecrate their gaine And to the Lord of the whole earth Their substance will ordaine A thanksgiving after the Victorie O Lord what thy servant Moses said in his song at the red Sea that may we all say this day Exo. 15.3 The Lord is a man of warre the Lord is his name Thy name O Lord is glorious and worthie to be praised the sorrowes of death had compassed us and the floods of ungodly men had made us afraide but thou hast been our strength and our stay in the day of our danger In the valley of the shaddow of death thou hast beene our Captaine and defender Psal 23.4 Through thee we have done valiantly and thou hast treade our enemies under our feet by thy strength we have pushed them dovvne the safetie is ours but all the glory shall be thine Zach. 1.3 vvho art the Lord of Hosts vvho by thy mightie arme hast brought low the high lookes of these who trusted in their Horses and Charets which thou hast teared in pieces thou hast driven them away as smoake Psal 68.2 and hast made them to melt like waxe before the fire O LORD by thy almighty power vve have run through their troupes and put them to a speedie flight Wee have pursued our enemies and overtaken them neither did vve turne againe till they vvere consumed vve have vvounded them that they vvere not able to rise they are fallen under our feet for thou hast girded us with strength unto the Battell thou hast subdued under us these that rose against us thou hast given us the necks of our enemies We have beaten them small as the dust before the vvind vve have cast them out as the dirt of the streets Thy gentlenesse hath made us great By thee this day is ours vve most heartily acknowledge all the matter of our joy to be from thee O LORD who is like unto thee who is GOD save the LORD or who is a rocke save our God The Lord liveth and blessed bee our rock let the God of our salvation be exalted Psal 18.34 who hath taught our hands to warre Let all creatures praise the Lord praise him from the heavens praise him all yee his Angels and Hostes praise him yee Sunne and Moone and all ye Starres of light praise him from the earth fire and haile snow and vapour heat and cold rivers hills and vallayes all weapons of warre swords speares musquets and conons and all other things that have beene steadable to help the Lord to help the Lord c. Judg. 5.23 With all these we the whole body of this armie with our hearts to heaven do sing Hallelujah most humbly acknowledging both the victorie and every one of our particulare safeties to be from thee who art God over all things blessed for ever and ever Amen Psal 57.12 Thy vowes are upon us O God we will render praises unto thee Let us now in a most heartie thanksgiving sing the eighteenth Psalme from the 33. verse untill the 39. 33 He did in order put my hands to battell and to fight To break in sunder bars of brasse he gave mine armes the might 34 Thou teachest me thy saving health thy right hand is my tower Thy love and familiaritie do still increase my power 35 And under me thou makest plain the way where I should walk So that my feet should never slip nor stumble at a balk 36 And fiercely I pursue and take my foes that me annoy'd And from the fields do not return till they be all destroy'd 37 So I suppresse and wound my foes that they can rise no more For at my feet they fall down flat I strike them all so sore 38 For thou dost gird me with thy strength to war in such a wise That they be scattered all abroad that up against me rise The Lord hath done great things for us to him be glory for ever Amen FINIS