on according to Gods decree which as it is a matter of Gods praise so also of mans comfort who shall have the use and benefit thereof from generation to generation He hath also established them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which they shall not passe Vers. 7. Praise the LORD from the earth ye dragons and all deeps 8. Fire and haile snow and vapour stormy winde fulfilling his Word 9. Mountaines and all hilles fruitful trees and all Cedars 10. Beasts and all cattel creeping things and flying fowle In the exhortation made in the second place unto the creatures under heaven Learn 1. As the heavens so also the earth and the deep sea are filled with the matter of Gods praise Praise the Lord from the earth ye dragons and all deeps 2. The most terrible creatures serve to set forth Gods glory as well as the most useful and comfortable Ye dragons and all deeps 3. The changes which are made in the clouds or in the aire by stormes or tempests or whatsoever way come not by chance but are all directed forth by God for some intent of his and in what work he doth employ them they faile not to execute his will Fire and haile snow and vapour stormie winde fulfilling his Word and out of those changes praises do arise unto God 4. The diversifying of the face of the earth with higher and lower parts with mountains hills and valleyes and the adorning of the face thereof with trees some taller some lower and smaller some barren some fruitful contributeth much to the praise of God Mountaines and all hills fruitful trees and all Cedars 5. Beside all that is said in the variety of things living on the earth each of them do contend with other which of them shall shew forth more of Gods wisdom power and goodnesse Beasts and all cattel creeping things and flying fowle all those creatures do offer matter of praise unto God that men may take the song of their hand and directly formally and properly praise God for his glorious properties evidenced in them Ver. 11. Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the earth 12. Both young men and maidens old men and children 13. Let them praise the Name of the LORD for his Name alone is excellent his glory is above the earth and heaven Having gone thorough other creatures he cometh to man who is the chief both matter and instrument of Gods praise Whence learn 1. The Lord is glorious in his workmanship and government of all the creatures but most of all in men whom he calleth to be Factors Collectors and Chamberlains as it were to gather unto him the rent of praise and glory from all other creaâ—ures and then to pay praises for their own part also Kings of the earth and all people let them praise c. 2. God is no leveller of mens estates and outward condition in the world or allower of levelling but for his own praise and mens good he hath ordained distinction of men in Kings and subject people Princes and Judges and people to be judged in all parts of the earth Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the earth 3. As Civil government is appointed of God so they who are advanced to this dignity are first in the obligement unto the duty of setting forâ—h Gods praise and yet subjects here also must contribute according to their place and ability Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the earth 4. It should qualifie the mindes of men who are in honour that their preferment is but on earth and their time no longer then while they are on the earth and that they are under a King and Judge whose dominion is heavenly and everlasting therefore doth he joyne this addition Kings of the earth Princes and Iudges of the earth 5. As distinguishing of men in regard oâ— estate so distinguishing of sex and age offereth much matter of praise when particulars are considered and for the very distinction in sex and age God is to be praised Both young men and maidens old men and children let them praise 6. There is much matter of Gods glory in the earth and more in the heavens but the glory of himselfe and of his properties is more then all that either is or can be seen or found or expressed in or by the creature Let them praise the Name of the Lord for his Name alone is excellent his glory is above the earth and the heavens Vers. 14. He alone exalteth the horne of his people the praise of all his Saints even of the children of Israel a people near unto him Praise ye the LORD In the last place he pointeth at the glory of God manifested to the Church for which all Gods people are bound to praise him Whence learn 1 The praise of God for what he doth to and for his Church 〈◊〉 â—bove all the rest of his praises from the rest of his works as farre as the work of redemption grace and salvation to sinners is above the works of creation and worthy to put the capestone upon the rest of the work of his praises as here it is placed 2. Beside all the use and benefit which the Lords people have of the whole works of Gods hands he lifteth them up in strength victory and glory over all their enemies and over all other incorporations in the world who are but slaves to sinne and Satan in comparison of them He also exalteth the horne of his people 3 The exalting of the strength victory and glory of the Church standeth mainly in the exalting of the Messiah or of the Kingdome of the Messiah represented by the exalting of David for Christ is the horne of his people in whom their victory and glory is obtained and maintained unto them and therefore the horne of his people is expounded here to be The praise of all the Saints 4. Those are the true children of Israel who glory in Christ as their strength their victory and glory and do study to be in effect Saints for his people and his Saints are here expounded to be even the children of Israel 5. Students of holinesse who glory and rejoyce in Jesus as their strength victory righteousnesse and salvation and who are wrestlers for the blessing as true Israelites are the Lords people in a more straite union with God then any other people in the world A people near unto him and that in regard of their Covenant with God their incorporation in Christ and the inhabitation of the holy Spirit in them and the mutual love between God and them 6. Of all people in the earth the people of God have most reason to praise their Lord Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CXLIX THis Psalme is a ninefold exhortation of the true members of the Church who are believers and Saints in effect to praise God for saving grace bestowed on 〈…〉 for speciall priviledges granted
of the kinde for when some of the kinde are dying from time to time others are quickened and put in their room Whence learn 1. There is a natural instinct in all the living creatures in their want to wait on Gods providence which men may observe in them although the brute creatures know not this and cannot reflect upon their own inclinations For the Psalmist speaking of all living creatures no lesse then of the fishes he saith These all wait on thee that thou mayest give them their meat 2 So long as God will have any creature to live he provideth timously enough for its food They wait for thee that thou mayest give them their meat in due season 3. Gods providence reacheth to the least bit of food which any living creature meeteth with That thou givest them they gather 4 The Lord is liberal in his dispensation and feede hâ— all the creatures abundantly so long as he will have them to live Thou openest thy hand they are filled with good 5. The Lord demonstrates himself to be the fountain of life and that the living creatures do hold their life of him as well by the sickening and weakening of the living creatures as by the feeding and strengthening of them For when God withdraweth in any measure the wonted influence of his power from them then they finde a change to the worse Thou hidest thy face from them they are troubled 6. God hath no lesse special hand in â—emoving life then in giving of it Thou takest away their breath they die and return to their dust 7. Albeit the Lord take away the life of all individual living creatures yet he preserveth the species and kind of every liling creature by making new ones and raising them up in the roome of those that are taken away Thou sendest forth thy Spirit they are created 8. The same Spirit which created the world in the beginning worketh yet powerfully in forming new creatures continually Thou sendest out thy Spirit they are created 9. The Lord puts a new face as it were upon the earth from time to time partly by Spring-time and Summer every year partly by young living creatures in their several generations one after another and all these things do contribute to his renewed praise Thou renewest the face of the earth Ver. 31. The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever the LORD shall reioyce in his works 32. He looketh on the earth and it trembleth he toucheth the hills and they smoke In the last place is the conclusion wherein he addeth yet more reasons for praising of God and then maketh sundry uses of the former Doctrine He taketh up all that he would say in this That God shall have perpetual glory from the works of his goodness and power Whence learn 1. The end of all the workmanship of God is Gods glory and he is worthy of glory for his work and shall not want his glory from his works for ever The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever 2. As the Lord saw all his work in the beginning to be good so in the closing thereof he shall see all that he hath done to be good and nothing properly to be repented of whatsoever he hath done The Lord shall rejoyce in his works 3. As the Lord is bountiful to his creatures so also is he terrible to the strongest of them that he may be feared as well as loved and praised He looketh on the earth and it trembleth he toucheth the hills and they smoak 4. The signes of his terrible power which he hath actually manifested in shaking of the earth and kindling of the mountaines do bear witnesse how powerful and terrible the Lord is He looketh on the earth and it trembleth he toucheth the hills and they smoak Ver. 33. I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live I will sing praise to my God while I have my being 34. My meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the LORD 35. Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth and let the wicked be no more blesse thou the LORD O my soule Praise ye the LORD Here he setteth down the uses of this Doctrine which are five teaching us so many Doctrines For the first use here he bindeth upon himself an obligation joyfully to praise God for ever teaching us to do the same when we consider the Lords works I will sing unto the Lord so long as I live I will sing praise to my God while I have any being 2. For the second use of this Doctrine he promiseth to himself joy and gladnesse in the discharge of the work of Gods praise which teacheth us how profitable it is to our selves to praise God Nothing more sweet to a Believer then to be about the glorifying of God and beholding the matter of his praise My meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord. 3. For the third use he denounceth wrath and destruction unto the contemners of God who do not regard his glory but do stand out as common enemies of God and of all his workmanship which teacheth us that such as do not jâ—yne with Gods children in glorifying of God but go on in transgressing of his commands and abusing of his creatures shâ—ll be separated from the society of Gods servants unto which judgement every Beleever must subscribe as very righteous Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth and let the wicked be no more 4. For the fourth use he stirreth up himself to blesse the Lord for his own particular who had found favour to be no more of the numbeâ— of Gods enemies but among the Lords servants whereby he teacheth those whom God has called from the state of sin unto his holy service to stir up â—hemselves to thanksgiving Blesse thou the Lord O my soul. 5. For the fifth use he calleth upon all other Beleevers and exhorteth them to praise God and teacheth us that every one according to their place should stirre up another unto the honouring of God Praise ye the Lord. PSALM CV THe first part of this Psalme was sung at the carrying up of the Ark of God to the City of David 1 Chron. 16.8 The whole containeth an exhortation to the Church of Israel to praise God for his mercies shewen towards them with reasons serving to presse the duty The exhortation is set down ver 1 2 3 4 5 6. The reasons are more particularly expressed in the rest of the Psalme the first rank whereof is taken from the Lords covenanting with Abraham Isaac and Iacob and the care which the Lord had of their persons ver 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15. The second rank is taken from the care the Lord had of their posterity when he sent them down to Egypt and all the while they were there ver 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25. The third rank is taken from the manner of their delivery out of Egypt when they
be seen in the Fabrick of Heaven and more glory must be given to him then what all the creatures can expresse for heaven and earth and all things which he hath made are but the effect of some few words of the Lord His glory is above the Heavens 3. Of any or of all things which we see or hear of or can imagine there is no comparison to be made with God who hath set his throne above all the creatures Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high Ver. 6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth 7. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghil 8. That he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his people 9. He maketh the barren woman to keep house to be a joyful mother of children Praise ye the LORD In the reasons taken from the Lords gracious providence in the revolution of Kingdomes and families Learne 1. As the excellency and Majesty of God is so great that in regard of his own al-sufficiency he might justly despise the excellency of Angels and men whereof he standeeh in no need so the Lords taking any notice of men or Angels is a point of humbling of himself it is a point of love to the creature making him stoop so low as to look toward them For he humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth 2. As the Lord declareth himself wonderful in the works of Creation so also in the works of Providence in changing the publick affaires of Kingdomes above and contrary to all probability and expectation of men He raiseth up the poor oâ—t of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghil 3. Preferment unto high places cometh neither from the east nor from the west but as God casteth down some so he raiseth other some That he may set them with Princes even with the Princes of his People 4. Gods way manifested in Scripture is contrary to the course of levelling for he will have some to be in a mean place and some to be Princes even among his own People as this text sheweth 5. Howsoever the Lord be no lesse conspicuous in his throwing down of the mighty then in the raising of the poore yet will he rather take his praise here from his lifting up of the needy and poore then from the casting down of the mighty that so he may give comfort and hope to the dejected that depend upon him He lifteth the needy out of the dunghil that he may set them with Princes 6. It ie no small benefit yea it is the greatest dignity in the world to be advanced not in wrath but in mercy to rule over the Lords people for so doth God here commend his bounty to the needy That he makes them sit with the Princes of his People 7. All changes in mens families are of God no lesse then the changes of Stâ—te He maketh the barren woman to keepe house 8. It is the special blessing of a familie to increase in number for the Lords making the barren beare a number of children is here made the example of the most comfortable change of a distressed house He maketh the barren to be a joyful mother of children 9. The very hearing what comfortable changes the Lord can make and doth make the afflicted to finde is a matteâ— of refreshment to all and of praise to God from all Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CXIV THis Psalm is a praising of God for the gracious and glorious worke of delivering of his people out of Egypt and bringing them into Canaan and that for six reasons The first whereof is v. 1. The next v. 2. The third v. 3. The fourth v. 4. The fifth with the special use thereof v. 5 6 7. The sixth v. 8. Vers. 1. WHen Israel went out of Egypt and the house of Iacob from a people of strange language From the matter of praise here specified Learn 1. The Lords most glorious work done for his people in special the work of redemption should be oftenest remembred as the mention-making here and elsewhere of the time when Israel came out of Egypt sheweth 2. Redemption is then best esteemed of when the miserable condition wherein we were is called to minde as here Israels Redemption is commended from the state they were in in Egypt The house of Iacob went from a people of a strange language And this is the first reason of commending this work of God Vers. 2. Iudah was his sanctuary and Israel his dominion The next reason of commending this glorious work is the joyning of delivered Israel in a near fellowship with God Whence learn 1. People redeemed by God are no more their own but are the Lords purchase redeemed for his service Iudah was his sanctuary and Israel was his dominion 2. The title and interest which God justly doth claime in his people is that they may be consecrated unto him in holinesse and subject themselves as his loyal Subjects to his Government Iudah was his sanctuary and Israel was his dominion 3. All the consecration and sanctification of Israel is comprehended in and floweth from what was to be found in the tribe of Iudah and that is in Christ Jesus the flower of his tribe All Israel is his dominion but Iudah is his sanctuary Vers. 3. The Sea saw it and fled Iordan was driven back The third reason of Gods praise for this work is from the drying of the red-sea and of Iordan that his people might passe out of Egypt and into Canaan Whence learn 1. Gods dealing for his people whom he hath ransomed doth prove his wonderfull power for them and love towards them as the two miracles of the drying of the sea and of Iordan do commend the redemption of Israel 2. When God will deliver his people no opposition can hinder and when he will possesse them in what he promised no impediment can withstand him The Sea saw it and fled and Iordan was driven back Vers. 4. The mountaines skipped like rams and the little hills like lambs The fourth reason of Gods praise is the causing mount Horeb and other hills in their way to Canaan to tremble and quake when he put forth his power on them in the sight of his people Whence learn 1. There is no power in the earth which God cannot overtop when he pleaseth though they were like the strongest mountaines for as he can shake the earth so can he move and remove any power on earth as he gave evidence when he made the mountaines by earth-quake to skip like rams and the little hills like lambs Vers. 5. What ailed thee O thou sea that thou fleddest thou Iordan that thou wast driven back 6. Ye mountaines that ye skipped like rams and ye little hills like lambs 7. Tremble thou earth at the presence of the LORD at the presence of the God of Iacob
end that therein he may set forth his alâ—â— sufficiency to the creatures so is it no need of mans service which made him make a people and crave service of them for he could be served with what he hath in Heaven The heaven even the heavens are the Lords 2. Albeit God hath no need of mâ—n and can live without dependance on man yet man cannot live without dependance on God and use of his creatuâ—es in the world The heaven is the Lords but the earth hath he given to the children of men wherein they may dwell and be sustained by what he bestoweth on them there 3. As the plenty of â—iches of the earth is a pawne of the Lords readinesse to give better things unto man so it is an evidence of mans poverty and need of the service of so many of Gods creatures and of his obligation to trust in God and depend upon him The heaven is the Lords but the earth hath he given to the children of men Vers. 17. The dead praise not the LORD neither any that go down into silence 18. But we will blesse the LORD from this time forth and for evermore Praise the LORD The seventh reason of encouragement to trust in God is because the Church of believers shall be continued from generation to generation and shall never want reason to praise and blesse God from this time forth and for ever Therefore in confidence of this mercy let them trust in him and praise him this reason he maketh clear thus The dead spiritually cannot praise the Lord and if the succession of the Church of believers should be now cut off with this afflicted generation neither could we who live praise God in the earth longer then we live on it nor should there be any Church after us to discharge this duty among the children of men but this is impossible for God shall not want a generation of living believers to praise and blesse him for his goodnesse to the worlds end Therefore we shall 〈◊〉 and come forth of this present affliction and ere we die another generation of believers shall take this work off our hand and so shall we that are the Church of God blesse him from this time forth and for evermore Whereupon he exhorteth all men in this confidence to praise the Lord and closeth the Psalme Whence learn 1. If there were not a Church of believers God should want his praise on the earth for the dead to wit spiritually do not praise the Lord. 2. And if in any time of affliction while the world standeth there were not a deliveranâ—â—â—â—to the Church so that one generation of believers might â—ot follow another then should Gods praise among the children of men be abolished out of the world for as the 〈◊〉 spiritually cannot praise the Lord so neither can the dead bodily praise him among them that know him not that is on the earth where Godâ— praise is to be taught unto men For the dead praise 〈◊〉 the Lord so neither any that go down into silence 3. Because God shall never want living men on earth to praise him and blesse him for his goodnesse therefore the Church of believers shall be continued from one generation to another that they may blesse and praise the Lord in every age as here is said But we shall praise the Lord from this time forth and for evermore 4. The Churches affliction cannot be so heavy but they shall have cause to blesse the Lord for his goodnesse and to stirre up others to praise God with them for the Prophet closeth the Psalme made in deep affliction of the Church with Praise the Lord. PSALME CXVI THis Psalme is a threefold engagement of the Psalmist unto thanksgiving unto God for his mercy unto him and in particular for some notable delivery of him from death both bodily and spirituall The first engagement is that he shall out of love have his recourse unto God alwayes by prayer v. 1 2. The reasons and motives whereof are set down because of his delivery out of a great strait v. 3 4 5 6 7 8. The second engagement is to a holy conversation v. 9. The motives and reasons whereof are set down v. 10 11 12. The third engagement is unto promised praises or paying of praises and vowes before the Church with the reasons thereof v. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19. Vers. 1. I Love the LORD because he hath heard my voyce and my supplications 2. Because he hath enclined his eare unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live In his first engagement unto a constant dependance upon God and calling on him by prayer Learn 1. As it is among the wise purposes of God to put his children to straites that they may call on him and he by granting their petition may give them a new proof of his love to them and so stirre up their love to him so is it the duty of his children to stirre up their love to God upon every fresh experience of his respect to them for this doth the example of the Prophet teach us I love the Lord because he hath heard my prayer 2. Not Gods benefits but God himselfe is the satisfactory object of our complacency and love wherein we may acquiesce I love the Lord saith the Prophet after he had perceived the benefit 3. To loâ—◠〈◊〉 for himself and to love him for his favour and benefits bestowed upon us do consist well together for the loving of him for his favour bestowed on us doth lead us to love him for himselfe I love the Lord because he heard my voyce and my suppâ—â—â—â—ious 4. The root of thanksgiving is love to God therefore love is professed before thanksgiving be promised I love the Lord is first set down and then a promise to call upon him in all straits thereafter 5. It is no small comfort and obligation put upon a man to have experience of Gods regarding of his prayer and granting of his request as the Psalmists twice mentioning of it sheweth once v. 1. and here again because he hath enclined his care unto me 6. One proof of Gods hearing of our prayer may and should stirre us up to believe in him worship him and have our recourse by prayer unto him all the rest of our life Because he hath enclined his eare to me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live Vers. 3. The sorrows of death compassed me and the paines of hell gat hold upon me I 〈◊〉 trouble and sorrow The summe of the reasons of this engagement is set down in his late experience containing his deep â—rouble v. 3. His calling to God for relief v. 4 And Gods grace and mercy usually extended unto poor supplicants which helped him out of his low condition v. 5 6 The use whereof name 〈◊〉 rest on God who had delivered him is in v. 7 8. From his trouble and danger wherein he was Learn 1. It is no 〈◊〉
that after the way which is prescribed by God directing all his service to be offered to God through Christ for this is imported in Davids worshipping toward the Arke which was placed in the tabernacle or Temple I will worship toward the holy Temple and praise thy Name 2. The experience of the Lords kindnesse and faithfulnesse in his promises made to his people is a lively motive unto believers to praise him I will praise thy Name for thy loving kindnesse and thy truth 3. There is more to be seen and felt in the experience of Gods children then they could promise to themselves out of Gods Word for they finde that God in effect is better in his payment then in his promises for thus much doth this commendation import Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name that is I have found more effect in the performance of thy promise then the promise seemed unto me to hold forth in thy Name and this is the first reason of Davids engagement unto thankfulnesse Vers. 3. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. The second reason of his thanksgiving is more speciall because God had upholden him by his inward comfort in the time of his trouble and had answered his prayer graciously Whence learn 1. The Lord useth to put his children unto straits before he deliver them that he may be seen the more clearly to be their deliverer for David cried unto the Lord before the answer of his ordinary and daily prayer was given unto him In the day when I cried saith he 2. To be supported in trouble and to have strength to bear out in trouble till the full delivery come is a reall and remarkable answer from God to his peoples prayers In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 3. Albeit before the outward and compleat delivery come the passages of Gods secret sustaining of a man be not well marked yet when they are looked back upon in the clear light of accomplished deliverance the least degrees of delivery and secret supporting of the man under trouble will appear clearly to be answerers of prayer and begun delivery as David here observeth and giveth account thereof In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Ver. 4. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee O LORD when they hear the words of thy mouth 5. Yea they shall sing in the wayes of the LORD for great is the glory of the LORD The third reason of his thanksgiving is because he foreseeth in the Spirit of prophecy how great glory and praise and thanks the Lord shall have when he shall convert the Gentiles and reveal his Word and works unto them Whence learn 1. The foresight of the glory which God shall have in the world before its end by the promised propagation of his Gospell should stirre up all who believe the approaching glory of God to magnifie and praise him in their own time for the foresight of the glory of God to be manifested among the Gentiles is here the matter of the song of David and of the Church of the Jewes All the kings of the earth shall praise thee O Lord. 2. When the glory of the Lord is seen it doth overshine all the glory in the world for Kings when they see Gods glory shall fall down and praise God All the kings of the earth shall praise thee O Lord. 3. It is the Word of God mainly which sheweth forth the glory of the Lord and maketh his works to be wonderfull All the kings of the earth shall praise thee when they hear the words of thy mouth 4. Albeit the knowledge of God which cometh onely by his works be able to convince even the Heathen of the Lords care over his people and to astonish them yet not the knowledge of the Lord which cometh by his works but that which cometh by the hearing of the Word of the Lord is able to convert a man and to make him walk in the obedience of faith and to rejoyce in God and to sing his praises cheerfully When they hear the words of thy mouth they shall sing in the wayes of the Lord 5. The glory of the Lord which is manifested in his Word is the highest glory which is manifested to the world for after all the glory of his works of Creation and Providence which the Word holdeth forth it sheweth forth the glory of Gods grace and mercy to the self-condemned sinner which mercie to the penitent soul in some reâ—pect is above all Gods works for in this respect it is here said Great is the glory of the Lord. Vers. 6. Though the LORD be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly but the proud he knoweth afar off A fourth reason of Davids thanksgiving and praising of God is for his different dealing with the humble and proud Whence learn 1. Albeit the Lord be so highly exalted above all the creatures as it is a sort of humbling himself to behold his creatures even in the heavens yet he is so good and gracious that his superlative grandour doth not hinder his taking notice of the meanest lost sinner who humbleth himself before him Though the Lord be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly 2. The greatness of the Majestie of God commendeth his humility and the Lords looking low for the good of the poore Supplicant commendeth his greatnesse and maketh it more lovely for it is here put for a point of his praise That though the Lord be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly 3. The Lord observeth the disposition of men who are proud and who are humble before him for this doth the text point at 4. The humble do lose nothing by their humility nor do the proud gain any thing by their pride but by the contrary the humble finde grace and the proud are resisted of God He hath respect to the lowly but the proud he knoweth afar off 5. Pride excludeth a man from accesse to God and a proud man cannot have communion with God He knoweth the proud afar off Ver. 7. Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me The sixth reason of his giving thanks praise unto God is his confidence that whatsoever trouble he shall fal into hereafter by his enemies the Lord will sustain him under it and deliver him out of it Whence learn 1. It is a good use of by-past experience to conceive hope to be helped of God in time to come as the example of David here teacheth us 2. Whatsoever trouble a man hath been in he may fall in as great or greater afterward yea he may possibly be in a comfortlesse condition and helplesse and hopelesse for any thing can be seen yea and be
reasons In the exhortation Learn The whole works of God each of them in their own way call as it were for our estimation and praising of the workmanship which we see they call for our answer as it were and our duty requireth of us joyfully to make answer unto the call as the Word importeth in praising the Maker and thanking him for the use and benefit which we have of his works Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving sing praise upon the harp unto our God Vers. 8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds who prepareth raine for the earth who maketh grasse to grow upon the mountaines The first reason of the second exhortation is from his wise disposing of the clouds Whence learn 1. Sometime the Lord hideth the glory of the open heaven with clouds that it may appear again with so much more new fresh and pleasant lustre He covereth the Heaven with clouds 2. The change which God maketh upon the face of the Heaven by dark clouds is for advantage to the inhabitants of the earth He prepareth raine for the earth 3. The Lord taketh care of the most barren parts of the earth to make them by raining on them more pleasant and profitable then otherwayes they could be He maketh grasse to grow upon the mountaines Vers. 9. He giveth to the beast his food and to the young ravens which cry The second reason of the second exhortation to praise God is from the Lords care of beasts and fowles whereby he giveth men to understand that he hath a far greater care of them He giveth to the beast his food and to the young ravens which cry Vers. 10. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse he taketh not pleasure in the legges of a man 11. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that feare him in those that hope in his mercy The third reason of the second exhortation is because God esteemeth very little of those things wherein men naturally do put confidence whether their own strength or the strength of any creature such as horses are whereof men do make most use but he taketh pleasure in the godly who do fear him and do hope in him Whence learn 1. Men have more objects of carnal confidence then the idol of the power of Princes or of the multitude of â—ollowers for before man want an idol he will idolize his own strength or the strength of an horse and put confidence therein as the slight estimation which God hath of these confidences and the discharge of putting confidence in them do insinuate 2. Wherein soever a man delighteth most and puts most confidence that is the mans idol and that which the man doth bring in competition with God as the Lords discharging of taking delectation or pleasure in the creature instead of discharging to esteem of it or put trust in it doth import 3. God esteemeth of no man for his riches honour command of horse and foot nor for his bodily strength He delighteth not in the strength of the horse he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man 4. The only right object of our joy pleasure and confidence is God himself as the opposition doth teach us such as both beleeve in God and fear to offend him are the only men acceptable to God in whom God delighteth and taketh pleasure to keep communion with them The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy and by consequence such as do not fear him and who when they are overtaken in a transgression do not run to him for pardon in the hope of mercy He taketh no pleasure in them Vers. 12. Praise the LORD O Ierusalem praise thy God O Zion In the third exhortation to praise God expressely directed to Ierusalem and Sion representing the Church in all ages â—earn 1. Albeit all the earth be obliged to praise God yet only the Lords people are the right estimators of his glory and the fit proclaimers of his praise Praise the Lord O Ierusalem 2. Albeit all the creatures are the Lords yet the Church is the Lords in a more nigh relation for the Church may claim interest in God as her own by Covenant Praise thy God O Zion Vers. 13. For he hath strengthened the barres of thy gates he hath blessed thy children within thee 14. He maketh peace in thy border and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat The reasons for the third exhortation are six whereof foure are in these verses The first is the Lord hath fenced his Church with walls gates and barres that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it He hath strengthened the barres of thy gates to wit by interposing of his Omnipotent power for her preservation 2. The second reason of praise is that he maketh one generation to follow another in his Church and the children to be in greater number then their forefathers by adding daily unto the Church such as are to be saved He hath blessed thy children within thee not only in regard of multiplication of them but also by making them to abound in all knowledge and grace 3. The third reason of praise is that the true members of the Church have peace with God and among themselves in that measure which is expedient for her good He maketh peace in thy borders 4. The fourth reason is because he feedeth his people with food convenient but especially in regard of their spiritual nourishment in giving them the bread of life whereof the finest floure is but a similitude He filleth thee with the finest of the wheat Vers. 15. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth his Word runneth very swiftly 16. He giveth snow like wool he scattereth the hoare frost like ashes 17. He casteth forth his ice likt morsels who can stand before his cold 18. He sendeth out his Word and melteth them he causeth his winde to blow and the waters flow The fifth reason of the third exhortation unto Gods praise is taken from Gods powerful ruling of the least changes in the clouds and in the aire in making foule wearher and faire frost and fresh weather as he pleaseth by which similitude he will have his people to understand that the Lord ruleth with a more special eye all the changes which fall out in the external condition of the Church Whence learn 1. The course of the creatures and the changes in them even unto the least meteor or change which is to be seen in the clouds or in the aire is particularly directed and governed of God whose will is a law to the creature and whose command hath ready execution He sendeth forth his Commandment upon earth his Word runneth very swiftly 2. The least change of weather by snow or frost or ice is by Gods dispensation and appointment much more any change of affaires in his Church He giveth snow like wool he scattereth the hoare frost like ashes he casteth forth his ice like morsels 3. The consequents and effects
finde out any way to clear himself as here we see They compassed me about also with words of hatred 6. Albeit when an innocent man hath to do with a wicked and impudent slanderer he may be put to no lesse hard exercise then if he were yoked in a combat to fight for his life yet it is comfort when God and his own conscience know that he suffereth unjustly They fought against me without a cause 7. Innocency kindnesse and good deeds done by the godly unto the wicked instruments of Satan will not exempt them from their malicious calumniating of them yea no man is more subject to this requital then they who do deserve best of the wicked world even Christ and his servants are of all men most traduced For my love they are my adversaries saith the type of Christ and Christ in him 8. It is not the way to overcome the calumnies of the wicked to render reviling for reviling or to loose the tongue unto evil words but the only way to overcome all is to go to God as Supplicants as here the Psalmist did But I gave my self to prayer 9. When malicious lips against a man are joyned with the ingratitude of the Calumniator it maketh up a fearful ditty against the slanderer as here And they have rewarded me evil for good and hatred for my love Ver. 6. Set thou a wicked man over him and let Satan stand at his right hand 7. When he shall be judged let him be condemned and let his prayer become sin 8. Let his dayes be few and let another take his office 9. Let his children be fatherlesse and his wife a widow 10. Let his children be continually vagabonds and beg let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places 11. Let the extortioner catch all that he hath and let the stranger spoile his labour 12. Let there be none to extend mercy unto him neither let there be any to favour his fatherlesse children 13. Let his posterity be cut off and in the generation following let their name be blotted out 14. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembred with the LORD and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out 15. Let them be before the LORD continually that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth 16. Because that he remembred not to shew mercy but persecuted the poore and needy man that he might even slay the broken in heart 17. As he loved cursing so let it come unto him as he delighted not in blessing so let it be farre from him 18. As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment so let it come into his bowels like water and like oile into his bones 19. Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually 20. Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD and of them that speak evil against my soul. In this second part of the Psalme he pronounceth the most fearful vengeance of God upon malicious calumniators and that as a Prophet and the Messenger of God to shew the wrath of God against such wicked persons in general and especially against the enemies of the Gospel for he speaketh here as the type of Christ as Peter sheweth applying this prophecie to Iudas by name Acts 1.20 Whence learn 1. Albeit it be not lawful for any man to use such imprecations out of private revenge or against any man in particular as David doth who was led as a Prophet by the Spirit of God yet this doth shew unto us that fearful and heavie are those judgements which attend ingrateful calumniators of honest men and in special all such as are enemies to Christ and to his Gospel and to his faithful Ministers or to those in whom the work of Gods grace doth appear and that in special for their devising and fostering lies and slanders of them that professe Gods truth of purpose to make them and the truth which they maintaine and all of their kinde to be the more hated and despised among men for this which is written here shall be their judgment according as they draw deeper in this sort of transgression and do approach to Iudas his treacherie 2. More specially these are the wages and reward of the desperate enemies of Christ and the Gospel and Christs servants First all sort of mischief shall come upon such a mans own person from men and from devils and from Judicatories and from Heaven Wrath shall be on him in relation to his liberty to his enterprises to his suits of law and his exercise of Religion till he be cut off from the world and rooted from his place v. 6 7 8. Secondly mischief shall be on his family wife and children goods and estate whereof his children shall have no benefit but be exposed to all misery without pity v. 9 10 11 12. Thirdly mischief shall be upon his posterity till they be rooted out with infamie to him of whom they came being pursued in wrath to the third and fourth generation as the children of him that hated God till his fame and memory perish v. 13 14 15. and that for his mercilesse persecuting of the Lords poor children v. 16. Fourthly the curse of God without hope of Gods blessing shall pursue his gracelesse and cursed disposition to the vexation of his soul and body and it shall be fastened on him on all hands perpetually v. 17 18 19. as the just reward of the deadly enemies of the Lord and of the salvation of his people v. 20 And this is set down as a part of a Psalme of David to be sung unto Gods praise and allowed and said Amen unto by all the people of God against the desperate and unreconcileable enemies of Christ and of his true servants whereby the Church of God may be edified and kept fast in the faith and profession of Christ and free from persecution of his faithful servants Ver. 21. But do thou for me O GOD the Lord for thy Names sake because thy mercy is good deliver thou me 22. For I am poore and needy and my heart is wounded within me 23. I am gone like the shadow when it declineth I am tossed up and down as the locust 24. My knees are weak through fasting and my flesh faileth of fatnesse 25. I became also a reproach unto them when they looked upon me they shaked their heads The third part of the Psalme wherein the persecuted Saint putteth up prayer unto God for comfort to himself and for delivery using sundry reasons for strengthening of his faith to v. 26. where he repeateth his prayer with other reasons to inforce it to v. â—9 and having found comfort and victory he closeth the Psalme with thanksgiving v. 30 31. From his first prayer and the reason thereof Learn 1. Whatsoever mischief be appointed for the enemies of God and of his Son Jesus Christ it shall not prejudice the
favour of their Master or Mistresse so fares it oft-times with the believer for his outward condition as the similitude and present case of the Church here teacheth Behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their Masters 6. It is fitting that the persecuted believer have a low estimation of himself before God be patient under his hand submissive to his dispensation and hopefull of help in his addresse unto God for so much the similitude from servants behaviour toward their master and mistresse doth teach As the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistresse so our eyes wait upon the Lord. 7. The interest which the believer hath in God under any relation hath comfort sufficient included in it as here the Lords being Master is sufficient to sweeten bondage of servant and handmaid but Covenant-interest sweeteneth it much more Our eyes are upon the Lord our God 8. As masters and mistresses are taught to shew pitty mercy bounty and protection unto their servants on the one hand and servants are here taught on the other hand by their good behaviour not to marre their favour so the believer is taught to behave himselfe before God as a servant indeed by endeavouring indeed to obey God 9. The terme of the Saints patience and waiting is till God shew mercy Behold as the eyes of the servants c. so our eyes wait on the Lord our God until that he have mercy on us Vers. 3. Have mercy upon us O LORD have mercy upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt 4. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud From his prayer for comfort and relief Learn 1. Whatsoever aileth the Church the Lords mercy is the remedy Have mercy 2. Each member of the Church should be sensible of the trouble of the whole body and deal for it as for himself Have mercy upon us O Lord. 3. As misery is more pressing so should petitions be doubled and poured forth in the Lords bosome Have mercy have mercy upon us 4. Contempt disdain and derision of Gods suffering servants is the heaviest and most grievous part of their affliction Have mercy upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt 5. They that prosper in wickednesse are ready instruments to afflict the godly and to persecute them for righteousnesse and to mock the godly in their misery when they have wrongfully troubled them Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of them that are at ease 6. So long as persecutors and oppressors of Gods Church do prosper and finde successe in their wayes they will not cease to please themselves in their wicked course and despise both the persons and the cause of Gods people whatsoever be said against them Our soul is filled with the contempt of the proud PSALME CXXIV THe scope of this Psalme is first to acknowledge the delivery of the Church to be evidently the Lords own work the danger being so great out of which they were lately delivered v. 1 2 3 4 5. and next to blesse the Lord for their preservation v. 6 7 8. Vers. 1. IF it had not been the LORD who was on our side now may Israel say 2. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side when â—en rose up against us 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us 4. Then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over our soul. 5. Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. In the acknowledgment of their wonderful delivery the Psalmist doth shew that their adversaries on the one hand were so strong so many so crafty so cruel malicious and the Lords people on the other hand were so weak and so destitute of all counsell and help that their deliverance could be ascribed to no cause save to Gods strong power assisting his own Whence learn 1. Albeit the Lord do suffer his Church sundry times to be brought near to destruction yet alwayes doth he prove himselfe the Churches friend and helper against their enemies If it had not been the Lord who was on our side 2. The Lord so doth help his people as he draweth forth the acknowledgement of their weaknesse to help themselves and of utter impossibility to be safe without his assistance If the Lord had not been on our side may Israel now say 3. After we are delivered out of a danger we should study to apprehend it no lesse livelily then when we are in the danger and that so much the more as we are naturally disposed to the contrary as the repeating and new representing of the danger they were in doth import and teach 4. Men in the state of nature are ready to be party adversaries unto the Church If the Lord had not been on our side when men rose up against us 5. The wicked have an appetite after the blood of Gods people as wilde beasts have after their prey Then they had swallowed us up quick 6. If God should not bridle the fury of the wicked against his people the worldly strength of the godly to defend themselves is nothing Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us 7. If the wickednesse of the world were let loose against Gods people it should runne as violently against the Church as floods of water against those that are within the channell Then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over our soul. 8. The more the matter of the Churches delivery is looked upon the danger is the better seen and the greatnesse of their delivery also as the insisting in the similitude doth teach Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Vers. 6. Blessed be the LORD who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth 7. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers the snare is broken and we are escaped 8. Our help is in the Name of the LORD who made heaven and earth In the Churches thanksgiving for their delivery they make a threefold use of their experience First they praise and blesse Gods goodnesse v. 6. Secondly they make much of the benefit and rejoyce therein v. 7. And thirdly they strengthen their faith in God for time to come v. 8. Whence learn 1. It is our duty after delivery from dangers to acknowledge not only Gods power for us but his goodnesse also toward us and to acknowledge him the fountaine of all blessednesse upon that occasion Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us as a prâ—y to their teeth 2. As the Churches enemies are superiour to her in worldly strength so also in policy craftinesse and wordly wit as the fowler is craftier then the bird Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers 3. According as the danger is fearful so is the delivery sweet and joyful The snare is broken
condition worse or better it must not take up the room in our affection which is due to the Church it must not make us forget the affliction of Ioseph for that were to provoke God to make those benefits uselesse unto us which did divert us from sympathy with the Church If I forget thee O Ierusalem let my right hand forget her cunning or if the Church of God and the good of it be not preferred above our own private contentments it shall be righteousnesse with God to turn the meanes of our private contentment to be the means of our private grief If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I preferre not Ierusalem to my chief joy 4. To seek mens favour with the detâ—iment of any point of Religion or to consent unto mens encroachment upon matters of Religion that we may have their favour or that we may be freed from their trouble or sit at more ease under them is to forget God and his Church and our respects which we owe to God and to his Church as we are taught by the example of the Jewes refusing to sing Psalmes at the Babylonians desire or direction and expounding their obedience to the Babylonians in this point to be nothing else but a forgetting of Ierusalem and a denying of their Religion if they should have yielded Vers. 7. Remember O LORD the children of Edom in the day of Ierusalem who said Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof 8. O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us 9. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones agaenst the stones In the imprecation used against the enemies of the Church and in particular against their false brethren the Edomites who helped on their affliction and against the Babylonians who were the chief oppressors of them Learn 1. False brethren are the chief instruments of persecution of the true members of the Church whensoever they finde occasion aâ— the Edomites the posterity of Esau did prove in the destruction of Ierusalem Remember O Lord the children of Edom. 2. Whosoever do delight in the Churches calamity and do endeavour the Churches ruine by word or deed by their stirring up of others to afflict them or by any oppression which may tend to the Churches prejudice when the Lord is visiting her their sinne shall not be forgotten of God in the day when the Lord judgeth his people but shall be severely punished Remember O â—ord the children of Edom in the day of Ierusalem 3. No lesse will suffice the adversaries of the Church then the utter ruine and rasing of it to the ground Who said of Ierusalem Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof 4. The estate of the Church at the worst is better then the estate of Babylon or any estate of her adversaries how prosperous soever at the best for albeit the Church be in captivity and oppressed yet she shall not be destroyed but it is not so with her adversaries but O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed 5. Faith is neither blinded by the prosperity of the wicked nor by the adversity of the Church but doth see through the prospect of the Lords Word both her approaching delivery of the Church and the ruine of her enemies for O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed doth shew unto the captive Jewes so much 6. As the enemies of Gods Church have measured out unto the Lords people so it shall be measured back again and more for a reward unto her adversaries Happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us 7. There is an happinesse wherein blessednesse doth not consist which neither is a part or branch of blessednesse nor a proper mark of blessednesse but only signifieth some happinesse in the consequence of a mans work tending to the glory of God and good of his Church and such is the happinesse of the Medes and Persians here spoken of who whatsoever were their corrupt intentions in their warre did work albeit not as religious servants yet as Gods instruments a good work of justice upon the oppressors of Gods people and a good work of delivery of the Lords people Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones 8. Albeit it be a sinfull thing to satisfie our carnall affection in the misery of any man yet it is lawfull in Gods cause to wish that God be glorified albeit in the confusion of his enemies and here great need is to have the heart well guarded with the fear of God for wherwise to allow the dashing of little ones against the stones might make a man guilty of savage cruelty PSALME CXXXVIII THis Psalme is Davids thanksgiving unto God and praising of him for the experience he had of his love and faithfulnesse The promise of praise or thanksgiving is set down v. 1. and six reasons are to be subjoyned in the verses following which are closed with a prayer in the end of the Psalme Vers. 1. I Will praise thee with my whole heart before the gods will I sing praises unto thee In the promise of praising God Learn 1. It is a part of our thankfulnesse to engage our heart to praise God for after-time when we finde that all the thanks we can give for the present are short of our duty or desire to praise him I will praise thee saith David 2. As sometimes the believer will finde his heart set at liberty in Gods worship which at another time he will finde to be in bands so should he take the opportunity of an enlarged heart to runne in the way of Gods service as David doth here I will praise thee with my whole heart 3. Albeit the faces of Princes Rulers and Magistrates use to lay some restraint upon the liberty of speech which men use to take before mean persons and albeit Princes ordinarily love rather to hear themselves praised by flatterers then to hear either God or man magnified in their audience yet a heart enlarged with the sense of Gods Majesty greatnesse and goodnesse will not stand to confesse and proclaim Gods truth greatnesse and goodnesse and other points of his praise in the audience of the greatest men on the earth puâ— case they should think themselves cried down and more lightly esteemed of by this meanes Before the Lord will I sing praise to thee Ver. 2. I will worship toward thy holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindnesse and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name He engageth himselfe also unto the publick ordinary worship of God according to Gods command and then giveth the reasons of his engagement Whence learn 1. Worshipping of God in secret is indeed necessary but it is not sufficient for the man who mindeth thankfulnesse to God except he follow the publick meanes also and
any one of his wayes for if a man be corrupt in any of his wayes he may deceive his own heart in all other of his wayes this doth David import when he saith And see if there be any wicked way in me 3. Every wicked way is a way of grief trouble and sorrow for so imports the name given to it in the original 4. The good way allowed of God is a lasting way appointed of God of old and will be approved by him for ever Lead me in the way everlasting 5 We cannot walk in the wayes of God without his actual and effectual leading of us therein beside his direction given in common by his Word and therefore we had need to pray with David Lead me in the way everlasting PSALME CXL DAvid being pursued for his life and loaded with false calumnies of wicked men prayeth First for deliverance from them v. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Secondly prayeth against them v. 8 9 10 11. Thirdly declareth the Lords gracious answer v. 12 13. Ver. 1. DEliver me O LORD from the evil man preserve me from the violent man 2. Which imagine mischiefes in their heart continually are they gathered together for warre 3. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent adders poison is under their lips Selah In his prayer for deliverance First he requesteth for preservation from their cruel devices and slanders v. 1 2 3. Then repeateth his prayer for preservation from the present dangerâ— wherein he was by reason of the snares laid for him v. 4 5. Thirdly he repeateth his petition with some special grounds of confidence and hope to be relieved v. 6. From the first request Learn That most innocent and godly men by the calumnies of the wicked are sometimes cast in great dangers whence they see no appearance of deliverance for clearing their name or saving of their life except God finde it out and in this case God is and should be their refuge Deliver me O Lord from the evil man 2. How wicked soever how violent soever the enemies of Gods children be God can rescue his servants out of their hands Preserve me from the violent man 3. Such as not only in fit of passion but also in cold blood resolve to do mischief to the godly may justly be esteemed evil men violent men for so are they here described Which imagine mischief in their hearts 4. When wicked men have devised what they can by themselves against the righteous they cannot trust their own wits as able to make the plot fast except they consult one with another frequently that they may joyne their counsels and their forces together to make the snare sure Continually they are gathered together for warre 5. That wicked men may the better carry on their designe against the godly they possesse the simple people with prejudices of them devising and spreading false lies and bloody calumnies of them contrived with great cunning and made very probable in appearance lest any should pity them when they are cut off They have sharpenyd their tongue like a serpent 6. When the wicked have vented deadly lies of the godly they have in readinesse new slanders and capital crimes to charge them with falsely Adders poison is under their lips Ver. 4. Keep me O LORD from the hands of the wicked preserve me from the violent man who have purposed to overthrow my goings 5. The proud have hid a snare for me and cords they have spread a net by the way-side they have seâ— grinnes for me Selah In his repeated petition for prâ—servation Learn 1. It wil not suffice the wicked to defame the godly and murther them in heart and tongue but also they seek to have them in their grips except God interpose himself for their safety Keep me O Lord from the hands of the wicked 2. The desperate resolution of the wicked to overcome the godly must not discourage the godly but sharpen their prayer Preserve me from the violent man who have purposed to overthrow my goings 3. Hunters and Fowlers did never go more cunningly to work by snares nets and traps to catch their prey then the wicked go about to have the advantage of the godly to bring their life under their power The proud have laid a snare for me and cords they have spread a net by the way-side they have set grinnes for me Ver. 6. I said unto the LORD Thou art my God heare the voice of my supplications O LORD 7. O GOD the Lord the strength of my salvation thou hast covered my head in the day of battel In the repeating of his petition the third time with reasons of hope to be helped Learn 1. The malice of men should move the believer to make use of Gods favour and friendship and of the Covenant with him I said unto the Lord Thou art my God 2. The claim which faith layeth unto God should proceed from a fixed purpose to stand to its right and interest it hath in God I said unto the Lord Thou art my God 3. When faith findeth the Covenant fixed then prayer findeth vent and the man poureth forth his desire with hope as here Hear the voice of my supplication O Lord. 4. When misbelief doth present to the godly the greatnesse of the danger the mans own weaknesse and the power of the adversarie faith should present in opposition to these the strength of God and his power for salvation as engaged by Covenant to the behoof of the believer O God the Lord the strength of my salvation 5. As present straits should bring to minde by-gone dangers and deliverances so by-gone experience of delivery should strengthen faith for the present for this use David maketh of his present and by-gone exercise 6. In time of danger God useth to interpose himself for the preservation of his own servant more nearly and closely then a helmeâ— cleaveth to a mans head in the day of battel and doth ward off a blow better then any piece of armour can do as Davids experience teacheth Thou hast covered my head in the day of battel Ver. 8. Grant not O LORD the desires of the wicked further not his wicked device lest they exalt themselves Selah 9. As for the head of those that compasse me about let the mischief of their own lips cover them 10. Let burning coales fall upon them let them be cast into the fire into deep pits that they rise not up again 11. Let not an evil Speaker be established in the earth evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him In the second part of the Psalme wherein he prayeth against his enemies Learn 1. God can overthrow all the devices of the wicked and the wicked can effect nothing against the godly except God grant them their desire for so much doth this prayer import Grant not O Lord the desires of the wicked 2. The prayer of the godly against the plots of the wicked hath more power to overturn them then the wicked
have wit or strength to promote them Further not his wicked device 3. When one of the wicked findeth successe in his wicked devices all of them grow proud and do misken God for that cause Furrher not his wicked device lest they exalt themselves 4. God will not give alwayes successe unto the wicked oppressors of his people were there no other reason for it but this one to crush the pride of his enemies and to make it cease Further not his wicked device lest they exalt themselves 5. What mischief the wicked have threatened to bring upon the godly shall fall upon themselves and bitter as gall shall their part be as the Word will suffer in the Original who are chief Ring-leaders of the peâ—â—â—â—ution of the godly As for the head of them that compasse me about let the mischief of their own lips cover them 6. The overthrow of the wicked shall come upon them as the ruine of a wall covering them and smothering them Let mischief cover them their torment shall be piercing and intolerable like the perdition of Sodom Let burning coals fall upon them no escaping for them Let them be cast into the fire no getting out of the torment no recovery for them Let them be cast into deep pits that they rise not again 7. Backbiters and Calumniators shall not only be debarred from heaven but also Gods curse shall follow them on earth and not suffer them nor their posterity to enjoy quiet prosperity in the world Let not an evil Speaker be eshablished in the earth 8. When oppression hath cried to God against the oppressor it is sent forth as a Serjeant to follow him at the heels whereever he go till it overtake him and throw him headlong into destruction Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him Vers. 12. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poore 13. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy Name the upright shall dwell in thy presence In the third part of the Psalme is the answer of the Psalmists prayer in a comfortable perswasion of Gods maintaining of his persecuted children delivering of his own afflicted servants out of all their troubles Whence learn 1. Whosoever shal persecute and oppresse the righteous shall finde God their Party joyned in the cause with the afflicted The Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted 2. The faith of Gods assistance is a sufficient comfort to the godly to uphold them till the deliverance come and this perswasion God useth to give to his persecuted servants for their upholding I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted 3. The main thing which the Lords servants do care for is their cause and their right that whatsoever they shall suffer their cause may go free and be justified and this the Lord doth secure here The Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poore 4. Whatsoever hardship the godly do meet with in their exercise joy and deliverance shall close their troubles and whatsoever prayer and mourning they shall be driven unto by persecution praise and thanksgiving shall be the last part of their trial and this the Lord will have his people perswaded of Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy Name 5. Whatsoever imperfections the beleever shall finde in himself yet his upright and sincere dealing with God by the daily acknowledgement of what is amisse in him and by his making use of the remedy held forth in the Gospel shall prove him to be a righteous man for the righteous and the upright man here is one 6. Beside all the comfortable blinks of Gods kindnesse in this world granted to the believer he hath assurance of perseverance and of everlasting fellowship with God The upright shall dwell in thy presenâ—e PSALME CXLI THe Psalmist being in distresse by the malicious persecution of his adversaries prayeth for relief and for a holy carriage under his trouble till his own full delivery and till his enemies distruction should come The petitions are seven the first is general for acceptation of his person and granting of his prayer v. 1 2. The next is for direction of his speeches v. 3. The third is for guiding of his heart and actions v. 4. The fourth is for the benefit of the fellowship of the Saints by their wholesome counsell and admonition v. 5. with the reasons thereof v. 6 7. The fifth is for the comfort of spiritual communion with God v. 8. The sixth is for preservation from the plots of the enemies v. 9. The seventh is for the overthrow of his enemies v. 10. Vers. 1. LORD I crie unto thee make haste unto me give eare unto my voice when I crie unto thee 2. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice In the first petition which is general for granting of his prayer and accepting of his person in his prayer Learn 1. Miâ—-beliefe doth seek many wayes for delivery from trouble but faith hath but one way to go to God to wit by prayer for whatsoever is needfull Lord I crie unto thee 2. Present danger or long continuance of trouble doth put an edge upon the devotion of the believer Lord I crie unto thee 3. Albeit the godly dare not set a time to God when he shall come yet they may declare the strait they finde themselves in and what need they have of speedy help Make haste unto me 4. As it is an ordinary tentation suggested to the godly in the time of trouble when they pray and do not receive answer that their supplication is mis-regarded so should it be repelled by renewing of our petition so oft as it is offered as this example teacheth Give eare unto my voyce when I cry unto thee 5. The prayer of Gods children is very sweet smelled and acceptable to God through the mediation of Christ as the ceremonial offering of incense and sacrifice whereunto David here doth allude did signifie Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice 6. Our prayers unto God should be joyned with submissivenesse of spirit self-denial and hopefull dependance on God for so much doth the gesture of lifting up of the hands in prayer of its own nature signifie and therefore here the gesture is put for the prayer which should be joyned with such an inward disposition Let the lifting up of my hands be as evening sacrifice Vers. 3. Set a watch O LORD before my mouth keep the door of my lips In the second petition which is more special for direction of his speeches Learn 1. The godly in their trouble especially by persecution are under tentation to hurt their own cause by unadvised and passionate speeches for this doth the prayer import 2. As words of passion from our muddy affection are ready to break
to praise God to be still lying on him as this example of David in the close of the Psalme doth shew us 2. The Lord will be praised in our spirits and outwardly in our words and externall expressions also My mouth shall speak the praises of the Lord. 3. Some duties belong to some persons and other duties belong to other persons but the duty of praising the Lord is the duty of every man albeit only the believer giveth obedience to this Let all flesh blesse him 4. It is needfull that every worshipper of God in the discharge of praise remember their own frailty and be hâ—mbled Let all flesh blesse him 5. The duty of praising and blessing God must be so holily discharged as the Lord may be honoured in effect Let all flesh blesse his holy Name 6. Such as praise God and bâ—esse him heartily shall follow this exercise for ever Let all flesh blesse his holy Name for ever and ever PSALME CXLVI THis Psalme is a Psalme of praise wholly wherein when the Psalmist hath exhorted all men to praise the Lord he engageth himselfe to the work v. 1 2. Then he teacheth the way how to praise God in effâ—ct to wit by renouncing all carnall confidence and trusting only in the Lord v. 3 4 5. Thirdly he giveth reasons both of trusting in God and praising of God and closeth as he begun with the same exhortation to praise God Vers. 1. PRaise ye the LORD Praise the LORD O my soul 2. While I live will I praise the LORD I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being From the stirring up of others and himselfe to praise God Learn 1. The duty of praising God is so necessary so deserved by God so profitable to us and so spiritual that we had need frequently to stirre up our selves and others unto it Praise ye the Lord. 2. For discharging the duty of praise all the powers of the soul must be stirred up the minde to meditate the memory to bring forth former observations the heart and affections for discharging of the duty in the best manner Praise the Lord O my soul. 3. Whatsoever concurrence we finde of others in the work of praise lesse or more let us set our selves seriously and heartily unto it and engage our own heart for it While I live I will praise the Lord. 4. There can be little heartinesse in this work till the soul lay hold on God by faith and embrace the Covenant of grace and so finde its own interest in God and then the soul will praise in earnest as the Psalmists example may shew us I will sing praises to my God while I have any being Vers. 3. Put not your trust in Princes nor in the son of man in whom there is no help 4. His breath goeth forth he returneth to his earth in that very day his thoughts perish He sheweth the way how to praise God really to wit by renunciation of all earthly confidence and fixing faith and trust on God alone for renouncing of all confidence in creatures he giveth reasons v. 3 4. and for trusting in God he giveth reasons by praising of God unto the end of the Psalme In the forbidding of carnall confidence Learn 1. What a man doth most trust in that he esteemeth most of and praiseth it in his heart most therefore doth the Psalmist set us upon God as on the right object of trust and diverteth us from the wrong that he may teach us to make God the only object of praise 2. Because the maine object of our carnall confidence naturally is man in power who seemeth able to do for us able to promote us to dignity and riches and to keep us up in some state in the world therefore must we throw down this idolâ— in particular that we may place our confidence in God the better Put not your trust in Princes 3. To cut off carnal confidence in man that neither mean men may trust in great men nor great men may trust in the multitude of mean men we must remember that no man is naturally better then his progenitors but such as his fathers were such is he that is a sinfall weak and unconstant creature Put not your trust in Princes nor in the son of man 4. The reason why we should not put trust in man is because he can neither help himselfe nor the man that trusteth in him when there is most need In whom there is no help 5. He that cannot deliver himselfe from death is not to be trusted in because it is uncertaine how soon death shall seize upon him His breath goeth forth he returneth to his earth 6. Whatsoever the good will or purpose or promise of any man can give assurance of all doth vanish when the man dieth In that every day his thoughts perish Vers. 5. Happy is he that hath the God of Iacob for his help whose hope is in the LORD his God In the exhorting of us to trust in God he giveth this encouragement unto it that he who trusteth in God may look for help and happinesse in him Whence learn 1. The only true object of our faith and confidence is God as he is revealed by his Word to his Church to wit The God of Iacob the God of Israel 2. Faith in God bringeth true felicity with it and help in time of need Happy is he that hath the God of Iacob for his help 3. Hope of help and happinesse from trust and confidence in God must be grounded upon the Lords entering in Covenant with us and becoming ours through the Mediator whose hope is in the Lord his God Vers. 6. Which made heaven and earth the sea and all that therein is which keepeth truth for ever 7. Which executeth judgement for the oppressed which giveth food to the hungry the LORD looseth the prisoners 8. The LORD openeth the eyes of the blinde the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down the LORD loveth the righteous 9. The LORD preserveth the strangers he relieveth the fatherless and widow but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down 10. The LORD shall reigne for ever even thy God O Sion unto all generations Praise ye the LORD For encouraging of us yet more to believe in God who offereth himselfe to be reconciled with us and to be our God in Christ he giveth other ten motives and as every one of them is a point of Gods praise so is it a prop and pillar to support the believers faith The first motive to believe in God and first reason of Gods praise is his omnipotency and al sufficiency made manifest by the work of creation and preservation of all creatures Which made the heaven and the earth the sea and all that therein is 2. The second motive to believe in God is another point of Gods praise to wit his faithfulnesse in making and keeping Covenant and performing his promises unto everlasting Which keepeth truth for ever 3. The third point of
of the changes which God doth make as well in one case as in another could not be endured if God should not temper them and provide some remedy against them as appeareth in the making of frost Who can stand before his cold 4. Before any change from frost to faire weather can be made a new order must come forth from the Lord and when that cometh aire and water do return to their former course and so it is in any other change in the world especially in the affaires of the Church He sendeth out his Word and melteth them he causeth the winde to blow and the waters flow Vers. 19. He sheweth his Word unto Iacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel 20. He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his judgements they have not known them Praise ye the LORD The sixth reason of the third exhortation to praise God is from the different dealing of God with his Church and with the rest of the people of the world Whence learn 1. The benefit of the Scriptures and the opening up and application of them unto the edification of the hearers is a precious gift of God and this benefit the Lord hath bestowed on his Church called by the names of Iacob or Israel He sheweth his Word unto Iacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel 2. The benefit of the Scriptures and revealing the Word of life unto the Church maketh Gods people in a better condition and more excellent then any other incorporation can be in He hath not dealt so with any Nation 3. Where the Word of God in his Scripture is not opened up there the Lords dealing with men in justice and mercie and the way which the Lord keepeth in ruling of the world is not understood but people there do live in deadly darknesse As for his judgments they have not known them 4. As the benefits bestowed upon the Church are most excellent so the Church is most bound to praise God both for those mercies and for all other his glorious works Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CXLVIII IN this Psalme the Church is stirred up to praise God because of the incomparable excellency of his glory and majesty appearing first in the heavens above v. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Secondly in the earth and sea beneath and lower parts under the Heaven v. 7 8 9 10. Thirdly in the governing of men and of all sorts and ranks of men but especially in doing for his Church v. 11 12 13 14. In all which as he sheweth how the world is full of Gods glory so he pointeth at matter of his praise whithersoever we turne our eyes Ver. 1. PRaise ye the LORD praise ye the LORD from the Heavens praise him in the heights 2. Praise ye him all his Angels praise ye him all his hostes 3. Praise ye him Sun and Moon praise him all ye stars of light 4. Praise him ye Heaven of heavens and ye waters that be above the Heavens 5. Let them praise the Name of the LORD for he commanded and they were created 6. He hath also established them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not passe In the exhortation to praise God because of his glory shining in the Heavens Learn 1. Howsoever the glory of the Lord doth shine in all his works yet there are degrees of the shining of it and the chiefest glory is from celestial creatures and from the consideration of what is in heaven Praise ye the Lord praise ye the Lord from the Heavens 2. As God is praised in heaven by the blessed spirits that are there so the true worshipper should joyne with those that praise him there Praise him in the heights or high places 3. Albeit the Angels have the first place in the song of Gods praise and need not to be stirred to the work of praise by us yet it is a part of our praising of God to consent unto their song and account their work well bestowed on the Lord their Mâ—ker and to hold the example of them before our eyes aiming to do Gods will on earth as it is done in Heaven Praise him all ye Angels 4. The Lord hath at his hand swift servants not a few to go in what message he pleaseth to direct them and they are ministring spirits for the good of his Church Praise ye him all ye his Angels or his messengers 5. The Lord is also well furnished with souldiers for all his creatures are ready at his command to fight in Gods quarrel in defence of his friends and pursuit of his foes Praise ye him all his hostes 6. The Lords armies are not idle but are still on their work of praising doing the works of peace even in the midst of warre Praise him all his hostes 7. Beside the common song of praise which all things have as they are creatures every one of the creatures have their own proper parts in the Song The Sun in his particular vertue and motion the Moon in hers and the stars in theirs every one by themselves and these also joyntly make up a sweet and harmonious melody to the praise of God Praise ye him Sun and Moon praise him all ye star of light 8. The variety and difference of place and distance from the earth of Sun Moon and Starres some of them being lower some of them higher as the Eclipses of Sun and Moon and the diverse positions of the starres do shew are all matters of Gods praise for the lowest region of the aire is here called Heaven and the place where the Sun Moon and Starres are set is called Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens the third Heaven where Angels and spirits of just men made perfect do remain each and all of them do serve foâ— Gods praise Praise him ye Heaven of Heavens 9. The bottles of waters in the clouds flying above the lowest region of the aire ready to be dissolved here and there as God pleaseth to water the earth do serve as matter both of wondering at Gods work and praising of him Praise him ye waters that be above the Heavens 10. Praise is due to God not only for the making of the Heavens but also for the making them of nothing by the sole word of command which did produce them by saying Let them be let them praise the Name of the Lord for he commanded and they were created 11. The speechlesse creatures have their own way of praising God and men have their way of praising speechlesse creatures praise God in their own kinde when they hold forth as in a table the matter and reason of praising God and men do praise God when they do observe and acknowledge and proclaim one to another the reasons of Gods praise and these exhortations do import both Let them praise the Name of the Lord. 12. The course and appointed motions of the Heavens are so setled during the standing of the world as they shalll not faile to go