alone Satan spared him verse 15 that by him Job might quickly hear it winde a great whirlwinde verse 19 young men And daughters also Satan by his Commission might have taken away his wife also as well as his children But he left her to vex him shaved his head Did it himself verse 20 or by some other thither Into the womb of our common mother the earth verse 21 whereon he fell ver 20. sinned not Contrary to that of Satan verse 22 He blesseth ver 21. not curseth as Satan said ver 11. earth He hath no power in Heaven chapter II verse 2 no temptation is there skin for skin Any skin for his own though even that of his children chap. I. 19. for his life To save his life and person free sore boiles Satans power verse 7 if God give him leave Curse Hebr. Blesse Either it is an ironical scoffe at Jobs piety verse 9 and patience Or the word beareth two contrary significations as the Hebrew Kadesh Levit. VI. 29. Deut. XXII 9. And with the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latines Sacer and sundry others do And so Cursing is here meant as chap. I. 11. and 1 Kings XXI 10. Some conceive that the crime of Blasphemy was so odious and execrable in those dayes that men could not endure to hear it called by the proper name but though they had a word to expresse it by yet they chose rather to understand it by the contrary So a Sodomite and a Whore our English word may haply be rather Hore from Hire as Meretrix from Merces have their names in Hebrew from holinesse being both most unholy Job XXXVI 14. Gen. XXXVIII 21 22. Deut. XXIII 18. and knew him not At first sight verse 12 wept When they came near and knew him Seven dayes The three friends silence for seven dayes and nights is wonderful verse 13 Somewhat like is that Ezek. III. 15 16. See Lam. II. 10. and III. 28. After this Job first breaks off that strange silence chapter III verse 1 and his former pious patience And through infirmity he passionately falls to curse the day and night of his nativity wisheth he had died as soone as he was born much magnifying the state of the dead above his woful life whereof he complaines that it is in being and is so bitter to him conceived i. e. borne or brought forth verse 3 The night of conception is unknown and the man-childe till it be borne Then Eliphaz Here begins the first Onset of Jobs three friends chapter IV verse 1 I will summe them up together Here Eliphaz doth accuse Jobs faintnesse under present miseries glance at his former hypocrisie maintain in the general that no good man was ever so punished shewing the prosperous state of the godly and the plagues of God upon the wicked and by relating a fearful Vision he seeks to humble the excellencies of man and justifie God in his doings above him chap. IV. Moreover he hints that no Saint is so afflicted as Job and he sheweth that the prosperity of the foolish sinner is but momentany adviseth Job to submit his cause to God who doth wonderful things and unsearchable against the evill and for the good and that he despise not the chastening of the Almighty who then shall and will deliver and defend him preserve and prosper him and his chap. V. After Jobs answer to this Then Bildad doth reprove him for it doth justifie God in his judgements and that if Iob will seek to him and be upright God who doth confound the hope of the hypocrite will prosper him and fill his lips with rejoycing chap. VIII After Iobs answer hereupon Then Zophar reproves Iob more then the other did for his former answer as justifying himself more then God shewing that God exacts of him lesse then his iniquity deserved that God and his wayes are unsearchable But if Iob will pray unto him and put away iniquity then his future state shall become secure and glorious chap. XI who can with-hold Hearing such verse 2. 6. and so impatient speeches Is not this This as a touch-stone shewes that formerly they were but counterfeits Thus Eliphaz unwittingly plaies Satans part chap. I. 9 10 11. and II. 5. Remember Give one instance verse 7 if thou canst of any good man perishing by the hand of God as thou art like to do This and many other speeches of Jobs friends we must not take for Scriptural and Canonical truths though some of their speeches be cited elsewhere in Scripture True it is that they said thus though all be not true that they said specialy their false charges against Job and misapplying of things to him chap. XLII 7. Lion Seven names of Lions in Scripture verse 10 Whereof see the Annotations on this text and Buxtorfs Lexicon Now a thing A Vision verse 12 16. or Preparation for the Revelation ensuing Shall The voice speaking verse 17 21. or revelation it self Now Eliphaz might misapply the speech of this Vision as himself and his companions did many other good grounds Loe There is no comparison between Angels and God verse 18 much lesse between man and God Saints wilt thou turne chapter V verse 1 To finde a parallel for thy self that any living Saint was ever so afflicted wrath Impatience in man verse 2 or wrath in God To set up This might serve as an encouragement to Job verse 11 yea in seven From many verse 19 yea from all troubles There are in the words following seven troubles reckoned up thou shalt know Now Promises of Blessings do follow verse 24 a comfortable state and numerous posterity a long life and happy death Loe this Application of all to Job verse 27 to make use of it But Job answered Here I will summe up together his first Answers to each of the three friends chapter VI verse 1 as I did formerly their several first speeches to him Here then He aments the most woful extremity of this misery which God inflicts upon him so that his Complaints are not causelesse he wisheth that God would cut him off and complaineth of the unpitifulnesse of his friends towards him chap. VI. He reneweth the mention and bemoaning of his miseries as insupportable he wisheth death confesseth his sinfulnesse and craveth pardon chap. VII He acknowledgeth man cannot contend with God and that he will not answer God or contend to justifie himself though he were righteous which he is not but makes supplication to his Judge He saith God destroyes the perfect and the wicked that his dayes are few his sorrowes are great that God will not hold him innocent that he cannot answer God yet would willingly speak to him if his rod and terrours were taken away from him chap. IX He will speak to God and say wherfore doest thou so contend with me and search after my sinne Thou knowest I am not wicked Thy hands have made me If I be wicked woe unto me and if I be righteous yet will
like fathers unto the sins of the fathers also either enhauncing or lengthening the judgements to make their sufferings the more exemplarie that men may observe how execution of vengeance though delayed for a time yet at length falleth with a full storme on the race of the wicked 1 Sam. III. 12. Lam. V. 7. Matth. XXIII 32 35 36. 1 Thes. II. 15 16. a blessing in it The little liquor in the cluster argued life and sap to be in the plant verse 8 and so hope of recovery to become fruitful againe not destroy them all A Remnant still reserved and saved ver 9. for the propagating of the Church Jer. XXX 11. Amos. IX 8. Sharon Under Libanus verse 10 1 Chron. XXVII 29. valley of Achor Neere Jericho that prepare a table for that troope Feasts verse 11 for their troope of idols pointed at as it were with the finger in contempt by the Prophet here Some by this troope understand the hoast of heaven Some one particular Star as Jupiter that furnish the drink-offering Heb. that fill mixture i. e. wine Apoc. XIV 10. Psal. LXXV 8. Prov. IX 2. strong wine is in these places meant without mixture of water For they would not offer such to their Idols though in their ordinary drinking they did mix it for themselves behold A strange alteration verse 13 four times repeated by another name Verse 16. verse 15 chap. LXII 2 4 12. as being in another state and condition then you or they formerly Such a name as should be used not in Cursing but in Blessing See Hos. I. 6 9. and II. 1 23. Rom IX 26. 1 Pet. II. 10. I create new heavens A further more strange alteration verse 17 Make as it were a new world Their change shall be such that coming suddenly out of such adversity into such prosperity they shall seeme to be in a new in another world But this is chiefly applyable to the times of the Gospel under Christ in a spiritual sense in regard of those plentiful endowments of spiritual graces that therein should abound John I. 16 17 Acts II. 17 33. Heb. IX 9 12. And hereunto is this change applied chap. LXVI 22. 2 Cor. V. 17. begun here to be perfected in heaven 2 Pet. III. 13. Apoc. XXI 1 5. and the former Jer. III. 16. 1 Cor. II. 9. 2 Cor. III. 7 10. But be ye glad Gods speech verse 18 as chap. III. 10. and XXX 10. the childe He that was once a childe verse 20 None among them young or old should be taken away by untimely death but should live to the utmost course of nature wont usualy to be attained verse 22. but the sinner Such among them as remained still unreformed unrefined unreclaimed though he live never so long shall at length prove a cursed wretch as the dayes of a tree As the Oake verse 22 and Elme before they call Chap. LVIII verse 24 9. Psal. XXXII 5. Dan. X. 12. and IX 20 23. Luke XV. 18 20. Acts X. 44. and XI 15. John XIV 13 14. and XV. 7 16. and XVI 23 24 26. The wolf and the lamb Such as had beene of a wolvish disposition formerly verse 25 should now be thus transformed All shall be harmlesse ch XI 6 9. Another Sermon chapter LXVI like the former and that as in matter so also in many expressions agreeing with it The heaven in my throne Cited Acts VII verse 1 48 49 50. See Psalme CIII 19. Matth. V. 34. where is the House That ye have or should or can build unto me when as I fill heaven and earth with my presence Jer. XXIII 24 See 1 Kings VIII 27. Acts XVII 14 25. And this is to take off their minds from the Temple of Jerusalem wherein they over-much trusted and gloried Jer. VII 4. place of my rest Psal. CXXXII 8 14. Not but that he can well be without them as he was also before they were He needs no house to receive him nor service of man to be done to him Psal. XVI 2. and L. 10 11. He needs not these things as their idols do contrite spirit John IV. verse 2 21 23 24. God looks to him more then to his material Temple Psal. XXXIV 18. and CXXXVIII 6. He that killeth an Oxe For sacrifice verse 3 As in the Temple so in their Sacrifices the Jewes much confided and boasted 2 Chron. XIII 10 11. But when they rested in these outward things and exercises without any grace and goodnesse in the soul and with much filthinesse and wickednesse in their hearts and lives God loaths their persons and their sacrifices chap. I. 11 14. Prov. XV. 8. and XXI 27. Jer. VI. 20. and VII 21 22 23. Amos V. 21 22 23. Micah VI. 6 7. Ezek. XX. 39. blessed an idol With a Present or oblation Gen. XXXIII 10. and XLIII 11. I also will choose An implication of a Retaliation verse 4 As chap. LXV 12. Levit. XXVI 27 28. Psal. XVIII 26. Jer. XXXIV 17. their delusions Passively or objectively their illusions or mockages that they shall be exposed and subject unto As they have made choice of such wayes and courses as please not me so will I make choice of such things for them as they shall finde small pleasure in their fears Prov. X. 24. that cast you out Either by unjust Censure under pretence of a legal proceeding verse 5 or that shun you as persons so polluted and defiled that there is no dealing with you without being defiled by you See John IX 34. and XVI 2. See chap. LXV 5. Lam. IV. 15. Niddui a word of this root is the lowest degree of Excommunication in the Jewish Church for my Names sake For your loyalty to me As Matth. X. 22. Let the Lord be glorified Spoken in way of derision Let him manifest his might and majesty in doing some remarkable matter for you if ye be so dear to him as ye deeme your selves to be Thus jearing their trust and confidence in God As chap. V. 19. Psal. XXII 7 8. Matth. XXVII 43. 2 Pet. III. 3 4. but he shall appear The answer to that jear A voice Esay breaks out into these words verse 6 as if in a Prophetical rapture he heard the noise and voice Like that chap. XIII 4. Jer. L. 22 28. and LI. 54. A voice of noise of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Chaldeans or by the Romanes from the Temple To control their vaine confidence in it as implying how little relief or safeguard they should then receive from it Lam. II. 20. to his enemies Most likely the obstinately wicked amongst the Jewes verse V. 14. chap. LXV 6 7 and I. 24. Before she travelled A prophecie of the strange sudden verse 7 and unexpected restitution of the Church and the dilatation of it into all parts This may relate to the delivery out of Babylon by Cyrus done at an instant by his Proclamation not with so much ado as that was out of Egypt Here Zion is like the Hebrew
unclean might eate of common meats as the child-bed-woman Levit. XII But in no case of Sacred meats as Leviticus VII 20. Fat the Fat of other cleane Beasts then of such as were fit for Sacrifice verse 25 was allowed to be eaten Levit. VII 25. The Fat also of the flesh or body of the beast sacrificed might lawfully be eaten Neh. VIII 10. Esay XXV 6. and LV. 2. But the Fat or Suet that was about the flanck and the kidneys or about and upon the entrails Levit. III. 3 4. was reserved out of all Sacrifices as Gods portion to be burnt upon his Altar Levit. III. 15 16. and IV. 8 10. and XVII 6. Deut. XXXII 38. 1 Sam. II. 15 16. And is forbidden therefore to be eaten by any Levit. III. 17. and XVII 23 25. Take Aaron On the same day chapter VIII verse 2 36. that is the first day of the first moneth of the second year Moses began to consecrate and anoint the Tabernacle Altar and all things belonging to them As also Aaron and his sonnes Exod. XL. 1 17. Levit. VIII 1 36. Anointed Aaron and all his sons were at first anointed verse 12 v. 30. Num. III. 3. XXXV 25. Psal. CXXXIII 2. Not the Levites And the High-Priest onely was anointed afterwards Exod. XXIX 29 30. Levit. XVI 32. We read oft of the Anointing of Kings 1 Sam. X. 1. XVI 13. 2 Sam. 11. 4. 1 Kings I. 39. 2 Kings IX 6. XXIII 30. Psal. LXXXIX 20. But never of Prophets That of Elisaeus 1 Kings XIX 16. seemes not to have beene done with material oile see ver 19. As neither that of Hazael to be King of Syria compare 1 Kings XIX 15. with 2 Kings VIII 13. nor that of Absolon 2 Sam. XIX 10. nor that of Cyrus Esay XLV 1. there being no such custome of oiling Kings in his Countrey But anointing in those places is taken simply without that Ceremony for designing them to their Offices Burned Moses at the Consecration of Aaron verse 1 and his sons Sacrificed with Common Fire See ver 20. 21 28. But upon Aarons first Sacrificing fire came out from before the Lord out of the Sanctuary or came down from heaven rather Levit. IX 24. which must never after be suffered to go out Nadab and Abihu Nadab and Abihu took Strange or Common Fire chapter X verse 16 and not fire from the Altar of Burnt-Offering which was sent from heaven to burne Incense therewith before the Lord on the Altar of Incense as the dayly duty required at or before the dayly morning Sacrifice But fire from the Lord as Num. XVI 35. that is from heaven or the Sanctuary or from the Altar of burnt-Offering like lightning strook them with sudden death not consuming their bodies or their coats Levit. X. 4 5. Some Names of some Beasts chapter XI and Birds and Fishes as also of some Trees and Apparel and some other Hebrew words having no mate in Scripture are to us now and so to the modern Jewes of uncertain signification See also the Annotations on Esay III. 18 23. and on Jer. XVII 3. Hoof The Beasts verse 3 dividing the hoof that is into two clawes and also chewing the cud were clean and to be eaten See ver 26. Deut. XIV 6. Fins Fish here we meet with a phrase of a flesh of fish verse 9 Levit. XI 11. and Num. XI 22. as well as 1 Cor. XV. 39. that had Fins and Scales were likewise cleane and to be eaten Deut. XIV 9 10. Come not The High-Priest must enter into the most Holy place but once in the year chapter XVI verse 2 on the tenth day of the seventh moneth Levit. XVI 29 34. Exod. XXX 10. Heb. IX 7. That is for his Priestly Ministration and Expiation And then he was to be cloathed not with the glorious garments which were peculiar to the High-Priest but with those which were Common to him with the inferiour Priests Levit. XVI 4. as being a day of Humiliation and Afflicting the soul Levit. XVI 29. Yet upon other necessary occasions he might enter in at other times as at the taking down and setting up of the Tabernacle in their removals and journeys in the Wildernesse And when they took thence the Arke upon severall occasions as Josh. VI. 4. 1. Sam. IV. 3. Not to the doore No Sacrifices must be offered chapter XVII verse 3 9. but by Priests nor killed by any but the Priests except in some extraordinary Cases by the Levites but never by the Bringer for whom it was offered Nor was it to be offered at any other place but upon the Altar of Burnt-Offering at the Tabernacle Levit. XVII 3 9. Yet upon Extraordinary and necessary Occasions God commands Deut. XXVII 5 6 7 8. And holy men of Prophetical spirits though not Priests did Sacrifice and for a present time and use did make and use other Altars as Samuel 1 Sam. VII 9 17. and Ch. XI 15. and Ch. XVI 2 5. And David 2 Sam. VI. 13. and XXIV 18 25. And Solomon 1 King VIII 64. And Elijah 1 King XVIII 32. And Gideon and Manoah See Judg. II. 5. and VI. 26. and XIII 16 19. and XXI 4. Blood Blood to make an atonement for their souls Levit. XVII chapter II 11. As a Type of the Messias his Blood Rom. 3. 25. Ephes. I. 7. Col. I. 14 20. Heb. IX 12 22. which is the principal cause of the prohibition of the eating of Blood Defiled The dignity and estimation of the Priest chapter XXI verse 11 and principaly of the High-Priest See v. 4 7 8 9 15. and v. 21 23. is remarkable Burnt The Capitall punishments among the Jewes verse 9 were Burning Gen. XXXVIII 24. Levit. XXI 9. Josh. VII 15. Stoning Levit. XX. 2 27. and 24. 14 16 23. Hanging Num. XXV 4. Deut. XXI 22. And in after-times by example of the Romanes Crucifying and Beheading as in our Saviour and John Baptist. Superfluous In a Freewill-Offering chapter XXII verse 23 the Sacrifice which had something Superfluous or lacking in his parts was accepted To the Feasts chapter XXIII Levit. XXIII are added the Feasts of the New-Moones Num. XXVIII 11 15. 1 Chron. 23. 31. 2 Chron. II. 4. and Ch. VIII 13. The Feast of Purim Esth. IX 17 19 22 26 28. And of that Dedication John X. 22. Sabbath Sabbath is called Sabbath of Rest or Rest of Rest and so verse 3 v. 32. And Sabbath sometimes signifies besides the seventh day weekly other Feast-dayes also as Levit. XXIII 11 24 32 39. And sometimes the whole week as Levit. XXIII 15. Luke XVIII 12. John XX. 1. Of the Sabbath-day see the Annotations on Jer. XVII 21 22 24 27. The seventh moneth The seventh moneth had as many Feasts in it verse 24 as all the year almost beside Levit. XXIII Deut. XVI And the only set Fast-day Of blowing of Trumpets The Feast of blowing Trumpets was the first day of the seventh moneth Beside the Feast of the New-Moone Levit. XXIII v. 24. And
thereby that they had not charged Job unjustly seeing him lie under such judgements as God did not inflict but upon ungodly men And here he deals not with him by exhortation and promises as there he did but seemes also to imply and threaten these judgements to Job as unavoidable by him the first-borne of death The most terrible kinde of death verse 13 that carrieth the principality above all other kinds of death as the first-borne doth above all the brethren And yet death it self in what kinde soever is called in the next verse the King of terrors How long Here Job again blames his friends chapter XIX verse 2 ver 2 3. And be it By a fresh commemoration of his miseries verse 4 wherein he chargeth God still too heavily he moves them rather to a Compassion and Commiseration of him to verse 23. skin of my teeth Of my lips verse 20 or gums rather Oh that my words Fearing to finde little comfort in his friends verse 23 he betakes himself to God and comforts himself in an assured expectation of a joyful Resurrection But ye Job admonisheth his friends to be well advised of their ill dealing with him verse 28 and to fear Gods wrath seeing the root of right and Religion is in Job and will be found so in the end that the triumphing of the wicked is but short Being driven from that part of their argument chapter XX verse 5 That God did not use to give prosperity to wicked men Zophar now insisteth upon this That though it be so Yet their Prosperity is but for a moment or short and ruine and destruction shall befall them And this he pursues to the end of the chapter sweet in his mouth Zophar seemes to insist upon this similitude verse 12 to verse 23. bow of steele Of the Bow verse 24 see the Annotations on Zech. IX 13. and chap. X. 4. Here is mentioned a Bow of steele And so Psal. XVIII 34. such it seemes were in use Wherefore do the wicked live Job overthrowes Zophars assertion of the short prosperity of wicked men in this world chapter XXI and their sudden downfal verse 7 and shewes their flourishing estate in themselves ver 7. in their children ver 8. in their families ver 9. in their wealth ver 10. in their pleasures ver 11 12. in their life and death ver 13. yea though they were notoriously wicked men ver 14 15. yet their counsell and course is farre from Job ver 16. And he shewes that God doth oftentimes break off their prosperity and plagueth them verse 17 21. And that God deals both wayes thus diversly with them out of his unsearchable wisdome whereunto we cannot reach verse 22 26. He concludes with an application of the premises to his own case relating their false doome of him and his upon their false grounds ver 27 28. And refelling the same by the testimony of passengers themselves and their better judgement that many wicked men live and die prosperously and peaceably 29 33. Then Eliphaz Here begins the third Onset chapter XXII verse 1 by Eliphaz and Bildad only Wherein being convinced by Job of the falshood of their grand plea and position Eliphaz now doth charge him home with particular sinnes tells him the justification of himself and his righteousnesse cannot be profitable to God and Exhorts him to Repentance with Promises of Mercie chap. 22. And Bildad having little more to say Concludes with this That neither Job nor any man can be justified with God And therefore Job should not contend with God as if he had done him some wrong in afflicting him more then was fitting chap. 25. And Job in his Replies longeth yet to appear and plead before God in confidence of his mercie He asserts his innocency against Eliphaz and promiseth to himself an happy issue though for the present God do seeme to him inexorable He shewes that God often winketh at many grosse wickednesses committed by ungodly men which God punisheth not in this world but suffers them still to prosper and flourish chap. XXIII and XXIV And checking Bildads impertinencies He speaks more magnificently of God Power and Wisdom then Bildad had done chap. XXVI And seeing his three friends at a Non-Plus He goes on the more confidently to maintaine his Cause and clear his own innocencie against hypocrisie He acknowledgeth that Gods judgements light on ungodly men in this world and that their Blessings are turned into Curses though not alwayes chap. XXVII And this by Gods wonderful wisdome which passeth mans deepest wisdome and is unsearchable and carrieth things farre above the reach of the wisest men whose highest wisdome is to Fear the Lord chap. XXVIII And Job it seemes after some intermission of speech finding his friends still silent goes on And in his last speech bemoanes himself and excuseth his impatience by his great fall from so great prosperity chap. XXIX to so great misery chap. XXX And for conclusion He stands upon the clearing of his own integrity much more then before And that by a solemne Protestation of his uprightnesse and piety in sundry several duties without any grosse wickednesse committed by him chap. XXXI for fear of thee Lest thy wickednesse should hurt him verse 4 or thy fear of him and pietie could help him Is not He chargeth Job home and in particulars verse 5 But falsely old way Haply relating to the time of the Flood verse 15 By the purenesse of thine hands God will not only do good to thee verse 30 but to others also for thy sake but he is not there I cannot so see and finde him chapter XXIII verse 8 that I might reason with him in one minde To lay load on me verse 13 that is appointed for me In his infinite wisdom verse 14 and irresistible will he will not cease afflicting me till all be done cut off By death verse 17 Gods Executioner Why Why may not God hide his times of punishing the wicked chapter XXIV verse 1 even from the knowledge of the godly themselves that they could never observe that he punisheth many ungodly men according to their deeds in this world The wicked make ill use of this as thinking God sees not or cares not yet God Calls them not to account for their foolish sinful actions verse 12 the way of the Vineyards He walketh not in those wayes where men use to travel to their work verse 18 lest he should be seene and taken He evil intreateth The oppressor doth so in this verse 21 and in what followeth Yet some understand it of God and his judgements upon the wicked in this verse and in those also that follow eares of corne The not pronouncing this word rightly did cost so many Ephramites their lives verse 24 Judg. XII 6. peace in his high places chapter XXV verse 2 In and above the heavens No Angel doth or dare question or complain of his proceedings much lesse should Job How Job ironicaly taunts Bildad chapter XXVI verse
Ministers of the Gospel or requires parity of authority among them but saith that those things though good and lawful in themselves yet have no place in nor relation to his spiritual Kingdome which is in the soul. not stand As Num. XXX 5 12. verse 5 Josh. II. 11. and VII 12 13. Knoweth Acknowledge and own verse 6 approveth regardeth rewardeth As Exod. III. 7. Deut. XXXIV 10. Psal. XXXI 8. and XXXVII 18. and CXLII 5. and CXLIV 12. Prov. XII 10. Hos. XIII 5. Matth. VII 23. Rom. VII 15. John X. 14. Job XXIII 10. Prov. II. 8. Why I his Psalme by many of the Ancients is joyned to the former chapter II verse 1 as a part of it And they take the former as a Preface to this or rather to the whole Book of the Psalmes But Saint Paul doth distinguish them Acts XIII 33. And the Church doth ascribe this Psalme to David though it bear not his Title Acts IV. 25. And in this Psalme David bears a Type of Christ who is here more realy properly principaly and immediately intended All which appears Acts IV. 25 26. and XIII 33. Heb. I. 5. and V. 5. So that the first and open sense points to David the mystical and more abstruse to the Messias And no doubt but this and such allusions more were out of all question even from the beginning so fore-cast and appointed as it were by the holy Ghost Why The Psalmist demands and wonders at the banding and conspiring of all and all sorts of enemies against David and his Kingdome typicaly as did Saul Ishbosheth Abner the Philistines Jebusites and others But against Christ and his Kingdome principaly as is the prime purpose maine scope and intent of this Psalme Acts IV. 25 26. Mark III. 6. John XI 53. Luke XIX 14. Though all in vaine ver 1 2 3. The Kings 2 Sam. VIII and X. verse 2 Chapters heavens 1 King VIII verse 4 27. Jer. XXII 24. Psal. CXXXIX 7. The King of heaven against those Kings of the earth ver 2. laugh And have them in derision as Job XLI 29. dictum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intelligendum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. XXXVII 12 13. and LIX 8. Prov. I. 26. wrath No passion properly hath any place in Gods will verse 5 It is not in him but without him not in his affection but in his act These expressions are but condescentions to the weaknesse of our capacities Psal. LXXVI 6 9. and CIV 32. yet have I God the Father who makes and orders all earthly Kingdomes verse 6 Dan. IV. 14. and II. 21. and VII 14. Ezra I. 1. my King Prov. VIII 22 30. Acts II. 36. Sion See the Observations on Deut. III. 9. and on 1 Chron. XI 5. See Psal. LXXVIII 68. and LXVIII 17. and CXXXII 13. and LXXXVII 2. Esay II. 2 3 4. and IV. 4. I will declare David typicaly verse 7 Christ principaly who is in the bosome of the Father the Word and Wisdome of the Father The Lord hath said Hebr. V. 5. Psal. CX 1. my sonne Not as holy men Princes David or Angels are called the sonnes of God John I. 12. Jer. XXXI 9. Psal. LXXXII 6. Job I. 6. But in a peculiar maner farre above all these Hebr. I. 4 5 9. not by adoption or grace but by nature This day Relates to his Nativity as man not to his Divinity as God And as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is called the Sonne of God Luke I. 35. Heb. I. 5. And that raising up of Jesus Acts XIII 33. relates to this Exhibition of him in the flesh mentioned also ver 23. That other raising him from the dead speaks plainly of his resurrection from the grave Acts XIII ver 34 37. Rom. I. 4. have I begotten thee Not relating here to his eternal generation as the Sonne of God the second Person and Hypostasis in the Trinity But to his gigniture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he revealed him to the world Aske of me God Decrees verse 8 as the End so the Means As Assuerus to Ester chap. V. 3. And Herod to the daughter of Herodias Mark VI. 23. And God himself to Solomon 1 King III. 5. So and much more here God the Father to Christ his Sonne the Mediatour Thus Christ asked and prayed in the dayes of his flesh and was ever heard in whatsoever he asked according to the nature of his asking John XI 22 42. Heb. V. 7. John XVII 9. and the uttermost Psal. XXII 29 30. Heb. I. 2. Dan. II. 44. them Thine enemies verse 9 ver 1 2 3. rod of iron Esay XXX 14. Jer. XIX 11. See the actual execution Apoc. II. 26. and chap. XII 5. and XIX 15. Esay XI 4. Be wise Take better counsel then that verse 10 ver 2 use better wisdome now Heb. V. 7. Prov. V. 7. and VII 24. and VIII 32. Esay XLIV 1. Delay is dangerous Kings Ye ver 2. serve Kings verse 11 and all other yet enemies serve him Luke I. 74 75. Psal. CXVI 16. with fear A filial fear which is joyned with joy Psal. C. 2. rejoyce with trembling These two also are coëxistent joy Rom. XIV 17. Ps. IX 2. 14. Phil. IV. 4. Trembling Phil. II. 12. The regenerate man is a kinde of mixt person hath as Rebecca two strugling in him Kisse A signe verse 12 of Love amongst equals Gen. XXXIII 4. 1 Sam. XX. 41. Rom. XVI 16. 1 Cor. XVI 20. Of Subjection in inferiours Gen. XLI 40. 1 Sam. X. 1. Prov. XXIV 26. Of religious adoration 1 King XIX 18. Job XXXI 27. the Sonne 1 John II. 23. John V. 23. lest he be angry Gen. III. 3. Certainly he will ver 5. 2 Thes. I. 8. Apoc. VI. 16 17. and ye perish from the way The way of happinesse you and your way perish Psal. I. 6. or your way of combination against Christ ver 1 2. or in the way of your conceited peace and secure prosperity Blessed Apoc. XIX 9. Rom. IX 33. John III. 36. ten thousands of people And likely more now gathered against him chapter III verse 6 by means of Absolom Most of Davids Psalmes in order of time go before this Psalme my glorie The glorie of my Kingdome which God hath promised me verse 2 and whereunto he hath anointed me godly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chapter IV verse 3 In an active signification Whence the Asideans 1 Macc. 7. 13. 2 Macc. XIV 6. may seeme to have their name And whence the Pelican hath the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the pious benignity it shews as to her young ones so to her dam when over-grown with years as some write And from her Greek name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ariseth the Greek Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to denotate a retribution and recompensation of pious duties offices and benefits such as the Pelican useth The same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken also and used by some for the Stork as Jer. VIII 7. the Stork having the like pious benigne
reunited in his Resurrection This verse then and two before and one following are most properly meant of Christ and of his Resurrection Acts II. 25 28 31. and XIII 35 36 37. Thou wilt shew me Experimentaly me Christ speaâ—s of himself the path of life Of glory after his Resurrection verse 11 All this true of Christ the head and in and by him true also of David of all his members Christs Resurrection and Glorification is the beginning of ours he the Author and meanes of it to us in our first Resurrection here by Regeneration to the life of Grace whereby Christ lives in us Gal. II. 20. He in us and we in him by Faith Ephes. III. 17. Rom. I. 17 And in our second Resurrection to the life of Glory as followes in this verse In thy presence Before thy face in the light of thy countenance See Gen. XXXII and Exod. XXXIII 14 15. Num. VI. 23. Psal. IV. 6. and XXXI 16. and LXXX 3. Deut. XXXIV 10. Esay VI. fulnesse Yet all the former but in part whiles we are in the way in fulnesse when we come to our countrey or heavenly Canaan Job XIX 26 27. 1 John III. 2. 1 Cor. XIII 12. Matth. V. 8. And yet this beatifical Vision of God in glory shall be to our fulnesse not to his The fulnesse of his infinite Essence by any created power of Saint or Angel by the eye of flesh though glorified or by the intellectual eye of a soul or spirit glorified cannot be seene 1 Tim. VI. 16. But to our fulnesse as farre as creatures are capable of our vessel thrown into this infinite Sea shall be brim full though it containe not all this Ocean Psal. XVII 15. And how great then shall this fulnesse then be when of things in this kinde revealed of God to his Apostles in this life by his Spirit the Apostle so speaketh as we read 1 Cor. XI 9. out of Esay LXIV 4 This is a fulnesse beyond all that of Faith and Hope a fulnesse that fills up all desires a fulnesse of fruition of satisfaction without satiety Apoc. III. Consider that saying of the Queen of Sheba 1 King X. 8. and of the Disciples at Christs Transfiguration Mat. XVII 4. At thy right hand And by thy right hand Psal. XX. 7. LXIII 9. CXVIII 16. for evermore Without which eternity there were no true felicity right My plea for my righteous cause chapter XVII verse 1 my righteous cause and complaint ver 2. I am purposed Psal. XXXIX 1. verse 3 of thy lips Guiding and directing me verse 4 when I awake Our of the sleep of death verse 15 Esay XXVI 19. with thy likenesse 1 Cor. XV. 49. 1 John III. 2. Apoc. XXII 4. Horne Signifieth power chapter XVIII verse 2 and glory Psal. XCII 10. Amos VI. 13. And Christ called the Horne of Salvation Luke I. 69. earth shook Here verse 7 and hereafter are sublime expressions not of what historicaly hapned but of the marvelous maner of Gods mighty presence assistance and concurrence in Davids victories in some sort Poeticaly set forth thundered Thunder is called Gods voice verse 13 Apoc. X. 3 4. and XIX 6. Of thunder See Psal. XXIX 3 10. and LXXVII 18. and CIV 7. Exod. XIX 16. XX. 18. Jer. X. 13. Job XXVI 14 XXXVIII 25. Esay XXIX 6. Apoc. IV. 5. and 8. 5. Some proud blasphemers have laboured to imitate the thunder and some impious Tyrants have exceedingly feared it according to my righteousnesse The justnesse of my Cause against Saul verse 24 and others and my sincere desire and endeavour to serve and obey God though not for any merit of my works thy self froward Meet with them in their own way verse 26 As Levit. XXVI 23 24. Bow of steele verse 34 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee This verse is applied verse 49 Rom. XV. 9. to the Calling of the Gentiles to the faith of Christ and praise unto God therefore And so formerly ver 43 44. and again verse 50. are more truly verified in Christ then in David to his Anointed verse 50 to David and to his seed for evermore To his Messiah his Christ as Psal. II. 2. to David literaly to Christ mysticaly called by the name of David Jer. XXX 9. Ezek. XXXIV 23 24. and chap. XXXVII 24. Hos. 5. to his seed both himself properly called the seed of David Rom. I. 3. Acts XIII 23. as the seed of Abraham Gal. III. 16. and to his seed Esay LIII 10. Heb. II. 13. And thus properly it is for evermore Day unto day Or day after day chapter XIX verse 2 the vicissitude or continual succession of day and night speaketh much divine knowledge The assiduity and constancy without any intermission by the Heavens preaching is hereby expressed There is no speech Among all variety of Languages verse 3 yet this language and idiome of the heavens is one and the same understood of all and heard of all ver 4. Their line Rom. X. 18. verse 4 the Apostle hath it their sound or voice And such a like difference is found in Micah V. 2. with Matth. chap. II. 6. And again in Rom. IX 33. with Isa. chap. XXVIII 16. The Apostle fits this Testimonie to his own purpose not derogating thereby from the truth of the literal sense As that Exod. XVI 18. is applied 2 Cor. VIII 15. Or rather the Apostle retaines the literal sense for the preaching of the Gospel to all the world Rom. XV. 19. Col. I. 6 23. And out of this testimonie of the Psalme in its literal sense proves that the Gentiles had heard and learned somewhat of God and pietie before out of the book of the Creation Rom. I. 19. Acts XIV 17. Which was a forerunner to this more ample Doctrine and School of the Gospel which now God was pleased to vouchsafe unto them In summe the Apostle herein followes the LXX And applies this to the preaching of the Gospel to the Heathens as God had formerly taught them in another a weaker maner and degree by his works of Creation They had as a voice to speak so a line to write rule direct and instruct as Esay XXVIII 10. sunne The carbuncle of heaven the eye and heart of the world for its light and heat to runne a race His race is without intermission or wearinesse and the swiftnesse of his running verse 5 being so great a body in its owne orbe is even to amazement and astonishment almost beyond imagination That the Sunne should stand and the Earth so move as some braines fancie is no lesse then a prodigious Paradox The Law From the Book of Gods works verse 7 he comes now to the Book of his Word in five verses And in this Schoole each verse in a maner doth expresse the name the nature the effects the preciousnesse of this Word much against all those imbasements and impeachments which the Papists would put upon it gold Gold of Havilah verse 10 good Gen. II. 11 12.
bones Davids verse 7 and his followers they are in such like present danger when he was in the cave Psal LVII 1 Sam. XXIV 4. The later part of this prayer seemes chapter CXLII as spoken in the cave Yet it all might be composed after his deliverance out of it As that Prayer Jonah II. prison This Cave verse 7 wherein I am shut up as in a close prison faithfulnesse chapter CXLIII verse 1 For performance of thy faithful and true promises made to me righteousnesse To maintaine and defend a righteous cause Enter not Though my cause be just verse 2 yet my person is sinful and unjust not able to abide thy judgement Rom. III. 20. So Job XXII 4. and XIV 3. Gal. II. 16. no man living Heb. not all living i. e. not any living As Mat. XXIV 22. 1 John II. 21. 2 Pet. I. 20. Psal. LXXVI 5. is desolate Or wondrously amazed verse 4 upheld only by Gods power cause me The work is Gods verse 8 He the actor of it And therefore to him he lifts up his soul. So verse 10. good lead me Or verse 10 by thy good Spirit lead me Thus prayer-wise or shall lead me spoken in way of assurance of David It seemes composed after he came to the crown chapter CXLIV verse 3 and had got some victories over his enemies and yet other enemies were ready to invade him 2 Sam. V. VIII what is man Psal. VIII 5. Job VII 17. Heb. II. 6. Bow the heavens Shew thy self present on earth verse 5 for my help and my foes ruine who are like mountains in comparison of other men 1 Sam. XXII 10. a right hand of falshood Though they shake hands verse 8 yet they keep not promise whose God is the Lord This is opposed to all the other worldly wealth verse 15 as farre more then over-poising it all of praise His Hymne chapter CXLV And the whole book in Hebrew is called the book of Hymnes or Praises This is an Alphabetical Psalme Only the letter Nun is wanting See the Observations on Psal. XXV 1. and on the beginning of the book of Psalmes over all his works Or verse 9 towards upholdeth all that fall Psal. verse 14 CXLVI 8. all whom he in his goodnesse knows are to be upholden without whom and his goodnes none are upholden But some fall and never rise wait upon thee Psal CIV verse 15 27. 28. in truth This in Prayer requireth sincerity verse 18 without hypocrisie faith repentance earnestnes and constancie the desire Or will We pray that Gods will may be done verse 19 Matth. VI. 10 Here he doth his servants will So he honoureth them that honour him 1 Sam. II. 30. And their will agrees with his 1 John V. 14. Praise ye the Lord Heb. chapter CXLVI verse 1 Halelu-jah And thus do begin and end likewise the rest of the Psalmes that follow In the Greek it is Alleluia Apoc. XIX 1. Halelu-jah is in Psal. CIV and CVI. and CXXXV and in many others which executeth judgement Who succours and relieves all verse 7 in and according to their several necessities He it is that doth it But that when and how in his wisdome and goodnesse it seemeth to him best out-casts Deut. chapter CXLVII verse 2 XXX 4. telleth the number Esay XL. verse 4 26. though to man they are innumerable Ier. XXXIII 22. at least in common opinion and of him indeed cannot be all seene The number of the stars is counted by ancient Astronomers And all within and without their several Constellations in their several magnitudes are reduced by all much under the number of two thousand Yet their number in Scripture-phrase is marshaled with the sands of the sea as innumerable Which is spoken according to vulgar opinions and apprehensions as that of the Sunne and Moone Gen. I 16. And divers other things are in Scripture in like sort spoken of And yet the innumerable multitude of them appears the more in our times Wherein Galileus and others after him by their new instruments and Tubi Optici have made such strange discoveries of many many numbers of them never seene before young ravens Iob XXXVIII verse 9 41. Psal. CIV 27 28. Matth. VI. 26. fat of wheat Psal. verse 14 LXXXI 16. Deut. XXXII 14. runneth Psal. verse 15 XXXIII 9. snow like wooll accordingly the phrase is verse 16. 17. 19. fleeces of snow his yce like morsels Frost or frozen hailstones his word unto Jacob This is singular mercie and peculiar to his Church farre beyond all those formerly mentioned for which his Church is so bound to praise him stars of light Job XXXVIII chapter CXLVIII verse 3 7. havens of heavens The heaven of heavens is the highest heaven verse 4 called the third heaven 2 Cor. 2. XII The sky where the starres are is the second heaven And the aire under it and next us is the first heaven In the upper part whereof are the waters here mentioned For this Text and Gen. I 6 7. yeeld not a sure foundation whereon to build an Orbe of supercelestial waters above the starry heavens nor from the windowes of that Orbe came the waters in Noahs flood But from the lowest region of the aire called Heaven and the firmament of Heaven wherein the winds clouds and fowles do flie and do divide between the sea-waters and the watery clouds which moysten the earth and make it bring forth fruit for the sustenance of man and beast See Gen. I. 20. Jer. LI. 16. Dan. VII 2 13. Psal. LXXVIII 23. Mal. III. 10. a decree Statute verse 6 Rule and Ordinance whereby every creature is bound to his set time place and function Job XIV 5. and XXVI 10. and XXXVIII 33. Jer. XXXI 35. and XXXIII 25. the horne of his people Psal. verse 14 LXXV 10. the power glory and Kingdome of his people and Church and that by Christ who is the horne of salvation Luke I. 69. him that made him Heb. chapter CXLIX verse 2 his makers Likely relating to the Trinity of persons as Gen. I. 26. and III. 22. and XI 7. Job XXXV 10. Eccles. XII 1. Esay VI. 8. LIV. 5. King Christ of whom King David was a Type As Mat. XXI 5. Cant. I. 4 upon their beds Night and day verse 5 Psal. LXIII 6. Job XXXV 10. and a two-edged sword Heb. verse 9 two-mouthed This chiefly at least aimes at the spiritual sword Ephes. VI. 17. Heb. IV. 12. Apoc. I. 16. which is the Word of God coming out of Christs mouth To execute vengeance upon the heathen Chiefly in and by the power and preaching of the Gospel verse 7 2 Cor. X. 4 5 6 8. See Esay XLI 15 16. John XVI 8 9. To binder their Kings Psal. verse 8 II. 2 3 9 10. Esay XLV 14. Mark VI. 20. Acts XXIV 25. Apoc. XXI 24. Matth. XVI 19. the judgement written This may have reference to that Law verse 6 Deut. VII 1 2. Or to the exact rule of Gods Word without any addition or diminution Deut.
to Haman Shebna and others A soft answer Chap. chapter XV verse 1 XXV 15. As Gideons to the Ephraimites Judg. VIII And Abigaels apology to David 1 Sam. XXV 32 33. Yet roughnes hard language in some cases circumstances is necessary The tongue Which David stiles his glory verse 2 and he used it accordingly The eyes of the Lord As a well-drawn picture viewes all that come into the roome verse 3 The sinner vainly thinks to hide himself from God by hiding God from himself But the world and our thoughts are to him as a sea of glasse God like the Optick vertue in the eye sees all Iob XXXIV 21 22. tree of life Gen. verse 4 II. 9. Ezek. XLVII 12. Apoc. XXII 2. breach A sting and a staine in the conscience and spirit yea and grieves the spirit of God is prudent Wise he is verse 5 and wiser he will be Psal. XIV 5. much treasure The righteous man is alwayes rich verse 6 and rich in all estates rich in the most precious spiritual things rich in reversions in sure Bills and Bonds rich in propriety he holds all in capite in Christ he is no usurper of them 1 Cor. III. 22. Rom. VIII 32. trouble In getting keeping and fears of losing together with sting of conscience Iob XX. 15. disperse knowledge As Stars diffuse their light Phil. verse 7 II. 15. The sacrifice As good words uttered with a stinking breath verse 8 from rotten lungs Their sacrifice is abominable quoad fontem quoad finem not proceeding from a right principle nor tending to the right end which is Gods glory that should consume all other ends as the Sunne puts out the light of the fire See chap. XXI 27. Amos V. 22. Esay I. 11. and LXVI 3. Jer. VI. 20. and VII 22. but the prayer Esay XLV 11. command ye me The way Prov. verse 9 XXI 4. Their very consciences send up continual poisonous vapours unto God followeth after With might and maine as ravenous creatures have in chase their prey Phil. III. 11 14. resurrection of the dead that is that height of holinesse that accompanieth the resurrection Correction is grievous Being in love with his own ruine verse 10 hateth reproof Being imbittered not bettered by it Hell Job XXVI verse 11 6 Psal. CXXXIX 12. Heb. IV. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though invisible to us loveth not Yea hates verse 12 Amos V. 10. neither will he go As he should Dan. XII 4. 2 Kings IV. 23. Psal. LXXXIV 7. Esay LXVI 20. He saith as Jeroboam 1 Kings XII 28. A merrie heart Acts VI. verse 13 15. and V. 41. Cant. II. 4. This chiefly is true spiritualy broken Is as a limb out of joynt A dejected spirit takes off as it were the wheels of the soul. seeketh knowledge As an hungry man seeks meat verse 14 or a covetous man gold the more he hath the more he desireth feedeth As swine do on swill a continual feast This is eminently true in a good verse 15 clear and chearful conscience 2 Cor. I. 9 12. a little It is not the great cage makes the bird sing verse 16 neither do they sing when they are on the ground but when got up into the aire or on boughs of trees from the ground See chap. XVI 8. and XVII 1 15. Psal. XXXVII 16. 1 Tim. IV. 8. and VI. 6. appeaseth strife Is busie to stint it verse 18 not to stir it up See chap. XXII 24. is made plaine By much practise having gotten an habit verse 19 he dispatcheth duty with delight and comes off with comfort Esay XL. 31. Christs yoak is no more burdensome to him then the wing is to the bird is above In heaven verse 24 and thitherward he goes Phil. III. 20. Col. III. 1. He deals in low and earthly things as a wise man may sport with children but that is not his businesse hell beneath That when the cold grave shall have his body hot hell may not hold his soul. widow That hath none to stick to her verse 25 and stickle for her So to the Shunamite the widow of Sarepta and of the poor Prophet 2 King IV. The thoughts Thoughts are not free verse 26 Jer. VI. 19. pleasant words Mal. III. 16. chap. X. 20. and XXV 11. troubleth Fires his own nest verse 27 when he thinks to feather it and troubles all his houshold with hast and hurrie to get gain studieth His tongue runs not before his wit verse 28 heareth the prayer Psal. verse 29 CXLV 18. 1 Pet. III. 12. the breathing Lam. III. 56. the minde of the spirit Rom. VIII 26 27. Baal hears not though they call on him never so long never so loud 1 Kings XVIII See 2 Chron. XXXIII 13. The light Light and sight are comfortable verse 30 Eccl. XI 7. reproof Better the Vine should bleed verse 32 then die before honour is humility The lower the ebbe the higher the tide verse 33 The lower this foundation of humility is laid the higher shall the roof of honour be over-laid Honour followeth him that flies from it as the shadow doth the body The preparations Or disposings chapter XVI verse 1 verse 9. and chap. XVI 9. and chap. XIX 21. and chap. XX. 24. Ier. X. 23. is from the Lord By the obstetrication of his assistance and by his secret influence and disposing providence beyond mans own imagination Acts XVII 28. Esay X. 7. in his own eyes Chap. verse 2 XXI 2. He thinks his penny good silver But all is not gold that glisters Luke XVI 15. Rom. II. 29. Iudg. XVII 13. we set up a counter for a thousand pounds weigheth the spirits Chap. V. 21. the inside and there discovers a New-found world of wickednesse Commit Luke XII 29. Cast thy burden upon the Lord Psal. LV. 22. as it were verse 3 by a writ of removal 1 Pet. V. 7. Psal. XXXVII 5. established Till then it flickers up and down as Noahs Dove till it return to the Ark. for himself His own glory verse 4 and the demonstration of his goodnesse properties and attributes Rom. XI 36. for the day of evil Iob XXI 30. as they are wicked men and as such looked upon by God though he created them good and he be the absolute Sovereign Lord of all his creatures and his will be both recta and regula He justly keeps orders and ordains such for the day of their deserved punishment Rom. IX 17. 21 22. though hand Chap. verse 5 XI 21. Heb. X. 31. By mercie and truth Of God Chap. XIV 22. verse 6 his mercie in promising his truth in performing Or where these graces are in man there iniquity is purged Piety and grace and the fear of God are a sure token of remission of sins even his enemies Sinne is the make-bate verse 7 Please God Esay XXVII 4 5. and all his creatures are at his beck and check God made Laban and Esau at peace with Iacob Gen. XXXI and XXXIII Chapters A divine sentence Is
after chap. XXXVIII 5. 2 Kings XXI 1. 2 Chron. XXXIII 1. As the Sun stood still at Joshuah's Prayer and the Moone likewise and consequently with them the whole frame of the Heavenly Bodies and their Motions about a whole day Josh. X. 12 13. So upon Ezekiah's choise the Sunne went back and consequently the other Celestial Bodies with it ten degrees in the Heavens that the Chaldeans took notice of the wonder 2 Chron. XXXII 31. as well as in the Sun-dial of Ahaz chap. XXXVIII 8. Making that miraculous anomalie of time in obedience to their Creators will Esaiah his going naked without his upper raiment or Prophetical rough garment as that 2 Kings I. 8. Zech. XIII 4. Matth. III. 4. and bare-foot though but three dayes like to that Ezek. IV. 4 5 6. yet was a three yeares Prophetick signe that Egypt and Ethiopia by that time should be led into captivity naked and bare by the King of Assyria chap. XX. 3 4. The 185000. were slaine by the Angel in the Camp of Sennacharib not after their returne from the Ethiopians but in that very next night after the message and promise sent from God by Esay to Hezekiah Esay XXXVII 21 35. And slaine either before Jerusalem in the Camp that Rabshakeh brought thither and in his returne to the King at Libna left there Esay XXXVI 2. Or in Sennacharib's Camp before Libna where himself was so drawing near to Jerusalem chapter XXXVII 8 9. 14 33 36. 2 Kings XIX 8 32 35 36. 2 Chron. XXXII 9. If not in both Camps The Vision chapter I verse 1 One of those meanes whereby God in those times imparted his minde and word to his Prophets Of Isaiah Heb. Jeshajahu In other places Jeshajah In the Greek Esaias whence our English Esay and Esaiah It signifies Gods salvation saw Hence the Prophets of old called Seers Judah and Jerusalem Chiefly and mainly Though likely in a relation to them he prophesied also concerning and against other neighbouring Nations Hezekiah Heb. Jechizkijahu Micah I. 1. Jechizkijah sometimes Chizkijahu and Chezkijah Greek Ezekias Likely Esay died in the latter end of his reigne and was not sawn in sunder in the reigne of Manasseh as commonly out of Heb. XI 37. but groundlessely it is conceived Heare verse 2 c. His first Sermon in this first chapter And if so Then we must understand the desolations herein mentioned to be Propheticaly denounced for they seeme to have relation to Ahaz his time O heavens See Deut. XXXII 1. and XXX 19. and IV. 26. See Micah VI. 1 2. Israel The common name of Gods people verse 3 yet meaning hereby Judah and Jerusalem your countrey c. Spoken Propheticaly as was said if this were his first Sermon and Prophecie See chap. IX 12. 2 Chron. XXVIII 5 17 18. Heare verse 10 c. Thus wicked they were likely in King Uzziah's time upon thee Or rather verse 25 unto thee as the work-man turnes his hand to the work I will once more set upon the reforming and new moulding of thee So mitigating that direful doome in the former verse as at the first Fulfilled in the times of Hezekiah verse 26 and Josiah and after the returne from the Babylonish captivity in Zerubbabel Joshua Nehemiah and others oaks Trees set apart and used for idolatrous services verse 29 gardens Where they practised Idolatry as well as in Groves and Woods strong Strong Idols as ye esteeme them The word verse 31 c. A second Sermon to the end of the IV. chap. in the last dayes Micah IV. chapter II verse 1 1 2 3. the dayes of the Messias and of the Gospel verse 2 all Nations The Gentiles He will teach us verse 3 c. The Messias will And so ver 4. Nation shall not verse 4 c. Such shall be the peaceable meek disposition among themselves which the Gospel shall bring them to Acts IV. 32. Though the wicked will rise up in war with fire and sword against them Mat. X. 21 22. Luke XII 49 53. O house of Jacob verse 5 let us Provokes the Jewes so to do by the example of those Gentiles Therefore thou hast forsaken verse 6 c. A sad charge against the present people for their grievous manifold sinnes whereby God is brought to desert them and proceed in fierce wrath against them boweth down To their Idols in their Idol-worship verse 9 And therefore God will bow them down and humble them by his judgements ver 11. forgive them not Spoken by way of imprecation if not rather as a meere prediction or denunciation that God would now at length without further delay proceed most severely to punish them without sparing Enter into verse 10 c. So foretelling what sorry shifts they should be then driven to though to small or no purpose verse 19. and 21. Cedars of Lebanon Not any verse 13 not all their strongest hopes and helps shall any whit availe them against the wrath of the Lord when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth when he comes to make a terrible earthquake in the State for their hainous and hideous sins to the moles His most precious Idols verse 20 in whom he trusted seeing no help or hope in them he shall cast them away with indignation and disdaine into the vilest and filthiest holes and corners chap. I. 29. Cease ye from man Seeing no humane help verse 24 no might or height will availe against the Lord therefore cease to put any confidence in frail man Psal. CXLVI 3 4. Ier. XVII 5 6. Psal. LXXVI 7. For chapter III verse 1 behold c. God will take away the stay and the staff of man and of other creature-comforts and supports one and other children In age verse 4 or men of childish dispositions Oppressed Which followes of none verse 5 or of evil government I will not verse 7 c. Men will refuse publike imployment to undertake the care and cure of the State and to be Rulers in it being so full of confusion so perplexed and perilous as theirs then should be is ruined And therefore for their extreme obstinacie and impudencie verse 8 as the words following do declare Say ye A consolation to the small companie of the Godly among them verse 10 in those calamitous times As for my people Proceeds on to declare the confusion and disorders of the times verse 12 that even boyes and women persons so qualified abused them and domineered over them The Lord He riseth up to plead and judge for his people verse 13 against those cruel oppressors Moreover verse 16 c. Comes from the Men to the Women tinckling ornaments Divers names following in this wardrobe of Women verse 18 are of conjectural rather then certaine and sure signification to us at this day glasses Looking-glasses verse 23 of bright brasse or steele or like mettal Exod. XXXVIII 8. Of glasse properly so called we finde no certaine mention in the Old Testament girdle Girding verse 24 The word is
must begin it at the Evening But if we will begin it according to that alledged Alteration we finde in our Saviours time Then we must Begin it in the Morning which later is favoured the more by our Saviours Resurrection very early in the morning Matth. 28. 1 6. Marke 16. 2 6. Luke 24. 1 6. John 20. 1. To the memory and honour of whose Resurrection as the day of Rest was changed so it accords well and suitably seems to require the same change for the beginning of that day agreeing therin with the aforesaid Alteration However the Point Material is That it must comprehend twenty four hours V. 6. Firmament By Firmament here generaly by all is understood whatsoever is to be seene in that vast space above the earth from the surface of it to the uppermost visible Orbs As conceiving and that justly That the Aire or lowest region of it betwixt the Earth and the Clouds were alone too smal a thing for the whole work of the second day In the midst of the waters and let it divide the waters from the waters the waters which are under the firmament from the waters which are above the firmament Divers ancient and learned Fathers have conceived hereupon and upon the words of the Psalme 148. 4. That a great or the greatest part of those waters that covered the face of the 〈◊〉 verse 2. were lifted up and spread as an Orbe of waters above and about the highest part of the starry heavens and so there remaine And from those windowes of heaven opened some would fetch the greatest part of those waters in the Deluge that covered all the high hills that were under the whole heaven fifteene cubits upwards Yet all this seemes too weak a foundation whereon to build that Orbe of supercelestial waters For plaine it is that the lowest region of the aire is called heaven and the firmament of heaven even that wherein the winds clouds and fowles do flie verse 20. Jer. 51. 16. Dan. 7. 2 13. And indeed as every part of the water is truly called water so every part of the heaven and firmament may be and is called heaven as well as the whole or the highest parts of it the starry heaven and the third heaven chap 1. verse 14 15 16 17. Gen. 22. 17. 2. Cor. 12. 2. And if such a division were meant as they pretend to where then would be the division betweene the waters of the seas and the watery clouds without which division and the use of it the earth could not bring forth sustenance for Man or Beast And as for the windowes of heaven they are understood of the region of the aire as Psal. 78. 23. Mal. 3. 10. And the same God who rained down fire and brimstone on Sodâ—m and made or multiplyed the widowes oyle 2 Kings 4. 2. V. 8. the firmament heaven All above us so called And the Angels this day most likely were created considering the words of the Lord Job 38. 4 5 6 7. that all the sonnes of God shouted for joy when he laid the foundations of the earth Though Moses mentions not their creation as puposely intending to relate only the creation of things corporal and visible and that haply a having regard therein to the rudiments and weaknesse of that Infant-Church of the Jewes to whom immediately he wrote this History second day Without that approbation And God saw that it was good which yet is doubled on the third day haply because the separation of the waters begun this day was not perfected till the third day And it is once repeated on each of the other four dayes with the addition of very good in the end of all V. 20. and fowle Out of the waters and the ground also chap. 2. 19 V. 26. Let us Intimates a Plurality of Persons in the Unity of the Divine Essence And so pluraly chap. 3. 22. 11. 7. Esay 6. 8. V. 27. created he them Both this day chap. 5. 2. though the maner of her creation be more fully related chap. 2. v. 18 to 23. V. 29. to you it shall be for meat Living things are not here mentioned for meat till after the flood anno mundi 1657. and no more are corne bread drink and other things named which yet no doubt were in use before the flood Cain being a tiller of the ground And â—el being a keeper of sheep was not likely to leave their flesh to be devoured of wilde beasts or to rot either above or under ground And mans body being in a dying condition since the Fall stood in more need of nourishing meats then whiles he abode in Innocencie Neither were the herbs trees ground after the Curse of that vertue and vigour for his nourishment and sustenance as formely It is nothing likely then that man should want so needful a nourishment as flesh or fish for so long a time so many ages of the world because they were not haply so necessary for him in the time of Innocency or not expressed by name for food at the time of his Creation But after the Fall being killed for cloathing and offered in sacrifices to God even by Abel himself It is not to be imagined but that they did eate of the flesh of them as in sacrifices was ever usual And therefore also for those ends and uses the distinction of them into cleane and uncleane was made even before the flood And seven of the Cleane reserved for sacrifice and food whereas two sufficed as in the Uncleane for preservation of Seed Gen. 7. 2. And the words of our Saviour noting the old world for their eating and drinking before the flood came on Matth. 24. 38. implies rather an abuse in the excesse then an abstinence from the use of flesh and other delicacies V. 30. Every green herb for meat But after the Fall of man beasts and birds of prey and fishes eate and devour one another CHAP. II. Ver. 3. BEcause that in it This being alledged as the Reason of the Sabbath Exod. 20. 11. 31. 17. shews it to be here instituted before the Fall And then no doubt but Gods people had more need or the same Ordinance and Help in Religion ever since the Fall And the Rulers Narrative to Moses speech or question Exod. 16. 22 23. seems to me to imply the keeping of the Sabbath by the Jewes before the giving of Manna in the Wildernesse Exod. 16. 5. not appearing to be made known to the people till after the Rulers relation of sin And Gods direction to Moses And apparently it was kept before the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai V. 4. the Lord God Here first the word Jehova is used And after often in this Chapter Gen. 15. 7. 22. 14. 26. 24. 27. 20. 28. 13. and in many places more And therefore Exod. 6. 3. But by my Name Jehova was I not known to them is spoken comparatively not known so fully in making good my promises by answerable effects as now
there 2 Sam. VI. 12 17. whereupon Zion is called the City of God Gods holy Hill The Northerne and lower part belonging to Benjamin wherein the Temple stood on Mount Moriah 2 Chon III. 1. Honourable things are spoken of this City Psal. LXXXVII 2 3. This City is called the City of God of the Lord of Hoasts of the great King the holy place of the Tabernacles of the most High Psal. XLVI 4. and XLVIII 8. The Throne of the Lord Jer. III. 17. Jehovah-Shammah in that visionarie Description Ezek. XLVIII 35. It is called the City of Solemnities Esay XXXIII 20. a City of Righteousnesse Esay V. 26. a City of Truth Zech. VIII 3. a Faithful City Esay I. 26. a City sought out and not forsaken Esay LXII 12. The walls thereof are called Salvation and her gates Praise and they are ever in Gods sight Esay XLIX 16. and LX. 18. Hoham These other four Kings were all South of Jerusalem chapter X verse 3 And all five did after belong to the Tribe of Judah Lachish Of this City see the Annotations on Micah I. 13. The Lord said The Lord spake to Joshua verse 8 sometimes immediately by himself sometimes being consulted with by Urim and Thummim Hailestones God 's two Miracles in this battel verse 11 I. By wondrous Hailestones like those in Egypt Exod. IX 18 25. which killed more Amorites then were slaine by the sword braining likely the body of their hoast as they fled where they were thickest and those that were formost in the flight and not hurting the Pursuers who were intermingled yet likely mostwhat in the Reare of the enemy II. By the miraculous standing still upon Joshua's Prayer first privately made and granted after publikely pronounced in the sight of Israel of the Sunne and of the Moone and with them of the whole frame of Heaven about a whole day till the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies Jasher The Book of Jasher records the Miracle verse 13 No Heathen History being so ancient This Book seemes to be carried on and enlarged still with the story of things acted in after-ages For there is mention of it in Davids time 2 Sam. I. 18. And this Book being no part of Canonical inspired Scripture but a Civil Chronicle or Annals among the Jewes is since perished as divers others of like nature Among which are those books of Chronicles not Canonical but Civil so often cited in our two books of the Kings No day That day in Hezekiah's time verse 14 was in some things like this 2 King XX. 11. But that not till many ages after And this book first written Returned If Joshua here resolved to return to Gilgal verse 15 Yet many other victories in the Southern parts even from Kadesh-barnea unto Gaza in a short time intervened ver 16 42. before he actually returned thither ver 43. Ioshua And c. XI verse 36 31. Ioshua took Hebron or Kiriath-Arba and Debir or Kiriath-Sepher and cut off the Anakims Yet under the conduct of Caleb this was perfected Ioshua assigning him out of his army the Tribe of Iudah for his assistance therein Ch. XIV 6 15. and Ch. XV. 13 19. which thing seems to be repeated Iudg. I. 10 15. rather then a new Conquest made again after the death of Ioshua Goshen And Ch. XI verse 41 16. and Ch. XV. 51. This Goshen in Canaan differing from that in Egypt Sand Hyperbolees much used in Scripture chapter XI verse 4 So Gen. XXII 17. and XLI 49. Iudg. VII 12. and Ch. XX. 16. 1 Sam. XIII 5. 2 Sam. I. 23. 1 King I. 40. and IV. 20 29. 2 King XIX 24. 1 Chron. XII 8. and XVI 33. 2 Chron. I. 9. and XXVIII 9. Job XX. 6. and XXII 24. and XL. 23. Psal. VI. 6. Esay XXXIV 3 5 7 9. and XLVIII 19. Jer. IV. 24. and XV. 8. Ioel. III. 18. Amos II. 9. and IX 13. Iohn XXI 25. A long time After the battel at the waters of Merom verse 18 Ioshua did make warre a long time with all those Northern Kings in Canaan about sixe years as is gathered out of Ch. XIV 6 15. Arnon Arnon the River chapter XII verse 1 ariseth not farre from the head-spring of the River Iabbok and both from rocky Mountains that lie in the East part of the Tribe of Gad. It runneth Southward and falls into the North-East corner of the Dead Sea It is the border between Sihon or Reuben on the West and Ammon on the East and between Sihon or Reuben on the North and Moab on the South Iabbok Iabbok the River verse 2 ariseth as Arnon but runneth North a little and after turneth his streame West and falleth into Iordan a little below the Sea of Galilee It divided the Land of Gilead between Sihon and Og and afterwards between Gad on the South and halfe Manasseh on the North. Remaineth yet The Land both Conquered chapter XIII verse 1 and Unconquered was to be divided by Lot among the nine Tribes and a half so Iosh. XXIII 4 5. Begun at Gilgal Ch. XIV 6. and Ch. XV. and Ch. XVI and Ch. XVII Resumed and Perfected at Shiloh Ch. XVIII and XIX But we never read That they did Conquer the whole Land and all their several Shares and Lots through their own default and breach of Covenant with God by Disobedience Chapt. XXIII 13. Aroer The City Aroer was neere the Rise of the River Arnon verse 16 and in the confines between the Reubenites and Gadites as also Heshbon Dibon and Ataroth which being bordering Cities are said to belong to them both sometimes to the one sometimes to the other To Reuben Iosh. XIII 16 17. Num. XXXII 37. To Gad Iosh. XXI 39. Num. XXXII 34. 1 Chron. VI. 81. Distributed The whole Countrey chapter XIV verse 1 seemes to be divided into so many parts as there were Tribes to possesse them Yet so as that the Bounds of every part or Province were not so precisely limited before the Tribe had drawn the Lot but that afterwards they might be enlarged or lessened according to the greatnesse or smalnesse of the number that belonged to it Num. XXVI 53 56. and Chap. XXXIII 54. which last point of division was left to the wisdome of the High Priest Ioshua and the Elders whom God had appointed to divide it ver 1. and Ch. XVII 14 18. By lot Lots fell out providentialy to the twelve Tribes chapter XIV verse 2 in the Division of the Land in relations partly to their Birth partly to the Prophetical Blessings of them by Jacob Gen. XLIX and Moses Deut. XXXIII And so in the Cities of the Levites the Lot cast the thirteen Cities of the Priests in the Tribes of Judah Benjamin and Simeon which were nearest the Temple Josh. XXI 9 10 17. when it was builded Old Calebs age verse 7 when he was sent among the Spies from Kadesh-barnea was fourty At this Division of the Land eighty five So that fourty five years intervened viz. 38. in the
thus the denying Interrogative is equivalent to an affirming Enunciative The like may well be admitted Esay XLIX 5 6. And there are sundry Interrogatives found in Scripture where the Negative is suppressed as Job XX. 4. Gen. XXVII 36. 1 Sam. II. 27 28. 2 Sam. XXIII 19. Jer. III. 6. and XXXI 20. Ezek. XX. 30. Amos VI. 2. And the Masorets in like cases to this in Job do usualy adscribe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to him as their Keri in the margin And they use this liberty more in this one word then in any other in the Old Testament before him To plead his cause with confidence verse 16 as I am ready to do I have ordered my Cause He prepares for his trial before God verse 18 I am ready to plead justified For the various significations of this word see the Annotations here Only That he may have a fair trial verse 20 then I will go on in my plea. Then call thou He offers the choise to God verse 22 whether he will be Plaintif or Defendant such is his confidence and answer thou me This is too much for any man or creature to say to God Yet the extremity of his case brings him to this extremity How many Here begins his Plea verse 23 and continues to the end of the next Chapter Let me know my charge and condemn me not before I be heard wherefore If no heinous cause be alledged verse 24 break a leaf No honour to a Gyant to break and bruise an infant verse 25 a print upon Followest me step by step verse 27 not one step behinde me to mark my sinnes to plague me and prevent my escape woman In the Hebrew chapter XIV verse 1 hath her name from a man as the first woman had her nature also And doest thou Chap. VII 17 18. me into judgement with thee So great a God verse 3 to deale summo jure most rigorously with such a worme and wretch and not to pity him as if this were a maine thing that God looked at in his providence who can Why then am I thus singled out verse 4 Turne from him From plaguing him so sorely for sinne verse 6 as now thou doest me hope of a tree But an impossibility after mans death verse 7 to returne hither again to enjoy any comfort here and where is he No where among the living verse 10 As the waters As the flood fed by those waters then decayeth verse 11 So c. till the heavens be no more As now they are verse 12 but changed at the Resurrection shall he live again As chap. XV. 11. verse 14 and IV. 2. Gen. XVII 17. a wonder it is yet true Thou wilt have a desire Thus at that time it will appear verse 15 to Jobs comfort For now Job concludes in a passionate fit verse 16 That yet now God deals strictly and harshly with him and his sins the mountain The strongest creatures yeeld to thy power verse 18 Thou prevailest Applies it to man verse 20 and Gods prevailing power over him and his hopes his soul For the various acceptations of this word verse 22 See the Annotations here Then Here begins the second onset of Jobs three friends chapter XV verse 1 Wherein being angred likely by some harsh words of Job reflecting on them they do only lay load upun him as upon a wicked man drawing ill Conclusions from his Passionate Speeches and insisting upon it still That so many and great calamities as fell upon him befell to none but to ungodly men But they afford him not one Exhortation to Repentance or one comfortable promise as formerly they had done chap. V. 8 17. and chap. VIII 5 20 21. and chap. XI 13 19. And Job in his Replies the more sharply reproves them for their inhumanity and uncomfortablenesse towards him in his distressed condition which sad estate he still sets out copiously and that it ought to move them the more to pitie and commiseration He refels their false position whereupon they stood so much viz. the Prosperity of the Godly and the Punishment of the Wicked only and shewes That many times the wicked greatly flourish and the godly extremely suffer And he refutes the slanderous imputations fastened upon him by reason of the strange grievousnesse of his afflictions He asserts and defends his own innocencie and contends more eagerly for his integrity against hypocrisie then he did before He comforts himself in the certain hope of a glorious Resurrection hereafter and moves them to Repent of their ill and hard dealings against him and restrainest Prayer before God By thy ungodly speeches doest discourage men from Praying to God verse 4 that we know not See chap. XIII 2. verse 9 what is man Eliphaz doth but repeat the same argument which he used before verse 14 chap. IV. 17 18 19. And makes litle against Job who confesseth as much And yet Bildad useth it again chap. XXV 4 5. unto whom Unto which wise worthy men God gave a continuance of undisturbed prosperity verse 19 And therefore their sayings not to be sleighted The wicked Here follow those wise sentences verse 20 to the end of the Chapter The same in substance he had said before chapter IV. and V. But here are they more lively set forth and the number How long the Oppressor shall live He runneth upon him God sets fiercely on him verse 26 and his strongest armour dwelleth in desolate His luxury fore-runs his poverty verse 28 He shall not be rich nor prosper God will blast his endeavours for all his vaine confidence as he sheweth to the end of the chapter Though I speak Job acknowledgeth that all those things had chapter XVI verse 6 and do befall him which Eliphaz had said do befall wicked men and he instanceth in divers particular afflictions wherein and whereby he complaineth of his misery and the harsh and fierce dealings of God and his friends against him to verse 17. Yet denies himself to be an ungodly man and by arguments makes it good from verse 17. to the end of the chapter a surety Job would be glad of a Surety to be put in chapter XVII verse 3 to have some other and not his friends to hear him plead and maintain his cause astonied At this dealing of God with Job verse 8 stir up himself For me against the hypocrite to clear me and themselves from such men and make better use of mine afflictions as in the verse following my hope He was sailed past the Cape of good hope verse 15 for any worldly prosperity It shall lie down with him in the dust for thee Bildad bitterly reproves Job chapter XVIII verse 4 for contemning them and misbehaving himself the light of the wicked In a sharp and angry speech he laies out to the life the miseries of wicked men verse 5 in life in death and after death to the end of this chapter And so he doth but enlarge what he had said chap. VIII And seemes to imply
1 King X. 11. He arken Matth. XVII 5. Rom. X. 17. verse 10 O daughter John I. 13. Apoc. XXI 9 10. forget also Luke IX 23. and XIV 26. Matth. X. 37. As Abraham did Gen. XII 1. and Ruth chap. I. 16 17. So shall Upon these termes verse 11 more and more greatly desire This true in Solomon But Christ loves his Spouse first 1 John IV. 10. Loves her in her blood Ezek. XVI 6. thy Lord 1 Pet. III. 6. Judg. XIX 26. And that no common or vulgar person In the highest degree is Christ so to his Spouse the Church even her Lord and God Worship thou him Pharaohs daughter was with civil worship to do it to Solomon with civil reverent incurvation and adoration The Church to Christ with religious worship of Tyre Of this Citie verse 12 see the Annotations on Amos I. 9. This rich Merchant-Citie the prime Mart for traffick should bring to Solomons Spouse gifts and nuptial presents And much more Tyre and all Heathen Nations should bring themselves and their Gifts with all offices of submission and subjection to the Spouse of Christ Esay XLIX 23. and LXVI 12. Psal. LXXXVII 4. the rich Esay LX. 3 10 11 16. glorious within 1 Pet. II. 4 5. verse 13 Not Helen without and Hecuba within This true in Solomons Spouse partly But in Christs Spouse true altogether by her bridegroomes donation and operation Ephes. V. 27. brought With pompe verse 14 joy and jubilation of needle-work As formerly costly for matter so here curious for Art and work As the like Exod. XXVIII 6 8 15 39. with gladnesse As is fit in marriage solemnities verse 15 they be brought The Spouse first the Virgins and brides maids following and waiting on her Cant. IV. 8. Apoc. XIX 7 8 9. 2 Cor. XI 2. palace As the wise Virgins Matt. XXV 10. thy children We read not that Pharaoh's daughter had any child by Solomon verse 16 But this is abundantly verified in the Church the Spouse of Christ Esay XLIX 18 21. and LIV. 1 2 3. Heb. II. 13. I will Saith the Psalmist by himself verse 17 and by informing others so to do thy Name The name of the Bridegroome therefore By my example as well as for all the reasons foregoing in this Psalme praise thee Christ the Bridegroome for ever and ever whereas Solomon by his foul fall worthily merited and inherited shame and dispraise present help Deliverer chapter XLVI verse 1 or Assistant will not we fear Though a natural fear as Prov. XIV 16. and XXII 3. verse 2 Matth. VIII 26. yet not a godlesse and faithlesse fear Here faith triumphs over such a fear though the earth Hyperbolical expressions usualy intimating the fearful alterations of States and Polities or the most dreadful dangers a river Alluding to that of Kidron Gihon verse 4 and Shiloah intending chiefly that Ezek. XLVII 1. Joel III. 18. Apoc. XXII 1. Or the meaning of this seemes best expounded in the next verse and in the two verses following He maketh Esay XLV 7. Amos III. 6. Psal. LXXVI 3. verse 9 Exalted Esay XXXIII 9 10. and XXX 15. verse 10 O clap A signe of joyful acclamation used at the coronation of Kings 2 Kings XI chapter XLVII verse 1 12. and upon other joyous occasions Ezek. XXV 6. See Psal. XCVIII 8. Esay LV. 12. Psal. LXVI 1. The Psalmist exhorteth all people to sing Praises unto God ver 1. 7. A thing usual in the Psalmes For the Lord Reasons from Gods nature and properties verse 2 appliable also to Christ terrible to the wicked his enemies and a great King above all earthly Kings Mal. I. 14. Matt. XXVIII 18. He shall subdue The Jewes enemies verse 3 And he had done so the Canaanites and others And he will do so the Churches enemies Christ will call the Nations and bring them into subjection under him and his Church Ezek. XX. 37. He shall choose He did choose Canaan for his people Israel Psal. LXXVIII 55. verse 4 And will choose and prepare that heavenly Canaan that inheritance incorruptible 1 Pet. I. 4. for all that beleeve and hope in him for us The Jewes seeming here to include the Gentiles as called by Christ into the same communion of the Covenant for grace and glory John X. 16. Eph. II. 14. the excellencie of Jacob High and glorious excellencie whereby Jacobs posterity excelled Ezek. XXIV 21. Amos VI. 8. and VIII 7. Nahum II. 2. viz. the Temple Priesthood c. all those most excellent and precious promises and blessings made in Christ unto Iacob and his posterity God is gone up When the Ark was carried from Kiriathjearim to the house of Obed Edom verse 5 thence to the Citie of David thence by Solomon into the Oracle 1 Chron. XIII 8. and XV. 28. and 2 Chron. V. 13. Spiritualy and mysticaly when Christ ascended with triumph into heaven See Eph. IV. 8. Col. II. 15. the King of all the earth The universal Kingdome of God and of Christ. verse 7 So again verse 8. Differing from earthly Kings with understanding 1 Cor. XIV 15. The word Maschil is here used for Psalme which is the Title of sundry Psalmes signifying an instructing Psalme Thereby to instruct your selves and others of the Kingdome of God and Christ and of your duty of throne of his holinesse Psal. IX 4. Apoc. IV. 2. The Princes The voluntary verse 8 bounteous Princes and people subject themselves to this King of the God of Abraham His spiritual seed Luke III. 8. verse 9 John VIII 33. c. Rom. IV. 16 17. Sheilds He is the great Shield Gen. XV. 1. Psal. V. 12. and XVIII 35. the great conqueror and protector of all And Magistrates Sheilds under him Hos. IV. 18. Psal. LXXXIX 18. greatly exalted Psal. XCVII 9. A Song and Psalme chapter XLVIII Wherein both voice and instrument were used the voice began and the instrument after And where the Inscription is a Psalme and Song there likely the instrument began and the voice followed Of the former sort are as this Psalme to Psal. LXVI LXXXIII CVIII Of the later are Psal. LXVII LXVIII LXXV LXXXVII and XCII whole earth Or Land of Judea verse 2 As Exod. X. 15. and most likely Matth. XXVII 45. the sides of the North The Temple on Mount Moriah and the City of Jerusalem joyned North to Mount Sion Moriah is the North part of Sion So Esay XIV 13. the Kings were assembled The Philistian Princes 2 Sam. V. or those verse 4 in the dayes of Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. XX. or of Ezekiah 2 Kings XVIII Upon some of which occasions this Psalme seemes to be composed and inspired Psal. XLVI 6. marvailed and were troubled At Sions beauty verse 5 and at her strength and their own overthrow Thou breakest As in a Shipwrack verse 6 so thou didst break them As 2 Sam. V. 20. Tarshish See the Observations on 1 Kings X. 22. East wind See Ezek. XVII 10. and XIX 12. Hos. XII 1. and Ch. XIII 15. Jonah
IV. 8. As we have heard Psal. XLIV 1. verse 8 seene By experience because of thy judgements In confounding thine enemies verse 11 and defending the people tell the towers Mark if any of them be demolished verse 12 or hurt by the enemie that ye may tell it How God had preserved and kept them verse 13 a parable A sententious chapter XLIX verse 4 grave witty dark saying Prov. I. 6. not beseeming simple ones Prov. XXVI 7. used by Balaam Num. XXIII and XXIV by Ezekiel at Gods command chap. XVII 2. and XX. 49. and much by our Saviour himself in his preaching Matth. XIII 35. sometimes in plainer maner Mark IV. 33 sometimes in intended obscurity Luke VIII 10. requiring sharpnesse of wit to understanded and expound them Here the Psalmists extraordinary Preface ushering it in and this enigmatical maner of delivering it argues the matter to be of great weight and difficulty As indeed it is that which so much troubleth and puzleth the wisest and the best men of the world the afflictions and miseries of the godly and the prosperities of the wicked See Psal. XXXVII 1. and LXXIII 2 12. and XCIV 3 4. Job XXI 7 13. Jer. XII 1. Hab. I. 4 5. And the wicked thereby take encouragement to evil and nourish impious conceipts in their hearts touching God and his providence Iob XXI 14 15. Psal. X. 3 6 11 13. and XIV 1. and XCIV 7 8. Mal. II 17. and III. 15. See more of this in the Observations on Psal. XXXVII 1. should I fear The godly should not fear verse 5 dismay or be discouraged at the evils and miseries of this life boast The wicked and wealthy verse 6 cannot save the life of others or their own life from death And that ends all their jollity and prosperity wise men die Eccl. II. 16. and III. 19. verse 10 Their inward thought They hunted after honour verse 11 and a famous memorial Neverthelesse They shall have no more good by their honours verse 12 then the others had by their riches they abide not in life thereby one night the longer Psal. XXXVII 36. 1. Iohn II. 17. abideth not Heb. Abideth not for a night Which text many Jews and other Writers both old and new do urge for their opinion that Adam fell the same day wherein he was created which point the great Linguist and Chronologer Master Hugh Broughton doth presse and prosecute even with some heat and overmuch passion at large But the learned Gataker doth clear this text from any such meaning and gives reasons most probable That Adam did not fall the same day wherein he was created in his Cinnus p. 189. 198. yet their posterity Not warned thereby verse 13 but commend their fathers foolish courses and continue in them Psal. X. 3. like sheep Rotten sheep that die of themselves verse 14 feel on them And devour them and the upright The righteous in Christ men of sincere integrity in the morning Of the resurrection when Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse shall arise at his second coming But God This answers that question verse 15 verse 5. will redeeme c. Raise up my body and receive me into everlasting life which is here opposed to all the worldly prosperity of faithlesse wicked men See Gen. V. 24. Psal. LXXIII 24. John XIV 3. Acts VII 15. 1 Thes. IV. 14. A clear testimony of the resurrection of the body the immortality of the soul and the life everlasting Be not thou afraid Stumble not verse 16 nor be offended at the prosperity of the wicked never see light Job XXXIII 28 30. Psal. LVI 13. nor the light of heaven verse 19 Matth. VIII 12. man Verse 12. verse 20 beasts The Sheep verse 14. Asaph Either the Author chapter L 2 Chron. XXIX 30. Or chief Singer to whom and his sons and posterity it was committed 1 Chron. XVI 5 7. and XXV 2. to tune it and sing it and play it upon musical instruments And thus Psal. LXXIII to LXXXIII are entituled all to or for Asaph The mighty God God himself is brought in as a Judge upon the Bench verse 1 arraigning convincing sentencing and judging his people the perfection of beauty Psal. XLVIII 2. Lam. II. 15. verse 2 a fire As at Mount Sinai verse 3 when he gave his Law Heb. XII 18 19. call to the heavens As Deut. IV. 26. verse 4 and XXX 19. and XXXI 28 and XXXII 1. Esay I. 2. Micah VI. 1 2. not reprove thee for thy Sacrifices Jer. VII 22. verse 8 They used to weary God with outward Offerings Esay I. 11 14. and LXVI 3. Micah VI. 6 7 Hos. VI. 6. Amos IV. 4 5. The meaning here is according to that 1 Sam. XV. 22. Offer The inward verse 14 and real and substantial part of the Covenant is the thing which God requireth obedience and service in spirit and truth The rejecting the former and the exacting this later is the maine matter of this majestical Psalme verse 23. Hos. XIV 3. Heb. XIIâ— 15. pay thy vowes Of vowes see the Annotations on Jonah I 16. But unto the wicked Here God sentenceth those grosse hypocrites that place all Religion in outward Rites and Ceremonies verse 16 neglecting the maine duties of Piety and Righteousnesse Against whom is the maine bent and drift of this Psalme And speakest against Psal. LXIX 13. verse 20 The godly do otherwise Psal. XXVI 4. 5. Nathan To reprove him for his sinne chapter LI so long unrepented 2 Sam. XI and XII chapters Written upon that argument though not at that time gone in Gen. VI. 4. Bathsheba The daughter of Eliam 2 Sam. XI 3. called also Bathshua daughter of Ammiel 1 Chron. III. 5. Have mercie A rare example of repentance verse 1 and useful against despair as his fearful fall should make us watchful over our selves not presume of our own strength but ever to eye trust to and depend upon God and his preventing assisting Grace Mercie here and the multitude of Gods tender mercies is his Citie of Refuge and shute-anchor No defense for himself no other plea can he make wash me And so verse 7. verse 2 alluding to the Legal washings Levit. XI 25 32. Exod. XIX 10. Num. XIX 19. Thus he prayes and thus he deals throughout this Psalme even after Nathans absolution And thus true Penitents will do For I acknowledge Prov. XXVIII 13. 1. verse 3 John I. 9. So Esay LIX 12. Jer. III. 13. Cited Rom. III. 4. with no variation in sense thee only Not because he a King and so exempt from the power of others verse 4 But because this was his greatest grief to offend God 1 Sam. II. 24 25. and such a God so good to him 2 Sam. VII 18 19. and that God should so suffer in this his sinne 2 Sam. XII 14. who yet only could pardon his sinne Matth. IX 3. as against whom and whose commandment properly all sinne is committed in thy sight God then sees the sinnes of his Saints yea more he
XII 37. But that where Jacob built booths Gen. XXXIII 5. Afterward a Citie in the Tribe of Gad upon the river Jabbok East of Jordan justly destroyed by Gideon Judg. VIII But repaired after Gilead is mine Thus David triumphs in having verse 7 or in assurance to have upon Gods word and promise these utmost bounds and Tribes of Judea beyond Jordan though they stood longest out for Ishbosheth Sauls sonne Moab is my washpot I can and will use it to base offices verse 8 as to wash my feet use it as a conquered Nation in servile and abject condition See 2 Sam. 2. VIII Psal. CVIII 9. Over Edom Trample it under foot or use it to base offices See Matt. III. 11. as to pull off my shooe to wipe my shooe or as Sapores the Persian used Valerian the Romand Emperour or Temerlan the Scythian used Bajazeth the Turk or Pope Alexander the third used Frederik the Emperour and Pope Caelestine the third did to Henry the Emperour bring it to a base and ignominious subjection triumph thou An ironical apostrophe or bitter mock to Philistia or the Philistines in the West border of Palestine And divers such ironies are in Scripture See the Observations on Amos IV. 4. who will The answer is in the two next verses verse 9 Through God Davids wish verse 12 and confidence See 1 Chron. XIX 13. From the end of the earth Of Judea chapter LXI verse 2 being now likely driven thither by Saul or Absalom rather 2 Sam. XVII 24. prolong In this likely David hath a principal eye to Christ. verse 6 once chapter LXII verse 11 twice See the like Job XL. 5. mercie verse 12 for thou renderest Even reward it self is of mercie in the wildernesse of Judah chapter LXIII 1 Sam. XXII 5. and XXIII 14 15. Thus Davids Psalmes are not set down in this Book according to the Order of time and occasions wherein and whereupon they were made and inspired seene thee in the Sanctuary Davids desires to the Sanctuary verse 2 and to Gods Ordinances therein Psal. XXVII 4. and LXV 4. meditate Davids night-meditations verse 6 my soul followeth hard after thee 1 Cor. VI. 17. verse 8 Phil. III. 13 14. that sweareth by him Swearing here taken for the whole worship of God verse 11 Deut. VI. 13. Esay XLV 23. and LXV 16. Of Swearing see the Observations on Hos. IV. 15. O thou that hearest prayer chapter LXV verse 2 to thee An heavenly incouragement to Prayer choosest verse 4 and causest God 's free grace not mans free will Thou visitest the earth This Psalme may seeme composed after some year of famine verse 9 with the river of God The raine Deut. XI 10 11. submit Though feignedly and falsely chapter LXVI verse 3 Psal. XVIII 44. 1 Sam. XXII 45. As the faithfull shall obey God willingly and sincerely with the incense of rams Meaning their fat which was burned on the Altar verse 15 or incense with it as in Peace-Offerings Levit. II. 1 2 16. and VI. 15. If I regard John IX 31. verse 18 James IV. 3. Job XXVII 8 9. Prov. I. 28 29. Esay I. 15. Micah III. 4. Ezek. VIII 18. Prov. XV. 29. He that turneth away his eare from hearing the Law his prayer is abomination Prov. XXVIII 9. David penned by inspiration this Psalme chapter LXVIII It seemes after his victories over the Philistines and other neighbouring enemies and upon the occasion of that publick joyful solemnity in bringing the Arke into the Citie of David 2 Sam. VI. 1 Chron. XIII XIV XV. chapters It consists most of Praises and Prophesies Let God These words Moses used verse 1 Num. X. 35 at the removing of the Arke and Tabernacle from Mount Sinai And may be taken as a Prayer or a Prediction or an assertion of what is done when God thus ariseth arise To help his to scatter his enemies See Psal. III. 7. and X. 12. and LIX 5. extol him that rideth upon the heavens Verse 33. Psal. XVIII 10. Deut. XXXIII 26. Esay 19. 1. some translate thus verse 4 make an high-way for him prepare it as Esay XL. 3 4. Matth. III. 2. Luke I. 76. as Matth. XXI 8. And thus was done Or thus him that rideth in the Deserts that is as he did in the Wildernesse of Arabia before his Arke and people verse 7. This variety of interpretation is of small concernment Jah Some would have it the contract of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if not of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to signifie the strong God Jah is used again ver 18. God is called also by the Heathens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Jove or Jupiter that is Iah-father deemed by Varro to be the God of the Jewes This is the proper name of God Esay XLII 8. Exod. VI. 3. 2 Chron. VI. 33. Acts XVII 23 25 28. Psal. LXXXIII 18. See more in the Observations on Esay XXVI 4. habitation Of heaven verse 5 and of his Sanctuary 1. â—ings VIII 30 38 39. solitarie in families Senselesse here is the Popish text verse 6 throughout the verse and foolish is Bellarmines interpretation and application See Exod. I. 21. Psal. CXIII 9. Ruth IV. 11. a dry land Without fountains of waters or showers of raine A special judgement in those hot countries when thou wentest forth Iudg. verse 7 V. 4 5. Gods praise in bringing his people out of Egypt in giving them the possession of Canaan in destroying the Kings their enemies verse 7 13. The earth shook Ezod verse 8 XIX 18. Iudg. V. 4. Psal. CXIV and CIV 32. Heb. XII 18. Sinai An hill of a great height Of Sinai see more in the Observations on Exod. II. 11. and on XIX 3. a plentiful raine God did blesse his inheritance of the Land of Canaan which he gave to them verse 9 with raine and all temporal blessings which was an argument for their praising of him And specially as the inheritance of Canaan and all temporal promises and earthly blessings to them were shadowes and types intimations and pledges of spiritual blessings and eternal life in heaven Heb. XI 13 16 and 26. Iohn V. 39. gave the word The occasion verse 11 it was his doing he ministred the matter and speech unto them in the glad tidings of victories As Psal. CXVIII 23. of those that published it The word here is of the feminine gender and so may be understood of maids and women entertaining and publishing these good newes of victories with Songs and melody As Exod. XV. 20. Judg. V. 11. and XI 34. 1 Sam. XVIII 6. Or of men as the feminine is used for a masculine in Koheleth Eccl. I. 1. Such publishers as 2 Sam. XVIII 19. did flee Deut. verse 12 XXVIII 7. As Exod. XIV 25 27. Josh. X. 11 16. Judg. V. 19 22. and VIII 12. 2 Sam. V. 25. And in this verse again the Popish text scarce bears any sense and their interpretations are suitable though ye
III. 24. and XI 13. and the Annotations of learned Master Gataker upon those places verse 31 of the dead Offered to those dead idols Num. XXV 2. Jer. X. 5. And that was counted unto him for righteousnesse i. e. this fact of Phineas was approved of God as just and righteous and for such ever to be esteemed The same phrase used Gen. XV. 6. hath another sense of justifying Abrahams person before God by faith though a man without faults in himself otherwise And so is rightly applied by Saint Paul Rom. IV. 3 5 8 9 22 23 24. to the justification of sinner before God by Faith meerly for righteousnesse A right and just action not the fruit of a rash zeale though done without ordinary authority unadvisedly Num. XX. Devils Levit. verse 33 XVII 7 See the Observations on Judges VIII 33. his Covenant This verse 37 and his Name sake verse 8 are the ground of Gods free mercies verse 45 among the heathen among whom divers Israelites were scattered verse 47 in the times of the Judges and Saul by reason of their often troubles at home till the Kingdome came to David whose words these are 1 Chron. XVI 35 36. This Psalme hath much elegancy and sublimity in it chapter CVII South In the Hebrew verse 3 Sea meaning the Red Sea which was South from Canaan But much more usualy in Scripture by Sea is understood the West because the great Mediterrane Sea lay West from Canaan mount up And hyperbole verse 26 Of them see the Observations on Josh. XI 4. them Marriners verse 30 and passingers rivers Watery fruitful places verse 33 dry Barren thirsty will observe Not that such deliverances are vouchsafed alwayes to all in such dangers verse 43 Gods wayes of his governing Providence are a great deep unsearchable But those deliverances when they come they come from him A Song chapter CVIII a Psalme See the Observations on the Title of Psalme XLVIII This Psalme is composed of Psal. LVII 7 11. and Psal. LX. 5 12. See the Observations on both those Psalmes glorie See the Observations on Psal XVI verse 1 9. wash-pot So Psal. verse 9 LX. any washing pot to wash the filth of my feet in Without any allusion to the Marishes of Moab or their Land to be washed in blood or themselves wiped cleane away as a pot is wiped But rather to be used to servile sordid base offices of David By the matter of the Psalme chapter CIX it seemes to be penned and inspired towards the end of Sauls reigne when all things were grown to a forlorne and wicked state See 1 Sam. XXVI 19. unto Prayer The use and comfort of Prayer Set Many Imprecations follow verse 4 And the like see in Psal. XXXV verse 6 4 8. and LIX 5 13. and LXIX 22 28. and LXXIX 10. and CXIX 84. and CXL 10. Job XXXI Nehem. VI. 4. 5. and VI. 6 14. Esay II. 9. Jer. XI 20. and XV. 15. and chap. XVII 18. and XVIII 21 22 23. and XX. 12. 2 Tim. IV. 14. And these with exquisite formes of speeches And uttered by David and the rest against transcendent sinners rather as Prophets but of zeale to God and his glory therein then in relation to their private passions of revenge or respect to themselves as parties And yet these or the like Prayers and Imprecations may possibly be mixt with Humane infirmities as those in Jeremy See the Annotations on Nehem. IV. 5. Or in some they may be understood with silent limitations and reservations right hand He plead and prevail against him condemned Go out guilty verse 7 or wicked become sinne Let no suit or defence of his avail for him but rather hurt him 8 his office Applied to Judas Acts I. 16 verse 8 20 26. their desolate places Their houses and families that are desolate and destroyed verse 10 fathers Thus God punisheth to the third and fourth generation verse 14 the wickednesse of the parents on their wicked children Exod. XX. 5. As he cloathed himself with cursing See the Observations on Psal verse 18 LXXIII 6. Let it be unto him The curse wherein he delighted in cursing others which pleased him as water and oile Let that same be unto him Or let a curse thus cover and cleave unto him and come into his bowels and bones See the Observations on Psal. LXXIII 6. shaked their heads Psal. verse 25 XXII 7. This Psalme is all Prophetical chapter CX all of Christ foretelling his Person Natures and Offices specialy his Kingdome and Priesthood And of his Victory over his enemies and of his Triumph afterwards And hereupon it is cited and made use of Matth. XXII 44. Mark XII 36. Luke XX. 42. Acts II. 34. Heb. I. 13. and V. 6. and VII 17. The Lord The Messias himself applies verse 1 aâ—d appropriates this verse to himself Matth. XXII 44. Marke XII 36. Luke XX. 42. Saint Peter from this verse proves Christs Ascention into heaven Acts II. 34. Saint Paul relates to it in the point of Christ reigne over all enemies 1 Cor. XV. 25. Denying that the words of this verse were used or could be used to any of the Angels Heb. I. 13. And therefore they cannot be appliable to David himself or to any meere man The Lord Heb. Jehovah See the Annotations of learned Master Gataker on Esay I. 2. and XXVI 4. See also my Observations on Psalme LXXXIII 18. and on LXXI 5. and on LXVIII 4. This Name of Essence never admits any affix in the Hebrew tongue And it may lawfully be pronounced though the ancient Jewes refrained from doing so to gaine thereby the more reverence to it And this Name is common to the three Persons yet according to the sense and circumstances of divers texts and places chapter CIII specialy when relation is had to another Person of the Trinity it is taken Personaly And so here for God the Father As likewise Psal. II. 7. said In his eternal Decree predestinating his Sonne to be the Messias to execute in time the Office of Mediatorship unto my Lord Davids Lord as well as his Sonne sit thou This and other phrases here are not proper but figurative to be understood not corporealy but spiritualy Christ is said in Scripture promiscuously both to stand and to sit at the right hand of God Heb. I. 3. Acts VII 55 56. 1 Pet. III. 22. at my right hand The right hand signifies power and strength Psal. CXVIII 16. Exod. XV. 6. Psal. CXLIV 8. Power to help verse 5. Psal. XVI 8. and CXLII 4. Eccles. X. 2. To be or sit there imports dignity and honour 1 Kings II. 19. Matth. XX. 21. And such is the meaning here And this dignity here expressed by this phrase is ascribed to Christ not in relation to his Deity for so he and the Father are one Herein he is and alwayes was of equal dignity with the Father But in regard of his Humanity whereby the Father was greater then he And wherein formerly he had emptied
of my bread As the Virgin Mary is not meant by wisdome verse 5 verse 1. so neither the Eucharist by this Bread and Wine here as some Papists would poorly seek to perswade us Reprove not a scorner Chap. verse 8 XXIII 9. and chap. XXIV 9. and XXVI 4. Matth. VII 6. The basest can mock As the abjects did David Psal. XXXV 15. thy dayes shall be multiplied Chap. verse 11 X. 27. and III. 2 16. Exodâ—s XX. 12. if short life would not prove a blessing to thee 1 Kings XIV 13. Esay LVII 1 2. as it was to Enoch to Josiah and others who did live long in a little time here and then lived for ever in heaven clamorous The most lewd verse 13. 17. are the most loud stollen waters Those pleasures where the Devil is a play-fellow But such morsels of sinne are murdering morsels not nourishing The Proverbs Here the name of Solomon is prefixed again chapter X as it seemes to a second Head verse 1 or Collection of Proverbs wherein the Opposition of Contraries in the same verse is very much used and the first part often serveth much to usher in the second from death The second death verse 2 and from the first too many times and alwayes as to the evil and sting of it The Lord will not suffer Though he refuse to enrich himself by evil arts verse 3 and though he give to the poor yet he shall not want necessaries Psal. XXXVII 25. and XXXIV 9. Blessings Chap. verse 6 XXVIII 20. Gen. XXVII 33. a confluence of all and of all kinds of Blessings The memorie Their name is heire to their life verse 7 their stock remains goes forward and shall do till the day of doome Chap. XXII 1. and chap. XV. 30. Eccles. VII 1. 3 Iohn verse 12. but the name of the wicked shall rot A frequent phrase and speech with the Hebrews which they abbreviate and write thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall receive commandment Be subject to Gods holy word verse 8 without replies and cavils winketh Winketh wiles verse 10 sorrow Sinne and sorrow to himself and others a well of life Flowing as an ever-flowing fountain verse 11 Psal. XXXVII 30 31. Matth. XII 35. Heb. VIII 10. love covereth 1 Cor. verse 12 XIII verse 20 7. verse 21 1 Pet. 4. 8. as choice silver Prov. XXV 11. feede many Luke XIX 48. 2 Cor. VI. 10. They are empty Vines that bear fruit to themselves only Hos. X. 1. no sorrow with it Wealth without woe verse 22 store without sore gold without guilt of sinne or guilty conscience a sport These dance to hell verse 23 hath wisdom For his sport and delight Rom. VII 22. Job XXIII 12. The fear Iob XV. verse 24 21. and ch XXIX 25. shall be granted If they fail not in the matter manner intention or duration of their desires and prayers being content either to wait or to want the thing desired being heartily willing that God should be glorified though themselves be not glorified Whirlwind Iob XXVII 20 23. verse 25 shortned Eccles. verse 27 VII verse 28 17. The hope Psal. CXXX 5. Prov. XIV 32. Heb. VI. 18 19. Pride Where pride is in the saddle chapter XI verse 2. 7. shame is in the crooper the hope His hope made a bridge of his own shadow and thinking to go over it he falls into the water he as a childe grasps at a shadow on the wall in his stead As it befell Haman verse 8 Daniels enemies in the denne of lions and others 2 Thes. I. 6 7. holdeth his peace From despising words verse 12 opprobrious language not seeking to wash off durt with durt concealeth Tacitus to him is the best historian verse 13 own flesh As Baals Priests verse 17 and some popish merit-mongers verse 18 sure reward Only he must have patience and not look to sow and reap all in one day James V. 7. pursueth evil As Asahel followed Abner verse 19 Ephes. IV. 19. adding drunkennesse to thirst with both hands Hel gapeth for him a froward heart A man may die by inward bleeding verse 20 Jer. IV. 14. The Heart appears in the life as the candle in the lanthorne only good Rom. verse 23 VII 22. Heb. XIII 18. Yet when the flesh gets the winde and hill of the Spirit it sometimes over-bears as a gust of winde forceth the ferry-man backward is wrath Proves such Rom. II. 8 9. that scattereth The five loaves in the Gospel were multiplied by division verse 24 and augmented by substraction trusteth Riches were never true to any that trusted in them verse 28 Luke XII 15. Psal. LII 6 7. exoriuntur ut exurantur as the grasse winneth souls James V. verse 30 20. Dan. XII 3. One soul more worth then all the world as he tells us who only went to the price of it Mat. XVI 26. recompensed Chastened verse 31 Their afflictions are not penal but medicinal or probational in the earth Which is their house of correction not in hell much more Totaly and finaly Nahum I. 9. as 1 Sam. XXVI 8. 1 Pet. IV. 17 18. not be established chapter XII verse 3 Though he may flourish for a time not be moved Chap. X. 25. Psal. LXII 2 6. a crown A choise and chief ornament verse 4 but the mouth Hence are those many Apologies of the Christians in all times verse 6 and ages according to his wisdome James III. verse 8 13 17. 2 Cor. X. 18. Rom. I. 22 23. 1 Cor. II. 4 8. the net of evil men Such a net as that Hab. verse 12 I. 15. that they may do the like use all cunning arts and crafts of doing mischief he so furiously pursueth his lusts as if he desired to be intangled in the net of his own destruction Or he desireth the forteresse against evils but all in vaine or the fortresse of evil men to be secured and defended by them and their strength Thus various may be the reading and sense of these words is snared The venome of his heart blisters his tongue verse 13 that it breaks out at his lips to his own ruine A fools wrath He hath no power over his own passions verse 16 chapter XXIX 11. covereth shame 1 Sam. X. 27. Passeth by an offence covereth an injury no evil Esay XXVII verse 21 9. filled He that makes a match with mischief shall have his belly full of it chap. I. 31. and XIV 14. deal truly Psal. verse 22 LI. 6. verse 23 Esay LXIII 8. Ephes. IV. 15. 1 John I. 6. 8. concealeth Loves not to out-lash Yet is not niggard where there is need chap. XV. 7. proclaimeth In it is and out it must what ever come of it a good word As cordials of comfort verse 25 breasts of consolation wells of salvation more excellent As a Prince of God among them verse 26 as Abraham among the Hittites Gen. XXIII 6. Psal. XVI 3. no death No sting in it verse 28 And they passe from the jawes of death to the joyes
of heaven heareth not But jears at it chapter XIII Keepeth his mouth God hath set a double guard of lips verse 1 and teeth verse 3 before this gate yet unlesse God himself keep the watch all will be lost Psal. CXLI 3. and CXXVII 1. See chap. XII 13. and chap. XVIII 21. and chap. XXI 23. diligent Affection without endeavour is like Rachel verse 4 beautiful but barren we must work as well as will and wish and 2 Cor. VIII do as well as desire performe as well as promise loathsome Stinks as it were above ground verse 5 And cometh to shame by his lying The ransome Jer. XLI 8. heareth not rebuke As a man not worth the chiding verse 8 not considerable having nothing to lose the lamp of the wicked As a candle verse 9 Job XVIII 5 6. and ends in a snuff Eccles. VII 6. wisdome Meeknesse of wisdome verse 10 wisdome peaceable James III. 13 17. Hope deferred Many lie long languishing at Hopes Hospital verse 12 as he at the poole of Bethesda The Law Chap. verse 14 XIV verse 15 27. good understanding Both gaineth favour as in Joseph Daniel and others And favour or grace gaineth a good understanding or good successe chap. III. 4. Psal. CXI 10. is hard Harsh rough 2 Tim. III. 3 4. Tit. III. 3. prudent man Observes seasons verse 16 and circumstances deports himself with discretion Amos V. 13. his folly By his headstrong verse 17 headlong exorbitances a wicked messinger Chap. XXVI 6. is sweet Specialy in spiritual things verse 19 abomination To be pulled from their evil lusts and sinful courses walketh Converseth verse 20 is a constant companion companion 1 Cor. XV. 33. which Saint Paul takes out of Menander the Poët pursueth Hard at heeles verse 21 Sinne and Punishment are linked together with chains of adamant repayed By God a liberal paymaster to his child Personal goodnesse is profitable to posterity verse 22 1 Kings XV. 4. Exod. XXXIV 7. where the Hebrew word Nâ—tser keepeth hath a great N. to note likely the greatnesse of Gods mercie to the good mans posterity Wealth As Nabals was for David Hamans for Mordecai the Canaanites for the Israelites Job XXVII 16 17. Though this be not so alwayes and universaly Psal. XVII 14. want of judgement In tillage verse 23 or managing and husbanding what is gotten hateth his sonne As it proves in the issue verse 24 As we see in Eli to his sonnes and in David to his Absalom and Adonijah See chap. XXIII 13. and XIX 18. And thus we are said to will and do many things which properly and directly we do not so but because we do such things whereupon the other will follow So chap. VIII 36. and chap. XVII 19. Matth. XXVI 12. John XII 7. Luke XI 48. Ezek. XVIII 31. and XXXIII 11. Psal. CVI. 24. satisfying With contentation verse 25 be it more or lesse verse 6 seeketh As a coward seeketh his adversarie chapter XIV in hope not to finde him is easie Chap. I. 20. and chap. VIII 1 17. a mock at sinne These dance with the Devil verse 9 Chap. X. 23. 2 Thes. II. 12. 2 Pet. II. 13. favour From God or a complacencie in their righteous dealing or gains them favour among themselves not intermeddle 1 Pet. verse 10 I. 8. Phil. IV. 7. 2 Cor. V. 4. It is an hansel of heaven The cock on the dunghil knows not the worth of this jewel seemeth Chap. verse 12 XVI 25. Sinne comes cloathed with a shew of Reason Exod. I. 10. And thereupon we willingly deceive our own hearts James I. 26. as Micah Iudg. XVII 13. and Ier. VII 4. And self-delusion is an epidemical disease and deadly even in laughter Some frothy and flashy mirth the wicked may have verse 13 but there is a snare or cord in their sinne which strangles their mirth that they rejoyce in the face not in the heart 2 Cor. V. 12. Esth. V. 13 heavinesse Iob XXI 12 13. Luke 6. 25. Eccles. II. 2. filled with his own wayes have made a match with mischief verse 14 and shall have enough of it hath sold himself to wickednesse and shall be sure of his payment from himself 1 Tim. VI. 6. Heb. X. 34. Psal. XIX 11. Goodness is its own reward in hand and in hope The simple beleeveth As Ieroboam that old baby verse 15 looketh well Looks before he leaps tries before he trusts 1 Iohn IV. 1. Ephes. V. 15. feareth verse 16 and departeth Feareth the judgements whiles they hang in the threatnings counts them not words so much as thunderbolts Hab. III. 16. The evil bow The worst cannot but think well of them verse 19 and do homage to the image of God stamped upon the natures and practises of the good and righteous his neighbour Poor neighbour verse 21 and needy that devise evil That plot and plough it verse 22 dig and delve it are they not heavenly wide utterly out labour That is honest verse 23 not that whereby they do wickedly with both hands earnestly talk of the lips Great talkers are commonly do-littles is their riches For God gives them wisdome to use them well verse 24 fools Rich fools Riches to them is as a sword put into a mad mans hand strong confidence Dan. verse 26 III. verse 28 17. 2 Kings XVIII 5. multitude of people Which wars waste and consume See 2 Sam. XXIV slow to anger Anger may rush into a wise mans bosome verse 29 not rest there Eccles. VII 9. Iames I. 19 20. exalteth Proclaims it aloud verse 30 sets it on the theater A sound heart Well freed from passions and perturbations holds out long envie A corroding disease it is an hel-hag that feeds upon its own marrow bones and strongest parts it is as rust is to iron as the viper It both sinnes and is punished together so quick and speedy justice accompanies it Iob V. 2. his maker 1 Sam. verse 31 II. 7. A poor mans livelihood is his life Luke VIII 43. honoureth him That is honoureth God God so takes it chap. III. 8. And God honours him Matth. XXV 34. c. driven away Being arrested by the Serjeant death verse 32 in the Devils name and so hurried away and hurled into hell hath hope Death to them is as the valley of Achor Iustus etiam dum exspirat sperat in the heart Is not vainglorious verse 33 sets not forth his good parts and practises a sunning to be seene and cried up in the midst of fools Their zeal must be seene 2 Kings X. 16. Their pietie must be shored up with popularitie a reproach Sinnes are the snuffs of our candlesticks verse 34 and threaten the removal of it and will render us a reproach and a taunt Deut. XXVIII 37. Ier. XXV 9. Ezek. V. 14 15. a wise servant So to Joseph by Pharaoh verse 35 so to Daniel by Darius And much more is the favour of the King of Kings to his servants Matth. XXIV 45 46 47. and XXV 21 23. his wrath So
verse 10 or should be and best becomes them See it in Solomon 1 Kings III. 24. in David 2 Sam. XIV 17 20. a discerning power and sagacitie was in them which God gave them his work His Ordinance verse 11 Stones were used for weights And they usualy put into a bag Deut. XXV 13. to Kings For they are more obliged to God then other men verse 12 and their sinnes are exemplarie Magnates are Magnetes throne Ier. XXII 13 20. love him Chap. verse 13 XXII 11. yet oft-times it falls out otherwise with wicked Kings pacifie it As Abigael did Davids verse 14 and Benhadads servants did Ahabs No other way is to be taken of the later raine Deut. XI verse 15 14. James V. 7. Amos IV. 7. See my Annotations on Joel II. 23. and on Zech. X. 1. The high way This is his road verse 17 and trade Psal. CXXXIX 24. Acts XXIV 16. Pride Swelling is dangerous in a wall verse 18 Esay XXX 13. dangerous in mans body so is the swelling of pride Examples many of the fall of such Better to be spoiled verse 19 then to spoil to suffer wrong then to do it wisely With due deliberation and circumspection verse 20 trusteth in the Lord Not in his own wisdome God can crack the strongest sinew in all the arme of flesh Esay XXII 11. sweetnesse of the lips Eloquence gives an addition of weight to learning verse 21 teacheth Seasoneth it with salt of grace verse 23 ere it sets it by utterance as a dish before the hearers pleasant words Such as those verse 24 Eccles. XII 10. lips James III. verse 27 6. He shutteth his eyes With more freedome of minde to beat his brains verse 30 and study to excogitate and revolve and resolve of mischief moving his lips Mumbling and muttering to himself then he that taketh a Citie Fortior est qui se verse 32 quà m qui fortissima vincit moenia Nec virtus altiùs ire potest The Lot Gods Providence extendeth to things in our account meerly contingent and casual verse 33 Matth. X. 29. See Josh. XIV 2. 1 Sam. X. 20. Acts I. 24 25 26. See my Annotations on Jonah I. 7. sacrifices Good chear used at Sacrifices chapter XVII verse 1 chap. VII 14. alluded to James V. 5. See chap. IX 2. trieth Zech. verse 3 XIII 9. Mal. III. 2. 3. God trieth us that we may know what is in our selves and by his trying to refine us 1 Pet. I. 7 or to punish us Ier. XVII 9 10. See chap. XXVII 21. giveth heed Is apt to beleeve scandalous reports verse 4 poor chap. XIV 31. childrens If they verse 6 and their fathers be good it prospereth Chap. XIX 6. verse 8 most love gain love with shame Give ye covereth For even in friendship faults will fall out verse 9 chap. X. 12. 1 Cor. XIII 4. repeateth Rips up and rakes into his friends frailties A reproof A word to the wise verse 10 an hundred stripes Beaten he is but not bent or bowed thereby to goodnesse amerced he is but not amended Gods spirit did not set it on Chap. XXVII 22. only rebellion Against God and Man a cruel messenger Gods executioners all and every of his creatures Hab. II. 11. And mans executioners the hangman and officers Whelps Which she licketh into forme verse 12 and loves above measure Yet her danger may be sooner shifted and shunned evil for good This ingratitude is a monster in nature verse 13 To render good for evil is divine good for good is humane evil for evil is sinful and bruitish evil for good is devilish Ier. XVIII 20 21. Psalme CIX 4 5. The beginning Therefore stop it betime verse 14 as one would a breach of the Sea Quench it whiles a spark Iames III. 5. It is hard to be disingaged from contentious quarrels when one is once in 1 Thes. IV. 11. justifieth These frame mischief by a Law verse 15 Psal. XCIV 20. and sinne cum privilegio Neither must Judge do thus nor private men in their Censures They must not hold him or handle him as a just man a price Principaly appliable to those that neglect so great salvation verse 16 Heb. II. 3. and let slip the opportunities put into their hands for heaven and so trifle and fool away their time and eternal happiness The vulgar Latin and LXX make another translation and sense not rightly A friend A true friend verse 17 chap. XVIII 24. and XXVII 17. not such as those Psal. XXXVIII 11. and chap. XIX 7. Scilicet ut fulvum spectatur in ignibus aurum Tempore sic duro est experienda fides strife Chap. verse 19 XXIX 22. and XV. 18. and XXVI 21. James III. 16. Psal. XXXVII 8. It opens the gap to many mischiefs gate High and broad gates break men many times Or rather setteth open a wide door to strife and contentions le ts in many destructive mischiefs though not in his intention yet in issue begetteth a fool Solomons own case verse 21 chap. X. 1. and chap. XV. 20. and chap. XIX 13. Better were a miscarrying womb and dry breasts A merry heart Chap. XV. 13. and XII 25. Eccles. IX 7 8 9. a broken spirit Chap. XVIII 14. Psal. XXXII 3. and CII 3 4 5 and CXIX 83. A wicked man A Judge in taking verse 23 or receiving a briber in giving chap. XXIX 4. chap. XV. 27. and chap. XXI 14 Psal. XV. 5. and XXVI 10. Job XV. 34. Deut. XVI 19. and chap. XXVII 25. before him Easie to him verse 24 chap. XIV 6. and chap. VIII 9. Or in his face and eye appears there chap. IV. 25. Eccles. II. 14 But the fools eyes up and down wandering and he as one that hath lost his way nor knows where he is or which way to turne is besides himselfe to punish They should be cherished verse 26 nor to strike Princes for equity Rulers for doing right in their offices Or Princes should not strike well-doers Or to strike Princes and worthy men besides and against right and equity spareth James I 19. verse 27 chap. X. 19. Even a fool Job XIII verse 28 5. Sitacuisses philosophus fuisses counted Not that he is so Or is wise in being silent Whence is that Loquere â—tte videam separated himself From the world chapter XVIII verse 1 and all other impediments to apply himself to seek wisdome Or the Separatist stirs busily in every thing that is done whereby he may effect his designe and come off with his credit aâ—d reputed wisdome And this is true in quarrelsome and medling men And in Separatists and Schismaticks that rend the Unity of the Church A fool It wilful to follow his own humour verse 2 against all that can be said to the contrary Or is vainglorious setting his good parts a sunning only to seeme wise and understanding and to gaine applause chap. XIV 33. Or phantastickly affects singularitie to be crosse to all men Then cometh contempt It comes into the world with him
wherein severity ought to cast the scale And this Kings best do when they sit in the throne themselves and leave not all alwayes to Judges under them my heart clean The Pharisee verse 9 and Popish Justitiarie saith it Not Paul Rom. VII 15. 1 Cor. IV. 4 nor Iob chap. IX 30 31. and XIV 4. nor David Psal. CXXX 3. and LI. 5 Eccles. VII 20. 1 John I. 8. a childe Is or should be known by his doings verse 11 early shewes his inclination and how he is like to prove afterwards and from his childhood it self should be a plaine dealer without any hypocrisie eare Exod. IV. 11. Psal. XCIV 9. Therefore he sees hypocrites and all and will punish Yea he makes and opens the spiritual eare and eye 1 Cor. II. 9 10. sleep Chap. verse 13 XIX 15. open Be vigilant and diligent chap. XII 11. and XXVIII 19. the lips of knowledge Chap. verse 15 V. 2. Psal. XLV 3. Cant. V. 1. John VII 46. is sweet Chap. IX 17. but afterwards Job XX. verse 17 15 after the meale comes the reckoning we must not think to dine with the Devil and afterwards to sup with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of heaven Every purpose Deliberate oft ere thou resolve once verse 18 Take Counsel Esay XXX 1. Psal. CXIX 24. See chap. XV. 22. and XXIV 6. warre Chap. XXIV 6. be neither timorous nor temerarious Ahab or Jehoshaphat rather in this might have been a good president to Josiah 1 Kings XXII 5. 2 Chron. XXXV 22. tale-bearer Chap. verse 19 XI 13. Meddle not with such Curseth Chap. verse 20 XXX 17. Exod. XXI 17. Levit. XX. 9. Matth. XV. 4. lamp Chap. XXIV 20. gotten hastily Chap. verse 21 XIII 11. and X. 2. and XXVIII 20. I will recompence Chap. verse 22 XXIV 29. Deut. XXXII 35. Rom. XII 17 19. 1 Thes. V. 15. 1 Pet. III. 9. Wait It belongs to him This is the way to be even with him that wrongs thee yea to be above him divers weights Verse 10. verse 23 not good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mans goings Chap. verse 24 XVI 1 9. and chap. III. 6. Psal. XXXVII 23. Jer. X. 23. a snare As the fish that swallows the hook verse 25 Against Sacriledge Acts XIX 37. Rom. II. 22. Let Princes and all look to this make inquirie How the vow may be made void candle The minde and conscience is such verse 27 Matth. VI. 23. 1 Cor. II. 11. It is Gods Spy and Mans overseer a kinde of middle thing betwixt God and Man Our God as well as Moses was Pharaohs God and Aarons God Exod. IV. 16. and VII 1. the King Chap. verse 28 XXIX 14. Psal. CI. 1. Yet this rule is not without all exception as in our late King of blessed and bleeding memorie and in many others gray head Chap. verse 29 XVI 31. clenseth Corrections beat out corruptions verse 30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nocumenta documenta chap. X. 13. The Kings heart Jer. chapter XXI verse 1 X. 23. Ezek. XXI 19 20 21. Though never so absolute is ruled yet and over-ruled by him who is higher then the highest Yea to do his will though unwitting to the King then Sacrifice To obey is better then sacrifice verse 3 God will have mercie and not sacrifice Mark XII 33. Heathens could see and say so much See Esay I. 11. Hos. VI. 6. Micah VI. 7. the plowing Whether they plot verse 4 or plough Tit. I. 15. As a plague-sore will render the richest robe infectious Even their Prayer is sinne diligent Chap. verse 5 X. 4. and chap. XII 24. hastie Rashly make more hast then good speed to be rich treasures Chap. verse 6 X. 2. and chap. XI 4. and chap. XIII 11. and chap. XX. 21. So in Achan Joshuah that could stay the Sunne in his course could not stay him from fingering those accursed treasures The robberie Robbing and spoyling others verse 7 by briberie wrong judgement and wrong dealing a brawling woman Verse 19. verse 9 chap. XXV 24. and chap. XIX 13. and XXVII 15. desireth evil Evil to all verse 10 but to himself findes no favour Whether he sink or swim is no part of his care Psal. LXIX 26. 2 Tim. III. 3. wisely considereth That it shall be overthrown verse 12 and so envies not at their present prosperitie but makes their destruction his instruction Esay XXVI 11. 1 Cor. X. 11. Psal. LII 6. not be heard Of God verse 13 or man Matth. XVIII 30. Esay LVIII 7 9. A gift Chap. verse 14 XVII 8. and chap. XVIII 16. and XIX 6. This Abigael knew well 1 Sam. XXV It is joy Psal. CIX verse 15 162. Rom. VII 22. workers Jer IX 5. Psal. VII 14. Esay V. 18. wandereth He cannot wander so farre as to misse of hell verse 16 Prov. II. 18. Esay L. 11. in that Congregation-house of Gehenna-gyants where is punishment without pitie miserie without mercie sorrow without succour crying without comfort mischief without measure loveth pleasure Luke XVI verse 17 13. a ransome Chap. verse 18 XI 8. God causing that to fall upon the wicked which was intended against the righteous spendeth it up Foolishly lavisheth it verse 20 1 Pet. IV. 3 4. Whereas it should be husbanded thriftily for necessity and honest affluence and comfortable livelihood followeth after Though not overtake it verse 21 si faciat etiamsi non perficiat though he cannot open the door yet if he lift at the latch be an active apprentise though not yet his crafts-master A wise man scaleth Prudence is better then Puissance verse 22 Eccles. VII 19. and IX 15 16. Prov. XXIV 5. 2 Sam. XX. 16 21 22. Proud Chap. verse 24 XIII 10. and chap. XV. 25. giveth Chap. verse 26 XI 25. and chap. XXII 9. Esay LVIII 7. Psal. CXII 9. 2. Cor. IX 9. Deut. XV. 10. Matth. XIX 21 22. Rom. XII S. Eccles. XI 2. Ephes. IV. 28. See on Prov. XIX 17. heareth What he witnesseth verse 28 against the Lord The arme of humane policie as Jeroboams in that case shrinks up presently verse 30 The horse Though so serviceable verse 31 Job XXXIX 19 25. Yet avails not Psal. XXXIII 17. A good name Eccles. chapter XXII verse 1 VII 1. See the Observations there Omnia si perdas famam servare memento meet together Chap. verse 2 XXIX 13. Have mutual need one of another Deut. XV. 11. Matth. XXVI 11. And meet many times as travellers in the mid-way by an alteration and exchange of their conditions Luke I. 53. foreseeth Eccles. verse 3 II. 14. and X. 2. looks before he leaps sees a tempest in the clouds and seeks seasonable shelter under the hollow of Gods hand passeth on Pusheth on without fear or wit desperately into danger chap. XIV 16. and XXVII 12. These after-wits and post-masters may prove prudent but too late farre from them From those thornes and snares verse 5 from the miseries and misdemeanours too of the froward man Traine up a childe Young Saints verse 6 old
For this David befools and bebeasts himself Psal. LXXIII 10 22. studieth Great students verse 2 to be wittily wicked lips It blistereth out at their tongues end Through wisdome Chap. III. 13 19. verse 3 is strong Chap. XXI 22. verse 5 warre Chap. XX. 18. verse 6 and chap. XV. 22. and chap. XI 14. too high Chap. XIV 6. verse 7 and chap. VIII verse 9. and chap. IX 1. Yet the highest and saving wisdome is too high for the wisest natural man 1 Cor. II 14. openeth not He were two fools if he did deviseth Is an Artist at any evil verse 8 The thought Chap. XIV 22. verse 9 and chap. VI. 18. and chap. XII 5. and chap. XV. 26. Esay LIX 7. Jer. IV. 14. If thou faint Gen. XLIX 23 24. verse 10 Man hath no trial of his strength till he be in trouble If thou forbear Psal. LXXXII 4. verse 11 Esay LVIII 6 7. It being in thy power to deliver such innocent persons Mark III. 4. Job XXIX 17. and XXXI 8 9. If thou sayest Sinnes are not to seek for excuses verse 12 But they availe not with God Psal. XI 4. Iob XXXIV 22. Ier. XVII 9 10. When thou hast found it Experimental knowledge is the only true knowledge verse 14 Heb. X. 34. Iosh. XXIII 14. A literal notion of the brain comes short of it a reward Psal XIX 10 11. and CXIX 103. chap. XXIII 18. falleth Into trouble verse 16 It is not here meant of falling into sinne Micah VII 8. and riseth Iob V. 19. Psal. XXXIV 19 20. and XXXVII 24. and XCI 3. James I. 2. the wicked fall As Nahum I. 9. into an Only evil Ezek. VII 5. Esther VI. 13. Job V. 12. Amos VIII 14. Jer. XXV 27. Esay XXIV 20. Rejoyce not Chap. XVII 5. verse 17 Job XXXI 29. Psal. XXXV 12 16. Obad. 12. 2 Sam. I. 11 12. Matth. V. 44. Rom. XII 19. thine enemie But only so farre as Gods glory is concerned in it And still pitie his person Psal. LVIII 10. from him To thee verse 18 no reward The pain of Losse verse 20 And sure the tears of hell are not sufficient to bewail the losse of heaven fear Who would not fear thee O King of Nations verse 21 Ier. X. 7. And the King must be feared 1 Pet. II. 1â— Rom. XIII 3. under God Acts IV. 19. suddenly When it comes though delayed awhile verse 22 Had Zimri peace that slew his master of them both That fear not the Lord and the King These things also belong to the wise Concerne wise men to look unto verse 23 Not that the sentences following were taken out of wise mens books or saâ—ings after Solomon and before the time of Ezechiah not good Verie bad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The like is chap. X. 2. and chap. XX. 23. Psal. V. 5. 1 Cor. XVI 22. Exod. XX. 7. respect of persons Chap. XVIII 5. chap. XXVIII 21. Levi. XIX 25. Deut. I. 17. and XVI 19. Thou art righteous Chap. XVII 15. verse 24 Esay V. 23. Exod. XXIII 7. that rebuke him Job XXIX 11 17. verse 25 a good blessing Of every good man Kisse Gen. XLI 40. verse 26 Shall do him honour Psal. II 11. afterwards build thine house First be sure of the means how to compasse it verse 27 Luke XIV 28 33. Do things of necessity first after of accommodation without cause Without a calling verse 28 or against thine own conscience deceive not To bolster out a bad cause or out-face a good or ot entise another to suborne him to be a false witnesse Say not Chap. XX. 22. verse 29 Rom. XII 17. 1 Thes. V. 15. 1 Pet. III. 9. Matth. V. 39. Rom. XII 17. This is to wring the sword out of Gods had Rom. XII 19. sloathful See on Chap. VI. 6. verse 30 received instruction A Bee can suck honie out of a flower verse 32 which a Flie cannot A spiritual man can extract good out of other mens faults and follies can gather grapes of thornes and figs of thistles The worse others are the better we should be saving our selves from an untoward generation and redeeming the time because the dayes are evil yet a little sleep Little verse 33 and yet sleeps plutaly in the Original A little he asks but a little will not serve his turne Thus he personates the sluggard speaking povertie The beggar shall catch him by the back verse 34 swiftly and irresistibly These Here begins a new Collection of Proverbs chapter XXV verse 1 long after Solomons time which some choice men of King Hezekiah likely by his appointment Copied out of some of Solomons writtings then extant or out of publike Records Registers and Commentaries wherein for their worth and wisdome they were inserted And in these Solomon most-what intreateth of higher matters of State businesse of Regal and Civil administrations to conceal Such as are verse 2 the Union of three Persons into one Nature and of two Natures into one Person his wonderful Decrees and the no lesse wonderful Execution of them c. Rom. XI 33. Deut. XXIX 29. to search out Chap. XVI 10. Job XXIX 16. 1 Kings III. 24 27. unsearchable verse 3 As the two former Jer. XXXI 37. profundum sine fundo Jer. XVII 9. 1 King IV. 29. Much more unsearchable are the deep and hidden wayes of God Rom. XI 33 34. we must adore them when we cannot comprehend them Neither must the subject think to attain to the depth of all the secret reasons and doings of a King even when he is upright and doth his dutie wicked from Chap. XX. 8. verse 5 Evil Counsellers about a King are great means of much mischief as Human Doeg Rehoboams young Counsellers Psal. CI. 4. Put not forth This is for modestie verse 6 and against ambition which useth to ride without rains Wait rather on Gods pleasure and leasure for thy promotion Psal. LXXV 5 8. better it is Luke XIV 10. verse 7 hastily Hastie men never want woe verse 8 Eccles. V. 2. chap. XXIX 20. He soone shoots his fools bolt Debate thy cause Matth. V. 25. verse 9 and XVIII 15. discover not Specialy out of a revengeful minde no nor thy friends secret All wise men will abhorre such a one as not to be trusted but to be deemed as a tale bearer or backbiter rather fitly spoken Chap. XV. 23. verse 11 Esay L. 4. Job VI. 25. Eccles. XII 10. as apples of gold put in cases of silver cut-work with curious inlayings and interlacings a wise reprover Chap. IX 9. verse 12 Touch some never so gently yet like the nettle it will sting you Exod. II. 14. Prov. XIII 18. But an obedient eare deserves such earings of gold as diamonds in a diademe as wel as the wise reprover that rightly orders and circumstantiates his words messenger Verse 25. verse 13 and chap. XIII 17. His speed and trustiness revives and refresheth the longing and languishing minds of them that sent him Job XXXIII 23. of a false gift As the
Devil verse 14 who promised Christ excelsa in excelsis mountains on a mountain Matth. IV. 9. Such are like clouds c. Jude verse 12. By long forbearing Chap. XV. 1. verse 15 and chap. XVI 14. Gen. XXXII 4. 1 Sam. XXV 24. Judg. VIII 1 2 3. And thus not ministring occasion to provoke him further Though it self be flesh yet thus it breaketh the bone sufficieut Philosophandum sed paueis verse 16 We must not overdo a busines and vomit it By excesse the sweetest comforts will be dissweetned grow sower and loathsome 1 Cor. VII 29. We must hang loose and be weanedly affected towards all creature comforts withdraw Let thy foot be rare verse 17 and so precious there 1 Sam. III. 1 overlay not thy neighbour nor abuse his courtesie take not too much of a free horse Nulli te facias nimis sodalem false witnesse Chap. XIX 5. verse 18 Psal. XLII 10. and LVII 4. A sinne of a deep die of a crimson colour Confidence in an unfaithful man As was Achitophel to David verse 19 Jobs miserable comforters Job VI. 16 17. There is faith to be kept with dogs say the Turks with Hereticks say the Papists David durst not trust Saul 1 Sam. XXVII 1. notwithstanding his fair speeches and promises chap. XXVI 17 21. 25. Therefore trie well before we trust songs to an heavie heart verse 20 Musick and Mourning agree like Harp and Harrow Ecclus. XXII 6. Dan. VI. 18. Or as some render and sense the words musick drives away sorrow 1 Sam. XVI 24. 2 Kings III. 15. Enemie be hungrie Exod. XXIII 4. verse 21 Matth. V. 44. Rom. XII 20. heap coals of fire This seems to be related to verse 22 if not cited Rom. XII 19 20. And the words are commonly expounded and understood of heaping vengeance on thy enemies head and blessing on thine own Psal. CXL 10. But this seemes a very uncharitable Exposition but so savour of a vindictive policie and not to suit with Solomons or Pauls main scope and charitable intention And contrarie to that chap. XX. 22. and chap. XXIV 9. and to the tendencie of the text And therefore these coals of fire thus heaped on the enemies head may better be understood of his hearty repentance kindled and burning in his head and heart wherby his malice is melted and himself grieved with burning and scalding sighs that he hath been thine enemie who hast been and art so good as to desire and do him good whiles he did thee evil And thus the fire of love and charitie is kindled in his heart and his evil overcome with thy goodnesse as is in the Apostles Precept and Exhortation annexed Rom. XII 21. reward thee Though he should not nor be overcome by thy kindnesse and goodnesse a backbiting tongue Brow-beat it verse 23 The tale-hearer is blamable as well at the tale-bearer And he that loves a lie as he that makes it Apoc. XXII 15. good newes The more unexpected verse 25 the more welcome Eminently is this true of the newes of salvation from heaven falling down By infirmity verse 26 yeelding to him by timorousnesse in an evil thing or otherwise falling under his reproof for sinniug he is prejudiced and disgraced thereby he is as a troubled fountain Or to fall down before him by any calamity is a thing to be grieved at by all as at a publick mischief their own glorie It is not glorie verse 27 but vain-glorie Gal. V. 26. Iohn V. 44. and chap. XII 43. Gloria fugientem sequitur no rule over Chap. XVI 32. verse 28 that reigns not in his unruly affections so honour Dignitie should wait upon desert chapter XXVI verse 1 Psal. XII 8. The contrarie is of very evil consequences many wayes the curse causelesse As the Popes Excommunications verse 2 and Execrations with Bell Book and Candle Psal. CIX 28. Such Cursers are cursed the curse will fall upon the Cursers head for the fools back verse 3 Verse 4 12. Chap. X. 13. chap. VII 22. Psal. XXXII 9. Much and often is spoken of fools in this Book of Solomons wise Proverbs to mark them out as rocks at Sea that we might avoid shipwrack thereon Shortly thus That the Foole feedeth on foolishnesse it is joy to him he is full of words delights that his heart may discover it self uttereth all his minde layeth open his folly saith to every one that he is a fool whereas if he held his peace he might be counted wise his instruction is folly Excellent speech becomes him not honour is not seemely for him The legs of the lame are not equal and so is a parable in the mouth of fools His eyes are in the ends of the earth his heart at his left hand he will be medling he enters into contention and his mouth calleth for stroaks Job V. 2. A stone is heavie and the sand weighty yet his wrath is heavier then them both And as a whip is for the horse a bridle for the Asse so a rod for the fools back yet he trusts in his own heart that though thou shouldest bray him in a Morter among wheat with a pestle yet will not his foolishnesse depart from him But as a dog returneth to his vomit so a fool to his folly He hath no delight in understanding it is too high for him though a price be put in his hand to get wisdome yet he hath no heart he doth despise doth hate knowledge and reproof yea the thought of foolishnesse is sinne He makes a mock of sinne it is a sport to him to do mischief And therefore saith Solomon meddle not with him or his companie Answer him not according to his folly unlesse it be shortly to convince him leave him and go from his presence for shame shall be his promotion and destruction is near at hand to wait upon him Answer not Say nothing verse 4 and you pay him to purpose Esay XXXVI 21. Jer. XXVIII 11. John XIX 9 10. Luke XXIII 9. Mark XV. 2 3 4 5. like him As hot and as headlong as he and so at length there will be never a wiser of the two but both fools Not foolishly As he speaks verse 4 5. or as soothing humouring or consenting to him therein But in fit time and place shortly and soundly to convince him Answer Cast in somewhat that may sting him verse 5 and stop his mouth lest He took upon himself as a conqueror clap his wings and crow These seeming contradictions and contrarieties by due distinction of times and other incident circumstances and considerations are easily reconciled So Matth. XII 30. fool See on verse 3. verse 6 12. bindeth a stone in a sling Whereby the undiscreet and foolish verse 8 slinger may do hurt to others putting as it were a sword in a mad mans hand Or as others As he that putteth a precious stone in an heap of stones so c. Some make these heaps to be such as into which every traveller passing by out of
patience and makes their judgement the more heavie and to appear the more conspicuous Be not righteous over-much Not in it self verse 16 and in truth but in thine own conceit we must moderate our zeale with prudence Matth. X. 16. not make our selves over-wise to do a thing conscienciously scrupulously upon opinion of dutie when indeed there was no necessity so to do and so to make sinne where God hath made none And thus all will-worshippers are all over-religious over-wise or over-weening too too well conceited of their own religion wisdome and worth See Rom XI 20. destroy thy self By the former means involve thy self in much unnecessary trouble and danger which otherwise thou mightest and wouldest fairly avoid over-much wicked Not allowing any degree of wickednesse But cautioning most against the most excessive ranck the superfluity of naughtinesse James I. 21. When we run to the excesse of riot in sinne 1 Pet. IV. 4. And being past feeling give our selves over to it to work it with greedinesse Ephes. IV. 19. doing wickedly with both hands earnestly Mic. VII 3. Jer. VIII 6. before thy time Wasting thy body by such sinning or exposing thy self to the stroak of humane justice or divine extraordinary vengeance upon such exorbitant outragious sinners Take hold of this That thou be not over-much wicked verse 18 And from this That thou be not righteous over-much But hold the golden mean and mediocrity keep constantly to duty not turning aside to the right hand or to the left and yet wisely declining danger For those that turne aside to crooked wayes the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity Psal. CXXV 5. as malefactors to execution When he that feareth God shall come forth of them all those dangers all that extremes do usualy bring men to be freed or pulled as a firebrand out of the fire Zech. III. 2. Psal. XXXIV 9 16. Wisdome strengtheneth Chap. verse 19 IX 14 16. Prov. III. 21 26. and Chap. XXI 22. and XXIV 5. Thus prudence excelleth pussance 2 Sam. XX. 16 22. Cedant arma togae Not a just man This is reserved for the state of Perfection in Heaven verse 20 Heb. XII 23. Here we sinne yea even in doing of good our best actions even in holy duties are stained with imperfections and corruptions come short of what God by vertue of our creation and his most righteous Law doth most justly require at our hands Our whole hearts and souls now though we give them to God yet are not those but much unlike those which God at first gave us Pelagians and Papists are proud Justiciaries Prov. XX. 9. 1 Kings VIII 46. James III. 2. 1 John I. 8. Nemo semper sapit No heed unto all words That are spoken of thee verse 21 and against thee heed not to know them all or knowing all lay them not to heart to disquiet thee or revenge them In a brave composednesse with silence and patience set thy self above the reach and trouble of them yet so as thou be not wanting to the clearing of thy good name See 1 Sam. XXV 25. and X. 27. Prov. XIX 11. 2 Sam. XVI 10 11. lest thou hear Though they lest should 1 Pet. II. 18. yet sometimes it falls out so Job XXXI 31. Yea the abjects teared Davids name and ceased not Psal. XXXV 15. Yet see Jobs minde and moderation in this case chap. XXXI 13 14 15. Thy own heart The power of conscience verse 22 the conscience of our own guiltinesse should meeken us towards others that do amisse Gal. VI. 1 2. Tit. III. 2 3. Matth. VII 1 5. I will bewise Solomon had many extraordinary means verse 23 and used all endeavours to get and increase in wisdome yet after all that he found it farre from him and he farre fromit It surpasseth the sublimest understanding of man Job XXVIII 12 21. and chap. XXXVIII Rom. XI 33 34. Exceeding deep As what not verse 24 even in things Natural and the works of creation much more profound abstruse mysterious and mystical in things supernatural in Gods works of Providence and mans Redemption 1 Pet. I. 12 Iob XI 6 10. Psal. CXXXIX 6. This the cause why he was so farre from Wisdome And to know the wickednesse of folly The vast verse 25 and deep and desperate corruption of mans heart yea the sinfulnesse of sin Rom. VII 13. For Contraries do best set off and illustrate the one the other And this he did that he might the better anatomize and dissect both wisdome and wickednesse to his own conscience and to the consciences of others See 1 Cor. XIV 24. 25. Ezek. XIV 5. The woman whose heart is snares One instance of his discoverie verse 26 a bitter sweet Prov V. 4. II. 16. VI. 26. IX 17. This Solomon found most woful experience and here penitently proclaims it her bands as bands So Dalilah to Samson So Prov. XVII 22. escape-from her As Ioseph did not by his own strength but the supernatural power of Gods grace See Prov. V. 8. but the sinner Prov. XXII 14. II. 19. Her steps take hold of hell Prov. V. 5. and IX 11. This Mentioned ver 26. and 28. one by one In his diligent search verse 27 Among all those Thousand verse 28 1 Kings XI 3. Yet most evidently many good women there have been and are But in respect of the discovery of hearts and natures whether in good or evil it is harder to finde out throughly the perfect disposition of a woman and their deep sleights then of men For whoredome taketh away the heart of a man Hos. IV. 11. Prov. V. 6. and chap. VII 21 22. That God hath made man upright In his creation verse 29 Gen. I. 27. Ephes. IV. 27. but they Here he discovers the Original and fountain of all these evils and follies not to be from God but from themselves and their Fall in Adam So that man now is of another make whole evil is in man and whole man is in evil Sought out Bâ— verse 30 Satans guiles and their own deceived hearts many inventions Many and mighty to be like to Angels to God Gen. III. 5 22 many shifts to palliate their sins and sinful courses Who is as the wise man None like him chapter VIII verse 1 a matchlesse man such as Abraham Joseph Job Moses Gen. XXIII 6. and chap. XLI 38. Job I. 8. Num. XII 7. as those excellent ones of the earth Psal. XVI 3. the Worthies of the world Heb. XI 5. and who knoweth Such are rare one of a thousand the interpretation of a thing Rightly to discerne in all affairs what in every case is to be done or left undone face to shine As did the face of Moses of Stephen The wisdome of Piety is reverend and venerable Natural Conscience cannot but stoop and do obeysance to it Some thus A mans wisdome shines in his face and the boldnesse Shall be changed to the better shall be doubled as bold as a Lion Prov.
by fresh praises and vowes of love To which she makes a brief Reply by desiring to be made fit for those Praises and future affections by the work of his Spirit and that he may come to enjoy them in her faire Christ here interchangeably seemes chapter IV verse 1 as it were rapt and ravished and altogether enamoured with his beautiful Bride sets her forth in all her parts in her eyes haire teeth lips temples neck and breasts in that fairnesse and comelinesse which indeed he himself hath put upon her Ezek XVI 14. no spot in thee Ephes. V. 26 27. Apoc. XIV 5. verse 7 Not such as Jude ver 12. and Deut. XXXII 5. no Leopard-spots none that God will so account though in many things we offend all James III. 2. Shenir and Hermon Deut. III. 9. 1 Chron. V. 23. verse 8 Of Hermon see the Observations on Psal. LXXXIX 12. a fountaine sealed For preservation from pollution verse 12 and for the excellencie of it John IV. 14. a fountaine c. Or Oh fountaine c. verse 15 For some make this the Churches speech to Christ acknowledging that for all she is or hath the entire praise belongs to him alone is derived from him Psalme LXXXVII 7. John XV. 5. Esay XXVI 12. Hos. XIV 8. Psalme CXV 1. Awake The Church prayes verse 16 and accordingly beleeves that these windes the besomes of the world may ever blow to the good of the garden Christs Church for her fruitfulnesse that Christ may come and reap the pleasant fruits thereof 1 Cor. IX 7. He and she make both one mystical Christ 1 Cor. XII 12. Christ pleaseth to grant the request of his Church and cometh and accepteth her entertainment yea and bringeth his friends with him and feasteth them vers 1. But this kindnesse it seemes is not so well improved by her as it deserved but she is surprized by another fit of drowsie negligence and tepidity and so she is brought into a fresh danger of losing him who after much patient waiting knocking and calling upon her and her unkinde answer thereunto becomes angry and being not received when he tendered himself departs displeased and is hardly reconciled though she testifie much care and importunity in seeking him and therein suffereth losses and wounds for his sake And chargeth others to tell him that she is sick of love I am come chapter V verse 1 c. Christ so readily answers and grants the Churches Prayer Psal. CXLV 19. and XX. 4. and XXXII 5. and XXXIV 15. Esay LXV 24. Dan. IX 20 23. She seeks not him in vaine Esay XLV 19. eate O friends The holy Angels or Saints on earth rather Esay XLI 8. John XV. 14. James II. 23. abundantly Ephes. V. 16. I sleep verse 2 but c. The Churches infirmity As Matth. XXV 5. and XXVI 41. she lets fall the watch of the Lord and so sinnes away her inward peace as David did Psal. LI. It is the voice c. She soone hears the first call and knock as being half awake awake in the hidden man of the heart Knocketh Apoc. III. 20. Micah VI. 9. my locks with the drops Thus Christ stands bare-headed as with cap in hand and that in foul weather too suing wooing and begging admittance and yet must go look another lodging I have put off my coate Luke XI verse 3 7. A silly excuse and yet worse then so in seeking to mend one fault by making another Thus the flesh is both weak and wayward But it is to be served as Paul doth 1 Cor. IX 27. And as he adviseth others Rom. VI. 12. how Why easily enough It had beene no such great matter Sinne and shifting came into the world together Look to that Heb. XII 25. and chap. II. 3. Lest refusing this Call they hear that Command Matth. XXV 41. by the hole Christ herewith is offended and gone verse 4 ver 6. Seemes minded as Mark XIV 41. and Ezek. III. 27. Yet even then he leaves a sweet remembrance behinde him my bowels She had no rest in her spirit her bowels earned towards him her heart asked and quaked for the unkindnesse she had offered him she sorrowed according to God or as God would have it 2 Cor. VII 9. I rose up She better bethinks her self verse 5 she starts and stirs and she leaves her bed of carnal security would mend her former fore-thought negligence dropped with myrrhe Testimonies and tokens of his sweetnesse left behinde him where his hand had beene with a secret instinct to attract her as the Loadstone doth the Needle that did whet edge steele her affections towards him and wrought her to that resolution Hos. II. 7. I opened Better late then never verse 6 was gone She had presumed too much of his patience and abused it Micah III. 4. she hoped here but missed of it my soul failed Psal. XXX 7. she suffers now she may thank her self for it I sought him She goes not to bed againe but seeks him with all her might seeks and calls and gives not over This is the guise of the godly Esay XXVI 9. I could not finde him She was so justly dealt withal Esay LIX 1 2. And this is the Churches soarest affliction whereof they bitterly complaine Lam. III. 8 44. Job XXX 20. Hab. I. 2. A spiritual desertion is a kinde of Hell it self to a godly soul. This sense of Losse they count heavier then the sense of Paine And indeed the tears of Hell are not sufficient to bewaile the Losse of Heaven The Watchmen Now she will seek him through thick and thin verse 7 by night it self without delay among the Watchmen and midst of dangers Nothing shall stay her she is at no rest without him See chap. III. 3. they smote me Even these Watchmen Ezek. XXXIII 2 6 7. smote her with the tongue of just reproof and rebuke out of Gods Word for her former fault and sloathful neglect of duty I charge you See chap. II. 7. verse 8 and chap. III. 5. But here her charge varies Tell him and what shall ye tell him as the Hebrew hath it Like that phrase in Hos. IX 14 sick of love Chap. II. 5. What is thy beloved verse 9 c. And they double the demand And that by reason of her so extraordinary charging them if not swearing and adjuring of them Some singular thing then was in the man and in the matter They question likely not as utterly ignorant of Christ but that they might hear the Church what she had to say to him and by her discourse they might better their knowledge 1 Pet. I. 12. My beloved verse 10 c. The Churches large character of Christ to them she describes him and his particular praises in his several parts in sundry Similies but no hyperbolies for Christ admits of no hyperbolie he is altogether matchlesse and incomparable She describes his colour head locks eyes cheeks lips hands belly legges countenance mouth and that he is altogether
to the Nations for them bring or send in the Israelies that are in captivity with them or sojourne among them This typicaly and chiefly relates to the calling home of the elect of them to Christ wheresover dispersed some at one time some at another and also the maine body of the residue in his own appointed season Acts II. 41. and IV. 4. and XXI 20. Rom. XI 5 25 26. 2 Cor. III. 16. The envie also of Ephraim That had beene between them verse 13 and Judah since the rent of the Kingdomes by Jeroboam the Ephraimite 1 Kings XII was to cease when united either to other in Christ Ezek XXXVII 16. Jer. III. 18. and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off In the time of the Messias the obstinate enemies of the Church of God shall by Christ be destroyed see chap. LX. 12. But they shall flie verse 14 c. They shall subdue these inveterate enemies the enemies of the spiritual Kingdome of Christ hereby typified the tongue of the Egyptian sea verse 15 The Prophet here promiseth from God a removal of all impediments that might hinder the Jewes in this their returne into their land This their returne shadowing out the reducing of people to the obedience of Christ and his spiritual Kingdome By this tongue there is meant the red-sea which is like a tongue the river Nilus in the seven streames By which as by so many mouths it emptieth it self into the Sea To make way for the Jewes returne from her into their own land The meaning is that no impediment or obstacle should be so great that might hinder those who were to be brought home to Christ and his Church out of all quarters but it should be removed an high way The same meaning for Assyria verse 16 as in the former verse for Egypt in that day chapter XII verse 1 Of thy returne home thou shalt say And sing these or the like Hymnes of Praise composed by the Prophet as set formes or as directories to them or both So 1 Chron. XVI 7 35 36. in that day A preface or passage into a new forme verse 4 another ditty and this in way of exhortation to others to do the like Babylon Here begin Prophecies chapter XIII verse 1 purposely against forreign States And first against Babylon that should be their principal enemy The Inscription of this Sermon is here in the first words Of Burden See Jer. XXIII 33 36. Of Babylon see my Observations on Dan. IV. 30. Of her Fall see Jer. L. and LI. And this seemes to be the seventh Sermon Lift ye up a banner To summon those that were to be imployed against Babylon verse 2 nobles The great Peeres of Babylon my sanctified ones Set apart to this service verse 3 ver 17. Jer. LI. 27 28. a far countrey Media and Persia. verse 5 whole land Of Chaldea Howle ye Babylonians their faces shall be as flames Lam. IV. verse 6 8. and V. 10. Ezek. XX. verse 8 47. Yet this here seemes to be for fear of evil yet to come See therefore that Jer. XXX 5 6. Joel II. 6. Nahum II. 10. Yet the Original word seemes to incline to the faces of Lybians or tawny-moores the stars All shall be so full of horror and terror verse 10 that the heavenly bodies may seem to have lost their light no glimps of comfort shall appeare Ophir See the Observations on 1 King verse 12 X. 11. shake the heavens I will cause them to be in such confusion and distraction verse 13 as if heaven it self were falling upon their heads and the earth moving or removing from under their feet And it shall be Babylon turne to his owne people Babylon shall be forsaken by her hired forces and confederates verse 14 found Medes and Persians Medes verse 15 Under the conduct of Cyrus and Darius verse 17 overthrew Sodom verse 19 This utter devastation of Babylon was not at once but began at the conquest of it by Cyrus and in the succeeding ages was consummated It shall never be inhabited Jer. LI. 26 verse 20. 22. 29 43. and her time is near to come Esay in vision seeth the judgements as if presently approaching or this may be taken as spoken to and for them that then should be living in the time of the captivity of the LXX years For the Lord The reason of the hastening of the destruction of Babylon chapter XIV verse 1 which is Gods mercie and compassion towards his people the deliverance of whom depended upon Babylons destruction strangers shall be joyned See the like ch 5. XLIV and LVI 3. and LX. 3. Esther VIII 17. Psal. XLVII 8 9. This partly accomplished at their returne from Babylon but more in the Kingdome of Christ by the Ministery of the Gospel possesse them These Proselites and Converts verse 2 take them captive c. Partly verified in the time of the Maccabees literaly but most of all spiritualy by the means and ministery of the Apostles and Preachers subduing them to the obedience of Christs Scepter this Proverb Or by-word verse 4 or taunting speech Here the Prophet continues the denunciation of the destruction of Babylon the King i. e. the Kingdome O Lucifer Meaning the Babylonian verse 12 the mount of the Congregation Mount Sion verse 13 or mount Moriah being in the North-side of Jerusalem 2 Chron. III. 1. Psal. XLVIII 2. that opened not the house of his prisoners But kept them LXX verse 17 years in captivity Prepare slaughter Esay speaks to the Medes and Persians verse 21. 23. 25. for the bitterne See chap. XIII 21 22. that I will break the Assyrian in my land Rather as in breaking the Assyrian in my land Sennacheribs overthrow it seemes was before this And it is brought in as an argument and example to prove that as God had done that one so he would as certainly do the other that is overthrow Babylon in its time In the yeare that King Ahaz died Here begins another Sermon verse 28 or Prophecie And might well be the beginning of another Chapter Chap. VI. did beare the date of the death of Uzziah This of the death of Ahaz Palestina Meaning here the Westerne part of Jury that was inhabited by the Philistines verse 29 Of the Philistines see my Annotations on Zech. IX 6. The Babylonians were the greatest enemies to the Jews farthest off The Philistines were their greatest enemies nearest at hand because the rod c. This is meant of King Uzziah who prevailed much in his wars against them 2 Chron. XXVI 6 7. But in Ahaz his reigne the state and strength of the Jews was much weakened whereat the Philistines did much rejoyce But Esay biddeth them not to be overjoyed for it should not last long a cockatrice Ezekiah 2 Kings XVIII 8. and his fruit shall be a fiery flying Serpent The Serpents fruit shoul be a cockatrice yea more then so a fiery flying Serpent And the first-borne of the poore The extremely poore verse 30 as
whose fire is in Zion Kept on his Altar there ever burning Or rather fire to burne up the enemies of him his worship his people a King Ezekiah chapter XXXII verse 1 Yet a type of Christ as before him David Ezek XXXIV 24. Shall reigne Hence some suppose this Prophecie to have been delivered in Ahaz his dayes Some in Hezekiahs concerning his religigious and righteous government of his people specialy after the overthrow of Sennacherib and his recovery out of his sicknesse Princes Under Hezekiah And a man Each one under him verse 2 in a weary land Where men are weary of travelling through heat and drought not be dim Or closed as those ch XXIX 10. and VI. 9. Not look another way verse 3 from God unto Idols from the light of Gods Word and his judgements conspicuously manifested unto them not wilfully shut their eyes or turne them aside from them as those chap. XXVI 11. Shall hearken Not refuse to hear as formerly chap. XXVIII 9 13. and XLVIII 18. but hearkeu diligently as chap. XXI 7. and XXIX 18. and XXX 21. and XXXV 5. stammerers That did but stammer before at any good and religious speech verse 4 shall now manifest the inward alteration and change of their hearts by their ready religious speaking the language of Canaan that which may minister grace and edification to the hearers no more called liberal They shall no more call vice verse 5 vertue evil good but they shall in singlenesse of soul call sinne sinne a spade a spade For the vile person His description verse 6 Churle His description verse 7 Liberal His description verse 8 The drift seemes to be this That in Hezekiah's reigne base-minded and evil-affected persons should not be now raised and advanced unto places of honour and authority as in his father Ahaz his time too many had been and too likely base and wicked Shebna But now only worthy men Rise up Esay here returnes to speak of those troubles that were to come verse 9 before the establishment of the State in maner before described ye women The Court-Ladies especialy that were faulty as the men and the more secure and carelesse as lesse fore-seeing dangers to come and yet must suffer in them alike though lesse able to bear them then the men Therefore Esay rouzeth up them and by them the men Many dayes and years Heb. Many dayes above a year verse 10 Some use the translation in the text and apply it to the LXX years in the Babylonish captivity Others rather use the marginal reading and apply it to a just and exact limitation of that calamitous time of almost two years whiles the Assyrian abode in the land For full two years he could not be there considering he came in in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah 2 Kings XVIII 13. And afterwards Hezekiahs life was prolonged fifteen years chap. XXXVIII 5. And he reigned but 29. in all 2 Kings XVIII 2. for the teats Which were to them as teats verse 12 Some translate There shall be beating upon the breasts Nahum II. 7. shall come up thornes Esay seemes here to passe from that short invasion of the Assyrian verse 13 to that greater and longer of the Chaldean Nebuchadnezzar As if he should say I am now farther to acquaint you with this later and which is far worse every way and of a far longer continuance in this and the next verse for ever a long time about seventy years Of ever see the Observations on Deut. XV. 17. Vntill the Spirit Esay concludes verse 15 as usualy with gracious Promises This promise may extend also to the time of the Messias when it shall haile coming down on the forrest God will preserve the fruits of the earth for them verse 19 that they shall not with storme and tempest be destroyed and the Citie shall be low in a low place Though the Cities built there yet shall be there secure verse 18. even though say some it haile never so much and Cities be brought never so low Blessed are ye Gods blessing on their husbandry and labours verse 20 Appliable to Gods spiritual husbandry in the Ministery of the Gospel This Chapter seemes to begin another Sermon chapter XXXIII continued on in the two next Chapters And in the whole Sermon Esay mainly insists upon the destruction of the enemies of Gods people and upon their defence and deliverance their priviledges and joyful flourishing estate thereupon ensuing and opposed thereunto This Chapter is much of the same nature and subject with the former Chapter Woe to thee Nebuchadnezzar or rather Sennacherib ver 8. verse 1 they shall deale treacherously with thee This may relate to Sennacheribs two sons slaying their father ch XXXVII 38. O Lord The Prayer of the faithful in time of trouble verse 2 At the noise This is in way of answer to the former Prayer verse 3 fled As the maner of the Prophets is to speak of things future as past So it came to passe in the Assyrian Camp your spoils Speaking to the Assyrians verse 4 shall he run upon them The Jew pillaging the Assyrian camp of thy times O Hezekiah verse 6 their valient ones shall cry Shew the disttesse of Gods people verse 7 the Jewes should be in the Ambassadors Sent with presents to Sennacherib 2 Kings XVIII 14. Or those sent out to Rabshakeh ch XXXVI 3. He hath broken the Covenant Sennacherib did so verse 8 2 Kings XVIII 14 17. Now will I arise To help and deliver my people verse 10 in this extremity ye shall conceive chaffe The Assyrians verse 11 as the burnings of lime Describes that fatal blow in the Assyrian Camp verse 12 The sinners in Zion are afraid Terrified with this dreadful execution done upon the Assyrians verse 14 and complaining and fearing lest the like vengeance might light also upon them as they knew they deserved it As Num. XVI 34. with devouring fire With God who is a consuming fire He that walketh The Prophets answer verse 15 Thine eyes shall see the King A further blessing that such should enjoy verse 17 the sight of their King and State settled in prosperity and glory the land that is very far off Liberty to travel abroad in safety unto the remotest parts of the land without danger or disturbance Or as some remote lands subdued by the King Where is the Scribe So now taunting Sennacherib verse 18 and his Officers in the Camp 1 Cor. I. 20. either minds not this Text or alludes only to the phrase in it not see For they shall be slaine verse 19 or flee Look upon Zion See how safe verse 20 and whole it is No galley Of any enemie shall be able with help of winde and oars verse 21 to get up to it to annoy it Thy tacklings Speaking to the Assyrians verse 23 the inhabitant Of Jerusalem forgiven their iniquity Being refined by their chastisements verse 24 and reformed and so God reconciled to them This Chapter chapter XXXIV for the subject matter of it agreeth much with ch XXIV This being a Prophecie of the destruction of the enemies of Gods people And more particularly of the Edomites in Idumea set forth in many hyperbolical expressions And all the hoast of heaven So
strange and dreadful shall Gods judgements be verse 4 that the whole frame of the world shall seeme to be dissolved It is the maner of Gods Prophets in their descriptions of some extraordinary judgements to set them forth in such colours as if they were deciphering the face of that last universal judgement whereof such are in some sort resemblances and forerunners And again to set forth the restitution and restauration of Gods people out of greatest calamities in such termes as have occasioned many to be mistaken in them conceiving no other then the general and joyful resurrection at the last day to be described in them Unicorns Or Rhinocerots See the Observations on Num. XXIII 22. verse 7 for ever and ever Heb. verse 10 ever of evers The Cormorant See the like verse 11 Chap. XIII 18 22. and XIV 23. Zeph. II. 13 14. Apoc. XVIII 2. Seek ye out The certainty of this Prophecie verse 16 As if each thing here were entred into a roll of Record In the day of the execution of this judgement take this Book read this passage and see if any of these be found wanting then and there they shall These wilde creatures shall verse 17 This Chapter agreeth much with chap. chapter XXXV XXV And containes the joyful and glorious restitution exaltation and exultation of Gods people Sharon A fertil region verse 2 and pleasant lying beneath mount Lebanon in the Tribe of God and adjoyning unto Bashan 1 Chron. V. 16. There were the Roses mentioned Cant. II. 1. There had David his herds feeding 1 Chron. XXVII 29. Likely it is the same with Lassharon Josh. XII 18. Strengthen ye He incites them to hearten and encourge one another verse 3 with faith and patience to expect the accomplishment of those glorious promises Then the eyes of the blind Fulfilled in Christs time verse 5 both corporaly and spiritualy For in the wildernesse Literaly true in the Jewish Kingdome verse 6 being there â—n a Type of Christs And an high way They shall be blessed with peace verse 8 and safety the way of holinesse A Type of the way to heaven but it shall be for those Holy ones verse 5 6. No Lion shall be there As the way so plaine verse 9 so as free from danger This History is brought in to confirme and seale up the truth of some of the Prophecies and Predictions aforegoing This is recorded 2 Kings XVIII and XIX 2 Chron. XXXII came up Upon pretence likely of the Contribution with-held by Hezekiah chapter XXXVI verse 1 which his father Ahaz had paid to Tiglath-Pilezer 2 Kings XVI 7 9. and XVIII 7. without the Lord Heb. Jehovah verse 10 that sonne of four letters as the Hebrews call it used here by Rabshakeh six times in his Speech Syrian language See the Observations on Ezra IV. 7. verse 11 dung and pisse See the Observations on 2 Kings X. 27. verse 12 and take you away The maner of Conquerours to transplant the Natives verse 17 Sepharvaim Subdued before his time verse 19 2 Kings XVII 24. Eliakim Now in Shebna's office and place verse 22 And Shebna now the Scribe and so here is the beginning of his fall chap. XXII 20 21. chap. XXXVII 2. This Chapter the same in substance with 2 Kings XIX chapter XXXVII a rumor Verse 9. and 36. verse 7 So Rabshakeh returned Most likely leaving the armie still before Jerusalem verse 8 Libnah See the Observations on 2 Kings VIII 22. Lachish See the Annotations on Micah I. 13. Ethiopia See the Observations on Gen. II. 13. warre with thee Either to assist the Jewes verse 9 or in Assyria in the absence of Sennacherib and his forces Thus shall ye speak Instructions to his messengers verse 10 delivered to them in writing and so by them in writing to Hezekiah Likely as if he scorned to write himself to Hezekiah but sent him only a Copie of the Instructions Eden See the Observations on Gen. II. 8. verse 12 Cherubims See the Observations on Gen. III. 24. verse 16 And the Annotations on Ezek. IX 3. and on this text a Signe See the Observations on chap. VII 14. verse 30 and on Exod. III. 12. ye shall eate this yeare A confirmation of Sennacheribs sudden departure and returne home And also including in it an assurance of a comfortable provision of necessary food for them out of the Land notwithstanding all the havock that Sennacheribs armies had made in it and the coincident Sabbatical year for intermission of culture See the Observations on Lev. XXV 21. Then In that night verse 36 2 Kings XIX 35. the very next night after the message sent from God by Esay and smote The maner how is not expressed in the camp Likely both before Jerusalem and Libnah See Ch. XXXVI 2. and verse 8 9 14 33. of this Chapter all dead corpses All in a maner Yet some escaped and sled with Sennacherib himself See chap. XVII 14. Nineveh See the Annotations on Jonah I. 2. verse 37 and on this text his sonnes These words here written verse 38 are read in the margin but not written in the text 2 Kings XIX 37. Armenia Heb. Ararat on the mountains whereof the Arke rested Esarhaddon See the Observations on Ezra IV. 2. In those dayes chapter XXXVIII verse 1 Shortly after Sennacheribs defeat and departure shalt die Yet a secret reservation there was See Jer. XVIII 7 8. Ezek. III. 18. See the Observations on Jonah III. 4. to the wall Which haply might be towards the Temple verse 2 or by that withdrawing that he might with the more privacie and intention make his addresse to God remember now Humbly appealing to God verse 3 touching the integrity and sincerity of his heart and endeavours wept sâ—re One cause might be the want of a son Manasseh was not yet born And the State of Church and Common-wealth much unsetled Then Afore Esay was gone out into the middle Court verse 4 2 Kings XX. 4. where the text is Citie but the margin Court And the first Court of the Kings house that neerest the Palace and farthest from the street or Citie seemes here to be meant to thy dayes That he had lived already verse 5 fifteene years About the one half of his reigne verse 6 will deliver thee and this Citie The promise before made is again here renewed assuring him as of his life so of peace and tranquility to be continued to him with it that Sennacherib should not return or any Assyrian to molest him or this Citie 2 Chron. XXXII 22. which yet afterwards was done in the dayes of his son Manasseh 2 Chron. XXXIII 11. a Signe Asked by Hezekiah ver 22. verse 7 and put to his choise 2 Kings XX. 8 10. So the Sunne returned ten
them to thrive and prosper again I will poure A type of that spiritual blessing verse 3 and growth and increase of Gods Church and the members of it under the Messias by the graces and comforts of his Spirit One shall say Gods blessing to them verse 5 in the addition of many Proselytes since I appointed the ancient people The lineage of Abraham to be my peculiar people verse 7 things that are coming Things to come in a continued course from the first to the last like lincks of a chaine hanging one upon another Is there a God besides me That can so foretel verse 8 and do They that make a graven Image The sottishnesse of them verse 9 their makers and worshippers is largely set down ver 9 20. Remember these Their sottishnesse verse 21 and thy duty by all my dealings with thee so freely and bountifully above my dealings with others Sing verse 23 O ye heavens At the redemption and deliverance of Gods people Implying such abundant matter of joy as might well affect the whole Creation were it all sensible of it that frustrateth the tokens of the liars Specialy those that would prognosticate the long continuance of the Babylonian Monarchy verse 25 messengers Such as Esay verse 26. 28. Jeremy Ezekiel and others That saith of Cyrus Thus naming him about two hundred yeares before he was borne So to assure them of their deliverance by him This Chapter is also of the same subject with the former chapter XLV And begins where that did end two-leaved gates Such as great mens houses and Palaces are wont to have verse 1 and create evil Specialy to the Babylonians verse 7. 8. Drop down A command of a Blessing from God That Gods mercy and goodnesse should so manifestly and plentifuly appear in the deliverance of his people and disposing all things for their behoof as if the heavens and the earth were full of blessings for them even of righteousnesse and salvation woe to him that A curb to restraine the impatiencie of some verse 9 that murmured at their miseries and at the delay of their deliverance Or against the Babylonians that would strive even against God himself to keep his people in perpetual slavery And many other passages of Gods providence concerning the affaires of those times might be which flesh and blood would be over-prone to be quarrelling with God about and controuling his carriage of them Ask me Or by interrogation verse 11 will ye presume to appoint and direct me what I shall do and how I shall carry matters concerning the disposition and ordering of my people Or positively seek to me for these things concerning my sonnes and not to Idols raised him up Cyrus verse 13 build my Citie Give order for it and the Temple especialy Ezra I. 1. shall come over unto thee How verse 14 and by whom they should be furnished with supply of all requisite commodities Ezra I. 4. and chap. VII 21 22. Some expound this whole passage of Cyrus himself That because he had dealt so freely with Gods people God would therefore give him as a reward the wealth of those rich Kingdomes and Countries which together with Babylon of whom they formerly held at the fall of that State fell also into his hands surely God is in thee Or with thee with Cyrus typicaly with Christ realy And he in his Church verily Esay here admires the hidden depth of Gods dispensations verse 15 in the passages of his providence And men ought not therefore to take upon them to control and censure him therein I have not spoken in secret As your false gods deliver their Oracles verse 19 But plainly Assemble your selves Ye that escaped the sword of Cyrus verse 20 ye Chaldeans and other Nations seeing now how much God is able to do for his people how little their Idols for those that served them Look unto me Leaving Idols verse 22 betake your selves unto me who am the only true God and able to save you ver 16 17. unto me every knee shall bow And it is your wisest course therefore verse 23 to come willingly in unto me ver 22. Psal. II. 8 10. The Apostle Rom. IV. 11. applyeth this text to the last judgement which is a thing herein necessarily included be justified God approving their innocencie verse 25 and unjust sufferings at the hands of their enemies notwithstanding their pretences in doing justice upon them on Gods behalf for their sinnes and therefore they took them as lawful prize God would clear them deliver them and punish their enemies In this Chapter chapter XLVI and the next as in the 13. and 14. Chapters before is set down a full and pregnant Prophecie against Babylon and of her utter overthrow and of Gods deliverie of the Jewes from her Asserting withal the vanity of the Babylonian Idols and his owue incomparable divine power to effect it Bel This Chapter begins with the ruine of their Idols verse 1 See the Observations on Judges VIII 33. Nebo Another of their Idols Whose name is found inserted in many of the names of their Kings and Nobles as Nabonassar Nabopolassar Nebuchadnezzar Nabuzaradan The name imports Prophecie And so this may seeme their Apollo as Bel their Jupiter A burden to the weary beast On whose backs the Medes and Persians lead them to carry them away which are borne Minding them of his Divine power and love verse 3 God not like to those Idols ver 1 2. and shew your selves men Not beasts verse 8. 10. like these idolaters Declaring the end from the beginning Foretelling the issue of things in a continued course and progresse from the first to the last which no other then my self can do bird from the East Cyrus from Persia verse 11. 12. which is East from Babylon ye stout-hearted Impious obstinate of the Jewes or rather stomackful and proud enemies far from righteousnesse Or righteous dealing with my people my righteousnesse In executing judgements on you verse 13 and righting the wrongs done to my people This Chapter prosecutes the destruction of Babylon chapter XLVII and begins with the ruine of their State And describes throughout it her dejected and despicable condition upon her overthrow together with the procuring Causes and the suddennesse and unavoidablenesse of it Uncover thy locks Cast off thy stately head-tire verse 2 and go bare-headed as captives and drudges are wont to do as a man But in full wrath verse 3. 9. and power as God in a moment in one day That night of Belteshazzars feast Dan. V. 30. This Chapter is also much of the same subject chapter XLVIII and frame especialy with Chapters XLIII and XLIV out of the waters of Judah The stock of Judah verse 1 the royal Tribe that had kept the true worship of God and not fallen away as the ten Tribes and thy neck is an iron sinew A reason why God was pleased to foretel things to his people verse 4 that they might not be ascribed to their
verse 16 Yet so as more eminently intending Christ. that I may plant the heavens To make a new world a new heavens and a new earth chap. LXV 17. and LXVI 22. 2 Cor. V. 17 18. 2 Pet. III. 13. Awake verse 17 awake He largely declares the deep misery of Gods people their delivery and the utter overthrow of their enemies in the residue of the Chapter To the thirteenth verse chapter LII seemes to be an Appendix to the foregoing Prophecie running all along in the same tenor with the latter part of it How beautiful These bringers of good tydings of the delivery from Babels captivity verse 7 And much more from Satans slavery by preaching the Gospel of Christ that publish salvation corporal by Cyrus spiritual by Christ. Behold verse 13 my Servant Here seemes to begin a new Sermon and continued in the end of the next Chapter joyntly making up an entire Prophecie of Christ his person parentage condition manner of life sufferings humiliation exaltation benefit redounding thence to his and to himself shut their mouthes at him In admiration verse 15 and reverence our report Chap. chapter LIII verse 1 LII 7. Unto the times of his being in the flesh we finde these words applied in John XII 37 38. Rom. X. 16. Stripes Mat. XXVI verse 5. 7. 67. and XXVII 16. Opened not his mouth Mat. XXVI 39 42. 1 Pet. II. 23. Acts VIII 32. He was taken from prison verse 8 and from judgement From all those harsh and cruel courses as under pretence of judgement were exercised upon our Saviour whereby his life was taken from him And he made his grave verse 9 c. His burial was at the disposal of wicked ones and of rich ones or Rulers at his death They not only took his life from him but disposed of his burial at their pleasure he shall Christ shall die no more verse 10. 11. but live and reigne for ever by his Knowledge Objectively The words of God the Father justifie many The maine fruit and effect of Christs Passion many So verse 12. Matth. XX. 28. and XXVI 28. Rom. V. 15 19. Therefore I will divide him God the Father will verse 12 a portion with the great and he shall God would bestow many upon him or give many unto him to be his subjects whether with an allusion to a portion of inheritance or distribution of spoils it is indifferent This intimates the numerous or rather innumerable multitude of those that should be converted unto Christ. was numbred with the transgressors Mat. XXVII 38. Marke XV. 27 28. Barrabbas let loose rather then he should be let live made intercession Luke XXIII 34. Yet may relate further to Christs intercession which still continueth Rom. VIII 34. Heb. VII 25. and IX 24. 1 John II. 1 2. Another Sermon or Prophecie chapter LIV this seemes to be distinct from the former though much of the same subject and argument and depends well upon the latter end of it For this insists upon swarmes of people that should come in to Christ and become members of his Church O barren The Church under the New Testament verse 1 that little sister Cant. VIII 8. of the desolate She that had been desolate the Church of the Gentiles then that of the Synagogue of the Jews Enlarge Thou Christian Church verse 2 when thou wast refused As in the time of the Babylonish captivity verse 6 I have sworne No expresse mention of that oath verse 9 As neither of that to Isaac Psal. CV 9. yet meanes as much as if he had taken a solemne oath as he used in such solemne Covenants nor rebuke thee To forsake thee utterly For the mountains shall depart Sooner may verse 10 tossed with tempest In the Babylonish captivity verse 11 seemingly then forsaken of man and of God thy stones with fair colours The spiritual excellencies of the Church under the Messias are here described in way of hyperbolies See the like Apoc. XXI 11 21. The stones here seeme to be those of the Pavement borders Or walls verse 12 taught of the Lord Jer. verse 13 XXXI 34. John VI. 45. 1 Cor. II. 10. 2 Cor. XIII 3. Ephes. IV. 20 21. 1 John II. 20 27. gather together To attempt against thee verse 15. 17. No weapon that is formed against thee By the Smith ver 16. tongue that shall rise To accuse or charge thee wrongfully their righteousnesse The reward of their righteousnesse Ho chapter LV verse 1 A free invitation of all that are thirsty and hungry both Jew and Gentile to come and partake of the true spiritual food and graces of Christ in the Gospel Mat. XI 28. John VI. 35 37. buy This impeacheth not the freenesse of the Gift A Princes almes may be said to be freely given albeit it be required that those that desire to share in them do repaire to his Almoner And a Scholar may be said to have his learning freely given him when no stipend is required for the teaching yet must he ply the School hard the sure mercies of David Acts XIII verse 3 34. In this Citation the Apostle addes this I will give you for the fuller explication and fitter application of it to his purpose The like is Luke IV. 18. See Psal. LXXXIX and 2 Chron. VI. 42. touching these mercies of David But the full meaning is The mercies of the Messias the David not past but to come the mercies before promised and to be exhibited in and by him in whom the Covenant is made with Gods people and in whom all Gods Promises are Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. which Promises had never been made good had not Christ been raised up from the dead And therefore the Apostle Acts XIII 34. to good purpose alledgeth this Text. I have given him The words of God the Father concerning the Messias verse 4. 5. And Nations that knew not thee The Gentiles he hath glorified thee When after thy state of humiliation he shall have glorified thee in heaven Seek ye the Lord An exhortation both to Jew and Gentile verse 6 to make request to Christ for grace and favour to repent and amend and turn to him his thoughts They not free verse 7. 8. For my thoughts are not But prone to pardon and constant and immutable therein as that shews which follows For as the heavens My disposition and dealings verse 9 both for mercie and goodnesse and for firmnesse and faithfulnesse is as farre above yours as c. So shall the Word My Promise to my people concerning reconcilement with them verse 11 upon their returne to me and my deliverance of them out of captivity be as firme and sure and take effect In stead Relating to the Jewes returne out of the Babylonish captivity verse 13 chap. IV. 2. and XXXV 1 2. The face and state of their Land and State should be strangely altered to the better And generaly the flourishing estate of the Church of God hereby is intimated as abounding in spiritual graces
and comforts signe Monument Memorial Trophie an everlasting honour to God and a signe to his Church of his mercie to her Keep ye judgement chapter LVI God admonisheth his people to do that whereby they may obtaine a part in the favours and mercies last mentioned verse 1 Neither let the Sonne of the stranger He comforts the Proselyte verse 3 and Eunuch The Partition-wall should be broken down under the Messias a Name better Of great honour verse 5 and more durable an everlasting Name that should more then countervaile the other defect yet will Igather others to him John X. verse 8 16. Acts X. 34 35. All ye beasts Here seemes to begin a new Sermon verse 9 Declaring againe Gods most fearful judgements upon his People by their enemies the Babylonians especialy and those that served under them And that for the manifold shameful sinnes of the Jewish watch-men Shepherds and Seers The righteous perisheth Esay here inserts somewhat for the Comfort of the godly chapter LVII verse 1 though by death taken away in those sad times The wicked nothing heeding Gods hand and end in it from the evil to come As was the sonne of Jeroboam 1 Kings XIV 12 13. and good Josiah 2 Kings XXII 20. the evil in the general ruine of the State and deportation of the people But draw neere Esay returnes now to the surviving wicked ones verse 3 as having another maner of errand to them in lively colours laying out their abominable courses are ye not c Deny it if ye can verse 4. 5. 6. slaying the children 2 Kings XVI 3. Psal. CVI. 37 38. is thy portion Thine Altars and thine Idol-service is thy portion that thou choosest and delightest in As God is to his people Psalme XVI 5 6. a drink-offering Used and annexed to most Kinds of sacrifices Of this kind were those Jer. VII 18. and XLIV 19. offered to the Queen of heaven And thou wentest to the King i. e. verse 9 Kings collectively for forreign aid and succour unto hell Abasing thy self to them in most servile maner thou hast found the life of thine hand Thou still imaginest so to do verse 10 and thinkest thou hast found sufficient means and aids to support thee and to strengthen thine hand And therefore thou wast not grieved in so doing And of whom Whom needest thou to have feared verse 11 and sought for forreign aid if thou hadst feared me hast lyed And dealt disloyaly with me my peace even of old My Lenity thou abusest thy righteousnesse As thou esteemest it verse 12. 13. But I so call it ironicaly let thy companies deliver thee Thy troopes of strangers or strange gods Judg. X. 13 14. And he shall say God verse 14. 16. or it shall be said for the spirit should faile This moveth God in way of commiseration to stay his hand Psal LXXVIII 38 39. and LXXXIX 47. and will heale him For my own Names sake verse 18 and free mercie notwithstanding his frowardnesse and crosse and contrary wayes Peace verse 19 Peace Whereas before was no speech but of warre Now it shall be of abundant peace and prosperity and consequently of praise and thanksgiving The fuller complement of this is under the Messias in the Gospel In this Chapter Esay reproves them mainly for their Hypocrisie in Fasting chapter LVIII and take delight They seeme so to do verse 2. 3. you finde pleasure You do not break off your sinful desires minds pleasures and purposes but persist still in a purpose to pursue them though haply not upon the very day of the Fast to act them and exact all your labours Debts and services with all rigour for strife and debate Your fastings end in verse 4 and are seconded with vexatious suits quarrels and brawles to make your voice to be heard on high By your loud clamours used in your prayers in the times of fasting Or that God on high should by fasting be induced to hear your voice and grant your requests Is not this the Fast When it is joyned with reformation and amendment of your lives verse 6 As Acts X. 2 4. Then shalt thou call Then no cause to complaine verse 9 as verse 3. the putting forth of the finger Forbearing not acts of violence and threatening termes only but even all gestures and expressions of that kinde whatsoever and makes fat thy bones Fill them with marrow verse 11 arme and strengthen them the old waste places Of Jerusalem verse 12 and the Cities of Judah and other like places thy soot from the Sabbath Thy affections and wayes which would pollute the Sabbath Whether it be the yearly or the weekly Sabbath a delight See Psal. XXVII 4. and XXXVI 8. and XLII 1 2 4. and XLIII 2 3 4. and LXV 1 5. and LXXXIV and CXXII 1 2. honour him In it by sanctifying him and it thine own wayes Wicked works and courses nor speaking thine own words Those verse 9. to ride upon the high places of the earth Aloft verse 14 in places of security and safety ch XXXIII 16. Deut. XXXII 13. This Chapter relates their various enormous iniquities chapter LIX and them to be the causes of their sad calamities verse 1 15. And a promise to the faithful ones of deliverance from them and of spiritual mercies and blessings in and from the Messias ver 16 21. is not shortened Either to hear verse 1 and help you out of those calamities or to make good those large and liberal blessings promised upon your repentance spiders web To entangle and destroy others verse 5 he that eateth There is no safe dealing any way with them Their feet Rom. verse 7. 8. III. 15 16 17. not know peace Experimentaly to have and enjoy it See Phil. III. 10. Apoc. II. 17. Therefore is judgement farre from us God stands off farre from you verse 9 neither executing judgement and vengeance on your enemies nor protecting you against their wrongs our transgressions are with us Stick close to us verse 12 we cannot shun or shift them off is fallen For want of support verse 14 cannot enter But is shut out by violence a prey He cannot be safe verse 15. 16. that will not be wicked wondered Spoken in an humane straine Rom. III. 9 19. the Apostle concludes hereupon the universal depravation of man-kind in his natural condition no intercessor No interpoâ—er his arme He did the work alone himself brought salvation Temporal vers 17 18 19. Spiritual verse 20 21. breast-plate Here is God verse 17. 18. 20. as a man of armes repay Vengeance to the enemies of his people And the Redeemer Rom. XI 26. the Apostle applies this verse to Christ and the conversion of the Jewes when the fulnesse of the Gentiles be come in Where the Apostle retaines the Ancient Greek version as Hierom witnesseth it to have beene in his time having nothing in it disagreeing from truth or crossing that in ought for which he alleadgeth it This then cannot have relation to the Angel slaying
women Exod. I. 19. But principaly this relates to the times of the Gospel and the Christian Church under Christ to which the other is subordinate a man-child Collectively multitudes are meant verse 8. Ezra II. 64 65. Acts II. 41. and IV. 4. shall I Set upon a work verse 9 and not go through with it suck Chap. verse 11 LX. 16. and your bowes Shall get vigor verse 14 and verdure againe as those bones Ezek. XXXVII 1 10. come with fine Towards and against his enemies verse 15 Fully to be accomplished at the last day of judgement They that sanctifie themselves Using superstitious rites of expiation verse 17 in the gardens Set apart for idolatrous services behinde one in the midst Or one person or company after another possibly purifying themselves in the fountaine in the midst of the garden It shall come Since this people do take such courses verse 18 ver 3 4. I will execute judgement upon them and casting them off take in the Gentiles Rom. XI 11 12 15 17. Set a signe A Signe or Ensigne to gather them verse 19 Or a saving signe and mark upon them as Ezek. IX 4 6. Apoc. VII 3. and IX 4. those that escape of them The reserves and holy remnant of the Jewish Nation the Apostles and other faithful to all Nations to call them in by the preaching of the Gospel your brethren In Christ verse 20 the Converts of the Gentiles chap. LX. 4 9. for Priests verse 21 and for Levites Make of them Ministers of the Gospel For as the new heaven Chap. verse 22 LXV 17. Heb. XII 28. remaine Stand continue for ever Matth. XVI 18. to worship before me By allusion in termes to the old Jewish maner of worship verse 23 Zech XIV 16. and look upon the carcases Be spectators and witnesses of the execution of Gods vengeance upon those wicked ones verse 24 verse 15 16. Psal. LVIII 10. for their worme Hell here is principaly intended See chap. XXX 33. Matth. III. 12. and X. 28. and XVIII 8 9. and XXV 41. James V. 3. Apoc. XIV 10 11. and XIX 20. and XX. 14 15. Jeremiah JEREMIE a Priest of Anathoth in Benjamin prophesied fourty one years and upwards thus From the thirteenth of King Josiah's reigne to the end of it being nineteene years eleven in the reigne of Jehojakim and eleven in the reigne of Zedekiah chap. I. 1 2. and chap. XXV 3. and XXXIX 11. And he prophesied some years after that in Judea first and Egypt last ch XLII 2. and XLIII 10. and XLIV 8 24. But how long is uncertaine He was much opposed by false Prophets and sustained much hard measure from the Priests Princes and People And after the taking and destruction of Jerusalem Citie and Temple we read of his usage chap. XXXIX 11 14. and chap. XL. 1 6. and XLII 2. and XLIII 2 6. Jeremiah in this Book mainly preacheth against the sinnes of the Jewes And for them foretelleth the ruine of their State by the Babylonians which he lived to see and to lament in his Book of Lamentations He foretels the LXX years captivity there Their returne thence and happy enlargement under that blessed Branch the Messias And he propesieth also in the latter part of his Book against other Nations the Enemies and Oppressors of Gods people against Egypt the Philistines Moab the Ammonities Edom Damascus Kedar Hazor Elam And foretels chiefly the utter ruine of Babylon and the Empire by Cyrus the Medes and Persians His Chapters as they now stand numbered and placed in the Hebrew text and in our English Translations if they were rancked according to the course and Histories of the times and the things done in them after the first twenty Chapters would follow in this ensuing Order keeping the numbers of the Chapters that we now have 20. 22. 23. 47. 26. 25. 36. 1 8. 45. 46. 36. 9 32. 35. 27. 24. 49. v. 34 39. 29. 30. 31. 28. 51. v. 59 64. 21. 32. 33. 34. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 48. 49. 50. 51. v. 1 59. 52. Thus much varying from the Order wherein we have them The LXX also marshal them in another ranck and order much differing from the Hebrew Text. And as Chapters here are thus displaced so also in Daniel partly And the Hebrew Text seemes sometimes not so rightly to divide the Chapters as Esay LXIV And in our English Bibles Chapters sometimes are not so fitly and exactly divided as Esay 4. 1. and 26. 20. and 52. 13. 14. 15. And in other Books No nor verses neither as Esay 53. 9 10. and 58. 9. and 59. 15. The end of his Book Chap. 52. 31 34. was written by some Prophet after Jeremies death But when and where he died is not recorded in the thirteenth year of his reigne Then Jeremie was called from being ordinary Priest chapter I verse 2 to be an extraordinary Prophet captive There were Captives under Jehojakim verse 3 and under Jeconiah But this is the last and greatest of Jerusalem it self when both Citie and Temple was sackt and burnt and the Kingdome destroyed in the dayes of Zedekiah in the fifth moneth This might end the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reigne chap. LII 12 Then When God first called him verse 4 As thus the Time So now followes in this Chapter the maner of his Calling and such general instructions as God was pleased then to give him concerning his carriage in it and discharge of it I sanctified thee Designed thee to be a Prophet verse 5 to which Office I do now call thee So Gal. I. 15. See the like use of the word Esay XIII 3. This stretcheth not to inward sanctification as that of Iohn Baptist doth Luke I. 15. Nations Both Jewes and other Nations also verse 10. Chap. XXV 15 c. And chap. XLIII and XLVI and XLVII and XLVIII and XLIX and L. and LI. I cannot speak Not dumb verse 6 as Zacharie Luke I. 20 22. or slow and stammering as Moses Exod. IV. 10 14. But that he could not deliver such a message in that maner as was fitting considering his childhood and weaknesse wanting that gravity c. put forth his hand In a Vision verse 9 to root out By publishing my word verse 10 in Threatenings and in Promises which should as certainly be performed as if the Prophet himself had acted them chap. XVIII 7 8 9. A foolish application is made of these words to the Popes pretended power over Kingdomes came unto me Seemingly at the same time with the former verse 11 What seest thou See the like Amos VII 8. and VIII 2. Zech. IV. 2. and V. 1. I see In a Vision Almond tree That doth bud and blossome the earliest of any hasten my word to performe it 2 Kings XXIII verse 12 33 35. and chap. XXIV 2. a seething pot Resembling Ierusalem verse 13 Kingdomes of the North Babylonians verse 15 and their Assistants gird up thy loines Addresse thy self manfully to thy imployment verse
the former Decree could not be reverst nor this new one being sealed with the Kings Seal See Ch. I. 19. third moneth Two moneths and ten dayes after Hamans Decree verse 9 chap. III. 12. The Lots were cast in the first moneth and twelfth year of Ahasuerus chap. III. 7. And the Decree issued out the thirteenth day of that moneth ver 12. And did stretch even to the Jews in Jury ver 6 8 13. And the execution of it was to be on the thirteenth day of Adar the twelfth moneth following But the Edict on their behalf issued forth on the twenty third day of the third moneth Sivan i. e. two moneths and ten dayes after Hamans bloody Edict Sivan Whereunto our May most answereth and unto the Jewes Whom it so much concerned crown of gold See chap. verse 15 VI. 8. became Jewes Proselytes verse 17 turned to their Religion as sought their hurt As assaulted them chapter IX verse 2 so as they were on the defensive part and stood for their lives chap. VIII 11. and chap. IX 16. smote all their enemies Wonder that they durst rise against the Jewes verse 5 considering the minde and power of the King and Queen and Mordecai for them see ver 3. in Shushan These likely of Hamans faction verse 6 eager set to revenge his death and downfal to do tomorrow It may be necessity to preserve the lives of the Jewes in Shushan verse 13 against such as might seek an opportunity hereafter to revenge the blood of Haman his sonnes and others that were slaine might move her to this Petition so to rid their hands of all their enemies 75000 It argues a great height of malice against the Jewes verse 16 That Hamans ten sonnes and others in Shushan even on a second day and so many in all the Kings Provinces durst so assault the Jewes that in their own defence they killed in all seventy five thousand eight hundred likely most Amalekites considering the Kings Edict for the Jewes and the power of the Queene and Mordecai with the King as hath been said yet the Jewes laid not their hands on the prey and spoile though granted to them by the King chap. VIII 11. chap. IX 10 15 16. to shew they did it not for covetousnesse but to preserve their own lives Mordecai wrote Some extend this to the whole Book verse 20 but more likely it relates to the point of Deliverance and ordaining the Feasts ver XXIII 29. And herein the power of the Church is seene in Ordaining set annual Feasts ver 27. 29 31. And so for Fasts Zech. VII Purim i. e. Lots verse 26 Of Lots see the Annotations on Jonah I. 7. the matters of the fastings verse 31 and their cry The occasions that were given of their fastings and cries by which they obtained such a blessing Some take this as a part of the Ordinance and Decree to fast on the thirteenth day And alledge for it the practise of the Jewes to this day in the Book Some publick record verse 32 a tribute We read of a release chapter X verse 1 chap. II. 18. whether the Jewes by Mordecai's means were released of this Tribute the Scripture expresseth not Job THE Book of Job is a true History accompanied fully with all the circumstances of a true History from first to last and attested Ezek. XIV 14. and Jam. V. 11. This Book is written in the judgement of some in Prose to chap. III. v. 3. In Verse thence to chap. XLII ver 6. And then again concludes in Prose thence to the end Job lived most likely when the Israelites were in Egypt His age being one hundred and fourty years after his Affliction was ended and he having seven sonnes and three daughters and being the greatest of all the men of the East before his Affliction began Job XLII 16. and I. ver 2 3. Jobs patience is wonderful and so highly commended by the holy Ghost Jam. V. 11. His Impatience too much accused as by his friends then so by some others now not weighing the burden of his Afflictions outward and inward from heaven earth and hell and withal his fair clearing of God and his justice and his full acknowledgement of his owne sinfulnesse though not of that Hypocrisie wherewith his friends did falsely charge him chap. VII 20 21. and IX 2 3. 14 15 20 21. and XIII 26. and XIV 17. and XXVII 5 6. and XXXI 6. 33 35 36 37. and XXIII 10. and XIII 15. and IX 12. Jobs three friends most likely were of the posterity of Abraham viz. Eliphaz and Zophar of the posterity of Esau Gen. XXXVI 11 40. Bildad of Abrahams race by Ketura Gen. XXV 2. 1 Chron. I. 32. And Elihu the fourth of the race of Nahor Abrahams brother Gen. XXII 21. Eliphaz Bildad and Zophar speak in order one after another Eliphaz and Bildad thrice Zophar twice To every one of which Jobs Answers are annexed and interposed Elihu speaks after they ceased without any answer made by Job to him Jehovah speaks last of all And Orders all Uz Uz in Idumea chapter I verse 1 or Arabia bordering upon it So called from Uz the sonne of Dishan of the linage of Seir Gen. XXXVI 28. Of this we read Lam. IV. 21. Jer. XXV 20. Or in that part of Arabia the Desert near to Chaldea where Job had such bad neighbours the Chaldeans on the one side and the Sabeans on the other chap. I. 15. 17. We read of Kings of the Land of Uz Jer. XXV 20. And of Uz the grandchilde of Shem Gen. X. 22 23. And of Vz the sonne of Nahor Abrahams brother Gen. XXII 21. three thousand Camels When God blessed his latter end verse 3 he had six thousand Camels chap. XLII 12. a wondrous number for one man They were numerous and of much use in the Eastern Countries Fifty thousand taken from the Hagarites 1 Chron. V. 20 21. The Midianites used very great multitudes of them in warre and put ornaments and chains of gold about their necks Judg. VII 12. and chap. VIII 21 26. Some of them were swift all for burden with bunches on their backs fit for that purpose but not fit to go through the eye of a needle David himself had a special officer only over his Camels 1 Chron. XXVII 30. East Whither Abraham sent his sonnes Gen. XXV 6. and sanctified them Sent to them verse 5 requiring them to fit and prepare themselves by all means in an holy maner to come and joyne with him in offering a sacrifice for them and their sinnes See Num. X 1. 18. Exod. XIX 10. Josh. III. 5. and chap. VII 13. 2 Chron. XXIX 5. continualy On those dayes when their feasting was gone about the sonnes of God The good Angels verse 6 Job XXXVIII 7. to present themselves See 1 Kings XXII 19. This is spoken after the maner of men as Rom. III. 5. among them Not that Satan comes into Heaven The similitude is taken from earthly Kings escaped