those that can hardly be tamed and bee full of wantonnes and sport as it were such as calues be when they are very fat that tread vnder féete i. that do contemne despise and set little by as Matth. 7.6 pieces of siluer thinges that ought to be regarded and estéemed putting one for al of the like sort scatter sée ver 1. of this Psalme the people that delight in warre i. take pleasure thinke it to be the greatest ioy when they may contend or fight most Ver. 31. Then i. when thou shalt bestow these great graces vpon thy children and ouerthrow thine enemies shall the Princes vz. moued partly through iudgments and partly by thy mercy come out of Egipt vz. to yéelde obedience vnto thée and to submit themselues to thy Lordship and gouernment Ethiopia i. the people inhabiting that land shall hast i. make hast and speede to stretch her hands i. to pray vnto or readily to offer giftes in signe of obedience and subiection putting the signe of prayer or obedience for the things themselues vnto God i. vnto thée speaking of God to God in the third person Ver. 32. Sing vnto God vz. prayse and thankesgiuing for your conuersion calling for these verses comprehend the calling of the Gentiles to the kingdom of Christ O ye kingdomes of the earth i. O ye people which inhabite the kingdomes of the world putting the places inhabited for the persōs inhabiting as sundry times before sing prayse vnto the Lorde the saying is doubled the more earnestly to prouoke men thereto Verse 33. To him that rideth vppon the heauens i. to him that gouerneth them and their course as hee that rideth vppon the Horse doeth the Horse this is spoken of GOD according to man and is nothing else as a man woulde say but a description of Gods excellent maiesty and when hee sayth most high heauens hee speaketh it also according to men who are wont to make sundry heauens as the Philosophers yet doe not that there are so for all that they babble of that matter is vayne but that men so esteeme it and yet notwithstanding in Scripture wee see that the worde heauen is sometimes vsed in Scripture for the ayre as when wee say foules of heauen sometimes for the firmament which is also aboue the ayre and so this place may bee expounded thus let men imagine neuer so many heauens yet God ruleth them all whiche were from the beginning as appeareth Gen. 1.1 and so haue since that time continued and still shall continue al which tendeth to expresse the great power of almighty God behold he will send out by his voice a mightie sound by Gods voyce he vnderstandeth the thunder the diuers effects whereof sée at large Psalme 29. And by mighty sound he meaneth not only large sound but also great which euen shaketh the earth as it were Verse 34. Ascribe the power to God i. giue vnto him all the prayse of power both in himself and in you for his maiestie is vpon Israel i. is declared mightily toward his people and Church as Psalm 14.7 and his strength is in the cloudes i. is not onely made manifest in the same but also he vseth the cloudes and all other creatures whatsoeuer to set out his power Verse 35. O God thou art terrible vz. to thine enimies and aduersaries out of thine holy places q.d. Thou shewest euident testimonies and tokens thereof out of thy tabernacle and he vseth the plurall number holy places eyther in respect that the arke was set vp in sundry places before the temple was builded or else in respect of the distincte places of the arke as Heb. 9.2.3 all which were called holy or else in respect of the heauenly holye place and the earthly holy place which was a shadowe of that heauenly one as Heb. 10.19 the God of Israel i. the God of his Church and faythfull people is he vz. alone that giueth vz. of his own goodnesse and mercye onely without any merite or desert of theirs strength and power vz. to defend themselues and to beat back their enimies meaning by strength and power all the meanes whereby these great workes may be performed vnto the people vz. whome he hath chosen vnderstanding the people of Israell for that time and the Church for euer praysed be God vz. for that his mercy and greate goodnesse towards them Verse 1. Teacheth two things Do first that God hath all power in his hande to destroy his enemies seconde that the enemies of the Church cannot prosper Verse 2. Setteth out the sodayne destruction of the wicked Verse 3. sheweth that when the wicked shall be beaten downe Gods children shall be lifted vp in spirituall ioye and mirth Verse 4. teacheth vs continually to prayse God for his incomprehensible maiestie and power Verse 5. Teacheth vs what greate care God in mercy carrieth toward the distressed persons Verse 6. Teacheth vs that fruitfulnesse of body deliueraunce of extreme daungers and plagues and punishments of what sort soeuer vpon the vngodly come all from God Verse 7. Teacheth vs to thinke vpon Gods graces performed of old that therby our fayth may be strengthened to escape daungers Verse 8. Teacheth that all creatures are not able to stande before the presence and maiestie of God Verse 9. Teacheth that plentifulnesse and the means thereof are all in Gods handes Verse 10. Teacheth that though the wicked haue a great portion of the earth in possession yet that the Lord hath properlye prepared it for them that feare him Verse 11. Teacheth vs that we can not haue our mouthes open to speake much lesse to speake well til God giue both the matter and vtterance also that the weakest meanes as women when God inableth them shal be sufficient to expresse his prayse Verse 12. teacheth that neither multitude strēgth nor authority can preuaile agaynst the Lord and his people otherwise then he himselfe séeth good Verse 13. Teacheth that the afflictions of the godly doe no whit at al hinder the beautie of the godly but rather are the instruments which God doth use to make them more glorious Verse 15. Setteth out the excellency beauty and continuance of Gods church Ver. 16. Teacheth that al congregations though outwardly neuer so glorious and glittering in respecte of it are nothing Ver. 17. Sheweth that Gods power is inuincible and his armies to performe his purpose are innumerable Verse 18. Sheweth that God will triumphe ouer al the faythfull willingly and vnfainedlie subiecting themselues and the other whether they will or no. Verse 19 teacheth vs two things first to yéeld thanks to God for his mercies secondly that his goodnes toward vs neuer ceaseth Verse 20 teacheth vs that euen in the greatest daungers God deliuereth his children to the end all glory might be giuen to him therefore Verse 21. Sheweth that the wicked enemies of his Church shal not long escape vnpunished Verse 22. teacheth vs that Gods promises of deliuerance saluation c. are the
2. Teacheth vs particularly to stirre vp both priests and people to that duety when we find them slacke Verse 3. Teacheth vs that the Lords continual goodnes towards vs should draw vs on to praise his name Ver. 4. Teacheth vs that euen his gracious election particularly aboue the rest should be a singular argument of our prayse and thankesgiuing Ver. 5. Teacheth vs the particular experience which wee or any of vs haue had of Gods power should be a notable proppe to our fayth Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that nothing can withstand his purpose and power Ver. 7. Teacheth that euen all naturall thinges are guided and gouerned by him and his appoyntment Ver. 8. Teacheth vs that the Lorde in executing his iudgements vpon the wicked respecteth no mans person Ver. 9. Doeth the same thing teaching vs further that Gods iudgements are so plain and manifest as the wicked are not able to alledge either ignorance or excuse against them for themselues Ver. 10. Teacheth vs that though God vse meanes for the performance of his counsels yet the accomplishment and glory of them belongeth to him alone It teacheth also further which thing also Verse 11. Doeth that there is no power wisedome counsel multitudes or authoritie able to hinder though neuer so litle the Lord in his workes Ver. 12. Teacheth vs that they haue right to lande and inheritance to whom it pleaseth the Lord to giue the same because he is the Lorde of the whole earth Verse 13. Teacheth vs that God in all ages leaueth notable spectacles of his power to al people to the ende that thereby they might bee drawne vnto him Ver. 14. Teacheth vs that though the Lorde bee angry with his people for a while yet he wil turne to them in euerlasting loue Ver. 15.16.17 Set out vnto vs the horrible vanity and great abuse of idoles Ver. 18. Teacheth vs that the idole the idole maker and al such also as serue them are not onely beastly and blockish before men but shall before god in good time come to shame and confusion Ver. 19.20 Teach vs that it is méete for al the faithful but specially for the Lords ministers as guides vnto the rest to praise the Lord for his great goodnes Ver. 21 teacheth them to performe that seruice to him euen in the publike assemblies of his saints Psalme 136. IN this Psalme the Prophet doeth exhort all the faithfull people Di. to praise God first for the excellency of his nature and singular maiesty ver 1.2.3.26 secondly for his workes of creation and prouidence generally and particularly ver 4.5.6.7.8.9.25 Thirdly for his great iudgements vpon the enemies of his people ver 10.15.17.18.19.20 and fourthly for his excéeding fauour towards his owne seruants ver 11.12.13.14.16.21.22.23.24 This Psalme hath no title as many such wee haue had heretofore Se. as Psal 104.105 and sundry such like Ver. 1. Praise ye the Lord vz. O yée faythfull people because he is good vz. towards al but specially towards you for his mercy vz. which is the first course of all his goodnes indureth for euer i. shall neuer haue end This sentence is repeated in euery verse of this Psalme not as idle superfluous or vaine but to shewe that Gods goodnes is the fountaine both of al our praises and al his works which doctrine because it ought to be perpetual therefore did the Leuites sing this Psalme or some other of the same argument or matter dayly in the olde Church of the Iewes as appeareth 1. Chron. 16.41 and it séemeth also to shewe how much we should continue in the acknowledging of gods graces Ver. 2. Praise ye the God of gods i. he that is aboue all that haue any diuine or heauenly offices whether they be men as magistrates or Angels or any other thing which hath the name of God giuen vnto it sée Deut. 10.17 for his mercy vz. towardes all but specially towards his owne people indureth for euer all this is expounded before Ver 3. Praise ye the Lord of Lords i. he that hath the fulnes and perfection of rule and authority in him for whatsoeuer other men haue they haue it from him because it pleaseth him to bestow the same vppon them sée 1. Tim. 6.15 Reuelat. 17.14 for his mercy indureth for euer this is expounded before and therfore we shal not néede to repeate it againe Ver. 4. Which vz. God our Lorde onely i. by himselfe alone and his owne power none ioyning with him as assistant doth great wonders vz. euen as we our selues know and can report Ver. 5. Which by his wisedome i. most wisely and with great vnderstanding yea wich such wisedome and prouidence as is wonderfull Sée Prouerb 3.19 wee may vnderstande also by wisdom his eternal sonne sée Pro. 8. from ver 22. to the ende of the 31. made vz. in the beginning as Gene. 1.1 the heauens vz. and all thinges therein conteined for so large doe I take the worde to be here as Psal 124.8 Ver. 6. Which hath stretched out the earth i. the continent and firme land vpon the waters sée Psal 24.2 hee meaneth that God hath caused the waters to withdraw themselues from of the earth to the end it might be a place for men to dwell therein sée Gene. 1.9 Ver. 7. Which made great lights vz. two as Gene. 1.16 of which he speaketh afterwards particularly and they are called great because they are in our iudgments in déed greater then the other Ver. 8. As vz. for example the sunne to rule the day i. to shine in it and to make it light whereas otherwise it woulde be all darknes Verse 9. The moone and the starres to gouerne the night i. to shyne and shewe forth themselues in that season Verse 10. Which smote vz. with his plagues Egypt i. the lande and the people inhabiting it with their first borne i. all their first borne from man to beast Sée Psalme 135.8 Verse 11. And brought out Israell vz. who was kept in captiuity and thraldome putting Israel for the Israelites from among them i. quite and cleane out of their company and land this history is written in the 13. chapt of Exod. Ver. 12. With a mighty hand i. with such great power as the Egiptians coulde no way resist and stretched out arme i. with singular fauour and proâ—ection ouer his owne and great iudgements vppon the wicked for the arme serueth both for defence and for striking Ver. 13. Which diuided the red Sea into two parts vz. that his people might passe through it Sée Exod. 14.22 Verse 14. And made Israell i. the Israelites hee speaketh thus of them all as though they were but one man because they were but one body to passe through their iddest of it i. of the waters so diuided Verse 15. And ouerthrewe vz. by his almighty power Pharaoh vz. who was king of Egypt and his hoste i. the people which hee had gathered together to pursue the Israelites in their flight yea hée so destroyed them that
the first that is roote taking their florishing and prospering in that lande and it filled the lande i. it increased and grewe mightely in number greatnes and glory Verse 10. The mountaines were couered with the shadowe of it among many senses I take this to bée the simplest that the people of Israel was so mightily multiplied and increased throughout the lande of Canaan that not onely the valleis which are for the most part fruitfull but the mountaines which are commonly barren were well inhabited and peopled Sée Matth. 3.1 Luke 1.39 and the boughes thereof i. the yong people that came of that roote or stocke were like the goodly Cedars i. beautifull to beholde as tall straight strong c. Ver. 11. She stretched out her braunches i. she replenished the land with inhabitants vnto the Sea vz. Mediterranium and her boughes vnto the riuer vz. of Euphrates he doeth describe the bredth of the land of Canaan and howe farre Gods people had extended their gouernement sée Psal 72. verse 8. and they recken vp Gods benefites towardes them in times past that they might presently the more easily obteine his fauor and goodnes Verse 12. Why hast thou then broken downe her hedges i. why hast thou destitute her of succour and ayde and why doest thou no more take her into thy sauegarde and protection but hast withdrawne thy power and strength with which shée was compassed as hée threatned Deutronom 31.17 also Isaiah 5.5 so that all they which passe by the way haue plucked her i. spoyled and destroyed her hee meaneth by this manner of speach the gap as it were that GOD made and gaue to the enemies to afflict his people by Verse 13. The wilde Bore i. the most vncleane and rauenous Gentiles the worde wilde out of the wood noting their rauening and the worde Bore noting their vncleannes for the Iewes might not eate swines flesh because it was accounted vncleane by the lawe Leuittic 11.7 hath destroyed it i. hath vtterly rooted it vppe by the rootes as though it woulde finde some thing hidden vnder it for the worde that he vseth here is a compounde worde and signifieth to digge vp some thing that is hidden as Treasure or such like and the wilde beastes of the fieldes haue eaten it vppe i. it was giuen for a pray to all sortes of beastes both of the forrestes and of the fieldes hee meaneth that their neighbours nigh about them and others farre off them did grieuously afflict the people of Jsrael which enemies of theirs hee compareth to wilde beastes by reason of their cruelty Verse 14. Returne we beseéch thée vz. to thy former loue and grace q.d. set aside thy wrath and be mercifull vnto vs as thou hast béene heretofore O GOD of hostes this properly respecteth his power whereby wée sée that they made his might one grounde of their prayers looke downe vz. vppon this vine from heauen q.d. though thou dwell on high yet looke vppon vs belowe in fauour and mercy and beholde and visite this vine i. not onely remember it but perfourme deliueraunce vnto it as thou hast promised sée the worde visiting so vsed Gene. 21. verse 1. Verse 15. And the vineyarde i. the whole body of the people putting the thing conteyning for the thing conteined that thy right hande hath planted i. which thy mighty power hath not onely brought out of Egipt but setled fast in this lande and the young vine so hee calleth the people either because they were small and fewe at the beginning or else because that in the time of these troubles they were become as it were but a handfull which thou madest strong for thy selfe i. to which thou gauest great strength that in it thou and thy glory might appeare Verse 16. It is burnt with fire and cut downe i. it is destroyed by fire and swoorde noting by these two termes of fire and cutting downe all the wayes and meanes that the wicked vsed to destroy the children of GOD with all and they perish i. all thy people of Israel and Iudah at the rebuke of thy countenance i. when thou shewest by thy countenaunce that thou doest rebuke them and art angry with them q.d. the force of the enemy néede not confound them for the very signe and token of thy displeasure doth consume them Ver. 17. Let thy hand i. thy power might grace and goodnes he vpon i. be present with in effect and féeling the man of thy right hande he putteth the worde man for men and people one for many and by man of right hande hee meaneth those that God did so tenderly loue and for their sakes hée continually manifested his mighty power in leading and gouerning them and vppon the sonne sonne is here put for sonnes or posterity as man for men before whom thou madest strong i. whom thou gauest might and power vnto not onely to defence themselues but to wounde their enemies for thine owne selfe i. for thine honour and glory that thou in them mightest bee glorified Verse 18. So will not wee q.d. if thou shew vs the fauour prayed for we wil continue alwaies in thy obedience This must be vnderstood not as though they conditioned with God but alledge their purposed obedience as a reason to moue the Lord to pity them go backe from thée vz. to false and strange worships deuised by men but will kéepe our selues fast to that seruice that thou hast prescribed by thy word reuiue thou vs i. take from vs the great heauines that hangeth vpon vs by reason of our sorrowes and afflictions and quicken vs and so we shal cal vpon thy name i. profes thy religion sincerely and pray vnto thée only Ver. 19. is the very same in words and sence with verse 3 and verse 7 of this Psalme Verse 1 teacheth vs to haue recourse in all our afflictions to God by prayer Do. and in the same to consider as good grounds of our supplications his mercye and his power Verse 2 teacheth that not onely the féeling but the manifesting of Gods strength and power is comfortable to his saints Ver. 3 teacheth that Gods fauour is the only cause of all goodnesse towards vs. Verse 4 declareth that it is no small affliction of conscience to Gods children to féele that their prayers are not forcible Verse 5 6 teach first that all the afflictions of Gods children come by his prouidence and appointment secondly that he bringeth them very lowe euen in this life to the end that they may haue their harts and soules the more lifted vp to him Verse 7 sheweth that we cannot know till the Lord turne vs and so is stong agaynst frée will Verse 8 setteth out Gods great and vnspeakeable loue towards his Church and his plaguing and punishing of the wicked for their sakes Verse 9 sheweth that the beginning increase and continuance of the Church and of euery particular member of it is from the Lord. Verse 10 11 doe vnder excellent Metaphors set out the
seruaunts that whiche thou haste graciously promised are the stablishment of thy throne i. are such as vphold and magnifye thy kingdome vsing throne as verse 4. of this Psalme I suppose he speaketh of God according to mens manners who haue certayne supporters as it were of their armes or of their kinglye Charrets sée 1. Kings 10 18 19 20 mercy and truth i. grace and faythfull performaunce of thy promises which procéedeth from grace goe before thy face i. are continually with thée and in thy presence Ver. 15. Blessed is the people q.d. O indéede howsoeuer they are condemned of the worlde yet they are in best case that can reioyce in thée i. that finde such tast in thy blessinges and benefites bestowed vpon them that they are thereby prouoked to prayse and thanke thée they shal walke vz. the dayes of their pilgrimage here and that with peace and quietnesse of conscience in the light of thy countenaunce i. in thy fauour and goodnesse hanging continuallye vppon thy prouidence Verse 16. They i. such people shall reioyce i. both in word and déede shewe themselues thankefull continually this worde importeth firme and stedfast perseueraunce in thanksgiuing in thy name i. for thy great maiestye goodnesse might and power as Psalme 20.10 and in thy righteousnesse vz. practised and performed partly towards them and partly toward their enemies shall they exalt themselues i. lift vp themselues and that with praise vnto thée not as any thing reioycing in themselues but as giuing al the honor vnto thée to whome alone it belongeth Verse 17. For thou art the glory i. thou art hee alone that adornest with glory and beautifyest their strength q d. if thou with draw thy hand in stéede of glory they shal haue weakenesse and confusion and by thy fauour i. of thy frée goodnesse and not by our desertes our horns i. our estate kingdome authoritie gouernmente force power might c. as 1. Sam. 2.1 sée verse 24. of this Psalme shall be exalted vz. aboue our enemies and we shall preuayle agaynst them Verse 18. For our shielde i. our defence and safegard from euill as it were by a shield to kéepe back our enemies dartes some referre it and that not improperly to the King who was appointed to defend and gouerne them But I rather allow of the former exposition appertayneth to the Lord vz. only q.d. the helpe and defence that we haue is from him alone and our King vz. Dauid whom the Lord hath appointed to be our King and by whose hand and power as by a meane wee must be defended to the holy one of Israell vz. belongeth q.d. he and all the kingly authoritie hee hath is from the Lorde or else it would not auayle him or profite vs. Ver. 19. Then vz. O God for here he speaketh eyther of God or to God speakest thou vz. when Dauid was appoynted King in a vision this was then one of the ordinary meanes whereby God in old time appeared and manifested his will to the fathers see numb 12.6 vnto thine holy one i. Samuel the Prophet sée 1. Samuel 16. and Samuel is here called Gods holy one not onely because hée was sanctifyed by the spirite as others his children are but also because hée was appointed to an holy office vz. of Priest and Prophet sée 1. Samuel 3.20 and saydest vz. then at that time I haue layde helpe vpon one that is mighty i. I haue appointed Dauid to whom also I haue giuen force and strength to be an helpe and ayde to deliuer my people from their opressors and haue giuen him graces méete for the gouernmente and kingdome I haue exalted vz. to the height of the kingdome and gouernment one chosen out of the people i. one of meane state and condition as Psalme 78 70 71 and yet notwithstanding thorow my goodnesse apted and aduanced to that high calling Ver. 20. I haue found vz. out from amongst the rest or else thus I haue founde i. I haue prouided for me and my people as 1. Samuel 16.1 Dauid my Seruaunt i. Dauid whom I haue chosen to serue me and my people in the gouernment of the kingdome with my holy oyle i. with the oyle which I haue appoynted to such holy vses in which respect also it is called holye oyle haue I annoynted him i. appoynted him to be King ouer my people sée Psalm 45.7 Verse 21. Therefore i. because I haue thus chosen him my hand shall be established with him i. he shall haue my power and might as a sure foundation to stay himselfe vpon and mine arme i. my force and strength shall strengthen him vz. agaynst all his enemies so that I will kéepe and preserue him from all dangers and marke that vnder hand and arme which are seueral termes he meaneth nothing but prouidence pâ—otection might c. Verse 22. The enemie i. whatsoeuer enemye he hath shall not oppresse vz. for any long time and that eyther by fraude or by force him vz. whom I haue appointed neyther shall the wicked i. he that is giuen ouer to wickednesse howe desperate and bold soeuer he be in his vngodly attempts hurt him vz. any manner of way or any long time as before in the word oppresse Verse 23. But I will destroy vz. by my might and power and that in iustice and iudgemente his foes i. all his foes whether they be open or secret before his face i. openlye he seing and beholding the same and being mine instrumente to performe that great worke and plague them vz. with death and destruction that hate him vz. any maner of way eyther inwardly or testifie their hatred outwardely Ver. 24. My truth also i. my faithfulnesse in performance of promises and my mercy i. great goodnesse he noteth the cause of his promises and the performance thereof shal be vz. present and in effect with him vz. continuallye q.d. I will alwayes shewe my selfe faythfull and mercifull towardes him and in my name i. thorow my goodnesse strength and power as Psalme 20.1 shall his horne i. his maiestie glory power and might as before ver 17. of this Psalme shall be exalted i. lifted vp and aduanced to great heighte and reuerence Verse 25. I will set his hand also in the sea some expound it thus I wil make subiect vnto his power the very sea and riuers muche more the lande which is weaker then they I would rather expounde it thus I vz. the almighty Lord will set i. stretche out his hand i. his might power gouernement and kingdome in the sea i. euen vnto the red sea and the sea mediterraneum and this was promised Exodus 23 31. and was accomplished 2. Samuel chapter 8. and 10 and his right hand in the flouds vz. of Euphrates Nylus Iordan and others Ver. 26. He vz. Dauid my seruant shal crie vnto me i. earnestly call vpon me and say thou art my Father i. one that hath a most louing tender and prouident care ouer me my God i. my
not onely labour to whet our coldnesse and dulnes but sheweth that God is he who alone is worthy all prayse Ver. 2. Blessed i. praysed and magnified hée the name of the Lorde i. Gods maiesty power and goodnes as before ver 1. of this Psalme from henceforth and for euer i. from this tyme and so forward alwayes In this verse the Prophet amplifieth Gods prayse by the circumstance of tyme q.d. hée would haue it to continue alwayes in mens mouthes as in the next verse hée amplifieth it by the circumstaunce of place q.d. hée woulde haue it remaine and abyde also in all places Ver. 3. The Lordes name i. his maiesty power goodnes c. as before verse 1.2 of this Psalme and also Psalm 20.1 is praysed i. is meete and worthy to bee praysed for the excellency and woorthinesse thereof some read it thus let it be praysed both senses may stand well with the purpose of the Prophet from the rising of the sunne vnto the going downe of the same i. in and through all the world he putteth two of the chiefest parts of the world for the whole world because these two partes vz. East and West were most inhabited for the North by reason of colde and the South by reason of heate are not so well peopled as the other quarters are Ver. 4. The Lorde is high aboue all nations i. is renowmed and more glorious then al the peoples of the world or any one of them and it is a secret reproof q.d. Is there any thing more absurde amongest reasonable men then this that they which haue certaine experience and knowledge of Gods glory amongst them should cease to prayse him for it séeing it shineth euen amongest them that are blinde and his glory aboue the heauens q.d. God doeth not onely excéede and excel al nations in glory but euen the very heauens themselues which are not able to conceiue or conteine his glory Ver. 5. Who either in heauen or in earth is like to wit in power strength prouidence goodnes c. vnto the Lorde our God i. vnto him whom we serue that hath his dwelling on high i. that dwelleth in the heauens as Psalme 2.4 Ver. 6. Who abaseth himselfe vz. in loue and mercy towardes his to behold thinges vz. which are done in the heauen and in the earth he meaneth that God foreseeth all thinges both aloft and belowe and by his power disposeth thereof Ver. 7. He rayseth vz. through his almighty power and of his goodnes the needy i. the poore and abiect amongst men out of the dust i. out of a vile and contemptible estate and lifteth vp the poore out of the dung hee speaketh the selfe same thing in other tearmes meaning that God many tymes aduanceth the most base persons sée 1. Sam. 2.8 also 2. Sam. 7.8 and note that hée speaketh not here of an ordinary course as in other places but of vnaccustomed workes in which Gods hand power is more manifest as when he exalteth a poore man not onely to a simple degrée of honour but also to haue authority ouer his people True it is that this appeareth plainely in the ciuill gouernement but yet especially in the state of the Church which is the principall theatre as it were of the worlde and wherein God giueth the plainest testimonies of his power wisedome and wonderfull iustice Ver. 8. That he may set them with the princes i. that he may giue and commit vnto them gouernement as other princes haue and not onely as euery other Prince but euen such gouernement as the princes of his owne people haue whome hée hath not onely chosen but also most tenderly loued Ver. 9. Hée i. God maketh vz. by his almighty power and working the barren woman i. shee that was barren to dwell with a family i. to haue plenty of children about her the Prophet putteth the whole family for the principall part thereof that is children and vz. God maketh her also a ioyfull mother of children i. to reioyce in her children and fruitfulnes hee ascribeth here ioy vnto mothers because they preferre posterity before all other thinges which they desire that barrennes bred griefe and fruitfulnes ioy appeareth in Hannah the mother of Samuel 1. Sam. 1.2 chapiters throughout prayse yee the Lorde sée Psal 106. and the last verse Ver. 1. Teacheth vs that it becommeth all men Do. but specially the ministers of Gods worde to set forth the noble prayses of the Lord. Ver. 2. Teacheth vs that Gods prayses should be continuall Ver. 3. Sheweth that they shall bée publike in all places Verse 4. Sheweth that all the glory both of heauen and earth and of all the creatures therein conteined is not so much as a shaddow of the glory and maiesty that is in God Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that none is any manner of way comparable with God or like vnto him Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that God looketh vppon all thinges both in heauen and earth which shoulde teach vs to walke with feare and trembling in his sight Ver. 7. and 8. Teach vs that preferment commeth not from the East nor from the West but from the Lorde onely as Psal 75.6.7 Ver. 8. Teacheth further that christian princes and those which gouerne Gods people are more to be estéemed then vnbeléeuing magistrates are Ver. 9. Teacheth vs first that barennes and fruitfulnes are both from the Lord. Secondly that wee may yea that wee ought to reioyce when God blesseth vs with posterity Psalme 114 THis Psalme may be diuided into two partes Di. In the first the Prophet sheweth how the people were deliuered out of Egipt and the wonderfull works which God did for their sake from ver 1. to the end of the 4. In the second is comprehended as it were a dialogue or disputation betwéen the Prophet and the creatures from ver 5. to the end of the Psalme This Psalme hath no title as sundry other haue not and namely Psal 10. Se. also Psal 91. also Psal 93. c Ver. 1. When Israell i. the people of Israell who are called Israel because they descended of Iaakob who was also called Israel went out of Egipt i. were deliuered out of it by the handes of Moses Aaron and the house of Iaakob i. his race and posterity from the barbarous people vz. of the land of Egipt the Hebrew worde vsed in this place signifieth such as spake an other tongue besides the Hebrewe Sée Psalm 81.5 Ver. 2. Iudah i. not onely that tribe but all the rest of the people of Israel for that which hee attributeth to that tribe because it was one of the chiefest appertaineth also euen vnto the whole body of the people was his sanctification i. was a people whom hée had sanctified and seperated from other nations to bée a peculiar holy people to himselfe And Israel i. the people that came of Israel as ver 1. of this Psalm his dominion i. God had purchased vnto himselfe a Lordship and rule ouer them
from grace because whom the Lorde loueth he loueth for euer Verse 2. Teacheth vs that God compasseth his seruants so on euery side that no euil can come vnto them further then hee himselfe wil. Sée Iob. 1.10 Ver. 3. Teacheth vs that howsoeuer we be afflicted yet our afflictions are but momentary and indure but for a short space Sée Psalme 30.5 also 2. Corinth 4.17 Ver. 4. Teacheth vs to pray for the continuance of gods fauour vpon our brethren euen as towardes our selues Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that howsoeuer hypocrites florish in the Church for a while yet the Lorde will plague them in the end also it teacheth vs that howsoeuer he punisheth the wicked yet hee will graciously blesse his owne Psalme 126. THis Psalme may bée diuided into two partes Di. In the first the faithful declare how strange a thing their deliueraunce out of Babilon was confessing it to be done onely by God for which they declare their ioy Ver. 1.2.3 In the seconde they pray the Lord to performe the worke which he had begun prophecying euen by the spirit of prophecy the ful accomplishment and performance thereof ver 4.5.6 The title A song of degrées this is expounded before Psalm 120. Se. in the title or Psalme of Dauid this is not in the Hebrew text and therfore would bee left out for this Psalme seemeth not to bée made by Dauid or in Dauids tyme but in the dayes of Cyrus who published a proclamation for the returne of the Iewes into their countrey at the which diuers of the godly reioycing together penned also this Psalme Verse 1. When the Lord vz. of his great goodnes and mercy brought againe vz. out of Babylon whither they were taryed captiues for their sinne and thus they ascribe all the worke of deliueraunce wholy to the Lorde the captiuity i. the captiues he putteth the thing for the persons as wée haue noted out before Psalme 125.3 out of the Hebrewe text of Sion i. of the Church of the Iewes hée meaneth all the people by the place which was of greatest excellenty amongest them to witte Sion whereuppon the temple was builded in which God was worshipped wée were vz. in our owne iudgement and estimation like them that dreame vz. that dreame of excellent things and yet haue theâ—â— not not but that they were deliuered but the wonderfulnes of the deliuerance was so great and so incomprehensible to all mens vnderstanding that it séemed almost impossible to bee performed q.d. wée coulde hardly perswade our selues of it til wée saw the Gentiles speake of our great deliueraunce and 〈◊〉 help vs forwarde with ayde towardes our owne Countrey sée Ezra 1. through out Verse 2. Then when wee knewe that God had done this great worke for vs was our mouth filled with laughter i. wee had a plentifull and large occasion giuen vs of reioycing because the countenance and face are specially occupied in laughing and the mouth is a part thereof hee putteth a part for the whole yea euen for the whole man if you will and our tongue with ioy i. wee had great occasion also to speake ioyfull words q.d. wee had occasion giuen vs not onely to bée merry in countenaunce whereas before in our captiuity wee hanged downe our heades but also we expressed the ioy of our heartes by our woordes then vz. when they also sawe it sayde they amongest the heathen i. diuers and many of the heathen amongst whome wee were captiues and prisoners the Lorde vz. their God whom they worshippe and serue hath done vz. through his great strength and power great thinges i. excellent yea and wonderfull thinges for them i. for their sake and euen for their particular persons also They meane that the miracle of their deliueraunce was so great that the Gentiles themselues did euen perceiue it and confesse it Verse 3. The Lorde vz. our GOD for these are the woordes of the faythfull answering as it were the heathen that confessed GOD to bee the worker of their deliueraunce q.d. wée confesse it also with you the Lorde hath done great thinges all this is expounded before verse 2. for vs though wee bee his poore and vnworthy seruauntes so all serueth for the magnifiyng of Gods might and mercy Verse 4. O Lorde bring agayne vz. through thy almighty power and that out of Babylon into the lande of Iudah our captiuity i. our brethren and friendes which yet remayne captiues Sée ver 1. of this Psal as vz. thou many tymes bryngest the riuers i. abundaunce of waters in the South i. into the South putting the South Countrey for dry and barren places because of the continuall and ardent heate of the sunne in that quarter which parcheth all their grasse come c. and dryeth vp as it were all their riuers and waters and nâ—ce that in this place the Prophet compareth Gods fauour in the deliueraunce of his people with the riuers of water and the people themselues in captiuity with a barren and drye lande from whome none could turne away Gods fauour if it pleased him to water them therewith So that in this verse the Church prayeth the Lorde to stretch out his hande to the faythfull which remayned yet in Babylon and to helpe them from thence for albeit it was a very harde matter that the remnaunt dispersed shoulde bee gathered together into one body yet they stayed themselues vppon the power of GOD who coulde as easily do that as cause riuers of waters to runne through the South Countryes Verse 5. They that sowe in teares this is an other allegory as it were or similitude in which the people caryed into captiuity are compared to néedy husbandmen who cast into the grounde for séede euen that which was left them for the sustentation of lyfe shall vz. in good tyme reape with ioy q.d. their sorrowe shal bee recompensed with gladnes in this other part of the similitude hee compareth the people returning out of captiuity to reapers or husbandmen which are glad for the abundaunt haruest which they finde the meaning of altogether is that the Iewes who were heauy and sad when they were caryed captiues into Babylon shal bee ioyfull when they shall haue reaped that is to say obteyned the fruite of their hope that is a glorious deliueraunce And this similitude declareth that such as were vphelde by the promise of God albeit that in extreme famine or neede they did cast séede into the grounde euen as it were at all aduenture yet that they were notwithstanding nourished and felt in their heartes the hope of that returne which GOD had promised them Verse 6. They this word may either bee referred to the néedy husbandman that hauing by some meane or other gotten séede are wont to sowe it with griefe or else to the people in captiuitie who went thither with heauinesse of heart and abundaunce of teares I referre it rather to the people went vz. out of their owne lande into Chaldea being caryed captiues weeping i. sorrowfull
name of the Father for his séede and posterity or else Ioseph the whole man for a parte of him vz. his bones which they brought with them at their comming out of Egipt but I like the former better Immanuel and others expounde it otherwise but in my opinion not so rightly Verse 16. The waters vz. of the redde sea and Iordan as appeareth in Exodus and Iosua saw thée O God i. did féele thy maiestie and power in turning the courses of them for otherwise man can not see or féele God much lesse the waters and he repeateth the same agayne for the more certayntie of the matter and were afrayde vz. at thy presence which he gathereth because they were diuided and fled as a man woulde saye backward yea the depths vz of the waters and he allegeth these wordes to expresse the greatnesse of Gods power for though it fall out that the vpper partes of the water is many times troubled yet the depths sieldome or neuer but this was done to the end the people might passe vppon the drie grounde Verse 17. The cloudes vz. in the firmament poured out water vz. in greate abundaunce for that doth the worde of pouring out note sée Eccle. 11.3 he meaneth that God had al creatures ready at his commaundemente to execute his will for the sauegard of his and the punishment of the vngodly the heauens i. the Firmament and the regions of the ayre aboue vs gaue a sounde vz. of thunder and lightning and winde and stormie tempest thine arrowes i. thy thunderboltes and other meanes to manifest thy wrath vppon thy enemies went abroad i. did flie abroad in euery place striking feare into them Sée Exod. 14.24.25 Verse 18. The voice i. the sound or noise of thy thunder i. of the thunder that thou sendest forth was round about vz. all thine enemies or else he meaneth euery quarter and region of the ayre the lightnings vz. which came from thee lightened the world i. they were so greate and many that they might haue bene séene all the world ouer the earth i. this frame of the world trembled and shooke for feare of thy presence Al this is nothing else but an excellent description of Gods eternall maiestie and power Ver. 19. Thy way is in the sea some expound it thus Thy way i. the way that thou preparedst for thy people of Israel is in the sea i. in the red sea ascribing that vnto God because he was the author of it which did belong to the Israelites Some thus thy way i. thy counsels is in the sea i. in darke vnsearchable places known vnto none but to thée alone making it the same with ver 13. of this Psalm but I like the former better by reason of that whiche followeth in the last verse of this Psal thy paths vz. by which thou cariedst thy people all the rest is wel expounded in the note of Geneua Bible Ver. 20. Thou didst lead vz. out of Egipt and thorow the wildernes towards the land of promise thy people as shéepe i. tenderly softly and louingly for shéepe may not be hurried by the hand i. by the labour diligence ministery of these two excellent personages Moses and Aaron And al this the Prophet alleageth that he might raise vp his hope and comfort himself in the middest of those great assaults Verse 1 teacheth that God is nigh to them that earnestly cal vpon him Do. Ver. 2 teacheth that the more afflictions and miseries increase vpon vs the more earnest we should be with the Lord by prayer Ver. 3 sheweth that we thorow our own corruption and sathans malice vse that in the time of prayer as a mean to draw vs back from earnestnesse of prayer which shoulde make vs more carefully to think vpon God I meane our gréefs and afflictions Ver. 4 teacheth that nothing commeth to Gods children but by the speciall not only sufferance but appointment and prouidence of God Ver. 5 sheweth that Gods goodnes declared before should comfort those that are in affliction now Ver. 6 teacheth good men in the time of their heauinesses to cōfort themselues in the consideratiō of these good thinges that thorowe Gods goodnesse they haue felt in themselues Ver. 7.8.9 shew the great conflict that the godly many times haue wreastling mightily betwixt fayth and dispayre Verse 10 teacheth vs that Gods power and the true tast thereof is a good proppe to our faith Verse 11.12 teache vs to record Gods workes for the strengthening of our hope and to speake of them with delight and pleasure Verse 13. teacheth that God alone is the only God Verse 14. that whatsoeuer God doth he doth it for the good of his children or the punishing of his aduersaries Verse 15 sheweth that God careth for his people euen when they be in their greatest distresse Verse 16 17 18 19 teache that God hath all his creatures at his commaundement for the manifesting of his glory and grace towards his and for the declaring of his iustice towards the vngodly which is comfortable to know that the whole course of nature shall stand on our side Ver. 20. teacheth Gods loue and care towards his people which then also most manifestly appeareth when he prouideth for them good Magistrates and Ministers Psalme 78. Di. THe Psalme it selfe is very large and as it were a summary recitall of all the fiue Bookes of Moses and therefore cannot easily be diuided Notwithstanding methinketh it speciallye propoundeth these pointes following first an Exordium or entraunce into the matter the Prophet labouring thereby to make the people attentiue taken partly from the excellencie of the matter and partly from his and their own experience and this is conteyned in the eyght first verses Secondly he rehearseth the great rebellion of this people and of their forefathers vpō whom God had bestowed such great and wonderfull graces as vpon none the like and this is comprehended in verse 8 9 10 11 17 18 19 20 22 32 34 35 36 37 40 41 42 56 57 58. Thirdelye hee setteth out Gods great mercy notwithstanding their manifolde wickednesses and rebellion against him and this is comprised in verse 12 13 14 15 16 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 38 39 52 53 54 55 68 69 70 71 72. Lastly he largely declareth the excéeding great iustice of GOD againste sinne and vngodlinesse which he sheweth by executing the same partly vpon his owne people as appeareth verse 21 30 31 33 59 60 61 62 63 64 67 and partlye vppon his and their enimies as appeareth also verse 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 6◠66. which may teach all men to driue away the vayne imagination that they haue of Gods mercy only neuer looking into the execution of his iustice and iudgements against the world for sinne Se. The title hath bin sundry times expounded before sée the same Title Psalme 73 also Psalme 50. Verse 1. Heare vz. both with your outward eares and inward vnderstanding my doctrine i.
i. when they came to fight with their Aduersaries Some vnderstand this of one battaile some of an other but I refer it to that story which is written Num. 14 39 40 c. to the end of the Chapter also Deut. 1. ver 4. to the end of the chapter Ver. 10. They kept not the couenant of God vz. whiche he had made with thē they with him promising to performe the same by couenant he meaneth not only the rule of good life but also the whole seruice of God they refused this word amplifieth the gréeuousnes of their fault because they sinned not thorow ignorāce but euē of set purpose as it were to walk in his law i. to be obedient to the same in their liues conuersation for so is the Metaphor of walking vsed in this place Ver. 11. And forgat his acts i. the noble déeds wch he had don for thē against their enimies that he had shewed them vz. both in the lande of Egipt and in the wildernesse the particulars wherof follow vnto the end of the 16 verse Verse 12. in the sight of their fathers so that their eyes were witnesses and therfore could pretend no ignorance or excuse in the land of Egipt as appeareth from Exod. 7. chapter to the 13. chapter euen in the fielde of Zoan i. euen in a most notorious place for Zoan was one of the great and principal cities of Egipt so that the miracles which God wroughte were not done in a darke place Ver. 13. He diuided the red sea i. by his power he caused the sea to part a sunder sée Exod. 14.21 and led them thorow i. the Israelites as vppon drie land he made also the waters to stand as an heape vz. by his worde and commaundement at that time that his people might haue passage by standing as an heape he meaneth that they stood still and moued not Ver. 14. He led thē with a cloud i. by a cloude the cloude not only going before them as appeareth Exod. 13.21 but also compassing them in on euery side both to kéepe them from the parching heate of the sunne and to saue them from the sighte and violence of their enimies and all the night so that day and night he prouided for them with a light of fire hee meaneth that piller of fire whiche stoode then in stéede of a guide whilste they were in the wildernesse Exod. 13.21.22 Verse 15. Hée i. God by the ministery of his seruaunt Moses claue the rocks in the Wildernesse hee sayeth well rocks in the plurall number because that great worke was twise done as appeareth Exod. 17. and Num. 20. and gaue them drinke i. they and their Cattle as appeareth by the places before alleaged whereby we sée not only that the thing was done but the great plenty and store they had of water also which he noteth by these wordes as of the greate depths q.d. The Rockes gaue it so plentifullye as though the great depthes and bottomlesse pits as it were had yéelded vp all their waters Verse 16. Is the same with verse 15. in sence and meaning only he amplifieth the great facte of God by the vse of sundry wordes as stony rocks which expresseth the hardnes of the thing and to descend like the riuers by which he noteth the plentye and abundance as before Ver. 17. Yet q d. notwithstanding all these graces and great miracles they sinned stil against him i. they continued in their rebellion and disobedience being nothing at al bettered by Gods goodnesse prouoked vz. to wrath and that against themselues their owne soules the highest i. the almighty God whose power no creature is able to resist in the Wildernesse he noteth the place for the more certaintie of the history Ver. 18. And tempted God i. indeuoured to proue Gods power of which they doubted not being contented with Manna but demaūding other meat thā that wch God had appointed them that was flesh forsooth in their harts i. secretly within thēselues not that they staid there for afterwards they expressed it in words as appeareth ver 20. of this Psal but the Prophet noteth the roote beginning of their sin in requiring meat by requiring he meaneth demaunding of it earnestly with muttering and grudging if they had it not for their lust i. to satisfye their gréedy and rauenous appetite not that they were inforced thereto by famin or wāt of meat Ver. 19. They spake agaynst god also vz. in as much as they called his power into question or doubt this story is Num. 11.4 c. can god q.d. Lieth it in his power or is he able if he be let vs sée it otherwise wée wil not beléeue it prepare a table vz. for vs and by preparing of a table they mean furnishing prouiding of thē with al delicates dainties sée Psal 23.5 in the Wildernesse i. in suche a barren and drie place as wée are in This circumstaunce made the matter more hard in the iudgement of the Israelites but God performing it it made it more notable for his glory And this was their villanous and foule tempting of God that they thought that god coulde not giue thē in the wildernes diuers sorts of meat as they had in Egipt neyther woulde they beléeue it vnlesse they saw it by experience Verse 20. Behold c. these are still the words of the murmuring and rebellious Israelites hée smote the Rock i. God by the ministerie of his seruant Moses as verse 15.16 of this Psalme that the water gushed out vz. in great plenty and abundaunce and the streames ouerflowed vz. the vppermost face of the lande where the miracle was wrought can he giue bread also q.d. if he canne lette him shewe it and by bread he vnderstandeth all meat and nourishment as in this petition Giue vs this day our dayly bread or prepare fleshe i. some extraordinarie kinde of flesh for otherwise the people had fleshe because they caryed their cattaile out of Egipt with them for his people i. for the people that hée hath brought out of Egipt And this their propounding of the matter in the waye of a Question doth not onely note the hardnesse of the thinges to doe it but expresseth the hardnesse of their beléefe vnlesse they coulde sée it performed Verse 21. Therfore q.d. because their rebellion and distrust was so great the Lorde heard i. now tooke notice of it as might appeare by his iudgments poured vpon them and not as though God were ignoraunt of any thing that eyther they thought spake or did and was angry vz. agaynste them for their sinnes the effectes of which anger are in this verye verse expressed and the fyre vz. of his wrath and iudgementes sée Numb 11 1 was kindled i. did not onely beginne but was executed in Iaakob i. agaynst Iaakobs posteritye and also wrath came vz. from GOD in his heauie iudgemente vpon Israell sée verse 5 of this Psalme Verse 22. Because they beléeued not
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
glorye and inlargement of the Church Verse 12. Sheweth that the enemies of the Church can doe nothing further then the Lord appointeth them Verse 13 doth paynt out the cruelty and rage of the enemies of the church Verse 14 teacheth vs to pray the Lord in mercy to beholde the poore and afflicted state of his Churche Verse 15 teacheth vs that the taste and tryall of GOD his power before shoulde strengthen our hope for the feeling of the same in tyme to come Verse 16 describeth the wonderfull Maiestie of GOD and the greatnesse of his power which is so mightye that euen the verye manifesting thereof though it bée not executed is sufficiente to consume all Verse 17. teacheth vs to praye for the Church and the particular members of it also that we haue no strength of our selues but that then we are strong when the Lorde maketh vs strong and lastly that strength and whatsoeuer else wee haue is giuen vs that he only in the same might be glorified Verse 18 teacheth the faythfull to carry with them a full purpose to stick fast to the Lorde and to call vpon him Verse 19 deliuereth the same doctrine that verse 3 and 7. of this Psalme doe Psalme 81 THis Psalme being made as it shoulde séeme Di. after the time of the Iudges when either Samuel or Dauid restored Gods worship may be deuided into two principal parts In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faithful people to praise the Lord shewing thē that they haue good causes and reasons so to doe from verse 1. to the ende of the 7. In the second hée taketh vpon him the person of God instructing the people how to walke shewing withall their disobedience by whiche not onlye Gods loue was contemned but they themselues depriued of wonderfull benefites from verse 8 to the end of the Psalme Se. The Title of this Psalme is expounded in the Title of Psalme 8. and Psal 73. Verse 1. Sing ioyfully i. chearefully and with a good courage q.d. praise him by all the meanes ye can and in al places specially in the holy and publike assemblies and that for the benefites you haue receaued from him vnto God our strength i. vnto him who alone giueth vs strength to doe the things we doe sing lowde vz. that all may sée and heare as it were vnto the God of Iaakob i. vnto him that is a good and gracious God to al his faythfull people that come of Iaakob putting the name of the father both for himselfe all his posterity Ver. 2. Take vz. vnto you or into your mouthes the song vz. of praise and thanksgiuing q.d. sing prayses to God and bring forth vz. to be playde vpon the Timbrell the pleasant harpe with the violl vnder the lawe they vsed musicall instruments to expresse their ioy withall sée Iudges 11 34. some other places vnder this scholemastership it pleased the Lord to kéepe his people till Christes comming and by these thrée he meaneth all of the like q.d. With all Instruments of Musick expresse and set out the gladnes of your hart Verse 3. Blow the Trumpet in the newe Moone q.d. bée as earnest to serue GOD now as if it were at any time of our solemne Feastes Sée Leuitticus 25 15. Num. 10 10. and by one feast he vnderstandeth all and so must bee vnderstoode all that followeth in this verse Verse 4. For this vz. to sing reioyce and to vse musicall instruments is testimony of thankfulnesse as also the obseruation of feasts is a statute vz. that God himselfe hath appointed as appeareth Exodus 23 ver 14 15 c sée also Numb 28. and 29. chap. almost thorow out for Israell vz. to obserue and kéepe and a law of the God of Iaakob i. a law which he that is the God of Iaakob hath published Verse 5. He vz. God set this i. ordeined and appointed this kind of seruice worship as verse 4. of this Psalme in Ioseph i. amongst the Israelites putting Ioseph the father of Ephraim and Manasses two excellent Tribes for all the tribes and this he doth as I suppose for two causes not only because that Iosephs stock was counted the chéefe before that Iudah was preferred because hée was the means that al their fathers were maintained in Egipt in the time of the famine but also because they had the largest possessions in the whole land of Canaan as appeareth Iehosh chap. 16. and 17 for a testimony i. in stéede of a testimony witnes vnto them how he would be serued when he this worde he may be referred eyther to God or to the people but I rather refer it to God who is sayde to come out of the land of Egipt not only in the person of his people but also because he brought them thence in a mighty hande and outstretched arme manifesting in the same his mighty power where I hearde a language that I vnderstoode not i. in which place vz. of Egipt I was a straunger for this is a spéech vsuall ynough in the scriptures to note and signifye a stranger by and this sodaynly altering the person which also would be marked from the third to the first must be vnderstood of God not that god knewe not their tongues or vnderstood not their language for he knoweth all things but he sheweth to the end he might testifye his good will that his peoples wantes were as his owne and all this he doth to the end he might amplify the benefite of their deliueraunce which was so much the greater by how much it is verye gréeuous to remaine amongst those whose lips and language we vnderstande not Ver. 6. I vz. the Lord haue withdrawne his shoulder from the burthen i. from most hard bondage of which see Exodus 1 14. and chap. 6. ver 9. and he nameth the word shoulder because men commonly carry burdens vpon it and his hands haue left the pots i. the making of pots of earthlye claye and by making of pots which was one péece of their slauerye hee vnderstandeth all the rest as setting vp of buildinges making of Tyle or Bricke gathering of Strawe sée Exodus 5. verse 4 5 6 7 c. Sée also Exodus 1. verse 11 and 12. Verse 7. Thou calledst i. prayedst vz. vnto me in affliction i. in the time of thy trouble and oppression or when thou wast afflicted of others Sée Exodus 2 23. and I deliuered thée vz. out of that hard bondage wherein thou wast and marke howe hee speaketh of the people as of one person because they were all but one bodye and aunswered thée i. shewed the testimonies and signes of my fauour in graunting thée thy requestes in the secrete of the thunder i. after a secrete and wonderfull fashion but yet in suche sorte notwithstanding that they had very manifest signes by which they knew that GOD succoured them some referre to that which is written Exodus 14 24. but I take it more generallye I prooued thée i. by experience I knew
i. declare by some one signe or other whatsoeuer pleaseth thée that thou wilt bee good and mercifull vnto mee that they which hate mee vz. without a cause may sée it i. plainely perceiue acknowledge and confesse the same and bee ashamed vz. in themselues and of that which they haue purposed against mee séeing that I haue not without cause trusted in thee because thou O Lorde vz. onely and no other hast holpen mee vz. out of all my daungers and distresses and comforted mée vz. in the time of miserie and trouble Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth that the more our néed misery wretchednes is the greater occasion we haue with earnestnes spéed to repayre vnto God by prayer Ver. 2. Teacheth that vnlesse God kéepe vs we shal vtterly perish also that we ought to haue a stedfast trust in Gods mercy and goodnes Verse 3. Teacheth vs importunity in prayer and not to leaue of though God graunt not our requests at the first also that in our prayers wee must flée to Gods mercy onely and not to any thing in our selues Ver. 4. Teacheth vs that vnlesse God make vs ioyfull wée can neuer bée rightly glad also that the hart as wel as the mouth must consent in prayer or else our prayers are nothing Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that Gods mercy rightly considered and felt is an excellent spurre to prouoke vs to prayer Ver. 6. Teacheth that God onely is to be prayed vnto Ver. 7. Teacheth vs in our afflictions to runne vnto God and to comfort our selues in this that if he haue once heard vs he wil heare vs againe Ver. 8. Expresseth the vanity of al idoles images whatsoeuer Ver. 9. Setteth forth Gods power in all and ouer all so that none is exempted from it Ver. 10. Is a plaine proofe of the vnitye of the godhead Ver. 11. Sheweth that vnlesse God do teach vs what is good we are vtterly blinde also that vnlesse he hold vs in obedience and feare of his maiesty we shall easily decline and runne aside Ver. 12. Teacheth vs not onely to cary with vs a purpose to prayse the Lorde but also vnfeignedly and continually to doe it Ver. 13. Teacheth that then God worketh the deliueraunce of his when there séemeth otherwise no way for them Verse 14. Doeth not onely set out the mischieuous mindes of proude and outragious persons but also declareth the fountaine of all their sinnes vz. forgetfulnesse and contempt of god Ver. 15. Is the same almost with verse 5. of this Psalm and is a verse of great comfort as in many respectes so namely in this that it setteth before vs not onely Gods goodnes but also the faithfull and assured perfourmaunce of all his promises Ver. 16 Teacheth vs that Gods fauourable and louing countenance is the onely matter of mirth strength and deliueraunce to his seruants Ver. 17. Sheweth that in the deliuery and safe kéeping of Gods Saintes not onely Gods glory and power is manifested the good are thereby conforted but also the enemies confounded and ashamed Psalme 87 THe whole Psalme it selfe consisting only of seuen verses Di. is nothing else but a commendation of gods Church which is commended sometimes of the firmity and stedfastnes therof Ver. 1. Sometimes of gods loue towards it Ver. 2. Sometimes of the glorious report that it hath abroade euen among the enemies therof Ver. 3.4 Sometimes for the fruitfulnes of it Verse 5. Sometimes of the delight and comfort that the faithful haue in it Ver. 7. And sometimes for one cause sometimes for an other which the diligent reader may obserue The title a Psalme and song sée Psalm 48. Se. in the title committed to the sonnes of Korah this is sundry tymes expounded before Ver. 1. God layde his foundations i. GOD established and set his Church Sée 1. Tim. 3.15 where the Church is called the pillar and ground of trueth among the holy mountaines hee calleth the mountaines holy not that they were so of them selues but because God that was holy had chosen them to a holy ende and it is not to be doubted but that he speaketh here of the lande of Canaan which was a hilly Countrey sée Exod. 15. ver 13.17 and amongst other parts of that land the hil of Sion where the ark was placed in the days of Dauid and the hil Moriah where the temple was builded by Salomon and so by consequent also of the whole City of Ierusalem sée Psal 125.1.2 Verse 2. The Lord loueth vz. with a singular and wonderfull loue the gates of Sion i. the meanest places of his temple or tabernacle some thinke that he putteth Sion for Ierusalem and these wordes gates for the inclosure thereof whatsoeuer it bée this we are to note that this loue of God procéeded from his frée election and not from any worthines of the place aboue al the habitants of Iaakob i. aboue al the places wherin Iaakob and his posterity dwelt the reason because in Ierusalem where his tabernacle and temple was he gaue most manifest declaration of his power presence and goodnes Sée Deut. 12. ver 5. c. Ver. 3. Glorious thinges i. thinges tending to thy great glory and prayse are spoken of thée vz. both by them that appertaine vnto thee and by others as may appeare by the verses following O city of God i. O Ierusalem which is called Gods Citie of God because the Lorde chose it as a peculiar place for him to dwell in Sée Psalm 48. almost throughout and Matth. 5.35 Verse 4. I will make mention this the Prophet speaketh in the name of the Church as it were noting the inlargement and increase thereof q.d. by occasion of them that shal be ioyned vnto me I will speake of them to those that are already knit to me of Rahab i. of Egipt putting some part of the land for the whole and the people therein conteined Sée Psalm 89.10 also Isaiah 51.9 and Babel i. the people inhabiting Babel the City of Assyria of which sée Gene. 10.10 among thē that knowe mee i amongest them that allowe of mée and are become my familiar friendes and Citizens as it were behold q.d. looke vpon a wonderfull thing Palestina i. the people inhabiting that Countrey called Philistines sée Psal 83.7 Tyrus i. the people dwelling in that citie Ethiopia i. the people possessing that land vz. shall bee ioyned vnto mee for hee meaneth that the people which were enemies and strangers to Gods people shal be ioyned vnto them and become Citizens of the same City there vz. in the bosome of the church as it were is he i. euery one of the faithful people conuerted vnderstanding by one al of the like sort borne vz. by a newe kind of birth and that according to the eternal purpose and counsel of God Ver. 5. And of Sion i. of the Church of God it shal be said vz. to her great prayse and commendation many are borne in her vz. by spirituall regeneration and newe birth and he vz. this also
of the Lorde i. shal tremble at his great power and maiesty though not with the reuerent and right feare thereof which his owne children only haue and al the kings of the earth q.d. this feare shal not onely sease the heartes of their common people but euen of their greatest and mightiest princes thy glory i. they shal feare thy maiesty glory which doest such great and glorious thinges for thy people Verse 16. When the Lorde hee noteth the time of the trembling of the kings and people shall builde vp Sion i. his Church vz. decayed and cast downe hee vseth this worde Sion generally for the place of Gods seruice because that sometime the arke of couenant was placed there and shal appeare in his glory i. shall shewe himselfe glorious and triumphant which shall no doubt be comfortable to his children and feareful to his enemies Ver. 17. And shal turne vz. his gracious and louing countenance meaning by this speach yéelding or graunting vnto the prayer i. to the harty supplications and requests of the desolate i. of thē that are forsaken of all whom though they stand in néede of euery mans helpe yet no man helpeth The worde properly signifieth a kinde of shrubble which groweth in vntilled places as a brier or such like by which he noteth also the people that were in the captiuity of Babylon as in a deserte and wilde place and not despise their prayer vz. which they make vnto him in their affliction hee speaketh one thing twise as it were of which sundry times before and not as though god did euer despise the supplications of his poore seruants Ver. 18. This vz. gracious hearing of his poore seruants prayers and deliuery of them out of captiuity shal be written vz. as an excellent thing and worthy of continual remembrance for the generation to come vz. that they therby may be instructed both of the power of God and his faithfulnes and trueth in performing his promises and the people vz. of Israel and Iudah which shalbée created i. which shal returne out of the captiuity of Babylon which hée compareth to be a second birth or creation as it were because they séemed therin to bée as dead Sée Ezech 37. from ver 1. to the ende of the 14. of which also for the greatnes of it it is sundry times sayd in the Prophets It shalbée no more sayd the Lord liueth that brought the people out of Egypt but that brought the people from the lande of the North shall prayse the Lorde vz. for his great goodnes and mercy towardes them Ver. 19. For hée hath looked downe vz. vppon the great outrage of his enemies and the wonderfull affliction of his people from the height of his sanctuary i. euen from the very heauens as hée séemeth to expound it euen in this verse out of the heauē which is the throne of his maiesty did the Lorde behold the earth i. not onely the earth it self but specially and chiefly men inhabiting the earth and amongest the rest his owne people as may appeare in the verses following Verse 20. That hee might heare vz. and so take pity of the mourning i. the sighings gronings and lamentable cryes of the prisoner i. of the prisoners one number put for an other meaning those that were bound and helde as captiues in Babilon and deliuer vz. out of daunger distresse and all manner of feare the children of death i. them that were at deaths doore or appointed to death as it were Sée Psal 79.11 Ver. 21. That they vz. so deliuered noting also the end why god giueth deliueraunce vnto his seruants may declare i. set out and publish and that both by word and déede the name of the Lord i. his power maiesty goodnes c. as Psal 21.1 in Sion i. in his Church and his prayse i. the prayse which is due vnto him for the same not that any is able to prayse him sufficiently for his power and goodnes in Ierusalem i. in the Church as before Sion and Ierusalem being the principall places of his worshippe put for his whole Church and the publike assemblies and congregations thereof sée Psal 2.6 Ver. 22. When the people vz. which are nowe in captiuity and dispersed abroad shal be gathered together vz. to serue the Lorde in these places and after that sort which he himselfe hath prescribed and the kingdomes vz. of the earth meaning hereby the calling of other people besides the Iewes to serue the Lord vz. according to the prescript rule of his word The Prophet noteth two thinges specially in this verse the one is the returning of the people out of Babylon the other is the calling of the Gentiles to the religion and seruice of God Ver. 23. He i. the Lorde abated vz. by outwarde and inward afflictions my strength i. whatsoeuer séemed excellent in mee putting one excellent thing for many in the way vz. wherein I walked meaning the daies and course of his life as may appeare by that which followeth in this verse and shortened vz. in mine owne iudgment and as I supposed for otherwise in respect of God our dayes are certainely numbred my dayes i. the dayes of my life Ver. 24. And I sayd vz. in that great affliction and griefe O my God take mee not away vz. out of this life q.d. let mee not vanishe awaye but shewe mée thy fauour in continuing my life in the middest of my dayes i. before I come to the full ende of my race and all this and that in the former verse the Prophet speaketh not onely in his owne person but in the name of the rest of the faithful thy yéeres indure from generation to generation i. thou continuest and abidest for euer and art alwayes one make mee therefore q.d. like vnto thy selfe Verse 25. Thou vz. O GOD hast afore tyme vz. in the beginning layde the foundation of the earth i. created and mainteined the earth and all thinges therein hee sheweth Gods eternitie because hee was before all thinges created and was the maker of all thinges whatsoeuer and the heauens vz. and all thinges therein conteined are the worke of thine handes i. thou hast made them handes attributed to GOD for our vnderstanding sake Verse 26. They vz. the heauen the earth and all thinges therein shall perish vz. not in respect of their substance but in respect of their qualities sée Isaiah 65.17 Isaiah 66.22 Reuelat. 21.1 2. Peter 3.12.13 and this perishing hée calleth afterwardes in this verse a chaunging but thou shalt indure vz. frée from any alteration or chaunge as Iames 1.17 and that for euer and euer hée here commendeth Gods eternity by comparison euen they all q.d. not one of them accepted shall waxe olde as doeth a garment i. shall through continuaunce of tyme decay as doeth a garment as a vesture shalt thou chaunge them this is a metaphor taken from men who changing their garmentes from worse to better of which chaunge of the creatures the Apostle
thée i. adorneth and compasseth thée about as the crowne is a testimony of glory and honour and compasseth the whole head round about with mercyes and compassions i. with great abundaunce and varietye of mercies which appeareth both in that hée vseth two woordes signifiying almost both one thing and also because hée putteth the latter in the plurall number Verse 5. Which satisfieth the mouth i. which filleth thine affection and appetyte Sée Psalm 81.10 hee séemeth to alude to men which take great licence to themselues in eating and drinking meaning that God will abundauntly satisfie vs and giue vs all that wee can wish with good thinges i. with all manner of good thinges so that nothing should bee wanting and thy youth i. the dayes and times of thine age yea euen though thou bee olde yet shall it bée as youth is renued vz. through the speciall blessing and goodnes of GOD as the Egles which liue long and dye not but through want of abilitie to take in their meate as Aristotle and Plinie both shewe Verse 6. The Lorde vz. himselfe executeth vz. both in word and déed specially when men are negligent righteousnesse and iudgement i. suche sentence as are righteous and iuste Sée Psalm 97.2 to all vz. of his children and seruauntes that are oppressed vz. by wicked and vngodly men Verse 7. Hée vz. God the Lorde made his wayes knowne by wayes hee vnderstandeth not onely the deliuerance of the people out of Egipt and all that hée did for them till hée brought them into the lande of Canaan but euen his whole lawe vnto Moses vz. first and before others and afterwardes by him to all his people and his workes i. the excellent and noble workes which hée did and that for their sakes vnto the children of Israel vz. which hee had chosen to bee a peculiar people to himselfe Verse 8. The Lorde is full of compassion and mercye vz. to them that come vnto him slow to anger vz. though men by their wickednesses prouoke him much thereto and of great kindnes vz. towardes them that turne vnto him this sentence seemeth to bée taken out of Exodus 34.6 where the nature of GOD is so farre set foorth vnto vs as is profitable for vs to knowe and séemeth to bée the same with Nehe. 9 17. Psalm 86.15 Verse 9. Hee will not alway chyde vz. with men and specially with his children neither keepe his anger for euer vz. towardes them Sée Leuitic 19.18 Ver. 10. Hee hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes i. hee hath not punished vs according to the greatnesse and grieuousnesse of our sinnes nor regarded vs vz. in his iustice and iudgements heare wée sée what rewardes wee may looke for from the Lorde in respect of our selues according to our iniquities vz. committed against him and our brethren Verse 11. For as high as the heauen is aboue the earth q.d. looke what distaunce there is betwéene heauen and earth which is very great and wonderfull yea infinite as it were so great is his mercye i. the mercy which hée sheweth for if hee had it in himselfe and powred it not foorth vpon others it were to litle purpose towardes them that feare him vz. with an vnfeigned heart putting the feare of GOD for care conscience and obedience to his trueth Verse 12. As farre as the East is from the West vz. which wee knowe to be so farre asunder that they shall neuer come together so farre yea and further to if further possible can bée hee meaneth by this comparison that the Lorde hath vtterly remoued our iniquities from vs hath hee remooued our sinnes i. the sinnes that wee haue committed from vs i. who were the doers thereof Verse 13. As a Father vz. earthly or naturall hath compassion on his children notwithstanding that manye times they doe prouoke him to displeasure so yea and in farre greater measure by howe much GOD is greater then man and his afflictions more certaine and sure hath the Lorde compassion i. hée vouchsaueth them mercye notwithstanding they deserue it not on them that feare him Sée verse 11. of this Psalme Verse 14. For hee knoweth vz. by manye degrees better then wée our selues whereof wée bée made i. of howe brittle a matter wée are created for so much doeth the Hebrewe woorde import which sense also maye bee gathered by that whiche followeth in this verse hee remembreth though men many times forget it that wee are but dust and that into the same wee shall returne Sée Genesis 3.19 Verse 15. The dayes of man i. the course of his yéeres and age or the tyme of his life are as grasse vz. which is cutte downe withered and quickely consumed hee meaneth by this speach the breuitye and shortnesse of mans lyfe as a flowre of the fielde so florisheth hée i. hee is nowe florishing and by and by withered and note that hée speaketh of a flowre of the fielde rather then of a garden flowre because that fielde flowres are more subiect to stormes tempest heate c. then the garden which haue more shelture and couerture Verse 16. For the winde vz. sent from GOD meaning by wynde which is one meane to marre the beautye of blossomes and flowres all other whatsoeuer goeth ouer it vz. with violence and so â—ppeth it either with extreme colde as the Easternewynde or with partching heate as the Westerne wynde and it is gone vz. out of mens sight hée meaneth that it is decayed and the place thereof i. the grounde wherein it grewe shall knowe it no more vz. in mans iudgement meaning also by the woorde it the selfe same and not any other of the same kynde In these two last verses hée doeth nothing else but by a similitude sette out the shortnesse and vanitye of mans lyfe which is no better then an hearbe or grasse subiect to cutting downe weather wynde and such lyke Verse 17. But the louing kindnesse of the Lorde vz. towardes his sonnes and seruauntes indureth for euer and euer the reason is because those whome the Lorde loueth hee loueth for euer vppon them i. playnelye testified towardes them and plentifullye powred foorth vppon them that feare him Sée verse 11. and 13. of this Psalme and his righteousnesse i. his iust and faythfull kéeping of his promise and the succour and ayde by which hée maynteyneth and preserueth his vppon childrens children i. to all posteritye Verse 18. Vnto them that kéepe vz. in their behauiour and conuersation his couenaunt i. his Lawe which is called a couenaunt because it conteyneth the conditions of bargayne as it were betwéene GOD and his people and thinke vppon them vz. in their déepe thoughts and secret heart his commandementes i. the matters which hée hath commaunded to doe them vz. in their outwarde conuersation and dealing Verse 19. The Lorde hath prepared his throne in heauen i. hée hath a kingdome and exerciseth the same euen in heauen and yet that letteth not but that his iurisdiction ruleth our all vz. what
withholding thy goodnesse from them as verse 29 of this Psalme but also by propagation of séede and ofspring they are as it were anew thorow the strength of thy commaundement and blessing Gen. 1. in sundry places created and thou renuest the face of the earth i. though thou séeme to man by reason of the death which falleth vpon creatures to be a wonderful decay of earthly creatures yet by raising vp the like in their roomes vpon the vpper part of the earth thou giuest as it were a new face and countenaunce agayne vnto the same Verse 31. Glory be to the Lord for euer after the particular description of Gods power and prouidence in his creatures he bursteth forth to Gods prayse for the same and wisheth as it were that both he and all men would yéeld continuall thankes and prayse vnto him therefore let the Lord reioyce i. take singular delight and pleasure in his workes i. in the workes and creatures whiche hée hath made The Prophet addeth vnto his former praysing of God for his power and goodnesse a praier to the Lord for the continuance of the same towards his creatures I know others expound it otherwise but me thinketh this is a simple sence Verse 32. He vz. God looketh vz. with his angry countenāce as it were on the earth i. on the world it selfe and all things therein contayned and it trembleth vz. for feare and reuerence of his maiestie hee toucheth the mountaynes and they smoke q.d. the Lorde néedeth not to doe much to testifie his wrath for euen the very Mountaynes by touching them shall burne and consume All this is nothing else but a consideration of the greate power and Maiestie of God of which sée more Psalme 18 7 8 9. c. Verse 33. I will sing vnto the Lord i. I will prayse him pray vnto him and serue him for hée putteth one part of Gods seruice for the whole q.d. Euen the greatnesse of his power and maiestie shall be one meane to draw me on to the seruice and obedience of him and that not for a small time onely but all my life long I will prayse my God while I liue this is the same with that which went before the doubling of it noteth the resolute purpose whiche the Prophet had to performe this his vow Verse 34. Let my wordes be acceptable vnto him hee promised before prayse and thanksgiuing and now he desireth that that seruice maye be pleasaunt in his sight I vnderstand by wordes not only the words of his prayers though them chéefely indéede but all his other spéeches whatsoeuer sée Psalme 19 14. I will reioyce in the Lorde q.d. I will remooue all my thoughts from the pleasures and profits of this life to the ende I may staye my selfe vpon a spirituall ioy and contentment in God only Verse 35. Lette the sinners i. the notorious wicked men sée Psalme 1. ver 1.5 be consumed vz. vtterly lest they should infect others stay from the the godly abundance of graces blessings out of the earth vz. wherein they dwell and thus he prayeth agaynst the vngodly whom the Lord had sealed vp agaynst the day of his wrath and the wicked vz. men of the worlde meaning by wicked men them that foster and foode themselues in wickednesse till there bee no more vz. of them left vpon the earth he desireth an vtter taking awaye of the vngodlye both of their persons and memories O my soule prayse thou the Lorde sée verse 1. of this Psalme where you haue the same wordes In these wordes hée prouoketh himselfe to prayse the Lorde as in these wordes following prayse yée the Lorde he prouoketh the rest of the godlye and faythfull to doe the like And thus muche for the sence of this Psalme the doctrines follow in order Verse 1 teacheth vs to stir vp our selues to the prayses of God De. it teacheth vs also that Gods power and glorye doth after a sort craue the same at our handes Verse 2 sheweth that euen in Gods creatures we haue euident glasses wherein to beholde his Maiesty power c. the selfe same thing doth ver 3 and and many other verses in this Psalme teach Verse 3 teacheth that God by his power ruleth the waters the cloudes the windes c. the same doctrine doeth verse 4 deliuer Verse 5 teacheth that whatsoeuer firmity the earth hath it hath it from the Lord and not of it self Verse 6 7 teach that neither the waters nor any other creature can go further then the Lord appoynteth them and that his onely word without any déede as it were is sufficient to staye the rage of them all Verse 8 and 9. teach the selfe same doctrine sée Prouerbes 8.29 Verse 10.11 teach that all blessings whatsoeuer yea and the abundaunce of them come from the Lorde only Verse 12 teacheth that God hath made his creatures not only profitable for man but one of them ioyfull and delightful to another Verse 13 teacheth that God can by moysture as a meane make barren places plentifull also that there is no place of the world wherein there is not to be séene abundaunce of his blessinges though in some places more then in other some as must be confessed Verse 14 teacheth what care God hath ouer his creatures in giuing them all thinges necessarye for the mayntainaunce of life Verse 15 setteth out Gods large liberalitie who giueth vs all thinges of pleasure as well as of profite contrary to the assertion of Anabaptistes who would haue vs vse nothing for necessitie only Verse 16 teacheth that which god doth farre excelleth all done by arte or witte of man Verse 17 18. shewe that God hath made all creatures one of them to be delightfull and profitable to an other sée before verse 12. Verse 19 doth not onely expresse Gods power and prouidence in the Sunne and Moone but their obedience also to that course sette them which shoulde teache vs to walke with care and conscience before him Verse 20.21.22.23 set forth Gods great care for man and beast who hath distributed to eyther of them times for their labour and times for their rest whiche also teacheth vs to beware that we turne not the day into night nor the nighte into daye withoute some verye speciall and vrgent occasion Verse 24 teacheth vs that the variety and plentye of GOD his creatures shoulde not onlye draw vs into a maruayling at them and their Creator but also into a praysing of him for the same Verse 25 teacheth vs that euen the Sea as well as the Lande doth lyuely expresse the greatnesse of GOD his power and goodnesse The same in particularitye doth verse 26. whiche verse 25 did generallye Verse 27 doth not onely set out the largenesse of Gods prouidence which stretcheth it selfe to all creatures but also it teacheth vs with patience to attende for euerye thing necessarye from the Lordes hande in due season Verse 28 teacheth that Gods frée and only liberalitye is the very
aduāced Ioseph Israel i. Iaakob al his people for he putteth the principal man of the familye for the whole came to Egipt vz. not only to sée Ioseph but also to tary abide there sée Gen. 46.1 c. Iaakob i. he and his posterity was a stranger i. dwelt soiorned as a stranger in the land of Ham i. in Egipt which is called the land of Ham because they came of Ham Noahs secōd son as appeareth Gen. 10.6 sée before Psal 78 51. ver 27. of this Psal Ver. 24. And for this word read where then the sence wil be more plaine he i. God increased vz. thorow his especial blessing his people vz. of Israel excéedingly vz. into an infinit multitude number in respect of them wch went down into Egipt and made them stronger vz. both in power might then their oppressors i. then the Egyptians who oppressed them by reason of their multitude increasing of thē stood in feare of thē sée for this Exod. 1.7 8 c. Ver. 25. He vz. God turned their harts i. the harts of the posterity of the king and the people of Egipt as appeareth also Exod. 1.8 c. to that his people wheras their predecessors loued fauored the and to deale craftily he meaneth by this spéech the subtil wicked cruel deuises that the Egiptians had to kéepe the people of Israel vnder mentioned Exod. 1. ver 8 10 11 c. with his seruants i. with those whom the Lord had chosen called to serue him These spéeches in outward shew séeme to make god the author and cause of sinne but we must note that the Prophet meaneth not any such thing thereby but to declare that in that the Egiptians hated and dealt cruelly with the children of Israel it was not don without Gods prouidēce counsel yet so that the roote séed of malice corruption and cruelty was wholy in the Egyptians and that no péece of fault could therfore be ascribed to God Ver. 26. Then i. when the Egiptians did deale so wickedly and cruelly agaynst his people sent he vz. of mercy and goodnes pittying their misery Moses his seruaunt i. that excellent man whom he had appoynted to serue his turne in the deliuery of his people and Aaron whom he had chosen vz. to go with Moses and to be his mouth in that great busines sée for this matter Exod. chapt 3 4 thorowout Ver. 27. They i. Moses Aaron shewed vz. by the power that God had giuen them and according to his commaundement among them i the Egiptians and the Israelits both but chéefely the Egiptians the message of his signes euident demonstrations and proofes that the signs and wonders wch they wrought they did by his power not otherwise and wonders i. wonderful things meaning that they did them a particular resitall wherof followeth in the next verses in the land of Ham i. in Egipt sée before verse 23 of this Psalme Verse 28. Hée i. God true it is that it may be referred to Moses or God but I rather vnderstand it of God without whom Moses could do nothing and by whom alone Moses was inabled to do that which he did sent darkenesse vz. amongst the Egyptians and made it darke i. made the whole land darke so that nothing in it could behold any light sée this story Exod. 10.21 where you shall finde it to bee one of the last plagues though here the Psalmist reckon it vp first by which we sée that the holy Ghost is not greatly curious of order and they i. as some think Moses and Aaron othersome vnderstand it of the signs and wonders were not disobediēt to his cōmission i. they did perform those things which he had enioined and laid vpon thē It is not much material whether we refer it to the men or to the signes but I had rather refer it to the wonders themselues q.d. They did readily performe that which god had enioyned they were not vneffectual but were performed euen as Moses had sayd Ver. 29. Hee i. God by the ministery of his seruant Moses turned their waters i. the waters of the Egiptians into blood so that they could not drink thē and slew their fish vz. which were in the waters sée Exod. 7 20 21 Ver. 30. Their lād i. Egipt brought forth frogs vz. in great abūdance and multitude and that by gods specyal appointmēt euē in their kings chambers q.d. there was no place frée from thē Kings is here a word of the plurall number whiche we must not vnderstande as though Egypt had many Kinges for wee knowe it had but one but he meaneth thereby eyther the King and the Nobles of his kingdome who ioyned with him were as it were little Kinges or else the Kinges children who were nourished and brought vp in the hope of the kingdome Sée this more largely set out Exodus 8 verse 5 6 c. Ver. 31. Hee spake q.d. The Lord made not much adoe to plague Egypt for euen as soone as hee spake any thing it was performed and there came vz. immediately being sente from God swarmes of Flyes i. wonderfull abundaunce so that men could not say it was naturall and the word which we turne swarmes of Flies doth in déede signifye troupes of all sortes of creatures which serued also to make the myracle so much the more straunge and lice vz. hee sente and that in greate store and aboundaunce in all their quarters i. in all the quarters of the land of Egypt sée Exodus 8 verse 17 c. vnto the end of the chapeer Verse 32. he gaue them haile for raine i. wheras by reason of the drouth of the country they did much desire rain the Lord gaue them in stéed therof terrible fearful hail and flames of fire vz. sent frō heauen in their land i made manifest in the land wherin they dwelt sée Exod. 9 23 24 c. Ver. 33. He smote their vines also their fig trées vz. with that haile thunder lightning c. sent from heauen and brake down vz. euen to péeces the trées in their coasts i. the trées that were in al the coasts and quarters of their country fée Exod. 9 25. Ver. 34. He spake i. so soone as he spake sée verse 31 of this Psalme and the grashoppers came vz. in great number sent from him caterpillers innumerable vz. to destroy the fruit that the Grashoppers had left Ver. 35. And did eate vp vz. the grashoppers caterpillers did euen consume and deuour al the gras i. al the gréen and flourishing things that were sprouted forth in their land i. in the land of Egipt and deuoured the fruit of their ground i. did also consume and wast the fruit that their ground yéelded sée Exod. 10 13 14 c. Ver. 36. Hée smote also vz. in his wrath and anger and that not with pain and sicknesse only but euen with death all the first born in the land
vz. both of man and beast sée Psal 136.6 also Psa 78.51 Exod. 12.29 euen the beginning of al their strēgth this is another Peraphrasis of their first born or eldest and they are so named because their parents are of principal force then in the beginning of them and their force doth specially then appeare sée Gen. 49.3 Psal 78.51 Sée this story Exod. 12.29.30 c. Ver. 37. He i. the Lord by the ministery of his seruaunt Moses brought them vz. the people of Israell forth vz. out of the lande of Egipt and that with a mighty hand and outstretched arm also i. euen as wel as punished the Egiptians I suppose that the word may note the time whē god performed it vz. after that he had plagued and punished the Egiptians with siluer golde vz. euen as it were faden they had such great abundance of it which they tooke from the Egiptians sée Exod. 12.35 36. and there was none féeble among their tribes q.d. they came al out of Egipt safe and found frée from al not only outward but inward hinderaunces as the Lord had promised Exod. 11.7 Ver. 38. Egypt i. the Egiptians putting the land for the inhabitants was glad at their departure vz. from amongst them for the feare of them i. of the Israelites meaning that God then had made thē terrible and fearful to their enemies who but a little before did cruelly oppres them had fallen vppon them i. had seased taken hold of and possessed the harts of the Egiptians sée Exod. 11.8 also Exod. 12.33 Verse 39. He spread a cloud vz. in the day time to bee a couering vz. vnto his people of Israel and that to kéepe them from the heate of the sunne and fire i. a piller of fire to giue light in the night vz. to lead them in the way that they went sée Exod. 13 21. Ver. 40. They i. the Israelites asked vz. of god and that temptingly as Psal 78.18 and he broughte quailes i. most dainty delicate things so gracious was God vnto them and hee filled thē with the bread of heauen i. with Māna wch is called the breade of heauen because it came from the Firmament sée for this Exodus 16. thorow out also Psal 78. verse 23.24 c. Ver. 41. He opened vz. by his almighty power the rock vz. in the Wildenesse he putteth rock for rocks for this miracle was performed more then once as may appeare Exod. 17 6 Num. 20 11 by diligent cōparing of these two places together the waters flowed out vz. in great abundance and ran in the dry places vz. where there was no water before like a riuer i. in great plenty abundance so that both men beasts were satisfied therwith as Num. 20 11. sée also Psalme 78 15 16. Verse 42. For he remembred vz. euen to performe it sée verse 8. of this Psalme his holy promise vz. which he had made the promise is called holy both because it came frō him that is holines it self and also because it conteineth holy things to Abraham his seruant sée ver 6 of this Psal Now he made him this promise when he promised to bring his séed into the land of Canaan after 400 yeres sée Gen. 15 13 c. also Iosh 24.4 5 c. Ver. 43. And he vz. God brought forth vz. after that he had plagued the Egyptians his people vz. of Israel with ioy vz. both on the behalfe of the Egiptians who were glad to be rid of them and of the Israelites who reioyced to be set free from bondage and his chosen i. that people whom he had chosen with gladnes i. with mirth and singing the truth of this appeareth Exo. 15.1 c. also Num. 33 3 Ver. 44. And gaue them vz. fréely and of his own accord and goodnes and that for an inheritaunce as ver 11. of this Psalme the lands of the heathen i. the lands that the heathen did inhabite and dwell in vnderstanding by Heathen the Amonites Hittites other people that dwelt in the lande of Canaan And they vz. the Israelites tooke vz. vnto themselues the labours of the people i. those things that the people by great labour and trauayle had got vnto themselues in possession i. to bée a possession or inheritance for thē Ver. 45. That they vz. the Israelites might kéepe vz. with al their harts his statutes i. Gods cōmandements obserue vz. in thought word déed his lawes i. those thinges which by his laws he commaunded them to do So that here he noteth the end wherfore God gaue them those graces prayse ye the Lord sée the last verse of Psalm 104. Verse 1 teacheth vs to prayse God for his mercies Do. secondly to ioine with our praises praier vnto him for the things we want thirdly to indeuor that other as well as we may come to the knowledge of his maiestie and power Verse 2 teacheth vs both with hart and mouth to glorify our god that this should be one péece of our spéech to set forth his wonderful workes Ver. 3 teacheth vs that we can not rightly reioyce in any thing but in the power and goodnesse of God it teacheth vs also that none can in déed reioyce but those that loue fear the Lord Ver. 4 teacheth vs to ioin our selues to the publike assēblies of gods church for there the Lord is to be found also it teacheth vs the doctrine of perseuerance that we should neuer be weary of well doing Ver. 5 teacheth vs that in our meditations it is good for vs to ioyn Gods works his word together because al the life light that the works haue they haue it frō the word Ver. 6 teacheth that chéefly and only indéed it appertaineth to the faithful their séede to praise God Ver. 7 teacheth the faithful to comfort themselues in this that God is their God that they are vnder his gouernment Ver. 8 sheweth that this is very comfortable to Gods children that he thinketh alwaies vpon his mercies promised them to perform the same Ver. 9 10 setteth out Gods great goodnes who for the strengthning of our faith in the truth of his promises doth not only oftētimes repeat confirm the same but as it were tieth himself vnto vs by an oth Ver. 11 teacheth that whatsoeuer benefits either outward or inwarde God bestoweth vpō his seruants he giueth thē of his méere liberality goodnes only Ver. 12 teacheth vs that God respecteth not the person of men nor their multitude Ver. 13 sheweth that Gods children are vpō the earth strāgers pilgrims Ver. 14 teacheth that God doth neuer destitute his in any distres Ver. 15 teacheth how deare Gods children are vnto him and what care he hath ouer them so that he wil not haue them so much as once touched Ver. 16 teacheth that God many times euen by outward things exerciseth the faith of his dearest seruants Verse 17 teacheth that he doth not at any time for
those that are his but rather hee praieth the Lord to shew by effect that he hath care ouer him sée Genesis 8 1. O Lord vz. in whom alone I put my trust and therfore as a sure testimony thereof call vpon them with the fauour of thy people i. with that fauour that thou hast promised and art wont to shew to thy people he calleth that frée loue and mercy which God carieth towards his the fauour of his people visit vz. with mercy and goodnesse for to visit in this place is taken in the good parte euen for the accomplishment of Gods gracious promises towards his seruauntes sée Gen. 21.1 me vz. oppressed with mine own gréefe the gréefe of my people with thy saluation i. with gracious fauour deliuerance from thée so you haue had the word saluation sundry times vsed before namely Psal 3.8 ver 5. That I may sée vz. not only with my bodily and spiritual eyes but also possesse inioy sée Psal 34.12 fight put for inioying the felicity of thy chosen i. the blessednes and goodnes that thou bestowest vppon them whome thou hast chosen to thy self reioice in the ioy of thy people i. haue an occasion giuen me to reioyce as thy saints and seruaunts doe and glory vz. not in my selfe but in thée with thine inheritaunce i. with thy people whom thou hast elected an heritage to thy selfe for inheritance sée Psal 28.9 Ver. 6. We haue sinned vz. against thy Maiesty with our fathers i. as our fathers haue done also q.d. we they also haue sinned not as though they had both sinned at one time but that they were al culpable of sin against him vnderstanding by fathers al their ancestors we haue cōmitted vz. continally without ceasing iniquity done wickedly vz. both agaynst God man The Prophet cannot content himselfe with any words to set forth the notoriousnes of his own sins and the sins of his people Ver. 7. Our Fathers i. our ancestors as before ver 6. of this Psal vnderstood not i. did not rightly or wisely consider of thy wonders in Egipt i. those great works that thou diddest for their sake in that land neither remembred they vz. as they should haue don to haue prouoked thē to thankfulnes towards thée for the same the multitude of thy mereies vz. shewed euē frō the time of Abrahams calling vnto this present but speciallye those thinges that were done in Egipt before their eyes but rebelled vz. against thée at the sea euen at the red sea for the more assurance he nameth the sea And this may bée vnderstoode either of their rebellion Exod. 14.11 before they passed through the sea or else of their murmuring and rebellion after they came through the sea Exod. 16.2 c. q.d. they were no sooner passed the sea but immediatly they beganne to rebell or of both of them together Immanuel readeth it farre otherwise and giueth an other sense but methinketh this is playne Ver. 8. Neuerthelesse q.d. notwithstanding all their sinnes hee saued them i. hée deliuered them from daungers and distresse as sundry times before for his names sake i. because hee woulde not haue his maiesty goodnes and power ill spoken of amongest the Heathen that hée might make his power to bee knowne vz. thereby and that euen among all his and their enemies Ver. 9. And he rebuked the red sea he now prayseth and setteth out the power of God because that at his onely commaundement and will the sea gaue frée passage to his people for the word rebuke sée Psalm 104.7 and it was dried vp vp in that place through which the people had passage for otherwise the waters were as a wall vnto them on their right hande and on their left sée Exod. 14.21.22 and he led them vz. safely in the déepe vz. of the redde Sea meaning that God caried them betwéene two heapes of waters which waters gaue place vnto the Israelites by Gods appoyntment as if that the place it selfe had béene by nature dry sée Exod. 15.5 as in the wildernes i. as vpon the dry land in a safe and playne way Ver. 10. And he saued them i. deliuered them vz. the Israelites from the aduersaries hand i. from the power and force of them that pursued them with a deadly hatred meaning the Egiptians and deliuered them from the hande of the enemy i. set them frée from the power rage of the Egiptians counting them all but as one enemie because they were all of one heart and mynd to do mischiefe to Gods people Ver. 11. and the waters vz. of the red sea couered their oppressors i. ouer whelmed and drowned them so that not one of them was left vz. aliue to carry backe any tydinges Sée Exod. 14.28 Ver. 12. Then vz. when they had séene al these gret things beléeued they his words this is not spoken for their prayse but to amplifie the fault of their rebellion for that they continued not but immediatly fell to distrust and vnbelief and sang prayses vnto him vz. for his great mercies practised towardes them Sée the history of ver 9.10.11.12 in the 14. and 15. chapters of the booke of Exodus Ver. 13. But incontinently i. they were almost no sooner deliuered they forgate his workes vz. which he had done for them hee meaneth not by forgetting that the remembrance of them was vtterly rased out of all their myndes but that they had them not in that due and reuerent regarde they should haue had for the strengthening of their fayth sée for their sodaine chaunge Exod. 15 22.23 and wayted not vz. with patience for his coūsell i. for the thinges which in his eternall counsell he had purposed to bestow vpon them his purpose is to note that as they would not be gouerned by god suffering him to do all according to his good pleasure but woulde followe the deuises of their owne heads and hearts so they did it though the remēbraunce of gods benefits were fresh before them which circumstance aggrauated their sinne Ver. 14. But lusted with concupiscence by doubling the word the Prophet mindeth not onely to note the sinne of their lust but the very burning and rage of that sinne of theirs in the wildernes he noteth also the place for the more certainety of the story and tempted God in the desert to tempt God is in this place put for not staying themselues vppon Gods will but laying the raynes in their neckes and following their owne concupiscences to aske more of God then hee would giue them and when he speaketh of lusting tempting we must vnderstande that they did it more then once as may appeare Exod. 15.24 Exod. 16. throughout Exod. 17.2 c. Numb 11.1 Numb 20.3 c. Ver. 15. Then he gaue them their desire i. the things which they desired and demanded so gracious was God howsoeuer rebellious they were and sent leanenes into their soule i. into their body one part being put for an other or else
thus he sent leauenes into the soule i. he punisheth and that with pining away their whole man vnderstanding by a part the whole whatsoeuer it is the Prophet meaneth that God in such sort yéelded vnto the desire of this people that yet notwithstanding in the middest of his benefits he plagued and punished them for their sinne and transgression Ver. 16. They i. the people of Israel but specially Corah Dathan and Abiram Sée Num. 16.1.2 c. enuied Moses in the tents I suppose that the Prophet meaneth that these rebels did secretly murmure at Moses in their tents and that afterwards their rebellion and sins burst forth as at the noone tyde and Aaron the holy one of the Lord i. him whome the Lord had sanctified and separated to serue him in the ministery and Priesthood declaring also in déed that hée was holy Sée Numb 16.5.7 Ver. 17. Therefore i. for this their great sinne the earth opened vz. her mouth as it were and that by Gods appoyntment and swallowed vp Dathan vz. aliue and couered the company of Abiram i. he and all those that tooke part with him See Numb 16.31.32.33 Deut. 11.6 Ver. 18. And the fire vz. sent out from the presence of the Lord was kindled in their assembly i. began with Corahs cōpany the flame vz. of that fire sent from God burnt vp the wicked i. consumed them vtterly hée sheweth how they that tooke part with Korah were punished otherwise then Dathan and Abiram and their companies sée Numb 16.35 Ver. 19. They vz. the Israelites made a calfe i. caused a calfe to be made which they might worship in stéed of God in Horeb he noteth the place for the certaintie of the history and worshipped vz. with outward reuerence of the body and speach of the mouth the molten image of a calfe which they had caused Aaron to make in the absence of Moses sée Exod. 32. throughout Ver. 20. Thus i. by this means they turned vz. foolishly and wickedly their glory i. God himselfe who so long as they serued him onely was glorious vnto them but when they worshipped others besides him they were naked and laye open to their enemies Sée Exodus 32.25 The Prophet meaneth that they forsooke the true God who was their only glory and honour in déed into the similitude of a bullocke that eateth grasse hee noteth the grosenes of their idolatry not onely for that they worship somewhat besides the true God but for that also it was not a liuely and quicke thing sée Rom. 1.23 Verse 21. They forgate vz. quickly as before ver 13. of this Psalme God their sauiour i. he that had saued deliuered them from manifold dangers so you shal haue the word sauiour vsed 1. Tim. 4.10 which had done great things in Egipt vz. for them and their sake a short summe wherof you may sée psal 105.28.29 c. Ver. 22. Wonderous works in the land of Ham i. in Egipt as before psal 78.51 Psal 105.23.27 and feareful thinges vz. both to them and their enemies but specially to their enemies by the red Sea i. when they were at the sea passed through it I suppose that both in it and on this side of it and on the further side the Lord shewed terrible things for his peoples sake some particulars sée Exod. 14.21.24.25 Exod. 16. ver 1. c. Ver. 23. Therefore i. for these their great and horrible sinnes he mynded or as it is in the Hebrew text he said al commeth to one sense for Gods purpose is his word and his word is his purpose to vs ward alwayes prouided that we accuse not God either of inconstancy as though he had sodainly altered or changed his mind or of insufficiency as though he could not do that he woulde or of hypocrisie as though hee spake one thing ment another to destroy them vz. vtterly to haue left none but Moses as should appeare Exod. 32.10.31 c. had not Moses his chosen i. had not Moses whom hee had chosen to bée his ruler and leader of that people Sée Psalm 105.26 stood in the breach before him this is a metaphor taken from warrefare or battry meaning that Moses did so oppose himself against wrath by earnest and hearty prayer made on their behalfe that the Lorde woulde not destroy them euen as after a rupture or breache is made in the wall of a Citie or Towne those that are within runne immediatly to put backe them that woulde giue the assault Sée verse 30. of this Psalme concerning Phinehas also Ezech. 13.5 to turne away his wrath vz. ready to bée powred foorth vppon that people for their sinnes lest hee shoulde destroy them vz. vtterlye in that his great iudgement Verse 24. Also q.d. besides other signes they contemned i. not onely had not in right regarde but reuiled and spake euill of that pleasaunt lande vz. of Canaan which GOD had giuen and appoynted vnto them to the ende that therein they might bée nourished as in his fatherly lappe and haue as it were a gage of the heauenly inheritaunce and hee calleth it a pleasaunt or desirable lande because it abounded with all fruitfulnesse Sée Deutronomie 8.7 also Deutronomie 11.10 in which respect also it is called in scripture a lande that floweth with milke and hony and beléeued not his woorde i. the promises that hee had made them both for the goodnesse and possession of that land Sée for this history Numbers Chapters 13. and 14. throughout Ver. 25. But murmured vz. against GOD and his Seruauntes Moses Ioshua Caleb c. i. secretly and closely as before verse 16. of this Psalme yet so that this brake forth into an opē sinne as appeareth in the chapters before alleaged and hearkened not vz. to doe and perfourme for otherwise they coulde not chuse but heare that which the Lorde spake vnto them in that respect vnto the voyce of the Lord i. vnto Gods commaundement which is expressed Deut. 1.21 Ver. 26. Therefore vz. because they would not yéelde obedience vnto this his commandement he lifted vp his hand against them to lift vp the hande in the scripture is taken for swearing because it was a signe ceremony and gesture vsed in swearing Sée Gene. 14.22 Numb 14.30 Nehe. 9.15 and neuer vsed in the scripture so farreforth as I remember for to punish besides that the punishment followeth in this verse presently and therefore I take the latter part of the note in the Geneua Bible to be superfluous it is then q.d. he certainely sware against them to destroy them in the wildernes i. that woulde ouerthrowe them there and that they shoulde not enter into the lande the execution of this Sée Deut. 2.13.14 c. Verse 27. And to destroy their séed i. their posterity this is an other part or parcell as it were of Gods othe among the nations i. in the middest of them and by their force and might the threatning of this Sée Numb 14.33 Ezech. 20.23 and the perfourmance therof
Gods own example to haue a singular care to preserue a lawful and ordinary ministerie as without the which the Church can not be Ver. 17 teacheth vs that the prosperity of al Kings and kingdomes commeth from Gods blessing only Ver. 18 teacheth vs that such as rise vp against lawful magistrates shal neuer prosper but come to decay Psalme 133. Di. THe Prophet in this Psalme doth only commend brotherly loue and vnitie amongst the saints and seruaunts of God In the first verse he commendeth it simplye of it selfe euen of the goodnesse and excellency that is in it In the two other verses he commendeth it by two singular similitudes and comparisons which would be well weighed Se. The Title is expounded before Psal 120. and also Psal 122. in their titles Verse 1 Behold q.d. Let it be well considered and weighed how good i. profitable and necessary as Psal 92.1 and how comely i. pleasaunt and excellente q.d. If eyther profit or pleasure can allure you to the imbracing of it you haue both brethren i. not only natural brethren but the sonnes of God and members of his Church and partakers of the selfsame doctrine and life in Christ to dwel euen together vz. not only in one house but specially to be of one affection and consent and to practise fellowship amongst themselues euen as God himselfe dwelleth in them and with them Verse 2. It i. brotherly loue and mutuall consent is like vz. in excellency and swéete sauour to the precious oyntment vz. which was appointed for the priests to annoynt them withall sée Exod. 30 22 23 c. vpon the head i. powred vpon the head of the high Priest that runneth down vpon the beard by this and that which followeth he noteth as I take it the plentie and abundaunce of it euen vnto Aarons bearde vz. who was the high Priest and for whose annointing this Oyle was speciallye made which vz. oyle went downe on the border or rather vnto the border such plenty and abundance there was of it of his garments i. Aarons garments of which you may read Exod. 28 2 3 c. The meaning is q.d. as it is pleasaunt and delightfull to haue Aaron wholy annointed with that holy oyle and all his garments as it is a swéete smelling fauour to all that are round about him so very pleasaunt is the body and fellowship of those that agrée and méete together in Gods name whom God assuredly beautifyeth with his owne presence and the most swéete smelling gifts of his spirit meaning also that mē shal be vtterly without fauour vnles they be perfumed with the odour of peace brotherly vnity grounded in the word of God Ver. 3. And vz. it is For this is another comparison or similitude that he vseth to expresse the excellencye of this spéech by In the former he commendeth it for the swéetnes pleasauntnesse of it in this he commendeth it for the fruit and profit which commeth by it as the dew of Hermon i. as the moisture that falleth from heauen vpon that great hil of Hermon Of one hill of this name which Hermon the Sidonians cal Shirion and the Amorits cal it Shenir we read Deut. 3 9 and Iohoshua 13 5 and this name is giuen sometimes to other hils and mountaines of the lande of Iudah Some are of this opinion that there be two mountains of this name the one very nigh to Gelboe Iordan the other is much more high and standeth nigh to the country of Trachenitis and they gather it because Dauid sayth Psal 42.6 from the land of Iordan and Hermonim vsing a nowne plurall diminutiue as it should séeme Othersome say thus these high moūtayns are a part of Libanus from thence stretch themselues southward seperate the Land of Bashan frō the nether Sirra they compasse the land of Galile on the northside towards the east We must likewise note that there is another mountaine named Hemon in the frountirs of the tribe of Issachar at the foote wherof is the towne named Naim sée also what is said before Psa 89 12 whatsoeuer it be this sēce I would giue q.d. as the dew wet that falleth down from heauen vpon Hermon descēdeth frō thēce into the plain of Bashan maketh that plain countrey fertill so doth brotherly loue bring with it great fruit profite which falleth vpon the mountayns of Sion this place is ill translated séemeth to carry with it this sence as though the dew wet of Hemon should come from thens to the moūtaines of Sion which hath in it no sence at all wherfore we must either mend the trāslation or else supply somwhat thus as the dew wch falleth vz. frō heauen this being indéed another similitude to expres the same thing 1. brotherlye cōcord vpō the mountains of Sion he speaketh of mountains in the plurall nūber because there were many mountains therabout as psal 125 2 q.d. as the dew and moisture falling vpō those moūtains also maketh thē fruitful so doth brotherly vnity concord make thē thorow Gods blessing amōgst whom it is sincerely obserued fruitful plentiful in good works towards God in him and for him towards men and one of them towards another for this is a reason why they shal become fruitful to wit because the lord hath so promised appointed there vz. where brethren dwel consent together as ver 1. or we may saye that he putteth the place for the persons the Lord vz. himself who can not bée deceaued neither wil deceaue appointed vz. to pour forth vpon them that from himself the blessing i. singular blessings both concerning this lyfe as peace and quietnes and life for euer i. not only long life here but also eternal life for brotherly loue is a sure seale thereof as 1 Ioh. 3.14 Ver. 1 teacheth vs Do. that brotherly loue carieth with it both pleasure and profit and therfore is to be imbraced Ver. 2 teacheth vs that brotherly loue is not only pleasaunt to them that religiously estéeme and kéepe it but to others which are about them as swéet perfumes ointments are not only to persons vsing them but to others nigh them Ver. 3 teacheth vs that vnfeigned loue hath the promises both of this life and of that to come Psalme 134 IN this Psalme the Prophet doth first exhort both Priestes and people to prayse the Lord for his mercies ver 1.2 Di. Secondly he prayeth for the whole Church and the fauour of God vpon the particular members of it ver 3. Se. The Title is expounded be forme Psal 120. Ver. 1. Behold q.d. séeing O holy Church thy body is so knit together in Christe and aboundeth with so manye blessinges as is declared in the other Psalm go to and prayse the Lord praise ye the Lord vz. for his infinit mercies and great loue all ye seruauntes of the Lorde i. of what state or condition soeuer ye bée whether ye be Priestes or
the creation of heauen and earth the waters c. but also in that hee gouerneth euery thing according to his will and disposeth of them in a most wyse order Ver. 7. Hée vz. God alone bringeth vp vz. into the aire and skye and that by his almighty power the clouds i. vapors and exhalations which afterwardes in the middle region of the aire are turned into cloudes as we sée them from the endes of the earth i. from al the quarters of the worlde and maketh vz. by his almighty power the lightnings with the raine i. both lightning and rayne which are seldome sundered but come together as our dayly experience teacheth vs for wee haue seldome any lightning without rayne and thunder hee draweth foorth the wynds vz. by his almightie power stil to which euery thing euen the dumbe and insensible creatures must obey out of his treasures i. out of holes dens hidden and secret places in which as it were in treasure houses god keepeth the windes of which our sauiour Christ sayth Iohn 3.8 That the wind bloweth where it listeth and men heare the sound thereof but whence it commeth or whither it goeth no man can tell And thus wée sée that though by reason wee can giue a naturall cause of these meteors as that the cloudes are congealed of moist and watery vapours drawen out of the Sea and from the earth from which cloudes the rayne commeth as Ecclest 11.3 and that lightning is made of hote drye and firie exhalations drawen by the power of the sunne into the regions of the aire and so foorth of the rest yet we may perceiue by the playne woords of this text that nothing is done in the order of nature without the counsell and will of our GOD Sée Iob. 36. verse 27.28 c. also Iob. 37. throughout for this purpose Verse 8. Hée smote vz in his iustice and iudgement and that by his almighty power the first borne of Egipt i. all the first borne in the lande of Egypt both of man and beast i. of all men and beastes whatsoeuer Sée Exod. 12.29 Psalme 105.36 meaning by smiting destroying them with death And note that here he reckoneth vp a fourth cause wherefore the faythfull shoulde prayse God to wit for his speciall graces and benefites bestowed vppon his Church in their preseruation and deliuerance and his singular iudgements and punishments brought vpon their enemies wherein the principal prayse of his vertue and power is manifested Verse 9. Hée i. God himselfe hath sent vz. by his eternal power in the ministery of Moses and Aaron his seruants tokens vz. of his wrath and iudgement and wonders i. feareful and straunge thinges into the middest of thée O Egypt vz. so that thou canst not either pleade ignoraunce or alledge excuse for my iudgements were euen vppon Pharaoh vz. thy king and vppon all his seruauntes i. not onely them that attended vppon him but vppon all his people and subiectes the trueth and accomplishment of this Sée in Exod. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. chapters Verse 10. Hée i. God smote vz. in his iudgement and that by the dint of the sworde and death many nations vz. greater and mightier then the people of the Iewes Sée Deutronom 2. 3. chapt throughout for this matter and flewe vz. by the sworde of his seruantes and people many kinges whereof some hee reckoneth vp in the next verse and others are mentioned Numb 21.1 and in other places Verse 11. As Sihon king of the Ammorites and Og the king of Bashan sée the historie of these Numb 21. Deut. 3. Ioshua 12. and all the kingdomes of Canaan which was diuided into sundry kingdomes and wherein dwelt seuen nations greater and mightier then the Iewes Ver. 12. And gaue vz. of his frée goodnes their lande i. the land of the Canaanites or that land which they inhabited for an inheritance euen an inheritance to Israel his people i. for a place for them as safely and as lawfully for them to dwell in as if it had descended to them by inheritance Ver. 13. Thy name i. thy maiesty power and goodnes indureth for euer vz. towardes all but specially towards thine owne people O Lorde thy remembraunce i. the continual instructions which thou giuest to thy people to remember thée is from generation to generation i. lasteth comtinually and goeth on from age to age so that there is no age but they haue euident examples thereof Ver. 14. For the Lorde vz himselfe will iudge i. guide gouerne and defend as Psalme 96.13 and Psalme 98.9 and bee pacified towardes his seruauntes i. hee will as it were chaunge his purpose and not execute with heauy iudgement that which he had determined against them and this is spoken of God according to the manner of men Ver. 15.16 17.18 Sée expounded before Psalm 115. ver 4.5.6.7.8 where you shall finde both the very same woordes and matters And hee here inueigheth so sharply agaynst idoles because that the prayse which belongeth vnto GOD is many tymes falsly giuen vnto them and therefore hee declareth that neither the matter it selfe whereof they are made nor the workeman can giue them the title of GOD or God heade Ver. 19. Prayse the Lorde sée ver 1.3 of this Psalme yee house of Israell i. yee that descende of Israell or Iaakob meaning by this speach all the people generally prayse the Lorde yée house of Aaron i. ye Priests who descend and come from Aaron to whose race familie and stocke the priesthood was by Gods ordinaunce onely appoynted and tyed Ver. 20. Prayse the Lorde yee house of Leui i. all ye Leuites who were inferiour vnto the Priestes though they came all from one father to wit Leui Iaakobs third sonne and by this place wee sée that euen by the very institution and ordinaunce of God there were two distinct orders amongest the people of the Iewes to wit priests and Leuites according to which also he speaketh here ye that feare the Lorde vz. with a reuerent child like feare meaning also by this speach such as did worshippe and serue him sée Psalme 128.1 prayse the Lorde vz. with a good heart sée before ver 1.3 of this Psalme Ver. 41. Praysed be the Lord vz. for his infinite mercies towards vs out of Sion i. in Sion which was the place appoynted for his worshippe for this phrase sée Psalm 128.5 also 134.3 which vz. Lord and God dwelleth in Ierusalem i. giueth most plaine testimonies of his presence and abode there and not that God is tied to any place The Prophet meaneth that in Sion and Ierusalem the place of his worshippe he gaue euident signes of his presence and power and not that hee was inclosed or tied to that place only praise ye the Lord this Psalme beginneth and endeth with like woordes for which sée Psal 105. and Psal 106. in the beginning and ending Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs to exhort and prouoke al gods people to thankefulnes to God for his benefites Ver.