path after them in the sea if the sea be calme as a ship or boate doeth sée Iob. 41.23 The 9. ver is expounded ver 1. of this Psalme Ver. 1. The glory of God in his creatures rightly considered Do. should strike an astonishment into vs on the one side and inforce vs on the other side to be thankefull vnto him that maketh his power and prouidence appeare so clearely in them ver 2. Gods power and prouidence seene in his creatures serueth for a double end vz. For the comfort of his children and the terror and confusion of the wicked vers 4. Serueth to humble man and to beat him downe For if he bée compared with other creatures there is no such excellency and durablenes in him as in them neither yet such as hee himselfe imagineth to bee in himselfe vers 5.6.7.8 Setteth foorth the graces and blessings that God hath bestowed vpon man not to the ende that man thereby should waxe proude and swell aboue measure but inforce him 1. to thankfulnes to the giuer 2. to a right vse of them in himselfe and for others 3. the more and more to humble him sée 1. Corin. 4.7 A worde or two touching this matter let man consider what excellencie he hath lost through Adams fall and bewaile his misery and let him on the other side well weigh the grace bestowed vppon him in Christ and bee ioyfull and thankefull for mercy knowing this that if the creatures bee not nowe subiected vnto vs it is by reason of the body and relickes of sinne which yet remaine in vs and that therefore if we would haue a conquest ouer the creatures we must beginne first to get a victory vpon sinne or else wee shall neuer profit that way if any man will obiect and say that many creatures are subdued to many people that are without a god in the world and which notwithstanding remaine in their sinne I answere that Gods dispensing in mercy with our iniquitie or other mens is no impeachment to the truth of this doctrine nay rather it shoulde the more further vs not only in thankfulnes to him for his goodnes but in valiancy and courage to combate against iniquity and that vnto blood because we haue in mercy without any striuing or blow stricken on our side halfe a victory as it were gotten vnto vs the rest no doubt he wil graciously supply that hath begunne this specially if there be a willing mind but al this belongeth to the faithful who are in deede heires of the world and to none other Psalme 9. Di. THis Psalme hath foure parts In the first he prayseth the Lorde and sheweth the causes of that his thankes giuing From ver 1. to the end of the 5. In the second hee scorneth his enemies declaring God to bee iust in punishing the wicked and deliuering his owne children From ver 6. to the end of the 10. In the third he exhorteth others to praise the Lord for his iustice toward the good and bad making a particular praier that he might be deliuered from the hands of his enemies From ver 11. to the end of the 14. In the 4. and last part hee sheweth Gods iudgement vpon the wicked and his fauour to the faithful praying the Lord to rise vp against the vngodly From ver 15. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title hath these words Muth labben which I take to be the beginning of a tune according to which this Psalme was to be sung ver 1. I will speake of i. declare abroad and publish al i. a very great number as Psal 3.7 ver 2. In thee or for thée q.d. for the victory and other goodnesses that thou hast giuen mee I will sing foorth thy praise I wil sing praise to thy name i. I wil praise thy power and maiesty Name is vsed here as Psal 8.1.9 O most high God is so called because he is higher then al thinges or creatures whatsoeuer ver 3. Are turned back i. are discomfited they shal fal and perish at thy presence q.d. They shal not be able to stand before thée much lesse to withstand thée ver 4. For thou hast c. In the third verse he shewed one reason why he would praise the Lord vz. because his enemies were confounded nowe in this verse hee sheweth an other vz. because God maintained his right and iust cause thou art set on the throne vz. to doe the office of an vpright iudge ver 5. Heathen put for the Philistines or some other enemies of Gods people he said that God did rebuke them i. with his terrible countenance or word so cast thē down that they were easily destroied thou hast destroyed the wicked i. some one notorious wicked man among them or other that was their captaine and ring leader as Goliah was amongst the Philistines for the woord wicked is of the singular number though we can not so easilie discerne it in our tongue Thou hast put out i. destroied and cast down to the ground their name i. Their power authoritie glory and what so euer was excellent in them and he meaneth this of those people that come out to warre against gods people who notwithstanding their force were ouerthrowne and destroyed ver 6. Must bée amended thus O enemie he speaketh to one principall meaning all the rest are destructions come to an ende for euer Hast thou rooted out the cities by these speches he derideth the enemies who thought to haue made such a destruction in the land that they shoulde not haue néeded to haue destroyed it againe and therefore they purposed vtterly to haue defaced and destroyed al the cities which the Prophet vnderstandeth by this terme rooting out q.d. is it come to passe as you supposed nay the contrary is fallen out which hee noteth in the next wordes of this verse their memoriall is perished with them i. both them selues are destroyed and all remembrance of them is vanished away from amongst men Ver. 7. But the Lord. q.d. though men fayle yet hee remaineth sure shall sit or after some which I rather allowe indureth Meaning that hee is eternall and shall neuer decay as the enemies doe hee hath prepared his throne for iudgement q.d. hee is alwaies ready to execute iustice putting the throne whereupon hee sitteth for iustice and vpright iudgement pronounced therefrom verse 8. Mend thus that hee may iudge i. That he may performe whatsoeuer hee hath iudged the worlde i. All the people of the world in righteousnesse i. Vprightly and the people with equitie This is a repetition expounding as it were that which went before ver 10. and they that knowe thy name i. Such as haue had experience of thy mercy and power hast not failed them vz. of that thou promisedst and they hoped for that seeke thee vz. vnfeignedly and from a good heart verse 11. Which dwelleth in Sion These wordes make me thinke that this Psalme was not made presently vppon the slaughter of Goliah because the arke was
themselues had deuised to themselues meaning also by whoring that they followed it earnestly and with delight Ver. 40. Therefore vz. for their great grieuous sinnes was the wrath of the Lorde kindled vz. very hote meaning by kindling the preparing of it against his people i. against that people that hée had chosen to bee his owne and hée abhorred i. lothed and hated as it were and that for their sinnes sake his owne inheritance i. both the land the people whome hee tooke for an inheritaunce vnto himselfe Ver. 41. And he gaue them vz. for their great sinnes committed against him into the lande of the Heathen i. into their power and possession and they that hated them i. the geÌ„tiles who could at no hand away with them because they came to enioye their lande were Lordes ouer them i. ruled them at their owne pleasure sée for this speach Isaiah 26.13 and for the truth of the matter the whole booke of Iudges and namely chap. 2.14 Ver. 42. Their enemies also oppressed thm vz. sore and hardly and many times and they were humbled i. subiected and that sundry tymes vnder their hand i. vnto their power and authority Ver. 43. Many a time did hée vz. God deliuer them vz. out of the hande and power of their enemies but vz. notwithstanding these great graces they prouoked him vz. to wrath against them and that sundry times also by their counsels i. by those things which they themselues had grauely and as it were in counsel concluded and resolued vppon to perfourme therefore they were brought downe vz. from that high state of liberty and fréedome wherein God had set them to miserable captiuity and bondage by their iniquity vz. committed against his maiesty Ver. 44. Yet hee sawe q.d. notwithstanding these grieuous sinnes of theirs he did not onely behold them afflicted but pitied them when they were in affliction i. in any trouble and hee hearde their cry i. granted them al things they prayed for when they prayed which was a sure token of compassion towardes them Verse 45. And hée remembred his couenant vz. which hee had made with their Fathers and them the Prophet in these two verses noteth two meanes whereby God was moued to doe good to this people the one was his frée mercy and the other was his gracious couenant towardes them i. for their good and on their behalfe and repented vz. of the punishmentes that hee had purposed to bring vppon them meaning hereby that God after a sort chaunged as it were his purpose not that God is subiect to alteration or chaunge but because pardoning both the fault and the punishment hée séemeth vnto vs to chaunge and this manner of speach is applied to the weakenes of our capacity Sée Gene. 6.6 according to the multitude of his mercies q.d. euen as hee is inclined to shewe abundance of fauour so he shewed them the riches of his grace Ver. 46. And gaue them fauour i. made them to finde fauour Sée Gene. 45.14 in the sight of all them that led them captiues the Lorde who hath the disposing of all mens heartes so inclined their heartes to his people Ver. 47. Saue vs O Lorde our God i. deliuer vs and set vs frée from the daungers and distresses wherein wée are and gather vs from among the Heathen whose captiues we are for our sinnes and amongest whome we heare and sée things tending much to thy dishonour and the griefe of our soules and marke the Prophets zeale and loue towardes the people though hée were king and the gouernement well established yet because that by the confusion that was in the dayes of the Iudges and Saul many people were out of their owne countrey hée prayeth the Lorde as for himselfe to reduce and bring them backe agayne that we may prayse thy holy name i. thy maiesty power goodnesse c. which is full also of all holinesse and glorye in thy prayse i. reioyce and boast as it were of this that wee haue him for our GOD who alone is worthy all prayse and glorye Verse 48. Blessed i. praysed bée the Lord GOD of Israell i. hée that is the defender of the people of Israel who are called Israell because they came of Iaakob otherwise called Israell for euer and euer and let all the people say so bee it i. let all young and olde one and other acknowledge that hée alone is woorthye prayse and giue their frée and willing consent vnto it for so much hee meaneth by so bée it prayse yée the Lorde Sée Psalme 104. and 105. in the ende Ver. 1. Teacheth vs that the greatnesse of Gods goodnes Do. and the continuaunce of his mercies shoulde prouoke vs earnestly and continually to praise the Lorde Verse 2. Teacheth first that Gods graces and woorkes are infinite Secondly that though wée can not so sufficiently prayse him as wee shoulde yet wée shoulde not for all that leaue off to doe that which hée hath giuen vs grace to doe Verse 3. Teacheth vs to deale well and to continue in well doing and that so wee shall in the end atteine true blessednesse Ver. 4. Teacheth vs in distresse to cal vpon the Lord. Ver. 4. and 5. Teach vs to set before vs Gods mercies towardes his children that wee may assure our selues in hope to receiue the like Ver. 6. Teacheth vs humbly vnfeignedly fully confesse to our sins Ver. 7. Teacheth vs that forgetfulnes of Gods graces is the high way to all rebellion and sinne it teacheth vs also that forefathers are not always to be followed Verse 8 teacheth that though the sinnes of his children be very great yet they doe not alwayes set or hinder the riuers of his mercies towards them Ver. 9. Teacheth first that for the benefite of his children he will make things go contrary to their natural course Secondly that when his children in mens eyes séeme to bée in the greatest daungers hée will lead them as safely as though they were in none at all Ver. 10. Sheweth that al maner of deliuerances come from the Lord onely and his power Ver. 11. Teacheth that the same things that God maketh to giue place to his childreÌ„ shall serue to the vtter destruction of his and their enemies Ver. 12. Teacheth vs alwayes to beléeue the trueth of Gods worde yea though wee sée no meane how it can be performed secondly that wée should continually prayse God for his mercies Ver. 13. Teacheth that it is a very easie thing to fall into sinne it teacheth also that forgetfulnes of gods graces is as it were the nurse mother of many other transgressions also that we should tary the Lordes leasure for the accomplishing of that which hée hath appoynted vs. Ver. 14. Teacheth that lust or concupiscence is sinne also also that we should not tempt or try the Lord Ver. 15. Teacheth that God bestowing hâ—â— benefits vpon the wicked doth many times with all lay punishments vpon them Ver. 16. Teacheth vs to loue and reuerence the
headed men dreame to the contrary secondly that he doth vpon the earth euen whatsoeuer pleaseth him Ver. 34 teacheth that sin and vngodlines is the mean to turn al plenty into pouerty and al blessings into cursings Verse 35 teacheth vs that fruitfulnesse of ground and plenty of al things is Gods only gift Ver. 36 teacheth that God in great mercy prepareth abundance for them that want and giueth them safety shilter from al their enemies Ver. 37. Teacheth Gods children euen in the middest of Gods blessings and abundance yet notwithstanding to imploy themselues in ordinary trauayle and labour Ver. 38 teacheth vs that it is not the trauayle of man but Gods blessing that maketh men rich sée Psal 127.2 Verse 39 teacheth that afflictions are good means to bring men to the right knowledge of God and themselues Verse 40 teacheth that the estate of Princes and great men is not so sure as they commonly fantasie Ver. 41 teacheth vs that preferment commeth not from the east nor weast but from the Lord only sée Psalme 75 6. Verse 42 teacheth that godly men may reioyce as in the benefites of God bestowed vpon others so in his iudgements poured forth vpon the wicked it teacheth also that Gods mercies vpon his children and his punishments vpon the vngodly bring forth an other effect in the wicked that is taketh from them all sence so that they neyther haue harts to conceiue nor mouthes to speake either with or against god in his dealings Ver. 43 teacheth first that men ought déeply to weigh Gods wonderful workes secondly that the number of thē that do so in déede is very small in respect of the other thirdly that the consideration of his works is one good means to make vs sée and féele not his power and prouidenee only but also his eternall goodnes and incomprehensible mercy Psalme 108 THis Psalme as I take it may be deuided into two parts Di. In the first the Prophet stirreth vp himself to prayse God calling also vpon him for helpe and deliuerance from verse 1. to the ende of the 6 verse In the second the Prophet assuring himselfe by reason of Gods promises that his enemies should be ouerthrowne maketh his prayer vnto God for strength to performe it And this part reacheth from verse 7 to the end of the Psalme Se. The title A song or Psalm of Dauid sée before Psal 48. in the title and in that it is sayd here a Psalm of Dauid it is euident that he was the author of it Though it be true that this Psal be made of two Psalmes before going that is of Psal 57 from ver 7 to the end of the Psal and of Psal 60 from verse 5. to the end of the Psal frō whence also the sence doctrines might very wel be fet yet notwithstanding because there is some difference somwhat shal be sayd in this place Ver. 1. O God mine hart i. my inward man is prepared vz. to prayse thée for thy mercies so is my tongue i. mine outward man also putting a part for the whole q.d. I am ready both in the inward man outward mā to magnify thée for thy graces I vz. my self none other for me wil sing gyue praise vz. vnto thée alone Ver. 2. Awake Viol and Harpe he incourageth not only himself but also his instruments to praise God that euen thereby hee himselfe might be the better prouoked thereto I will awake vz. from my sléepe and rise vp from my bed early vz. in the morning the Prophet meaneth that he will euen breake his sléepe to performe seruices to God Verse 3 I wil praise thée O Lord vz. for thy mercies great and vnspeakeable among the people vz. whom thou hast chosen vnto thy selfe and I will sing vnto thée vz. prayses and thanksgiuing amongst the nations vz. round about vs the Prophet meaneth that he would so publish Gods prayses that euen the Gentiles should heare of it Ver. 4. For thy mercy vz. towardes all men but speciallye towards thy sonnes and seruaunts is great i. is so great that it is aboue the heauens i. higher then the heauens themselues so that as the space betwéene heauen and earth is infinite so is thy mercy and thy truth vz. reacheth he vnderstandeth by truth Gods faythfulnesse in making kéeping and performing promise vnto the Cloudes by these maner of spéeches hée meaneth nothing else but that Gods mercy is vnmeasurable and incomprehensible as it were in respecte of the greatnesse of it Verse 5. Exalt thy selfe O GOD vz. by thy mighte and power aboue the heauens i. aboue the highest thinges that may be not that he meaneth that God was not then and alwayes is exalted but that he prayeth the Lorde by effect to shew it amongste men and let thy glory i. the praise that appertaineth vnto thy glory be vz. dispersed farre and wide vpon al the earth i. in euery place of the worlde The Prophet sheweth in this verse that the firste thing that moued him to make this request is Gods glorye In the nexte Verse hée sheweth that an other reason is the saluation and deliueraunce of his people Verse 6. That thy beloued vz. people that is suche people as thou fauourest and louest of thine owne mercye onely without any merites of theirs may be deliuered vz. out of the great daungers distresses and feares wherein they are helpe vz. both them and me and euerye one of vs in this case for it shoulde séeme that Dauid made this Psalme at the beginning of his Kingdome when thinking vppon his enimies and his owne weakenesse it was tyme to craue helpe at the Lords hands for himselfe and his people with thy right hand i. with thy mighty power and strength that so thereby I may ouercome these enemies and heare me vz. praying vnto thée for my selfe and my people vnderstanding by hearing graunting his requestes Verse 7. GOD vz. himselfe hath spoken vz. openlye and playnlye and that by his holye Prophet Samuell that hee will establshe and inlarge the kingdome in my hande yea he hath spoken it in his holinesse i. hée hath holilye and assuredly promised it mée so that I néede not doubte any more of it then of his holinesse therefore vz. for this his mercye I will reioyce vz. greatlye for séeing he hath promised mée I knowe that I shall diuide vz. as the right owner and possessor of it Shechem Shechem is the name of a place on this side Iordan as the valley of Succoth was beyond Iordan Hée nameth certayne places of the land whiche by reason of Saules stocke and those that tooke part with him as Abner and such like he had not at the enterance into his Kingdome in his possession and yet notwithstanding assured himselfe that he should haue them and measure vz. to euery man his portion as Ioshua did by which the prophet noteth his gouernment kingdome ouer it the valley of Succoth this is expounded alredy before euen in this verse
euer since the beginning hath preserued and increased the same the heauen and the earth vz. and al thinges therein conteined q.d. you may assure your selues of a most plentiful blessing séeing that he who blesseth you is the author preseruer gouernor of heauen al things therin of the earth al things therin which also he hath giuen to vs as verse following Ver. 16. The heauens euen the heauens i. the most high heauens are the Lords i. apperteine and belong vnto him as the special place of his delight and dwelling and yet we must not so vnderstand it as God were tyed to any one certaine place for his maiestie filleth the heauens and the earth but he hath giuen vz. of his large liberality and goodnes the earth vz. wherein men dwel to the sonnes of men i. to men and their séede after them that they should inhabite and vse it so that in this life they might by the thinges thereof bee prouoked to serue God and stirred vp thereby to the hope and fruition of eternal felicity Verse 17. The dead prayse not the Lord the Prophet meaneth that if God preserued not his Church the whole order and course of the worlde shoulde bee turned vpside downe for to what end should the creation of the worlde serue if there were not a people to call vpon God whereupon he gathereth that there shal always be some which shal praise the Lorde euen vntil the end of the world and so with al there is set out the end wherefore men are placed in the world vz. to prayse serue God q.d. that we dye not must be attributed to gods glory therfore euen our life also must be occupied about his praise sée Psal 6.5 whether they that go downe into the place of silence i. neither do they praise him that are brought to their graues and layed in them sée for this speach Psal 94.17 sée also Isaiah 38.18 The Prophet vttereth vnder diuers words one the selfesame thing Ver. 18. But we vz. which shal liue and be deliuered from our distresses wil prayse the Lord vz. for the benefites that we haue receiued from him from hencefoorth and for euer i. continually and alwaies prayse ye the Lord sée Psal 104. and Psal 105. in the very end Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs when we do in prayer appeare before the Lord to craue any thing at his handes vnfeignedly to cast from our selues all trust and confidence in our selues to flie to gods soueraine goodnes and trueth only Ver. 2. Teacheth vs that gods glory is after a sort hazarded amongst the enemies of God and his people when his own people are discomfited or disgraced Ver. 3. Teacheth vs that the more the enemies do blaspheme God the more we should be throughly perswaded of his power because that their dealing doeth prouoke him to execute a more swift and hard iudgment vpon them Ver. 4.5.6.7.8 doth liuely paint out the vanity of idoles themselues and of al such as either make or worship them Ver. 9. Teacheth the godly howsoeuer other men run a whoring after idols to cleaue only to the Lord. Ver. 10. Teacheth the ministers preachers of Gods word to make themselues examples vnto other of stedfast confidence in God Ver. 11. Teacheth vs that with the seruice of god there must be ioyned faith in God and his word or else it is nothing Ver. 12. Teacheth vs that God neuer forgetteth his children and merciful couenant made with them also that the godly shal haue from the Lord both assurednes and plentifulnes of blessings Ver. 13. Teacheth vs that God respecteth no mans person but in euery nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnes is accepted before him Ver. 14. Sheweth that Gods grace and loue reacheth euen to the godly and their posterity after them Ver. 15. Teacheth vs that those whom the Lord pursueth with his fauor shal not nor can not want any thing that is good Ver. 16. Setteth out the large liberality and fatherly care of God towardes men also it teacheth vs that séeing he hath giuen vs the things of this life we shold vse them wel and so as they may further vs to the hope of a better life Ver. 17. Teacheth vs that when God giueth vs life in this world he doth thereby as it were prouoke vs to set forth his glory and praise Ver. 18. Teacheth vs thrée things first that we should praise the Lorde for his mercies for euen to the ende haue we our life giuen and his blessings are bestowed vppon vs secondly that this our thanksgiuing should be continual and thirdly that we should prouoke and stirre vp other men to do the like Psalme 116. THis Psalme as I take it may bée diuided into two partes Di. In the first the Prophet setteth out on the one side his loue fayth towards the Lord and on the other side Gods mercy and goodnes towards him from ver 1. to the end of the 11. In the second part hee promiseth humble and hearty thankesgiuing vnto the Lorde for that continuall heape of benefites which hee had receiued from his mercifull handes from verse 12. to the ende of the Psalme This Psalme hath no title as many other Psalmes both before it Se. and after it haue not sée Psal 114.115.117.118 c. Ver. 1. I loue vz. with all my heart and vnfeignedly the Lord vz. only and alone and none either with him or besides him and vnder the word of loue the Prophet sheweth that there was nothing without god that either could like him or please him because hee hath heard i. because he hath yéelded vnto and granted my voyce vz. sent forth vnto him and my prayers vz. which I made vnto him vnder these words voice and prayers the Prophet meaneth such prayers as he powred forth vnto the Lord not only with his heart but also with his mouth and words Ver. 2. For he hath inclined his eare vz. as one that were ready for to heare mee this is spoken of God according to mans capacity vnto mée vz. being in distresse and when I prayed vnto him as followeth when I did call vppon him vz. for helpe and ayde by earnest and hearty prayers in my dayes i. in the tyme of my affliction as may appeare by the next verse following sée Psal 137.7 also Lament 1.21 and by the woorde dayes hée noteth that hee had continuaunce and length of trouble Ver. 3. When the snares of death compassed mee vz. on euery side and rounde about so that there was almost no hope of escaping no more then of a bird or wild beast taken in a snare or grin by this manner of speach hée meaneth that euen then when hee was ready to dye the Lord in mercy looked vppon him Sée 2. Sam. 22.5.6 also Psalm 18.4.5 and the griefes of the graue i. great and extreme griefes which brought me almost to the graue made me as it were ready to bee put into it caught
sée that fall vpon them that I haue long desired and wished vz. destruction and confusion Immanuel readeth it thus therefore doe I despise mine enemyes q.d. I make no more account of them and their forces then of thinges whiche I contemne so safe sound and vnfearefull am I being vnder Gods defence Verse 8. It is better vz. by infinite degrées and marke that the worde better is not spoken here as though confidence in men were good for to trust in men is to rob god of his glory to trust vz. stedfastly in the Lord vz. only then to haue confidence i. any maner of trust or coÌ„fideÌ„ce at al in man vz. of what calling soeuer he be or how many in number soeuer they are Ver. 9. is the same almost with ver 8 therfore looke vpon that again in Princes this is a certaine kind of amplification q.d. We must not put our trust neither in men of low estate nor in mighty men those that séeme to haue all the power and authority in the world for they that wil cleaue to them shall be deceaued also because they be but men Ver. 10. All nations vz. whiche lie round about me my kingdom as the Philistines Moabits c. haue coÌ„passed me vz. and my people that round about sometimes by fraude sometimes by force and somtimes by one mean somtimes by another but in the name of the Lord i. thorow the goodnesse power strength of God shal I destroy theÌ„ vz. al with al their imaginations deuises In this verse and some other following the Prophet rehearseth the great daunger hée was in hee setteth out also the power cruelty multitude of his enemies and al to this end that hée might the more manifest the grace power of God in his deliueraunce which could not be performed by mans ayd but after a certayn meruailous diuine sort Ver. 11. They i. the nations round about me being my deadly enemies haue coÌ„passed me sée before ver 10 yea they haue coÌ„passed me i. they haue oftentimes enuironed me also very hardly and straitly beset me so that there was no likelyhood of escaping for so much I suppose the doubling of the phrase importeth al that followeth in this ver is the same in words sence with ver 10 Ver. 12. They i. mine enemies came about me vz. on euery side like bées i. not only in great multitudes as though there had bene many hiues of bées together but also with great fiercenesse eueÌ„ as though they would haue ouer-run me sée Deut. 1.44 for this phrase True it is that these little creatures haue no great power yet they are wonderfully fierce and angry specially if they be prouoked and make men somewhat afrayd if they set vpon them at the sodaine or vnawares but they i. mine enemies were quenched vz. thorow the strength and power which the Lord gaue me He meaneth by this spéeche that they were euen as it were vtterly and sodainly confounded as fyre that hath abundaunce of water cast vpon it as a fyre of thornes whiche though it make much noyse at the beginning by reason of the crackling thereof as our experience teacheth vs and yéeldeth a greater flame then greater woode doth yet notwithstanding it quicklye vanisheth awaye q.d. for all the vngodlye mens bragges they shall sodainlye perish and come to nothing sée for this spéeche Ecclesiasticus 7 8. the rest that followeth is expounded before in the other verses Ver. 13 Thou vz. O mine enemie some refer it to Saule as though Dauid spake it particularly of him I rather thinke that vnder one who was as it were the chéefest he meaneth all or manye hast thrust sore at mée vz. with al thy power force and deuises whatsoeuer The Prophet meaneth by this that hée had left no way vnassaâ—ed to hurt him that I might fal vz. either by death or into some dangerous state from the high coÌ„ditioÌ„ wherin I now am but the Lord vz. alone hath helpen me vz. thorow his mighty power meaning that the Lord had deliuered him froÌ„ the dangers distresses that were deuised against him Ver. 14 The Lord vz. alone is my strength i. is the strength that I haue to withstande or to ouercome al mine enemies my song i. the only matter mean of my ioy q.d. I haue nothing else in my selfe to reioyce in but onely in the Lorde who doth thus and thus for me for he hath bin my deliueraunce vz. oute of all my feares and daungers q.d. he alone hath deliuered me Ver. 15. The voyce of ioy and deliuerance i. ioyful voices and soundes for deliuerance vz. bestowed vpon me shal be vz. continually in the tabernacles of the righteous i. in the dwelling places houses of good men q.d. the righteous shall sing praises to god for the great deliuerances wch he hath wrought for them me saying vz. amongst themselues yet so that other may heare it the right hand of the Lord i. his great glory power and might hath done valiauntly vz. againste his enemies and for the defence of his own children he meaneth that they shoulde confesse that God had nobly displayed his power Ver. 16. The right hand of the Lord i. his great power might is exalted vz. aboue euery thing that setteth it selfe against it how high or great soeuer it be the rest of this verse is expounded before Verse 17. I shall not die vz. yet as mine aduersaries supposed and wished and as my weake state did make shew of but liue vz. vppon the earth amongest men suche doubling of spéeches haue bin touched before sundry times such a one there is also Psal 110.4 and declare vz. amongest men and vnto the people which shal come hereafter the workes of the Lorde the great and excéeding workes that he doth specially for his seruauntes and childreÌ„ Ver. 18. The Lord vz. by the hand and rod of his and mine enemies hath chastened me sore i. sharply q.d. It was Gods purpose to correct me by the meanes of mine enemies but the wicked went about thereby to destroy me but this God would not suffer sée Isaiah 10.6 7. also Zacha. 1 15. but he hath not deliuered me to death vz. which mine enemies purposed and practised against me q.d. thorow his goodnesse I haue escaped that daunger Ver. 19. Open ye vz. ye Priests and Leuites that haue the watch garding and kéeping of the Lords house sée Psalme 134.1 vnto me vz. vpon whome God hath bestowed such graces and mercies the gates of righteousnesse i. the dores of the Tabernacle or Gods house which is called righteousnesse either because none ought to enter therein but wise and good people or else because that in that place there was only reade and expounded the law of God whiche is the only true rule of all righteousnesse And by this maner of spéech hee testifyeth his ardent zeale when he desireth that the dores of the Tabernacle may be set
busie with him either the Philistine as 2 Sam. 5. or els some other as 2. Sam. 8. Ver. 1. Blessed i. praised and that continually be the Lord my strength i. he who alone giueth me strength to ouercome mine enemies sée Psal 18.2 which teacheth my hands to fight vz. against his mine enemies meaning hereby also that God gaue him strength to ouercome them as wel as knowledge in warlike affaires to deale with them and my fingers to battaile i. apteth them and maketh thē able to indure fighting Ver. 2. He vz. alone is my goodnesse i. whatsoeuer good thing I haue eyther within mee or without mée hee is the Fountayne from whence it floweth meaning also that hée had euer felte GOD liberall and mercifull towards him my Fortresse my Tower and my deliuerer my Shield all these termes are expounded Psalme 18.2 and in him I trust vz. stedfastlye and continually which subdueth vz. by his almighty power my people i. the subiectes that hée hath giuen me vnder me i. vnder the obedience of me and my lawes he meaneth that GOD did put into the hartes of his people a minde willing and faythfull to commit themselues vnder him and his gouernment Ver. 3. Lord what is man i. of himselfe what account or regard is he to be had in that thou regardest him vz. so greatly and so much as thou doest or the sonne of man i. his posterity how great or famous soeuer it bée that thou thinkest vppon him vz. in such great mercy and with so fatherlye a care sée Psalme 8. verse 4.5 c. Verse 4. Man is lyke to vanitie i. to a thing of no accounte or regarde or to a vayne thing In an other place hée sayeth that they are vanitye that the chéefe men are but lyes and to laye them vppon the Ballance they are altogether lighter then vanitie Psalme 62.9 his dayes i. the dayes of this life in this worlde are like a shadowe that passeth vz. oute of mennes sightes and remembraunces quicklie and sodainlie q.d. his life is but short and of small continuaunce see Iob. 14.1.2 see also for this verse Psalme 39.5.6 and psalme 90. almoste throughout Ver. 5. Bow thine heauens O Lorde vz. to come to succour and help me this is spoken of God according to mens vnderstanding he calleth the heauens Gods owne both because he created them and hath his principal habitation and dwelling in them sée for this phrase 2. Sam. 22.10 also Psal 18.9 and come downe vz. to deliuer me from the hands of mine enemies persecutors touch vz. in thy wrath and furie q.d. thou néedest not vse al thy power or any great might against them begin but only to lay thy hand vpon them q.d. and do but touch them as a man would say softly and yet they shal be consumed the mountaines i. my most high and mightie enemies this kind of metaphor is very often vsed in the Prophets sée Isai 2.14 they shal smoke yea burne and that to their owne destruction he putteth the beginning of their miseries for the accomplishment and ful performaunce thereof And hee vseth all these maner of speaches both in this verse and in the verse following that hee might more excellently set out Gods power who deliuereth his after a wonderful sort and that he might declare that no worldly lets or hinderaunces are able to do any thing against Gods infinite power which hee apprehended by faith Ver. 6. Cast forth the lightning scatter them vz. one from an other so that they may not be able to gather their forces together againe q.d. by thy heauenly wisedome and power destroy and ouerthrow them shoot out thine arrowes vz. against them vnderstanding by arrowes either thunders or some other particular iudgments and consume thē vz. vtterly and from amongst men that they may no longer molest me and thy people Ver. 7. Send thine hand from aboue i. display and make manifest here below vpon the earth thy might and power which séemeth after a sort to be shut vp in heauen because thy seruants be not deliuered from their distresses deliuer me vz. of thy goodnes and through thy power from the rage and violence of those that persecute me and take me vz. who am ready to be drowned with troubles out of the great waters vz. which are ready to ouerflow and drowne mee by great waters he doth not only vnderstand the grieuous afflictions wherein he was but also the extreme rage of his enemies who did breake in vppon him as waters of the sea into the land sée Psal 18.4 also 69.1 also 124.4 and from the hand i. from the power and force of strangers this may be referred either to coūterfeit and bastardly Israelites who though they bragged in mouth that they were good people yet were they in déede starke naught or else to thē that were in déed idolaters and infidels such as the Philistines were and to these latter would I rather apply it Ver. 8. Whose mouth talketh vanity i. who doe nothing else but speak and vtter vaine and vncertaine thinges proudly promising vnto themselues great things and their right hand is a right hand of iniquitie i. they are vnfaithful people and ful of subtilty and haue no certainetie nor assuraunce in them This speach is borrowed from the common custome of men who when they make a promise giue one another their hands sée Gal. 2.9 Ver. 9. I wil sing vz. euen from my heart a new song i. a singular and excellent song sée Psal 98.1 vnto thée O God vz. when thou shalt haue performed these graces in deliuering me and ouerthrowing mine enemies and the Prophet maketh this promise and carieth with him a purpose to performe it because he was certainely perswaded and assured that God would in déed do both the one and the other sing vnto thée vpon a viole and an instrument of ten strings sée Psal 33.2 also Psal 92.3 he meaneth that he would vse these instruments as meanes to stirre vp his affectiōs and to prouoke him more earnestly and heartily to serue the lord Ver. 10. It is hee vz. alone that giueth vz. of his goodnes and mercy deliuerance vz. from all dangers and distresses and rescueth vz. when no other can do that for him Dauid his seruaunt i. me whom he hath aduaunced to this honour to serue him in the gouernment of the kingdome and thus hee speaketh of himselfe in the thirde person from the hurtful sword i. from the sworde of his enemies who did purpose to hurt him if they coulde haue caught him or ouerthrowne him wée may also stretch this worde further as that vnder it he should comprehende all the daungers through the which hee had passed and hee meaneth that this should be the argument or matter of the song that hee woulde sing to the Lorde Ver. 11. Rescue me vz. O Lord for vnto him onely hee directeth his prayers and deliuer me vz. who am in distresse and daunger on euery
because of that which goeth before in this verse and followeth in the next Ver. 3. Let them prayse his name i. his maiestie power and goodnesse with the fluit Let them singe prayses vnto him with the tymbrell and harpe i. let them boldlie fréelie prayse him by all the meanes that lawfully they may sée Psalme 81.2.3 and other Psalmes also as 33.2 and 144.9 Ver. 4. for the Lord hath pleasure in his people that is as he did of singular mercy chose them so he doth singularly delite in them sée Psalme 147 11. he will make the méeke glorious by deliueraunce i. by deliuering them out of the handes of their enemies and all their daungers he meaneth that God will giue thē that be afflicted this honour vz. he will vouchsafe them aid deliuerance from him or as wée woulde say will bestowe vpon them the great honour of deliueraunce Ver 5. Let the Saints sée before ver 1 of this Psal be ioyful with glory i. gloriously reioyce or else reioyce for the great glory that God hath vouchsaued to bestow vppon them let them sing aloude vz. vnto the Lord and his prayse vppon their beds i. in the nighte season q.d. let them spend dayes and nightes in the praysing of him for his great mercies Ver. 6. Let the high actes of GOD i. the notable and singular thinges which he hath done for them and against theyr enemies 〈◊〉 in their mouth i. let them continually speake of them and prayse him for them and a two edged sworde in their handes vz. both to defend themselues and to repulse and to driue farre away their enemies Verse 7. To exercise vengeaunce vppon the heathen i. to repaye them the iniurye and wrong whiche the heathen and wicked enemies haue done them and corrections among the people i. to chastise correcte and subdue them as others had done the like to them Verse 8. To binde their Kinges in chaynes i. to make euen their Princes and Rulers Prisoners and their Nobles with fetters of yron i. to make them captiue also it is as muche q. d. That there might bee neyther Prince nor people but they might be subdued vnder them Verse 9. That they i. the faythfull people may execute vz. with iustice and vprightnesse vpon them i. vpon the heathen kinges and their people the iudgement that is written vz. in the holy Sscripture So that I take these 4. last verses to bée a prayer that the Prophet made for the flourishing estate of the people of the Iewes that they might faythfully execute Gods iudgements vpon the Gentiles according to his word without adding any thing thereto or taking anye thing therefrom Sée Deut. 12.32 also Deut. 29 29. If we apply this to the churche and kingdome of Christ then by the two edged sword we must vnderstand the word of God which is the sword of his mouth of which fée 2. Thess 2.8 Heb. 4 12. Reuel 1.16 and al other instruments which God vseth to cast down strong holds and to ouerthrow mighty imaginations wherof sée 2 Cor. 10.4 c. this honour vz. of their conquest and ouercomming of their enemies shal be to all his saints i. they shall haue their part in it and féele the worke and power of God inabling them to do the like which is a matter of great comfort Prayse ye the Lord sée of this in the end of Psal 148. Do. Verse 1 teacheth vs two things first that as God multiplieth new benefites vpon vs so we should anew and afresh as it were stir vp our selues to be thākfull vnto him continually secōdly that aboue all his praises should specially be founded forth in his Church Verse 2 teacheth vs that seing God hath begottē vs agayne vnto himselfe and is become our kingdome that therfore we should striue in all soundnesse to the obedience of his will Ver. 3 teacheth vs to vse all lawfull meanes to prouoke and stir vp our selues to that great duty of prayse and thankesgiuing Verse 4 setteth out vnto vs the singular loue and affection of God towards his people Verse 5 teacheth vs not only cherefully to prayse God for his mercies but to doe it also continually both day and night Ver. 6 7 8 9 teach vs to wish and pray for the prosperitye and flourishing of Gods Churche and the confusion and ouerthrow of the obstinate enemies thereof Ver. 9 teacheth vs that by reason of the fellowlike affection and féeling whiche is and ought to be amongst the members of the Church the ioy glory and victory of some members and parts therof shal be the ioy glory and victory of the other Psalme 150 THis Psalme may be diuided into thrée parts Di. First he sheweth for what causes men should praise the Lord. Ver. 1.2 Secondly he sheweth wherewith they should praise him Ver. 3 4 5. Thirdly he sheweth who they be that should praise him The title hath bin sundry times touched heretofore Se. Ver. 1. Praise ye God vz. which are his faithful seruauntes in his sanctuary this may be expounded thus either that God dwelleth in heauen which is sometimes called his sanctuarie or thus in his sanctuarie that is in his tēple Or else thus in his sanctuary that is in his sanctity or holinesse so I suppose the hebrew word would rather be turned q.d. praise God for the great holinesse hée hath in himselfe some part whereof also it pleaseth him to communicate vnto vs praise ye him in the firmament of his power i. prayse ye him for the firmament which declareth his power as Psalme 19 1 or else thus prayse ye him for his power stretched out vz. ouer all creatures because in him and by him they liue moue and haue their being and this sence I take to be the better and to agrée best with the hebrew text Ver. 2. Prayse ye him in his mighty acts i. for his noble and valiaunt acts which he hath done for you and against your enemies so that you sée in these two verses this particle in must bee resolued by for prayse ye him according to his excellent greatnesse i. though yée can not prayse him as he most iustly deserueth yet striue you to render vnto him that which he hath inabled you to performe For he meaneth not that wée are able to praise him according to his excellency Ver. 3. Prayse him in the sound of the trumpet i. with trumpets clearely sounded sée Psal 81.3 prayse ye him vpon the viol and the harpe sée Psal 33.2 Ver. 4 Praise ye him with Timbrell and flute sée Psalme 149 3. praise ye him with Virginals and Organs Ver. 5. Prayse ye him with sounding Cimbales i with Cimbals that may be heard for otherwise there are no Cimbals or any other musical instrumentes but they haue a sound if they be played vpon prayse ye him with high sounding Cimbales i. with Cimbales which being set high and so tuned may very easily be heard By this particular enumeration he meaneth nothing else but that
prieth and watcheth diligently to intrap them that are already afflicted Vers 9. and 10. Hee setteth out the secret councels that the wicked vse to take the godly by Sée for the Lions disposition Iob. 36.1.2 draweth him into his net it is a metaphor taken from foulers who vse closly to lay their nets and snares to catch birds vers 10. He croucheth and boweth i. The vngodly spareth no paine to his owne body that hee may woorke mischiefe Yea hée counterfatteth and pretendeth humilitie but all is hypocrisie Heapes i. Great number and multitudes as it were ver 11. In his heart see ver 6. Of this Psam he noteth in this verse what maketh the wicked so bolde to sinne vz. A false perswasion that they haue of God ver 12. Arise vz. to helpe the oppressed as Psalm 12.5 lift vp thine hand i. declare thy power in striking thine enemies forget not the poore q.d. shewe that thou art not forgetfull of them For in déede he is not forgetfull of them though it so seeme to vs which thing the wicked perswade themselues thou doest as ver 11. ver 13. contemne God Sée ver 3. of this Psalme Thou wilt not regard vz. their sinnes committed against thée and thy seruants ver 14. Mischiefe and wrong vz. which the vngodly haue done to thy children That thou mayst take it into thy hands Not only to iudge betwéen right wrong but also to punish those wicked persons with thy power Himself i. His life al his causes he cōmendeth to thée For thou art the helper this is a reason why the afflicted fléeth to God Of the fatherles i. of those that are voyd of mans help Sée Iob. 29.12 Hosea 14.3 ver 15. breake thou his armie i. al his power and force and whatsoeuer he hath to execute it by Search his wickednes q.d. cal him to account for his sinnes and thou shalt find none vz. To answere thée He meaneth that if the vngodly be sifted the giltines of his owne vngodlines will make him to flée his presence and the iudgement of God will so ouerthrow him that he shal no where appeare neither his place any more be known ver 16. He putteth heathen for the Iewes and Israelits not that they were heathen by nature but because they were corrupted with heathenish maners ver 17. In the Lord part must be read not as a thing already performed but as a praier for the godly Thus strengthen their heart q.d. confirme them more and more in the truth of thy promises dispose their harts to the imbracing thereof bend thine eare i. diligently hearken and yéeld to the praiers of thy poore people as Psal 86.1 ver 18. To iudge i. To reuenge and set frée the fatherles and poore Sée ver 14. Of this Psal That earthly man i. man not only dwelling in the earth but also made of earth cause to feare no more i. Be no more a cause of terror and feare to thy seruants Se. Ver. 1. Teacheth that gods children are wonderfully assaulted when they féele not gods present helpe ver 1.2 c. Till you come to the ende of the 11. ver the holy ghost doeth so diligently set out the wickeds nature not that the godly shoulde feare them For all the mischiefe they can imagine or performe but to teach the Godly the more earnestly therefore to come to God by prayer that they may auoyd these daungers and the more carefully to looke to their steps that they be not ouertaken with these wickednesses Verse 12. Teacheth vs to pray vnto God in the middest of the confusions that wicked men bring into the earth and to desire him to take his owne cause and the cause of his children into his owne hands Ver. 13.14 declare that though the wicked thinke God regardeth not yet hee séeth it and in his good time wil punish them for their sinne Ver. 17. sheweth that it is comfortable for the children of god to think vpon his power because it is their defence and terrible to the wicked because it is their ouerthrow Psalme 11. THis Psalme hath two partes Di. In the first the Prophet flieth to God by prayer that vnder him he might be defended against the violence and mischieuous practises of the vngodly from ver 1. to the end of the third In the seconde part he setteth out Gods iustice in defending his owne seruaunts and in punishing the wicked and vngodlye from verse 4. to the end of this Psalme The title of this Psalme is expounded Psalme 4. Ver. 1. Se. To my soule i. to me a part put for the whole Flie not to as in the Geneua Texte but out of your mountayne Mountaynes are sure places to lodge in from the force of aduersaries but here the enemies tel Dauid and those that were with him that they shal not preuaile to keepe them safe and therefore it were better for them to get them away It may be that by Mountayn hee meaneth the lande of Iudea because it was full of Mountaynes q.d. Get you out of Iudea but the other me thinketh is more simple sée 1. Samuel from chap. 21. to the 27. as a bird vz which séeth the Fowlers snare and therefore flieth away swiftly q.d. You are forewarned of a daunger therefore get you away with all spéede Ver. 2. Bende their bow i. prepare and gather together all the force and subtilties that they haue or can deuise at them vz. at me and those that are with me which are vpright in hart i. which meane no mischiefe or hurt to them or any of them Ver. 3. For the foundations vz. of the places wherein Dauid and his might trust are cast downe he speaketh of that that shall be as though it were alredy done for the certaintie of it in mans iudgement what hath the righteous done q.d. haue I and the people with me committed that these mischiefs should be ment against vs and our liues so sought for Ver. 4. Holy palace i. Heauen as may appeare by that which followeth the Lords throne is in heauen i. he is a heauenly Iudge to reuenge these outrages done vpon the earth agaynst me and mine His eyes will consider or after some doe consider eyes attributed to God after the maner of men meaning that he beholdeth vz. all things that the wicked doe and the godly suffer His eylids i. his eyes it is eyther Metonomya the things contayning for the things contayned or Synecdoche one parte for an other or a part of the eye for the whole eye Chyldren of men i. men of what state and condition soeuer they bee q.d. this one thing comforteth me that though GOD bee in heauen yet from thence he doth withoute respecte of persons behold all things done by men vppon the earth and namely how vngodlye the wicked are agaynst those that trust in him Ver. 5. Will or doth trie vz. by afflictions and calamities that he might make him pure golde vnto him selfe the righteous i. righteous men one
verse otherwise but I like this sence as well as his Ver. 8. As the apple of my eye i. most dearely and tenderly as men are wont to doe the apples of their eye who cannot abide that any thing should touch it hide mee vnder the shadow of thy winges an other similitude to the same purpose q.d. deliuer me with such diligence from present perill as the hens are wont to doe their yong ones vnder their winges when the Kite houereth ouer them or lieth in wait for them The scripture in sundrye places attributeth winges to God that therby it might declare Gods great care to saue and defend the godly such a similitude Christ vseth Math. 23.37 Ver. 9. for my soule i. for my life vz. that they might take it away from me ver 10. They are inclosed in their owne fat i. they are monstrously fat by reason they liue in al plesures and delights q.d. They abound in all delights therefore they spare not to speake proudly which he addeth in this verse describing in this and so on in the rest the maners of the vngodly Ver. 11. They i. the vngodly and wicked enemies haue cōpassed vs i. me Dauid the people that are with mee in our steps i. in our iornies or as we were iornying q. d. In all our iornying they haue most diligently obserued me mine many times haue in the mean while beset vs about they haue set their eyes i. they are earnestly and diligentlye bent as one that fixeth his eyes vppon one to marke him or to know him agayne to bring downe vz. me and mine to the ground i. to destroy and ouerthrow vs as townes and castles rased and made euen with the ground ver 12. He noteth first their crueltie vnder these wordes gréedye of pray next vnder these words lurking in secret places their subtelty craft sée Psalme 10.9 Ver 13. Vp Lord q.d. thou hast deferred a long while vp now and take weapon into thy hand as a notable defender disappoint him vz. of the crueltye he purposeth he speaketh of one as the principal meaning notwithstanding others ioyned with him in the mischiefe cast him down vz. to the ground see ver 11. in these words to bring downe to the grounde deliuer my soule i. my life as before ver 9. of this Psalme with thy sworde i. with thy might and power sée Iob 40.14 Ver. 14. from men vz. deliuer my soule as ver 13. by thine handes i. by thy power and might vsing hande here as he vsed the word sword before from men ad these words I mean for the more playne sence of the world i. worldly men all whose delighte is in things of this life who haue their portion in this life and not in the other which shall be reuealed to Gods sonnes whose bellies i. whose desires and appetites thou fillest with thy hidden treasures i. giuest them great abundaunce of outwarde benefites and blessinges which are called Gods hidden treasures not because they are not séene but because they are not so wel perceyued and vsed of the vngodlye as were méete their children this serueth to amplifie the aboundance of outward blessings that the wicked haue hauing not only more then ynough for themselues but to leaue mountains of mony as it were to their posterity whether sonnes daughters neuewes or any other kindred for so I take the worde children to be vsed in this place ver 15. in righteousnesse i. hauing a good and righteous cause on my side Psalm 4.1 and Gods face is here taken for a more playne and manifest knowledge of Gods mercy then he had set before in the time of his affliction with thine image i. with so much of thy goodnes and grace as it shall please thée in my deliuerance to make knowne vnto me Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth earnestnes in prayer ver 3. that we should kéepe our selues from wicked thoughts and wicked words expressing these thoughts ver 4. Gods word is a notable meane to kéepe vs from wickednesse ver 5. we shall fall vnles the Lord vphold vs. ver 6. He that prayeth to God must bée well assured of the truth of his promises ver 7. If God helpe vs not the enemies rage wil ouercome vs. ver 10. aboundaunce of wealth and pleasure maketh the vngodly proud against God and his people ver 11. setteth out the mischieuous mind of the vngodly ver 12. expresseth their crueltie and craft ver 13. teacheth vs in the time of our afflictions to haue recourse to God by prayer ver 14. sheweth that outward blessings are as well bestowed vpon the wicked as the good and that therefore there is no certaine iudgements to be giuen of gods fauour by these outward things ver 15. Howsoeuer wicked men set their minde on worldly wealth that our delight and pleasure should be onlye in the Lord and his fauour Psalme 18. Di. THis Psalme handleth diuers matters but principally 3. In the first part the Prophet promiseth thankes giuing for benefites receaued and describeth Gods wrath and power from ver 1. to the end of the 15. In the secōd part he reciteth sundry particular graces bestowed vpon him and excellent matters that the Lord inabled him to performe frō ver 16. to the end of the 45. In the third part he yéeldeth praise and thankes vnto the Lord promising neuer to forget these benefits and to publish them continually amongst the people from verse 46. to the end of the Psalme The title is easie these words which spake put for which sung Se. In the day i. at the time from the hand i. from the violent power and raging might and so it is vsed immediatly following of al his enimies he meaneth of the mighty and of the greatest number of thē for Dauid was neuer without enemies this title summarily cōprehendeth the occasion of the making of this Psalm ver 2. My rock this spéech calling God a rock is a metaphor taken from séeking refuge for men are wont for feare of their enemies to go to the rocks or mountayns Mat. 24.16 my fortresse another metaphor meaning that in and by God he might be kept as safely yea more safely from his enemies then in or by the strongest hold in the world my shield another Metaphor because he did as a shield ouershadow and defend him the horne of my saluation saluation here is put for deliuerance and horn put for strēgth or strong meates Another metaphor for euen as horned beasts doe defend themselues with their hornes so Dauid vsed Gods helpe and defence as it were a horne Ver. 3. worthy to be praysed vz. of me and all others that for his wonderful goodnes bestowed vpō vs ver 4. Sorrows of deth i. most gréeuous deadly sorrowes which are therfore called the sorrows of deth because they brought him almost to deaths dore the floods of wickednes i. gret multituds either of wicked deuises or of wicked mē for so I take wickednes to be vsed
would not obey them but rather vnfainedly imbraced them Ver. 23. I was vprighte also with him i. I walked vprightly before God touching this matter of the kingdome and haue kepte me sée verse 21 from my wickednesse i. from anye wickednesse hée mighte doe which hee calleth his wickednes because naturally he had it in him though it burst not forth Ver. 24. sée verse 20. in his sight q.d. as he himselfe vz. God séeth it sufficiently ver 25. with the godly i. with them that vnfeignedly loue and professe godlinesse thou wilte shew thy selfe godly i. mercifull and gracious for the word termed here godly is taken frō a word that signifieth merciful liberal q.d. thou wilt deale graciously with the good people declaring thy selfe such a one towards thē as thou hast bin towards me ver 26. thou wilt shew thy self froward i. their obstinacye is the cause that thou as it were forgetting thy wonderfull clemency doest deale hardly with them and thunder out iudgemēts against thē or else it may be vnderstād as mē iudge suppose god notwithstāding dealing alwais iustly though he ouerwhelm with cōdēnatiō sée Pro. 3.34 ver 27. wil t saue i. deliuer the pore people i. the afflicted ones wilt cast down i. ouerthrow bring to nought the proud lookes i. the proud people for mans pryde bewraieth it self in the eyes countenance therfore he put eyes for men one part for the whole ver 28. Thou wilt light i. bring to a better state make to shine forth my candle i. my prosperity which séemed to be as it were a cādle put out the Lord will lighten my darknesse i. bring my aduersitie into prosperity for the scriptures vse to vnderstand by darknes aduersity and by light prosperity ver 29. By thée i. by the power or strength from thée ouer a wal vz. of a citie the Geneua note is good ver 30. The way of God i. eyther the maner that he vseth towards his children whom he neuer ceaseth to aid or Gods way else is put for workes q.d. they are so sound that nothing can bée blamed in thē whatsoeuer God doth he doth trustily and iustly performeth whatsoeuer he promiseth the word of the lord i. his promises is tried in the fire i. is most perfect pure q.d. as metall tried by fire hath no drosse so hath Gods word no falshood or corruption in it sée Psal 12.6 he is a shielde i. he saueth and kéepeth them as a shield doth soldiers ver 31. For who is c. q.d. none by consequent seeing none can deliuer but he alone none must be trusted in but he alone such epiphonemata or acclamations are vsuall to thē that haue tryed Gods helpe and ayd ver 32. girdeth me with strength i. maketh me strong able so that I haue strength in my loines rounde aboute me euen as it were a girdle maketh my way vpright i. maketh the order of my life vnblameable teaching me an vpright and a holy kind of life or else he maketh euery thing that I take in hand to prosper this latter I rather allow as most agréeable to this place ver 33. He maketh my féet like Hinds féete i. not only swift if I haue occasion by flight to prouide for my selfe or to pursue my enemies flying before me but stedy also if I come into any dangerous places and setteth me vpon mine high places i. places of sure defēce appointed for me to defend me from the violence and rage of my enimies Ver. 34. He teacheth my hands to fight i. if I haue to do with mine enemies in the field he teacheth me singuler skill in warre to defend my selfe and to hurt my Foe so that a Bowe of brasse q.d. yea hee giueth me so greate strength that a bow of brasse or stéele is broken with mine armes i. with the power and strength that hée giueth mée or else with mine armes indéede because there is muche power and strength in the armes Verse 35. The Shielde of thy saluation i. a helpe for my deliueraunce Shielde being put for helpe and defence because men helpe and defend themselues with Shieldes and saluation for deliuerance as often times before we haue had these wordes so vsed his meaning is that God did defend him againste dangers with his ayd and help as it were with a shield that cannot be pearced and set him frée also by the same ayd out of daungers and troubles thy right hande i. thy might and power hath stayde me vz. from sliding or falling it is a metaphoricall spéeche taken from mans maners who reach them that are sliding their right hand i. the best meanes they haue to staye them from it to increase vz. in honors credit wealth and all maner of goodnes Ver. 36. Thou hast enlarged my steppes i. thou hast brought to pas that whether soeuer I go I goe into a large and ample place that is fréely and without feare yea I haue a plain ready way This is often in the Psalms by straitnes to signifie affliction and danger and by inlarging to signifie libertie and fréedome hee meaneth then that God had set him at libertie straightened the way before him and drawne him out of extreme daunger dispaire vnder me i. either for me or else as I go he meaneth that hee did now tread as it were vpon a sure ground mine héeles i. my féete a part of the féete being put for the féete ver 37. I haue pursued mine enemies vz. in the battaile I haue not turned againe vz. from pursuing them in the field ver 38. Wounded them i. mine enemies as ver 37. that they were not able to rise vz. because their wounds were so deadly they are fallen vnder my féete i. they are brought in subiection vnto mee as ver 44. This phrase also is so vsed Psal 8.6 Ver. 39. Thou hast girded me with strength sée ver 32. and it is a reason why he so mightily preuailed against his enemies to battaile i. against I was to fight or euen in the very time of the battaile whatsoeuer it be his meaning is that he was apted fitted by God to that purpose that rose against me vz. to annoy and hurt me and were in déed rebels ver 40. Thou hast giuen me the necks i. as some of the Iewes expound it thou hast caused my enemies to turne their backes vpon me because the neck is behind but I take it more simply thus thou hast giuen the life of mine enemies into my power so that there néedeth nothing but to chop of their heads or cut their throates as it were if I will and that which followeth in this verse furthereth in my iudgment this sense ver 41. They i. the wicked ones my enemies cried i. séemed to pray earnestly but not of a true affection but there was none to saue i. to deliuer vz. them out of their feare and paine euen vnto the Lord vz. did they cry and
of this Psalme perfourme all thy petitions i. doe that that thou hast prayed for and this is a good place to prooue that by offerings ver 3. Must bee vnderstood praiers also ver 6. Know I a sodaine chaunge of numbers speaking in the person of one thereby to note the vnitie and consent of the people to this praier as though they had beene alone and vttered it al with one mouth His annointed that is his King whom he hath established Sée Psal 2.2 Psal 18.50 heare him sée ver 1. of this Psalme from his sanctuarie Immanuel readeth from the heauens of his holines meaning from heauen where his holines dwelleth which I well like of of his right hand i. power and strength this is spoken of God according to man because man commonly hath most strength in his right hand and it is called mightie helpe because it is such as none is able towithstand ver 7. Is a comparison betwéene the faithfull and the vnbeléeuers these trust in outward meanes of all sortes for that is vnderstoode by chariots and horses and so robbe God of his glory the other cleaue to only Gods vertue power and grace for so is the word name taken as ver 1. 5. of this Psalme and giue him the whole glory ver 8. Brought downe fallen vz. notwithstanding all the trust that they had in the outward meanes q.d. they that sayd they would do al things by mans meanes and strength therefore are lifted vp in pride and lustines are notwithstanding all these imaginations of their owne brought downe and fallen i. lie flat by the fall they haue receiued by setting themselues against God but we are risen and stand vpright q.d. notwithstanding the great miseries and afflictions wherin we were we are become strong and mightie rising vp from vnder the burthen of them ver 9. Saue Lord vz. vs and our king pursuing vs continually with thy fauor in such short kind of spéeches there is great grace in the Hebrewe tongue Let the king heare vs. This is diuersly read and according to the seueral readings hath seuerall sentences Immanuel readeth the king himselfe wil heare vs applying it to Christ and the assurednes that the faithfull men haue that he will heare their praiers othersome take it to be a quick passing from the second person to the third q.d. O king whose office kings in the earth haue in part communicated to them hearken vnto vs so often as we shal seeke thine ayde me thinketh that the Geneua text and note is as plaine as any of these Do. Ver. 1. And so forth teacheth people to pray for their magistrates it teacheth also that the day of affliction is a notable time to pray in also that no ayde is to be had but from God alone ver 3. Teacheth that kinges shoulde be giuen to religious exercises ver 5. The prosperity of the king is the florishing of the people and on the other side the welfare of the people is the Kinges glory Ver. 6. Teacheth those that pray to haue both before and after their prayer an assurance of obteyning ver 7. Sheweth that Gods children must not at any time trust in any thing saue in God alone whatsoeuer the wicked doe whose strength and purposes GOD ouerthroweth vers 8. Declareth Gods iudgements against the vngodly and his fauour to his children vers 9. Teacheth vs to vse earnest prayer in affliction for that doth hee meane by these termes in the day that we do cal vz. vpō thée Psalme 21 THis Psalme hath two principall partes Di. In the first the Prophet sheweth what great benefites and blessings the Lord had bestowed vpon him before he came to the kingdome and in that time also after that he was established therein from ver 1. to the ende of the 7. In the second part he prophecieth of gods great and wonderfull power against his enemies and of their vtter ouerthrow and confusion from ver 8 to the end of the Psalme The title is expounded before Psalm 4. Ver. 1. Se. In thy strength vz. which thou shalt bestow vpon him to stand against to ouercome al his enemies yea how greatly q.d. it can not be expressed in thy saluation i. in that deliuerance that thou shalt bestow vpon him his people giuing them victory ouer their enemies in this verse Dauid speaketh of himself in the third person ver 2. His hearts desire i. whatsoeuer his heart could wish sée Psal 20.4 Hast not denyed him i. hast yéelded and graunted vnto him for by not denying the Hebrewes vnderstand euen as it were performing the request of his lippes i. whatsoeuer he praied rightly vnto thée for vsing in that praier his lippes and other instruments natural whereby the voice is framed ver 3. With liberall blessings i. with abundance and fulnes of all good thinges some particulars wherof he reckneth in the verses folowing diddest set a crowne of pure gold vpon his head i. diddest appoint him to be king most good and glorious vsing setting of the crowne vpon his head which is but a signe as anointing was of his entrance into the kingdome for the ful possession inioying therof ver 4. He asked life vz. in this short life a long life i. more long then he desired for euer and euer i. yea not only life in this life but eternal life also ver 5. His glory i. the glory that thou hast giuen him laid vpon him is great i. is very much inlarged in thy saluation i. through or by the deliuerances and victories that thou hast bestowed vpon him laid vpon him euen of thine owne good wil and in despite of his foes that would haue hindered him therefrom ver 6. Thou hast set him i. appointed him as blessings vz. vnto thy people he vseth the plurall number by which he noteth the wonderfull abundaunce of gods graces bestowed vpon the people by him for euer i. for a long season as we haue had it sundry times before With the ioy of thy countenance i. through the grace and fauour that as it were with a pleasant countenance thou hast shewed him ver 7. The king trusteth the prophet sheweth here the meanes whereby the king shal be established vz. by hope and trust in God he shall not slide vz. from the prosperous successe of his affaires and state ver 8. Thy hand here Dauid speaketh to God meaning by hand power also by right hand in this verse he meaneth the same thing shal find out i. ouertake and lay hold vpon though thine enemies would think to hide thēselues from it ver 9. Like a firie ouen he meaneth that God wil through his wrath make them to burne stil as a firie ouen doth and so in the end consume and ouerthrow them as an ouen cōtinually heat must néeds be spoiled by which maner of speach he noteth two things first that there shal be no intermission of plagues and punishments secondly that these punishments shal not tend to
by benefites past hee assureth himselfe of deliuerance from dangers present and in time to come diddest draw me out of the wombe he meaneth that by Gods speciall power and goodnes he was borne thou gauest me hope vz. that thou wouldest nourish and defend me at my mothers breasts i. when I did sucke and could not defend or helpe my selfe ver 10. I was cast vppon thée i. committed vnto thy prouidence and protection from the wombe i. so soone as I was borne came into the world not denying also but that by his goones hee was preserued continually before thou art my God vz. that doest defend nourish succour me ver 11. Be not farre c. q.d. séeing I haue heretofore receiued so many benefites from thée do not now depart from mee yea I so much the more earnestly craue thy helpe and presence nowe first because affliction is nigh secondly because there is none that can help me but thou ver 12. Many this word noteth the multitude of his enemies yong this word noteth their lustines courage bulles this word is wel expounded in the Geneua note i. are before and behind and on euery side by which we may sée that his troubles were great and almost impossible for him to escape out of them mightie this woorde noteth their force and power bulles of Bashan This is the name of the countrie which did apperteine to the people of the Iewes and was full of pastures whereof mention is made at large Deut. 3.1.2 c. And by bulles of Bashan hee meaneth very fat and mighty ones such as Bashan did féede sée Deut. 32.14 ver 13. They gape vpon me c. q.d. they come vpon me with open mouth to deuoure me euen as a deuouring roaring Lion doth for his pray sée Amos. 3.4 1. Pet. 5.8 ver 14. Amend thus I am powred out like water he meaneth by this maner of speach that he is as it were almost past al recouery as of whom no more account is to be made then of water spilt vpon the ground my bones are out of ioynt in this verse hee doeth by large maner of speaches declare the greatnes of the feare griefe he was in as he did before Psa 6.6 Mine heart is like waxe i. soft and tender it is molten in the middest of my bowels hee now sheweth in what respect his hart is like wax by these words he describeth his fainthartednes ver 15. My strength i. my naturall moisture whereby life strength is maintained is dried vp like a potsheard i. is woÌ„derfully decaied and there is almost no more moysture left in mee then in a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my iawes i. I am brought very lowe and weake so that I can not wagge my tongue in my mouth as it were into the dust of death by these wordes he meaneth the graue the earth of it which is so called because none are there laid but dead folkes His purpose is to declare that through the vehemency of his afflictions all hope of his life in a maner was taken away ver 16. For dogges before ver 12.13 He compared his enemies to bulles and Lions now he resembleth them to dogs for their snarling at him and biting of him and the assembly i. great troupes multitudes they pearced my hands and my féete this is spoken of Dauid in respect of the daungers his enemies kept him in as though he had had no féet to flée away nor hands to defend him selfe but in Christ it was most truly performed indéed as appeareth Ioh. 20.25 Where mention is made of nailes ver 17. I may tel al my bones i. I am so fallen away with griefe and anguish that I haue nothing left but skinne and bone Yet they behold me and looke vpon me vz. with great pleasure ioy whereas if they had any compassion they should pity my case ver 18. They part my garments among them If we referre it to Dauid then he meaneth by garments other things that he possessed noting that they dealt with him his goods as they that in some victory had goteen a pray but if we referre it to Christ then is it to be vnderstood of his ordinary apparell and garments in déed as appeareth Ioh. 19.23.24 And cast lottes both to auoide contention that euery one might know his share and portion ver 19. Farre off vz. from me lest I be swallowed vp and drowned ver 20. My soule i. my life as wee haue often times had it before from the sword i. from peril of violent cruel death vnderstanding by the instrument that the wicked vseth to execute his rage and wrath by the thing it selfe From the power of the dogge i. of mine enemies and wicked men sée ver 16. Of this Psalme the singular number put for the plural ver 21. Lions mouth sée ver 13. of this Psalme and answere me i. graciously here me and graunt my request from the hornes of the Vnicornes i. from the present and perilous daungers of mine aduersaries It is Dauids maner as sufficiently appeareth in this Psalme to resemble his enemies to beasts Vnicornes are very wild beasts and as some write of them wil hardly or not at al be tamed ver 22. Thy name i. thy vertue power grace as Psal 20.1.5.7 Vnto my brethren i. to the Israelites that are of the same nation and religion with me sée Rom. 9.3 In the middest of the congregation i. openly before thy people assembled to praise thée ver 23. Séed of Iaakob put for posterity and when hee saith séed of Israel hee meaneth the same thing for Iaakob was called Iaakob and Israel If you referre it to Dauids time then it belongeth to the Iewes If to Christ and his time then to all the faithfull ver 24. The affliction of the poore i. the trouble and anguish that he was in the prophet meaneth that God did not lesse regard the good people for their pouertie and affliction as commonly men do but rather made the greater account of them hid his face vz. as men are wont to do who for lothsomnes as they say but in nisenes in déed can not behold those that are in affliction he called i. praied he heard i. accepted him and his prayers ver â—5 My praise shal be of thée i. thou art and shalt be the cause of my foundation of my praises by reason of the wonderful mercies that I haue receiued from thee In the great congregation i. when the greatest multitude shal méet to prayse thee he noteth that he wil do it publikely as before ver 22. My vowes they were wont when they were in any danger to vowe a peace offring to the Lord to be performed after their deliuerance out of it so did Iephte which was done to testifie their thankfull mindes for the benefites receiued before them i. in their sight that feare him i. worship and serue him meaning God of whom he speaketh now in the
his enemies for which he promiseth thankfulnesse from ver 1. to the end of the eight in the second part hée setteth out his poore and miserable state desiring the Lorde in mercy to deliuer him from the proude and cruell men frō ver 9. to the end of the 18. Thirdly he declareth Gods wonderfull goodnesse towards his seruaunts whom he exhorteth to put their trust in him and to loue him continually from ver 19. to the end of the Psalme The title is expounded before Ver. 1. be confounded vz. Se. by or among my enimies which I shall be if thou forsake me in thy righteousnesse i. according to thy righteous promise which is then declared to be righteous when it is performed ver 2. a strong rock i. in stéede of a strong rock and high sée Psa 27.5 and an house of defence i. in stéede of such a one and as sure to saue mee i. to defend and deliuer me vz. from the forces of mine enimies ver 3. Rock and fortres sée Psal 18.2 for thy names sake i. for thy own glory honor direct me and guide me vz. going before me and shewing me the way ver 4 For thou art my strength q.d. Without thée I can doe nothing neither truste I in any thing but in thée alone ver 5. Into thine hand i. into thy mighty power and protection I commend my spirit i. life body soule and all that I haue thou hast redéemed vz. out of distresse and bondage wherin I haue bin heretofore God of truth i. most true and faythful God in performing that which thou hast promised ver 6. I haue hated i. wonderfully disliked loathed that giue thēselues i. that take delight pleasure and trust in deceitful vanities he meaneth hy vanities any thing that may cal men frō trust in God he calleth them deceitfull because that though for a time they may féede vs with glorious oftentation yet in fine they wil deceaue vs ver 7. in thy mercy a sodain chaunging of the person thou hast séene vz. euen vnto this daye ver 8. hast not shut vp i. giuen me ouer in the hand i. power and might sée psal 27.12 my féete sée Psalme 25.15 He meaneth that the Lorde had brought to passe that he might fréely without feare go in and out sée Psal 18.19 Ver. 9. Mine eye my soule and my belly are consumed with gréefe he meaneth by this not onely that his sorrow had continued a long while but also wrought wōderful effects in him vz. brought dimnes to his eyes as psal 6.7 weaknes to his stomack for I take the word soule to be vsed here for the power part of life which desireth foode sée Psal 38.10 Psal 102.4 and by belly he meaneth that parte whiche should concoct meat noting that he neither had appetite to eat nor strength to concoct and digest by reason of his great gréefe Ver. 10. he noteth what great gréefe he sustained in respect of himself his own body ver 11 he sheweth what he indured from others I was a reproch i. I was scorned of all and forsaken of them and a feare i. I was a feare meaning that al his acquaintance were afrayde so much as to looke vpon him Ver. 12. I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde he meanrth not that they did not thinke vpon him for all their imagination was how to worke him mischiefe but this he was euen as a dead man who hath no familiaritie nor acquaintance with those that are alyue and of whome he could receiue neyther pleasure nor profite like a broken vessell i. of which or of whom there is no regard had because it is estéemed vnprofitable Ver. 13. Feare was on euery side vz. of me he meaneth that he was as it were beset with feare Ver. 15. My times i. the dayes and yeres of my life are in thine hand i. are gouerned by thy power and prouidence which is great comfort to me because they cannot destroy me though they conspire agaynste me hand of my enimies i. power force Ver. 16. Make thy face to shine i. shew thy self fauorable vnto as Psal 4.6 saue me i. deliuer me out of these dangers ver 17. and the latter part amend thus let the wicked be cut off whē they are going down into the graue i. when they are redy to die let them not be restored to life and health againe as sundrie men are but let them then dy and perish ver 18. Lips put for mouth yea and for the liers themselues a part for the whole ver 19. Layd vp vz. as a most excellēt and rich treasure euen before the sonnes of men these wordes may haue diuers sences If you referre it to these wordes Done to them meaning the godly then they must be vnderstoode thus that God openly and in the sight of mē had poured forth great blessings vpon them If you refer it to these words That trust in thée then it may haue this sence that the godly make more account of God then of the greatest and mightiest in the world for so had we these words vsed before Psal 4.2 Lastly referring it to these wordes That trust in thée it maye haue this sence that Gods children are not afrayde or ashamed to put their trust in God and to serue him The first and the last I best like of Ver. 20. Priuily vz. in respect of men and yet openly to God for he sayth afterwards in thy presence But by hiding them priuily he meaneth nothing but sure kéeping and defence and by presence he vnderstandeth Gods fauour and loue from the pryde i. from the effects that mens pride bring forth though it be neuer so great as braulings contentions bloodshead c. in thy tabernacle sée Psal 27.5 from the strife of tongues i. from brauling and quarrellers wordes which prouoke strife as Prouerb 15.1 Ver. 21. In a strong citie amend thus placing me as it were in a defenced citie wherby he meaneth that God had set him safe and sound from his enimies as they that are in a most strong and safe citie that can not bee surprised Ver. 22. in my hast i. when I was moued to hastines thorowe the trouble of my spirite I am cast out of thy sight i. thou madest no more accoūt of me then of one that was in thy dissauour Ver. 23. The faythfull vz. those that trust vnto him and hold fast their fayth giuen them Ver. 1. Those that trust in God shal neuer be confounded Ver. 2. Do. God is only the defence of his seruants Ver. 3. Gods own goodnesse is the only cause wherfore he doth vs good Ver. 4. The wicked priuily imagine mischiefe against the godly Ver. 5. Féeling of gods goodnesse in time heretofore should perswade vs that we shal féele it hereafter Ver. 6. We must trust in nothing but in the Lord only ver 7. It is no small comfort to Gods children that God hath an eye ouer them and their
liue peaceably with al men as Rom. 12.18 And followe after it vz. if thou sée it going away q.d. vse all the meanes thou canst to entertaine and vphold it yea pursue it and that with egernes rather then lose it or depart from it ver 15. Hee speaketh of God according to man vnderstanding by eies fauor and goodnes and by eares the ready inclination in God to heare the prayers of his vppon the righteous vz. for their good that so he may graciously prouide for them their cry i. their earnest prayer ver 17. sée ver 6. of this Psal Ver. 18. the Lord is neere vz. by his maiesty power and helpe either in respect of himself or else by his creatures which he hath at commandement by contrite heart and afflicted in spirite the Prophet meaneth all one thing vz. them that be ouerwhelmed with euil and as it were in extremity so that they are in a manner killed as it were with the greatnes of their calamity and are at the point of yéelding vp their life in whō notwithstanding these afflictions worke that they are not of a lofty minde either against God or man but humble rather and lowly sée Psal 51. ver 17. Saue such i. deliuer them out of their dangers and in fine bring them to eternal blessednes ver 20. Hée kéepeth all his bones i. God defendeth his in part and in whole for by bones which are a part of man he meaneth the whole man not one of them is broken vz. without Gods will as Mat. 10.29.30 Meaning by broken hurt or perished howe litle soeuer it bee ver 21. But malice or mischiefe rather that they haue done against God and his children or as Immanuel readeth affliction vz. sent from the Lord which I very wel like of for as he had shewed in the other verse Gods care ouer his so here hee sheweth his iudgements against the wicked and so it is an amplification by the cōtrary ver 22. Redéemeth i. from death and al dangers the soules i. the liues Do. Ver. 1. Because Gods goodnes is continuall our thankes should be continuall ver 2. Gods goodnes towards vs and our thankfulnes to God should bée meanes to draw on others to a spiritual ioy ver 3. It is good to exhort one an other to holy duties and to ioy all together in the exercises of Gods seruice ver 4. God graciously heareth his childrens prayers and mercifully deliuereth them out of their daungers ver 5.6 Gods mercy to some one of his children should be not only a spurre to prouoke the rest to came to the Lord but an argument of assured hope that they shall obteine and receiue deliueraunce at Gods hands ver 7. The vnspeakeable goodnes of God appeareth in that that not onely hee himselfe watcheth ouer vs which is all in all but for the strengthning of our faith giueth vs a gard of Angels ver 8. Trust in God is the meane to true blessednes ver 9. All good thinges belong to those that sincerely serue the Lord. ver 10. Gods children are many degrées in better case then the wicked and vngodly ver 11. Wee are to teach others according to the measure of giftes that wee haue receiued ver 13. The tongue lippes and wordes must bee rightly gouerned and all subtilty must bee auoyded ver 14. All euill must bee shunned and all good performed and namely a peaceable and quiet conuersation must bee pursued ver 15.18 Expresse Gods careful prouidence and watching ouer his children ver 16.21 Set out his iudgements against the vngodly ver 17 God graciously heareth the praiers of his seruantes ver 19. Though this be the portion of Gods children to suffer many afflictions yet they néed not to be discouraged for God standeth by them to deliuer them out of all ver 20. Expresseth Gods prouidence ouer his ver 22. The way to auoyd al dangers is stedfast trust in the Lord. Psalme 35 Di. THis Psalme specially propoundeth two things first the prayer that the Prophet made against his enemies declaring what good shall come thereby both to himselfe and others ver 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.17.18.19.22.23.24.25.26.27.28 Secondly a discription of the malicious and harde hearted nature of the wicked men who neither for the misery that the Prophet was in nor for the kindnes hee had shewed them would pity his case but proceeded notwithstanding to al maner of outrage against him ver 11.12.13.14.15.16.20.21 Se. The title is expounded before ver 1. He prayeth the Lord to defend him and his cause against those that pursued him euen to death as it were ver 2. Lay hand vppon thy shielde hee speaketh to God as though hee were a mighty warrier or captaine for mine helpe i. to defend and helpe me ver 3. Stop the way i. let myne enemies that they rush not in vppon me to doe mee outrage Say vnto my soule i. make me to féele inwardly by the mighty working of thy grace saluation sée Psal 3.8 Ver. 4. After my soule i. life vz. to take it away let them be turned backe as men that are discomfited in the battaile and haue an ouerthrowe Hee continueth in his metaphor taken from warre and vsed before ver 2.3 Ver. 5. As chaffe sée Psalm 1.4 Hee meaneth that hee woulde haue them flée and bée like to chaffe which can remaine in no place safe and steadie by reason of the wynde The Angel sée Psal 34.7 For as God vseth his Angels in the defence of his seruauntes so hee doeth exercise his iudgements against the wicked by their ministery scatter them i. their persons and their mischieuous practises ver 6. Let their way vz. wherein they shoulde walke and by which they would thinke to escape bee darke so that they may not sée which way safly to flée and slippery that they may not quickely and with speede flie away thinking to escape the Angel of the Lorde sée ver 5. of this Psalme persecute them i. pursue them with grieuous punishments from thée for persecute is not here taken in the il part as vsing a tyrannie against them ver 7. Without cause vz. on my behalfe the pit vz. which they dig to make me fal into And their nets vz. which they laid to snare and catch me withal sée Psal 7.15 Psal 10.9 for me i. to catch mee in for my soule i. life vz. that they might take it away ver 8. Vppon him either it is the singular number for the plural this being a sodain change of the number or else by one that was chiefe amongst them hee vnderstandeth all the rest into the same destruction sée Psal 7.15.16 Ver. 9. My soule i. my heart and mynde and all that is within mee Psal 103.1 In his saluation i. in the deliuerance that hee worketh for me and mine sée Psal 3.8 Ver. 10. All my bones a part of the body for the whole as Psal 34.20 He had sayd before that in the inward man now hee sayth that in the outward man also hee will be ioyful in
the Lord and the great deliueraunces that hee hath wrought for him Psalm 18.50 Ver. 11. Cruell witnesses i. such as exercised al crueltie did rise vp vz. against mee they asked of mee vz. by the way of demaund and questioning hee meaneth that they did as it were examine and worlde haue had him to haue confessed such thinges as he neuer knewe much lesse did ver 12. For good vz. which I did to them to haue spoyled my soule q.d. so farre their euill towardes me extended that they went about to take away my life ver 13. Yet I vz. behaued my selfe otherwise when they were sicke i. in some grieuous calamitie one kind vz. of sicknes put for many clothed with sacke vz. in token of heauines and mourning for them sée Psalm 30.11 Gen. 37.34 I humbled my soule i. I afflicted my life by abstinence from meates c. Now fasting is called humbling not because that euery one that fasted was humbled but because it was an outward testimony of that that either was or shoulde haue beene within and my prayer was turned c. amen◠it thus and my prayer returned into my bosome q.d. I did wish so well to them that I would gladly haue my prayer to come to my selfe so that if I wished them any euill I did as it were pray that the same might fal vppon mine owne head ver 14. As to my friend or as to my brother i. I did al dueties of curtesie to them in their aduersity so that my dearest friend or brother coulde not well haue looked for any more I humbled my selfe i. afflicted my felf with mourning yea mourning as one that bewayleth his mother i. my mourning was so earnest and vehement as his is that is wont to bewaile the death of his mother which we know by natural experience to be very much ver 15. The abiects i. the ofscouring of the common people sée Iob. 30.1.2.9 I knew not i. I did not so much as thinke of it til it was performed and ceased not i. without ceasing ver 16. With the false scoffers vnderstand the worde that goeth before vz. they gathered themselues together or assembled themselues with the false scoffers c. gnashing their téeth against mee i. raging against mee through most vehement anger shewing that their anger by gnashing their téeth for he putteth the signe of great heat and anger for anger it selfe ver 17. Behold this vz. and lettest thou this their wickednes alone vnpunished my soule i. mee my selfe or my whole man from their tumult vz. which they raise vp against me vnderstanding by tumult such things as fal out commonly in tumults as bloodshead murther c. my desolate soule sée Psa 22.20 From the Lions i. from cruell and rauenous men Psal 34.10 Psal 22.21 Ver. 18. Great congregation sée Psal 22.25 Ver. 19. Vniustly vz. in respect of any thing that I haue done against them winke with the eye as men sometimes do when they reioyce in some thing Hee meaneth that hee woulde not haue them made glad by any euil that should come vnto him without a cause sée ver 7. of this Psal ver 20. Imagine vz. first in their hearts afterwards expresse them with their mouthes deceitful words i. words to cloake and color their deceite quiet of the land Dauid speaketh this of himselfe and those that tooke his part who were charged to be rebels disturbers of the peace but he sheweth that they were otherwise and by quiet he vnderstandeth quiet people that would haue bin glad to haue liued peaceably quietly ver 21. They gaped on mee with their mouthes i. they did not onely speake against mee with an open mouth that all men might heare them but also made mockes at me with their gapings and mowings sée Iob. 16.10 Psal 22.7 Isaiah 57.4 Aha Aha these are wordes of reioycing for the hauing of that they desired One eye eye put for eyes vnlesse we would say that al the wicked are so ioyned together that they séeme to haue but one eye heart head c. hath séene vz. his ruine and destruction and the euils which wee hoped and wished shoulde come vpon him such supplies you shall sée made though in an other sense psal 54.7 Psal 59.10 Psal 118.7 And in sundry others ver 22. Séene it vz. their iniury and outragious malice against mee keepe not silence q.d. séeing thou art a iudge sit not still but prepare thy selfe to exercise iudgement against them This and that that followeth ver 23.24 Are spoken of God according to man ver 24. Reioyce ouer me vz. by reason of some calamities and afflictions that thou shalt lay vppon mee sée Psal 30.1 Ver. 25. O our soule reioyce vz. because we haue that wee desired Ver. 27. Loue my righteousnesse i. fauour and beare good will to my righteous cause sée Psalm 4.1 Which loueth i. liketh of and furthereth by wonderfull meanes the prosperitie i. the prosperous estate in all respectes Ver. 28. Shall vtter i. speake of thy righteousnes vz. which thou shewest to thine in defending them and to the vngodly in plaguing them for their wickednes euery day i. continually and without ceasing as it were Ver. 1. When men deale vniustly it is good to go to the Lord for our defence Do. who is the God of all righteousnes ver 2.3 If God be on our side wee neede not care who be against vs. ver 4.5.6 Teacheth that we may pray against the enemies of Gods church as also ver 19. Ver. 7. Sheweth that such is the corruption of the godlies nature that though they haue no cause to work mischief yet they must do it Ver. 9. We may reioyce in the ouerthrow of Gods enemies and in the deliuerance of his people Ver. 10. Gods power onely worketh deliuerance and that then when things séeme to bee most desperate Ver. 11. Cruell and false witnesses are neuer wanting to accuse Gods saintes Ver. 12. It is the nature of the wicked to requite good with euill Ver. 13.14 Gods children spare not to do good to al yea to the vngodly ver 15.16 Shew that it is no new thing that the wicked of all sortes consent and agree together against the good Ver. 17. God sometimes deferreth the punishment of the vngodly that he may in the end pay them to the full Ver. 18. Gods benefites require at our hands thankfulnes Ver. 20. The hypocrisie of the vngodly is set out Ver. 22. God séeth all things euery where Ver. 23.24 Deliuereth the same doctrin that ver 1. of this Psal doth Ver. 25. The enemies of God will reioyce in the destruction of the good when they haue performed it Ver. 26. Is the same almost word for word with ver 4. Ver. 27. The godly should reioyce in one anothers prosperity and praise the Lord for it Ver. 28. And that not in heart but in mouth also and that not once only but continually as it were Psalme 36 THis Psalme may bee deuided into
also in scripture because of the certaine perswasion that they haue that the thing shall bee performed and therefore I know is put for I shall know and so doth not triumphe for shall not triumphe meaning it of those that be named before or some such like Verse 12. Set me before thy face i. hast me not only in continuall but in mercifull remembraunce as those that are continually in the presēce and fauour of Princes Ver. 13. Blessed i. Praised so you shal haue this word often vsed in the Psalmes of Israel i. of his faythfull people sée Psalm 14.7 world without end i. for euer and euer Do. Ver. 1.2.3 Teache vs to pitie those that are afflicted and for our better incouragement therein the Lord hath set downe certaine promises whiche hee will performe alwayes vnto vs so farre forth as he shall sée to be for his glory and our comfort Ver. 4. Sinne draweth all iudgements vpō vs both in soule and body Ver. 5. The vngodly wish the death of the faythfull Ver. 6. The vngodly are full of lying and hipocrisie Verse 7. They craftily conspire the hurte and destruction of the godly Ver. 8. They reioyce and clap their hands for ioye in his misery and affliction Ver. 9. A mans enemies are they of his owne houshold as it were and it so falleth out many times that where Gods children assure themselues of greatest friendship there they find least whiche teacheth vs not to hang vpon man Verse 10. We must flie to the Lord onlye in all our distresses Ver. 11. Gods deliueraunce of his children is a testimony of his fauour towards them Verse 12. All our sufficiency to goodnesse is from God aloue and that of his mercy only Verse 13. God must be continually praysed for his louing kindnesse and we must alwayes giue a thorow and earnest consente thereto Psalme 42. THis Psalme consisteth of two partes Di. In the firste the Prophet declareth what great desire he had to serue God among the faythfull whiche because hée coulde not performe he sheweth further into what great heauinesse he fell therefore from verse 1. to the fifte In the second he runneth to God praying comfort from him and labouring by all meanes he coulde to comfort himselfe ouer that heauinesse and sorrow from verse 6. to the end of the Psalme The title to him that excelleth this is expounded before Psalme 4. Se. a Psalme to giue instruction this is expounded Psalme 32 committed to the sonnes of Korah not onely to bée kepte as a treasure but to bee sung also by that posterity amongest whome it shoulde séeme that one Heman was the chéefe 1. Chron. 6.33 1. Chron. 25.5 Verse 1. Vnder a similitude of the Hart which by reason of naturall heate much desireth waters as appeareth by them that haue written of the nature of them Dauid setteth oute his earnest desire to serue GOD before the Arke after thée O GOD i. after thy seruice and worship and after the beholdinge of thy Maiestye a visible token whereof thou shewest in thy Tabernacle and the worde of parting woulde bée marked by whiche Dauid sheweth not onlye the great paynes that hee hadde taken therefore but euen that that little breath whiche hee had yet lefte hee imployed that waye Verse 2. My soule i. I my selfe whollye thyrsteth i. earnestlye desyreth euen as those that bee almost ouercome with thyrst wishe for drinke euen for the liuing God This terme hée vseth to put a difference betwéene the God which he meant and whom he serued and the dead idols of the Gentiles before the presence of GOD hée meaneth by this the Tabernacle where God gaue visible signes of his presence and not as though hee were or coulde be at anye time out of his sight sée Psalme 139.7.8 c. Verse 3. The Prophet meaneth that by reason of abundance and continuance of teares that fell from him he might be sayd to bée fedde as it were therewith sée Psalme 80.5 while they i. the Enemyes thy GOD vz. in whome heretofore thou diddest trust this is a moste bitter vpbrayding of the godly Verse 4. These thinges i. Both the reproches of the enemie and my frequenting of the Tabernacle with the rest of Gods people I poured out my hearte i. my courage consumed as it were and my strength wasted awaye see Iob 30.16 hee meaneth in this Verse that hée was as it were halfe deade when hee remembred the enemies reproches on the one side and on the other side the wonderfull pleasure whiche hée tooke in the holy assemblies going before them as a Captaine or ringleader to the rest that kéepeth a Feast vz. vnto the Lorde wherein there was great mirth vsed as maye appeare by sundrye places Verse 5. Cast downe vz. into doubting and heauinesse vnquiet within mee i. meaning by reason of gréefe the helpe of his presence i. the ayde and deliueraunce which his presence i. his fauour and goodnesse hath giuen vs For so is Gods presence often tymes vsed and namelye in these Psalmes Verse 6. From the Lande of Iorden i. I being in the Lande of Iorden whiche is a place very muche distaunt from Ierusalem where thyne Arke is or from the place where thou arte serued so likewise is Hermonim and the mount Mizar which some take to be a place vnknowne euen to the Iewes themselues whatsoeuer it is this he meaneth that hee was much greeued being in a countrie farre from the place where GOD was serued to thinke that hee was depriued of the assemblyes of his Saynts Verse 7. One déepe i. One greate and gréeuous affliction calleth another déepe i. exhorteth as it were another to come that by accesse thereof my afflictions maye growe as it were to infynitenesse as Psalme 40.12 by the noyse i. in suche manner and with suche greate noyse as thy Water-spoutes i. thy Cloudes sende downe the rayne sée Iob 38.25 and he iustly resembleth the Cloudes to Spoutes because they both poure downe and with hold agayne as it pleaseth God to appoynte and rule all thy Waues and floudes i. great and gréeuous afflictions sent from thée are gone ouer me i. haue in a manner ouerwhelmed me Psalme 38.4 Verse 8. Will graunte i. graciouslye giue and make me to féele the nighte vz. of the day before wherein I haue felt his goodnesse of him i. both of him and his prayses meaning that he would prayse him the God of my life i. the author of my life and being for in him we liue moue and haue our being Acts 17. Verse 9. My rocke sée Psal 18.2 forgotten me sée Psalme 13.1 Verse 10. He noteth what great gréefe he indureth by the vngodlies spéeches Ver. 11. Is expounded before ver 5. of this Psalme Do. Verse 1.2 Teache what an earnest loue and desire we shoulde haue to serue God in the assemblie of his Saynts Verse 3. declareth what greate gréefe we shoulde haue to heare GOD reproched the same doth verse 4. Verse 5. that we should labour to comfort
our selues by all the lawfull meanes wée can Verse 6. and namely by hauing recourse vnto our GOD who is the God of all comfort 2. Cor. 1. Verse 7. teacheth two thinges first that the latter end of one trouble with Gods children is the beginning of an other secondly that we should not dispaire vnder the multitude of our afflictions Ver. 8. We ought to be wel and assuredly perswaded that God will haue mercye on vs. Al the rest is touched before verse 3.5 Psalme 43. THis Psalme may be deuided into two parts Di. In the firste the Prophet prayeth to God to take the iudgement of his cause into his hand and to graunt him his fauour and this is in the thrée first verses In the second he promiseth thankfulnes to God for that and other benefits comforting himself what he could in his troubles and this is in the two last verses of the Psalme This Psalme hath no Title no more hath Psalme 10. and also Psalme 33. Se. but it séemeth to be written vppon the same occasion that the 42. was vz. that being driuen out of his Countrie by the violence of his enimies and wanting the vse of Gods exercises hee prayeth deliueraunce from the one and restitution to the other Verse 1. Iudge me i. Pronounce sentence agaynst mine enemies and cleare me deceitfull and wicked man i. it may be that he meaneth Saule as the chéefe but I rather take it to bée the singular number put for the plurall or else one moste notorious put for all the rest of the vngodly sée for the more cleare exposition of this verse 1. Samuel 24.9.10 and so foorth to the ende Verse 2. The GOD of my strength i. thou art he from whome I haue receaued all the strength I haue and by that strength and power that thou haste giuen mée haste deliuered mee hitherto from all daungers Why haste thou put me awaye vz. from thée hee expressed this Psalme 42.9 in these wordes Why haste thou forgotten mee Thus fleshe and blood debateth the matter with GOD when they are left some small time in affliction Why goe I so c. These wordes are worde for worde Psalme 42.9 He meaneth that notwithstanding the enemie did wonderfully trouble him yet hee shoulde haue raysed vp himselfe in the hope and comfort that he had or might haue in the GOD of his strength Verse 3. Sende vz. to mée thy light i. thy gracious fauour and thy truth i. Faythfulnesse and true performing of that whiche hée had promised q.d. of thy fauour and goodnesse helpe them that are oppressed and by that succoure sente them from thée make them to féele the truth of thy promises lette them i. thy lighte and thy truth leade mée vz. to the apprehension of thy goodnesse and mercye and lette them bring mee vnto thy holye Mountayne vz. where thy Arke is whiche was then Kiriath Iearim a Towne set vppon a Mountayne as it shoulde séeme 1. Samuell 6.21 and to thy Tabernacles i. to all the places where the shall bee pitched for thy Arke for the temple was not builded till the raigne of his sonne Salomon Now the Arke was sometimes at Shiloh 1. Samuel 1.3 Sometimes at Kiriath Iearim as 1. Samuel 6.21 Sometymes at Nob 1. Samuel 21.6.7 Sometimes at Gibion 1. Kings 3.4 2. Chron. 1.3 and this is the reason why it is called here and in other places of the Psalmes as Psalme 84.1 Tabernacles in the plurall number vz. because it was sette vp at sundrye times in sundrye places Verse 4. Then i. When this shall be graunted mee from GOD I will goe vz with Sacrifices and offerings vnto the altar of God vz. that I may offer them thereon in these wordes he promiseth a willing frée and thankfull seruice vnto God the God of my ioy and gladnesse i. hee that is the Author thereof as verse 2. of this Psalme hee is called the GOD of his strength and by doubling the wordes ioye and gladnesse which meane all one thing he meaneth the wonderfull greate and excéedinge ioye that GOD eyther had or would giue him vppon the Harpe hee addeth this Instrumente to bée as it were a testimonye outwarde of his thankfulnesse sée Psalme 33.2 Verse 5. Is expounded before Psalme 42.5.12 Hee is my presente helpe i. ready at all assayes to helpe me and to giue mée wonderfull deliueraunces Do. Verse 1. We maye at Gods handes by prayer begge defence against and deliueraunce from cruell subtill and wicked persons Verse 2. It is good the more the enemy rageth to cheare our selues in God Ver. 3. The féeling of Gods fauoure and the truth of his promises two notable poyntes to comfort vs in all our distresses also wée must haue an earnest desire to the holye and publique assemblies of GOD. Verse 4. Thankfulnesse both inwardlye and outwardlye would be rendred to God for his mercies bestowed vpon vs. Verse 5. It is good for vs to comfort our selues in our afflictions and patiently to tarrye the Lordes leasure who wil neuer fayle vs if we hang wholy and stedfastly vpon him Psalme 44. Di. THis Psalme maye bée deuided into thrée partes In the firste the faythfull declare what greate workes GOD in goodnesse had done for their forefathers and them from the firste verse to the ende of the eyght In the second they shewe howe that GOD as it were hauing forgotten himself had left them in moste miserable case to their enimies from the ninth verse to the ende of the sixtéenth In the thirde they shewe that for all their miseries they forgate not God and therefore pray and that earnestly for succour and reléefe from him from verse 17. to the end of the Psalme The Title is expounded before Psalme 42. The author of this Psalme is vnknowne and the tyme to as of certaintye wherein it shoulde bée written notwithstanding there is some probable appearaunce eyther after the returne of the people oute of Babilon or else in the time of their exyle Verse 1. Hearde with our eares i. assuredly and certaynly hearde our Fathers i. our Auncestors haue told vs vz. both by wordes and writing in their dayes i. in the times wherein they liued in the old time i. euen long agoe that the people might the more moue God to comfort them in their miserie they reckon vp his greate goodnesse shewed vnto their forefathers Ver. 2. Driuen out vz. of the land which they possessed and inhabited with thine hand i. by thy power and might as sundry times in the booke of Psalmes planted them i. surely set and as it were rooted them to growe i. to multiplye and to increase wonderfully Verse 3. Inherited not i. atteyned not to the inheritaunce or possession of the land by their owne sworde i. by the weapons and armour whiche they had their own arme i. their owne power and strength saue them i. deliuer them from daunger and distresses but thy right hand thyne arme i. thy strength might and power only and the light of
thus and in thy glory ride prosperously because of the word of trueth c. in thy glory i. being thus established and set vp ride prosperously i. feare not to attempt good and holy things because of the word of truth i. because the matter of trueth yea all trueth it selfe requireth this of thee and hee vnderstandeth by these thrée termes three seuerall things that ought to bee in kinges by trueth he meaneth faithfull dealing by meekenes milde and curteous behauiour and by righteousnes vpright execution of those thinges that concerne either the maintenance of good or the punishmēt of vice if we take it as it is read in the Geneua text hee séemeth then to resemble these vertues to chariotes of triumph vpon which kings were wont to bee carried specially after some great victories gotten and he speaketh of these vertues because that iust vpright gouernement and not outragious and violent giueth credit and authoritie to princes So thy right hand i. thy power and might because that in that hand it most consisteth shall teach thée i. shall inable thée to performe as those that teach others make them able Terrible thinges i. such thinges as shal strike a terrour and feare of thee into the heartes of thine enemies and a louing reuerence into the hearte of thy friendes and subiects Ver. 5. Thine arrowes are sharpe i. the instruments and meanes that thou hast to vse against thy enemies are persing yea so persing that the heart i. the closest part yea the strongest euen that wherein life consisteth shal be pearced thereby of the kinges enemies marke the chaunge of the person meaning thereby thy enemies which art the king shall fall vnder thee i. shall come into thy power and subiection as men are wont to fall when they are stricken wish an arrowe so that a man may do with them what he listeth hee meaneth nothing else but that Salomon should haue instruments and darts to strike his enemies a farre of and to constraine them to yeelde to his obedience Ver. 6. Thy throne i. thy kingdome for he vseth the throne where the Prince did vse to sit that gouerned the kingdome for the kingdome rule dominion and authority that the king had O God Salomon is here called God as kinges and magistrates are in other places of scripture for euer and euer i. indureth a long season the scepter of thy kingdome i. the rule and authority which was signified by the scepter is a scepter of righteousnes i. is iust equall and vpright all this must after this sort be applied to Salomon but for as much as the Apostle Heb. 18. doeth apply it to Christ wee must more largely interpret it vz. that the holy Ghost meaneth to signifie and to set out vnto vs not only the continuance and durablenes of Christes kingdome but also the continual vprightnes and equity that shal be therein Ver. 7. Apply this also to Salomon Christ to the one in figure to the other in trueth thou louest i. allowest likest of and performest righteousnesse i. vpright dealing and equity and hatest i. canst not at any hand away with wickednes i. any manner of sinne whatsoeuer he sheweth wherein vprightnes consisteth vz. in the maintenance of equity and in the sharpe punishment of iniquity hath annoynted thee the Prophet speaketh after the manner of those dayes wherein kinges were annoynted which was a visible signe of their entrance into the kingdome with the oyle of gladnes i. with such oyle as made not onely Salomon glad but the people ouer whom he should raigne aboue thy fellowes i. al thy brethren set aside though they were elder then thou howe this and other places of this Psalme haue their verification in Christ shal be shewed afterwarde in the doctrines Ver. 8. Hee commendeth Salomon for the glory of his garments noting that they were as it were performed with Myrrhe Aloes and Cassia which were things not only of good fauor but of great price because they were set from far countries iuory palaces i. excellent which the holy Ghost meaneth both by speaking in the plurall number and also by calling them or affirming them to be of iuory which was excellent and precious as may appeare Amos 6.4 Where they i. thy people and those that doe thee seruices haue made thee glad vz. by the dutifull deedes cheareful countenances and louing words that they haue declared towards thee Ver. 9. Kings daughters i. those that issued from kings were among thine honourable wiues i. were come vnto thee among the rest all which thou diddest honourably vse and apparel sumptuously of gold of Ophir i. most fine and pure gold sée Iob. 28. ver 16. Ver. 10. Hée admonished Pharao his daughter who was Salomons chiefe wife by mariage newly ingraffed into the body of the church willingly to hearken to Gods worde and quite and cleane to forget all carnall thinges whatsoeuer Marke the wordes of this admonition first hearing then considering of that which is heard and lastly imbracing of that which is hearde ment by inclining of the eare and shee is called daughter not in respect of her husbande but in respect shee was become nowe a scholleresse as a man woulde say in Gods Church as some were called children before Psal 34.10 And by people and Fathers house he meaneth her owne country and all the pleasures therein as friendes kinred and whatsoeuer else she might be delighted in Ver. 11. So shall the king c. i. if thou doest this vz. imbrace the religion that hee shall teach thee thou shalt bee most acceptable vnto him and hee shall loue thée most tenderly for he is thy Lord i. thy head and gouernour as 1. Corinth 11.3 Reuerence thou him q.d. therefore it beseemeth thee to yéelde him all the obedience due to him Ver. 12. Daughter of Tyrus i. the citie Tyrus putting the place for the people inhabiting the same sée Psal 9.14 With the rich of the people q.d. euen the richest and not the meanest only shal doe homage before thy face with presentes i. shall in token of homage and as though they were subiects bring openly presents vnto thée Ver. 13. Kings daughter shee is so called not as though shee were not his wife but because hee did as it were beget her vnto God is all glorious within vz. in the kings pallace where shee remaineth familiarly with the king her clothing is of broidered gold i. is most precious and costly Ver. 14. She shal be brought vnto the King the Prophet alludeth to the manner in these daies vz. that Quéenes might not come when they woulde to the king but when they were sent for Hest 4.11 Hest 5.2 In rayment of néedle worke which is very deare and precious by this variety of apparell the Prrphet mindeth to set out the sumptuousnes of the king his wife by that which followeth after the Prophet meaneth that she shall come with a great number of handmaydes wayting vppon her which séemeth also
giuen speciall tokens of his fauour to that aboue the rest euen vppon his holy mountaine hee meaneth mount Sion which is therefore called holy because that the Arke being there placed the most holy God shewed himselfe present in the same Ver. 2. He doth commend mount Sion for the pleasaunt situation thereof because it stood Northward or as you would say on the north side of Ierusalem as Isaiah 14.13 We know that places situated Northward are very holesome by reason of the colde drie and cleare aire that commeth out of that quarter sée Iob. 37.22 It is the ioy i. it is a place wherein the whole earth shoulde reioyce because that the doctrine which came out of the same bringeth saluation to all the worlde sée Isaiah 2.3.4 Mich. 4.1.2 c. Act. 2. Titus 2.11 and the Citie of the great king he calleth Sion the mount wherein the temple was builded and was a part of the Citie of Ierusalem the citie it selfe and by great king hee meaneth God who is called great because he hath all greatnes in himselfe which also serueth to put a difference betwéene him and earthly kinges sée Matth. 5.35 Ver. 3. In the palaces thereof i. in the strong bulwarkes and defenced Towres of Ierusalem which hee calleth pallaces for the excellency and beauty thereof because they were not onely strong but also very sightly is knowne i. by tryall taken and had for a refuge i. for a place of most assured safety as who being with them and on their side they néeded not care who or howe many were against them Verse 4. The kinges i. diuers and sundry kinges as Shishake king of Egipt 2. Chron. 12.9 Serah king of Ethiopia 2. Chron. 14.9 Sanecherib king of Assiria Isaiah chap. 36. and chap. 37. and this circumstaunce maketh mee to thinke that this Psalme was made long after Dauids tyme were gathered vz. together with all their forces against this Citie and went together vz. to destroy it but could not as followeth and by this the faithfull comfort themselues that all the mischieuous imaginations of the wicked shall not preuaile against it Ver. 5. When they i. the enemies withall their armies and power sawe it q.d. at the bare beholding of the Citie they marueiled vz. at the walles Bulwarkes Towres Ramparts and other munition thereof and were astonied vz. not onely with the excellency of the thing but with great feare and sodainely driuen backe vz. for all their great warrelike forces and powers they were put to flight and euery one glad to take them to their héeles as it were Verse 6. Feare came vppon them i. a very great feare seased them and tooke holde of them there i. euen as they were before Ierusalem and as a man woulde say ready to besiege it this was chiefely verified vppon Sanecherib and his host as appeareth 2. Kinges 18.24 2. Kings 19.35 2. Chronic. 32.1 Reade the places throughout and sorrowe i. griefe and great payne so that they were not onely afrayde but full of great griefe as vppon a woman in trauaile by this similitude the Prophet noteth first the sodainenes of their sorrow secondly the increase and continuance of it as one throwe commeth in an others necke and thirdly that they shoulde not escape it no more then a woman can her payne sée Thessalonians 5.3 Ver. 7. Hee doeth by an other similitude shewe howe easily God can breake the strongest thinges that men haue there néedeth no more but a puffe of winde to breake the strongest shippe as with an East winde to this winde the Scripture doeth in sundry places ascribe great force and vehemency as Ierem. 18.17 thou breakest vz. in pieces and makest them to suffer shipwracke the shippes of Tarshish i. goodly tall and strong shippes and hee meaneth by shippes of Tarshish not onely shippes appertaining to that Iland but those that came in to the hauen there which was made very commodious for them sée Ionah 1.3 Verse 8. As wee haue hearde vz. by our forefathers Prophets not onely of former deliueraunces but also that GOD woulde deliuer vs when wee were in daunger so haue wee séene vz. both with our eyes and by experience also the same thinges fulfilled in the Citie of the Lorde of hostes i. Hierusalem why GOD is called the Lorde of hostes sée Psalm 46.7 will stablish it i. make it firme and sure and keepe it safe and sounde from the force of the enemies for euer i. for a very long season if wee referre it to Hierusalem but worldes without ende if wee referre it to Gods Church Ver. 9. Wee wayte c. i. wee quietly and patiently tarry the tyme wherein thou wilt make manifest thy grace and goodnes in the middest of thy temple this must not bee referred to the people as though they had aboad in the middest of the Temple wayting for Gods kindnes but to Gods kindnes and goodnes it selfe which was wont to be manifested and shewed from the propitiatorie or mercy seat which was ouer the Arke of the couenant and an euident signe of the presence and fauour of GOD and was placed in the middest of the Temple Ver. 10. According vnto thy name i. as thy power might and maiesty is great and spreadeth it selfe ouer the earth so is thy praise vnto the worlds end i. it is all the world ouer and shall continue and abyde for euer amongst thine in what place or quarter of the worlde so euer they bee Thy right hand i. thy power and the thinges that by thy power thou doest for hée putteth the hande wherein power consisteth and by which as by an instrument matters are perfourmed for power it selfe and the thinges done thereby is full of righteousnes i. not onely righteous but frée from suspicion or reprehension of vnrighteousnes Ver. 11. Let mount Sion reioyce this is an exhortation to stirre vp the faithfull to thankefulnes By mount Sion hée vnderstandeth Ierusalem as ver 2. of this Psalme putting also the place conteining the people for the people conteined therein Daughters of Iudah i. other Cities and Townes of that Country as Psalm 9.14 of thy iudgements i. which thou hast exercised in defending vs thy people and punishing thy enemies Ver. 12. Compasse about Sion the writer of the Psalmes prouoketh the citizens of Ierusalem not onely to consider the strength and situation of their Citie but also to sée whether that by the besieging of it it were any whit weakened q.d. goe about it and about it againe viewe it well and sée whether there haue beene any breaches made into it tell the Towers thereof vz. to sée whether any bée wanting defaced or throwne downe Ver. 13. Marke well the wall thereof vz. no whit at all impayred behold her towres euen as beautifull and strong as they were before the besieging sée ver 3. of this Psalm that ye may tell your posterity vz. of this great and wonderfull deliueraunce as our fathers haue tolde vs verse 8. of this Psalme and also Psal 44.
i. praye vnto thée he vseth the sign of prayer for prayer it selfe 141.2 Also 1. Timothie 2.8 in thy name i. as some expound it calling vpon thy name me thinketh this is better that for as much as Gods name is in scripture vsed for Gods goodnesse and mercye it should rather be expounded thus in thy name i. cleauing to thy goodnesse and mercy Verse 5. My soule shall be satisfyed q.d. though nowe I bee in greate miserye yet when thou shalt haue heard my prayers I shall bee filled both inwardly and outwardly for I take the soule to be put here for the whole man as Psalme 42.2 as with marrow and fatnesse i. as though I had a heape or abundaunce of all swéet and good things sée Psal 4.6.7 and my mouth shall prayse thée i. set out and shew forth thy prayse as Psalme 51.15 with ioyfull lippes i. with lippes that shal be glad and ready to perform that duety Ver. 6. when I remember thée in my bed i. thinke vpon thee and thy goodnesse being thereby prouoked to call vpon thée and that as I lie vpon my bed in the night watches this is spoken according to the maner of the people thē who diuided the night into certaine watches as Mat. 14.35 Mark 13.35 Verse 7. Because thou hast bin my helper vz. at al assaies and in all distresses therefore vnder the shadow of thy winges will I reioyce i. being vnder thy protection I will be glad and alwayes trust in thée sée Psal 57.1 and other places Verse 8. My soule i. I my selfe both body and soule cleaueth vnto thée vz. euen as if it were glued and by this manner of spéeche hee expresseth the assured hope and confidence that he had in god for thy right hand i. thy great might and power as we haue had it sundry times before vpholdeth me vz. in all distresse and agaynst al assaults of mine enimies both inward outward Ver. 9. Therefore i. because thou art on my side they that séeke my soule i. my life and that of a cruel hatred to destroy it vz. as much as in them lyeth to take it away from amongst men shall go into the lowest parts of the earth i. shall die and perish he speaketh this of Saule and the people that tooke part with him the verification of which prophecie sée 1. Sam. 31. throughout Ver. 10. They i. the Philistines shall cast him down i. ouerthrow Saul his company yea kill the with the edge of the sword i. with the force of warlike instruments vsing one sort of them for the rest and they i. mine enemies vz. Saule and his complices shal be a portion for foxes i. their bodies shal be deuoured and torne in péeces by wild beasts and they shal not haue the honor of buriall which was a very hateful thing to heare of specially amongst the people of the Iewes True it is that this oftentimes falleth vpon the good as is declared Psal 79.2 for afflictiōs are cōmō both to good bad but in the end is diuers Ver. 11. But the king i. I my self whom God hath annoynted by Samuel to be King speaking of himselfe in the third person shal reioyce in God vz. for the great help and deliuerance that he hath wrought for me all that sweare by him i. God meaning by this manner of spéech all that feare him and serue him with a right and reuerent affection putting a part of the seruice for the whole as Deutronom 6.13 shall reioice i. be glad because God in fauour hath bestowed so good a king vpō them for the mouth of them that speake lies he setteth these hipocrites agaynst the other sincere harted people and by speaking of lies he meaneth not only false slaundering of Dauid but also dissimulation and crafty dealing with God in his seruice shal be stopped he meaneth that the wicked shal be vtterly remoued and taken away from amongst men some by death as before ver 10. and some by confusion and shame as in this verse Do. Verse 1. Teacheth that we should many times breake our sléepes to the ende we might pray to God it teacheth vs also what an earnest hunger thirste we ought to haue to his seruice and worship with the assembly of his saynts Ver. 2. Teacheth that Gods power maiesty glorye and goodnesse appeareth in no place more then in the congregations of his people Ver. 3. Teacheth that Gods mercy rightly felte farre surmounteth all treasures of this life whatsoeuer Verse 4. Teacheth that the féeling of Gods goodnesse shoulde wring from vs continuall prayer and praysing of his maiestie Verse 5. Our inward man and our outward man should delight in God and good things aboue al. Ver. 6. teacheth vs continually to think vpon god both vpō our beds in our beds and al the night long when we can not sléepe Ver. 7. sheweth that Gods prouidēce and protection is a sure safegard to al the faythful and the only matter in déed that canne minister true ioy Verse 8. Teacheth that the perswasion wée haue of God and in God should not be wauering but assured and constant Verse 9. teacheth that bloodthirsty men shal not escape vnpunished Verse 10. Teacheth that God sundry times stirreth vp one wicked company to plague ouerthrow another Ver. 11. comprehendeth a doctrine of singular comforte to all sincere and true worshippers of Gods maiestie Psalme 64 THis Psalme is the selfe same argument with that which goeth next before and it may be diuided into thrée parts Di In the first the Prophet prayeth God to graunt him his requestes and to kéepe him free from the rage and crueltie of his enemies and this is comprised in the two first verses In the seconde he doth by péecemeale as it were set out the vices of those his wicked and vngodly enimies from verse thrée to the end of the 6. In the third he foretelleth their ruine and ouerthrowe shewing what good shall come therby to al men in general and namely to the righteous from verse 7. to the end of the Psalme The title is expounded already in the fourth Psalme Ver. 1. Se. Heare my voice O God in my praier i. graunt me those requests that in my praiers by my voice I lay out before thée for hearing is put for yéelding vnto in this place as sundry times before for Dauid neuer doubted the God heard him though sometimes he deferred to graunt his petition from feare of the enemy i. from that great peril which I feare the enemie goeth about would gladly lay vpō me Ver. 2. Hide me vz. in some assured place that the flatterers of Sauls court which imagine my destructiō may not find me out from the conspiracy of the wicked i. from these outrages cruelties that the wicked in their secret méetings haue conspired and imagined agaynst me from the rage i. frō the outwarde violence oppression of the workers of iniquity he meaneth by this spéech those that
vz. from thine enemies not that they did willingly giue them but that the Lord would haue them whether they would yea or no and they are called gifts not because they gaue them but that the Lorde taking them as spoyles from the enemies gaue them to his people which hee meaneth by these termes following for men i. that thine owne people might inioy and haue the same yea euen the rebellious hast thou lead q.d. Thou hast inforced them to yéeld themselues as tributaries and that not onely those that willingly yéelded but also those that coulde not otherwise bee brought downe but by force that the Lorde God might dwell there i. amongst his people in the sanctuary and by dwelling he meaneth both the manifestation of his power and presence for their good also his continual aboade amonst them as ver 16. of this Psalme S. Paul Ephes 4. ascribeth all this to Christ who is God manifested in the flesh i. meaning that our Sauiour was taken vp into heauen when hee had subdued and ouercome the world the flesh sinne death and the deuill sée Coloss 2.12.13 c. Ver. 19. Euen the God of our saluation i. that worketh gracious deliuerances for vs as sundry times before which ladeth vs dayly i. which filleth vs continually the metaphor expresseth the abundance of Gods benefites with benefites i. with graces and blessings new and old q.d. he neuer ceaseth to doe vs good so that we haue more benefits then we are able to beare as it were Ver. 20. Euen the God that saueth vs i. that worketh wonderful deliueraunces for vs the issues of death i. both meanes and waies to escape death if we referre it to his children and many wayes also to destroy the wicked if we referre it to them as wee may without any iniury to the text referre it to both Ver. 21. Surely i. without all doubt God will wounde vz. vnto death the heade of his enemies hée maketh mention of the head because it is the principall part of the body as wherein life is and from which it is deriued to the other members of the body so that it is as much as if he had sayde that the Lorde woulde take away their life and the heary pate hee meaneth by this the stoute enemies of God because they that woulde bee fearefull to others did foster their heare q.d. their stoute countinance and courage shall nothing preuaile them against God that walketh in his sinnes i. continueth in the same without repentance Ver. 22. The Lord hath sayd therefore it shal be performed I will bring my people vz. safe and sound againe from Bashan i. from dangerous places and distresses such as they were in before that Og king of Bashan was ouerthrowne sée Numb 21.33 and Deutron 3.1.2 c. I wil bring them againe from the depths of the Sea i. from wonderfull perils wherewith they should haue beene as it were ouerwhelmed altogether is q.d. I will worke as excellent a work for this people as I did for those whom I deliuered from the hāds of Og king of Bashan and as I did for them that passed through the red Sea as on drie land as Exod. 14.16 Ver. 23. That thy foote vz. O Israel or my people may bee dipped in blood vz. of the enemies slaine and the tongue of thy dogges in the blood of the enemies by these woordes hée noteth what a great slaughter there shalbée of the enemies of GOD in so much that not onely the faithfull shal haue their féete died in their blood but their very dogs shoulde haue their tongues made red and coloured with the very licking therof euen in it this repetition noteth also the certainetie of the great slaughter Ver. 24. They i. thine enemies to their great discouragement and ouerthrowe and thine owne people to their wonderful comfort thy goings vz. before thy people and thy guiding of them in the day of warre guiding them as a captaine and getting the victory for them and when hee sayth that they had séene all this hée meaneth that they had had the certaine triall and experience thereof which art in the sanctuary i. which giuest manifest signes and tokens of thy power and presēce of thy people there Ver. 25. The singers went before i. euery one in their order did publikely prayse God and pray vnto him sée Exod. 15.1.2 c. Numb 21.17.1 for the maides and women praysing God after the victory sée ver 11. of this Psalme Ver. 26. Prayse yee God in the assemblies i. openly yee that are of the fountaine of Israel i. that come from Iaakob as from a fountaine meaning thereby al the Israelites for he would haue none excepted as it may appeare by the next verse Verse 27. There i. in the publike assemblies to prayse God was little Beniamin i. those of the tribe of Beniamin which is called litle either because it was one of the least in number or else because they came of Iaakob his yongest sonne with their ruler i. with some principall man who was captaine and gouernour of that tribe and the Princes of Iudah i. the noble and great personages of the tribe of Iudah with their assembly i. with the people gathered vnto thē and in such sort must the wordes in this verse following bee expounded Ver. 28. Thy God hath appointed thy strength hee speaketh to the people q.d. the God which thou seruest hath beautified thée with strength because hee hath so appointed or commaunded the same to resist thine enemies shewing that the power of this people was from God and not of it selfe stablish i. strengthen and continue for euer that which thou hast wrought in vs hereby he vnderstandeth the graces and blessings of God both bestowed vpon them their forefathers praying the continuance of his graces Ver. 29. Out of thy temple i. out of the place where the Arke was as 1. Samuel 1.9 from whence it pleased the Lord many times to set foorth the power and maiesty hee had in him for the defence of his Church vppon Ierusalem by Ierusalem hee meaneth the Church of God as Psalm 51.18 And kinges shall bring presents vnto thee i. as some expound it shall yéeld themselues tributaries as it were subiects others to whom I incline giue this sense the Prophet speaketh of himself of his successours meaning that they would with most thankful mindes acknowledge him to be their God speaking in the third person of them altogether and vnderstanding by bringing presents which was a signe of thankfulnes the thing it self Ver. 30. Destroy the company of the speare men i. ouerthrowe both the multitude and the force of common souldiers vnderstanding by spearemen al others that vsed any weapon against them whatsoeuer vnder one sort comprehending all and multitude of the mighty bulles i. the great cōpany of their captaines and men of might who for their greatnes cruelty he compareth to mighty bulles sée Psalm 22.12 with the calues of the people i.
those that can hardly be tamed and bee full of wantonnes and sport as it were such as calues be when they are very fat that tread vnder féete i. that do contemne despise and set little by as Matth. 7.6 pieces of siluer thinges that ought to be regarded and estéemed putting one for al of the like sort scatter sée ver 1. of this Psalme the people that delight in warre i. take pleasure thinke it to be the greatest ioy when they may contend or fight most Ver. 31. Then i. when thou shalt bestow these great graces vpon thy children and ouerthrow thine enemies shall the Princes vz. moued partly through iudgments and partly by thy mercy come out of Egipt vz. to yéelde obedience vnto thée and to submit themselues to thy Lordship and gouernment Ethiopia i. the people inhabiting that land shall hast i. make hast and speede to stretch her hands i. to pray vnto or readily to offer giftes in signe of obedience and subiection putting the signe of prayer or obedience for the things themselues vnto God i. vnto thée speaking of God to God in the third person Ver. 32. Sing vnto God vz. prayse and thankesgiuing for your conuersion calling for these verses comprehend the calling of the Gentiles to the kingdom of Christ O ye kingdomes of the earth i. O ye people which inhabite the kingdomes of the world putting the places inhabited for the persōs inhabiting as sundry times before sing prayse vnto the Lorde the saying is doubled the more earnestly to prouoke men thereto Verse 33. To him that rideth vppon the heauens i. to him that gouerneth them and their course as hee that rideth vppon the Horse doeth the Horse this is spoken of GOD according to man and is nothing else as a man woulde say but a description of Gods excellent maiesty and when hee sayth most high heauens hee speaketh it also according to men who are wont to make sundry heauens as the Philosophers yet doe not that there are so for all that they babble of that matter is vayne but that men so esteeme it and yet notwithstanding in Scripture wee see that the worde heauen is sometimes vsed in Scripture for the ayre as when wee say foules of heauen sometimes for the firmament which is also aboue the ayre and so this place may bee expounded thus let men imagine neuer so many heauens yet God ruleth them all whiche were from the beginning as appeareth Gen. 1.1 and so haue since that time continued and still shall continue al which tendeth to expresse the great power of almighty God behold he will send out by his voice a mightie sound by Gods voyce he vnderstandeth the thunder the diuers effects whereof sée at large Psalme 29. And by mighty sound he meaneth not only large sound but also great which euen shaketh the earth as it were Verse 34. Ascribe the power to God i. giue vnto him all the prayse of power both in himself and in you for his maiestie is vpon Israel i. is declared mightily toward his people and Church as Psalm 14.7 and his strength is in the cloudes i. is not onely made manifest in the same but also he vseth the cloudes and all other creatures whatsoeuer to set out his power Verse 35. O God thou art terrible vz. to thine enimies and aduersaries out of thine holy places q.d. Thou shewest euident testimonies and tokens thereof out of thy tabernacle and he vseth the plurall number holy places eyther in respect that the arke was set vp in sundry places before the temple was builded or else in respect of the distincte places of the arke as Heb. 9.2.3 all which were called holy or else in respect of the heauenly holye place and the earthly holy place which was a shadowe of that heauenly one as Heb. 10.19 the God of Israel i. the God of his Church and faythfull people is he vz. alone that giueth vz. of his own goodnesse and mercye onely without any merite or desert of theirs strength and power vz. to defend themselues and to beat back their enimies meaning by strength and power all the meanes whereby these great workes may be performed vnto the people vz. whome he hath chosen vnderstanding the people of Israell for that time and the Church for euer praysed be God vz. for that his mercy and greate goodnesse towards them Verse 1. Teacheth two things Do first that God hath all power in his hande to destroy his enemies seconde that the enemies of the Church cannot prosper Verse 2. Setteth out the sodayne destruction of the wicked Verse 3. sheweth that when the wicked shall be beaten downe Gods children shall be lifted vp in spirituall ioye and mirth Verse 4. teacheth vs continually to prayse God for his incomprehensible maiestie and power Verse 5. Teacheth vs what greate care God in mercy carrieth toward the distressed persons Verse 6. Teacheth vs that fruitfulnesse of body deliueraunce of extreme daungers and plagues and punishments of what sort soeuer vpon the vngodly come all from God Verse 7. Teacheth vs to thinke vpon Gods graces performed of old that therby our fayth may be strengthened to escape daungers Verse 8. Teacheth that all creatures are not able to stande before the presence and maiestie of God Verse 9. Teacheth that plentifulnesse and the means thereof are all in Gods handes Verse 10. Teacheth that though the wicked haue a great portion of the earth in possession yet that the Lord hath properlye prepared it for them that feare him Verse 11. Teacheth vs that we can not haue our mouthes open to speake much lesse to speake well til God giue both the matter and vtterance also that the weakest meanes as women when God inableth them shal be sufficient to expresse his prayse Verse 12. teacheth that neither multitude strēgth nor authority can preuaile agaynst the Lord and his people otherwise then he himselfe séeth good Verse 13. Teacheth that the afflictions of the godly doe no whit at al hinder the beautie of the godly but rather are the instruments which God doth use to make them more glorious Verse 15. Setteth out the excellency beauty and continuance of Gods church Ver. 16. Teacheth that al congregations though outwardly neuer so glorious and glittering in respecte of it are nothing Ver. 17. Sheweth that Gods power is inuincible and his armies to performe his purpose are innumerable Verse 18. Sheweth that God will triumphe ouer al the faythfull willingly and vnfainedlie subiecting themselues and the other whether they will or no. Verse 19 teacheth vs two things first to yéeld thanks to God for his mercies secondly that his goodnes toward vs neuer ceaseth Verse 20 teacheth vs that euen in the greatest daungers God deliuereth his children to the end all glory might be giuen to him therefore Verse 21. Sheweth that the wicked enemies of his Church shal not long escape vnpunished Verse 22. teacheth vs that Gods promises of deliuerance saluation c. are the
Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that al that we haue we haue frō God our being birth c. and that we ought therefore continually to praise him Ver. 7. Howsoeuer men wonder at vs or despise vs so that God be on our side we néed not greatly care Verse 8. Teacheth vs to pray to God for the continuaunce and increase of his goodnesse towards vs and that not for our own profite and ease but that hee may thereby be more and more glorifyed of vs. Ver. 9. Teacheth that the more weake and feeble we are the more we stand in néede of Gods help and to craue it by prayer Ver. 10. Sheweth that the wicked consult and speake agaynst the good Ver. 11 Sheweth that the wicked make sure account of that many times which they are furthest off from Ver. 12. Teacheth that Gods presence is sufficient to strengthen his people to discomfit their enimies Ver. 13. Teacheth that to wish hurt to any much more to Gods children and to seeke the accomplishment of it are gréeuous sinnes Ver. 14. Teacheth that patience in affliction and thanksgiuing are necessary and méete for Gods children Ver. 15. teacheth vs the right vse of our mouth vz. when it is occupied in rehearsing gods goodnes Ver. 16. Teacheth vs that though to Godward we can not do so much as we should or would yet we ought to indeuour the performance of that that he shall enable vs vnto Ver. 17. teacheth that the experience of Gods mercies should bring forth in vs these two effects first continually to hang vpon him secondly to praise and publish his great power and goodnesse Ver. 18. teacheth what a care we should haue to conuay as it were Gods glorye ouer to all posterities Verse 19. Teacheth vs that none is comparable with God Ver. 20. teacheth first that all afflictions come to passe by Gods prouidence and appointment secondly that he graciously deliuereth his from their greatest daungers Ver. 21. teacheth vs to be certainly assured of Gods fauoure and goodnesse towards vs. Ver. 22. teacheth vs earnestly to praise God for his benefits and to inforce our selues thereto by all the lawfull meanes wee canne Verse 23. Teacheth vs that al our parts both inward and outward should be ready to praise the Lorde Verse 24. Teacheth vs that though the enemies of Gods people prosper a while yet their end without repentaunce will be shame and confusion of face Psalme 72 Di THis Psalm may be deuided into thrée parts In the first the prophet Dauid prayeth to God for himself and his sonne Salomon that they in their kingdome maye bee directed by him which the Lord graciously perfourming hee sheweth what good shall come to the whole land thereby from verse 1. to the end of the 8. In the second he prophesieth of the inlargemente of the kingdom by subduing many people vnto it and of the great plenty that shall be therein all which is but a figure of Christs kingdome and this reacheth from verse 9. to the end of the 17. In the third part is comprised a notable praise that the Prophet yéeldeth vnto the Lord for his power goodnesse from verse 18. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title a Psalm of Salomon i. concerning him or on his behalf not as though he were the author therof Ver. 1. Giue thy iudgements i. instruct the king with the spirite of wisedome vprightnes that he may rightly gouern the people committed to him according to such lawes and ordināces as thou hast prescribed thy righteousnes i. such righteousnes as thou allowest he setteth these two words iudgements righteousnes against the tirannous abusing of kingly authoritie to the kings sonne i. the kings posterity but chiefelye Salomon Verse 2. Then vz. when thou shalt giue him these graces shal he iudge i. conducte and gouerne thy people i. the people that thou haste chosen to bée a people to thy selfe in righteousnesse i. faythfully truely and vprightly and thy poore i. such as are afflicted for thy cause or else those whome thou hast humbled and he speaketh specially of these because that for their defence Kings haue the sworde put into their hands with equity i. iust and vprighte iudgement rendring to euery one according to their behauiour Verse 3. The Mountaines i. after some the most barren places others because the lande of Iudea was ful of mountains vnderstand by mountains the whole land whatsoeuer it is the Prophets meaning is this by this similitude taken from the plentifulnesse of the earth to note that no corner or quarter of the land shall be founde voyde of Gods blessing shall bring peace i. shall yéelde or bring foorth store and plentye of all manner of blessinges for so doe the Hebrewes vse this worde as is to be séene in many places of scripture by iustice vz. rightlye administred hee meaneth that the kinges good gouernment shal be a mean to bring all prosperity vpon the whole land Ver. 4. he shall iudge vz. vprightly the poore of the people who most commonly are troden vnder féete hee shall saue i. deliuer vz. from the oppressor and cruell man the children of the néedy i. moste needie persons for the Father being néedye the childe can hardly bee riche hee meaneth that those that haue no helpe or succoure but lye as a praye to the riche of the Worlde shall be reuenged of and deliuered from the handes of their enemies and shall subdue vz. vnder his féete but yet through iustice and equitie the oppressour i. all oppressours vnderstanding by one al. Ver. 5. They i. the people so gouerned shall feare thée i. shall cary a certaine louing reuerence and obedience vnto thée and this may be referred either to God or to the king if we referre it to God then it is a sodain change of the person shewing what fruits shal come by a holy gournment to wit that the people shal imbrace Gods true religion and seruice If wee referre it to the king then he sheweth what louing and obedient people he shal haue that ruleth well but I rather allow of the first sense by reason of that which followeth in this verse as long as the sunne and moone endureth from generation to generation i. for euer and euer Ver. 6. He i. the king shall come downe vz. either personally from his kingly throne amongest his people or else in his holy and iust gouernment like the raine vpon the mowen grasse These words mowen grasse may haue a double sense and both good either that we referre it to that which is cut for hay vpon which if some raine fall presently after the cutting men say it serueth much for the increase of good smell in it or else to that that standeth which is much subiect to the heat of the sunne and parching when the other is remoued and then as the raine falleth vppon it and causeth it to growe againe as it were so a righteous gouernour after the heate of tyrannie addeth as
is not one prophet more vz. amōgst vs to instruct vs to teach vs according to the law and in an ordinary ministry for so I would take the word prophet in this place nor any vz. extraordinarily stirred vp that knoweth vz. to tell vs howe long vz. this calamitie and misery of ours shall indure Ver. 10. reproch thée this is ment not only because the wicked vttered reproches against God himselfe but also because he succoured not his people against their rage whose dishonour did after a sort redounde also to him blaspheme thy name i. speak euil of thy maiesty power as though thou either couldest not or wouldest not helpe vs for euer i. a long time or continually or as it were without ceasing Ver. 11 Why withdrawest thou thine hande i. why withholdest thou thy power from deliuering vs and plaguing thy enemies euen thy right hand i. thy power ful of might strength to both effects he speaketh this of God according to men whose right hands are commonly more strong then the left draw it out of thy bosome i. declare by effectes that thou hast care ouer vs and power to destroy them it is a metaphor taken from slothful sluggish persōs as appeareth Prouerb 19.24 also 26.16 and consume them vz. by thy iustice iudgment Ver. 12. Euen I would rather read but or yet q.d. notwithstāding these gret distresses dangers I rest my self vpon him that neuer wil faile me God is my king i. one that careth for me receiueth me into his protection so that I shal not néede to feare deliuerance and marke the sodaine change of the number the faithful speaking in the person of one because al the rest were of that assured perswasion of old i. al time heretofore therfore hee wil not destitute vs now working saluation i. deliuerance out of danger and that for his people in the middest of the earth i. openly and in the sight of all the people of the world putting the earth conteining the people for the people conteined Ver. 13. Thou diddest deuide the sea i. the red Sea when the people came out of Egipt Exod. 14.21 thou brakest the heades i. diddest ouerthrow the power yea diddest take away the life of the Dragons or Whales hee meaneth by this speach Pharaohs men whome for their courage and cruelty hee compareth to great Dragons or Whales in the waters vz. of the redde Sea Ver. 14. Thou brakest the head i. ouerthrewest the power as before verse 13. of Liuiathan in pieces what this beast was Sée Iob. 40.20 also 41. throughout Sée for the better vnderstanding of this place Isaiah 27. verse 1. c. also Ezech. 29.3 from whence you shal haue great light and gauest him to bee meate Immanuel readeth this part of the text farre better thus thou gauest meate to the people passing through the wildernesse vnderstanding it of manna and quailes of which sée Exod. 16. and Numbers 11. and this agréeth better with that that goeth before ver 12. when they sayd god had beene their king of old not onely in punishing their enemies but in shewing grace and fauor to thē also with that which foloweth where other particular benefits are rehearsed Ver. 15. Thou breakest vp i. thou causedst to breake vp and that out of the ground a harde mountaine the fountaine and riuer i. abundance of water euen as plentiful as any fountaine or riuer could be sée Exod. 17. ver 1.2 c. also Numbers 20◠2 c. thou driest vp mighty riuers as the redde Sea spoken of before and the flood Iordan as Ioshua 3.14 c. into which riuer also many other riuers runne or flowe and therefore hee speaketh heere in the plurall number Verse 16. The daye is thyne both because he created it and gouerneth it according to his good pleasure and the night is thine i. at thy disposition and appointment as before in this verse thou hast prepared the light vz. of the night as the moone and starres sée Gene 1.14 c. and here by the word preparing he vnderstandeth both creating appointing and gouerning and the sunne vz. for the day as the other for the night and he expressedly nameth this because it is the principall instrument whereby light is communicated to men Verse 17. Thou hast set al the borders of the earth this may bée vnderstoode either of the listes of seuerall Countries or kingdomes because GOD hath appointed to men such portion of grounde as he knoweth to be sufficient for them or else of all the borders of the whole worlde as though God had appointed how much should be earth howe much water or Sea and this I rather incline vnto by reason of that which is written Gene. 1. verse 9.10 thou hast made Summer and Winter i. not onely created then but appointed them for these distinct times and seasons Sée Gene. 1.14 Ver. 18. Remember this q.d. though thou shouldest forget thy olde mercies and our great miseries yet at the least thinke vpon the blasphemies of thine enemies hath approched the Lord the thirde person put for the second q.d. reproched thée O Lorde which was done in that Gods children were cast downe into sclaunder and contempt and the foolish people i. the wicked and vngodly as Psalm 14.1 blasphemed thy name sée ver 10. of this Psal Ver. 19. Giue not the soule i. deliuer not ouer the life for otherwise the wicked can not touch the body vnlesse the Lord appoint and permit the same as for the soule in déed they can no maner of way come nigh it Matth. 10.28.29 c. of thy turtle doue i. of thy Church which is compared to a turtle or doue because it is smal weak simple méeke as a turtle or doue is sée Cantic cap. 2.14 cap. 5.3 cap. 6.8 so also Mat. 10.16 vnto the beast vz. which séeketh to deuour it take it away by beasts he vnderstandeth men of beastly conditions altogether giuē to rauening and spoile and by one he meaneth many and forget not i. séeme not to forget for God in déed neuer forgetteth his the congregation of thy poore i. the company and multitude of them that though they bée afflicted from thée yet suffer notwithstanding for thy cause for euer i. for a long season as we haue had the worde sundry times before Ver. 20. Consider thy couenant vz. which thou hast made with our fathers and vs q.d. the enemies suppose that thou thinkest not vpon it because thou giuest vs ouer to their lust and our owne faith is wonderfully shaken because we are so afflicted on euery side for the darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of the cruell Immanuel readeth this place farre better thus for the darke places of the earth are ful vz. of the outrage cruelty of the wicked q.d. there is no place so darke and secret but the rage and tyrannie of these wicked men will fetch men out of it they are very
dennes of violence vz. which they practise against other men q.d. the holes which men sought for refuge and defence are by these mens cruelties become very dennes of outrage violence Ver. 21. Oh let not the oppressed vz. by the iniurie outrage of cruel men returne vz. from thy maiesty specially séeing he prayeth vnto thee but let the poore and néedy praise thy name i. giue them occasion to prayse and extoll thy power by deliuering them from their enemies and supplying their wantes Ver. 22. Arise O God vz. to declare thy might vpon thine enemies and to helpe thine maintaine vz. against the violence and rage of thine enemies thine owne cause i. thyne own glory now hazarded in the person of thy people like to be ouerthrowne if thou lay not to thy hand q.d. the enemies will say that either thou canst not or wilt not helpe and so thy glory shal be defaced remember this is spoken according to man and not that God forgetteth though hee séeme so to doe thy dayly reproch i. the reproches which thy enemies and the enemies of thy people do daily vtter against thée by the foolish man i. which the wicked man speaketh foole put for a wicked person as Psal 14.1 Verse 23. Forget not this is spokē as in the other ver remember the voice of thine enemies i. the roaring and blasphemies that they cast out against thee thy temple and people sée ver 4.6.7.8.10 verses of this Psalme for the tumult i. the rage and outcries of them that rise against thée i. of thine enemies and thy peoples enemies ascendeth vz. into thy sight and presence continually q.d. thou canst not chuse therefore but remember and thinke vpon the same as in the beginning of this very verse Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth that God many times layeth grieuous afflictions vpon his children to the end he might thereby drawe them nigh vnto himselfe Verse 2. Teacheth the faithful not only to haue recourse to god by praier in the time of their troubles but to ground themselues vppon that experience which either they thēselues or their forefathers haue had of his goodnes Ver. 3. Teacheth vs that we may safely pray against the enemies of the Church Ver. 4.5.6.7.8 Do liuely paint out the rage violence of the enemies of god and that against the outward marks of religion which may teach Gods children hatred and zeale against the monuments of idolatry superstition Ver. 9. Teacheth vs that euident signes of Gods wrath displeasure as the want of his worde the stopping of the true ministers mouthes c. should touch vs to the quicke Ver. 10. Teacheth vs with patience to beare the Lords hand vpon vs till it please him to remoue it and yet notwithstanding to craue according to his wil the taking of it from vs. Ver. 11. Sheweth that Gods right hand and power is the only assured meane of defence of his children the destruction of the vngodly Ver. 12. True tast and féeling of gods former deliuerances should strengthen the hope of his seruants that they shal again be deliuered out of al their distresses Ver. 13.14.15.16.17 are particular descriptions of the might power of God in certaine particular works of his out of which we learne to stay our selues wholly vpon him who hath al power in his owne hands and doth whatsoeuer pleaseth him both in heauen and in earth Ver. 18. Setteth out the malice of the wicked which reacheth not only vnto men on earth but to God in heauen Ver. 19. Teacheth vs to haue recourse to God by earnest prayer in the middest of all our calamities and afflictions Ver. 20. Teacheth vs that Gods frée couenant made with vs is not only a good ground for prayer but also a matter of great comfort to the conscience because we know he wil not go backe from that which he hath promised Ver. 21. Teacheth that it is no small comfort to the godly when they féele by effects that their praiers are heard Ver. 22. Sheweth that God his people be so linked together that reproch can not be offered to the one but it is offred to the other Ver. 23. Teacheth vs that euen the very outrage cruelties of the wicked are effectuall instrumentes to drawe from God as iudgements against their owne soules so deliuerance to his people Psalme 75 IN the argument of this Psalm I do somewhat differ from the Geneua Bible taking it to be a Psalme made by Dauid before that hee bare rule ouer the twelue tribes what time there was such great warres betwéene him and the house of Saul the Prophet promising here that if God will establish him in the full gouernement hee wil praise his name continually for the better proof of this my assertion consider the words of the third verse of this Psal This Psal specially expoundeth thrée things Di. first is a solemne promise of hearty thanksgiuing vnto the Lorde and this is comprehended ver 1.9 The second is a protestation what he wil do when god shall aduance him to the kingdome and this is in ver 2.3.10 And the thirde is a louing admonition to the wicked with graue reasons of that admonition that they set not themselues against God and his ordinance and this is conteyned in ver 5.6.7.8 For the exposition of the title of this Psalme sée Psalm 57. in the title Se. and also Psal 48. in the title and Psal 50. in the title out of al which laid together you shal haue these termes destroy not a Psalme and song committed to Asaph expounded and as for these words to him that excelleth they are declared before Psalme 4. in the title Ver. 1. We wil praise thée O God vz. for thy benefites and graces bestowed vpon vs and the doubling of the wordes noteth the constant mind and earnestnes which they caried with them to performe it and all this Dauid speaketh in the person of the faithful in his owne name also for thy name is néere i. thy power maiesty as Psal 20.1 meaning that God by his power began to approch for his good profit therefore they i. not only I but al other faithfull and godly people will declare i. publish and set abroad and that to all others thy wonderfull workes i. those workes of thine which thou doest for those that are thine are in déed for the excellency and greatnes of them to be wondered at Immanuel readeth the latter part of this ver thus for thy wonderful workes declare that thy name is nigh q.d. this shalbée one cause of our praysing thée because we perceiue by thy wonderfull workes that thou in power drawest nigh to helpe vs in these confusions and troubles and this is in my mind a very good sense Ver. 2. When I marke the sodaine change of the person this Dauid speaketh of himselfe not of God as the note in the Geneua Bible goeth shall take i. obtaine and get a conuenient time i. that time
rightly glorifie god dissembled with him with their tongue i. they spake one thing thought an other these words flattering dissembling must be takē thus that the Israelites did indéed perform these wickednes and caried with thē this perswasion to flatter dissemble deceaue God if they could not as though God were ouertaken with this their lewdnesse for he can not be deceyued Ver. 37. For their hart i. their affection and mind was not vpright with him i. was not sincere sound towardes him his seruices whatsoeuer they pretended neyther were they faithful in his couenant i. they did not faithfully kéepe the couenant which he had made with thē vz. that he would be their God and they should be his people Ver. 38. Yet q.d. Notwithstanding all their sinnes and namely their sinne of hipocrisie dissimulation he being mercyfull i. not delighting in the death destruction of sinners but rather that they should liue forgaue their iniquitie i. pardoned their sinne and remoued the punishment due vnto them for the same as appeareth by that whiche followeth and destroyde them not vz. in his wrath and iudgemente but did beate them with the rods of his children to their amendment but oftentimes called backe his anger i. the testimonies and signes of his wrath and displeasure euen then when it was ready to bée powred forth vpon them as if a father ready to strike should holde his hand and did not stirre vp all his wrath for then they shoulde haue béene vtterly consumed hée meaneth by this speache that God declared not himselfe so wrathfull against them as he coulde haue done might haue done if it had pleased him and their sinnes iustly deserued Ver. 39. For hee remembred i. God considered and knew full wel hée rendreth in this verse a reason why God forbare them and layd not all his iudgements vpon them that they were flesh i. by nature mortall and subiect to death and therefore hée should not néede to powre heauy iudgements vppon them séeing that of their owne nature they were inclined to corruption sée Gene. 6.3 also Psal 103.14 yea a wind that passeth and commeth not againe i. not onely a thing mutable and inconstant as the winde but also vanishing and flitting away not continuing long in one state sée Iob. 14.1.2 and in this verse he respecteth the state of this earthly life that passeth away as a winde and being passed returneth not againe in his former condition Verse 40. Howe oft did they i. the Israelits prouoke him i. God in the wildernes i. al that fourtie yeere that they were in the wildernes and the propounding of it by the way of interrogation is q.d. who is able to vtter so many and so grieuous rebellions as they prouoked god by in that time of their trauaile sée Numb 14.22 also Psal 95.9.10 and grieue him vz. by their murmuring and this is the same that was spoken before Ver. 41. Yea they returned vz. from their feigned repentance to their former euill wayes and this they did more then once as you would say and tempted God i. ment to try what he was able to do not being contented with the experience of his might and power which hee had shewed vnto them and limit vz. as it were within certaine boundes it is a notable metaphor to expresse the peruersenes of his people who tooke so much vpon them that they woulde set Gods infinite power some hedges either larger or narrower at their pleasure sometimes desiring thinges to bee performed as they would haue them sometimes denying that he coulde doe them as the bookes of Exodus Numbers Deutronomie doe in many places declare the holy one of Israel i. hee that doeth sanctifie Israel and whom Israel ought to sanctifie because he is the only true God Ver. 42. They remembred not i. they quite and cleane forgate his hand i. his might power meaning that power and strength that God had shewed for them so we haue heard the word hand sundry times vsed before nor the day i. the times and seasons when he deliuered them i. set them free from the enemie i. from all their enemies and their mischieuous attempts against them vnder one meaning all but yet so that hee meaneth that by the chiefest and that was Pharaoh and the Egiptians who afflicted them and this sense is warranted by that which followeth in this Psalme Ver. 43. Nor him that set his signes in Egipt this is a discription of God and his power meaning by setting his signes in Egipt giuing a testimonie as of his goodnes towards his children so of his wrath towarde the Egiptians and his wonders i. the wonderful things he did in the fielde of Zoan sée ver 12. of this Psal Ver. 44. And turned i. when he turned for now he beginneth a particular enumeration of his wonders done for them against their enemies their riuers i. the Egiptiās riuers of waters and their floods he meaneth that neither their smal brookes nor great floods were frée from this plague Sée Exod. 7.20.21 That they could not drinke vz. the Egiptians which circumstance also proueth the trueth and certaintie of the miracle Ver. 45. Hée i. God by the ministery of his seruants Moses and Aaron sent a swarme of flies amongst thē i. an innumerable multitude vnderstanding by flies not only flies but flying serpents and venemous beasts whose poison sting did euen corrupt the land Exod. 8.24 Which deuoured thē i. destroyed many of the Egiptians frogs which destroyed thē this is set out Exod. 8. ver 6. whereby we sée that the holy ghost standeth not much vpon order so that the matter bee expressed Ver. 46. He gaue also i. the Lord gaue ouer their fruits i. those fruits that their land by the labor of their hands did yéeld vnto the caterpiller vz. to be consumed eaten vp destroyed by them putting one for the whole number that God sent Exod. 13. They are said to be grashoppers the places laid together shew that the plague was both of grashoppers caterpillers grashoppers not annoying the trées as these did Exod. 13.15 And their labour i. al that which they had labored for For for the fruits of the earth do men labour Ver. 47. He destroyed their vines i. he did vtterly marre al the increase of their earth plants what soeuer whether they were sowen or vnsowen high or low tender or wel grown natural or wild as appeareth by that which followeth in this ver and Exod. 9.25 with the hailestone he meaneth an other kinde of hailestone then that which is ordinarie and common Immanuel readeth this latter part thus and their wild fig trées with fire whiche in what place soeuer it aboad should consume and this text I like wel not only because the Etimologie of the compound Hebrew word yéeldeth it but also by reason of that which followeth in the next ver touching thunderbolts is written also Exod. 9.23 touching
lightning ioyned with the haile and thunder Ver. 48. He gaue their cattle also to the haile i. to that same great extraordinarie haile mentioned in the other ver to the end that the cattle therby might bee destroyed and their flockes vz. of shéepe and their droues of beasts to the thūderbolts or after some to burning or kindled coals the sense commeth al to one he meaneth destruction of them Sée Exod. 9.25 Ver. 49. He cast vpon them i. vpon the Egiptians and the word of casting noteth the greatnes of his wrath also the fiercenes of his anger indignation wrath all these termes tend but to one end to expresse the greatnes of Gods wrath against thē vexation vz. not of body only but in mind soule by the sending out vz. against them euil Angels I like the note in the Geneua Bible wel vpon this place Immanuel readeth it thus by sending thē messengers of euill tydings meaning it of Moses and Aaron by whose ministerie all the plagues expressed here and in Exodus against the Egiptians were not onely foretold thē but brought vpon them both the senses are good Ver. 50. Hée made a way to his anger i. he executed the same tooke away euery let that might hinder it as men remoue those things that might hinder them in their courses or goings he spared not their soule frō death i. he slew thē and tooke their life from them but gaue thir life to the pestilence he declareth by what meanes God tooke life from them vz. by the plague and pestilence Sée Exod. 12.29 Ver. 51. And smote al the first borne in Egipt vz. both of man beast euen the beginning of their strength this is a discription of the first borne as appeareth Gene. 49.3 in the tabernacles i. in the dwelling places so that there was neither towne house nor field but there was one dead in it Sée Exod. 12.30 of Ham i. of the Egiptians putting the name of the first man from whom they came for the people that came of him for the Egiptians came of Mizraim the seconde sonne of Ham. Sée Gene. 10.6 of whome Egipt is so called in the Scripture the land of Mizraim Ver. 52. But he made his people to goe out vz. of Egipt like shéepe sée Psalm 77. ver 20. q.d. but he dealt most mercifully with his owne people It may bee vnderstoode thus also but for as much as they séely people had neither counscll nor meane in themselues to maintaine themselues it would haue gone wrong with them if God had not béene in stéed of a shepheard vnto them and lead them in the wildernes like a flock i. héedely and tenderly caring for them and prouiding their foode Sée Gene. 33. ver 13. Ver. 53. And he caried them out vz. of Egypt safely i. without any manner of peril or danger and they feared not i. they had no occasion to feare vz. their enemies and aduersaries and in the sea couered their enemies i. the Egiptians their enemies were drowned in the red Sea Exod. 15.13.27.28 Ver. 54. And he brought them i. the people of Jsrael and that in a mightie hand stretched out arme vnto the borders of his sanctuary i. vnto the lande of Canaan which he had assigned to his people and dedicated to himselfe meaning by borders which are the vttermost partes of the lande not onely those partes them selues as though God had left them there and woulde haue gone no further with them but the whole land putting the first part that they entred into for the whole and he calleth that land his sanctuary because God had sanctified the same for his people and for his owne seruice as being the place where hee would most manifest his aboad euen to this mountaine i. the mountain of Sion wherin Ierusalem stood the temple it self was to be builded with his right hand i. his power might purchased i. obtained got that out of the hands of mighty and strong enemies Ver. 55. He cast out the heathen also i. the Canaanites and other inhabitants of that land before them i. in their sights and for their sakes Sée Gene. 2.18 and caused them i. their land and all that they had putting the persons for the thinges they possessed for for the men they might not spare the to fal to the lot of his inheritance i. to come to the people of God whom he calleth here the Lords inheritance as it were by casting the lot by which also the Prophet noteth that the Israelits did lawfully rightly possesse these things made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles i. in their possessions as land cities houses c. putting one for all Ver. 56. Yet q.d. notwithstanding all these iudgements vpon their enemies graces towardes them for al that they tempted vz. God sée for tempting verse 8. of this Psalme and prouoked the most high God vz. to wrath against them selues and kept not either in worde or deede his testimonies i. commandements which are testimonies or witnesses as it were of his will sée Psal 19.7.8 Ver. 57. But turned backe vz. from well doing pretended to their former euils practised and dealt falsely i. dissemblingly and that with God meaning that they laboured what they could to haue deceiued God like their fathers i. as their fathers did and ancestours that were before them who came out of Egipt dealt dissēblingly with him as appeareth ver 36. of this Psal and turned vz. aside out of the right way like a deceitfull bowe vz. that turneth backe into belly as wee say I knowe there are many senses giuen of this similitude some expound it thus the Israelites did for a time make shewe of faith and repentance but sodainly they became vnprofitable as a bow sodainly marred by some occasion deceiueth the expectation of the shooter some expound it this way and some that but methinketh mine owne sense is most simple sée Hosea 7.16 Ver. 58. And they prouoked him to anger vz. against thēselues and their own soules with their high places i. with the altars which they had erected and set vp in high places as mountaines and hilles so hee sheweth the cause why God was angry with them vz. for their straunge and newe kinde of worshippings and moued him to wrath all this is spoken of God according to man with their grauen images vz. which they had made set vp and worshipped contrary to his expresse commandement Exod. 20.4.5 Ver. 59. God heard i. knewe because by hearing things come to knowledge and vnderstanding this is attributed to God according to mans capacity as other thinges are this i. the wicked words and works which the Israelites vsed in their idolatrous seruices and was wroth vz. against them for their sinne and greatly abhorred Jsrael vz. for their iniquities and transgressions committed against him Ver. 60. So that he forsooke the habitation of Shilo he sheweth by effect that God was angry with them
no end of thy wrath against vs shal thy gelousie vz. ouer thine owne glory and vs also euen for our good if we coulde sée it burne like fire i. consume vs vtterly as the fire doth euery thing that is before it Ver. 6. Powre out thy wrath i. lay the abūdance of thy iudgements for the word of powring out noteth the plenty of thē vpon the heathen that haue not knowne thée vz. according to thy wil reueiled in thy worde for otherwise the Gentiles had a knowledge of God as appeareth Rom. 1. ver 21. And vpon the kingdomes vz. of the earth or world that haue not called vppon thy name i. made profession of thy religion and seruice Sée Gene. 4.26 also 2. Tim. 2.19 And note that the faithfull are not in this place caryed away with carnall affections but onely as hauing respect to the publike saluation of Gods Church Verse 7. For this very reason sheweth that the former prayer against the enemies was made for the good and peace of the Church and not of any rancor or fleshly affection they haue deuoured i. the enemies haue cruelly and gréedily like bruite beastes dealt with Iaakob i. the people of Israel who descended or came from Iaakob and so haue wee had this worde vsed sundry times before and made his dwelling place i. the whole lande of Iudea which was assigned him by God to dwell in desolate i. waste and voyde as it were of inhabitants Ver. 8. Remember not against vs i. thinke not vpon as meanes to prouoke thée to wrath against vs and to destroy vs the former iniquities vz. which we continuing also in the euill step◠of our auncestours haue committed against thée but make haste vz. to helpe and succour vs in these distresses and to deliuer vs from the same and let thy tender mercy preuent vs vz. before we sinke downe vnder the burthens of our afflictions for we are in great miseries q.d. vnlesse thou put to thy helping hand we perish vtterly Ver. 9. Helpe vs O God of our saluation i. thou that only workest deliuerances for vs for so is the word saluation vsed here as it is Psal 3.8 helpe vs deliuer vs now as thou hast done sundry time heretofore for the glory of thy name i. that thy maiesty might and power may bee glorified of vs for name is vsed here as it is Psalm 20.1 which otherwise shall bee somewhat obscured and darkened and deliuer vs vz. from troubles and out of the handes and powers of our enemies and bee merciful vnto our sinners i. forget and forgiue them taking away also the punishments from vs which by them we haue pulled vppon vs for thy names sake i. for thy glory and goodnes sake as before Verse 10. Wherefore should the heathen say q.d. why should they haue an occasion to say as they will not spare to speake it if thou helpe not where is their GOD vz. the God that the Israelites serue q.d. giue not occasion to the enemyes to reioyce ouer vs and mocke vs because wee haue trusted in thée as though thou haddest forsaken vs in the tyme of neede They shewe howe that the aide which God shall giue them shall turne to his glory q.d. if thou helpe the vngodly people shall haue no cause to say that wee haue in vayne trusted in a GOD that forsaketh vs in our troubles but they and wée shall féele by effectes that thou hast a singular care ouer vs let him I woulde rather reade let it vz. our gracious deliueraunce from these distresses bée knowne i. opened and made manifest among the heathen vz. who are our enemies and otherwise would insult ouer vs in our sight i. wée liuing séeing and diligently beholding the same that thou arte alwayes presence with thine by the vengeaunce of the blood i. by the punishment that thou wilt take and lay vppon them for the blood of thy seruauntes hee calleth them Gods seruauntes who notwithstanding confessed that they were iustly punished for their sinnes because GOD when hee chastiseth vs testifieth that hee hath care of our saluation that is shed vz. by their cruelty and rage by blood and shedding of the same hée meaneth the godlies life and the death that the wicked did cruelly laye vppon them Verse 11. Let the sighing of the prisoners i. of them that are taken prisoners by the enemies and ready to bée caryed away or put to death vnderstanding by the sighing of these men their earnest prayers pitifull complaints teares outcries c. come before thee i. into thy presence and let it appeare by effect that thou regardest and acceptest of them according to thy mighty arme q.d. as thy power is most large and infinite for hee vseth this worde arme for power so preserue and defend thy people preserue vz. from outrage violence and death the children of death i. them that bée in verye great daunger at deaths doore as it were and ready to bée slayne so that death séemeth to haue as much authority ouer them as parents haue ouer their children Verse 12. And render to our neighbours i. to them that are round about vs as before ver 4. seuen folde i. most grieuous punishmentes a number finite for an infinite sée Gene. 4.15 in to their bosome i. largely and plentifully as appeareth Isaiah 65.6.7 Ierem. 32.18 it is a metaphor taken from them that powre things without number into the lappe or bosome as it were of those to whome they giue them their reproch i. the blasphemous and wicked wordes that they haue vsed against thée which is expressed in the part of the verse following Verse 13. So wée thy people i. the people that thou hast chosen seperating vs from other nations sée Psalm 74.1.2 and shéepe of thy pasture i. people whome thou féedest as tenderly and carest as much for as shepheardes doe their pasture sheepe shall prayse thée vz. for thy grace and goodnes towardes vs in deliuering vs and from generation to generation wée will set foorth thy prayse vz. to others q.d. we will bee instrumentes to publish thy prayse and occasions of thy glory to all posterity Do. Verse 1. Teacheth that God many times for the punishment of his peoples sinnes appointeth the wicked to preuaile so farre against them that euen his own glory séemeth as it were to bée layd in the dust Verse 2.3 Set out the monstrous cruelty and barbarousnesse of the wicked and vngodly people whose cursed nature is the more they preuaile the more outrage violence to offer and doe Ver. 4. Teacheth that the miseries of Gods children should prouoke them to earnest and hearty calling vpon his name Ver. 5. Teacheth that the consciences of the godly can hardly be quieted so long as they féele Gods wrath and anger against them Ver. 6. Teacheth that wee may safely pray against the malicious enemies of Gods Church Ver. 7. Setteth out the rage and cruelty of the wicked against the Lordes people and inheritance Verse 8. Teacheth
what a one thou wast not that GOD was ignoraunt of it before at the waters of Meribah Sée Exodus 15 22 23 c. Psalme 95 8. Verse 8. Heare vz. me speaking vnto thée by my word and law manifested vnto thée O my people i. the people whome I haue so tenderlye loued and I will protest vnto thée i. I will not only open my will vnto thée but also make a solemn contracte with thée to the ende that my wordes maye haue the greater weighte and authoritie if thou wilte hearken vnto mée vz. speakinge vnto thée in my Lawe then lette this bee fulfilled that followeth Verse 9. Let there bée no straunge God in thée i. let there be no idols or images in all thy Lande hee calleth them straunge Gods because straungers from the couenaunte i. other people besides the Iewes did worship them and hee calleth them Gods not because they were so but because the Idolaters supposed them to be so or that there was a certayne Deitye inclosed within them Sée 1. Corinth 8. ver 5.6 neyther worship thou anye straunge God q.d. bee contente with mée alone I expound this verse thus that in the first parte hee forbiddeth the occasion of idolatrie which are images idols c. and in the second he forbiddeth the thing it selfe Ver. 10. For I am the Lord thy God here hee sheweth a reason of the former verse q.d. there is no other but I and I am God alone sée Isaiah 45 verse 5. and hee laboureth in this parte of the verse not onelye to proue himselfe to be the true God but also to strengthen their fayth first by Gods eternity noted in these words I am the Lord secondly by the couenant which he made with thē noted in these words Thy God thirdly by the workes which he did for thē noted in these words Which brought thée out of the Land of Egipt vnderstanding by one singular worke all the rest of the graces that God had at any time bestowed vpon them open thy mouth wide i. largely and abundauntly aske euen whatsoeuer thou wilte according to my will standing fast in my seruice and religion The Hebrewes vnderstande by this speech boldnesse trust liberty and importunity in prayer and not amisse and I will fill i. I will giue thée whatsoeuer thou shalt aske sée Ioh. 15. ver 16. and besides put songes of prayse into thy mouth for benefits receaued Verse 11. But my people would not heare my voyce i. would not obey the thinges that by my word I commaunded them Whereby we sée that to heare and not to perform is as much as in contempt not to heare at all and Israel would none of me vz. in déede and truth though they made a shew as though they reuerenced and loued me alone the truth of this appeareth in Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Deutronom and the Booke of Iudges Verse 12. So I gaue thē vp q.d. séeing nothing I could doe for them or to them coulde reclaime them or bring them to goodnesse I layd the bridle as it were in their own necks and let them run their full swinge to wickednesse vnto the hardnesse of their harte i. vnto all licentiousnesse and iniquity that their harde hartes setled in sinne could deuise and they haue walked i. their conuersation hath bin in their own counsels i. according to their owne deuises and imaginations and not according to my prescript and rule Verse 13. O that my people had hearkened vnto me i. had obeyed my voyce and lawes giuen vnto them and this God speaketh after the maner of men testifying what a great loue he had to them and how acceptable their obedience should haue bin sée Deutron 5. verse 29. Deut. 32.29 Isaiah 48.18 and Israell had walked in my wayes i. had ordred his conuersation according to my commaundements which he calleth wayes because they are as pathes or beaten wayes that we are to treade in all the dayes of our life neuer being weary of going in them Verse 14. I would soone i. very quickly q.d. then my power should haue sodaynly appeared to their comfort but specially for iudgement vpon the wicked haue humbled i. cast downe and ouerthrowne it is a metaphor taken from thē that in humblenesse throw themselues down at others féete meaning that God in iudgement would haue brought them very low their enimies i. al their enemies of what state condition or multitude soeuer they had ben and turned vz. from mine own people vnto their aduersaries mine hand i. my power and might executing iudgement and vengeaunce q.d. My power and fierce wrath should haue lighted vpon their enemies and not vpon them Verse 15. The haters of the Lord i. the wicked and vngodly people which sundry times oppressed them as appeareth in the booke of Iudges shoulde haue bin subiect vz. eyther willinglye or constreinedly chuse them whether it is true that the worde signifyeth a counterfeit subiection by which he noteth the hipocrisie of the enemies vnto him i. to the people of God speaking of them all in one person as it were of whiche sée verse 6 7 of this Psalme and their time i. the time of their prosperity and florishing and marke here the sodaine chaunge of the number and here he speaketh of the people of God should haue moured for euer i. cōtinued and abode in that state continually according to Gods promise made vnto them Ver. 16. And God marke the sodayne chaunge of the person from the first to the third God speaking of himself in the third person would haue fed them i. nourished and maintained his people with the fat of Wheate i. with the best and picked wheat for you shall haue the worde fat and fatnesse so vsed sundrye times in scripture vnderstanding by wheat also not onely corne but also whatsoeuer else was necessary for the maintainaunce of lyfe sée Deutronom 32. verse 14. and with honie out of the Rock would I haue satisfied thée q.d. rather than they shoulde haue wanted I woulde haue made barren places such as Rockes are plentifull and that euen with things not onlye for profite but for delight and pleasure noting by this maner of spéeche that they shoulde haue had all thinges both pleasaunt and profitable for the maintaynaunce of their lyfe if their naughtinesse hadde not stopped the course of his goodnesse and mercy Ver. 1.2.3 teach that we should not be only thankefull to God Do. but that the sacrifice of thanks giuing which we wil render vnto him must be yéelded coragiously chearfully because the Lorde requireth at our handes both the thing it selfe the maner of the performance of it Ver. 4 teacheth that Gods commaundment is the only ground warrant vnto vs that the seruices which we render vnto him are acceptable in his sight Ver. 5. teacheth first that Gods reuealing of his will word to any people is a plain testimonye of his grace and fauour also that Gods accounteth the afflictions of his people as his
ouerthrow stoode also the Kings discomfiture and ouerthrowe Sée Iudges 4.2 at the Riuer of Kishon hée nameth the place for the more certaintie of the Historye sée Iudges 4 7 and it may be vnderstoode that at the riuer Sisera and the Midianites were Verse 10. They i. Sisera and the Midianites with them perished i. were ouerthrown confounded and destroyed at Endor which is the name of a place nigh to Taanach and the waters of Megido as appeareth Iudg. 5.19 and were dung for the earth i. were not only troden vnder féete as mire but also left vnburied vpon the vpper face of the earth as dung layde vppon grounde is Verse 11. Make them vz. the enemies that now come to assault vs euen the Princes q.d. the best mightiest men amongst them and he prayeth agaynst them because in the dismay confusion and ouerthrow of the Prince standeth for the most part the discouragemēt and ouerthrow of the people like Oreb and like Zeeb i. destroy them and ouerthrowe them by death of both these see Iudges 7.25 yea all their Princes i. all their men of might and power that they being discouraged the rest might be confounded like Zebah and like Zalmana these were two great Kinges or Princes of Midian whom Gideon slew sée Iudges 8. verse 5.21 Verse 12. Which vz. enemies of thine ours whose great number hee had reckoned vp before ver 6.7.8 haue sayd vz. euen in our hearing or as a man would say euen yet do speake thus let vs take vz. by force and conquest for our possession i. to be a possession to vs and oures the habitations of God no doubt he meaneth Iudea and the Cities thereof wherein God was worshipped but especially Ierusalem where the temple and tabernacle was and in which places God gaue most manifest testimonies of his presence and dwelling Verse 13. O my God this speake the faythfull as it were but one man or else some particular person amongst them in the name of the rest make them like vnto a whéele hée prayeth that they and their counses may be vnstable and inconstant so that wandring in their consultations and imaginations they may not hurt thy people and as the stubble before the winde vz. which is tossed hither and thither an other similitude which hee vseth to expresse their owne inconstancye and the vanity of their deuises sée Psalme 1 4. Verse 14. As the fyre vz. put into the Forrest burneth the forrest vz. if men minde to consume and destroy it after that sort for fire eateth vp all before it and as the flame vz. of that fyre so kindled and burning setteth the Mountaynes on fyre i. causeth the very mountaynes to melt as it were and burne before it Verse 15. So persecute them i. pursue and ouertake them for it muste not bee vnderstoode as though God by laying these iudgements vppon them did offer them iniury or wrong with thy Tempest i. with thy sodayne and fierce iudgementes as tempestes are wonte to come sodaynelye and fiercelye make them afrayde i. cause them not only to quake or shake for feare but astonishe them and take awaye from them all vse of witte and reason that they maye bée euen as it were deade men with thy Storme by storme hee meaneth the same that he did by tempest vnder these two Metaphors noting Gods fierce wrath and iudgement Whatsoeuer it be this is his meaning to praye the Lord that the wicked may be enforced euen in despighte of their heads as it were to acknowledge thorow the multitude of punishmentes that shall fall vpon them that they doe in vayne set themselues agaynste God and his people and shal in the end be confounded and ouerthrowne Ver. 16. Fil their faces with shame i. poure forth vpon them such abundance of shame and confusion by destituting them of their hopes that they may be ashamed as it were to shew their faces that they may séeke thy name O Lorde eyther this worde they must be referred to the faythfull eyther then liuing or afterwards to come who in the confusion of the enimies should haue a good ground offered them continually to hang vpon Gods power or else the Text must bee mended thus after Immanuel that thy name may be sought O God making this as it were one end of their deliuery that God might afterward be prayde vnto and praysed for it for in my iudgement it can at no hand be referred as the Geneua note goeth to the enemies Verse 17. Let them be confounded vz. by thy iudgements which thou shalt execute vpon them and troubled vz. in their mindes and bodies that thorow disquietnesse in both of them they maye be hindered from doing any euill thing agaynst thine for euer i. all the dayes of their life and as long as they shall liue yea let them be put to shame vz. before men and openly in their sight and perish vz. from amongst men Ver. 18. That they i. thine and our enemies may knowe i. féele inwardlye and confesse outwardly though they shall not haue the grace to yeelde to the same for here he speaketh of knowledge by experience which goeth not downe into the hart but is only put into them thorow necessitie and force that thou which art called Iehouah sée for the expounding of this name Exod. 6.3 arte alone contrary to that opinion which the Gentiles haue that their idols are Gods euen the most high ouer al the earth i. that doest whatsoeuer pleaseth thée in earth Ver. 1. teacheth that the more our dangers and miseries be Do. the more earnest and often we should be with God in prayer for the redresse therof Ver. 2. sheweth how the enemies of Gods people in great multitudes with great noyse and very proudlye set themselues agaynst the Lord and those that are his Verse 3. teacheth also that they doe it not rashly but aduisedlye and with great crafte and subteltie Verse 4 setteth out both the words and purposes of the wicked who carrye continuallye with them a hart to roote out good and godlye men from off the earth Ver. 5 6 7 8. teach principally two thinges the one is the great multitude of enemies that Gods people haue the other is howe that al the wicked though otherwise at iarres can yet notwithstanding consente together to destroy Gods chosen They shewe also that they who by nature and kindred as it were should fauour them do many times become their deadly enimies as the Edomites came of Esau Iaakobs brother and the Ammonites and Moabites of Lot Abraham his nigh kinsman Verse 9.10.11 teache that we may pray against the enemies of Gods Church also that iudgments executed vpon former enemies should be grounds to strengthen our hope that God will doe the like to ours if he sée it may serue for his glory and oure comfort Verse 13. and all the rest vnto the ende of the Psalme teach that we maye lawfully pray against the enemies of Gods Church that in their
the kingdome for euer i. for a long time if you referre it to the outward gouernement but if you referre it to Christ it signifieth perpetuity and euerlastingnes of time and set vppe vz. to continue and abyde thy throne i. thy kingdome putting a part of the kingdom for the whole from generation to generation sée ver 1. of this Psalme there are two partes of this promise the one is heires and successours the other is the kingdome Sée Genesis 15.3.4.5 where the like order is obserued in promising two things Ver. 5. O Lorde euen the heauens i. either the firmament it selfe the thinges therein contained as the Sunne Moone starres c. or else the Angels or rather in déede both together Sée Psalm 148.1.2.3 c. shall praise thy wonderous woorkes i. they shall magnifie that great power of thine by which thou doest as it were miraculously vpholde thy Church yea vz. they shall prayse and set out thy trueth i. thy faythfulnes in kéeping and perfourming promises made in the congregation of the Saintes i. in the society fellowship and assembly of the children of God in the Church meaning that the Angels and heauenly spirites should bee Gods instruments to publish the same vnto men and to shewe them also matter of praysing God Ver. 6. For who is equal vz. in name maiesty power c. to the Lorde vz. the onely God in the heauens i. amongest all that glorious company of Angels and blessed spirites which are in the heauens putting the thing conteining for the thinges conteined q.d. not one of them no not all of them together are in any respect equall to him and who is like to the Lorde vz. in power maiesty might c among the sonnes of the Gods some vnderstande this Angels who in déed may be so named because they haue not their beginning from the earth neither clothed with a corruptible body but are heauenly spirits beautified with diuine glorye for mine owne part I woulde rather turne it thus amongest the sonnes of the mighty i. amongest the most mightiest of the earth of what state or condition soeuer they bee and so haue you the worde vsed before Psalm 29.1 also Ezech. 17 13. and chapter 32.21 and then it may bee the same in sense with that which is Psalme 73.25 Verse 7. GOD is very terrible i. hée sheweth manifest tokens of his maiestye and might which strike terrour into all in the assemblye of the Sayntes it skilleth not much whether wee take it for the company of Angels or for that which verse 5. of this Psalme is called the congregation of the Sayntes but I woulde take it rather in the latter sense because of that which followeth in this verse the Prophet meaning in my mynde that GOD is terrible both to men and angels and to be reuerenced aboue all i. more to be feared then all Angels or whatsoeuer else that are about him i. Angels or heauenly creatures whatsoeuer who are sayd after the manner of men to bée about as those that are alwaies ready to execute his commaundement Neither doeth the holy ghost meane in saying that God is to be reuerenced aboue all that therefore the Angels and dead Saints may haue a seruice and reuerence dedicated vnto them for if they will referre it to them why then should not the Sunne and Moone which the gentiles also worshipped as well as the Papists do Angels and dead Saintes be worshipped séeing that they are about God and attend vppon him to execute his will Verse 8. O Lorde God of hostes i. thou God who hast all thy creatures euen as it were so many armies to execute thy will and commaundement who is like vnto thée q.d. surely none for the Hebrews vse by such interrogations strongly to deny which art a mighty Lorde vz. a most mighty Lorde and an eternall being for hee vseth the name of God Iah in this place and thy trueth i. thy faithfulnes and constancy in all thinges and namely in perfourmaunce of thy promises is about thée i. compasseth thee in on euery side q.d. thou art full of all faithfulnes and trueth Verse 9. Thou rulest i. thou stillest makest calme as appeareth by that which followeth in this ver the raging of the Sea i. the mighty waues thereof which rage and roare and make a feareful noyse when the waues thereof arise vz. by some great wind or tempest thou stillest them i. thou makest them calme and still Verse 10. Thou hast beaten downe vz. to the ground and that by thy might and power Rahab i. Egipt as before Psalm 87.4 and here he toucheth the deliuerance of the people out of Egipt of which sée Exod. 14.15 c. as a man slayne vz. with the sword hee meaneth that God by the waues of the Sea destroyed the Egiptians as one man doeth an other by the edge of the swoorde thou hast scattered thine enemies i. thou hast discomfited them as men put to flight in a battaile runne some hither and some thither and so being out of aray lye open to be wounded and slayne of their enemies with thy mighty arme i. with thy great force power and strength so wée haue had armie vsed sundry tymes before Verse 11. The heauens i. the thinges themselues and all other things whatsoeuer therein conteined are thine i. at thy commaundement to be vsed when where and howsoeuer it shall please thée the earth also vz. with al things therein conteined is thine i. is at thy commaundement as before he meaneth that all thinges both in heauen and earth are at his commaundement which séemeth wonderfully to expresse the great maiesty and power of God thou hast layde vz. by thy almighty power the foundations of the worlde vz. in such sort that it shall not bee mooued and all that therein is vz. thou hast created and established Verse 12 Thou hast created the North and the South i. the whole worlde putting these two partes of it for the whole Tabor it is the name of a mountain towards the West of this mention is made Iosh 19.22 and Hermon this is the name of a mountaine towardes the East of which mention is made Deut. 3.8.9 and they are two high mountaines in Iudea by which no doubt he meaneth the whole land of Canaan shal reioyce in thy name i. shall prayse thy great power and maiestie Vere 13. Thou hast a mightye arme i. thou art of great power might and force strong is thy hande vz. thy left hande vnderstanding thereby the smallest manifestation of Gods power meaning that euen there is such strength as none is able to resist and high vz. in greatnesse and might is thy right hand i. thy mighty power and the full manifestation thereof Verse 14. Righteousnesse and equitie q.d. although thou art mightie in all manner of power yet thou gouernest not by power or strength only but in all vprightnesse iustly rendring vnto thine enemies that they haue deserued and faythfully perfourming to thy
seruaunts that whiche thou haste graciously promised are the stablishment of thy throne i. are such as vphold and magnifye thy kingdome vsing throne as verse 4. of this Psalme I suppose he speaketh of God according to mens manners who haue certayne supporters as it were of their armes or of their kinglye Charrets sée 1. Kings 10 18 19 20 mercy and truth i. grace and faythfull performaunce of thy promises which procéedeth from grace goe before thy face i. are continually with thée and in thy presence Ver. 15. Blessed is the people q.d. O indéede howsoeuer they are condemned of the worlde yet they are in best case that can reioyce in thée i. that finde such tast in thy blessinges and benefites bestowed vpon them that they are thereby prouoked to prayse and thanke thée they shal walke vz. the dayes of their pilgrimage here and that with peace and quietnesse of conscience in the light of thy countenaunce i. in thy fauour and goodnesse hanging continuallye vppon thy prouidence Verse 16. They i. such people shall reioyce i. both in word and déede shewe themselues thankefull continually this worde importeth firme and stedfast perseueraunce in thanksgiuing in thy name i. for thy great maiestye goodnesse might and power as Psalme 20.10 and in thy righteousnesse vz. practised and performed partly towards them and partly toward their enemies shall they exalt themselues i. lift vp themselues and that with praise vnto thée not as any thing reioycing in themselues but as giuing al the honor vnto thée to whome alone it belongeth Verse 17. For thou art the glory i. thou art hee alone that adornest with glory and beautifyest their strength q d. if thou with draw thy hand in stéede of glory they shal haue weakenesse and confusion and by thy fauour i. of thy frée goodnesse and not by our desertes our horns i. our estate kingdome authoritie gouernmente force power might c. as 1. Sam. 2.1 sée verse 24. of this Psalme shall be exalted vz. aboue our enemies and we shall preuayle agaynst them Verse 18. For our shielde i. our defence and safegard from euill as it were by a shield to kéepe back our enemies dartes some referre it and that not improperly to the King who was appointed to defend and gouerne them But I rather allow of the former exposition appertayneth to the Lord vz. only q.d. the helpe and defence that we haue is from him alone and our King vz. Dauid whom the Lord hath appointed to be our King and by whose hand and power as by a meane wee must be defended to the holy one of Israell vz. belongeth q.d. he and all the kingly authoritie hee hath is from the Lorde or else it would not auayle him or profite vs. Ver. 19. Then vz. O God for here he speaketh eyther of God or to God speakest thou vz. when Dauid was appoynted King in a vision this was then one of the ordinary meanes whereby God in old time appeared and manifested his will to the fathers see numb 12.6 vnto thine holy one i. Samuel the Prophet sée 1. Samuel 16. and Samuel is here called Gods holy one not onely because hée was sanctifyed by the spirite as others his children are but also because hée was appointed to an holy office vz. of Priest and Prophet sée 1. Samuel 3.20 and saydest vz. then at that time I haue layde helpe vpon one that is mighty i. I haue appointed Dauid to whom also I haue giuen force and strength to be an helpe and ayde to deliuer my people from their opressors and haue giuen him graces méete for the gouernmente and kingdome I haue exalted vz. to the height of the kingdome and gouernment one chosen out of the people i. one of meane state and condition as Psalme 78 70 71 and yet notwithstanding thorow my goodnesse apted and aduanced to that high calling Ver. 20. I haue found vz. out from amongst the rest or else thus I haue founde i. I haue prouided for me and my people as 1. Samuel 16.1 Dauid my Seruaunt i. Dauid whom I haue chosen to serue me and my people in the gouernment of the kingdome with my holy oyle i. with the oyle which I haue appoynted to such holy vses in which respect also it is called holye oyle haue I annoynted him i. appoynted him to be King ouer my people sée Psalm 45.7 Verse 21. Therefore i. because I haue thus chosen him my hand shall be established with him i. he shall haue my power and might as a sure foundation to stay himselfe vpon and mine arme i. my force and strength shall strengthen him vz. agaynst all his enemies so that I will kéepe and preserue him from all dangers and marke that vnder hand and arme which are seueral termes he meaneth nothing but prouidence pâ—otection might c. Verse 22. The enemie i. whatsoeuer enemye he hath shall not oppresse vz. for any long time and that eyther by fraude or by force him vz. whom I haue appointed neyther shall the wicked i. he that is giuen ouer to wickednesse howe desperate and bold soeuer he be in his vngodly attempts hurt him vz. any manner of way or any long time as before in the word oppresse Verse 23. But I will destroy vz. by my might and power and that in iustice and iudgemente his foes i. all his foes whether they be open or secret before his face i. openlye he seing and beholding the same and being mine instrumente to performe that great worke and plague them vz. with death and destruction that hate him vz. any maner of way eyther inwardly or testifie their hatred outwardely Ver. 24. My truth also i. my faithfulnesse in performance of promises and my mercy i. great goodnesse he noteth the cause of his promises and the performance thereof shal be vz. present and in effect with him vz. continuallye q.d. I will alwayes shewe my selfe faythfull and mercifull towardes him and in my name i. thorow my goodnesse strength and power as Psalme 20.1 shall his horne i. his maiestie glory power and might as before ver 17. of this Psalme shall be exalted i. lifted vp and aduanced to great heighte and reuerence Verse 25. I will set his hand also in the sea some expound it thus I wil make subiect vnto his power the very sea and riuers muche more the lande which is weaker then they I would rather expounde it thus I vz. the almighty Lord will set i. stretche out his hand i. his might power gouernement and kingdome in the sea i. euen vnto the red sea and the sea mediterraneum and this was promised Exodus 23 31. and was accomplished 2. Samuel chapter 8. and 10 and his right hand in the flouds vz. of Euphrates Nylus Iordan and others Ver. 26. He vz. Dauid my seruant shal crie vnto me i. earnestly call vpon me and say thou art my Father i. one that hath a most louing tender and prouident care ouer me my God i. my
and his people or else speaking it according to the present affection and féeling of the flesh resting notwithstanding resolued howsoeuer his fayth were shaken for a time yet that god wil graciously performe his promises These words also which is to be marked are verified in Dauid and Christ in Christ because God for a season forsooke him as may appeare when he cried My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Matth. 27.46 and in Dauid when it séemed vnto him that Gods promise shoulde take no place and that God had as it were vnsayd the same and when he was driuen out of his kingdome by Abshalon his sonne sée Psalme 3. thorowe out and abhorred i. loathed and despised him as it were thou hast bene angrye which thing also thou hast declared by effects as appeareth in the verses following with thine annoynted i. with the King whome thou thy selfe hast annoynted and chosen to that roome sée Psalme 18 5 Verse 39. Thou hast broken i. it séemeth vnto vs so in the eye of flesh and to our enimies the couenant of thy seruaunt i. the couenaunt which thou haste made with thy seruaunt and it is called his couenaunt not because he made it or was the chéefe in it but because he was one to whome and with whome it was made and profaned his crowne i. brought it to great dishonour and contempt specially among the prophane people as the Gentiles c. and by crowne he meaneth his kingly dignitie casting it on the ground i. ouerthrowing it taking it as it were from his head setting it vpon the ground whether he spake it of Dauids abiection by the hand of his sonne Abshalon or of the renting of the kingdome in the dayes of Rehoboan or of their captiuity vnder Salmanazder and Nebuchadnezar it is not certayne I suppose that without any iniury to Gods spirite a man may well apply it to them all Verse 40. Thou hast broken downe vz. and that vnto the ground all his walles i. al the walles of his kingdome meaning by walls not onely all the strong places thereof but all the instrumentes and meanes that he had eyther for his owne defence or for the annoyaunce of his enemies for to those two endes doe walles serue thou hast layd his fortresses in ruine i. thou hast vtterly ruinated and destroyed and as a man would saye made euen with the ground all his strong holds Verse 41. All that go by the way q.d. he and his kingdome is so weakened that euen way faring men can easily spoyle them there néedes no souldiers or men ofwarre to doe it spoile him vz. and his people meaning that they take away from them euen what they list sée Psal 80.12 he i. he his people kingdome and all is a rebuke i. is such a one as his neighbours that is those that are round about him rebuke contemne and despise sée Psalme 79. verse 4. Verse 42. Thou hast set vp the right hand of his enemies i. thou hast aduanced their power and strength so that they are not onely become more mightie then he and his but in that mighte haue also preuayled agaynste them and made all his aduersaries to reioyce vz. because of the victorye they haue atchieued and the ouerthrowe that is layde vppon the others Verse 43. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sworde i. thou haste blunted it in such sorte that it could not wound and hurte his aduersaries meaning by this manner of spéeche that euen the verye meanes they had of weapons as swordes speares c. to defende themselues and to annoy their enemies were vtterly vnprofitable vnto them and haste not made him i. him and his people to stand vz. stedfastly and in the face of the enemies and agaynst them but to flée and fall before them in the battaile i. at what time the enemies and they came to ioyne battail together Ver. 44 Thou hast caused his dignity i. the great honour and aduauncement that thou hast layde vpon him to decay vz. in the presence of men and in the sight of his aduersaries and cast his throne i. his maiesty and Kingly gouernmente sée verse 36 of this Psalme to the ground i. rased it and layde it flatte with the earth as it were sée verse 39 of this Psalm Verse 45. The dayes of his youth hast thou shortned this the Prophet speaketh of the king and the state of the kingdome both together meaning that the Lord hath broughte both the king and the kingdome to a very poore and weake estate before eyther of them came to their perfection as it were as if a man shoulde before he came to the flowre of his age or his ripe yeares and couered him with shame i. hast altogether made him a reproche and shame for the worde couering and what it importeth sée Psalme 44.19 Verse 46. Lorde the Prophet ioyning this prayer with his complaynts sheweth that howsoeuer his fayth was shaken yet he did not despayre of the truth of Gods promises how long wilte thou hide thy selfe vz. from vs meaning by hyding of himselfe shewing them no signe of fauour and grace for euer q.d. Wilt thou doe this for euer shall thy wrath vz. agaynste vs our King Lande and people burne like fyre vz. to consume vs quite and cleane who are as it were but stubble before fire in respecte of thée and thy wrath Verse 47. Remember of what time I am i. thinke how shorte the time of my life is and this is an argumente taken from his owne estate to moue the Lord to pittie him and his Wherefore shouldest thou create in vayne i. to little or no purpose at all all the children of men i. all men and their posteritie In these wordes hee vseth an other Argumente to mooue GOD to compassion taken euen from the ende of his creation And this hee speaketh because that if in this life wée féele not some taste of Gods goodnesse it should séeme that he had in vayne created vs séeing that this is one end of our creation euen in this lyfe to féele and fynde his liberalitie towardes vs. Verse 48. What man liueth vz. at this presence or shall liue hereafter that shall not see death i. taste of Death or dye q.d. There is no man but hee must passe that waye sée Hebrues 9.27 shall he deliuer his soule i. his bodye and lyfe soule put for body as Psalme 16.10 from the hand of the graue i. from the power of Death putting the graue whiche followeth death for Death it selfe q.d. Both the one vz. to liue and not to die and the other vz. to bee fréede from the force of death is vtterlye impossible sée Psalme 49. almoste thorow ouâ—e and all this is q.d. Séeing mans lyfe is so shorte if thou doe not in good time shewe thy selfe a Father towardes them thou shalte haue no more occasion to make them féele thy fauoure in this lyfe Verse 49. Lorde where are thy former mercies vz. whiche
i. is prepared and layde vp and yet lyeth hid as it were séede committed to the earth which shall in good time come forth sée Colossians 3.3.4 1. Cor. 12.12.1 Iohn 3.2 The Metaphor that he vseth in this place is excellent q.d. Euen as wheate or other séede cast into the earth dyeth and lyeth hidde for a certayne while before it waxe gréene and bring forth fruite so the iust suffer manye thinges before they féele ioye but theire ioye shall in good time bee made manifest and they shall haue great increase and store thereof as of one grayne cast into the grounde commeth plentie and abundaunce of Corne for the righteous i. for them whome GOD frameth to righteousnesse of life and holye conuersation and ioye this sheweth playnlye what he meant by light vz. ioye both in this lyfe and in the lyfe to come for the vprighte in harte i. for them that are voyde of hypocrisie and dissymulation Sée Psalme 33 1. Verse 12. Reioyce yée vprighteous in the Lorde q.d. Let him bee the matter of your ioye that doth suche great thinges for you and giue thankes vz. vnto him onelye for his holye remembraunce these wordes maye haue a double sence eyther thus for his holye remembraunce i. for that it pleaseth him that is holye to thinke vppon and to remember you or else thus for his holye remembraunce i. for that you haue good and often occasion giuen you by his continuall graces bestowed vppon you to remember and thinke vppon him that is holye and iust and this latter I take to bee the more simple Verse 1. Teacheth vs that it is a matter of great ioye Do. to knowe that the Lorde ruleth and gouerneth all thinges Verse 2. teacheth vs what greate power and iustice is in the Lorde Verse 3. teacheth vs that the wicked and vngodly shall not escape vnpunished Verse 4. teacheth vs that the least of Gods creatures is able to terrifie all the world Verse 5 sheweth that nothing is able to withstand the Lord in his purposes and that the strongest and gretest thinges are as nothing before him Verse 6. teacheth vs that Gods goodnesse and vprightnesse are so cleare euen in his creatures as none can pretend ignoraunce Verse 7 teacheth two things first that we may pray agaynst idols and Idolaters secondlye it sheweth what greate iudgementes shall ouertake them Verse 8 teacheth the godly to reioyce euen in Gods iudgementes executed vpon the wicked Verse 9 setteth out the excellency maiestie and almightie power of God Verse 10 teacheth first that our hatred and lothing of euill must be a seale of the law of God in our harts secondlye that God hath more then a fatherly care ouer the liues of those that be his and thirdly the wicked for all their power can not doe what they would against Gods children Verse 11. teacheth that howsoeuer the good be afflicted for a time yet is abundaunce of ioy layde vp for them Verse 12 teacheth the faithfull to shew themselues alwayes thankefull to God Psalme 98 Di. THis Psalme contayneth thrée speciall parts In the first hee exhorteth the faythfull to prayse the Lord shewing some causes that should lead them so to doe Verse 1.2.3 In the seconde he sheweth how this thanksgiuing and prayfe should be yéelded to the Lord and that is partly with the voyce and songes and partly with musicall instruments Verse 4.5.6 In the thyrde parte by exhorting dumbe creatures to yéelde thankes vnto the Lord he prouoketh men to the performaunce of that excellente and holye duetye Verse 7.8.9 Se. The Title a Psalme this hath bene expounded before and namely Psal 3. and Psalme 4 in the title Verse 1. Sing vnto the Lord a new song sée for this Psalme 96. verse 1. for hée vz. alone hath done vz. by his power and might marueylous thinges i. matters to be wondred at and farre passing the reache of man his right hand vz. alone meaning by right hand his almightye strength and power and his holy arme i. the arme of him that is holye yea holinesse it selfe vnderstanding by arme the same thing hee did by hande vz. might and strength hath gotten him i. him himselfe and in him his Church the victory vz. against all his and their enemies The Prophet meaneth that God deliuered his Church from the enemies thereof not by the meanes of man or any accustomed order but by his owne power and strength sée Psalm 44 2.3 also Isaiah 59 16. and agayne Isaiah 63.5 Ver. 2. The Lord declared vz. by the meruailous and great workes which he hath done his saluation i. his gracious deliueraunce of his Church out of al daungers and distresses and this is called his saluation because he is the only worker of it and doeth fréely bestowe the same vppon his people and his righteousnesse i. his faythfull and vprighte executing of iustice and iudgemente hath hée reuealed vz. in his mightye and marueylous workes in the sighte of the Nations i. openly not only before the Iewes but before all other Nations of the worlde Verse 3. He hath remembred i. he hath not onelye thoughte vpon but in his remembraunce performed his mercye and his truth i. his gracious goodnesse and his faythfull promises made towardes the house of Israell i. to the people of the Iewes whome hée calleth the house of Israell because they procéeded from Iaakob who was also called Israell and came from him as from one stocke or Fountayne all the endes of the earth i. all the partes and quarters of the worlde and some people inhabiting the same haue séene vz. playnly and sensibly meaning by this spéech that they haue bin made partakers of the saluations vz. mercifully promised graciously to be performed in Christ of our GOD i. of that true and euer liuing GOD whome we serue He speaketh here no doubt of the calling of the Gentiles and of those gracious promises expressed Genesis 12.3 Genesis 22.18 Verse 4. All the earth i. all people inhabiting the earth q.d. Consider this great benefyte euerye one of you and chearefullye prayse the Lorde for it sing yée lowde i. prayse him willinglye and openlye vnto the Lorde vz. who hath bestowed these greate graces vppon you crye out q.d. inforce your selfe to prayse him and reioyce vz. for the mercies which you haue receaued and sing prayses vz. continually and that to the Lorde who hath dealt so fauourablye with you as to make you of no people a people vnto himselfe The Prophet repeateth one and the selfe same thinges vnder diuers termes not only to expresse his own earnestnesse but also to declare mens dulnesse in the performaunce thereof and with all to expresse that the thinges themselues giuen from God and receaued of vs are so excellent that we can neuer be sufficient thankefull for the same Ver. 5. Sing praise vz. for the grace and blessinges receaued to the Lorde vz. who hath freely giuen the same vppon the Harpe i. vppon musicall instrumentes vnderstanding by one many or
those that are his but rather hee praieth the Lord to shew by effect that he hath care ouer him sée Genesis 8 1. O Lord vz. in whom alone I put my trust and therfore as a sure testimony thereof call vpon them with the fauour of thy people i. with that fauour that thou hast promised and art wont to shew to thy people he calleth that frée loue and mercy which God carieth towards his the fauour of his people visit vz. with mercy and goodnesse for to visit in this place is taken in the good parte euen for the accomplishment of Gods gracious promises towards his seruauntes sée Gen. 21.1 me vz. oppressed with mine own gréefe the gréefe of my people with thy saluation i. with gracious fauour deliuerance from thée so you haue had the word saluation sundry times vsed before namely Psal 3.8 ver 5. That I may sée vz. not only with my bodily and spiritual eyes but also possesse inioy sée Psal 34.12 fight put for inioying the felicity of thy chosen i. the blessednes and goodnes that thou bestowest vppon them whome thou hast chosen to thy self reioice in the ioy of thy people i. haue an occasion giuen me to reioyce as thy saints and seruaunts doe and glory vz. not in my selfe but in thée with thine inheritaunce i. with thy people whom thou hast elected an heritage to thy selfe for inheritance sée Psal 28.9 Ver. 6. We haue sinned vz. against thy Maiesty with our fathers i. as our fathers haue done also q.d. we they also haue sinned not as though they had both sinned at one time but that they were al culpable of sin against him vnderstanding by fathers al their ancestors we haue cōmitted vz. continally without ceasing iniquity done wickedly vz. both agaynst God man The Prophet cannot content himselfe with any words to set forth the notoriousnes of his own sins and the sins of his people Ver. 7. Our Fathers i. our ancestors as before ver 6. of this Psal vnderstood not i. did not rightly or wisely consider of thy wonders in Egipt i. those great works that thou diddest for their sake in that land neither remembred they vz. as they should haue don to haue prouoked thē to thankfulnes towards thée for the same the multitude of thy mereies vz. shewed euē frō the time of Abrahams calling vnto this present but speciallye those thinges that were done in Egipt before their eyes but rebelled vz. against thée at the sea euen at the red sea for the more assurance he nameth the sea And this may bée vnderstoode either of their rebellion Exod. 14.11 before they passed through the sea or else of their murmuring and rebellion after they came through the sea Exod. 16.2 c. q.d. they were no sooner passed the sea but immediatly they beganne to rebell or of both of them together Immanuel readeth it farre otherwise and giueth an other sense but methinketh this is playne Ver. 8. Neuerthelesse q.d. notwithstanding all their sinnes hee saued them i. hée deliuered them from daungers and distresse as sundry times before for his names sake i. because hee woulde not haue his maiesty goodnes and power ill spoken of amongest the Heathen that hée might make his power to bee knowne vz. thereby and that euen among all his and their enemies Ver. 9. And he rebuked the red sea he now prayseth and setteth out the power of God because that at his onely commaundement and will the sea gaue frée passage to his people for the word rebuke sée Psalm 104.7 and it was dried vp vp in that place through which the people had passage for otherwise the waters were as a wall vnto them on their right hande and on their left sée Exod. 14.21.22 and he led them vz. safely in the déepe vz. of the redde Sea meaning that God caried them betwéene two heapes of waters which waters gaue place vnto the Israelites by Gods appoyntment as if that the place it selfe had béene by nature dry sée Exod. 15.5 as in the wildernes i. as vpon the dry land in a safe and playne way Ver. 10. And he saued them i. deliuered them vz. the Israelites from the aduersaries hand i. from the power and force of them that pursued them with a deadly hatred meaning the Egiptians and deliuered them from the hande of the enemy i. set them frée from the power rage of the Egiptians counting them all but as one enemie because they were all of one heart and mynd to do mischiefe to Gods people Ver. 11. and the waters vz. of the red sea couered their oppressors i. ouer whelmed and drowned them so that not one of them was left vz. aliue to carry backe any tydinges Sée Exod. 14.28 Ver. 12. Then vz. when they had séene al these gret things beléeued they his words this is not spoken for their prayse but to amplifie the fault of their rebellion for that they continued not but immediatly fell to distrust and vnbelief and sang prayses vnto him vz. for his great mercies practised towardes them Sée the history of ver 9.10.11.12 in the 14. and 15. chapters of the booke of Exodus Ver. 13. But incontinently i. they were almost no sooner deliuered they forgate his workes vz. which he had done for them hee meaneth not by forgetting that the remembrance of them was vtterly rased out of all their myndes but that they had them not in that due and reuerent regarde they should haue had for the strengthening of their fayth sée for their sodaine chaunge Exod. 15 22.23 and wayted not vz. with patience for his coūsell i. for the thinges which in his eternall counsell he had purposed to bestow vpon them his purpose is to note that as they would not be gouerned by god suffering him to do all according to his good pleasure but woulde followe the deuises of their owne heads and hearts so they did it though the remēbraunce of gods benefits were fresh before them which circumstance aggrauated their sinne Ver. 14. But lusted with concupiscence by doubling the word the Prophet mindeth not onely to note the sinne of their lust but the very burning and rage of that sinne of theirs in the wildernes he noteth also the place for the more certainety of the story and tempted God in the desert to tempt God is in this place put for not staying themselues vppon Gods will but laying the raynes in their neckes and following their owne concupiscences to aske more of God then hee would giue them and when he speaketh of lusting tempting we must vnderstande that they did it more then once as may appeare Exod. 15.24 Exod. 16. throughout Exod. 17.2 c. Numb 11.1 Numb 20.3 c. Ver. 15. Then he gaue them their desire i. the things which they desired and demanded so gracious was God howsoeuer rebellious they were and sent leanenes into their soule i. into their body one part being put for an other or else
Verse 8. Gilead i. the whole lande countrie of Gilead with the people inhabiting the same shall be mine i. subiect to my power and authority and Manasseh i. the whole tribe of Manasseh shal be mine i. subiect to me though now for a while they follow the house of Saul Ephraim also i. the tribe of Ephraim shall be the strength of mine head i. shall be a principall proppe and staye of my kingdome and this the Prophet speaketh not only for any affiaunce he had in that tribe but also and chéefly because that tribe was mighty much people and when he sayth the strength of his head he vseth a Metaphor taken from beasts with hornes who vse also to defend thēselues therwith q.d. Ephraim shal be one of my principall meanes of defence Iudah i. the tribe of Iudah or the place where that Tribe dwelt is my lawgiuer i. is the place or people frō whence or from whom my lawes and ordinaunces procéed Verse 9. Moab i. the whole land people inhabiting it q.d. not only the Israelites but euen the Gentiles shal be added to my kingdome shal be my washpot vz. wherein I wil wash my féet meaning hereby that he would handle them more hardly make les account of them then of the Israelites because they were vncircūcised q.d. I wil make no more account of them then of an earthen pot vnder my féete and yet if I will reserue any of them I wil vse them in base seruices sée 2. Sam. 8.2 ouer Edom i. ouer the Edomites and their lande I will cast my shoe i. I will ouercom them when they are cast down tread vpon thē as it were meaning nothing else but that he would bring thē euen easily into his subiection obediēce vpō Palestina i the country it self the people inhabiting it who were called Philistines wil I triumph vz. boldly chearfully q.d. whereas they were wont ieastingly and scoffingly to triumph ouer vs as appeareth Iudges 16 25. 1. Samuel 4.7.8.9 Nowe wee will doe the like vnto them as though he should say now let them brag that they haue vanquished vs heretofore if they can or dare Verse 10. Who vz. besides God q.d. there is none able but he alone as may appeare by the next verse following wil lead me vz. the righte and ready way into the strong Citie vz. of mine enemies he putteth one citie for many and he calleth thē strong because they that possessed thē thoughte them so to be and not that they were able any maner of way to resist Gods power in him who will bring me to Edom vz. to vanquish and subdue it and the people there inhabiting Ver. 11. Wilt not thou O God q.d. I am sure thou wilt for so significant is the interrogatiō in this place which haddest vz. heretofore forsaken vs vz. vtterly leauing vs in the hands of our aduersaries and diddest not go forth vz. as thou wast wont to doe in fauour loue with our armies i. with those armies which we sent out agaynst our enemies q.d. Though heretofore we haue receaued a repulse yet now we perswade our selues that thou wilt giue vs victory ver 12 Giue vs vz. thorow thy mercy and goodnesse only for we craue it as a gift helpe i. aid strēgth grace c. against trouble i. against al trouble that we shall indure eyther outward or inwarde for vayne is the helpe of man i. the ayd that man can giue or bring is to little or no purpose Ver. 13. Thorow God i. thorow the ayd and strength we haue of him and in that assurance that we haue of his succour and assistance we shal doe valiauntly vz. against his and our enemies howsoeuer men be not able to ayd vs for he vz. alone without the helpe of any other shall tread down vz. vnder our féete meaning by that spéeche vanquishing and subduing of them our enemies i. all that shall rise vp agaynst vs either at home or abroad Do. Ver. 1. teacheth to come to Gods seruice with purpose and preparation also to serue him with our inward and outward man both Verse 2 doth teach vs two things first to vse all the meanes that may prouoke to the seruice and worship of God secondly to forgoe some parte of our pleasures and profits to performe it Verse 3 teacheth vs to prayse God so that other men may knowe it and by our example be stirred vp to do the like Verse 4 teacheth vs that Gods mercy and truth and the greatnesse and assurednesse thereof are two singular comforts to the consciences of his children Verse 5 teacheth vs in all our praiers to set before vs Gods glory as the speciall marke to aime at Ver. 6 teacheth vs also in our prayers to remember the safety and deliueraunce of our brethren Verse 7 teacheth vs that Gods worde and promise is ground sufficient ynough for the stay of his childrens perswasion Verse 8 teacheth vs that if the Lord haue promised vs a thing we should make as certayne account of it as though we had it in possession Verse 9 teacheth vs that no enemies whatsoeuer shal be able to resist Gods purpose in his seruants but that he wil both with ease and in assurance cast them down Ver. 10 teacheth that the ouerthrow of cities and peoples is from God only though he vse sundrye meanes for the performance therof Verse 11 teacheth that though God séeme to destitute his children for a while yet he will not forsake them for euer Ver. 12 sheweth that all mans ayde helpe counsell and countenaunce is as much without God as nothing Ver. 13 teacheth that all the strength power and victory that God his seruaunts haue is from the Lord only Psalme 109 THis Psalme as I take it Di. doth principallye propounde two things first the Prophet prayeth for himselfe alleaging his own misery and the mischiefe of his aduersaries as a mean to moue the Lord to mercy promising also praise thanksgiuing if the Lord will performe it verse 1 2 3 4 5 21 22 and so forth to the end of the Psalme In the second he praieth agaynst his aduersaries who were voyd as of all godlinesse in respect of the Lord so of all curtesie in respect of men and this reacheth from verse 6 vnto the end of the 20 verse The title of this Psalme is all one with Psal 13. and Psal 14. in their titles Se. and many others Likely it is that Dauid made this Psalm at some one time or other while Saule was king in whose dayes all the thinges were oute of order and if we compare the second verse of this Psalme with 1. Samuel 26.19 it shall appeare it was not made long before Saules death Verse 1. Hold not thy tongue vz. at these things which the vngodly practise agaynst me leste thou shouldest be thought eyther not to sée or else not to regarde the iniuries that they lay vpon me when they falsly accuse me before Saule the
which god the father hath committed to Dauid in figure but to Christ in truth frō ver 1 to the end of the 5. In the seconde are described what things both Dauid Christ shal do according to the seuerall offices cōmitted to thē this is comprehēded in the 2. last verses of this Psalm The Title is Se. a Psalm of Dauid i. a Psalme which Dauid in the spirite of Prophecie made as appeareth Mat. 22.43 Verse 1. The Lorde i. God the father sayd vz. in the truth of his word vnto my Lord i. vnto Christ the Messiah who is called Dauids Lord by right both of creation and redemption as who is God eternall with the father and the holy Ghost and yet became man at the fulnesse of tyme Galat. 4.4 If we referre it to Dauid then it must haue this sence either that Dauid speaketh of himself calling himselfe a Lord because God had aduaunced him to the kingdome of Israel or els penneth it as though some other should speake it of him We cannot offend in referring it to Christ because Christ doth account it as a prophecy of his kingdom Mat. 22 43 c. and the Apostle also Heb. 1.13 sit thou at my right hand i. receaue chéef rule and authority from me and exercise iurisdiction and power ouer al. And this is spoken according to mens vse specially Kings who are accustomed to set them on their right hand whom they wil highly aduance sée 1 King 2.19 also Psalme 45.9 and this is the right sence of that article hee sitteth at the right hand of God vntil I make thine enemies thy footestoole i. til I make thē that oppose thēselues against thée obediēt wholy subiect vnto thée He speaketh this speciallye of the reprobate who wil they or nil they must bée broughte down 2. Cor. 10.5 these words are largely expounded 1. Corinthians 15.25 c. The word vntil doth not here note a péece of time but a perpetuity for Christ shal be as he hath alwayes ben God coequal coeternal with his father sée the word vntil so vsed 2. Sam. 6.23 and in the new testament Mat. 5.26 Mat. 28.10 Ver. 2. The Lord i. God the father as before ver 1. shal send vz. forth abroad into al the world the rod of thy power i. thy powerfull and mighty rod or the rod and scepter whereby thou declarest thy power and might notwithstanding al the resistance of thine enemies sée for the better vnderstanding of this word rod Psalm 2 9 and by this rod no doubt he meaneth speciallye the preaching of the word which is the mighty power of God to saluation to al that beléeue Rom. 1.16 is able to cast down strong holds euery hie thing 2. Cor. 10.5 out of Sion i. out of the Church of the Iewes yet so that it shall bee spread abroad euen amongst the Gentiles also sée Isai 2 3. Micah 4 2. bee thou ruler vz. by thy word and spirit in thine own children and by thy mighty iudgements amongest the wicked in the middest of thine enemyes i. euen where their greatest force is He meaneth that the kingdome of Christ shall be alwayes assaulted by the enemies but yet al that notwithstanding he shal rule and remayne a Conqueror Verse 3. Thy people i. the people that thou shalte beget vnto thy selfe and shall be subdued vnto thée shall come willinglye i. shall fréely and of their own accord present themselues before thée to yéeld al obedience vnto thée at the time of assembling i. at that time when by the exercises of thy word and working of thy spirit thou shalt assemble and gather people vnto thy self thine armie i. great troupes of thy children vz. shall come before thée and appeare in thy presence in holy beauty i. either in suche comlinesse as shall carrye holinesse with it or else thus in holye beautye i. in thy Temple which is called holy beautye because that holinesse and glory of God did most plainly appeare in the same and therefore it is called a glorious sanctuarye also Psalme 29 2 the youth of thy wombe i. the people that thou shalte beget and bring forth shal be as the morning dew i. not onely pleasaunt and delightfull to thée as the dew is to the grounde but also plentifull and aboundaunt as there is most store of dew in the morning and as the Philosophers saye great abundaunce falleth after the appearing of the daye star Immanuel readeth this verse otherwise and maketh another sence of it but methinketh this is plaine and euident ynough Ver. 4. The Lord hath sworne vz. by himself as Heb. 6.13 wil not repēt vz. himself of the thing that he hath promised sworn to perform he meaneth by al this to assure vs that god will not change his purpose thou vz. O my sonne art a Priest for euer i. an eternall Priest to put a difference betwéene him and the Priestes in the lawe after the order of Melchizedech what his priesthood was appeareth Genesis 14. verse 18. reade also for this matter Hebrewes chapter 5 and also chapt 7. The Prophet meaneth that that was truly fulfilled in Christ which was figured in Melchizedech to wit that the eternall priesthoode and the crown and royall seat was ioyned together in one person which otherwise coulde not bee as appeareth 2. Chronicles 26 21. but by some speciall commaundement from God Ver. 5. The Lord that is at thy right hand i. Christ of whom is spoken before ver 1 of this Psal shal wound vz. by his mighty power vnderstanding by wounding the debasing throwing of thē down some after one sort and some after an other Kings i. the greatest mightiest enemies that can be in the day of his wrath i. in that time wherin he shal be prouoked to wrath and manifest the same He describeth in this place the power of Christ against his most great aduersaries enemies vpon whom he wil in good time pour forth the testimony of his wrath Ver. 6. He i. Christ the Lord Messiah shal be iudge i. ruler and Gouernor sée Psal 96.13 among the Heathen vz. and not only amongste the Iewes he prophecieth of the inlargement of Christs kingdom euen vnto the gētils he shall fill all vz. places with dead bodies i. with the bodies of his enemies and aduersaries being deade and smite vz. with his power might the head i. the chéefe ruler and gouernour by one vnderstanding many vnlesse wée would vnderstand it of the whole body of Antichrist whom the Lorde shall destroy with the spirit of his mouth 2. Thessal 2.8 ouer great countries i. ouer large and manye landes In this verse the Prophet setteth out Christ as a valiant conqueror ouer his enemies Ver. 7. He shall drinke of the brooke in the way this may haue a double sence eyther thus he i. the Messiah shal drinke of the brooke vz. which shall be made by the blood of them which shal be slayne q.d. there shal
his seruants and haue beene comforted vz. excéedingly specially in the inward man by the sight and beholding thereof Verse 53. Feare vz. of heart and trembling meaning thereby also great feare is come vppon me i. hath taken strong holde vppon mee for the wicked i. because of these great iudgments which shall fall vpon the wicked that forsake thy lawe i. that breake and transgresse thy lawe in their wordes thoughts and déedes others I knowe giue other senses but methinketh this is plaine and right vz. that the prophet considering Gods horrible iudgmēts against the wicked was as it were seased and striken with a very great feare Ver. 54. Thy statutes i. thy worde and lawe haue béene my songes i. as some interpret it haue giuen me occasions to write songs I woulde rather expound it thus haue giuen me pleasure ioy and contentment because men greatly reioyce and content themselues in musicke in the house of my pilgrimage some thinke that he meaneth his banishment when he was persecuted by his enemies and fled from the face of Saul Abshalon or others in which distresse he wandered vp and downe and yet because he was long in it hee did count it as it were the house of his dwelling I rather thinke that hee vnderstandeth hereby the whole course and race of his life both that time and all other times for the Prophet had not then comforte only but al the dayes of his life so that in the house or place of his pilgrimage is as much as if he should say in whatsoeuer place of the world I am haue béen or shal be yea al the days of my life and this the rather because the godly haue alwayes estéemed their liues for a pilgrimage as Gene. 47.9 Psal 39.12 also ver 19. of this Psal Sée also Heb. 11.9.10 Ver. 55. I haue remembred sée ver 52. of this Psalme thy name i. thy maiesty goodnes and power as Psal 20.1 O Lord vz. whom I serue in the night vz. when others sléepe q.d. euen then doe I watch and remember thée when others take their rest and haue kept thy lawe vz. with a good and sincere heart Ver. 56. This I had i. al these graces were giuen me from thy goodnes only because I kept i. indeuored what in mee lay to kéepe performe thy precepts i. thy law and commandements he bosteth not here of any merit of his owne but saith that God in working a special deliuerance did yéeld a notable testimony to that goodnes which was in him Immanuel redeth this verse thus This is a comfort vnto me that I kéepe thy cōmandements q.d. euen the litle or slender obedience that I yéelde to thy lawe doeth much comfort me Do. Ver. 49. Teacheth vs that Gods promises made vs in his worde ought to be special grounds of our perswasions touching his mercies towards vs. ver 50. Teacheth vs that Gods promises are speciall comforts vnto vs in the time of our distresses Ver. 51. Declareth what is the nature of the vngodly vz to scoffe continually at gods religion the professers therof also that no contēpt or ignominie in this life should draw vs away from the obedience of our God Ver. 52. Teacheth Gods children to receiue comfort not only in his mercyes practised towards them but also in his punishments powred forth vppon the wicked Ver. 53. Teacheth vs that we should not only be grieued when we sée gods law broken but to be striken with feare of those iudgments that from God shal fal vpon the wicked ver 54. teacheth vs that nothing should minister more ioy contentment to vs in this life then gods word Ver. 55. teacheth vs continually to meditate on gods power goodnes maiesty c. also that wee shoulde many times forbeare euen our ordinary rest and sléepe to the ende wee might performe that duty Ver. 56. Teacheth vs that God giueth continual blessings to them that haue care and conscience to obserue his lawes Cheth Di. AL that the prophet speaketh in this eight part of the Psalme may be referred either vnto God before whom he powreth forth earnest supplications for the assistance of his grace in the obedience of his word ver 57.58.64 or else vnto himselfe wherin he declared what care he had of obedience to gods law and to obserue al the meanes that might cause him to grow therein neglecting also all things that might hinder him therein and this is conteined in ver 59.60.61.62.63 Ver. 57. O Lord thou art my portion vz. alone q.d. I haue none that I hang or depend vpon but thée alone Sée Psalme 73.25 I haue determined vz. with my selfe and that altogether whatsoeuer come of to kéepe vz. in my life and conuersation thy wordes i. the worde that thou hast giuen me as the rule of my life the meaning is q.d. séeing that thou O Lorde art mine inheritance and hast in mercy chosen me to thy selfe I haue fully concluded with my selfe to kéepe thy law Ver. 58. I vz. being priuy to mine owne weakenesse wretchednes made my supplication in thy presence i. prayed before thée and to thée it may be vnderstood euen of some solemne prayer that the Prophet made before the arke with my whole heart i. vnfeignedly and without wandering affections those setting my heart earnestly vpon things that I vttered with my mouth be merciful vnto me vz. thus distressed as I am according to thy promise vz. made and giuen to me and other thy seruants also that call vpon thée sée ver 49. of this Psalme q.d. performe thy promise made vnto me by thy word in Christ and not in respect of my infirmity Ver. 59. I haue considered vz. diligently and carefully my waies i. the maner and order of my life heretofore and turned vz. from those corrupt and naughty pathes of wickednes my féete i. not my féete onely but mine affections also sée Eccle. 4.17 into thy testimonies i. into the way kéeping of thy law q.d. I haue vewed my life past and I do also wel consider my conuersation present and now the thing that I wholy purpose is this to giue my selfe to the vttermost of my power to kéepe thy commandements ver 60. I made hast vz. after the beholding of the former things delaied not i. nothing hindered me q.d. I made spéed in déede for so much doth this doubled spéech meane for such a doubled speach sée Psal 118.17 to kéepe vz. sincerely soundly without hipocrisie thy commandements i. the things which thou haddest commanded Ver. 61. The hands of the wicked i. the great troupes companies of vngodly men by this phrase hée noteth the multitudes of his enemies haue robbed me i. haue taken from that by fraude violence all that euer I had but vz. for all that I haue not forgotten thy law i. the things prescribed in thy law and the comforts therin conteined q.d. neither their flattery nor their fraude nor any thing that they coulde do against me could draw
of shafts and arrowes still whiche he had put downe in the other verse before going for this is a reason of the thinges which go before they i. neyther the fathers nor the children for so largely would I take it shall not bee ashamed i. they shall not giue place to their enemies but shall ouercome them yea and shall possesse the gates of their enemies as is promised whē they speake with their enemies vz. face to face in the gate vz. eyther of the Citie if it be besieged or else in the place of publike iustice because the iudges were wont to fit in the gates of the Citie to determine publike causes as Genesis 34 20. Deut. 25 7. 2 Samuel 15.2 and in many other places Ver. 1 Teacheth vs that nothing eyther in house or citty Do. can be well begun go well forwarde or come to good end except the Lord be the directer and guider thereof Verse 2 teacheth vs that no meanes eyther lawfull or vnlawfull can performe any thing except the Lords blessing concurre with the same and yet we should not therefore neglect the meanes but vse them alwayes with prayer to God to blesse them to vs so farre forth as maye make for his glory and our comfort Verse 3 teacheth that children are a blessing which it pleaseth the Lord to bestow vppon the sonnes of men not that wée should conclude them to be accursed that want them For the want of blessing yea of sundrye blessing maketh not accursed for who then should be blessed Verse 4 doth teache vs both how good and profitable holy education is to children and also what fruite it yéeldeth to wit in the children readinesse and obedience to the parents Verse 5 teacheth vs that good children are a singular glorye vnto their parents yea and they adde estimation vnto themselues also Psalme 128. Di. THis Psalme may be diuided into two parts In the first the Prophet doth both generally and particularly set out the blessinges of God towards the faythfull Verse 1 2 3. In the second part hée assureth them of the continuaunce of Gods fauour and blessing vpon them and their posterity ver 4 5 6. Se. The title is expounded before Psalme 120. Ver. 1. Blessed is euery one vz. of what estate or condition soeuer he be and that word blessed containeth in it abundance of blessednesse q.d. he shal be plentifully blessed whosoeuer he bée that feareth the Lord i. that rightly serueth and worshippeth him He putteth the beginning of Gods seruice for the whole for wee can neuer rightly serue God til we haue a reuerent feare of his maiesty printed in our hartes walketh in his wayes i. that kéepeth his commaundements and directeth his life according to such lawes as God hath prescribed For God doth not otherwise allow of our life except it be reformed according to his law walking is put here as in sundry other places of the Psalmes for order of lise and conuersation Verse 2. When thou eatest this by the consente of the best interpreters would be turned thus for thou shalt eat shewing a reason as it were of his blessednesse and not as though the godly man were not blessed till hée did eate the fruit of his labours which many times he doth in this life and so the blessing of God vpon him in this life should be called into question and doubte we will therefore turne it thus for thou vz. that hast a care and conscience to fear God and marke how he passeth from the third person to the second shalt eate vz. quietly thorow Gods blessing and fauour towardes thee meaning by eating enioying and liuing by the labours of thine hands i. that whiche thou thy selfe with thy hand hast laboured for q.d. no forrain enemy nor any extortioner shal spoile thée of that which thou hast trauailed for but thou shalt enioy with al profit vse it with al pleasure thou shalt be blessed vz. with all maner of blessings from the Lord both outward and inward both bodily spirituall and this is another grace that God wil shewe to his seruants it shal be well with thée vz. whersoeuer thou art whether at home in thy house or abroade in thy fields as is promised Deut. 28 3. meaning also by this maner of spéeche that euen all his affayres businesses should mightily prosper go well forward Ver. 3. Thy wife shal be as the fruitfull vine i. shal beare thée many childrē as the fruitful vine doth many clusters and bunches of grapes posteritye séede is reckoned amongst the outward blessings that God bestoweth vpon his on the sides of thine house some expound it thus nigh to thy house Methinketh he alludeth to the common custome of men who plant vines vnder their houses and at the sides of them specially at the sides of them where they may haue the most sun by which they may be most defēded frō the cold for heat maketh the Vine plentiful faire and flourishing and thy children vz. which god shal giue thée by hir shal be what like the Oliue plants i. as faire as pleasaunte as the plants of yong Oliue trées or as the yong trées themselues yea I stretche it somewhat further that is they shal be alwayes gréene fresh florishing and increasing sée Psal 52 8 round about thy table by this spéech he expresseth the great delight that children bring vnto their fathers while they sée them as many in number so neate and trimme standing alwayes as it were in their fight Ver. 4. Le here he stirreth vp the faithfull both to behold and also to acknowledge the blessings of God reckoned vp before and these that followe after surely vz. without all doubt thus vz. as is before expressed and as hereafter followeth shal the man be blessed i. euery man as verse 1 of this Psalme that feareth the Lord sée also ver 1 of this Psalme Now we must know that hee promiseth the faithfull earthly blessings from God not that they should stay and rest themselues there but to the end that by the same they might be lifted vp to the meditation of the heauenly life Verse 5. The Lord vz. whom we serue and worship out of Sion i. out of the place wherein he dwelleth and is worshipped and here he putteth the faythfull in minde that it is because of the couenaunte which he hath made with thē that he bestoweth these graces vpon them not for any merite or worthines in them shal blesse thée vz. with his grace and fauour and that so largely and plentifully that thou shalt sée i. both with the eyes of thy body with the eyes of thy faith yea that thou thy self shalt enioye the wealth i. the prosperitie peace and all maner of goodnesse sée Psal 122 9. of Ierusalem i. of the Citie and Church of God because God was serued therein so that he descendeth from particular blessings to the common blessing of the whole Church from whence as it
were from a fountayn the particular blessing floweth all the dayes of thy life i. so long as thou shalt liue in this life Ver. 6 Yea thou shalt sée thy childrens children i. thou shalt perceaue the singular fauour and blessing of God towards thée and thy family first by the length of thy own life as Exod. 20. in the fift commaundement secondly by the plentifull increase of thy posterity and séede and peace i. all maner of blessing and goodnesse as Psalme 122.6.7 vpon Israell i. vpon that people whiche serue God sincerely sée Psal 124.1 Ver. 1. Teacheth vs first that such as serue God Do. according to the rule of his word shal receiue al maner of blessing from the Lord secondly that a godly cōuersatiō is a notable testimony of the right worship seruice of god Ver. 2. teacheth vs that not only gaines gotten by labor are gods blessing but to haue the fruition vse of them after we haue obteined them is gods blessing also Ver. 3 Teacheth vs that the fruitfulnes of our wiues and store of children is a blessing from the Lord likewise Ver. 4. Teacheth vs that the blessings which God hath promised vs shal be most assuredly performed Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that this is the blessing of al blessings in this life to sée the florishing and prosperitie of the Church Ver. 6. teacheth vs that old age and large posterity both are good blessings from the Lord. Psalme 129. Di. THe Psalme may be deuided into two parts In the first the faythfull declare that they were gréeuouslye oppressed by their enemies but yet that the Lord did graciously deliuer them verse 1 2 3 4. Secondly in the spirite of Prophecie as it were they doe foretell the assured destruction and ouerthrowe of all their enemies from verse 4 to the end of the Psalme Se. The title is expounded before Psalme 120 in the Title thereof Ver. 1. They i. our wicked and cruel enemies whom as a man would say he will not vouchsafe to name haue oftentimes vz. heretofore and euē at this present one time after another doe afflicted i. troubled gréeued and persecuted and that after sundry sorts and by sundry meanes and wayes me i. vs hee speaketh of the holy body of the faythfull as it were but of one person by reason of the vnitye and fellow-like féeling that is or should be amongst them from my youth i. euen from the beginning of the world when the Church then began may Israell i. the faythfull people as Psalme 124 1 also Psalme 128 6. now i. euen at this present So we sée that the Church counteth those afflictions that the faythful haue indured before hir owne euen as those which she presently suffereth say vz. iustly rightly and vpon very good cause They meane by this and that which followeth after that the Church thinking diligently vpon auntient examples and experiences might easily gather both after what sort God had exercised his people from the first beginning of the world as from Abel Abraham and other Patriarks from whom the churche came and also howe they had a blessed ende of all their afflictions and this is done to the end that by the former deliueraunces they might in a good hope comfort and confirme themselues that God woulde deliuer them from the like in time to come Verse 2. They haue oftentimes afflicted me from my youth this is the same with verse 1 the repeating of it serueth to this ende both to shewe that they were sore afflicted in déede and also to set out the assurednesse of their deliueraunce but they could not vz. for all their subtiltie and for all their power preuayle vz. at any time or by any meanes agaynst me the reason because God hath bin on our side as Psalme 124 1 2. Verse 3. The Plowers i. the emies which God did vse as husbandmen to plow and till his Churche plowed vpon my back i. went quite and cleane ouer vs by which he noteth both the weake estate of the Church and the hard hartednesse of the enemies made long furrowes vz. vpon vs not sparing vs any whit at all for all the miserye that we are in In this verse he compareth the people of God to a fielde which men till and plough that he might the better shew that the crosse hath alwayes bin fastened vpon the back of the Church meaning that they suffred many gréeuous thinges from the enemies and that they did both a long season and very sorely afflict them Verse 4. But the righteous Lord i. he that dealeth and doth vprightly howsoeuer men deale cruelly and iniuriously hath cut vz. euen in sunder and that of his goodnesse towards vs thorow his almightye power the cordes i. all the powers of the wicked whether they consisted in coūsels purposes practises or any such like of the wicked i. whiche the wicked men did imagine and vse All tendeth to this end that here he putteth downe a comfort and sheweth that God hath very easily and with little adoe repressed the rage and crueltie of his enemies and set his owne people at liberty as if one should cut in sunder all that belongeth to the horses that goe to plowe which as I take it in some countrye they call the geares and so by that meanes the plow and the owner thereof should stand still and the horses be at libertye from their labours and so he continueth still in his allegory or Metaphor Verse 5. They that hate Sion i. the Churche of God as Psalme 125 1. also Psalme 128 5. Now if the haters shal be punished hate being an affection of the hart only how shall they escape whiche put their hatred in execution and practise shal be ashamed vz. not only before God but euen before men and that word all noteth of what state or condition soeuer they be whether high or low rich or pore c. for with God there is no respect of persons and turned backward vz. as those that in the day of battaile come forth with fiercenesse and yet thorow a sodayne feare are glad to turne their backes so that in this verse he setteth out the ruine and destructiō of the enemies which thing also he doth in the next verses amplyfiing it by similitudes or metaphors taken from husbandry Ver. 6. They i. that hate Sion and such other wicked and vngodlye persons shall be as the grasse vz. which groweth on the house toppe as wee sée by dayly experience that grasse groweth on the tops of houses and in gutters specially in those houses which are not much inhabited whiche withereth vz. thorow the great and parching heat of the sunne afore it come forth vz. so farre as that it may be cut downe with the sithe or sickle This is the firste allegory or metaphor wherein the wicked are resembled to haye or grasse by the which he meaneth that they shall presently perish though they be lifted vp very high euen as the grasse or hearbe that
obey the wicked no though they haue the mastery of vs in euery thing that they demaunde specially when God and his glory shal be prophaned thereby Ver. 5. Teacheth vs continually to thinke vppon Gods Church and the misteries thereof that thereby we may be prouoked to powre forth earnest prayers to God for it Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that we should rather forget our selues then Gods Church it teacheth vs also that nothing in this life shoulde bee so ioyfull vnto vs as the restitution and florishing therof Verse 7. Teacheth vs that wee may safely pray against the wicked and vngodly Verse 8.9 Teach vs that God many times punisheth one sinne with an other as cruelty with crueltie not that he delighteth in sinne but to shewe that sinne shall not escape vnpunished and that to this ende and purpose hee rayseth vp one wicked man and people against an other Psalme 138 THe Psalme may bée deuided into thrée partes Di. In the first the Prophet promiseth humble and hearty thankesgiuing to the Lorde for his mercies towardes him verse 1.2.3 In the seconde hee doeth by the spirite of prophecie as it were foretell that other kings and people shall doe it as well as hée shewing the cause wherefore they shoulde so doe ver 4.5.6 In the thirde hee setteth out the assured perswasion that hee had of God and his goodnes towardes him praying for the continuaunce therof ver 7.8 The title A Psalme of Dauid i. a Psalme that Dauid made Se. to set foorth his thankefulnesse to God-warde Sée Psalme 4. in the title Ver. 1. I will prayse thée vz. O Lorde and that for thy mercies and benefites and this Psalme shoulde séeme to bee a publike confession that Dauid made vnto GOD for the blessinges which hee had receiued at his handes with my whole heart i. in sinceritie of heart with a sounde and not an hypocriticall heart and this is opposed against a double heart q.d. no parte of my heart nor of the affections thereof but they shall bée all wholly occupied in praysing of thee euen before the Gods i. openlye and before the Kinges and Magistrates of the worlde for so haue you the woorde Gods vsed Psalme 82.1 which thing also Dauid him-selfe promiseth Psalme 119.46 and in other places will I prayse thee vz. continually and vnfeignedly Verse 2. I will worshippe towardes thy temple i. I will call vppon thee bending my presence towardes the place where thou art serued Sée Psalme 5.7 and prayse thy name i. thy maiestye power goodnesse c. as sundry tymes before because of thy louing kindnes vz. towardes mee and for thy trueth vz. in accomplishing thy promises so here hee putteth downe the causes of his thankesgiuing Sée Psalme 115.1 for thou hast magnified thy name aboue all thinges i. thou hast made thy maiesty and power appeare more excellent and great then all thinges whatsoeuer by thy word i. by faithful accomplishment of those thinges which thou hast promised in thy word It may also receiue this sense q.d. the things which thou speakest and performest in thy woorde are more great and large then that men can either name them or thou bee sufficiently praysed for them Sée Psalme 71.15 Ver. 3. When I called vz. vpon thée by prayer then thou heardest mee i. grauntest mée my requestes and petitions Sée Psalm 120.1 and thou vz. alone for none could do it but thou hast increased strength in my soule i. hast made my soule and inward man very mightie and strong with patience to suffer all calamities whatsoeuer it may be also vnderstoode thus that God had more and more strengthened himselfe putting a part for the whole Ver. 4. All the kinges of the earth This séemeth to bee a prophecie of the calling of the Gentiles he meaneth that many kings their people shal bee conuerted to the Lorde shall prayse thee O Lorde vz. by myne example for they haue hearde the woordes of thy mouth i. they haue not onely with their eares heard but with their eyes séene and with their heartes consented vnto the trueth of thy word generally and particularly this that thou hast by wonderfull meanes brought mée to the kingdome and this hee speaketh specially of Hiram king of Tyrus and others néere vnto him Verse 5. And they shall sing vz. openly and in the hearing of others of the wayes of the Lorde i. of the thinges which the Lorde doeth and of the order and course which he obserueth therein he meaneth that they shal both acknowledge gods workes and prayse him for the same specially for the course which hee hath kept in preseruing Dauid from his enemies and exalting him to the kingdome because the glory of the Lorde is great i. because the thinges that he hath done gloriously and openly as it were a conquerour are very high and excellent Verse 6. For the Lorde is high i. mightie and passing the very heauens them-selues and so it may bée a reason of the great glorye of the Lorde whereof hée spake before yet q.d. notwithstanding the great distaunce betwéene him and vs hee beholdeth vz. with a fauourable and louing countenaunce and that not idlely but effectually and as one that hath altogether care ouer such the lowly i. such as are humbled despised and contemned amongest men but the proude vz. men of the earth hee knoweth vz. thorowly both within and without a farre off vz. howe farre off so euer they bée from him and it may bée that hee meaneth that as the proude doeth scornefully and as it were a farre off beholde others so dealeth the Lorde with them Immanuel readeth the whole verse thus though the Lorde bee lifted vppe vz. in great and exceeding glorie yet hee beholdeth the lowly i. such as are depressed and beaten downe of men and though hee him-selfe bee high i. lifted vppe euen aboue the heauens hee knoweth a farre off q.d. GOD hath both sight and certaine knowledge both of the good and of the bad the senses in my iudgements differ not much Verse 7. Though I walke i. though I bee much conuersaunt in the middest of trouble i. in very great daunger so that I am compassed about with both before and behind on the right hande and on the left Sée Psalme 23.3.4 yet wilt thou reuiue mee q.d. though my dangers were so great that I shoulde séeme to be dead yet thou wilt quicken me and preserue me from death Thou wilt stretch forth thine hande vpon the wrath of mine enemies i. thou wilt not onely set thy power betwéene mee and their rage to the end that they doe me not any hurt but thou wilt also oppose and set thy selfe against them Immanuel readeth it thus thou stretchedst out thy hande agaynst the face of mine enemies i. thou wilt strike them and that openly as it were with thy left hande and wilt defende mée with thy right as followeth in this verse and thy right hande i. thy gracious and mighty power shall saue me i. deliuer me out of
of my life as long as I haue any being vz. either in this life or in eternall life for the action of prayse and thanksgiuing to God shal not cease then I will sing vz. prayses and thankesgiuing vnto my God i. vnto him whom I serue and whom I haue founde by particular experience to haue bene a singular God to mee Ver. 3. Put not your trust i. haue not any confidence or affiance in them as though that without God or against him they were able to helpe you in princes vz. how litle or how great soeuer they be in authority nor in the sonne of man i. in any man whatsoeuer and this he doeth to the end that God may haue his whole gloryâ—â—ecting and abolishing all peruerse hopes specially those which we haue in great personages for there is none helpe in them i. he or they altogether are not able of themselues to helpe either themselues or other distressed and this is one reason why they shoulde not trust in men Verse 4. His breath departeth i. euen his soule and vitall spirite that is hee dieth and so the hope which men repose in him or them perisheth and hée returneth to his earth vz. out of which he was taken as Gene. 3.19 and this must bée vnderstoode in respect of his body then vz. when hee dieth his thoughtes perish i. all that hee thought vppon and deuised in his imagination come to nothing and this is an other reason taken from the vanity of mans life Verse 5. Blessed is he i. he is in a good and blessed state that hath the GOD of Iaakob for his helpe i. that hath the true GOD to helpe and deliuer him in all assayes Sée Psalme 144.15 whose hope is in the Lorde his GOD i. that putteth his trust onely in that true god howsoeuer men do destitute forsake or faile him Ver. 6. Which made heauen and earth sée Psalme 124.8 also Psalme 121.2 the Sea and all that therein is i. whatsoeuer liueth and moueth in the same Sée Psalm 8.8 which kéepeth his fidelitie for euer i. which doth faithfully and continually performe whatsoeuer he hath promised Ver. 7. Which executeth iustice vz. vpon the wicked and vngodly and that woorde Iustice sheweth that God doeth them no iniurie when hee punisheth them for the oppressed i. on the behalf of the oppressed q.d. when they are oppressed and none able to deliuer them then doeth God take vppon him the defence of their iust cause against the oppressours which giueth bread to the hungrie i. foode and sustenance to them that want it the Lorde loseth the prisoners vz. out of their prison and bondage as he did Ioseph by bowing rulers heartes to set them at libertie Sée Psalm 105.20 Verse 8. The Lorde giueth sight to the blinde the Lorde raiseth vp the crooked i. hée healeth all diseases yea though they be neuer so harde and incurable howe true this is the whole body of the Scripture declareth and specially the miracles of our Sauiour Christ in the newe testament and by crooked he meaneth them that bee broken and bowed as it were together with afflictions and infirmities the Lorde loueth the righteous i. pursueth them especially with his fauour séeming after a sorte to restraine that to the godly which hée had generally spoken before Ver. 9. The Lorde keepeth vz. safe and sounde and free from hurt and daunger the strangers vz. which are tossed from one place to an other and haue as it were no body to comfort them hee relieueth the fatherlesse and widowe i. hee comforteth them in their distresse and heauinesse vnder these three hee comprehendeth all them that bee destitute of ayd and defence or haue no means to come by the same of these see Exodus 22.22.23.24 but hee ouerthroweth vz. in his iust iudgement the way of the wicked i. all his deuises woordes and workes Sée Psalme 1.6 Ver. 10. The Lorde vz. our God which we serue shall raigne for euer vz. do his Enemies against him and his what so euer they can O Sion he speaketh to Sion that is to the Church because God speciallie raigneth for the preseruation thereof thy GOD vz. whom thou seruest endureth from generation to generation i. ruleth and raigneth for euer and euer as Psalme 145.13 Prayse yee the Lord sée Psalme 106. in the end Do. Ver. 1. teacheth vs that our praysing of God should procéed from the harte Ver. 2. teacheth vs that we should continue in it and neuer be wearie of well doing Ver. 3. teacheth vs earnestlie to fight against that naturall corruption which is in vs that is to trust in others besides the Lord. Ver. 4. setteth out the breuitie and brittlenesse of mans life Ver. 5. teacheth vs that how soeuer wée be forsaken of men yet we are in good case if we trust in the Lorde Ver. 6. teacheth vs to prayse God first for the workes of creation secondlie for his mercifull promising and faythfull performinge of that which he hath promised Ver. 7. teacheth vs that how soeuer men deale vniustlie one with an other yet God alwayes executeth Iustice Secondlie it teacheth vs that he doth not for euer forget the pore afflicted estate of his people Thirdlie that we ought to prayse him for his prouidence towardes the poore and néedie and his pitie towardes the prisoners Verse 8. teacheth vs that many times in matters past mens reache the Lord worketh most mightilie to the end that all the glorie might be geuen to him Ver. 9. teacheth vs that these whom men commonlie make least account of GOD most highlie regardeth and estéemeth it setteth out also the vnlikelie rewarde of the wicked and of the godlie Verse 10. teacheth vs that it is a singular comfort to the Church and to euerie member thereof to knowe that GOD is the King thereof and his Kingdome and gouerment shall endure for euer Psalme 147. THis Psalme standinge chieflie in exhorting men to the prayse of GOD Di. may be deuided into thrée partes First he prouoketh men to prayse God speciallie for his Graces and goodnesse towardes his Church from Verse 1. to the ende of the sixt In the second he exhorteth men to prayse him speciallie for his prouidence to all creatures and namely towardes Men. from Verse 7. to the ende of the 11. In the thirde he prouoketh them to prayse him for his might power and goodnesse towardes all but chiefly towardes his Church from Verse 12. to the ende of the Psalme Se. This Psalme hath no title as many other before going haue none Ver. 1. Prayse ye the Lord vz. for his mercy and goodnesse for it is good i. profitable and comfortable euen to vs sée Psalme 92.1 To singe vz. prayses and thankes giuings vnto our god i. vnto him who hath testified by infinit tokens his great care and loue towardes vs and we agayne on the other side do serue and worship for it vz. prayse and thankes giuinges is a pleasaunt thing i. is an acceptable thing euen vnto