not then nor long time after brought in to Sion but that it was made vppon some other particular victory gotten after Dauid was king and after hée had brought the Arke to Sion where God is sayde to dwel not that God is tyed to any place but because that there was the most manifest and often testimonies of his residence shewed ver 12. Amend thus For hee that requireth slaughter i. Hee that letteth not murther escape frée but is a reuenger of the same because he is a most iust iudge remembreth them i. The poore and afflicted which are spoken of ver 9. and follow presently in this verse Ver. 13. Haue mercy vppon me O Lord. q.d. These are the woordes of the poore that God forgetteth not speaking that in the person of one that appertained to many and was no doubt practised by them and here is the chaunge of number which maketh the place more hard from the gates of death i. from most present and assured death ver 14. Gates put here for publikely and openly Iob. 29.7 For gate in the scripture signifieth a place before the gate of a city into which the people were wont to come where also the iudges did sit to minister iustice of the daughter of Sion Daughter put for the citie or towne as Ioshua 15.45 ver 15. Knit to the former thus saying the heathen c. As though this should be the matter that he woulde publish to the praise and glory of God and in this verse by heathen hee vnderstandeth the Philistines or some other people as Moabites Ammonites and such like that bordered vpon Iudea vsing two metaphors to expresse their ouerthrowe the first taken from hunters who digge pits to take wolues and other wild beastes in the the other from fowlers who lay nets to take birdes ver 16. Is knowne i. maketh himselfe knowne though men many times regarde not his iudgments the wicked see ver 5. Or else expound it thus that vnder one hee meaneth all which he expresseth in the next verse the word wicked there being of the plural number whereas here it is but the singular ver 17. Is read by some as a wish or a praier against the wicked which I better allow of into hell againe which I take to bee the better meaning the ouerthrowe that their enemies had susteined and their destruction that way though the other may stand ver 18. He meaneth that God wil neuer forget them that are afflicted and in misery ver 19. Let not man preuaile vz. against thee and thine least hee waxe proud aboue measure hee putteth man for multitudes of men and for all that is of excellencie power and strength in him ver 20. Putteth in feare i. strike a feare of thy iudgements into the but meÌ„ i. fraile weake and of no strength or countenance Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth that God must be praised for his benefits and that not with a peece of the heart but with the whole ver 4. God alwaies defendeth his children and their iust causes also how corrupt soeuer man is in iudgement yet God is alwaies iust and true ver 6. We may sometimes merily taunt gods enemies and ours it teacheth also the vtter â—â—ne of the wicked which also in ver 5. was noted ver 9. Is full of comfort for all those that are in any manner of affliction or trouble ver 10. sheweth what hope the faithful shall haue in God and on the other side what grace and fauour the Lord beareth to them ver 13. God helpeth his children in the greatest distresses yea when no way appeareth to flesh and blood how to escape ver 15. God in his iust iudgement ouertaketh the wicked in their owne deuises as Psa 7.15 The sunne is declared also ver 16. ver 17.18 Declare gods iudgements against the wicked and his fauour to his owne children ver 20. declareth that vnlesse God bridle men strike them downe they will grow to a marueilous height of pride Psalme 10. THis Psalme hath two parts Di. In the first the Prophet largely setteth out the wickednes of the vngodly and their mischieuous attempts From ver 1. to the end of the second In the second he prayeth earnestly against them desiring the Lord both to punish them to succour his owne seruants From ver 12. to the end This Psal hath no title Ver. 1. Why standest thou farre of he speaketh of God according to man as the rest also in this verse must be so vnderstand not that God was far off for he filleth all places but that it so séemed vnto man and hidest thee vz. From vs which we gather because thou shewest not thy selfe fauourable vnto vs the latter part of that verse mend thus in due time euen in afflictions i. in the times wherein we are very much afflicted ver 2. The wicked sée Psa 9.16 With pride i. being puffed vp with the pride of his heart the poore i. he that is afflicted and in misery Psal 9.18 Let them bee taken the Prophet changeth number that they haue imagined vz. against other ver 3. blesseth himselfe i. not onely wisheth wel to himselfe but praiseth and commendeth himselfe in his couetousnes and other wickednes hee i. the wicked man generally couetous or otherwise vers 4. seeketh not for God i. hath no regard of him at al but puffed vp in his pride consisteth in himself he thinketh alwaies there is no God q.d. the wicked ones call not vppon God the reasoÌ„ is because they thinke alwaies this God regardeth not mens matters and therefore they will doe whatsoeuer pleaseth them sée Psal 41.1 ver 5. His wayes i. his purpose and trade of life alwaies i. what times soeuer fall to other men either of florishing or decaying his state alwayes prosper i. florish wonderfully in this life thy iudgements i. Thy plagues and punishments that thou layest vpon the vngodly are high aboue his sight i. he thinketh not vppon them neither considereth thereof déeply because they are aboue his reach as hee estéemeth much lesse doeth hée féele them therefore defieth hee i. hée is puffed vp into such pride that hée regardeth not his enemies though neuer so mightie or many ver 6. Hee saith in his heart i. hee perswadeth himselfe within himselfe see Psalm 14.1 I shal neuer be moued i. I shal neuer fall from the state and dignitie wherein I am meaning that hee should liue very long and so long as hee liued neuer be hurt as it were or sustaine any losse ver 7. His mouth i. the wordes and spéeches that proceed from his mouth are nothing else but cursing c. vnder his tongue i. in his heart which is vnder his tongue i. beneath his tongue as it is placed in the body is mischiefe vz. against others q.d. in his heart he imagineth how to worke mischief to others ver 8. in the valleies i. in places where there is no great resort of people against the poore vz. to oppresse or murther him q.d. hee
haue not set God before them q.d. all this outrage against me springeth from this fountain to wit that they neglect God as he is manifested and reuealed vnto them in his word neyther take they counsell of him but preferre their owne iudgements and deuises in all their attempts whatsoeuer Verse 4. Beholde GOD is mine helper q.d. notwithstandinge all this see howe graciouslye GOD helpeth and succoureth mee is with them i. taketh their parte and is on their side as Romanes 8.31 For otherwise GOD by his presence is with all his creatures and no doubte he meaneth not only those that fledde away with him but euen Ionathan and suche others as euen in Saules Courte fauoured him and his cause that vpholde my soule i. that beare mée good affection haue care ouer my safegarde and take my parte and ayd and helpe me so farre forth as GOD inableth them Soule is here put for lyfe as before in the thyrde Verse not that men are able to vpholde eyther their owne lyues or other mens otherwise then as God maketh them instruments to doe the same Verse 5. He shall reward euill i. God by pouring forth his iudgements vpon them shal in a iust measure recompence them the mischiefe that they haue deuised and done agaynst me for euill here is put for euil of punishment as sundry times before oh cut them off vz. eyther from amongst men rooting them out of the lande of the liuing or else from power and means to performe their mischiefs by in thy truth i. according as thou truely hast promised so make me effectually to féele the performance therof we haue had the same phrase sundry times before Verse 6. Then will I sacrifice vz. the sacrifice of prayse and thanksgiuing fréely i. not onelye with free and chearefull courage but with greate liberalitie also So that he promiseth to shew himselfe after his deliueraunce euery manner of way thankfull to God I will prayse thy name i. goodnesse strength power c. as before verse 1. of this Psalme because it is good i. mercifull almighty c. for so much doth the word God comprehend in this place Verse 7. For he hath deliuered me this is the reason why he will giue hartye thankes to the Lord vz. because God hath set him frée from wonderfull daungers and troubles for so much I take it he meaneth by all troubles and not that he should not indure any moe afterwards And mine eye hath séene i. I haue not only in my vnderstanding perceaued but with these bodily eyes of mine for he putteth one for both I haue beheld poured forth vpon my enimies the iustice and iudgements of God which I prayd for or desired mighte fall vpon them which also we may doe to wit holily reioyce in the execution of Gods iustice vpon the wicked so that our eyes be pure from all naughty affections and our minds clensed from desire of reuenge Do. Verse 1. Teacheth vs not only in our distresses to pray vnto God alone but for the strengthening of our fayth to haue recourse to his goodnesse and power Verse 2. Teacheth vs in prayer to vse both hart and voyce Ver. 3. Doth not only set out the cruelty of the vngodly agaynste the good but also noteth the fountayne of all wickednesse that is the neglect and contempt of God and his will reuealed in his word Verse 4. instructeth the faythfull to assure themselues of Gods present ayde who is mercifull not only to them but also to all those that take their partes and therefore wee sée it is not good to destitute Gods seruaunts vnlesse we will pluck God vpon our owne backes Verse 5. setteth out Gods iustice against the wicked of which sée Psal 18.26 it teacheth also to make Gods faithful promises the grounds of al our supplications and prayers Verse 6. Teacheth vs both to giue God thankes for his mercies and also the maner how we should yield it that is willingly chearefully fréely and plentifully Verse 7. sheweth that it is God alone that must set vs frée from all daungers whatsoeuer the doctrine of the latter part of this verse is put down in the sence Psalme 55. THis Psalme I take it may well bee diuided into thrée partes Di. In the first the Prophet maketh his prayer vnto the Lorde shewing also what great causes he had to moue him thereto and this from verse 1. to the ende of the 8. In the seconde he prayeth agaynst his enimies describing their mischieuous malice hipocrisie and other vices from verse 9. to the ende of the 15. In the third he returneth agayne to his prayers both for himselfe and agaynst his enimies concluding with a comfortable exhortation to the faythfull with a terrible denouncing of Gods iudgements against the wicked and this reacheth from verse 16. to the end of the Psalme The Title is expounded before Psalme 4. and Psalme 32. Se. in the Titles thereof Some there be that thinke Dauid made this Psalme when hee was afflicted with the Rebellion of his sonne Abshalon Othersome vnderstand it of that great and wonderfull daunger wherein hée was in the Citie Keilah whether Saule came to besiege him whereof sée more at large 1. Samuell 23.1.2 c. And to this doe I rather enclyne Verse 1. Heare my prayer sée Psalme 54.2 hyde not thy selfe i. turne not thy selfe away he séemeth to speake after the manner of men who sometimes if they be not disposed to graunt a request will not speake with the parties that sue vnto them but séeme to hyde themselues from presence spéech from my supplication true it is that in scriptures prayers and supplications are many times vsed for one and the selfe same and it may be that they are so taken here but yet you shall sée them sundry times seuered as Ephe. 6.18 Philip 4.6 1. Tim. 2.1 where by supplicatiō the Apostle meaneth requests made to God for deliuerance from those things which trouble vs and by prayers requests which are made for benefits Ver. 2. Harken vnto me i. the praiers that I make before thée as Psal 54.2 and aunswere me i. graunt me my request for those whom we louingly aunswere we séeme in some sort to graunt vnto I mourne i. I am sorrowful and heauy harted and make a noyse he meaneth that by violence and vehemency of his affliction hee was as it were inforced sometimes to heauinesse of heart mournful bewailings sometimes again into most pitiful outcries Ver. 3. For the voice i. for the hard gréeuous threats which are vttered with the voice of the enemy i. Saule vnderstāding notwithstāding vnder him as the principal all those that cleaue to him in these outragious words déeds against him for the vexation of the wicked vz. which they do against me and not wch they thēselues suffer for here the vexatiō of the wicked is vsed actiuely vz. for the oppression wherewith they did afflict the innocent because they i. the enimies and wicked
Psal Whatsoeuer it is the Prophet meaneth that God wil bring al their purposes to nothing and that without making any great adoe but euen as it were playing and sporting Verse 9. He is strong this may be eyther vnderstood of Saule who was in the kingdome and had al at his commaundement or else of all that ioyned with him speaking of them as of one man by reason of their consent to mischiefe though otherwise they were many in number but I will wayt vpon thée q.d. notwithstanding his strength I will paciently tarrie thy leasure till thou ouerthrow him or deliuer me for God is my defence marke the sodayne chaunge of the person from the second to the thirde and this is a reason why he will wayte the Lords leasure because he is sure to bee defended syth God taketh his part Verse 10. My mercifull God i. my God who hath made me sundry times feele his mercy and goodnesse will preuent me vz. with his helpe and fauour yea and that many times before I aske or haue néede he meaneth that Gods ayde should alwayes be readye to succoure him and though he deferred it for a time yet he would not fayle at néede God will let me sée i. thorow his goodnesse hee will make me perceiue the force of my prayers and the execution of his iustice vpon the wicked For that whiche followeth in this verse sée before Psal 54.7 Verse 11. Slay them not vz. sodaynly or at one blow as we would say he prayeth that his enemies maye bée discomfited and ouerthrowne by little and little least the remembrance of gods iudgements shoulde perish but that this vengeaunce of God exercised vppon them might indure a long season in mans memory for their bettering if it might be least my people i. eyther these that are presently with me or shall in time hereafter come vnder my gouernment but scatter them abroad i. cause them to wander vp and downe as troubled people that know not what they do or else as people that be gréeued and can finde no place of their owne or of other mens to ease themselues in by reason of the euill that pincheth them I suppose he alludeth to the iudgement that GOD pronounced against Kaine Gen. 4.12 by thy power vz which they nor any other are able to resist put them downe vz. from their estates and honourable degrées whervnto they are exalted in Saules Court that their miseries may serue them as glasses to beholde thy iudgements in O Lord our shield i. our defender and succourer sée Psalme 18.2 Verse 12. For the sinne of their mouth and the wordes of their lippes i. for the slaunderous and false spéeches that they haue giuen oute and spoken the Prophet sheweth a cause why the Lorde shoulde or woulde plague them by casting them downe from their honour let them be taken vz. by thy iudgement in their pride i. when they are at the height therof or most proude For the more high a man falleth the greater is his fall to him and more noted of others euen for their periury and lies that they speake by these wordes hee toucheth two great faults in them the lesser of them being strong ynough to draw Gods iudgements vpon them Verse 13. Consume them vz. in the end when thou shalt 〈◊〉 scattered them and cast them down as ver 11. and when the time shal come that thou shalt haue sufficiently serued thy selfe with them as a most â—ayne example of thy vengeaunce verse 11. also of this Psalme in thy wrath which is as it were fyre whereas they are but stubble consume them this doubling of the wordes noteth the earnestnesse of the Prophet in his prayer that they bee no more vz. among men hee meaneth that they might not liue any longer see Ierem. 31.15 Math. 2.18 and let them knowe vz. at the last and that by their owne experience and féeling that God ruleth i. not only gouerneth but also careth for in Iaakob i. in and for his Churche as Psalme 14.7 euen vnto the endes of the worlde this maye be taken eyther that it shoulde note the continuall care and gouernmente of GOD in and ouer his Churche or else that it should set out the largenesse of his gouernment as that it shoulde bée stretched from the one side of the Worlde to the other and to this latter doe I rather inclyne Verse 14. And in the euening c. For the vnderstanding of these phrases and maners of spéeche sée before verse 6. where the same wordes are repeated and expounded In this place the Prophet mindeth to mocke them for their indeuours and agréements and sayth that after they shall be much wearyed and haue trauayled all daye long in remouing housholde stuffe as it were and trudging hither and thither to intangle him they shall bee frustrate notwithstanding of their deuices attemptes and purposes Verse 15. They shall runne here and there i. they shall be verye paynefull and laborious for meat i. to hurte and to doe mischiefe for as the godlye thinke it a nourishmente vnto them to doe good as our Sauiour sayth Iohn 4.32.34 also Iohn 6.27 so the wicked take as much delighte in doing ill as in their foode and surelye they shall not bee satisfyed i. they shall certainlye misse of that they desired and sought for yea though they tarry all nighte i. though they watche all nighte long and take neuer so much paines to atchieue it I know others doe otherwise expound it as though they should be pinched with famine and hunger-bitten what toyle and labour soeuer they tooke but the former sence liketh me Verse 16. But I will sing of thy power i. in my songes I will make mention of and set forth thy power made manifest in deliuering me and in punishing mine aduersaries and will prayse thy mercy i. with a loude voyce I will set it forth that others hearing it may reioyce with mee and trust in the same in the morning he meaneth euery morning and euery day putting a part for the whole and yet because the morning is the speciall time for that exercise of prayer and thanksgiuing hée maketh speciall mention thereof for thou haste bene my defence i. thou alone hast defended me and refuge i. the sure place wherevnto I fled as to a high Mountayne sée Psalme 11.1 in the daye i. in the time or times for he meaneth not that he was troubled but one day onely Verse 17. Vnto thée O my strength i. vnto thée O my GOD that arte the God of my strength and from whome alone I haue the strength that I haue will I sing vz. songes of prayse and thanksgiuing and my mercifull God i. he that vouchsafeth me worthy of his mercy and by his mercy doth protect and defend me Do. Verse 1.2 Teach vs to pray deliuerance from our enimies and that so much the more earnestly by how much they are many in number or cruell in déedes or great daungers in multitude increase vpon