this restoring of him to a better estate and refreshing him ouer all his miseries according to thy worde sée verse 25 of this Psalme Verse 29. Take vz. thorowe thy goodnesse and mercye from mée vz. which am so much inclyned thereto the way of lying i. the order trade and course of lying vnderstanding thereby all manner of corruption whatsoeuer agaynst GOD or man and graunt me graciously i. of thy great grace and goodnesse giue to mee thy Lawe i. the knowledge and practise of it that according to the same I maye leade my lyfe for it is not to bée doubted but that he had the Law q.d. Kéepe mée from all lying vanitie and sinne from the whiche that hée mighte bée the better preserued hée desireth to bee instructed in the doctrine of GOD his law Verse 30. I haue chosen vz. thorow the light that thou hast reuealed vnto me by the worke of thy spirite the waye of truth i. that path that leadeth into truth and well doing and thy iudgementes i. thy Lawe and commaundementes whiche hee calleth iudgementes because according to the same will he pronounce sentence haue I layde before mee vz. not onlye to looke vpon them but also as the rule of my life and behauioure Immanuell readeth this verse thus The way of truth which I chose and of thy iudgementes which I set before me making it as it were an exposition of the latter part of the other verse q.d. Graunt me graciously thy lawe which I acknowledge and take to be the way of truth c. Ver. 31. I haue cleaued vz. vnfaignedly and with a good hart meaning by this Metaphor of cleauing continuing and perseuering in GOD his Lawe sticking so fast vnto it as nothing coulde remooue him from it sée Romanes 12 9. to thy testimonies O Lord i. to thy law confounde me not i. let me not bee confounded and ashamed q.d. suffer me not to slide or fall into suche infirmitie eyther of woorde or déede that my life shoulde be shamefull vnto mée and I skorned of the enemies of thy law Ver. 32. I will runne vz. chearefullye and swiftlye the waye of thy commaundementes i. that waye order and course of life whiche thy commaundementes shewe me he meaneth that he will bee prompte and ready to kéepe Gods lawe when thou shalt inlarge mine hart some expounde it thus when thou shalt haue set mée out of daunger and giuen me thereby an occasion of great reioycing I rather would expounde it thus when thou shalt haue made my vnderstanding and spirite which of it selfe is narrow and straight not able to contain or conceaue any good things capable by inlarging and opening of it to containe and conceaue thy gifts and graces sée 1. King 4 29 concerning the inlarging of Salomons hart which in my iudgemente serueth very wel to open this place Do. Verse 25 teacheth vs in distresse and affliction to call vppon GOD by earnest prayers also that one good grounde of our prayers is Gods promises made vnto vs in his word Verse 26 teacheth vs that God is nigh to the faythfull prayers of his poore seruaunts also that we are ignoraunt of Gods law till it please him in mercye to vouchsafe to teache vs. Verse 27 teacheth vs carefullye and continuallye to meditate in Gods worde Verse 28 sheweth that Gods children are many times broughte verye lowe but yet the hope that they haue in GOD his promises doeth raise them vp agayne Verse 29 teacheth vs to abhorre as all sinne generally so particularlye lying and falshood also that Gods worde rightly vsed is a great mean to vanquishe sinne by Verse 30 teacheth vs that GOD his word shoulde be sette before vs in all the particular actions of this life Verse 31 teacheth vs to perseuer and continue in the profession of Gods truth all the dayes of our lyfe Verse 32 teacheth vs to go on forward in the race that is set before vs and neuer to be weary of wel doing He. Di. IN this whole part which consisteth of earnest prayer vnto God the Prophet first beséecheth the Lord to giue him good things as amongst others the knowledge and obedience of his law Ver. 33 34 35 38 40 secondly he praieth him to giue strength to auoyd euil things Ver. 36 37 39. Se. Verse 33 Teach me vz. which of my selfe am so blind ignorant and vnapte to euery good thing O Lord vz. whom alone I feare and worship the way of thy statutes i. that order of life which thy law setteth out ver 32. he called it the way of his commaundements and I will kéepe it vz. thorow thine assistance and goodnesse for otherwise no man can do any thing that good is vnto the end vz. of my life meaning that he would obserue Gods law al his life long sée verse 112 of this Psalme afterwards Ver. 34. Giue me vnderstanding vz. of thy will reuealed in thy word and I will kéepe thy law vz. thorow thy goodnesse and assistaunce as before not onlye in my hart but in my conuersation outwardlye yea I will kéepe it with my whole hart i. soundly sincerelye and with an vnfeigned affection Meaning that in the obseruation and obedyence of Gods lawe he would auoyde all hipocrisie Verse 35. Directe mée vz. which thorow mine owne corruption am readye to runne out of the way in the path of thy commaundements i. in the waye and order of life which thy commaundements would haue me to tread for therein i. both in thy Lawe and in a conuersation according to the same is my delighte i. I take singular ioye and pleasure Verse 36. Inclyne vz. thorowe the exercises of thy worde and the working of thy spirite mine hearte i. the affections and desires of my harte vnto thy Testimonyes i. to imbrace the knowledge and practise of thy worde and not to couetousnesse i. gréedye affecting and desyring of that whiche appertayneth to an other man hee putteth one kinde of sinne which is in déede the roote of all euill for al other transgressions and vices whatsoeuer as he did before the word lying ver 29. of this Psalme Ver. 37. Turne away mine eyes by the eyes he meaneth all other senses because they are the messengers which conuey or bring things to our other senses and the windowes or gates as it were by which euil entereth into vs from regarding i. from beholding or looking vpon he prayeth against the beginning of euill which being once ouercome processe and procéeding in it néed not to be feared vanity i. vaine things with the loue whereof men may easily bee ouertaken q.d. remooue the affections of my mind from these things which men do greatly desire and delight in lest otherwise I being caryed away from thy word I imbrace vayne things with other men quicken mee i. make me not only liuely to do thy will but giue me grace to liue in it all the dayes of my life in thy way i. in thy lawe see ver 15. of this Psalme Verse 38. Stablish
thing that the faythfull must cleaue vnto verse 7. Our sinnes must bée confessed and pardon thereof earnestly prayde for verse 8. God calleth all to repentaunce and amendment ver 9. In those in whome God beginneth good things he will go forward with them vnto the end ver 10. God is gracious and faythfull vnto those that walke in the obedience of his law ver 11. The greater our sinnes be the more néede we haue of mercye and to come to the Lord by prayer for the healing thereof ver 12. God will adde blessing vpon blessing and knowledge vpon knowledge to those that loue and feare him ver 13. Yea the Lord will heape all manner of temporall blessings vpon him ver 14. is the same which verse 12. ver 15. We must continuallye wayte vpon the Lord and be certainly assured that he will deliuer vs from danger ver 16. The more we are destitute of all worldly helpes the more néede haue we to come to the Lord and to learne to hang vpon him alone verse 18. Prayer for remission of all sinnes is commended vnto vs Sée Hosea 14.2 ver 22. We should faythfully remember in our Prayers the state of Gods Church Psalme 26. THis Psalme hath two principal partes In the first Di. he setteth out his innocency towards Saule declaring that he was so farre off from working wickednesse that he coulde not abyde wicked mens company from ver 1. to the end of the 5. In the second part he setteth out his loue to Gods workes word promising thanks for Gods goodnes towards him from ver 6. to the end of the Psalme The title is expounded before Ver. 1. Se. Iudge me i. take knowledge of my cause and declare thy selfe to be my defender agaynst the slaunders of mine enimies in mine innocency i. innocently and without doing hurt vz. to Saule or these my enimies that pursue me without cause as Psal 7.5 Psal 15.3 not slide vz. from that stedfast hope that I haue that God will defend me and my iust cause Ver. 2. Proue me vz. to know my innocency and that I am vniustly accused q.d. I desired thée before to be my iudge and now I willinglye offer the same and trie me vz. whether there be any malice in me towards Saule sée Psal 7.8 Psal 17.3 examine vz. euen as goldsmiths doe their moste fine Golde for it is a metaphor taken from them my reines and my hart i. my inward affections and thoughts as Psal 7.9 Ver. 3. Mine eyes vz. of my minde and soule haue I walked in thy truth i. lead such a conuersation as thy truth requireth meaning by truth Gods word because it alone comprehēdeth all truth Ver. 4. with vayne persons i. wicked and vngodly men whiche is a good place also to proue vanity to be taken sometimes for wickednesse as before Psal 24.4 Ver. 5. of the euill vz. men meaning such as accustome themselues to worke euill and to hurt others ver 6. I will wash my handes in innocency i. I will indeuour to liue most vprightly and purelye towardes thée and before men sée Iob. 9.30 and compasse thine altar i. offer aboundāce of sacrifices vnto thée giuing here two excellent testimonies of his vprighte dealing one good behauiour towards men and the other sincere seruice of God ver 7. that I may declare vz. thy goodnesse towards me and my obedience towards thée ver 8. The habitation of thy house i. euen the very place where thy arke resteth which séemeth to be as it were thy house because of thy continuall abode and presence there meaning that if he loued the place so wel he loued the people and the exercises better and the Lord best of all and the place where thy honor dwelleth this is nothing but a repetition of that which goeth before meaning by Gods honour his arke before which he was honoured vnlesse we would expound it thus that we should by place vnderstand the Arke and by honor Gods maiestie and honour manifested there ver 9. gather not my soule with the sinners i. when thou punishest the vngodly destroy not me with them vnderstanding by sinners notorious sinners as before psa 1.5 with the bloody men i. them that giue themselues to crueltie murther bloodshed sée Psal 5.6 Ver. 10. In whose handes is wickednesse q.d. whatsoeuer they doe is wickednesse and their right hand is full of bribes i. they are most ready for the right hande is commonlye more nimble then the other for their owne gayne sake by bribery or otherwise to commit all naughtinesse ver 11. I will walke i. behaue my selfe in my innocency i. innocentlye without hurt sée ver 1. of this Psalme redéeme me vz. from those slaunderous spéeches and dangers that I séeme subiect vnto ver 12. amend thus my foote standing vpon playne ground i. when I shall be brought to a more sure safe condition for in plaine ground there is sure footing in the congregations vz. of thy people and saints assembled to praise thée Do. Ver. 1. Whosoeuer trusteth in the Lord shal not be confounded ver 3. Gods goodnesse toward vs should restrain vs from doing euil to others ver 4.5 Euil company is perilous and therefore would be auoyded as Psal 1.1 Ver. 6. Good dealing towards men and zealous seruice of God must continuallye bée professed practised by his children ver 8. The place where God is serued and the exexcises of his religion must be carefully frequēted ver 9. It is a good way to shun the punishments which light vpon the vngodly to auoyde their company and naughtinesse ver 10. is a liuely description of the peruersenesse and naughtines of vngodly people ver 12. instructeth vs to bee thankfull to God and that openly before men for his benefits bestowed vpon vs. Psalme 27. Di. THis Psalme hath two special parts In the first part the Prophet setteth out the strong fayth and confidence that hée had in God assuring himselfe that God would deliuer him out of all his dangers from ver 1. to the end of the sixt In the second part he prayeth the Lord still to shewe himselfe fauourable and gracious vnto him in deliuering him frō the force and power of all his enemies from verse 7. to the end of the Psalme Se. The Title is expounded already Ver. 1. my light i. he from whome alone I haue in al things good successe and felicity and my saluation i. hee that deliuereth me from al daungers vsing light and saluation the things themselues for deliuerance from afflictions which in the scriptures are many times ment by darknes and al sorts of dangers whom shal I feare q.d. none for by such interrogations the Hebrues doe wonderfully deny the strength of my life i. the vpholder maintainer therof bringing good things to it and putting euil things back frō it for that is the vse of strength in the body ver 2. Came vpon me vz. with violent cruel minds to eat vp my flesh i. most
lightning ioyned with the haile and thunder Ver. 48. He gaue their cattle also to the haile i. to that same great extraordinarie haile mentioned in the other ver to the end that the cattle therby might bee destroyed and their flockes vz. of shéepe and their droues of beasts to the thūderbolts or after some to burning or kindled coals the sense commeth al to one he meaneth destruction of them Sée Exod. 9.25 Ver. 49. He cast vpon them i. vpon the Egiptians and the word of casting noteth the greatnes of his wrath also the fiercenes of his anger indignation wrath all these termes tend but to one end to expresse the greatnes of Gods wrath against thē vexation vz. not of body only but in mind soule by the sending out vz. against them euil Angels I like the note in the Geneua Bible wel vpon this place Immanuel readeth it thus by sending thē messengers of euill tydings meaning it of Moses and Aaron by whose ministerie all the plagues expressed here and in Exodus against the Egiptians were not onely foretold thē but brought vpon them both the senses are good Ver. 50. Hée made a way to his anger i. he executed the same tooke away euery let that might hinder it as men remoue those things that might hinder them in their courses or goings he spared not their soule frō death i. he slew thē and tooke their life from them but gaue thir life to the pestilence he declareth by what meanes God tooke life from them vz. by the plague and pestilence Sée Exod. 12.29 Ver. 51. And smote al the first borne in Egipt vz. both of man beast euen the beginning of their strength this is a discription of the first borne as appeareth Gene. 49.3 in the tabernacles i. in the dwelling places so that there was neither towne house nor field but there was one dead in it Sée Exod. 12.30 of Ham i. of the Egiptians putting the name of the first man from whom they came for the people that came of him for the Egiptians came of Mizraim the seconde sonne of Ham. Sée Gene. 10.6 of whome Egipt is so called in the Scripture the land of Mizraim Ver. 52. But he made his people to goe out vz. of Egipt like shéepe sée Psalm 77. ver 20. q.d. but he dealt most mercifully with his owne people It may bee vnderstoode thus also but for as much as they séely people had neither counscll nor meane in themselues to maintaine themselues it would haue gone wrong with them if God had not béene in stéed of a shepheard vnto them and lead them in the wildernes like a flock i. héedely and tenderly caring for them and prouiding their foode Sée Gene. 33. ver 13. Ver. 53. And he caried them out vz. of Egypt safely i. without any manner of peril or danger and they feared not i. they had no occasion to feare vz. their enemies and aduersaries and in the sea couered their enemies i. the Egiptians their enemies were drowned in the red Sea Exod. 15.13.27.28 Ver. 54. And he brought them i. the people of Jsrael and that in a mightie hand stretched out arme vnto the borders of his sanctuary i. vnto the lande of Canaan which he had assigned to his people and dedicated to himselfe meaning by borders which are the vttermost partes of the lande not onely those partes them selues as though God had left them there and woulde haue gone no further with them but the whole land putting the first part that they entred into for the whole and he calleth that land his sanctuary because God had sanctified the same for his people and for his owne seruice as being the place where hee would most manifest his aboad euen to this mountaine i. the mountain of Sion wherin Ierusalem stood the temple it self was to be builded with his right hand i. his power might purchased i. obtained got that out of the hands of mighty and strong enemies Ver. 55. He cast out the heathen also i. the Canaanites and other inhabitants of that land before them i. in their sights and for their sakes Sée Gene. 2.18 and caused them i. their land and all that they had putting the persons for the thinges they possessed for for the men they might not spare the to fal to the lot of his inheritance i. to come to the people of God whom he calleth here the Lords inheritance as it were by casting the lot by which also the Prophet noteth that the Israelits did lawfully rightly possesse these things made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles i. in their possessions as land cities houses c. putting one for all Ver. 56. Yet q.d. notwithstanding all these iudgements vpon their enemies graces towardes them for al that they tempted vz. God sée for tempting verse 8. of this Psalme and prouoked the most high God vz. to wrath against them selues and kept not either in worde or deede his testimonies i. commandements which are testimonies or witnesses as it were of his will sée Psal 19.7.8 Ver. 57. But turned backe vz. from well doing pretended to their former euils practised and dealt falsely i. dissemblingly and that with God meaning that they laboured what they could to haue deceiued God like their fathers i. as their fathers did and ancestours that were before them who came out of Egipt dealt dissēblingly with him as appeareth ver 36. of this Psal and turned vz. aside out of the right way like a deceitfull bowe vz. that turneth backe into belly as wee say I knowe there are many senses giuen of this similitude some expound it thus the Israelites did for a time make shewe of faith and repentance but sodainly they became vnprofitable as a bow sodainly marred by some occasion deceiueth the expectation of the shooter some expound it this way and some that but methinketh mine owne sense is most simple sée Hosea 7.16 Ver. 58. And they prouoked him to anger vz. against thēselues and their own soules with their high places i. with the altars which they had erected and set vp in high places as mountaines and hilles so hee sheweth the cause why God was angry with them vz. for their straunge and newe kinde of worshippings and moued him to wrath all this is spoken of God according to man with their grauen images vz. which they had made set vp and worshipped contrary to his expresse commandement Exod. 20.4.5 Ver. 59. God heard i. knewe because by hearing things come to knowledge and vnderstanding this is attributed to God according to mans capacity as other thinges are this i. the wicked words and works which the Israelites vsed in their idolatrous seruices and was wroth vz. against them for their sinne and greatly abhorred Jsrael vz. for their iniquities and transgressions committed against him Ver. 60. So that he forsooke the habitation of Shilo he sheweth by effect that God was angry with them
hath thrée principal partes Di. In the first the Prophet sheweth that Gods excellent maiesty sheweth foorth it self in the heauens generally and particularly in the sunne from ver 1. to the end of the sixt verse In the 2. he commendeth the law of God and the knowledge that may therby be attained farre beyond the consideration of the creatures frō ver 7. to the end of the 11. In the third hee earnestly prayeth to bee deliuered from his sinnes and to be kept backe from performing any thing that might displease almightie God from ver 12. to the end of the Psalme The title of this Psal is expounded before sée Psal 4. ver 1. Se. The heauens i. not only the heauens thēselues the most excellent workmanship therof but al the things therein contained as Sunne Moone Starres c. Declare i. plainly set out euen as it were by speach and the firmament i. the skie and al that which in our iudgement ouerspreadeth vs whereof also in the Hebrew tongue it hath the name The worke of his hands i. that hée hath made them and not so onely but the excellencie thereof also méete for so excellent a workman to whom handes are attributed for mans weaknes sake ver 2. Day vnto day i. one day that goeth before declareth the same to the day following and that not so much for the daies sake as that man by a cōtinual reuolution and successe of the daies man might bee instructed of the power and prouidence of almightie God and by day hee meaneth in this place the day artificiall which after some is counted from the Sunne rising to the Sunne setting or after other some consisteth of xii houres vttereth i. after their maner speaketh the same i. Gods glory power night vnto night he speaketh of the artificial night which wordes also proue that the word day must be vnderstood of the day artificiall teacheth knowledge vz. touching Gods power and goodnes ver 3. There is no speach nor language vz. in them meaning as men vse to speake and yet notwithstanding we vnderstand them as it were speaking vnto vs. sée Rom. 1.20 Psal 8.1.3 mend the latter part of this verse thus and yet not without these i. speach or language is their voyce vnderstood he meaneth that though they haue not mans voyce yet do they sufficiently shewe foorth Gods praise by what meanes he noteth in the next verse ver 4. Their line i. the stretching out of the heauens as a line is gone foorth through all the earth i. hath extended from one end of the world to another and their wordes he speaketh as though they did speak into the ends of the world i. vnto the furthest part thereof q.d. there is no part of the world nor people but it is ouercouered with this excellent workmanship which serueth very well for the Prophets purpose to amplifie Gods goodnes and power in them i. in the heauens or regions of the aire hath he i. God set a tabernacle i. appointed as it were a dwelling place ver 5. Which vz. sunne commeth foorth vz. at the first arising or appearing thereof aboue our Horizon as a bridegrome out of his chamber This is one similitude seruing to expresse the glory and excellency of the sunne hee resembleth the hyding of the sunne out of our sight to a secret chamber prepared for the bridegrome till it please him to make him selfe knowen and the appearing of the Sunne to the bridegrome comming out of his chamber in his glory and excellency and reioyceth like a mightie man to runne his race This is an other similitude to expresse the swiftnes of the sunne which also is noted in the beginning of ver 6. q.d. when the sunne is once vp he goeth his race with a ready chearful ioyful mind euen as a mighty strong man runneth with a chearful noble couragious mind to the gole or marke set before him in the race resembling the Sunne to a mightie strong man and the swift passage therof round about the earth to the spéedy hast of one that runneth in a race noting also by the word reioysing the readines willingnes that this dumbe creature hath as it were to performe the course set it of God ver 6. His going out i. the rising of the sun from the end of the heauens i. from the East where the sunne riseth and his compas is vnto the endes of the same by the ends of the heauens hée vnderstandeth the foure quarters of the world and all their parts q.d. the race of the sunne which he doth so swiftly performe is from the East vnto the west in which course notwithstanding he visiteth the South the North and none or else nothing hee meaneth men or any thing else whatsoeuer For there is nothing to which the heate of the sunne commeth not I meane that quickning heate which all things féele not onely the rootes of trees plants c. But al things else that be hidden as it were in the bowels of the earth as golde water stones c. ver 7. Is perfit vz. nothing may be added to it without marring of it Prouerb 30.6 Conuerting i. turning from euil to good the soule i. the whole man inward and outward but yet he speaketh of the inward because that reformation and amendment must first bee begunne there the testimony i. the lawe vsing an other terme tending to the same ende and it is called testimonie because it witnesseth to vs what God woulde haue vs to doe is sure i. true and can neuer faile and giueth wisedome vnto the simple i. it maketh them that haue little or no skill at all in knowledge many times to excéed their teachers sée Psal 119.99 and by wisedome he meaneth not worldly wisedome condemned Rom. 8.6 but the wisedome of the spirit commended there ver 8. The statuts i. the law an other terme put for the lawe declaring that God hath decréed and appointed the same for vs to walke in are right i. void of any iniustice or corrupt dealing the cōmandement one number for an other vz. the singular for the plural an other terme put for the law because God thereby commaundeth vs to the doing or leauing vndone of this or that is pure i. free from any corruption whatsoeuer vnto the eies vz. of our mindes ver 9. The feare of the Lord i. the reuerence religion and seruice of God after some but I take it to be vsed here for the law which is called the feare of the Lord because it teacheth rules and reasons howe and wherfore he should be feared is clean vz. without any spot or shew of euil and indureth for euer i. is not subiect to alteration and chaunge as mens lawes and ordinaunces are the perpetuitie whereof teacheth vs stedfastly to continue in the same all the daies of our life The iudgements i. the lawe still which is called iudgements because it conteineth and pronounceth iudgements against the breakers therof and here is a
part of the law put for the whole it may also be called iudgments because that thereby hée sheweth what he iudgeth méete to be done are truth and therefore can not be accused of subtilty or falshood and it is more forcible in that hee sayth they are truth then if hee should say they are true because that speach noteth that nothing besides or without them is truth but méere lying ver 20. Sheweth the preciousnes of the lawe If we would desire store or profit we must preferre it before the finest golde that hath beene oftenest tried if present vse and pleasure before hony the hony combe ver 11. made circumspect vz. in his walking being taught what to do and what to flée from and here Dauid speaketh of himselfe in the third person yet so that it doth apperteine to all Gods children There is great reward vz. through Gods mercy for so doth the word rewarde import and not of our merit as the papists imagine ver 12. Who can vnderstand his faults i. knowe them as it were particularly either for the multitude of thē or because ignorantly we cōmit many things which we take to be no sinnes secret faults i. sinnes not only hidden from other men but from my selfe by reason of my ignorance and yet al knowne to thée ver 14. Wordes of my mouth i. the words I shal vtter with my mouth meditatiō of mine heart i. the things I shal meditate in my hart he wisheth that his thoughts words might be such as might be regarded before God and answerable to his profession and he speaketh nothing of déeds and works because this necessarily followeth that when the meditations thoughts of the heart together with the words be good then déeds also wil be good redéemer vz. through Christ none other speaking here not only of deliuerāce frō dangers but from sin that which sinne bringeth with it also vz. eternal death and destruction Do. Out of the sixe first verses we may learne to behold knowe the maiestie power goodnes of God in his creatures secondly that as they in their kind expresse preach these excellent things so yea much more should men that God hath created after so feareful wonderful a sort that not euery man in himself but also to be gods instrument to worke the same in others Out of the 7.8.9.10.11 We learne generally by the excellent cōmendation of gods law reuerently to estéeme it vnfeignedly imbrace it out of ver 7. Where it is called perfect wee haue an answere to the papists that accuse it of some want by bringing in vpon it their vnwritten verities and traditions and in these words conuerting the soule that ordinarily it is possible that any should repent and haue fayth without the hearing of gods word as Rom. 40.17 and in these words is sure there is a doctrine of comfort to the faithful because gods wil neuer faile them of terror to the wicked because gods iudgmēts shal assuredly ouertake them and in these words giueth wisedome vnto the simple we haue not only a notable effect of the law set forth but an argumēt to conuince the papists in this that they accuse the word of darknes as though none could profit by it but the learned sort ver 8. True ioy is to be fet from gods word as also true light of knowledge vnderstanding ver 9. Noteth the propertie of gods word the exact perfection that is in the whole in euery part therof ver 10. Teacheth in what great estimation we ought to haue the word and with what a holy hunger and thirst we should desire the worde ver 11. Teacheth two things first that wee can neuer bee truely wise but by learning gods word secondly that for our better incouragement to the doing thereof the Lord setteth great rewards before vs and indéed graciously in good time giueth vs the same ver 12. Teacheth that our sinnes are innumerable secondly that we must pray pardon of them generally particularly of these which we haue committed either of ignorance or of knowledge and yet remember them not ver 13. Teacheth vs to pray against the power and rule of sinne in vs. ver 14. That we should haue care and conscience ouer our wordes and thoughts that they might be approued before God Psalme 20. THis Psalme hath specially 2. partes In the first Di. there is a prayer for the king for whose welfare the people promise ioyfulnes and thankfulnes from ver 1. to the end of the fifth In the second they do assure themselues of Gods fauour and of their enemies ouerthrow and protesting for themselues that God shal be their aide and praying again for their king from ver 6. to the end of the Psalme The title is expounded before Psas 4. ver 1. heare thée i. Se. the praier that thou makest granting thy requests of Iaakob may be here taken either for the person of the Patriarth who worshipped god with great religion which God also was present with him in al his afflictions or else it may be put for the whole people of Israel who came of Iaakob both the wayes are vsuall in the old new testament ver 2. Frō the sanctuary i. from a place in the arke so called in which God gaue visible tokens of his fauor defence out of Sion this was the place wherin the arke which was a visible token of gods aide defence was receiued he putteth the place the arke therin contained for the assured fauor aid of God Some vnderstand by sanctuary heauen by Sion the visible place of god in his church what soeuer it is the prophet meaneth nothing but aide assistance to be giuen from god ver 3. Let him remēber or as Immanuel readeth let him smel meaning by that metaphor a gracious acceptation of his sacrifices as Gene. 8.21 vz. With fauor graciously accepting al thine offrings he meaneth by offrings the exercises of religion ioyned with them as confession of sins praier c. and turne vz. by fire as it were sent frō heauen Thy burnt offrings into ashes declaring therby that he alloweth thy seruices as he did to Aaron Leuit. 9.24 to Eliah 1. king 18.38 Ver. 4. According to thy hart i. as thy hart wisheth desireth all thy purpose i. whatsoeuer thou purposest he meaneth describeth here a king that asketh nothing but by the direction of gods spirit what God himself hath prescribed ver 5. Immanuel readeth this verse as it were a continuance of the peoples praier this is a reason to moue god graciously to yéeld to their praiers In thy saluatiō i. in that thou sauest deliuerest from dangers vz. our king so haue we had saluation sundry times vsed before And set vp the banner like vnto those that triumph after a victory is gotten hee putteth the signe of ioy for ioyfulnes it selfe in the name this word is taken here as ver 1.
heart prayseth the Lord doth yéeld him most excellent honour disposeth his way arighte i. rightly and holily ordreth his life will I i. God himselfe speaking of himselfe or else his seruaunt and Prophet shew the saluation of God i. If wée referre it to God he meaneth that he will shew himselfe the sauiour of suche a person but if we referre it to the Prophet and take it to be his wordes hee meaneth that he will declare vnto him excellent saluation for so sometimes these wordes of God are vsed which he shall receaue indéede from God who will for euer kéepe and saue such persons both the sences come almost to one Verse 1. Gods maiestye appeareth excellently in his creatures Verse 2. Do. But specially in his Church Verse 3. Gods iudgements and power are terrible to his enemyes but comfortable to his seruaunts Verse 4. All creatures are at Gods commaundement Verse 5. Gods people are called saynts euen in this life whome it becommeth carefully to kéepe the couenaunt of sanctifycation that passeth betwéene them and their God Verse 6 It is comfortable to consider that God who is iustice it selfe shall iudge Verse 7 When God speaketh all ought to heare Verse 8.9 God regardeth not outwarde seruices when inward is wanting Verse 10. All things in the world are Gods and at his commaundement Verse 11. If he know the creatures then men likewise Verse 12. God standeth not any maner a way in néede of man Verse 13. God being a spirit néedeth not outward nurriture Verse 14. The sacrifice of thankes giuing is acceptable to God Verse 15. Aduersitie is a spurre vnto prayer if we could rightly consider of it Verse 16. Gods ordinaunces being holy and pure shoulde not come into mouthes giuen to filthinesse Verse 17. To hate admonition and to despise Gods worde be two grieuous sinnes Verse 18. Learne to beware of making hast to wickednesse and of communicating with other men in their sinnes Verse 19. Our tongues and mouthes shoulde be dedicated to goodnesse ver 20. To speake euil of or to slander any much more our nighest kinred is a horrible sinne Verse 21. Gods mercy long suffering worketh strange effects in the wicked not of it selfe but because that they in the corruption of their own nature abuse it Verse 22. Gods iudgemeÌ„ts should strike a reuerence and feare of his maiestie into our harts Verse 23. God delighteth in those that giue themselues to godlinesse and honesty Psalme 51. THis Psalme propoundeth specially two thinges Di. the firste is an humble confession of sinnes with an earnest crauing pardon for the same desiring notwithstanding his sinne the continuaunce of Gods fauour towards him and this reacheth from verse 1. to the end of the 17. In the second is comprehended an earnest praier for the whole estate of Gods church and â—â—is is in the two last verses of the Psalme The Title to him that excelleth Se. a Psalme of Dauid this hath bene expouÌ„ded before when the Prophet Nathan came vnto him for the better vnderstanding of this read 2. Sam. 11. and 12 Chapiter throughout after hee had gone in to Bathsheba the scripture speaketh chastly purely of a filthy facte in other places it is expressed by knowing hir in our spéech we say after he had had her company or lain with her Verse 1. Conteineth excellent wordes of a man that doth earnestly confesse his sinnes and he doubleth as it were the same matter in other wordes that hee might more effectually declare his affection he runneth only to Gods mercye and because his sinnes were many and infinite he prayeth the manifestation and féeling of the infinite multitude of gods goodnesses away myne iniquities vz. either as they doe that take spots oute of apparell or as they doe that blot somwhat out of debt bookes for such a metaphor he séemeth to vse here meaning the vtter remouing of them Verse 2. Vnder the termes of washing and cleansing the Prophet alludeth to the outwarde purifyings and cleansings of the law yet so that he knoweth that all these outward things were nothing without the Lord performed that inwardly wch was signified by these outward signs that is frée pardon ful forgiuenes of al his transgressions Ver. 3. For I know i. féele sensibly within my self but yet so that I do withal confes it is euer before me i. is continually in my remeÌ„braunce and the very thought of it doth continually vex me and by iniquitye sinne in the singuler number he meaneth not that he committed no more but one sinne for we sée there was murther adioyned with his whordome adulterye but in confessing one as the principal he acknowledgeth all the branches appertayning therto whatsoeuer Ver. 4. Against thée against thée only c Dauid noteth by this maner of spéech that he did so cuÌ„ningly couer his sinne from mens eyes that none saw it for the time til it was reuealed but God alone so that we see Against thée doth not only note that his sinne was directly agaynste God which also he meaneth by doubling the words against thée agaynst thée but also that it was naked before him as appeareth by that which followeth when he addeth this word only he meaneth not that he had not offeÌ„ded against men also for we sée that he had caused Vriah to be slain but because God was he whose law both in respect of the first and second table was broken whom it did most especially touch that thou mayst be iust i. declared to be iust for otherwise god is alwayes iust though the manifestation thereof appeare not and pure i. sound and vpright when thou iudgest vz. others for God is always iust but it then specially appeareth wheÌ„ he eyther pronouÌ„ceth senteÌ„ce against some or executeth iudgements vpon them Ver. 5. Behold q.d. I confes not only this sin of adultery and murther but al other from the time of my being vntill this present houre he speaketh indéede specially of originall sinne but yet so that vnder the same he comprehendeth al his other sinnes whatsoeuer originall sinne being the fountayne from whence the rest flow and in sinne hath my mother conceyued me these wordes meane not that the performaunce of mariage dueties simply of themselues bee euill as some lewde men haue dreamed and taught but that he hauing originall sinne from his parents was in that sinne conceaued i. fostred and norished in his mothers wombe and brought forth in the same for so largely do I take the word of conceauing the beginning of a thing being put for the grouth procéeding and continuance of the same thing Ver. 6. Thou louest truth i. vprightnes soundnes a sincere good wil to follow thée in the inward affections meaning that God specially respecteth the hart yet so that he wil haue the outward conuersation agréeable thereto haste thou taught me wisedome i. heauenly and right vnderstanding out of thy law All this the Prophet alleageth to aggrauate his own sinne because
they are without sinne that walk in his waies i. that lead a life according to such rules as he hath prescribed vnto them Immanuel readeth this verse thus who also worke no iniquitye q.d. They also are blessed who labour indeuour to the vttermost of strength and grace receaued from God to put downe iniquitie and vniust dealing either in themselues or others or both but walke vz. as much as in them lyeth in his wayes i. in the rules of life which he hath appointed them both texts are good and also both the sences but I rather allow of the latter Verse 4. Thou vz. O Lord hast commaunded vz. men or vs thy seruants to kéepe i. to indeuor and in déede what they may to performe both in thought word and déede the obedience of thy law thy precepts i. the thinges whiche thou in thy lawe haste commaunded vs diligently i. with care and conscience and continually as it were all the dayes of our life Immanuel varieth also somewhat in this verse reading it thus which vz. wayes mentioned in the latter ende of the thirde verse thou hast commaunded by thy commaundements to be greatly or diligently kept the Prophet that he might somewhat terrifie men declareth that the obseruation of the law is euen of God himselfe required and that with some seuerity to the end also that men might know that the breach therof shal not remain vnpunished Verse 5. Oh that my wayes i. my life and conuersation as verse 1 of this Psalme were directed i. might be directed that is disposed and ordred thorow thy power prouidence and goodnesse to kéepe vz. vnfeignedly and with a good hart thy statutes i. the thinges that thou hast established as statutes for me to obserue and kéepe This wish of the Prophet noteth both the want of abilitie in himselfe and also the great desire he had therto Verse 6. Then should I not be confounded vz. either before thée or men when I haue respect i. regard both outwardly and inwardly vnto all thy commaundements vz. to do and performe the same He meaneth that after he shal haue learned of God and bin taught of him he wil both acknowledge and hold the same fast and so by that meanes escape shame and confusion Ver. 7. I wil praise thée vz. alone with an vpright hart i. with a sound and sincere affection voyd of hipocrisie and counterfeiting when I shal learn vz. being taught and instructed by thée the iudgements of thy righteousnesse i. thy righteous iudgements vnderstanding by iudgements Gods commaundements whiche containe nothing in them but perfect righteousnesse Verse 8. I wil kéepe vz. very much or very earnestly and diligently he speaketh this not as though he were able of himself to performe them but to shew what a minde and purpose he caried with him and what a great good will he had thereto thy statutes i. thy lawes and commaundements and note that there is neuer a verse in all this Psalme but you haue in it eyther word law statute iudgement cōmaundement or some such like equiualent therto to signifie Gods word by forsake me not vz. in the middest of mine assaults temptations and infirmities ouerlong i. a long season He prayeth the Lord not only not to leaue him in temptation but also to respect his infirmity and weakenesse least he should go aside from the right way Ver. 1 teacheth vs Do. that obedience to Gods law is the high way to al blessednesse Ver. 2 teacheth vs first that with knowledge there must be ioyned obedience and practised secondly that we must séeke the Lord with all our soule and affection Ver. 3 teacheth that Gods children frame not a conuersation to thēselues according to their own fantasie but according to the rule of Gods word Verse 4 teacheth vs to haue care conscience and diligence in the obseruation of Gods lawe least otherwise wee heape iudgement against our owne soule Ver. 5 teacheth vs to carry with vs both purpose and prayer that we may walk in obedience of Gods law Ver. 6 teacheth vs that obedience to God his truth is the way to auoyde shame both before God and men Ver. 7 teacheth vs first to praise God for his mercies secondly to do it sincerlye and with a sounde affection thirdly that we can neuer rightly praise God or serue him til we haue learned his law Verse 8 teacheth vs what holy purposes we should carry with vs of obedience to Gods law and how for the better informing of vs that way wée should as it were lay vowes vpon our selues thirdly that féeling our owne misery and weakenesse we should by earnest prayer haue recourse to the Lord for his mercy Beth. Di. THis is the seconde letter of the Hebrew Alphabet and serueth to sette out the seconde part of the Psalme In which the Prophet sheweth firste that GOD his worde is the onlye rule to reforme corruption by in what state soeuer verse 9. Secondlye what care and conscience hée hymselfe had to walke in the obedyence of GOD and his Lawe verse 10 11 13 14 15 16. Thirdlye hée praysed GOD for his graces and prayeth vnto him more and more to instructe him in his truth and this is contayned in the 12. verse Se. Verse 9. Wherewith i. by what mean or with what thing shall a yong man i. hée that is the sonne and seruaunte of GOD whosoeuer hée bée but hee chéefelye speaketh of yong men because affection of sinne is most raging in them redresse i. reforme it is in Hebrewe purge or make cleane his waye i. the waye that hée is naturally inclined to walke in and this hée propoundeth in the way of a question aunswering the same himselfe which is also vsuall in the scripture and namely Psalme 15 1 2 also Psalme 24 8 10 in taking héede thereto i. in diligent caring and looking to it that he fal not or stumble not in the fame according to thy word i. according to the commaundements and counsels which in thy word thou giuest to that end The Prophet here prouoketh men in good time to dispose of their life and euen speciallye then when affections begin to boyle within them Now when men will chuse vnto themselues an order of life wherein to liue there is no better counsell more readily to direct them in the right way then this to wit to haue an eye to the Lawe and to looke what is prescribed vnto them therein Ver. 10. with my whole hart i. soundly sincerely and vnfeignedly sée verse 2 of this Psalm haue I sought thée vz. O Lord and that according vnto thy worde whiche I haue in part learned and layd vp in my hart as ver 11. and which I do further desire to bée taught and instructed in verse 12. let me not wander vz. hither and thither as one that is out of his way and knoweth not whether he goeth but followeth his owne imagination and yet strayeth from the righte waye from thy commaundementes vz. which thou hast
proposed as the rule of my life Verse 11. I haue hid vz. as it were in a case or chest thy promise i. thy worde he putteth one part of the word for the whole in mine heart i. secretlye and within me not meaning otherwist but that he had them there to remember them to his comfort and profite In the new Testament Luke 2 18 51 it is expressed by an other phrase as where Mary is sayd to haue kepte all these sayings in hir hart and to haue pondered them there Hee meaneth that hée locked vp as it were Gods lawe in his hart for feare of Sathans embushes and assaults that I might not sinne vz. any manner of way or at any time such a minde and will he had though there wanted abilitie to perform it agaynst thée vz. O Lord Verse 12. Blessed art thou O Lord i. praysed or worthye of all prayses by reason of thy goodnesse wisedome iustice and mercy teach me vz. not only to knowe but also to doe thy statutes i. the rules that thou hast appointed for me to walke in so that nothing is or ought to bée the rule of our life but Gods ordinaunce only Verse 13. With my lippes i. with my mouth and the wordes of my mouth hee putteth one instrumente whereby the voyce is framed for all instrumentes appertaining thereto and for wordes expressed by the same haue I declared vz. openly that others also might thereby learne them all the iudgementes of thy mouth i. all thy commaundements which thou hast vttered as playnely as can bée sée iudgements put for commaundements ver 7 of this Psalme and mouth is attributed to God according to mans capacity q.d. I haue not only hidden thy lawe in my hart as ver 11. but I haue often and openly spoken of the same And this is not a vaine brag that he maketh but rather serueth to shew that he did the part of a good and faithful scholler and to make himselfe an example that others might follow him Ver. 14. I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies i. to walke according to the rules orders that thy law prescribeth as in all riches vz. that euer I had or might haue had q.d. I haue taken as great pleasure in kéeping thy statutes as euer I did in gathering great riches together Ver. 15. I will meditate vz. earnestly and continually as Psal 1.2 in thy precepts i. in thy law which thou hast giuen and commaunded as a rule of life and consider vz. déepely and diligently thy wayes i. those wayes that he had prescribed men to walke in meaning his law and commaundements sée ver 3. of this Psalme and not as though God were tied to any wayes in respecte of himselfe Verse 16. I will delight vz. all the dayes of my life and this the Prophet speaketh not as though he had strength of himselfe but assuring himselfe of the continuaunce of Gods loue towardes him in whome he shoulde bée made able to doe it in thy statutes i. in thy law and word and I will not forget i. I carry with me this minde and purpose not to forget thy word i. not only the word it selfe but the thinges layde vpon men by the same worde to bée performed and done Verse 9 teacheth Do. firste that yong men had néede to striue the subduing of euill because affections boyle most in them secondly that Gods word rightlye and reuerently vsed is an effectuall meane to ouercome iniquity Ver. 10. teacheth vs vnfeignedly to cleaue to the Lord our God also to pray the Lord to kéepe vs for otherwise we can not stand in the obedience of his truth Ver. 11. teacheth vs that euen the promises of Gods word rightly considered are good means to beat down sinne Verse 12 sheweth that till God instructe vs wee are blind and ignoraunt also that we should dayly pray for increase of knowledge and vnderstanding Verse 13 teacheth vs boldly and openly to make profession of Gods word Ver. 14 teacheth vs that Gods word should be more pleasaunte vnto vs then all worldlye Treasure Verse 15 teacheth vs not onely barelye to reade but also déepelye to consider and continuallye to meditate in Gods word Verse 16 teacheth vs first that our delight in Gods law is a good step to godlinesse secondly that forgetfulnesse of Gods word is a great meane why sinne preuaileth against many Gimel Di. THis is the third letter of the hebrew Alphabet and serueth to note out the thirde part of the Psalme which containeth thrée speciall things first the prayers that the Prophet maketh for himselfe ver 17 18 19 22 secondly Gods iudgements against the wicked verse 21. Thirdly the earnest desire which the Prophet had to walke in the obedience of Gods law Se. Verse 17. Be beneficial i. be thus mercifull vnto thy seruaunt i. vnto mée thy seruaunt that I may liue vz. here vpon the earth so long time as thou shalt sée the same to be good and conuenient and kéepe vz. vnfaignedlye and with a good hart what I maye both in thoughte worde and déede thy word vz. reuealed and made manifest vnto mée q.d. shewe thy selfe fauourable vnto me and graunt me grace to imploy the whole life that thou shalt giue mee in the seruice of thée according to thy lawe and this is the ende of our life here Verse 18. Open vz. by the mightye working and brightnesse of thy holy spirit mine eyes vz. of my mind and vnderstanding that I maye sée vz. by the eyes of fayth the wonders of thy lawe i. the secretes which are contayned therein and he calleth the doctrine and precepts of the lawe wonders or wonderfull because they excéede mans vnderstanding and reason The Prophet did well know the blindnesse which was in him and in all men naturally which hindereth them from beholding the clearenesse of Gods word and therfore beséecheth the Lord to open the eyes of his vnderstanding to deliuer him out of that great darknesse wherein he was Ver. 19. I am a stranger vpon earth vz. as all men haue bin are and shall bee during this mortall life sée Psalme 39 12 vnder the word straunger he noteth not onely the shortnesse of his life in this life but his ignoraunce and lack of knowledge q.d. I am as a poore pilgrime not knowing what waye to kéepe vnlesse thou shew it mée by thy lawe hyde not thy commaundements from me i. leaue me not to my selfe in suche sorte that I shut vp mine eyes or stoppe mine eares from the knowledge of thy lawe for God hideth his commaundementes from them whose eyes he openeth not Verse 20. Mine hart breaketh vz. within me he meaneth by this spéech that he had an earnest thirsting hungring or longing as it were after Gods law in an other place he vseth panteth and thirsteth after GOD sée Psalme 42 1 2 for the desire vz. which I haue within mée to thy iudgements vz. not only to know them but also to execute and perform
i. performe and accomplish for though Gods worde bee alwayes sure both in respect of his maiesty from whome it cōmeth and of it selfe and the things propounded in it and of vs also in respect of assured faith yet it is then most liuely confirmed vnto vs when it is performed and it declared to bee true and certaine by effect as it were thy promise vz. made to me he putteth one promise for many vsing also promises for the word it selfe conteining promises as ver 11. of this Psalm to thy seruant i. to me for he speaketh of himselfe in the thirde person q.d. make the effect of thy promises to come vnto me who serue thée with a good heart for though it be true that Gods promises perfourmed to others may comfort men yet nothing so much can they comfort vs as this which we féele perfourmed to our particular persons because he feareth thée it woulde rather be turned thus who feareth thée for our feare of God is not a cause why God shoulde performe his promises to vs and the Prophet meaneth by the word feare not onely a reuerent perswasion which he had in his heart of God but the effects and fruits of that reuerence that is the worship and seruing of him according to his word Ver. 39. Take away vz. of thy mercy and goodnes my rebuke i. the euil which I might commit against thy good lawe and so it might tend to my shame as though hée prayed to be kept from notorious transgressions as ver 31. of this Psalm or else thus for as much as by some sinnes and namely the sinne of adultery with Bathsheba and murther of her husband Vriah hee had purchased rebuke and shame amongst men hée beséecheth the Lord euen to remoue that that I feare vz. will not onely fall but increase vppon mee vnlesse in mercy thou cure and couer it for thy iudgements vz. which thou hast pronounced in thy word are good vz. to them that rightly vnderstand them vnderstanding by iudgements not onely the threates of the lawe but also euen those comforts which God hath pronounced in the same Ver. 40. Beholde I desire vz. earnestly and with a very good affection thy commandements i. both the knowledge and obedience of thy commandements quicken mee Sée ver 25.37 of this Psalme in thy righteousnes i. in thy woorde and lawe which is called righteousnes because it is the onely rule of that righteousnes which we ought to performe to God or man Do. Ver. 33. Teacheth vs to pray to the Lord onely for light and instruction out of his holy worde also to cary with vs a holy purpose of perseuerance and continuance in the obedience of God all the dayes of our life Verse 34. Teacheth vs that the vnderstanding kéeping of gods law is a singular gift of his own bestowed vpon his children also that our obedience to god should be vnfeigned and without hipocrisie Ver. 35 Teacheth vs that vnlesse God kéepe vs in obedience wée shall continually wander out of the way also that our continual delight and pleasure should be in Gods word Ver. 36. Teacheth vs what a foule fault the sinne of couetousnes is also that there is no better meane to subdue it in our selues then care and conscience to walke in the obedience of Gods worde Ver. 37. Teacheth vs first to nippe off sinne in the beginning thereof secondly to labour the mortification of our earthly members and the partes of our bodyes inclined to euill and thirdly to pray for liuelines continuance in the obedience of Gods trueth Ver. 38. Teacheth vs that if wee haue by experience either in our selues or others but specially in our selues felt the trueth of gods promises perfourmed to vs wee haue not onely a notable testimony of Gods goodnes but a seale set vpon our fayth for the greater strengthning of it in the same Ver. 39. Teacheth vs to pray the remouing of shame amongst men specially if our shame shal bring with it some dishonour to God also it teacheth vs not to be shameles as many men are who are without blushing and haue gotten to thēselues harlots faces Ver. 40. Teacheth vs to haue an earnest desire both to knowe and walke in the obedience of Gods lawe This part in summe declareth what great weaknes there is in man to vnderstande loue and followe Gods lawe vnlesse he be taught and renued by the power of his spirit Vau. Di. THis is the sixt letter and noteth out the sixt part In which the Prophet specially propoundeth two thinges first he maketh prayer vnto God for the continuaunce of his mercies specially for manifesting his word vnto him with the fruites and effectes which shall follow thereof ver 41.42.43.44 Secondly hée promiseth and voweth as it were a thankefull heart to the Lord for his benefits which he wil declare openly before all men yea euen kings magistrates Ver. 45.46 By a holy and religious life towards God himselfe ver 47.48 Se. Ver. 41. And let thy louing kindnes i. thy most tender and infinite mercy come vnto mée O Lorde vz. from thée q.d. let me haue it plentifully powred forth vpon mée and make mee to féele it effectually and thy saluation i. ayde helpe yea and eternall life it selfe hée setteth louing kindnes or mercy before saluation as the cause before the effect according to thy promise vz. graciously made vnto me q.d. make mee to féele that louing kindnesse and saluation of thine which thou hast promised and I pray for Ver. 42. So i. by that meanes onely and no other shall I make answere i. bee inabled sufficiently to answere vnto my blasphemies i. vnto them that reuile and speake euill of mee q.d. I will not then dissemble any whit at all but speake euen as the thing it selfe shall require for I trust in thy worde vz. which thou hast giuen mee q.d. I perswade my selfe in the trueth of thy woorde that when I shall once sensibly féele thy mercy and goodnes I shal be wel able to answere all my gainsayers Sée Luke 21.14.15 Verse 43. And take not vz. though for my sinnes in iustice thou mightest the worde of trueth i. thy worde which only conteyneth trueth in it vtterly i. altogether or for euer Immanuel readeth this part of the verse thus But take not out of my mouth the very true word i. the word which is most true referring the word which is here translated vtterly not to the word take away as our English text doeth but to the worde of God which in déede is most true out of my mouth in this speach hee doeth not exclude the heart by which we must beginne but it is q.d. vpholde not only my heart in faith lest I bee ouerthrowne through temptations but bring to passe also that my tongue may haue full liberty so that I may praise thee amongst men without any feare so also Saint Paul prayeth the Church to pray for him that vtterance might bée giuen vnto him that he might
open his mouth boldly Ephes 6.19 and if we read as it is in the English text vtterly it declareth that hee had not such a great boldenesse to speake as were to bee wished for I wayte vz. with diligence and patience for thy iudgments vz. to bee executed vppon the wicked in iustice and vppon thy children in mercy the worde iudgementes being vsed here for the promises which God hath made conteining either the punishments of the vngodly or his mercies to his children Sée verse 39. of this Psalme Verse 44. So vz. by this meanes when thou shalt continue with mée the woorde of trueth shall I alway keepe vz. through thy goodnes and strength thy lawe vz. which thou hast prescribed for mee to walke in for euer and euer the Prophet meaneth that through Gods strength hée shall continue in the knowledge and practise of Gods woorde all the dayes of his life Verse 45. And I vz. thy poore and vnworthy seruaunt will walke vz. through thy mercy and goodnesse meaning by walking that hee woulde liue and bée conuersaunt amongest men at libertye i. in playne and easie wayes or in great and broade wayes or as a man woulde say in the kinges high way which Saint Iames chapter 2.8 calleth the royall lawe meaning also that he would walke without feare of daunger as they doe most commonly which are in a kingly or broad way for I séeke vz. with an vnfeigned heart and continually thy preceptes i. the vnderstanding of them and obedience to them Ver. 46. I will speake also vz. fréely boldly and plainely of thy testimonies i. of thy lawe and the pointes and matters therein propounded before kinges i. mighty men of the earth and magistrates q.d. I will doe it in deede and that not only before inferiour persons and in their sight and hearing but euen before them who for their greatnes are wont to stoppe vp other mens mouthes and command thē silence Surely it is a good token that men haue well profited in Gods word when men are armed against all terrors of men and will not bee ashamed vz. to speake of it fréely and boldly Verse 47. And my delight shal be vz. continually and all the daies of my life in thy commandements i. in thy lawe by which thou hast commanded mee what I should do and what I should leaue vndone which I haue loued vz. not in words onely but in déede and trueth and with an vnfeigned loue Ver. 48. Mine hands also will I lift vp vnto thy commandements q.d. I will stretch out my handes that I may readily receiue turne ouer and search out thy commaundements and this similitude declareth the earnestnes of his desire because that looke whatsoeuer we desire to haue we do straine our selues to take it and lay holde of it by stretching out our hands which I haue loued sée ver 47. and I will meditate in thy statutes sée ver 23.27 of this Psalme Do. Ver. 41. Teacheth vs that Gods promise is a sure grounde vnto vs of his loue and our saluation Ver. 42. Teacheth vs that grounded perswasion out of the word maketh vs bold to speake euen in the face of our aduersaries Ver. 43. Teacheth vs that there can no greater punishment be laid vpon vs in this life then to lacke Gods word also that we should in all cases with patience tary the Lords leasure Ver. 44. Teacheth vs to indeuour what in vs lyeth continually to keepe Gods lawe Verse 45. Teacheth vs that he walketh simply and surely that walketh according to the prescript rule of Gods worde Ver. 46. Teacheth vs that no feare of men nor shame of our selues should cause vs to conceale or kéepe backe anye part of Gods trueth Ver. 47. Teacheth vs vnfeignedly to loue and continually to delight in the lawe and word of GOD. Ver. 48. Teacheth vs with earnestnes and readines to labour to apprehende Gods trueth and to holde it fast when wée haue obteyned it also to vse not only hearing and reading of Gods word but dayly meditation therein Zain Di. THe Prophet in this vii part doth first pray vnto God that hee might in himselfe effectually féele the accomplishment of Gods promises and this conteyned ver 49. Secondly he sheweth what great comfort and consolation he had in the word of God and by the keeping thereof and this is ver 50.52.54.55.56 Lastly hee shewed that no scornes of the wicked woulde turne him away from God and his truth and that he recompensed that euil of theirs with this good fearing greatly the great iudgements which for the contempt of God and his trueth should fal vpon them ver 51.53 Se. Ver. 49. Remember i. declare by effect that thou doest remember Sée Gen. 8.1 the promise made i. the promise which thou hast made to thy seruaunt i. to me thy seruant he speaketh of himselfe in the third person wherein i. in which promise thou hast caused mee to trust vz. not onely because thou hast made and giuen me the same promise but also hast commaunded mee to take sure hold thereof The Prophet here desireth God in déede to perfourme that which he had promised him whereby hee sheweth that though God séemed to be farre off yet he would stay himselfe vpon his worde Ver. 50. It i. thy promise made vnto me is my comfort i. doth greatly comfort me in my trouble i. when I am in any trouble whatsoeuer when I thinke of it this is as it were the speach of his heart receiuing singular comfort by meditations in Gods promises for thy promise vz. made vnto me in thy word hath quickened me i. hath not onely strengthened and confirmed mee at all times but euen then when I séemed to be nigh vnto death or as it were dead already it did after a sort restore me to life Ver. 51. The proude vz. men of the worlde meaning thereby the wicked and vngodly whome hee calleth proude because they did despise God himselfe and treade vnder foote as it were all his holy doctrine haue had me excéedingly in derision i. haue scoffed and ieared at me not onely very much but also continually for that word excéedingly noteth also that day by day and one day after an other they did assault him with newe and fresh combats of scoffes and taunts yet q.d. for all that they haue done I haue not declined i. gone aside or astray from thy law vz. which thou hast prescribed for me to walke in q.d. no floutes or taunts of men could pull mee from the obedience of thy trueth Ver. 52. I remēbred i. I called to mynd in my meditations and déepely thought vpon thy iudgements i. such examples as wherby thou shewedst thy selfe to be iudge of the world of old i. which thou diddest and madest manifest in former ages hee meaneth that he thought vppon such iudgements as God in former times had declared vnto the worlde for iudgements read ver 43. of this Psalme vnderstanding thereby Gods punishments vppon the wicked and his mercy towards
me away from the obedience of thy trueth Verse 62. At midnight vz. when others are fast and sound a sleepe Sée before verse 55. This declareth his ardency and affection q.d. euen then when I shoulde take my rest as others doe will I rise vz. not onely from my sléepe but euen out of my bed to giue thanks vnto thée vz. for thy gret infinite blessings bestowed vpon me or as followeth because of thy righteous iudgementes i. because of the faithful performing of all those thinges which thou hast promised either in mercy to thy seruants or in iustice to thine enemies Verse 63. I am a companion i. I vse and frequent the company of all thē that feare thee i. serue and worshippe thee with that reuerent feare that appertayneth vnto thée and kéepe thy preceptes i. hee sheweth howe men may know whether they themselues or others feare GOD or no euen by keeping his lawe and doing the things that it requireth And the Prophet kept company with these good men both that he himselfe by them might bee confirmed and also that he might aide and confirme them Ver. 64. The earth i. the whole world it selfe and all the creatures therein conteined O Lord vz. whome I serue alone is full vz. in euery place and quarter so that a man can turne his eye or head no way but he shal sée plaine testimonies of it of thy mercy vz. towardes it and al thy creatures teach me thy statutes sée ver 26. of this Psalme he desireth that the mercy of God which is spred abroad ouer all creatures may be manifested to himward so that thereby he may profit in Gods lawe because that the spirit of vnderstanding is a principal signe of Gods fauour and grace and this petition consisteth of two partes vz. that God pitying his wretchednesse and want of knowledge woulde perfourme his promise made to him in that behalfe whereunto the better to induce God he vseth an argument taken from the abundance of Gods mercy manifested to al his creatures that is the second part or point Do. Ver. 57. Teacheth vs that séeing God hath chosen vs to bee his people wee should carry with vs a resolute perswasion to obey his lawe Ver. 58. Teacheth vs that the prayers which we make vnto God should be vnfeigned and procéed not onely from the tongue but from the heart also also that in our prayers we should make Gods mercies and promises principall proppes of our faith Ver. 59. Teacheth vs not onely to haue a carefull eye to our conuersation past and present but also it sheweth vs that the single sight therof is a good meane to bring vs to the obedience of God Ver. 60. Teacheth vs with speed to turne vnto the Lorde and not to put of from day to day as worldly men doe Verse 61. Doeth not only set out the cruel and spoyling minds that the wicked haue but sheweth also that the children of God shoulde haue such constancie in his trueth as nothing shoulde withdrawe them from it Verse 62. Teacheth vs to haue such care of Gods seruice that wee should many times break our sléepes as it were to performe that duety Ver. 63. Teacheth vs as to auoyd euil company so for the profite that maye come to our selues thereby and for the good that we may do to others to frequent good company Ver. 64. Setteth out the largenes of Gods mercy and sheweth what want of knowledge wée haue in Gods holy worde Teth Di. THis being the 9. part of the Psalme consisteth specially of these pointes first the Prophet confesseth gods great goodnes towards him and prayeth for the continuance therof Ver. 65.66.68 Secondly he declareth that euen the afflictions which they suffered in this life were through the consolation which he had in the word comfortable and profitable vnto him Ver. 67.71.72 Thirdly he setteth out the cruelty and naughtines of the wicked and his owne goodnes and yet without any boasting thereof ver 69.70 Ver. 65. O Lord vz. the only true God thou hast dealt vz. in euery thing Se. and euery way graciously i. in all fauour loue and mercy with thy seruaunt i. with me thy seruant for he speaketh of himselfe in the thirde person according to thy worde i. according to thy promise that thou hast made and giuen mee q.d. as thou hast graciously promised mee all goodnes so hast thou graciously also and in great mercy perfourmed the same Ver. 66. Teach mée vz. who of my selfe am blinde and ignorant good iudgment and knowledge vz. out of thy holy woorde q.d. teach mee by the light of thy holy worde in sound iudgements and knowledge to discerne betwéene trueth and falshoode for I haue beléeued vz. stedfastly thy commaundementes vz. that they are good true and holy he meaneth also by this manner of speach that hee did willingly imbrace all that which was appointed in gods lawe Ver. 67. Before I was afflicted vz from thée and by thine appointment I went astray vz. from the wayes of thy commandements but nowe vz. since thy corrections were vpon mée I kéepe vz. with a sincere and good mynde vnderstanding by kéeping obseruing and obeying thy word i. the things manifested and cōmaunded in thy word Sée Hosea 5.15 Immanuel readeth it thus when I did not yet speake i. euen from my birth I am a sinner a stranger from thy lawe and the childe of wrath as Psal 51.5 I went astray i. I was a sinner against thée as before but now I kéepe vz. diligently or in my heart meaning also that he layd it vp in his mind thy word i. thy promises Thus he applieth it to original sinne whatsoeuer it is certaine it is that hee was not deliuered from that stubbornes and peruerse rebellion wherewith all mankinde is infected but by the mighty working of Gods holy worde and spirit Ver. 68. Thou vz. O Lord art good and gracious as to all so specially to thy people sée Psal 86.5 teach me thy statutes sée ver 26.64 of this Psalme and marke howe to moue the Lord to teach him in his lawe hée setteth before him Gods bounty and goodnes Ver. 69. The proude sée ver 51. of this Psalme hee meaneth by this speach the chiefe men amongest them who were puffed vp with a peruerse and vayne trust in their honours and riches haue imagined as secretly and within themselues so cunningly and finely a lye i. false and vniust accusations hee putteth one for many against mee vz. euen to take away my life if it be possible but I will kéepe vz. through thy goodnes strength and assistaunce thy precepts i. the thinges that thou hast commaunded with my whole heart i. sincerely and vnfeignedly Ver. 70. Their heart i. their minde vnderstanding is fat as grease i. is mightily fatned so that there is nothing in it as it were but fat he meaneth by fat as grease not onely that they were puffed vp with prosperitie and so made vnapt to vnderstand holy thinges
but also that they were dayly more and more indurate and hardened Sée Isaiah 6.10 but my delight is in thy lawe vz. aboue and before all thinges Verse 71. It is good i. both profitable and pleasaunt as Psalme 92.1 for mee vz. thy poore and vnworthy seruant that I haue béene afflicted vz. graciously and mercifully at thy handes and that with the rods of thy children sée ver 67. of this Psalme that I may learne vz. not onely to knowe but also to obserue thy statutes i. the lawes which thou hast established Ver. 72. The law of thy mouth i. the worde which procéeded and came from thée and was vttered as it were with thy mouth is better vnto me i. is more deare and precious and swéete then thousands of gold and siluer i. then a very great number or infinite treasure he meaneth that he did preferre Gods woorde before all earthly things whatsoeuer Do. Ver. 65. Teacheth vs that God alwayes graciously performeth his promises to his seruants Verse 66. Teacheth vs that we can haue no sounde knowledge till God teach it vs. Ver. 67. Teacheth vs that afflictions are profitable instruments which God doeth vse to draw vs on to the practise of his worde ver 68. Teacheth vs to make gods grace goodnes our special ground worke of our prayers Ver. 69. Teacheth vs first that the wicked will leaue no stone vnrolled that thereby they might hurt the godly Secondly that wee shoulde striue vnfeignedly to kéepe Gods lawe Verse 70. Teacheth vs that the wicked are hardened and baked as it were in their sinnes also that wee shoulde take singular delight and pleasure in gods word Ver. 71. Teacheth vs that afflictions are euen good for vs because they pull vs on to the obedience of Gods trueth Verse 72. Teacheth vs to preferre Gods woorde before all worldly things whatsoeuer Iod. Di. THis tenth part consisteth wholly of supplications and prayers partly for himselfe verse 73.76.77.80 partly also for others ver 79. and partly against the wicked and vngodly ver 78. lastly hee sheweth what fruite the godly shal reape in that his petitions are granted vnto him and cōfesseth that he hath deserued al punishments ver 74.75 Se. Ver. 73. Thine hands haue made me i. thou by thy mighty power O Lorde hast created mee of the flime and dust of the earth and fashioned me vz. in this order and shape wherein I nowe liue giue mee vnderstanding therefore i. make mee apt and able so to vnderstand thy will that I may learne vz. to knowe and keepe thy commaundements Marke here two thinges first that in making his prayer for holy vnderstanding hée iustly accuseth himselfe and all others of blindnesse which procéeded not from the Creator but from man corrupted Secondly that euen by his creation he conceiued hope that God woulde continue his worke begunne in him because God leaueth not his worke and therefore hee requireth God to bestowe newe grace vpon him and to finish that which he had begunne in him Verse 74. So i. by that meanes when they shall beholde and sée that they that feare vz. with the reuerent feare of thy sonnes from which as from the cause procéedeth this true effect of the right worshipping and seruing of thée séeing mee vz. thus instructed and taught by thee in the knowledge of thy lawe shall reioyce vz. for the graces that I haue receiued from thee because I haue trusted vz. stedfastly and with patience in thy woorde vz. generally but specially in thy promises Verse 75. I knowe O Lorde vz. not onely by the trueth of thy woorde but also by mine owne particular experience and practise that thy iudgments i. all thy iudgments whatsoeuer but specially these punishments whereby thou doest prouoke men to repentance are right i. are ministred in all equity and right so that no man can charge thée of iniustice and that thou hast afflicted mee i. corrected and chastened mee as verse 67.71 of this Psalme iustly i. being mooued thereto by very good right and cause Ver. 76. I pray thée vz. humbly and heartily that thy mercy i. thy singular and vnspeakeable goodnesse may comfort mee vz. alwayes and namely when I am in any sorrowe and distresse according to thy promise vz. made and giuen that is according to the promise that thou hast made vnto thy seruant i. to mée thy seruaunt for hee speaketh of himselfe here in the thirde person as sundry tymes before in this Psalme Verse 77. Let thy tender mercyes vz. which thou was wont to shewe heretofore to thy afflicted seruauntes come vnto mée vz. also that is let mee bée partaker of thy excéeding loue in trueth and féeling as they haue béene that I may liue vz. here vppon earth among men and set foorth thy prayse Sée verse 17. of this Psalme and it is as much also q.d. It is impossible that I shoulde liue till such time as I féele my selfe reconciled to thée through thy mercy for thy lawe i. study practise and knowledge of thy woorde is my delight i. all my whole delight for the Prophet vseth here a worde of the plurall number delights Ver. 78. Let the proude bee ashamed vz. euen before thee and before men what hee meaneth by proude persons sée before verse 51.69 for they haue dealt wickedly i. vniustly and cruelly against mee and falsely vz. also with mee meaning that they had both by force and fraude as lying hypocrisie c. sought his ouerthrowe but I meditate vz. earnestly and continually for all that of thy precepts i. of thy lawe and word and of the things conteyned therein Verse 79. Let such as feare thée i. loue and serue thee with an vnfeigned heart turne vnto mée i. ioyne themselues to mee agayne in familiaritie after that through thy iudgements thou shalt haue declared and made knowne vnto them the goodnesse of my cause Sée Iob. 6.29 q.d. as the good haue for a tyme through the insolency and pryde of myne enemies béene beaten backe so let them nowe take courage agayne when they shall sée mée restored and lifted vp and they that knowe thy testimonies vz. to doe them Verse 80. Let my heart be vpright in thy statutes i. let me haue a sound affection towardes thy word and obedience of it and let mee bée frée in these things that I doe of all hypocrisie and dissimulation that I bee not ashamed i. made ashamed and that before men which should in deede betyde me if I should depart from thy statutes sée ver 31. of this Psalme also Psalm 44. almost throughout specially towards the end Do. Ver. 73. Teacheth vs to pray earnestly for light and vnderstanding out of Gods word Ver. 74. Teacheth vs that Gods mercies bestowed vppon some of his children should bée an occasion of comfort and ioy to the rest Ver. 75. Teacheth vs fréely to confesse that whatsoeuer God doeth he doth it vprightly because there is no vnrighteousnes with him Ver. 76. Teacheth vs that Gods mercy and goodnes rightly
felt is the speciall matter of comfort to al his children Ver. 77. Teacheth vs that wee can not liue no not in this life much lesse in the life to come without Gods great mercy Ver. 78. Teacheth vs that wee may pray against the wicked also what the nature of the wirked is vz. to vse force and flattery against Gods Saintes to worke them hurt if they can thereby lastly that serious meditation in Gods lawe is a singular comfort agaynst the assaultes of our enemies Ver. 79. Teacheth vs to pray for them that bee shrunke away euen as for our selues also that there is no right worshippe of God without the knowledge of his woorde Ver. 80. Teacheth vs to pray earnestly against the sinne of hypocrisie and dissimulation Caph. Di. THe Prophet in this eleuenth part maketh hearty prayer to the Lorde for helpe and deliuery first because of the miserable estate wherein hee himselfe was in respect of his owne person verse 81.82.83.88 Secondly in respecte of the great outrage and cruelty of his enemies verse 84.85.86.87 Se. Verse 81. My soule faynteth i. my life is euen as it were consumed for thy saluation i. with looking for helpe and deliueraunce from thée yet q.d. notwithstanding all this great distresse wherein I am I doe wayte vz. in hope and patience for thy worde i. for the accomplishment of those thinges which thou in thy worde hast promised q.d. I haue in great patience waited for deliuerance from thée and wil waite for it still for by fainting hee vnderstandeth a certaine patience whose force though it séeme to be vtterly lost yet doeth it not altogether forsake them in whome it is who séeme notwithstanding to bee dead but putteth into their heartes secret gronings yea such as men cannot well expresse Ver. 82. Mine eies i. the power strength and sight of mine eies faile i. decayeth and waxeth dimme for otherwise hée had his eyes still for thy promise i. with looking for the accomplishment of thy promise so long thou séemest to mée to deferre and put it off saying i. in so much that I burst foorth into this speach and saide when wilt thou comfort mee vz. distressed and afflicted on euery side such a sore conflict and battaile had Dauid within himselfe Verse 83. For I am like a bottle vz. made of beastes skinnes in the smoke i. hanged vp in the smoke hee meaneth that through griefe and misery hée was wrinkled withered dryed away and consumed as it were yet do I not forget thy statutes q.d. my miseries driue me not into a forgetfulnes of thée and thy word but make mee more to remember thée it Verse 84. Howe many are the dayes vz. of affliction and trouble of thy seruaunt i. which thy seruaunt shall indure Sée Psalme 116.2 in the Prophetes also we shal read this phrase the dayes of Egipt the dayes of Babilon c. when wilt thou execute iudgement i. when wilt thou punish on them that persecute me vz. without a cause Verse 85. The proude Sée before ver 51.69.78 haue digged pits for me i. haue secretly and by ambushes as it were sought my death and destruction Sée Psalm 7.15 which vz. craftie and subtil kinde of dealing is not after thy lawe i. consenteth not with the trueth of thy woorde but directly fighteth against it and this hee addeth to moue the Lorde the rather to execute iustice Immanuel referreth it to the persons thus The proude who conforme not themselues to thy lawe i. will not bee ruled after thy woorde nor order their life according to it haue digged pittes for mee but me thinketh the other sence is as playne Verse 86. All thy commaundements i. they all generally and euery one of them particularly are true i. most true yea trueth it selfe and in all trueth and vprightnesse enioyned men to obserue them they i. the proude and wicked men persecute mée falsely i. not only without a cause on my part but lyingly and slanderously in respect of themselues helpe mée vz. thus distressed and deliuer mee from these bloody and cruell men Verse 87. They had almost consumed me vz. through their wicked deuises and cruell practises vppon the earth i. liuing here vppon the earth with them Immanuel readeth it better thus cast downe vppon the earth i. being very much humbled and afflicted q.d. my miserie coulde not moue them to pity mee but the more weake I was the more cruell they were against mée but vz. for all that I forsooke not thy statutes i. I ceased not to beléeue thy woorde and to walke in obedience of it Verse 88. Quicken mee i. recreate and refresh mée ouer all my troubles and as it were call mée backe from death to life according to thy louing kindenes vz. which thou wast wont to shewe to thy seruaunts and hast heretofore declared vnto mee so shall I kéepe vz. diligently and carefully the testimonie of thy mouth i. thy woorde and lawe which is thus named to set out the authoritie that it hath in it selfe and shoulde haue amongest men Sée ver 13. of this Psalme Ver. 81. Teacheth vs that howsoeuer the faith hope Do. and patience of Gods children bee for a time darkened yet is is neuer vtterly quenched or put out Ver. 82. Teacheth vs that God many times bringeth his children to a lowe ebbe and doth for a long while withholde his aide yet doeth he not altogether for euer forsake them it sheweth also what great conflicts the godly haue in their troubles Ver. 83. Teacheth vs that no misery shoulde make vs to forget Gods word nay rather the more our miseries are the more should we meditate therin because in it only is sound comfort to be found Ver. 84. Teacheth vs that euen Gods children do many times desire to know those things which the Lord hath not particularly reuealed vnto them in his word Ver. 85. Teachech vs that the wicked are both cruel and crafty Ver. 86. Teacheth vs that the more egerly men molest vs the more earnestly we should call vpon God for his helpe Ver. 87. Teacheth vs two things first that the vngodly are without bowels of pity and compassion secondly that we should be so rooted in the loue and knowledge of God and his trueth as nothing shoulde pull vs away therefrom Ver. 88. Teacheth vs that wee can performe nothing obediently to God till it please him to giue vs the grace and strength Lamed Di. IN this part the Prophet maketh plaine proofe of the certainety continuance and truth of Gods word first by the very works of creation ver 89.90.91 secondly by his owne particular experience and practise ver 92.93.94 and so on to the end of this part Se. Ver 89. O Lorde thy woorde indureth for euer in heauen q.d. euen the very heauens can be witnesse of the continuance and constancie of thy worde séeing that they in the strength of thy word continue and abide much more shall thy word it selfe indure Some expound it thus the Prophet affirmeth
and he testifyeth by this worde so often vsed in this Psalme that euen in the middest of life we are dead vnlesse we be quickened and vpholden by the power of God according to thy iudgement vz. pronounced in thy word or we may take iudgement to be put for the word it selfe which declareth vnto vs Gods goodnesse he alludeth no doubt to the office of an earthly iudge whose duty cōsisteth in these ij points to absolue and lose some and to pronounce the sentēce of condēnation vpon other some in which sence also we say in the cōmon cōfession of our fayth that Christ our sauiour shal come from heauen to iudge the quick and the dead Ver. 150. They draw neare vz. to me euen to persecute hurte and destroy me that follow after malice i. that pursue the mischieuous and wicked attempts which they themselues in their own malice had maliciouslye and wickedly deuised against me and are far from thy law i. they care not either for the sight hearing or knowledge of it thus he giueth two properties to know the wicked by the first is that they are malicious the second which indéed is the welspring of al mischiefe they despise Gods law Ver. 151. Thou arte neare O Lord vz. to al thine euen to aid succour them in their distresses for al thy commaundements are true that word for would better be turned and and he meaneth that not only the words wherwith gods commandements are expressed but euen the very things commanded therein are iust true holy Verse 152. I vz. my selfe haue knowne vz. euen by mine own practise and experience long time i. not only of late but sundry times heretofore whiche I will neuer forget by thy testimonies i. by thy word that thou hast established them for euer i. that thou hast ordained that it should abide firm and stable for euer and euer sée ver 89 of this Psalm and verse 144. Verse 145 teacheth vs that in all our supplications praiers to the Lord Do. our hart and our words should concur consent together Verse 146 teacheth vs that the former experience of Gods goodnesse in hearing our praiers shoulde imbolden vs both to pray and to hope to receaue the like Verse 147 teacheth vs euen to breake our sléepes to giue our selues to prayer and calling vppon the name of GOD. Verse 148 teacheth vs to be continually diligente and carefull in the meditation and studye of Gods worde Verse 149 teacheth vs that Gods frée mercy is the first cause of the graunting of al our requests Ver. 150 doth liuely paynt out the nature and disposition of the wicked and vngodly Verse 151 teacheth vs that the Lord is neuer absent from those that loue and feare him Verse 152 teacheth vs that to know the assurednesse of Gods worde and to haue felt by proofe the certainty thereof are two notable proppes of our fayth and hope Resch Di. IN this part as in the former the Prophet continueth his prayers to almighty God vsing certaine arguments to induce the Lord to graunt him his requests as first his own misery affliction and gréefe verse 153 154 158. secondlye the desperate estate of the wicked and the greate heape of his enemies 155 157. Thirdlye the great loue mercy and truth of the Lord verse 156 159 160. Se. Verse 153. Behold mine affliction i. how great the affliction is which I presently indure not that the Prophet thought the Lord did not beholde it but because he would haue him by effect to declare that he did regard and consider it and deliuer me vz. out of the same for I haue not forgotten vz. as the wicked men doe verse 139 but I haue thought vpon it to doe it thy lawe i. thy worde as sundrye times before Ver. 154. Pleade my cause vz. against mine aduersaries that would oppresse me sée Psalme 35. verse 1. and verse 122 of this Psalme It is as much as if he should desire the Lord to defende him and his case and deliuer mée vz. from them that would oppresse me as ver 134 sée also for this phrase ver 153. quickē me according vnto thy word sée verse 25 of this Psal Verse 155. Saluation i. helpe and deliueraunce out of daunger as Psalm 3 8 is farre from the wicked i. they shall haue no parte or portion of it and this he speaketh specially of his aduersaries who defended an vniust cause against him because they séeke not vz. vnfeignedlye and from a good harte thy statutes i. thy worde and that to know and to do them Ver. 156. Great are thy tender mercyes O Lord vz. towards thy sonnes and seruaunts Sée Psalme 86 5 13 15. quicken me according to thy iudgements sée verse 149 of this Psalme Verse 157. My persecutors and mine oppressors i. those that persecute and oppresse me are manye vz. in number and great in power yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies q.d. for all that I leaue not the loue and obedience of thy truth sée verse 110. of this Psalm Ver. 158. I saw vz. euen with mine eyes meaning that he did certainly know the naughtinesse of the wicked men the transgressors vz. of thy law for sinne is the transgression and breache of Gods lawe 1. Iohn 3 4 and was gréeued vz. with them and at them for their sinnes sake sée before verse 53 136 139. because they kepte not thy worde i. because they had no care eyther to know it or doe it Sée verse 136. Verse 159. Consider O Lorde the Prophet speaketh this not as though he doubted whether god knew it yea or no but to intreat the Lord by effects to declare the care that he had of him how I loue thy precepts i. how much I loue them sée ver 97 113 127 and sundry other places of this Psalm quicken me according to thy louing kindnesse this may stand vs in stéed of an exposition of that which was sayd before 149 156 if that bée not plaine ynough as that he should vnderstand by iudgements Gods promises and mercies in which sence also the word is vsed in sundry places of scripture Ver. 160. The beginning of thy word is truth i. thy worde hath bin true euen since the beginning and al the iudgements of thy righteousnesse i. all thy iust and righteous iudgements indure for euer the Prophets purpose is in this verse to note that Gods word is most certain faithful stedfast and durable Ver. 153 teacheth vs Do. that euen our very affections are good matters to moue the Lord to haue mercy vpon vs. Verse 154 teacheth vs whether we haue mās ayd or no yet we should continually hang vpon the Lord and pray vnto him for our iust defence euery maner of way Ver. 155 teacheth vs that a very cōtempt of Gods word which the wicked vse is a seale vnto Gods children that no parte or péece of Gods fauour belongeth vnto them Ver. 156 doth notably set out the aboūdant riches infinit treasure
that contrary to the knowledge and truth that God had manifested vnto him he had cōmitted gros iniquities Ver. 7. Purge me with Hysop no doubt hee alludeth to the ceremonies purifications of the law among which Hisope was greatly vsed as Leuit. 14.6.7 Leuit. 19.18 yet so that he would haue the truth also signifyed by these outward things and he putteth purging and Hisope and washing which were outward parts of the legal puristings for a thorow whole cleansing as ver 2. and I shall be cleane q.d. otherwise I cannot bee cleane vnlesse thou O Lord performe it indéede whiter then snow Sée Isaiah 1.16.18 for the vnderstanding of this Verse Verse 8. Make me to heare i. eyther to féele one sence being put for another a thing vsuall in Scripture or else by some one of thy Prophets or other make me to know my sinnes to bée forgiuen as Nathan pronounced the same vnto him 2. Samuel 12.13 ioye and gladnesse i. that comfortable and ioyfull message touching the frée and full pardon of my sinnes that maye make me ioyfull and glad indéede that the bones i. I my selfe both body and soule he putteth a part for the whole which thou hast broken vz. by the horror of thy gréeuous iudgementes agaynste mee for my sinne sée Psalme 38.3 may reioyce i. haue matter of reioycing ministred vnto them and performe that ioy indéede whilst that they inioye their former féelings Verse 9. Hide thy face from my sinnes i. bury them as it were in perpetuall forgetfulnesse for we doe not easily forget those things that be continually in our sight put away sée before verse 1. of this Psalme all mine iniquities one and other for so long as any sinne presseth vs the conscience can hardly be quiet Verse 10. Create in me a cleane hart he prayeth because the heart is the seat of the affections and naturallye it is inclyned to all filthinesse euery day sée Matth. 15.19 Gen. 6.5 Gen. 8.21 That God woulde reforme it taking away that filthinesse and planting goodnesse in it which he calleth creation a right spirite i. a minde frée from all hipocrisie and abhorring crooked wayes some read a stedfast spirite meaning a spirite and mynde so well stayed as might not in tyme afterward be remoued from his obedience Ver. 11. Cast me not awaye from thy presence hee vseth here a metaphor taken from Kings who will not vouchsafe such to beholde them as they hate or lyke not of thy holy spirite i. the effectes and workes of thy holy spirite for neyther doth the spirite substantiallye dwell in men as some haue dreamed neyther is the pledge of the spirite so taken awaye as some haue imagined though it be hidden sometimes vnder the ashes of corruption Verse 12. Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation i. make me to féele agayne that vnspeakeable comfort of saluation that I was wont to feere so that it séemeth that Dauid was almost at the dore of dispayre with the féeling of his sinnes the iudgements of God agaynst him for the same establish me i. make me strong and stedfast with thy frée spirite the spirite of God is called frée in diuers respects as because it is Gods effectuall instrument to set vs frée from the bondage of sinne for where the spirite of the Lord is there is fréedome 2. Corinthians 3.17 because also thereby god worketh in vs fréenesse and readinesse to the doing of those thinges which he commaundeth and lastly because it maketh vs fréelye and boldly to professe that we are Gods children as Rom. 8.15.16 some reade principall or princelike spirite meaning thereby a moste excellent spirit suche as Kings and Princes haue néede of that they may know how to guide them selues in their offices Verse 13. Thy wayes i. thy mercies louing kindnes which are called Gods wayes because he alwayes sheweth them to true penitent sinners q.d. If thou wilt pardon me my sinnes I will be thy instrumente to teach thē that shall come to the like féeling of their transgressiōs thy wonderfull mercy and goodnesse and sinners shall be vz. by that meanes conuerted vnto thée vz. from whom they haue gone astray he meaneth that hee will take paynes to winne men to god but that the profit thereof shall redounde to gods owne glory Verse 14. From blood he meaneth not only from the sinne committed in shedding Vriahs blood and others with him as 2. Sam. 11.17 but also the punishments that by that sinne he had drawne vpon himselfe whereof sée Genesis 9.5.6 God of my saluation sée Psalme 18.46 my tongue shall sing ioyfully i. chearefully and aloude prayse thy righteousnesse i. thy goodnesse faythfulnesse and truth which thou promisest and performest to thē that craue pardon and forgiuenesse Verse 15. He prayeth the Lord not onely to giue him an occasion but also to inable him to thankfulnesse and then he will performe it Verse 16. Must be vnderstoode by the way of comparison and not supplye for yet in his time sacrifices were to be vsed and that by the prescript of gods law sée Psalme 50.8.9 c. Isaiah 1.11.12 c. Verse 17. The sacrifices of God i. such as he principally alloweth and accepteth a contrite spirit i. a spirite brused and broken as it were with the feeling of the sinne committed and the acknowledgement of his owne weakenesse and vnworthinesse which as I take it the Apostle calleth godly sorrow 2. Cor. 7.10.11 Thou wilt not despise i. thou wilt graciously and mercifully accept for not refusing or despising with god is gracious accepting Verse 18. Be fauourable i. notwithstanding my sinne continue gracious and heape vp benefits vpon benefits vnto Sion i. vnto thy church and people he putteth the place where Gods people dwelt and the exercises of his religion were vsed for gods people and Churche sée Psalme 48.11 for thy good pleasure i. for thyne own goodnesse sake and not for any thing in them or me for there is nothing in vs that can procure that build the wals of Ierusalem i. not onely defend thy church by thy mighty power and prouidēce but giue it all the meanes whereby it may resist the assaults of thine enemies as walles to a citie are a good defence to saue them from the violences and outrages of their enemies Verse 19. Sacrifices of righteousnesse sée Psal 4.5 q.d. When sacrifices and burnt offrings shall be referred to a right ende God will allow and like of them then shall they i. thy people offer Calues vppon thine altar i. sacrifices of prayses and thanksgiuing vnderstanding no doubte by Calues euen the instruments of their lippes to prayse God withall sée Hosea 14.2 also Heb. 13.15 Verse 1. When we are touched with the féeling of our sinnes Do. Gods mercy is the only medicine that we must looke to for the curing of our sore Ver. 2. We must pray for pardon and full forgiuenesse of our sinnes or else it is nothing as also verse 9. of this Psalme Verse