of the people of God then to crave Gods blessing on the corn grass or other fruits that they saw upon the earth in these or the like words God bless it or God save it PSAL. CXXX Verse 3. IF thou Lord shouldst mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand That is rectus in curia It is the posture of those that would boldly defend their cause Vers. 6. My soul waiteth for the Lord more then they which watch for the morning As the weaâ—y Sentinell which is weâ— with the dews of the night waits for the appearance of the morning or as the Levites watched in the Temple when the morning would come that they might be taken off from their work Vers. 7. With him is plenteous redemption From all â—inâ—e and all the consequences of it PSAL. CXXXI Verse 2. AS a childe that is weaned of his mother my soul is even as a weaned childe See Isa. 32. That is was carefull of nothing as a weaned childe and as he depends on his mothers â—are so doth he commit the event to God and wholly depend on him PSAL. CXXXII Verse 8. ARise O Lord into thy rest thoâ— and the Ark of thy strength The royall Prophet having setled himself in his Kingdom according to his own desire and besides having after many wandrings to and fro at length brought back again the Ark unto Jerusalem maketh here most zealous and devout prayers to God for the continuance of his favour both to the Church and Commonwealth committed to his Government Vers. 9. Let thy Priests be cloathed with righteousness The Priests had linnen cloathes reaching down to their feet so Christ our Highpriest Rev. 1. 13. Linnen signifies righteousness in the Scripture Rev. 17. 8. To this David alludes here To this petition here God answers v. 16. and to Davids petition v. 10. God answers v 17. to the end of the Psalm Vers. 11. Of the fruit of thy body Thy womb or belly thâ—â— is thy childrenâ— See 2 Sam. 7. 12. This prophesie respecteth Christ Act. 2. 30. PSAL. CXXXIII Verse 1. BEhold how good and how pleasant it is How good that is how much would come to the persons by it by way of admiration and how pleasant Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit â—â—iâ—â— dulci. Some things are good which are not pleasant as afflictions repentance self-deniall rendring good for evil some things pleasant which are not good as sensuall pleasures some things neither good nor pleasant as envy despair impatience some things both good and pleasant as the happiness in heaven Vers. 2 3. He useth two comparisons answering to good and pleasant the second verse answering pleasant the third answering to good Vers. 2. It is like the precious oyntment upon the head that ran down upon the beard even Aarons beard that went down to the skirts of his garments It signifies that the spirituall oyl was first of all poured upon our Head Christ and from thence consequently derived to all his members Vers. 3. As the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the blessing even life for evermore Hermon was a very fruitfull hill inter pascua celebratur Tâ—erâ— Where brethren dwell in unity Commanded Appointed and sent effectually See Psal. 42. 9. PSAL. CXXXIV Verse 3. THe Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion He doth not say The Lord that made the earth bless thee out of heaven nor the Lord that made heaven bless thee out of heaven but bless thee out of Zion as if he would teach us that all blessings come as immediatly and primarily from heaven so mediatly and secondarily from Zion where the Temple stood PSAL. CXXXV Verse 6. WHatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in hâ—aven and in earth in thâ—sâ—â—s and all deep places A holy Minister said that Scripture did â—â—â—ch content him Such a thing pleased God said he why should it not please me PSAL. CXXXVI Verse 10 To him that sâ—â—â—te AEgypt in their first-born Here are four particulars 1. God hath judgements for a whole Nation Exod. 12. 30. 2. God punisheth his enemies in what is neerest to them Zech. 12. 10. 3. God proportions his judgements to mens sins Exod. 1. they drowned the Israelites first-born 4. This judgement brake Pharaohs heart Vers. 11. And brought out Israel from among them The bondage of the Israelites was great 1. In regard of their bodies it is called an iron-fornace See Exod. 3. 7 9. 2. In regard of their souls great Idolatry The AEgyptians worshipt almost every thing the Crocodile River Ox Herbs in the garden Rev. 11. Rome is called AEgypt this was therefore a great deliverance Vers. 13. To him which divided the Red Sea into parts Or Divisions By the Jews tradition the Red Sea was parted into twelve several parts for every of the twelve Tribes to goe thorow But Bucer and Muis mislike that Interpretation Vers. 14. And made Israel to passe thorow the midst of it He shews for whom this was done Israel Exod 14. 22 29. not the AEgyptians Heb. 11. 29. 2. God gave Israel courage and faith to venture Heb. 11. Vers. 15. But overthrew Shook them off in the original as a man would shake a worm off his garment Ainsworth and Grotius render it Shook off See Exod. 14. 27. PSAL. CXXXVII Verse 6. ABove my chief joy Heb. The head of my joy PSAL. CXXXVIII Verse 1. BEfore the gods will I sing praise unto thee The Kings and Princes of the earth as vers 4. called gods Psal. 82. 1 6. before such David used to confesse the Lord Psal. 119. 46. Vers. 2. For thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name The Name of God appears in his great work of Creation and Providence 1. Because there is more of God discovered in his Word then in his works 2. He works greater things by his Word then by his works converting the soul and comforting afflicted consciences 3. Gives it authority over the conscience PSAL. CXXXIX Verse 3. THou compassest my paths That is markest me which way soever I goe Vers. 13. For thou hast possessed my reins That is my secret cogitations for the kidneys lie in a hid and secret place of the body Jer. 12. 2. Vers. 14. For I am fearfully and wonderfully made Made as it were and composed altogether in wonders Vers. 15. My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth So he cals the womb because curious work-men when they have some choice piece in hand perfect it in private and then bring it forth to light for men to gaze at Vers. 17. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me Some expound it of the thoughts he had of God he valued nothing so much as high thoughts of him See vers 18.
Greg. Praefat. in Exposit. Lib. Job c. 1. He was a Christian long before Christ Julian the Pelagian saith of Job O virum ante Evangelia Evangelicum Apostolorum ante Apostolica praecepta discipulum Homo Gentilis saith Gregory Praefat in Exposit. Job c. 2. Home sine lege ad medium adducitur ut eorum qui sub Lege sunt pravitas as confundatur Verse 3. His substance also was seaven thousand Sheep Doubtless Job had Money though Cattell gives the denomination See Ch. 31. v. 24. 42. 20. Pecunia comes á pecude the form of Sheep and Oxen was stamped on money Job had Lands also suitable to such a stock We in our Language call the estate of man his substance and a rich man a substantiall man the greater his possessions were the greater was his loss and patience Numquam quippè sine dolore amittitur nisi quod sine amore possidetur Greg. Verse 5. Job sent and sanctified them and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all This was not will worship though not written worship for though Job offered sacrifice before the Law of sacrifice was written yet not before it was given it was given from the beginning as all other parts of worship used from the beginning were We must not only seek God for our children in the lump but child by child Mr Broughton renders He offered for every one of them a burnt-offering It may be my sonnes have sinned and cursed God in their hearts Mr Broughton renders it It may be my children have sinned and little blessed God in their hearts that is have sinned so as to provoke God and scandalize men in this their feasting Thus did Job continually That is in the renewed seasons when occasioned We are said to do continually when seasonably Ephes. 6. 18. Verse 6. Now there was a day when the sonnes of God came to present themselves before the Lord. See Ch. 2. 1. the Angels came to receive commands from him See Ch. 38. 7. Vide Drusium Verse 7. Then Satan answered the Lord and said From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it Full of despair not so full of torment as may be See 1 Pet. 1. 8. Vers. 8. A perfect and upright man one that feareth God and eseheweth evil This is to be understood in reference to that generation Secondly Not only in one particular grace though that be true but take it for the latitude of his holiness and grace Vers. 9 10. Doth Job fear God for nought Hast thou not made a hedg about him q. d. Job is but a mercenary his fear and service of thee is but in respect of his wealth and prosperity Putavit inimicus propterea illum talem virum colere Deum quia illa omnia donaverat ei petivit ut auferrentur ab eo Ver. 10. Hast thou not made a hedg round about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side Heb. A hedg of Thorns Hos. 2. 5. a hedg ad separationem munitionem a translation from fields which are fenced with hedges to drive away wild beasts Drusius Vers. 11. And he will curse thee to thy face And then he will little bless thee to thy face Broughton If he curse thee not to thy face something is wanting I will confess my damnation is righteous that God is just Vers. 16. The fire of God is fallen from Heaven Because extraordinary an Hebraisme sent by the devil but by Gods permission It may import a great and terrible fire as wrestlings of God Cedars of God See Junius Vers. 20. And cut his mantle It was the custom of the East-Country in outward afflictions Gen. 35. 34. 2 Sam. 1. 11. 3. 31. Vers. 21. Naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return thither to my mother the earth Job 34. 15. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away He gave freely and hath justly taken Magna quippe est consolatio in to quod displiâ—et quod illo ordinante erga â—os agitur cui non nisi justum placet Greg. Exposit. Moral in 1 m c. Job l. 2. c. 12. CHAP. II. Verse 3. HAst thou considered my servant Job Hast thou set thy heart upon my servant Job Broughton 1 Sam. 4. 20. so ch 1. v. 8. Thou movedst me against him The Hebrew word signifies to move a man by force of argument all manner of supplications and intreaties Deut. 13. 6. To destroy him without a cause Without respecting sinne as a cause there was not the cause which the devil alleadged Vers. 4. Skin for skin yea and all that a man hath will he give for his life Abundance of skins as grace for grace He will give all his skins for their estates in those times did lie in Cattell he will give much all his skins though they be never so many to save his life Vers. 7. Smote Job with sore boyls Hebr. Vehement or scorching inflammation Ulcere pessimo Vulg. Lat. Ulcere maligno LXX Ulcere malo Interp. Arab. Scabiâ— pâ—ssima Paraph. Chald. Vers. 9. Then said his wife unto him Dost thou still retain thine integrity Curse God and die Jobs wife was Dinab Jacobs daughter say some At de eo nihil certi esse potest Râ—vet It is a very difficult place Nonne vides quod Deus est inexorabilis notwithstanding all your prayers and patience the judgement still abides on you therefore revenge thy self of God q. d. Break out into open blasphemy and so provoke God to cut thee off rather than endure this misery Vers. 10. Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil Questions in Scripture 1. Have a great deal of policy as that of the devil to Eve Gen. 3. 1. 2. A great deal of passion Hast not thou chosen the sonne of Jesse to the confusion of thy fathers nakedness so here That is â—aith Drusius as we have received good from God so ought we also to receive evil CHAP. III. Verse 5. LEt the blackness of the day terrifie it The thickest or darkest darkness Blackness is more than darkness therefore it is used as an addition to darkness Jude v. 13. Vers. 9. Let the starres of the twilight thereof be dark By twilight we are to understand the beginning of the night or the evening when the starres first appear The word signifieth both twilights the twilight of the evening and the twilight of the morning The starres of the twilight are those resplendent starres so much observed by Astronomers and observable by the Vulgar which shine in the evening and the morning Vers. 19. The small and great are there Are all in the same estate without difference See Prov. 22. 2. The servant is free from his Master q. d. He serves not there Drusius Vers.
number to shew that he only is righteous who hath all the parts and kindes of righteousness so the word is in the plural Isa. 35. 15. His Countenance Heb. His faces Every discovery of God in mercy is his face they shall have all his several wayes of gracious discovery all the wayes of love and delight PSAL. XII Verse 2. THey speak vanity They speak injuriously every one deceiveth or would circumvent and overreach his neighbour See Psal. 25. 4. With a double heart do they speak Heb. An heart and a heart Vers. 6. As silver tried in the fornace of earth He speaks de experiontia viva sanctorum every time any promise is fulfilled there is a trial of the sincerity of Gods intention Purified seven times That is Compleatly and perfectly compare Ps. 119. 164. with Psal. 34. 1. PSAL. XIII Verse 1. HIde thy face That is Withdraw thy favour This is contrary to the lifting up of the light of Gods face Psal. 4. 7. and importeth trouble and grief and is caused by sinne the Prophet often prayeth against it Psal. 30. 8. 104. 29. 88. 15. 69. 18. 102. 3. 243. 7. 27. 9. PSAL. XIV Vers. 1. THe fool hath said in his heart there is no God It is rather an option than an opinion Austin He could be content there were none In his heart None dare speak it though he dare think it There is none that doth good Of these three verses the first the second the third see Junius lib. 2. Parallel 4. Rom. 3. 10 11 12. Isa. 59. 7. 8. Vers. 3. They are altogether become filthy Or rotten and stinking There is none that doth good no not one That is Very few naturally considered Non est qui faciat bonum Jun. Id latinius diseretur non est qui faciat bene ne quidem unus Druf Observ. Sac. l. 2. c. 11. Vers. 4. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread q. d. If they knew whom they did devour they would never devour them My people That is The poor they are Gods people both because they are within the Covenant as also in respect of their estate and condition because they are poor the Lord taketh protection of them As they eat bread Without fear and resistance with delight continually Vers. 7. When the Lord bringeth back the Captivity of his people Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be glad He means it of the spiritual Captivity for neither his nor his Subjects in his time were molested with the natural God having subdued to him all his enemies round about then Jacob and Israel that is all Gods chosen so delivered shall rejoyce and be glad PSAL. XV. THe substance of the whole Psalm is a Question and an Answer The Question is Who are the members of Gods Church upon earth that shall come to life eternal in Heaven Vers 1. Who shall abide in thy Tabernacle That is Who shall have communion with the Church here Tabernacle fitly expresseth the movable estate of the Church in this world Exod. 26. 2. Sam. 7. 1 6. 1 Chron. 17. 5. Who shall dwell in thy holy hill Be received to Heaven This notes a durable estate Ainsw And Grotius interprets it of Mount Sion Psal. 2. 6. In Sione regia Davidis ubi tunc erat arca Grot. The Answer is made in the rest of the Psalm And in this Answer is contained a Description of the parties 1. By their Properties and Marks vers 2. 1. He that walketh uprightly That is In truth and sincerity of Religion which standeth in the sincerity of faith and a good conscience 2. And worketh righteousness He speaks of particular justice here that whereby we give to every man his right or due 3. And speaketh the truth in his heart Without all guile or flattery And because we are easily deceived in general sins in the third fourth and fifth verses there are set down more evident and sensible notes of sincerity justice and truth Vers. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue That is Speaks to his neighbours disgrace behinde his back Nor doth evil to his Neighbour In any act of injustice or cruelty to his hurt Nor taketh up a reproach against his Neighbour That is Receives and entertains willingly any reproachfull tale against him Some expound it Greedy to take it up when another reports it The word signifies elevare to lift up a report one sayes a little and he sayes more Vers. 4. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned He contemns wicked persons See examples of such carriage 2 King 13. 14. Esth. 3. 2. Luk. 23. 9. But he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not Makes conscience of his word and promise especially if it be confirmed by oath Vers. 5. He that putteth not out his money to usury Some interpret it of oppressive lending Others of taking increase for bare lending to the poor Usury is fitly called Biting because it consumeth the borrower and his substance Nor taketh reward against the Innocent Gives testimony without bribery or partiality He that doth these things shall never be moved He that in his endeavour doth all these things shall never be cut off from the Church as an Hypocrite Hac quisquis vitam ratione exegerit ille Ille Dei foelix aeternum monte quieseat Beza PSAL. XVI THe whole Psalm say some is to be understood of Christ as well as David as Act. 2. shews Vers. 2. My goodness extendeth not to thee 3. But to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight It was from the Father that Christ was sent and that his service was accepted as Mediator it may be opened by Heb. 10 5. God was not profited by all that he did The Excellent The word in the original signifies the magnificent ones those which have magnificent spirits and are exceeding glorious Vers. 4. Their drink offerings of bloud will I not offer The drink-offerings were an appendix to other Offerings They signifie two things 1. The pouring out of their souls in the service of God 2. The satisfaction that they took therein Paul alludes to this Phil. 2. 17. Some think he means the Gentiles which poured out bloud as a drink-offering Parisiensis de legibus gives three reasons why their drink-offerings were of bloud Major Honor Difficilior Servitus Humilior Subjectio Nothing so near to the soul as the bloud Therefore it was a greater honour to the Devil yea the bloud of their Sonnes and Daughters God required but the bloud of beasts Vers. 5. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance Christ speaks this as Mediator thou maintainest my lot Some referre it to the words following Christs inheritance in his people Others to the words fore-going God is my portion both may be meant Vers. 6. The