and earth This verse and the verses following conteine and answere to the blasphemous scorning of the aduersaries conteined ver 3. and in this answere the true GOD is manifestly set out ver 4. and further it is declared that the false may not onely not be compared with him but not with men no not so much as with the smallest creature liuing ver 4.5.6.7 and therefore that men shoulde no more feare the worshippers of idoles then the idoles themselues ver 8. so that here he opposeth the assurance of fayth against the blasphemies of vnbeléeuers and declareth that God hath an infinite power and such a one as can not bee limited in so much that all the worlde being vnder his gouernement hée fréely executeth whatsoeuer pleaseth him no man being able to let him therein yea that he is not onely aboue all lets and hinderaunces but also that he vseth the same to serue to the furtherance of his purposes and therefore hée addeth that hee doeth whatsoeuer pleaseth him Ver. 4. Their idoles i. the idoles of the heathen ver 2. of this Psal and which they serue as siluer and golde i are made of siluer and gold q.d. that is the best they can bee made of the worke of mens handes i. they are such woorkes as mens handes haue made Verse 5. They haue a mouth i. the proportion and similitude of a mouth and speake not i. can not speake therewith they haue eyes i. a shewe and likenes of eyes and sée not i. can not sée therewith and after the same sort must you vnderstande all that is sayd of them ver 6.7 The faithful do hereby declare that it is an absurd thing for men demaund of idoles that which they want or to put any trust in them séeing that they haue neither mouing féeling nor any other sense And in these verses hée maketh an opposition betwéene the true God and the false gods which are nothing but dead idoles and haue no power at all in these verses is conteined also a laying of that iustly vpon these false gods which the idolaters vntruely did charge the true God withall and the argumentes are taken first of the effect because their idoles were nothing but terrors and such as did trouble mens myndes with grieuous superstition from whence also they séeme in Hebrewe to haue their names and not comforting and sauing any as God doeth all his continually Secondly of the matter because that though they bee very precious yet they are earthly thinges and without life but God is the author of life and dwelleth in heauen thirdly of their beginning because mens handes made them whereas God is eternall and vncreated who also by his very word made al things lastly because they are idle and vnprofitable and not indued with any power of life but rather vaine shadowes of liuing thinges whereas the Lorde doeth whatsoeuer pleaseth him And by this meanes hee beateth downe the vayne confidence and pride of the wicked who bragged of the helpe of their gods to whome they themselues gaue a beginning and though they bee made of golde and siluer vnderstanding thereby any other precious matter whatsoeuer yet so it is the value of the matter causeth not that the idoles should bée more excellent if they might be compared with GOD. Verse 8. They that make them i. the caruers grauers painters c. are like vnto them i. brutish as it were and insensible q.d. they are no more able to resist thée and thy power then those dead images are able to resist a liuing man neither are they able more to hurt thy people then a blocke or a stocke of it selfe can hurt a liuing creature so are i. in the like case and condition also are all vz. of what state or condition soeuer they bee that trust in them vz. either litle or much and here they shewe one cause wherefore God hateth idoles vz. because the honour due to him alone is giuen to thē Ver. 9. O Israel now he speaketh to the faithfull and exhorteth them to trust in God onely q.d. But thou O Israel séeing thou hast had proofe of the alsufficiency of God and of the vanity of idoles trust thou in the Lorde vz. alone ioyne no other with him for hee is their helpe i. of the faithfull and of those that truste in him q.d. he alwayes helpeth them and their shield vz. in the day of distresse meaning vnder this terme shielde his protecting and defending of them Sée Psal 18.2 Ver. 10. O house of Aaron i. O ye priests and Leuites which were ioyned vnto the priests for their ease he speaketh specially vnto these because they should shew the way vnto others trust ye in the Lord vz. also that ye in féeling the same your selues may the better teach and perswade other men to imbrace it for he is their helpe and their shield sée ver 9. of this Psal Ver. 11. Yée vz. of what nation soeuer ye be and are now come to the knowledge of God that feare the Lord i. worship him and serue him according to his word trust in the Lord for he is their helpe and their shield sée ver 9.10 of this Psalme Ver. 12. The Lord vz. himselfe hath beene mindfull i. by effect and déede hath declared his care and remembraunce of vs vz. being in distresse and that by reason of the couenant which he made with vs hee will blesse vz. vs al of what state or condition so euer we be vnderstanding by blessing all maner of prosperity whatsoeuer hée will blesse the house of Israell i. all the race and posterity of Israel nowe hée applieth that particularly which hée spake before generally hée will blesse the house of Aaron i. the Priestes and Leuites as before verse 10. Ver. 13. Hée will blesse them that feare the Lorde i. such as worship and serue him as before verse 11. Marke also howe he speaketh of God in the thirde person And this often repeating of the woorde blessing serueth not onely to note the continuall course of Gods graces vpon his children but also to expresse the certaintie and assurednes thereof both small and greate i. as well those that are vile and contemptible in the world as those that are in greatest estimation and regard the reason of it is because GOD respecteth no mans person Verse 14. The Lorde will increase vz. through his great goodnesse and mercy his graces towardes you vz. which are his people hée meaneth that he will giue them a dayly supply of new benefites and greater then they haue had before towardes you and towards your children hée noteth in these woordes the largenesse of Gods blessing to be bestowed vppon the godly and their godly posterity Verse 15. Yée are the blessed of the Lorde i. you are such as the Lorde himselfe hath not onely promised bur perfourmed great blessinges vnto and therefore you néede not doubt or feare which made vz. by the worde of his power in the beginning and
matter of no smal comfort Ver. 16. Teacheth vs that it is a good thing to be borne of good parentes but that it is much better to haue our names written in the booke of life also that though mischief be deuised against Gods seruauntes or they themselues somewhat fal into it yet that God will either preuent the mischiefe or else dispatch them out of distresse Ver. 17. Teacheth vs that thankesgiuing and prayer should alwaies be ioyned together Verse 18. Is the same with ver 14. and deliuereth the same doctrines also it teacheth vs not to be ashamed openly to praise God for his mercies Ver. 19. teacheth vs also to yéeld him that sacrifice publikely in his Church and in the assemblies of his saints It teacheth vs also to prouoke others to praise the Lord. Psalme 117. Di. AS this Psalme is the shortest Psalme in al the booke and hath but only two verses so it specially propoundeth two things The first is a generall exhortation to al people to praise the Lorde this is in ver 1. The second comprehendeth a double reason why they should praise him vz. for his mercy in making promises and for his faithfulnes in performance of them ver 2. Se. It hath no title or inscription Ver. 1. Al nations vz. of the world whether ye be gentiles or Iewes prayse ye the Lord vz. both with heart and voyce al ye people vz. of the whole earth some vnderstand by nations all the Gentiles onely and by people the people of Israel only but I sée no reason of it for the Prophet speaketh generally to al praise him vz. incessantly and in all places This doubling of the word noteth not only how necessary the sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing is but how backwarde also wee are in it that must so often be called vpon ver 2. For his louing kindnes i. his mercy is great towards vs i. is multiplied very much and sufficiently confirmed vnto vs. The Hebrew word may be turned is strengthened vz. so that it hath preuailed against vs q.d. though we would pue it backe yet it wil ouercome vs meaning that it hath bene excéeding great and mighty one example of the continuance and increase of Gods fauour and graces read 1. King 17.14 and the trueth of the Lord indureth for euer i. Gods faithfulnes in performing his promises continueth stedfast and sure and therefore hee is worthy to be praysed of al. This is to bee referred to the continuall testimonies of Gods fatherly fauour and grace which is as it were decked with stedfastnes and firmity Verse 1. teacheth vs that it behoueth all men of the world Do. and euery particular person in the same to praise God Ver. 2 teacheth vs that Gods mercye and faithfulnes be the principall causes which should moue vs to thankfulnes and praysing of his name Psalme 118 THis Psalme séemeth to bee made eyther after that Dauid was deliuered from some great trouble in the dayes of Saule Di. or after Saules death when he was aduanced to the kingdom or after victory obtained amongst and against sundry nations with whom he fought Whatsoeuer it is it doth specialy propound thrée thinges the one is an exhortation to men to praise God and this is comprehended in the 4 first verses In the seconde hée sheweth the causes why men should doe so which though they bee many particularly expressed in the Psalme yet generally they are but these two his mercy towards his children and his iustice towards his enemies from verse 5. to the end of the 20. In the third is contayned a harty reioycing both of the people and Priests for the establishment of Dauids Kingdom and this reacheth from verse 21 to the end of the Psalm This Psalme hath no title as many other before haue not Verse 1. Se. Praise ye the Lord vz. O ye seruaunts of the Lord as Psalm 113.1 because hee is good vz. towards all but specially towards you for his mercy vz. towardes you indureth for euer i. lasteth for euer and euer he noteth the cōstancy of gods mercy towards his children and withall sheweth that the righte occasion of praysing God is rather set forth vnto vs in his mercye then in his iustice and power because we shall neuer be well disposed to prayse God vnlesse wee bée drawne vnto it by the swéetenesse of his mercy Verse 2. Let Israel i. not only them that came of Israel or Iaakob according to the flesh but the true faithful Israelites now say i. presently and without any delay confesse from their hart that his mercy indureth for euer vz. euen as they themselues by their owne practise and experience are very well able to report These wordes are expounded before verse 1. Verse 3. Let the house of Aaron i. those that are of Aarons stock and come from him meaning especially the Priests and Leuits sée Psalme 115 10. now say c. this is expounded before verse 1.2 Verse 4. Let them that feare the Lord i. that serue and worship him in al holy reuerēce sée Psalme 115 11 13 All the rest is expounded before in this Psalme marke that he tieth his spéeche to the true seruaunts of God because that although many Israelites according to the flesh occupied a place in the church yet they were notwithstanding straungers from it Ver. 5. I called vpon the Lord vz. by earnest and harty prayer in trouble i. when I was in trouble sée Psalme 1.20 ◠and the Lord heard me i. graunted me the requests and prayers which I made vnto him and set me at large i. at liberty taking me out of the distresse wherein I was sée for this purpose Psal 4.1 In this verse also marke that the Prophet commeth from the generall to his owne particular person declaring that as he himself had marks and tokens of Gods goodnesse towards him so hee had also thereby occasion giuen him as well as the rest to prayse the Lord. Verse 6. The Lord is with me vz. in all distresse hee meaneth by this spéech that God tooke his part against al his enemies therefore I will not feare what man can do against me i. I wil not care for al that man can doe or deuise whatsoeuer it be by man he meaneth multitudes of men and great personages q.d. be they neuer so many or neuer so great yet I wil not feare Thus wee sée how the Prophet hauing felt Gods assistaunce in former time and obtayned sundry victories assureth himself of Gods perpetual aide in time to come such confidence and assured perswasion sée before Psal 3.6 also Psal 27 3. Ver 7. The Lord is with me i. not only present but also on my side and taketh my part among them that helpe me vz. being thus cast down and afflicted the prophet meaneth that seing God taketh his part he shal preuaile otherwise if he had al the helpe in the world it could not stand therfore shal I sée my desire vpon my enemies i. I shall
the Lord vz. only and to none other but him ye families of the people vz. of God the Prophet speaking this according to the custome of the Iewes who were diuided first into tribes and then into families Iehoshua 7.17.18 1. Sam. 9.21 which maketh me also to dissent from Immanuel who referreth it generally to al people of the earth which also is confuted by that which followeth in this Psalm ver 10. wher they are cōmaunded to speake to the Gentils giue vnto the Lord vz. only as before glory and power i. al glory and power for vnto him only it is due sée Psal 115. verse 1. Verse 8. Giue vnto the Lord the glory of his name i. that glory and honoure which is due and méete for his name q.d. Striue to glorifie God as much as in you lieth euen according to his excellency bring an offring vz. vnto him in token that you doe vnfeignedly worship and serue him this and that whiche followeth he speaketh according vnto the law by which the people were appoynted to performe these things enter into his Courts vz. to praise serue and worship him For this word Courts see Psalme 84. verse 2.10 Verse 9 Worship vz. according to the rule of his word the Lord vz. only as manye times before in the glorious sanctuary i. in the Tabernacle of witnesse where his glorye appeareth most liuely tremble before him vz. in token of a louing and reuerente feare all the earth sée verse 1. of this Psalme Verse 10. Saye i. speake aloude declare and publish that which followeth among the nations i. the other peoples of the world meaning thereby the Gentiles The Lord reigneth sée Psalme 93.1 surely the worlde shall bee stable i. the whole earth and the people therein shall continue in good order and peace though the wicked laboure to disturbe the same He noteth this as an excellent fruite of Gods gouernmente not moue vz. for all that the wicked can imagine or do and note that this amplyfying by the contrary as that on the one syde it shall be stable and on the other side it shall not moue serueth for the greater certayntye and assuraunce thereof as Iohn 1 20. Romanes 9.1 1. Timothie 2.7 and shée shall iudge the people i. gouerne and guide them putting one parte of gouernmente for the whole in righteousnesse i. vprightlye and iustlye without any partialitie or respecte of persons or without feare fauoure or flatterye Verse 11. Let the heauens reioyce some reade it the heauens shall reioyce and so they doe reade all these verses vnto the ende of the Psalme as foretelling of the greate ioye and gladnesse that shall bée among Gods people for that he exerciseth a gouernmente ouer them They that reade it as the Geneua Texte doeth maketh it an exhortation that the Prophet should vse the more to sette out Gods grace and goodnesse euen for this that hee gathereth men vnder his authoritye and gouernmente q.d. This grace of GOD is so greate that euen the dumbe creatures haue thereby an occasion offered them as it were to reioyce and be glad take whether of these sences you shall thinke good yet for mine owne part I allowe rather the latter because of that which followeth Psalme 98.7.8 Which also Immanuel turneth as exhorting the creatures to reioyce in it though he doe not so in this place let the heauens reioyce vz. for this great goodnesse of god ruling and gouerning and let the earth be glad vz. for the same occasion let the sea roare vz. in token and testimonye of reioycing and all that therein is i. euery thing that liueth and moueth in the same Verse 12. Let the fielde i. the fieldes putting one for many as Psalme 95.9 worke is put for workes be ioyfull vz. for the causes before alleaged and all that is in it i. whatsoeuer groweth and flourisheth in the same fieldes let all the Trées of the Wood i. al trées of what kinde soeuer that groweth in the Woods then reioyce vz. when the Lorde shall beginne this gouernment here for the better vnderstandinge of this of these two verses we are specially to marke these two thinges firste that the Prophet layeth not this duetie vpon the insensible creatures otherwise then they in their kind are able to performe it and to no other end but that thereby he may prouoke men who haue the vse of reason and the light of the worde to doe the same Secondly that he layeth it not only vpon them whom hee here nameth but that by these which he putteth downe he vnderstandeth all the rest of the creatures whatsoeuer Verse 13. Before the Lord i. in his presence and openly for this as playnly appeareth must be ioyned to the ende of the other verse for he commeth for he commeth i. he wil certainly come the certaintie is noted not only in the doubling of the word but also in that he sayeth he commeth as though he were already present putting the present tense for the future to iudge i. to rule and gouern as before verse 10. of this Psal the earth i. the people inhabiting the earth he will iudge q.d. howsoeuer others rule yet he will gouerne the world i. the people of the world both greate and smal with righteousnesse i. vprightly and iustly as ver 10 of this Psal and the people in his truth i. in exactnesse and perfection of truth and vprightnesse for that word his hath a force in this place as discerning betwéene men and him how truely and vprightly soeuer they deale Do. Verse 1. teacheth vs to striue what in vs lieth to make our praises aunswerable to Gods graces though in déede we can not performe the same Verse 2. teacheth vs that our prayses and speakinges of his glory ought to be continuall Verse 3 teacheth vs that we should publish it before al men and in al places Verse 4. Setteth out the excellent power glory and maiestie of the Lord our God Verse 5 paynteth out the vanity and vnprofitablenesse of all counterfeyte Gods and idols Verse 6 teacheth that all honour glory strength c. are due only to the Lord. Ver. 7 teacheth the faythfull to ascribe also and yéelde vnto him the same seing they belong to him and to none other but to him Verse 8 teacheth Gods people carefullye to exercise themselues in the seruice and worship of him that is so gracious a God to them Verse 9 teacheth vs not onelye to frequent the places of publike exercises but also there and euerye where to shew forth assured testimonies of a reuerent feare that wee carrie to his Maiestie Verse 10 teacheth vs to haue a care to publish Gods gouernment amongest others that they also may be subiected to the same It teacheth vs further that the vngodly can not vnlesse the Lord so appoynt it make any hurliburlies or stirs in the Worlde Verse 11.12 teach vs in the example of insensible creatures to shew our selues thankfull to God for all his graces and namelye
should as it were set his féete sée 1. Chronicles 28.2 for he vz. alone is holy and therefore méete to bee worshipped Verse 6. Moses and Aaron were vz. as chéefe and principall among his Priestes i. among them whom he hath appointed to offer sacrifices and to expounde the Law and Samuel vz. the Prophet was as chéefe and principall among such as call i. called vpon his name i. professed his religion and made prayers vnto him sée 1. Samuell 7. almost thorow out these vz. before rehearsed and manye other such like called vppon the Lorde i. prayed vnto him with earnestnesse and continuaunce and hee hearde them i. graciouslye graunted them their requestes as hee doeth all them that call vppon him in trueth The Prophet alleageth these men that by their example he might prouoke the people to the worship and seruice of God and hee nameth rather these thrée then other because to their fayth and custodie speciallye was committed the kéeping of the couenaunt that God had made with his people For the truth of this verse sée Exodus 32.31 c. to the end of the Chapter 1 Samuel 12 20 c. Verse 7. He vz. God whome they serued spake vz. plainlye and audiblie vnto them vz. Moses and Aaron in the cloudye piller i. in or out of the Cloude which séemed to haue the forme of an vpright piller sée Exodus 14 19. sée also Num. 17.5 they kept vz. themselues and caused others what in them lay to kéepe his testimonies i. his commaundementes which God gaue his people as a testimonie that he was their God sée Psalme 19.7 and the lawe that he vz. the Lorde himselfe gaue them vz. as a rule of their life and to be a light vnto their féete and a Lanthorne vnto their steps Verse 8. Thou heardest them vz. quickly when they prayd vnto thée for the Lordes hearing sée verse 6. of this Psalme O Lord our God a sodain but yet an emphatical turning of his spéech vnto God by which the Prophet sheweth that the Lord toke pitie vpon that people in respect of the trueth of his Couenaunt and of his grace only without any other cause thou wast a fauourable God vnto them vz. not only when they prayed vnto thée but continually specially when thou pardonest their sinnes though thou diddest take vengeaunce i. though thou diddest fatherlye punishe and correct them for their inuentions i. for deuyses of their owne by whiche they procured thée to wrath agaynste them I knowe others expounde it otherwise but yet me thinketh that this is a moste simple and playne fence Verse 9. Exalte the Lorde our GOD and fall downe sée before verse 5. of this Psalme before his holye Mountayne hee meaneth no doubte the Mountaine of Moriah vppon whiche the Temple was builded sée Genesis 22 2. meaning by this manner of spéeche that he woulde haue the people to worship the Lorde in his Temple al the rest of this verse is expounded before verse 5 of this present Psalme Do. Verse 1. Teacheth vs that euen to know the God ruleth and gouerneth in his Church is sufficiente to strike terror into all the enemyes of all Gods people Verse 2 teacheth vs that though Gods glory appeare euery where yet in no place more plainly thē in his church Ver. 3 teacheth that it becommeth the righteous to praise Gods great power might Ver. 4 teacheth vs not only what great vprightnes is in the Lord in al his iudgemēts but also how iust faithful he is to his people Ver. 5 teacheth vs that it is not only our duety in respects of benefits receaued to praise god but that we are bound therto also in respect of the holines of his maiesty person also that it is a good thing to do it publikely with the rest of the Church Ver. 6 teacheth vs that the prayers of Gods faythfull people are neuer frustrate Verse 7 teacheth vs that familiaritye with the Lorde and knowledge of his maiestye requireth at our handes obedience to his truth and performaunce of it Verse 8 Is full of great comforte teaching vs these points firste that the Lorde chastiseth and correcteth those whome he loueth most tenderlye secondly that though hee doe correct them yet those punishments do no whit at al lessen his fauour and good will towards them Verse 9 is the same with verse 5 and deliuereth the same doctrines Psalme 100 THis Psalme may be diuided into two parts In the one parte Di. the Prophet exhorteth the faythfull to prayse the Lorde hartilye and with ioyfulnesse verse 1 2 3. In the second he vseth the causes wherefore they shoulde prayse him vz. for his frée election and the continuaunce of his mercye verse 3 5. The Title Se. a Psalme of prayse i. a Psalme penned and appointed to stir vp the people to praise the Lord and not so much for that the Psal it selfe doeth comprehend the prayses of God sing ye loude vnto the Lord for the meaning of these wordes sée Psalme 98 4. all the earth i. all the people of God inhabiting the promised lande for I suppose that he putteth the worde earth here for that part of the earth Verse 2. Serue vz. according to the rule of his worde and not after your owne inuentions the Lord vz. only for vnto him all honour is due with gladnes i. readily and ioyfully because in suche kinde of worships the Lord taketh great delight and pleasure come before him i. appeare before the arke which was the place of his worshippe and seruice with ioyfulnesse vz. both inwarde and outwarde of the hearte and of the body meaning thereby greate and singuler reioysing Verse 3. Knowe yée i. professe this muche and yéelde him this honour for hée speaketh not here of inwarde knowledge onely to disreaue him from all false Gods and such as mans fantasie hath forged that euen the Lorde vz. whiche wée serue and that no other but hée is GOD i. our GOD and the only author of that couenaunt which is betwéene him and vs hée hath made vs marke that hée speaketh not here of the common creation of men onely for in that respecte the godlye haue no greater priuiledge than the wicked haue but of spirituall regeneration wherein by the ministerye of his worde and the working of his spirite he begetteth men agayne to his owne image to the ende that they maye serue him in newnesse of life and not we our selues i. we haue not neyther in respecte of the bodye nor of the soule and spirituall regeneration framed and fashioned our selues no no righteousnesse of our owne hath aduaunced vs to this dignitye but we are made his sonnes and seruauntes by his onely frée goodnesse sée Deutronomie 7 7 8. also Deutronomie 9 4. we are his people i. the people whome he of mercye hath chosen to serue him and to bring forth much fruite and the shéepe of his pasture sée Psalme 95 verse 7. meaning by this manner of spéeche that GOD of his frée
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
cause of all goodnesse towardes all his creatures Verse 29 teacheth vs that the wante of féeling of Gods fauour is the fountayne of all woe disquietnesse death c. Verse 30 teacheth vs that the continuaunce of Creatures is not onely by an ordinary course of nature but specially by the commaundement and blessing of almighty GOD. Verse 31 teacheth vs to prayse GOD continually for his mercy and to pray for the continuaunce thereof Verse 32 teacheth vs to stande in awe of so great a Maiestye as can doe whatsoeuer pleaseth him both in heauen and in earth Verse 33 teacheth vs to carrye with vs holy purposes to serue the Lord as long as we liue and carefully to labour the performance thereof Verse 34 teacheth vs to pray that euen our prayers maye bée regarded in Gods sight Verse 35 teacheth vs that we may sometimes pray against the wicked and vngodly also that we should carefully stirre vp both our selues and others to prayse the Lorde Psalme 105 Di. THis Psalme as I take it may be deuided into thrée partes In the firste hée exhorteth to prayse GOD for his mercies shewing who they are that shoulde doe it from the first verse to the ende of the sixte In the seconde part hee resiteth the particular graces that GOD bestowed vppon them from the tyme of their firste calling till their comming oute of Egipt from verse seuen to the ende of the 26. In the thirde hee setteth out both what iudgementes GOD bringeth vpon their enemies for their sakes and also what mercies he sheweth them after their deliuery from verse 27 to the end of the Psalme Se. Though there be no Title of this Psalme declaring who made it yet it should appeare by 1. Chronic. 16.7.8 c. that Dauid made it and committed it to Asaph and his brethren to sing it And it hangeth wel with the other Psalms before going vz. Psalme 103. and Psalme 104. and also with Psalme 106.107 following al being Psalms to stir vp the Church to prayse God partly for his graces towards the Church Psalme 103 and generallye towardes all creatures Psalme 104 and partly for benefites vppon the faythfull euen by trying and correcting them Psalme 105 106. and lastlye for graces towardes all men Psalme 107. Verse 1. Prayse the Lord vz. all ye good and faythful people he would haue them to shew themselues thankefull and to set forth his glorye for graces receaued and call vpon his name i. feare his Maiesty but specially pray vnto him putting one part of Gods seruice for the whole declare vz. openly and playnly and that in euery place his workes i. the maruaylous thinges that hée hath done among the people vz. not onely of Iudea but of the whole earth Verse 2. Sing vnto him sing prayse vnto him vz. alone the doubling of the worde serueth both to stirre vs vp and also to note the excellency of that Sacrifice of thanksgiuing Some make this difference betwéene the two wordes that the firste singing shoulde bée with the mouth and the latter singing with musicall Instrumentes according to the Lawe and talke vz. amongest your selues openlye and euerye where of all his wondrous workes vz. whiche hée hath done for you and your Fathers so that wée shoulde as neare as wée canne call to remembraunce all Gods graces and mercyes bestowed vppon vs. Verse 3. Reioyce in his holye name i. shewe your selues gladde in that greate power and Maiestye of his which besydes the excellencye thereof contayneth in it holinesse also lette the hearte i. the inwarde affection as well as the outwarde behauiour of them that séeke the Lorde vz. vnfeignedlye and with a good harte vnderstanding by séeking of the Lorde seruing of him according to his will reuealed in his worde reioyce vz. in the Lorde and bée glad euen for this that hée giueth them grace to séeke and serue him Verse 4. Séeke the Lorde vz. earnestlye and that euen now while hée maye bée founde as Isaiah 55.6 and his strength 1. the Arke of the Couenaunte from whence the Lorde gaue euidente testimonye of his power and myghte Sée 2. Chronicles 6. verse 41. also Psalme 78. verse 61. séeke his face i. the arke of couenaunte whiche is also called Gods face because from thence GOD gaue playne testimonies of his fauour and goodnesse towards his people continually i. so long as you liue q.d. Be neuer wearye of doing that dutie Verse 5. Remember i. déepely and diligently thinke vpon that you maye thereby bee the better stirred vp to praise him his marueilous workes i. the great and wonderfull things which he hath don for his people he calleth thē maruailous because the Gods marueilous power declared it selfe in thē euen so that a man might easily iudge that they came from him that he hath done vz. in time heretofore and that for you your fathers his wonders i. the strange things which he hath done far beyond the reache and compasse of mans wit and the iudgementes of his mouth i both the punishments whiche he hath threatned against others and also the law and word he hath giuen vnto you for I would referre it to both these Verse 6. Ye séede of Abraham i. O yée that come of Abraham and his posteritie according vnto the flesh his seruaunt i. that serued GOD hee setteth before them their Fathers example the better to draw them on to the performaunce of that great dutye ye children of Iaakob i. O ye that come of Iaakob wch are his elect i. which he hath fréely chosen from amongst al other nations and here he vseth another reason fet from their election to draw them on to obedience Verse 7. Hée vz. alone and none other but he is the Lord our God i. he that gouerneth vs and vpon whome we our selues depend his iudgementes vz. agaynst sinne and vngodlinesse meaning by iudgements punishments are thorow all the earth i. are made manifest in all the world though perhaps men haue not eyes to sée the same or else we may take iudgements for rule guiding and gouernment so you haue the word to iudge vsed Psalm 98 9. meaning that Gods gouernment was stretched thorow out all the world Verse 8. He hath alway remembred his couenaunt and promise vz. made with his sonnes and seruaunts mening by remembred not only thinking vppon it but also the execution and performaunce of it that he made vz. of his owne accord and frée goodnesse to a thousand generations i. not only to infinite numbers of people putting a nūber certayne for an vncertayne but also to last and indure for euer Verse 9. Euen that vz. couenaunt which he made with Abraham vz. our Father sée Genesis 12 2 3 and his oth vnto Isaak sée Genesis 26.3.4 c. and hee vseth the word oth to note the certaintie and assurednesse of the couenaunte passed betwéene God and the people Verse 10. And since vz. the time of Abraham and Izaak meaning after their death hath confirmed it vz. both
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
which also is the last verse of the Psalm is the same with the first verse of this Psalm both in words and sence therfore haue an eye back to that Do. Ver. 1 teacheth vs to prouoke others to praise the Lord also that we they should do it for the continuance of his mercy towards vs. Ver. 2 teacheth vs that the sacrifice of thanksgiuing doth generally belong vnto al of the housholde of faith Ver. 3 teacheth vs that it doth specially appertain to Gods ministers as who euen in that respect also should be examples to Gods people Ver. 4 teacheth al to profes that presently without any further delay the assurednesse of Gods goodnesse mercy Ver. 5. teacheth vs to pray to the Lord in affliction also that the Lord doth graciously heare the prayers of his seruaunts Ver. 6 teacheth vs that an assured féeling of Gods fauor presence driueth away al fear of man whatsoeuer Ver. 7 teacheth vs that God men many times ioin together for the defence of his seruants Ver. 8 9 teach vs only to hang vpon the Lorde and to trust in none other how many or mighty soeuer they bee but in him alone Verse 10 teacheth that no multitude shall bée able to preuayle agaynste God and his people Verse 11 teacheth vs that no force or fraude shall bée able to preuayle agaynst them Verse 12 teacheth that no rage or cruelty shall bée able to preuayle agaynst them also that the enemies of God and his people shal be sodaynly ouerthrowne Verse 13 teacheth that there is no wisdom strength power or policie against the Lord and his annointed ones Ver. 14 teacheth that al the strength and deliuerance of the godly is from the Lord only Ver. 15 teacheth that God will graciously giue his children great occasions of reioycing in him also that the faithful wil fréely and willingly confesse that whatsoeuer they haue they haue it from the power and goodnesse of God Ver. 16 teacheth vs that Gods power is aboue all Ver. 17 teacheth vs that our life in this life ought to be referred to the setting forth of Gods glory Ver. 18 teacheth that howsoeuer God doth correct his for a time yet hee doth neuer destitute thē for euer Ver. 19 teacheth vs to haue an earnest care to praise and thanke God in the assemblye of his Saints Ver. 20 teacheth that howsoeuer hypocrites thrust themselues into the Churche yet that place doth properlye and peculiarly belong only to the faythfull Verse 21 teacheth vs to giue thankes to God for graunting our requestes and working our deliueraunce Verse 22 teacheth vs that that which is reiected of mā is highly estéemed of the Lord those that be his Ver. 23 teacheth vs that all Gods workes are far beyond the reach of our reason specially that great mistery of sending his sonne into the world Ver. 24 teacheth vs that because we are dul and heauy to consider of matters of spirituall mirth which the Lord giueth vs we should prouoke and stir vp one an other to doe the same Ver. 25 teacheth vs to pray for the safety and prosperity of our Princes Ver. 26 teacheth vs that no man either in Church or common wealth should take vpon him an office without warrant from God also that it is the duty of the ministers to blesse and pray for both their Princes and people Ver. 27. teacheth vs that whatsoeuer prosperity we haue we haue it from the Lorde onlye and of his mere mercy alone also that we should prepare and present our sacrifices of praise vnto the Lord. Ver. 28 teacheth vs that the more particular féelings we haue of Gods graces the more we should labour to prayse his name Ver. 29 deliuereth the same doctrines with verse 1. Psalme 119 Aleph FOr as much as the holy Ghost it selfe hath diuided this long Psalm into 22 partes Di. according to the number of the letters of the hebrew Alphabet I take it that it should be at the least superfluous if not vngodly to vse or make any other diuision of it Euery part of this Psalme containeth eyght verses euery verse also beginning with the same letter that the parte beginneth withall which was vsed as I suppose both to note out the excellency of the Psalme and also to helpe memory sée before Psal 111. in the verye beginning This Psalme as manye other Psalmes before going hath no Title Se. and therefore nothing can be sayd of certaintie notwithstanding very likely it is that Dauid was the pen man which the holy Ghost vsed in making writing this excellent Psalme Aleph this is the first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet and is here put downe to note and sette out the firste parte of this Psalme Whiche I thinke dothh specially consist of two parts or points Di. In the first the Prophet putteth down a general proposition teaching the blessednesse of those whiche yéelde obedience to God and his law and this is comprehended in the 4 first verses In the second is contained a particular applying of the same to his own person who earnestly wisheth grace and strength to performe the same and this is in the foure other verses Verse 1. Blessed i. abundaunce of blessednesse is vnto those that are vpright in their waye i. that haue a pure and vpright affection to follow righteousnesse and which referre their whole life to that marke the word way is put here for maner of liuing or course of life as Psalme 1 ver 1.6 and walke in the law of the Lord i. order and rule their life and conuersation according to Gods law Vnder the word walking hée comprehendeth life and conuersation and vnder the word law hee comprehendeth all the doctrine of Gods word contained in the law and Prophets he sheweth by this that true blessednesse is not in them that are wise in their own eyes and imagine in their own fantasie some holinesse in themselues but in them that giue themselues ouer to the obedience of Gods word Ver. 2. Blessed are they sée verse 1. of this Psalm that kéepe vz. not only in their hart to beléeue them as true and righteous but obserue them also in their outward acts and behauiour his testimonies i. his commaundements whiche testifye and witnesse to vs his will For these seuerall words law testimonies statutes c. whiche are so often vsed in this Psalme and for the difference of them sée before Psalm 19.7 8 9 and séeke him i. the Lorde vz. according to his will reuealed in his word with their whole hart i. not giuing part to him and part to the worlde but giuing all to him to whome it alone is due Hee declareth by this manner of spéech that God will not be serued with eye seruice only but also with a frée and sound affection of the hart Verse 3. Surely they work none iniquity vz. whiche is able to condemne them because all their sinnes are fully aunswered in Christs obedience for he meaneth not that
people but specially the Priests and Leuites to whome hée giueth this title by reason of the offices whervnto they were appoynted and that therfore they to the end also that by their example they might draw on others to do the like should be so much the more carefully stirred vp to the spiritual exercises of true religion ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord i. whiche doe not only serue God in the day time but in the night kéeping watch and ward about the temple of the Lord sée Num. 18.1.2 c. 1. Chron. 9.33 And though it be true that many of the people had that affection to remain day and night in the temple as it is reported of Anna Luk. 2.37 yet I refer it in this place only to the Priestes and Leuites and when he sayth stande hee meaneth their continuall aboade there as it were And by house of the Lorde hee meaneth eyther the place where the Arke was or the temple after it was builded Verse 2. Lift vp your handes i. praye and giue thankes the signe of prayer or an outwarde gesture vsed in it put for the thing it selfe as Psalme 141 2. also 1 Timothie 2 8. to the sanctuarye i. towardes the Sanctuarye meaning the place where the Arke was and the Arke it selfe out of which God had promised to aunswere his people and to heare their prayers and prayse the Lorde vz. for his mercyes as verse 1. and here hee sheweth that the principall ende of outward ceremonies is to set forth Gods praise and glory Verse 3. The Lord that made heauen and earth i. the God of all maiestie glory power c. sée Psalme 121 2 also Psalme 124 8 blesse thée vz. with all goodnesse and fauour out of Sion where the arke the sure testimonye of his fauoure and presence was so that here they acknowledge in the firste place his power and in the seconde his fatherlye loue which two must neuer be sundered but alwayes ioyned together for the strengthening of the fayth of gods children And whether he speaketh this in the person of the Priestes whose office it was to blesse the people as Numbers 6 23 or in his own person as praying for them and testifying his great loue vnto them it is not muche materiall Do. Verse 1. teacheth vs to exhort and prouoke all men yea the very ministers of God if they be negligent to the performance of their dutie Ver. 2 teacheth vs that Gods children should alwayes ioyne prayer and thanksgiuing vnto God together Ver. 3 teacheth vs in all holy affection and vnfeigned loue to pray for others as for our selues Psalme 135. IN my iudgement Di. this Psalme may bee diuided rightly into two partes In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faythfull of what state or condition so euer they bee to prayse the Lorde shewing certaine causes that may leade them thereto as his mercy his power his wonderful workes c. from ver 1. to the end of the 12. In the second he sheweth what great difference there is betwéene the true God and all the counterfeite Gods of the Gentiles exhorting al the faithful generally and the Priestes and Leuites particularly to prayse that true God whose seruice they professed from ver 13. to the end of the Psalme The title is prayse yée the Lorde sée this expounded before Psalme 106. Se. also Psalme 113. in the titles so that this title séemeth to comprehend the argument of the Psalme as though the whole Psalme did nothing else but prouoke men to prayse God Ver. 1. Prayse the name of the Lord i. his maiesty power goodnes c. as sundrie times before and namely Psal 20.1 and Psal 124.8 ye seruants of the Lorde this I referre generally to all as Psalm 134.1 but specially to the priests praise him this doubling of the exhortation séemeth to set out as mens dulnes and vnaptnes to the same so the excellency of the thing it selfe Ver. 2. Ye that stand in the house of the Lorde i. ye priestes specially and chiefly because they ought by their duety to shewe the way vnto others and in the courtes of the house of our God i. in those courtes that did appertein to the temple of the Lord amongst which the people had some which place is called 2. Chro. 4.9 the great court and this is the reason why though I referre it chiefely to the Priestes and Leuites yet I would haue it also to be vnderstood that this exhortation is directed to the people likewise Verse 3. Prayse ye the Lorde vz. for his wonderful kindnes and loue sée Psal 134.1 for the Lorde is good vz. euen of his owne nature and from that abundaunt goodnesse which is in him floweth all goodnesse which wee haue and this is as it were the first generall cause why men shoulde prayse him sing prayses vnto his name i. extol his maiesty power c. as before ver 1. for it is a comely thing vz. to do so meaning by comely pleasant and profitable sée Psal 133.1 also Psalm 92.1 Ver. 4. For the Lorde vz. whom I exhort you to praise and magnifie hath chosen vz. of his infinite mercy goodnes Iaakob i. the faithfull séede and posterity of Iaakob to himselfe i. to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe and vz. he hath fréely chosen for here you must repeat or vnderstand that word Israel i. the true Israelites or the Israel of God as Psal 124.1 for his chiefe treasure i. for a people whom hee maketh more account of by many degrees then men do of their chiefest treasures Sée Exod. 19.5 The Hebrewe worde signifieth treasure gathered together of verse most exquisite thinges as pearles precious stones or such like And in this verse is conteined a particular cause to prouoke thankfulnes vz. that GOD chose from al the nations of the earth the issue and séed of Abraham to bee his people Ver. 5. For I know vz. both by his worde workes and myne owne experience that the Lord vz. whom we serue is gret vz. in power might and that our Lorde vz. whom we worship according to his will reuealed in his word is aboue al Gods i. is higher and mightier then they whether they be Angels and magistrates to whom this name is sometimes giuen or idoles which the vaine people worship whose vanity he doeth afterwardes declare in this Psalme Ver. 6. Whatsoeuer pleased the Lord i. whatsoeuer it liked him to do that did he vz. because no power was able to resist him in heauen and in earth in the Sea and in al depthes i. euery where for no place is excepted from his power and presence as Psalm 139.7.8 c. and howe true this is the particular examples of his woorde doe declare specially these two the vniuersall flood and the confusion of Babel Gene. 7.8.11 chapt and in this verse is conteyned a thirde cause wherefore men should prayse God and that is the great power of God declared not onely in
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.
by benefites past hee assureth himselfe of deliuerance from dangers present and in time to come diddest draw me out of the wombe he meaneth that by Gods speciall power and goodnes he was borne thou gauest me hope vz. that thou wouldest nourish and defend me at my mothers breasts i. when I did sucke and could not defend or helpe my selfe ver 10. I was cast vppon thée i. committed vnto thy prouidence and protection from the wombe i. so soone as I was borne came into the world not denying also but that by his goones hee was preserued continually before thou art my God vz. that doest defend nourish succour me ver 11. Be not farre c. q.d. séeing I haue heretofore receiued so many benefites from thée do not now depart from mee yea I so much the more earnestly craue thy helpe and presence nowe first because affliction is nigh secondly because there is none that can help me but thou ver 12. Many this word noteth the multitude of his enemies yong this word noteth their lustines courage bulles this word is wel expounded in the Geneua note i. are before and behind and on euery side by which we may sée that his troubles were great and almost impossible for him to escape out of them mightie this woorde noteth their force and power bulles of Bashan This is the name of the countrie which did apperteine to the people of the Iewes and was full of pastures whereof mention is made at large Deut. 3.1.2 c. And by bulles of Bashan hee meaneth very fat and mighty ones such as Bashan did féede sée Deut. 32.14 ver 13. They gape vpon me c. q.d. they come vpon me with open mouth to deuoure me euen as a deuouring roaring Lion doth for his pray sée Amos. 3.4 1. Pet. 5.8 ver 14. Amend thus I am powred out like water he meaneth by this maner of speach that he is as it were almost past al recouery as of whom no more account is to be made then of water spilt vpon the ground my bones are out of ioynt in this verse hee doeth by large maner of speaches declare the greatnes of the feare griefe he was in as he did before Psa 6.6 Mine heart is like waxe i. soft and tender it is molten in the middest of my bowels hee now sheweth in what respect his hart is like wax by these words he describeth his fainthartednes ver 15. My strength i. my naturall moisture whereby life strength is maintained is dried vp like a potsheard i. is woÌ„derfully decaied and there is almost no more moysture left in mee then in a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my iawes i. I am brought very lowe and weake so that I can not wagge my tongue in my mouth as it were into the dust of death by these wordes he meaneth the graue the earth of it which is so called because none are there laid but dead folkes His purpose is to declare that through the vehemency of his afflictions all hope of his life in a maner was taken away ver 16. For dogges before ver 12.13 He compared his enemies to bulles and Lions now he resembleth them to dogs for their snarling at him and biting of him and the assembly i. great troupes multitudes they pearced my hands and my féete this is spoken of Dauid in respect of the daungers his enemies kept him in as though he had had no féet to flée away nor hands to defend him selfe but in Christ it was most truly performed indéed as appeareth Ioh. 20.25 Where mention is made of nailes ver 17. I may tel al my bones i. I am so fallen away with griefe and anguish that I haue nothing left but skinne and bone Yet they behold me and looke vpon me vz. with great pleasure ioy whereas if they had any compassion they should pity my case ver 18. They part my garments among them If we referre it to Dauid then he meaneth by garments other things that he possessed noting that they dealt with him his goods as they that in some victory had goteen a pray but if we referre it to Christ then is it to be vnderstood of his ordinary apparell and garments in déed as appeareth Ioh. 19.23.24 And cast lottes both to auoide contention that euery one might know his share and portion ver 19. Farre off vz. from me lest I be swallowed vp and drowned ver 20. My soule i. my life as wee haue often times had it before from the sword i. from peril of violent cruel death vnderstanding by the instrument that the wicked vseth to execute his rage and wrath by the thing it selfe From the power of the dogge i. of mine enemies and wicked men sée ver 16. Of this Psalme the singular number put for the plural ver 21. Lions mouth sée ver 13. of this Psalme and answere me i. graciously here me and graunt my request from the hornes of the Vnicornes i. from the present and perilous daungers of mine aduersaries It is Dauids maner as sufficiently appeareth in this Psalme to resemble his enemies to beasts Vnicornes are very wild beasts and as some write of them wil hardly or not at al be tamed ver 22. Thy name i. thy vertue power grace as Psal 20.1.5.7 Vnto my brethren i. to the Israelites that are of the same nation and religion with me sée Rom. 9.3 In the middest of the congregation i. openly before thy people assembled to praise thée ver 23. Séed of Iaakob put for posterity and when hee saith séed of Israel hee meaneth the same thing for Iaakob was called Iaakob and Israel If you referre it to Dauids time then it belongeth to the Iewes If to Christ and his time then to all the faithfull ver 24. The affliction of the poore i. the trouble and anguish that he was in the prophet meaneth that God did not lesse regard the good people for their pouertie and affliction as commonly men do but rather made the greater account of them hid his face vz. as men are wont to do who for lothsomnes as they say but in nisenes in déed can not behold those that are in affliction he called i. praied he heard i. accepted him and his prayers ver â—5 My praise shal be of thée i. thou art and shalt be the cause of my foundation of my praises by reason of the wonderful mercies that I haue receiued from thee In the great congregation i. when the greatest multitude shal méet to prayse thee he noteth that he wil do it publikely as before ver 22. My vowes they were wont when they were in any danger to vowe a peace offring to the Lord to be performed after their deliuerance out of it so did Iephte which was done to testifie their thankfull mindes for the benefites receiued before them i. in their sight that feare him i. worship and serue him meaning God of whom he speaketh now in the
third person whereas in the beginning of this verse he had spoken of him in the second ver 26. The poore shal eate he regardeth the maner that the people had in banqueting at their sacrifices of which you may sée an example 1. Sam. 1. In Helkanah and his familie in these sacrifices hée promiseth to exerceise his charitie towards his godly brethren whom hee vnderstandeth here by poore shewing that his offrings shal be so plentiful that euery one shal be satisfied they that séeke after the Lord vz. of a single hart to serue and worship him your heart he chaungeth the person shal liue for euer q.d. the hearts that had beene before as it were dead through afflictions shall through manifestation of Gods grace and goodnes be marueilously remoued ver 27. is a prophecie of the calling of the Gentiles q.d. this grace shall stretch not to the Iewes only but to the Gentiles who beholding the wonderful works that God hath done for his people shal come to true religion which they neuer tasted of al the ends of the world i. the people dwelling in the vttermost coasts of the earth putting the places conteining for the partes conteined shall remember themselues vz. howe long they haue béene in blindnes and superstition and where he speaketh of al he meaneth of a very great nūber turne to the Lord vz. from their dead Idols as S. Paul 1. Thes 1.9 Ver. 28. For the kingdome q.d. it can not be but that the gentiles shal come to the Lorde for he that hath the kingdome in his owne hande will drawe them to his worship and seruice ver 29. The Prophet declareth that of al states some shall come to worship God with him and be partaker of those sacrifices which hee would offer to the Lord by them that be fat in the earth he meaneth the rich mightie men shal eat vz. of the sacrifices worship vz. God by giuing him thanks al they that go downe into the dust i. such as are through affliction so humbled that there séemeth to be little oddes betwéene them the graue in the 15. ver of this Psalm he called it dust of death shal bow before him i. serue and worship him in his sight the outward signe of worship put for worship it selfe euen he that can not quicken his owne soule first marke the chaunging of the number from the plural to the singular next vnderstand by soule life as before ver 20. in this Psalm thirdly by quickning of the soule vnderstand him that being at deaths dore as it were is not able to prolong his life one minute of an houre q.d. euen those that séeme to be as it were dead and not able to do any thing for themselues shal through god be restored againe come to worship him with the rest of the faithful ver 30. their séed i. the godlies posterity for a generation or rather as Immanuel readeth it in euery generation meaning that these shal be alwaies called and counted the séed of God and a people whom he wil alwaies take care of and delight in ver 31. They shal come i. the fathers and their posterity and shall declare i. set out as it were from hand to hand deliuer ouer his righteousnes i. the faithfulnes that hee vseth in the defence of his wherof Dauids deliuerance gaue certaine proofe for by deliuering him out of dangers violences he shewed himselfe iust vnto a people that shal be borne i. vnto their posterity and stocke because he hath done it i. declared his righteousnes and faithfulnes in deliuering and preseruing of mée Ver. 1. Gods children are many times in their afflictions Do. brought almost to dispaire ver 2. God doth not alwaies immediatly heare euen the heartie praiers of his seruants ver 3. Sheweth that though God do not alwaies heare the praiers of his seruants yet he alwaies remaineth holy and iust ver 4. Good fathers are in good things to be followed also trust in God to be deliuered out of danger through him as a notable meane to obteine it for God neuer destituteth his ver 5. Praier is necessary and méete in the time of affliction ver 6. Gods children are wonderfully abased in the sight of wicked men ver 7. It is no new thing that the children of God are made scoffing stocks to the people ver 8. The vngodly do not only despite gods children but euen his owne holy maiestie ver 9.10 Teach vs to hang continualy vpon God in whom wée liue moue and haue our being ver 11. The more that troubles increase the more néed we haue to be earnest with God ver 12.13 Set out the rage and cruelty of the wicked ver 14.15 Describe the pitiful state of gods children ver 19. In all our distresses we must haue recourse to the Lord. ver 22.23 Teach not onely to bée thankful our selues but also to stirre vp others thereto ver 24. Setteth out Gods wonderful mercy that neuer refuseth his no not in their greatest misery ver 27. Is a prophecie of the vocation of the Gentiles ver 29. God hath of al sorts and conditions some that feare him ver 31. Teacheth care for posterity Psalme 23. THis Psalme hath two parts first he doth darkly Di. as it were in an alegorie declare gods goodnes and mercy towards him from ver 1. to the ende of the 4. In the second hee declareth the same thing nore plainly assuring himselfe of gods goodnes likewise in time to come from ver 5. to the end of the Psalme This title is expounded before Psalme 4. Ver. 1. Se. My shepheard vnder this similitude he mindeth to set out the great care that God had ouer him I shal not want vz. any thing that he séeth to bee good or néedfull for me ver 2. Hee maketh mee to rest the Prophet proceedeth in this metaphor shewing Gods care ouer him noting thrée things to expresse it by first the swéete and quiet rest hee giueth vnto his as Psal 127.2 secondly plentifulnes of food vnderstood by these words gréene pastures and thirdly cōmodiousnes of place to drinke at to refresh himselfe ment by these words the stil waters vz. void of dangers yet hauing certaine cold aire comming from them to refresh ver 3. He restoreth my soule i. he bringeth my life which through weakenes was as it were at deaths dore backe againe paths of righteousnes i. in righteous waies vpright conuersation for his names sake i. for his goodnes and mercy sake ver 4. Though I shoulde walke vz. either through ignoraunce or weakenes through the valley of the shadowe of death i. through most manifold manifest dangers so that I were very nigh to death I will feare no euil vz. that can come vnto me for thou art with me vz. by thy power and presence to defend and comfort me thy rod and thy staffe he putteth the instruments that shepheards did vse hauing care ouer their flockes for the care that
the Lord who shewed his glory and presence from betwéen the Cherubins in the arke ver 8. who is this c. the demaund or question of the faithful people the Lord strong and mightye this is an aunswere to the former question whereby for the strengthening of their faith they are admonished that God armed with inuincible power commeth to defend his people and to beat downe his enemies ver 10. The Lord of hostes i. he whom al hosts both heauenly and earthly do obay and therfore most strong mighty euen in battaile i. not only in warlike strength but in the very pinch and brunt of battaile Do. Ver. 1. describeth the largenesse of Gods gouernment so that nothing is exempted therfrom for though he speake only of the earth and thinges contayned therein yet he mindeth not to exclude the heauenly creatures Ver. 2. Setteth out Gods power and prouidence Ver. 3. Teacheth men to haue regarde to ioine themselues to his church in this life and to haue a speciall care of etexnal life Ver. 4 Teacheth the brideling of our hands the reformation of our harts the subduing of the vaine and wicked affections of our minds and to take héed that we abuse not an othe so that to sweare is not forbidden as the Anabaptists imagine but to sweare deceitfully and wrongfully ver 5. setteth out gods goodnes plentifully rewarding the holy indeuours of his children ver 6. Teacheth that care and zeale to worship God must be in his children ver 7.9 Teacheth men to be prepared to receaue the Lord when he commeth to them ver 8. and 10. is a particular description of Gods power and glory which serueth for comfort to his children because he will deliuer them and for terror to his enemies because he will punish them Psalme 25. IN this Psalme Di. the Prophets prayers are wonderfullye intermedled and therefore it canne be hardlye well diuided Sometimes he prayeth deliuerance frō his enimies shewing what fruit shall come thereby to him and others ver 1.2.3.15.16.17.18.19.20.21 sometimes he prayeth the Lorde to instruct and teach him and others also in the right way shewing how God dealeth with his children ver 4.5.6.8.9.10.12.13.14 and sometimes he confesseth his sinnes praying pardon for them and shutteth vp this Psalme with a prayer for the Church ver 7.11 18.22 The title is expounded before Ver. 1. My soule i. Se. hart and all that is within me his words shewing that in the outward he gaue himselfe to the Lordes seruice and this spéech proueth that his inward man was ioined therewith ver 2. Let me not be confounded vz. by receiuing a repulse at thy hands ver 3. mend thus yea let none that trust in thée be confounded and ioyne it to the former thus q.d. I pray not only for my self but for the rest of the faithfull that transgresse vz. against me in resisting my kingdom that without any cause on my behalf giuen them and so doth the Chaldee paraphrase expoūd it ver 4 shew me thy ways vz. by or in which thou wouldst haue me to walk meaning by waies the order of life which God himself prescribeth the same he meaneth by his paths as we haue had it before ver 5. Lead me forth vz. without daunger of mine enimies in thy truth i. as thou hast promised to shielde mee from them and teach me vz. the same thy truth teaching me to finde it and féele it by experience the God of my saluation i. such a one as I fynd a present helpe to saue me frō and in al dangers all the day i. continually with an vnwearied constancy Ver. 6. Remember thy tender mercies that I maye féele them now as thou hast shewed them always hertofore ver 7. The sins of my youth i. those that I did commit in my youth nor my rebellions vz agaynste thy maiestie euen for thy goodnesse sake q.d. though my sinnes deserue the withdrawing of thy fauor yet think vpon thy mercy and not vppon my iniquities ver 8. Gracious righteous i. merciful to penitent persons and vprighte in the execution of his iudgements Dauid vseth these termes to strike vp himself therby to praier sinners i. all one and other for none are without sin in the way or rather the way for so it is in the Hebrue text meaning a conuersation the God himselfe alloweth of for so it is ver 9. though al do not imbrace it ver 9. in iudgement i. with a thorow iudgement meaning therby aduisedly rightly it séemeth to be a metaphor taken from them that guide others shew thē the way ver 10. paths of the Lord sée ver 4. of this Psalm are mercy and truth i. are most mercifull faithful because that in thē God giueth testimony vnto thē of his mercy truth meaning by truth gods faithfulnesse in performing that which he promiseth his couenant his testimonies i. his Law which is called his couenaunt because that thereby God maketh a couenaunt or bargayne as it were with vs that we should kéepe his law for testimonies sée Psalme 19.7 Verse 11. For thy names sake i. for thy glory and mercies sake least otherwise by my iniquity thy glory might be called into question Verse 12. The way sée verse 4. of this Psalme Verse 13. His soule i. his whole man a part put for the whole Ver. 14. Secrete of the Lorde i. the law of the Lord which is called secret because we cannot vnderstande it of oure selues without light from him Ver. 15. Mine eyes vz. not of my body only but of my fayth and soule are euer toward the Lord i. are earnestly lifted vp and stedfastly fixed vpon him as Psalme 123. ver 1.2 my féete i. me my selfe a part for the whole out of the net i. out of the snares and daungers that myne enemies haue layde to catche me in Ver. 16. Turne thy face i. thy fauourable and louing countenaunce for I am desolate i. vtterlye destitute of helpe vnlesse thou helpe as Psal 22.11.20 and poore i. maruailously afflicted and so haue you this worde sundry times vsed in the Booke of Psalmes Ver. 17. The sorrowes of my harte i. The gréefes and sorrowes that touche and possesse of my harte are inlarged i. multiplied to a wonderfull numbers so that I am hardly able to thinke vpon them with my hart ver 19. with cruell hatred i. with hatred that will neuer be appeased but by committing some crueltye agaynst me ver 20. Soule put for whole man as ver 13. before in this Psalm ver 22. Israell put for the faithfull Israelites and Gods church as Psalme 14 7. Psal 125.5 Psal 131.3 Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth that prayer must ve made to GOD onlye Verse 2. that seruice cannot bee performed but by trust in God ver 4. We are ignoraunt euen the best of vs in Gods worde till the Lorde lighten and teache vs. ver 5. We must continuallye hang vppon GOD by an assured fayth ver 6. Gods mercye is the onely
a straunger another reason brought to moue God to mercy taken from his miserable estate sée 1. Chron. 29.5 Psal 119.19 where you shall haue almost the same wordes as all my Fathers he meaneth of the faythfull and godly The sence of this verse is q.d. Hearken O Lord vnto my prayers by which I pray thée that I may be deliuered from this great gréefe wherein I am I aske this at thy hands not that I am very desirous of this life but because I féele my selfe vnable of my selfe to abide such torments for I am with thée or before thée or thou being witnesse of the matter a straunger on the earth neither doe I acknowledge my countrie to be here wherein I follow my Fathers Abraham Isaac Iaakob c. who because they tended towards thée were not taken with this Worlde wherein they were conuersant but vsed themselues as straungers in another countrie hauing alwayes a minde to their home Ver. 13. From me i. from plaguing me so gréeuously my strength vz. decayed and as it were consumed thorow gréefe and vexation before I go hence vz. out of this world meaning before I dye and be not vz. aliue here on the earth amongst men Do. Ver. 1. It is good to striue to the brideling of our spéech speciallye in the presence of the wicked who will insult ouer vs if we slippe in our wordes Ver. 2. It is a hard matter to abstaine from extremities for if we are not too muche giuen to babling we be ouerflow tongued to good thinges Ver. 3. Impaciencye must be fought vgainst ver 4. Curiositie striuing to know that which doth not appertain to vs must be brideled ver 5.6 Describe the vanity shortnes of mans life and the vncertainty of his actions ver 7. God only is to be trusted vnto Ver. 8. Prayer for deliueraunce from sinne punishments due thereto would be often made Ver. 9. We should be well content with whatsoeuer God doeth Ver. 10. We are not able to indure the least of Gods punishments ver 11. Setteth out two things Gods iustice in correcting and mans sinne that pulleth correction and punishment from God Ver. 12. God in tyme of greatest affliction must be most earnestly and hartily called vpon Ver 13. If God with-holde not his wrath we shall all be consumed for our sinnes Psalme 40. THis Psalme may be deuided into thrée parts Di. In the first the Prophet declareth what great mercies the Lord had shewed to him and what he will doe for them that trust in him from verse 1. to the end of the fourth In the second he sheweth the infinitenesse of Gods workes and his owne readinesse to serue the Lorde shewing howe he had published Gods goodnes and mercy from ver 5. to the end of the tenth In the third part he prayeth for his owne deliueraunce wishing also as the ouerthrow of the vngodly so the prosperity of the good and faithful ones from ver 11. to the end of the Chapter The title is expounded before ver 1. For the Lord i. for him Se. and for help frō him inclined to me i. shewed himself fauourable as they do that bow towards one Ver. 2. Horrible pit i. pit full of feare and horror meaning by that spéech most fearefull and great daungers mirie clay by these wordes he noteth both the greatnesse of his daunger and the continuance therein by the name claye which is both weighty and also wil cleaue fast to sée Psalme 69.2 Set my féete vpon the Rock i. hath placed me where I may be safe from al iniurie meaning a most safe place ordered my goings vz. in such sorte that I am sure from stumbling or falling Verse 3. Hath put into my mouth i. hath giuen mee an occasion a new song of praise i. newly to sing a song of praise vnto him or take new song for a singular and exquisite song sée Psalme 33.3 Many shall sée it i. many shall know the benefites that God hath bestowed on me and feare vz. God the giuer thereof Ver. 4. Maketh the Lord his trust i. that trusteth in him regardeth not i. maketh little or no account of sée Psalme 15.4 as thorow their force to be brought to feare them more then God the proude vz. those that boast themselues of the things they haue turne aside vz. from the truth to lies i. lying imaginations as before Psalme 4.2 Verse 5. He ascrybeth to Gods workes not only wonderfulnes but innumerablenesse in respecte of man count in order no nor yet out of order because they are incomprehensible and infinit to thée vz. or before thée that art the only dealer therein thy thoughts this the Prophet attributeth to God that thereby he might the more easily set out Gods wonderfull affection and loue towardes vs and ouer vs. Ver. 6. Sacrifice and offring betwéene these two words I make this difference that Sacrifice respecteth sinne offrings and the other voluntarye and fréewill offrings meaning by these two all other kinds whatsoeuer thou diddest not desire vz. in respect of obedience as 1. Samuel 15.22 for otherwise God regardeth them as parts and péeces of his seruice which he himselfe prescribed but when hipocrites by cold ceremonies would thinke to appease god without true godlinesse then doth the Lord reiect them as Psalme 50.8.9 c. for mine eares hast thou prepared or as Immanuel readeth hast thou boare◠through If you take the Geneua Text there the note is good if you followe Immanuel then he meaneth acceptation and taking of him to be his faithfull seruaunt this is applyed to Christ Heb. 10.5 Verse 7. Then sayde I lo I come vz. readilye and willingly when I vnderstoode thy will in the roales of thy booke i. in the law and this he speaketh according to the Iewes both in time heretofore and at this day who writ in parchment or paper and afterwardes role them vp because they will longer last roaled then folded written of mee i. concerning mée Verse 8. Thy Lawe is within my harte i. I doe earnestlye and from the bottome of my hart reuerence imbrace and loue thy lawe sée Philip. 1.8 Verse 9. Thy righteousnesse i. howe iust and good thou art in the performaunce of thy promises Refrayne my lippes vz. from declaring that O Lord thou knowest vz. that this is true that I speake and that I vtter it from my hart Verse 10. Is verye well expounded in the Geneua note Verse 11. He beséecheth the Lord to shewe his mercye and truth towards him and to make him by effects to féele the same Verse 12. Conteyneth a reason why the Lord should shew him mercy because hee is in suche great affliction haue compassed mée vz. on euery side within and without my sinnes i. both my sinnes and the punishmentes that lye vppon mée for the same sée Psalme 32.4 Psalme 38.2.3.4 and hée meaneth by that whiche followeth that they pressed him so downe that hée was not able to lift vp his heade or as a man
the middest of iudgements which fall vppon others they are safely deliuered Ver. 54. Sheweth that the Lord is faithful in all his promises accomplishing the same the same is taught also in Ver. 55. Which serueth wonderfully to the strengthening of our faith Ver. 56. Setteth out the nature of desperate wicked ones who neither for gods heauy iudgements executed vpon others nor for his mercies bestowed vppon them are any whit at all bettered Ver. 57. Teacheth that euill children treade in the steppes many times of their euill fathers and therefore fathers not so much to be stickt to Verse 58. Teacheth that idolatrie and idoles do greatly prouoke Gods wrath against them that make vse allowe or maintaine the same Ver. 59. Sheweth that all sinne is naked before God also that out sinnes seperate betwéene God and vs which is confirmed also in the 60. verse following Verse 61. Teacheth that sinne bringeth in the subuersion of religion as it were Verse 62. Sheweth that sinne also destroyeth the politique state Verse 63 6â— Declare that God in the execution of his iudgements spareth no persons or condition that hath transgressed Ver. 65. Declareth that God will not alwaies afflict his children and let his enemies triumph ouer them Verse 66. Setteth out Gods iudgementes vppon the enemies of his people Verse 67. Sheweth that for the exercises of his seruice and worship is not tyed to men or places Verse 68. Teacheth that looke what place or what manner God appointeth for his worship that ought onely to bee obserued Verse 69. Setteth out the excellency and perpetuity as it were of the Church Verse 70. Teacheth that God chuseth not as man chuseth the great but the weake and feeble persons to the ende that all the glory might bée giuen vnto him Sée 1. Corinth 1.26.27 c. Verse 71. Doeth excellently describe the duety of godly and faithfull Magistrates Verse 72. Teacheth all by Dauids example painefully and wisely to trauaile in the offices castinges and places that the Lorde setteth them in Psalme 79. THis Psalme Di. being a pitifull discription of the miseries which Gods Church indured may as séemeth to mée bee diuided into thrée partes In the first the faithfull set out the great outrage and crueltie of their enemies and the distresses that they were in from verse 1. to the ende of the 4. In the second is conteyned an earnest prayer that they make as for their owne deliueraunce so for the ouerthrow of the wicked from verse 5. to the end of the 8. verse In the thirde they alleadge certaine reasons as it were to moue the Lord to take pity vpon them promising prayse and thankesgiuing to the Lorde for their deliueraunce and this reacheth from verse 9. to the ende of the Psalme The title hath béene sundry times expounded before and namely Psal 50. Se. Verse 1. O God the heathen either the Babylonians or Assyrians Sée 2. Chronic. 36.17.18.19 or else the people that came with Antiochus who marueilously prophaned the temple as appeareth 1. Machab. 1.46.47 c. also in Ioseph Antiq. Iudais lib. 12. cap. 7. For of both these it may bée vnderstood are come vz. with outrage and cruelty into thine inheritaunce i. the lande of Canaan afterwardes called the lande of Iudah or Israel and as a principall part of that lande the Citie of Ierusalem which GOD also had chosen to be the place of his aboade Thy holye temple vz. which was at Ierusalem and was called holy because the holy GOD gaue testimonies of his presence there and because holy exercises were vsed there haue they desiled both by spoyling it sheadding blood in it and by bringing into it all prophane and wicked thinges contrary to the lawe Sée the places before noted and mâ—â—e Ierusalem heapes of stones i. haue defaced the buildinges thereof and pulled downe the walles hee meaneth by this speach a great and pitiful ruine to beholde Verse 2. The dead bodyes of thy seruantes vz. which were slayne by the rage and cruelty of their enemies yeelding a constant confession to thy trueth and withstanding their pollutions haue they giuen to bée meate vnto the foules of heauen i. they haue cast them heere and there to the ende that they might bee rauened of the fowles of the ayre for by heauen hee meaneth the ayre in this place and here hee secteth out the cruelty of the enemies who woulde not shewe them so much fauour as to let them bee buryed This in déede is reckoned among the curses of Gods lawe Deutronom 28.26 But yet for all that wée may not condemne the faythfull who in respect of the afflictions of this life doe differ little or nothing from the vnbeléeuers and the flesh of thy Saintes vz. they haue cast or giuen and hée calleth Gods people Saintes because the Lorde accounted them holy and by his spirite had prepared and apted them to the workes of sanctification vnto the beastes of the earth i. vnto the wilde beastes that liue as it were by dead carion or to the dogges to bee deuoured of them as was the flesh of that wicked Iezabel 2. Kinges 9. verse 36. This is added but to aggrauate their cruelty and inhumanitie Verse 3. Their blood vz. of the Saintes and good people haue they i. the enemies and aduersaries shed like waters i. plentifully and in great abundaunce or else thus the enemies made no more account of mens liues and bloods then they did of water both senses are good but I rather allow the former rounde about Ierusalem hée meaneth both without the City and within without the city before the enemies came thither and within after they had taken the City q.d. there was no place frée from their cruelty and violence and there was none vz. either of their owne nation that durst or of others that woulde shew them so much curtesie as to bury them Ver. 4. Wée are a reproch vnto our neighbours vz. by the meanes of the misery which they sée vs in they thereby taking an occasion to reproch vpbrayd vs and by neighbours he vnderstandeth the people that bordered vpon their country as the Ammonits Moabites c. which also may appeare by that folowing in the verse vnto them that are rounde about vs vz. dwelling which word inserted after are will make the sense plaine And note that the faithfull doe not here complaine of the mockeries that were directed against their owne persons but of those also which after a sort did redound to the dishonour of God and the disgrace of his law Ver. 5. Lord howe long wilt thou bee angry for euer q.d. wilt thou neuer put an ende to our miseries which are testimonies of thy heauy wrath and continuall anger against vs Immanuel readeth this part of the verse better thus how long vz. wilt thou withhold help and ayde from vs set the wicked insult ouer vs as they do and then hee addeth an other interrogation thus wilt thou be angry for euer q.d. shal there be
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
own Ver. 6. teacheth that God alone is he that deliuereth his people from all dangers and distresses Ver. 7 teacheth that the Lord is nigh to earnest supplicatiōs requests of his poore afflicted ones Ver. 8.9 teacheth that our obediēce to God is no better manifested by any meanes then by remouing al idolatry al the occasions therof whatsoeuer Ver. 10. setteth out Gods large liberalitie towards his people who many times giueth more then they do aske Ver. 11. describeth the malice corruption stubbornesse of mans hart Verse 12. sheweth how God iustlye punisheth sinne by sinne and that there are no ways so hurtful to man as those which he himselfe deuiseth Verse 13 expresseth Gods singuler care loue that he hath to man and his saluation Ver. 14.15 teach that obedience faithfully performed to the Lord not only draweth from him iudgements against all the enemies of his people but continual fauour and flourishing to themselues Ver. 16. teacheth that those that feare and serue the Lord shall want nothing that is good and that rather then Gods children shal want the Lord wil extraordinarily nourish and maintaine them with abundaunce of al things both profitable and pleasaunt Psalme 82. Di. I Take it that this Psalme maye bee deuided into two partes In the firste the Prophet reproueth vngodly Magistrates for their partialityes exhorting them to the faythfull execution of their office from verse 1. to the end of the fourth In the seconde he setteth out their carelesnesse and pronounceth iudgement agaynst them for the same beséeching the Lord to execute iustice and iudgement seing they were negligent from verse 5. to the ende of the Psalme Se. The Title hath bene expounded sundry times before and namelye Psalme 50. in the Title thereof Verse 1. GOD standeth vz. as the théefe and principall to sée what matters passe and howe they passe in the assemblye of Gods i. in euery Session or sitting of Princes Magistrates or Iudges whom he calleth Gods because in them appeareth some speciall part of Gods Maiestie now when God is present with them it is not as an inferior but as the Lorde of Magistrates and the Author of all iust iudgementes sée Deutron 1. ver 17. also 2. Chronic. 19. verse 6. he iudgeth among Gods i. hée kéepeth his authoritye and preheminence aboue all the Iudges and Gouernors of this worlde Verse 2. How long will ye iudge vniustly q.d. Will ye go still on forward in corruption and naughtinesse shall not Gods forbearing of you bring you to amendment and accepted the persons of the wicked i. peruert iustice and iudgement for their sakes and causes Verse 3. Doe right nowe he teacheth them what they shoulde doe indéede to the poore and fatherlesse i. to those that are in misery distresse and not able by any mean of man to helpe themselues or their causes sée Hosea 14 3. doe iustice i. performe that with iustice and equitie requireth at your handes and this is the same matter expressed in other wordes Verse 4. Deliuer the poore and néedy vz. from the outrage and iniurie that the mightye men offer them saue them i. set them frée safe and sounde from the hande i. from the mighte and power of the vngodly Ver. 5. They i. these wicked vngodly iudges or Magistrates know not i. approue not neither allow or performe good things for otherwise it is not to be doubted but they had knowledge sufficient sée Matth. 7.23 vnderstand nothing vz. of right and iudgement to put the same in execution practise for it must not be vnderstood as though that they were sencelesse they walke in darkenesse i. they take euen delight and pleasure as it were to bleare their own iudgements and light and then how great is that darkenesse Mat. 6.23 albeit al the foundations of the earth be moued q.d. al the troubles confusions of the land procéede from this iniquitye of theirs and yet they though all things be out of order sit stil and take their ease neuer séeking redresse Dauid was of another mind as appeareth Psal 75.3 vpon which looke for the better vnderstanding of these wordes foundations of the earth Ver. 6. I haue saide we may refer these words either to God or the Prophet but I rather referre them to the Prophet q.d. I haue before vz. verse 1. confessed you to be Gods yeare Gods i. not only excellent great personages but such as exercise the very iudgements of God when you doe your office rightly 2. Chron. 19.6 and such as to whome God hath giuen his word Iohn 10.34 35. such as to whom God hath communicated part of his power Rom. 13.1.2 c. and ye are all children of the most high vz not in name only because he hath communicated vnto you some of his Titles but because you doe by his appointment succéede into some part of his iudicial authoritie which he hath cōmitted to you as princely parents doe to their children Ver. 7. But q.d. for al your glorious titles and great renoune by which you might séeme to promise vnto your selues lōg life and immortality as it were ye shall die as a man i. a cōmon ordinary death q.d. death shal no more feare you then other men sée Psal 49. almost thorowout and ye Princes vz. of the people for al your great state and pompe shal fal vz. by death like others vz. of the common sort of people some expounde it thus like others vz. Princes and mighty men which haue gone before you I would not greatly cōtend but me thinketh the other sence is plaine ynough Verse 8. O God the Prophet seing iustice to bee perished from the earth praieth the Lord to take the matter into his own hands rise vp vz. to iudge iustly séeing men are so negligent and carelesse iudge vz. with iustice and equitye the earth i. the people inhabiting the earth He prayeth that God would bring things which amongst men were confused into good order for thou shalte inherite al nations q.d. Thou whether they wil yea or no shalt haue power and gouernment ouer al people and therfore seing that office belongeth vnto thée take into thine own hand séeing men neglect the duties and charges that thou hast committed vnto them The first verse teacheth two things Do. first that Magistrates should deale with good consciences seing God beholdeth them secondly that people should reuerence Magistrates seing some part of Gods glory shineth forth in them Ver. 2. teacheth how wicked men abuse good things to their own condemnation and other mens hurt Ver. 3. 4. set out very liuely the Magistrates duety whiche consisteth of two parts in maintaining the good and punishing the euill Rom. 13.3 Ver. 5. Simple ignorance or malitious ignorance or both in Magistrates be the very nurses of all confusions in cōmon wealths kingdoms Ver. 6 teacheth vs to giue iust titles and honors euen to vniust magistrates alwayes reseruing that which belongeth to God sound and safe
themselues shall yeelde obedience vnto thée vnder these speeches the Prophet meaneth that they shal be deliuered from all deadly dangers which commonly men are subiect vnto such like thinges as these are foretold of the kingdome of Christ Isaiah 11.6.7.8 Hosea 2.18 Mark 16.18 Verse 14. Because he hath loued mée these are Gods owne wordes making an assured promise to the faithfull q.d. because the faithful people haue in a reuerent loue depended on mee and trusted in mee to the ende that their faith and loue might not be voyde and I be found inconstant in my promises therefore will I deliuer him i. set him frée vz. from all daungers troubles and feares and note that this and al that followeth vnto the end of the Psal the Prophet speaketh in the person of God I wil exalt him i. lift him vp and that into a verye high and safe place meaning hereby that hee will deliuer him and set him frée from all daunger and distresse because hee hath knowne my name i. because hée hath experience of my power and might féeling by triall what succour is to bée founde in mée and so hath learned to approue the same and trust in it Ver. 15. Hée shall call vpon me i. pray vnto mée and that in the time of his distresse and heauinesse and I will heare him i. graciously graunt him his request I will bée with him in trouble vz. not onely to comfort him that affliction ouerwhelme him not but also to deliuer him out of the same as it followeth in this verse and gloryfie him i. I wil aduaunce him to great glory and estimation q.d. I wil cause my glory for the loue that I beare him to shine in him and that shal bee both matter and occasion why other shall estéeme him as glorious and renowmed Ver. 16. With long life will I satisfie him q.d. if hée wish or desire long life I will giue it him and that in great measure and will shewe him my saluation i. I will make him féele by effect that I am his sauiour and deliuerer and I suppose that a man may take it further referring it to eternal life meaning by long life all the benefites and blessinges which concerne this life and by saluation eternal life and glory q.d. he shal be sure to haue both the one and the other Do. Verse 1. Teacheth vs alwaies in a stestfast faith to hang vpon the Lord Ver. 2. Teacheth them that haue had féeling of his goodnes to labour to bring other to a stedfast perswasion therein Ver. 3. Teacheth that if God deliuer vs not from dangers we shal daily and hourely fal into the same Ver. 4. Teacheth that they which féele themselues comprised vnder gods prouidence within the compasse of his gracious promises shal neuer miscary Ver. 5.6.7 Teach that a stedfast perswasion of gods power and goodnes surmounteth al the noysome dangers and distresses of this life whatsoeuer Ver. 7. Teacheth that in the middest of the greatest confusion and destruction that can be the Lord wil prouide for the safety of his as appeareth in the example of Noah and Lot Ver. 8. Teacheth that it is no smal comfort to the godly sensibly and plainely to perceiue the iudgements of God vppon the wicked and their vtter ouerthrowe Ver. 9. Teacheth that whosoeuer stedfastly beléeueth the Lorde onely to be his defence shal neuer quaile in his afflictions Ver. 10. Teacheth that God mercifully preserueth the faithful all that belongeth to them Ver. 11. Teacheth vs first in that God vseth Angels as meanes for our defence that therefore wee should vse the meanes not yet trusting in the meanes that the Lord hath giuē vs to performe any thing by secondly that God guideth those that are his in all their purposes and attempts Ver. 12. Teacheth Gods care not only ouer man himself but also ouer euery member and part of him yea the meanest part as the foote also it teacheth that vnlesse the Lorde vphold vs we shall doe nothing else but stumble and fal Ver. 13. Teacheth vs that God wil subdue all things vnto his elect and faithful people The Papists haue done great iniury to this text in appropriating it to the Pope only to whom it can no otherwise appertaine then to any other christian if he were a christian but for as much as hée renounceth Christ and is the very Antichrist indéed this doeth no whit at all belong vnto him Ver. 14. Teacheth two thinges first that the loue the faithful beare to the Lorde is neuer lost but the Lorde doeth rewarde a thousand fold secondly that this is a ready way to bee rid from daunger and feare in stedfast fayth to hang vppon the Lorde and his mighty power Verse 15. Conteineth first a singular spurre to prayer in that the Lorde promiseth to graunt the supplication of his seruauntes secondly a notable comfort in distresse for that the Lorde promiseth not onely to bee present with his in their trouble but also to deliuer them out of the same yea which is more to aduance them to great glory and safety Verse 16. Teacheth that they which vnfeignedlye serue God shall haue abundaunce of all blessings both concerning this life and the life to come Psalme 92 THis Psalme may be diuided into thrée partes Di. In the first the Prophet sheweth that it is méete for men to praise the Lorde and teacheth them howe and wherefore they shoulde doe it from verse 1. to the ende of the 5. In the seconde he declareth by what meanes and woorkes especially GOD purchaseth prayse amongest men and that is by punishing the wicked and maintaining the good from verse 6. to the ende of the 11. In the thirde hée Prophecieth of the great blessednesse that GOD will bestowe vppon his seruauntes and this reacheth from verse 12. to the ende of the Psalme The title A Psal song sée Psal 48. in the title for the Sabboth day Se. i. to be sung in the assembly vpon the Sabboth day vpon which day the people met for the publike exercises of the Church Ver. 1. It is a good thing vz. because it hath the promise of this life and of the life to come to praise the Lord vz. for his graces and benefites bestowed vppon vs hee meaneth by praysing a thanksgiuing which is a part of Gods seruice the performance of his whole seruice prescribed in his worde and to sing vnto thy name i. by prayses and thanksgiuings vnto thy maiesty to set forth the greatnes of thy excellency and power O most high this terme hath béene sundry tymes expounded before Ver. 2. To declare vz. by al the meanes that we can thy louing kindnes i. the mercy goodnes which thou shewest to thy seruants in the morning i. not only in that time which is very conuenient for prayer or thankesgiuing but hee meaneth thereby euery morning yea continuaunce in the action of thankesgiuing as shall afterwardes appeare and thy trueth i. thy faithfulnes in performaunce
some lesse triall Verse 19. In the multitude of my thoughtes in my heart i. while I did secretly and within my selfe thinke vppon many thinges hee calleth these perillous and doubtfull cares which hee had in his thoughtes which no doubt woulde haue ouerwhelmed him if the comfortes of God of which he speaketh afterwards had not refreshed him thy comfortes i. those comfortes that by thy spirite I receiue from thy nature and worde haue reioyced i. haue caused to reioyce or haue made glade my soule i. my life and whole man distressed with sundry sortes of heauinesses Verse 20. Hath the throne of iniquitie i. hath vniust iudgement and sentence hee putteth a wicked place for wicked matter and iudgement pronounced out of that place fellowshippe with thée i. doest thou iudge vniustly as wicked iudges doe Sée Gene. 18.25 which forgeth wrong for a lawe i. which deuiseth frameth and performeth cruelty as though it were right and according to the lawe and iustice and marke that hee calleth it the throne of iniquitie both because vniust men sit there and vniust sentences are pronounced there the whole verse together is q.d. thou in thy dealings O Lorde hast nothing common with vniust iudgement seates with vniust iudges or vniust sentences all which doe nothing else but oppresse other men with iniurie and wrong and that many times vnder the pretence of lawe and right Ver. 21. They i. the wicked and vngodly gather them together vz. in troupes and great companies and all to take counsell against the soule of the righteous i. against the life of the good man howe they may take it away from him and spoyle him of al that he hath and condemne vz. vniustly without cause the innocent blood i. the man that hath done them no harme putting blood a part of man for man himselfe and his whole life Verse 22. But the Lorde q.d. notwithstanding the mischieuous malice of the vngodly mentioned verse 21. yea the rather for that is my refuge i. a sure place whereunto I will flée to bée preserued from mine enemies and my God i. hée that hath alwayes shewed himselfe careful for mee and gracious to mée is the rocke of my hope i. is the sure stay and foundation of the hope that I haue q.d. I assuredly staye my selfe in none but in him alone Ver. 23. And hée will reuenge them their wickednesse vz. which they haue committed against him and others meaning by this manner of speach that hée will giue them the wages and hire which is due to so great transgression and destroy them i. vtterly ouerthrow them and bring them to naught in their owne malice i. in the mischiefe and euill that they haue deuised against the good meaning that their euill deuises shall fall vpon their owne heades and they shal be taken in the mischiefes wherein they thought to intrappe the good yea the Lorde our God shall destroy them q.d. he wil certainely destroy them and that by his great and sodaine iudgements the repeating of the same words noteth nothing else but the assured perswasion of the faithfull and the certaine destruction of the wicked Verse 1. Teacheth that it is comfortable to Gods children Do. and terrible to the wicked to knowe and féele that GOD is the auenger of al iniuries and wronges Verse 2. Teacheth that wée may safely praye against the malicious and insolent enemyes of Gods trueth Verse 3. Teacheth vs not to bée dismayed though the wicked preuaile much and long neither to prescribe GOD a tyme of deliuerance but with patience to beare and by earnest praier to labour the remouing of those crosses and trials Verse 4. Describeth the proude and cruell both wordes and gestures of the vngodly Verse 5. Setteth out their cruell and outragious déedes against Gods seruants Verse 6. Sheweth that they growe to such a height and harde heartednes and cruelty that they pity not them whome nature and curtesie woulde shewe compassion to Verse 7. Sheweth not onely that the vngodly flatter themselues in their sinnes but also that they imagine that either God will not beholde their iniquity or if hee doe that hee will not greatly regarde to punish them for it Verse 8. Teacheth vs to haue a care to instruct euen those that are most desperately wicked Verse 9. Teacheth vs that nothing that we doe or speake can bee hid from Gods eyes or eare Verse 10. Teacheth vs that God is no respecter of persons and that therefore wee shoulde not flatter our selues as though hée woulde forbeare vs. Verse 11. Teacheth that man and all his deuises are nothing in respect of the Lorde Verse 12. Teacheth that Gods corrections are to Gods children seales of his blessing vppon them also that this is a singular benefite to haue Gods will and worde made manifest vnto vs. Verse 13. Sheweth two thinges first that GOD will deliuer his out of all their distresses Secondly that the wicked shall bee ouertaken in the mischiefes of their owne heartes Verse 14. Teacheth that howe slippery or inconstant soeuer man bée to man yet GOD is alwayes fast and sure to those that are his Verse 15. Teacheth that howsoeuer GOD séeme for a time to deferre the execution of full and perfect iudgement yet hee will in the ende perfourme it in déede and the godly shall reioyce therein Verse 16. Teacheth that the number of those which boldly defende Gods seruants is very smal Ver. 17. Teacheth that vnlesse God kéepe vs euery steppe that wée steppe is a steppe vnto death Verse 18. Is very comfortable teaching vs that GOD is alwayes present with his to preserue them from all euill Ver. 19. Teacheth that nothing can more gladde men in this life in the middest of their heauinesses then to haue an eye to the comfortes which GOD hath set downe in his worde Verse 20. Setteth out the vprightnesse of GOD and of all his iudgements so that though men bée neuer so corrupt yet he is alwayes iust and holy in all his workes Verse 21. Paynteth out the conspiracye and crueltye of the wicked against the godly Verse 22. Teacheth vs in the middest of all these mischiefes to hang vppon the Lorde onely by an assured and stedfast fayth Verse 23. Setteth out the certaintye of that destruction and iudgement of the vngodly with which they shalbée ouertaken from the Lorde Psalme 95. Di. THis Psalme may bée diuided into thrée partes In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faithful to praise and serue God and this is conteyned in the two first verses and in the sixt verse In the seconde part hée sheweth the causes wherefore vz. for the gouernement of the worlde which is general and for the chusing of his Church which is particular Verse 3.4.5.7 In the thirde part the better to bring them vnto the perfourmance of this duety hée setteth before them a fearefull example and that in their owne fathers for the neglect of it from verse 8. to the ende of the Psalme Though this Psalme
haue no title yet it appeareth Hebre. 4.7 Se. that Dauid was the author thereof and did write it Ver. 1. Come these are the wordes of the Prophet exhorting others with him to prayse the Lorde Sée Isaiah 2.3 let vs reioyce vz. together and that from the hearte singing prayses by which the Prophet sheweth that the outwarde seruice of God consisteth not in dead ceremonies but especially in the sacrifices of prayses and thankesgiuing vnto the Lord vz. our God let vs sing aloude i. with a cleare and high voyce euen as if it were with a trumpet vnto the rocke of our saluation i. vnto him that is the assured groundwork foundation as it were of our deliuery meaning by this spéech god who is vnto his people in stéed of a rock of defēce deliuery in which they may bée safe frō al assaults Ver. 2. Let vs come vz. quickly and chearefully before his face i. not onely into his presence for men can bée in no place but they are in his sight but also to the tabernacle of witnesse in which place the Lord gaue glorious testimonies of his presence fauor with praise i. with songs conteining his praise for the benefites which we dayly receceiue of him let vs sing loud sée ver 1. of this Psal vnto him vz. alone and to none other but him with Psalmes vz. conteining his praises our thanksgiuing for the blessings which he continually bestoweth vppon vs. Ver. 3. For the Lord vz. which we serue and who giueth vs these graces is a great God i. is the God of al power might who hath both wil and strength to do what soeuer pleaseth him a great king aboue al Gods i. hee is more mighty excellent then any thing or al the things that haue the name of god giuen vnto it whether they be Angels or idoles or magistrates to all which Gods name is attributed in one respect or other in the Scripture sée Psalm 82.1 Psal 86.8 Psal 89.6 Ioh. 10.34.35 1. Cor. 8.5 Ver. 4. In whose hand i. vnder whose power prouidence gouernment are the déepe places of the earth by this spéech he meaneth the most deepe places of the world which if he guide and gouerne then much more doth he gouerne those that are not so déepe he setteth depths against the height of the mountaines expressed in the other part of the verse meaning by both these laid together that God gouerneth al the whole worlde whether it be high or low the heights of the mountaines i. the most high moūtains are his vz. to guid gouerne thē as him liketh best q.d. God according to his good pleasure ruleth both the most secret and the most mighty thinges yea all the things of the world Ver. 5. To whom the sea belongeth vz. to bée guided and gouerned according to his will for hee made it vz. by gathering the waters together into one place sée Gene. 1.9.10 and his handes formed i. his almighty power gaue forme being to the earth the dry land i. that part of the earth which is dry and separated from the water which hée calleth drye in respect of the other ouercouered with water Verse 6. Come vz. together with me sée ver 1. of this Psalm let vs worship vz. by al the meanes we can this Lord our God and fal down the word signifieth to bowe the head to the earth as they were wont to do which receiued either a blessing or som good turne from others q.d. let vs by al meanes testifie the hūbling of vs before god which also he meaneth by the worde kneeling afterwardes put downe before the Lord our maker i. hee that hath made vs. This worde maker conteining a double argument to moue men to his worshippe and seruice the one taken from Gods excellency who is the creator and the other from our basenesse who are his workemanship made of the dust of the earth Gene. 3.19 Verse 7. For hee vz. alone and no other but hée is our God i. our vpholder maintainer and defender and therefore good cause wee haue to serue him and we are the people of his pasture i. such a people as hee with a speciall and fatherlye care nourisheth and defendeth and to whom hee giueth all sortes of blessings True it is that this worde sheepe shoulde agree better to pasture but yet the holy ghost hath vsed the worde people that hée might the better expounde the metaphor and the shéepe of his hande i. the tender ones for so are sheepe which hée guideth and gouerneth by his Fatherly prouidence and power meaning also by that worde his that GOD himselfe taketh care ouer them and committeth them not to an other To day if yée will heare his voyce vz. speaking vnto you out of his worde q.d. If yée mynde as yet to yéelde obedience vnto his trueth then harden not your heartes as followeth in the next verse for so must these two verses bée ioyned together Verse 8. Harden not your harts i. be not obstinate and setled in your sin by this word he generally meaneth al contempt offred to Gods word as vz. your fathers and ancestors did many times striuing against God and namely in Meribah this history is largely handled Num. 14. as in the day of Massah this history is put down Exod. 17. Sée also Numb 20. and conferre all these thrée chapters together for though it shoulde séeme out of Exod. 17. ver 7. that Massah and Meribah were al one place yet by comparison of the chapters and the matters together we shal find that they tempted the Lord more then once and more then in one place in the wildernesse the holy ghost obserueth these circumstances of place time persons maner of doing c. for the certaintie of the history Ver. 9. Where i. not only in the wildernes though that were a principall place but in the other places also your fathers i. your auncestors progenitors of whose stocke you come sée Psal 78.3 tempted me i. would haue more experience and triall of my power then I thought méet and good for them and proued me vz. what I could do through my power might though they had séene my worke vz. which I did before them in their sight vnderstanding by the worde worke in the singular nūber manifold works q.d. although they had had sufficient testimonies of my power might and knew wel inough what I was able to do yet they woulde not leaue off but still proue my power Ver. 10. Fourtie yeeres vz. long and together haue I contended vz. striuen by diuers punishments yea death it selfe as appeareth Numb 14.33 and yet haue nothing profited or preuailed with this generation I wil rather read that noting the rebellious people which perished in the wildernesse and vz. I haue sayde vz. by reason of their continuall wickednesse they are a people i. such a people that erre in heart i. not only without iudgement and reason but also
outragiously following sinne and vngodlinesse for they haue not known i. neither allowed loued nor walked in my wayes i. eyther my doctrine and law or the knowne miracles which I haue done for their sakes Verse 11. Wherefore vz. by this their continuall rebellion being moued I sware vz. vnto them q.d. I tied my selfe by the vertue of an oth in my wrath vz. agaynst them he meaneth by this spéech being angry with them saying vz. in such sort that they might both heare it and know it surely they i. this wicked and rebellious people shall not enter vz. at all into my rest i. into the land of Canaan where they should rest after their long trauayles and he calleth it Gods rest both because God promised it and also after forty yeares by the ministery of Iehoshua performed it vnder which Dauid ment that there was another rest signified and prepared for Gods people sée Heb. 4. ver 8.9 Verse 1 teacheth vs not only to prayse God our selues Do. but also to prouoke others thereto Ver. 2 teach vs to yéeld praise vnto him publikely chearefully and with an vnfeyned hart Ver. 3 teacheth that none in heauen or earth no not all of them together are in any respect to be compared with the God whome the faythfull serue Ver. 4.5 teache that Gods power and prouidence gouerne all things whatsoeuer in heauen earth the water c. Ver. 6. teach vs with all outward reuerence to humble our selues in praiers and thanksgiuing vnto the Lord. Ver. 7. teacheth vs two things first that in respect of God and of our selues we ought to yéeld him seruice and obedience secondlye that when hee speaketh vnto vs out of his word we ought with reuerence to harken vnto the same Verse 8. teacheth vs to cast away and to purge from vs al hard hartednesse and obstinacy when God speaketh vnto vs it teacheth also to set before vs the example of other mens wickednesse and Gods iustice vpon them for the same that we may learne in the sight of them to auoyde them Ver. 9. teacheth that it is not alwayes safe and good to follow the steps of our forefathers also that the more workes God sheweth of his power and prouidence the more we should haue our fayth strengthened in the truth of his promises not demaunding euery day new miracles for the strengthening of our fayth Verse 10. teacheth vs that God beareth long with a people before hee punisheth them Also that he vseth many meanes to bring men to amendmente if it woulde bée Verse 11 teacheth vs that sinne and rebellion against God shutteth vs vtterlye out of the heauenly kingdome Psalme 96. TRue it is that this Psalme doth chéefely contayne an exhortation directed to the people Di. to stir them vp to prayse God for his goodnesse yet notwithstanding I suppose it may be diuided into foure parts In the first the Prophet exhorteth men to praise the Lorde verse 1.2.3 In the second he sheweth causes wherefore they should doe it verse 4.5.6 In the third he doth agayne because men are dull prouoke them to that duety of praysing God ver 7 8 9 10. In the fourth he desireth or rather indéed prophecieth of the good things and blessinges that the godly shall haue from verse 11. to the end of the Psalme Se. This Psalme séemeth to be a part of that Psalme which the Israelites sung at the bringing of the Arke into Ierusalem differing little or nothing sauing in the chaunging of certain words from that which we may reade 1. Chronic. 16. from verse 23. to the end of the 33. verse Verse 1. Sing vz. with harte and voyce vnto the Lord vz. our good gracious God a new song i. not only new in respect of making but an exquisite one and more then a common song by reason not only of a new grace shewed vs from God but one that is more then accustomed yea extraordinary sée Psalme 33 3. sing vnto the Lord vnderstād it as before in the beginning of this verse all the earth i. all the people inhabiting the earth meaning specially the people of the Iewes vnderstanding also by earth the lande wherein the Iewes dwelt Verse 2. Sing vnto the Lord expound this as it was expounded before ver 1. of this Psal and praise his name i. set forth his maiesty power c. as Psalme 20 1. with songes of prayse and thanksgiuing declare vz. in your songs with your words his saluation i. the gracious deliuerance wch he performeth for his people frō day to day i. continually without ceasing as the day neuer ceaseth True it is that god neuer ceaseth to poure vpon vs new continuall benefits but yet the meaning of the Prophet is not in this place to set forth that but to shew rather the faythful what their duty is in publishing these graces Ver. 3. Declare vz. by your words déeds his glory i. the things which he hath don for you getting ther by glory vnto himselfe among al nations vz. of the earth meaning that the people of the Iewes should trauayle what in thē lay to make known his works euen to the Gentils and his wonders vz. whiche he hath done for you and on your behalfe among all people vz. of the whole world q.d. sound sende them abroad that other may heare the same and feare Ver. 4. For the Lord is great vz. in strength might and power and muche to bée praysed vz. of all men but specially of his own children and seruaunts for the graces he bestoweth vpon them he is to be feared vz. with a reuerent and holye feare aboue al Gods i. more then al the idols of the Gentils for of them he speaketh in this place as may appeare by that which followeth in the next verse Ver. 5 for all the Gods of the people i. all those things which the people estéeme as Gods but yet are not so in déed as appeareth 1. Cor. 8.5 and Psal 115.4.5 c. are idols i. vanities and matters of nothing as appeareth 1. Corinth 8 4. whereof also in this place and Leuit. 19.4 they haue their names as the etymologie of the Hebrew word very well declareth but the Lorde vz. our God which we serue made vz. in the beginning and that of nothing the heauens i. al things whatsoeuer heauen earth c. putting one part of the creatiō for the whole Ver. 6. strength vz. to strike his enemies to defend his own people and glory vz. for those whom he loueth liketh are before him i. are continually in his sight and in a readinesse at his cōmandement as it were to goe whether soeuer it pleaseth him power beauty vz. most excellent and glorious are in his sanctuary i. in the place of his abode worship the Prophet meaneth as I take it that though the Lord manifest his great power and glory in many places yet specially doe they appeare in his sanctuary or Tabernacle Verse 7. Giue vnto
all This he speaketh according to the law then in force sée Psalme 33 2. and not to tie vs to the vse of the same euen vppon the Harpe he repeateth the same thing agayne d.q. vse all the meanes you maye the better to prouoke you to performe that dutie with a singing voyce d.q. ioyne to your Musicall instrumentes songes expressed and vttered with your owne voyces because that without them the sounde of the Harpe or any other musicall instrument is to little or no purpose Verse 6. With shalmes and sounds of Trumpets he addeth other instruments vnderstanding as was before noted the vse of all musicall instruments allowed by the Lord to his people sing loude i. blowe them vp chearefully and couragiously and make them to giue a loude noyse or sounde for I rather referre this to the musicall Instrumentes then to mens voyces before the Lorde the King i. before the Lorde whome we serue who is King and ruler ouer all the Worlde Verse 7. Let the Sea roare vz. in token of ioy and thankefulnesse and all that therein is sée Psalme 96. verse 11. the World q.d. Let the Worlde i. the frame of the worlde as the heauens earth c. reioyce and be glad also and they i. all creatures whatsoeuer that dwell therein i. haue their liuing being and continuaunce or aboade in the same Verse 8. Lette the floudes vz. of the earth he meaneth by this worde eyther the standing water or the running riuers whiche are different from the sea clappe their handes vz. for ioye and gladnesse meaning by the signe of gladnesse the thing it selfe and not that flouds haue handes and let the Mountaynes i. the greate and huge hils reioyce together i. testifye also their ioyfulnesse and gladnesse with the rest of the creatures In that he ascribeth this reioysing to dumbe and insensible creatures it is q.d. Let euery one inforce himselfe as muche as he can or will and yet he shall neuer yéelde prayses sufficientlye aunswering the greatnesse of Gods grace Verse 9 Before the Lorde for the sence of this whole verse sée before Psalme 96.13 where you shall fynde it almost worde for word De. Verse 1 teacheth vs to be thankefull to God for his greate workes and power also that the Lord alone without any helpe or ayde of man is hee that defendeth his Church Verse 2 teacheth that God doth his workes openly not only to the end that no man might pretend ignoraunce thereof but also that therby euery man might be prouoked to prayse him Verse 3 sheweth that God in déede is euer as good as his worde whether it be in respecte of particular persons or generall persons Verse 4 teacheth vs to inforce our selues by all the meanes we can to prayse the Lord. Verse 5.6 deliuer the same doctrine vnto vs. Verse 7.8 teach vs euen by the example of insensible creatures to be stirred vp to performe the same Ver. 9. teacheth that Gods iustice and iudgement is alwayes vpright howsoeuer corrupt mans is Psalme 99 Di. THis Psalme may be deuided into two partes In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faythfull to prayse God for the greatnesse of his excellency and power and for his singular graces and goodnesse bestowed vpon them from verse 1. to the end of the 5. In the second he expresseth Gods loue towardes their fathers and auncestors for which also he prouoketh theÌ„ to worship and praise the Lord from verse 6 to the end of the Psalme Se. This Psalme hath no title Verse 1. The Lord raigneth sée Psal 93. ver 1. and he meaneth specially amongst his people the people of the Iewes let the people vz. which border round about them other their enemies though they be neuer so far of tremble vz. euen for feare of this Lord who wil defend his own and punish them he vz. that ruleth and gouerneth al thing according to his good pleasure sitteth betwéen the Cherubins this is a description of god q.d. euen that God which hath shewed himself familiarly to Israel he it is that ruleth beareth the sway sée Exod. 25.22 let the earth be moued i. treÌ„ble and be afrayd as it were at his presence q.d. Let al creatures hauing life or without life striken with his presence and Maiestie yield him singular reuerence and honour Ver. 2. The Lord is great i. hath declared himself to be mightye and strong in al places but specially in Sion i. amongst his own people amongst whom he hath shewed the greatest testimonies of his power putting Sion the principall place of their abode for the people themselues he is high aboue all the people vz. of the world he meaneth not by this that he ruleth and gouerneth them for â—â—eir saluation but that he is exalted ouer them to scatter their counsels and to beate downe and ouerthrow their enterprises Verse 3. They i. the faythfull and godly people shall prayse vz. both in word and déede thy great and fearefull name i. thy Maiestye and power whiche is full of mighte and feare for it is holy and therefore méete to bee praysed and magnifyed Verse 4. And the Kinges power q.d. yea they shal praise the power of the great and mighty King that loueth iudgement i. that not onely liketh and alloweth but also executeth vpright iudgement and marke that after he had as it were set vp God in his seat he speaketh of the maner of his gouernment affirming that God is in such sort mighty and strong that yet notwithstanding hee hath not a tyrannous force with him but that his power is ioyned with his iustice and vprightnes for thou vz. O Lord a sodain change of the person from the third to the second hast prepared equitie i. hast appointed and established amongst thy people a good and vpright forme of gouernment which is a verye good rule to liue well and righteously one with another thou hast executed vz. faythfully and with all vprightnesse iudgemente and iustice i. true iudgement sound iustice in Iaakob i amongst the people of Israel who discended froÌ„ Iaakob meaning no doubt further vnder these terms a iust holy gouernment of the Church and people of God Verse 5. Exalt vz. with your songes of praise and thanksgiuing the Lord our God i. the Lord whom we his people serue who is indéede the only true God Iohn 17.3 and fall downe vz. before him and that in token of true reuerence and worship sée Psalme 95.6 before his footstoole the Chaldean paraphrase expoundeth it thus before his footestoole i. in his Temple others thus Before his Footestoole i. before the Arke of Couenaunt whiche is therefore as they suppose called God his Footestoole because the Iewes shoulde not staye too muche vppon the outward signe but shoulde lifte vp their harte to Heauen that they might there beholde the incomprehensible glory of God I would expounde it thus Before his Footestoole i. fall downe euen vnto the grounde or pauement of the Temple vpon which GOD
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
themselues had deuised to themselues meaning also by whoring that they followed it earnestly and with delight Ver. 40. Therefore vz. for their great grieuous sinnes was the wrath of the Lorde kindled vz. very hote meaning by kindling the preparing of it against his people i. against that people that hée had chosen to bee his owne and hée abhorred i. lothed and hated as it were and that for their sinnes sake his owne inheritance i. both the land the people whome hee tooke for an inheritaunce vnto himselfe Ver. 41. And he gaue them vz. for their great sinnes committed against him into the lande of the Heathen i. into their power and possession and they that hated them i. the geÌ„tiles who could at no hand away with them because they came to enioye their lande were Lordes ouer them i. ruled them at their owne pleasure sée for this speach Isaiah 26.13 and for the truth of the matter the whole booke of Iudges and namely chap. 2.14 Ver. 42. Their enemies also oppressed thm vz. sore and hardly and many times and they were humbled i. subiected and that sundry tymes vnder their hand i. vnto their power and authority Ver. 43. Many a time did hée vz. God deliuer them vz. out of the hande and power of their enemies but vz. notwithstanding these great graces they prouoked him vz. to wrath against them and that sundry times also by their counsels i. by those things which they themselues had grauely and as it were in counsel concluded and resolued vppon to perfourme therefore they were brought downe vz. from that high state of liberty and fréedome wherein God had set them to miserable captiuity and bondage by their iniquity vz. committed against his maiesty Ver. 44. Yet hee sawe q.d. notwithstanding these grieuous sinnes of theirs he did not onely behold them afflicted but pitied them when they were in affliction i. in any trouble and hee hearde their cry i. granted them al things they prayed for when they prayed which was a sure token of compassion towardes them Verse 45. And hée remembred his couenant vz. which hee had made with their Fathers and them the Prophet in these two verses noteth two meanes whereby God was moued to doe good to this people the one was his frée mercy and the other was his gracious couenant towardes them i. for their good and on their behalfe and repented vz. of the punishmentes that hee had purposed to bring vppon them meaning hereby that God after a sort chaunged as it were his purpose not that God is subiect to alteration or chaunge but because pardoning both the fault and the punishment hée séemeth vnto vs to chaunge and this manner of speach is applied to the weakenes of our capacity Sée Gene. 6.6 according to the multitude of his mercies q.d. euen as hee is inclined to shewe abundance of fauour so he shewed them the riches of his grace Ver. 46. And gaue them fauour i. made them to finde fauour Sée Gene. 45.14 in the sight of all them that led them captiues the Lorde who hath the disposing of all mens heartes so inclined their heartes to his people Ver. 47. Saue vs O Lorde our God i. deliuer vs and set vs frée from the daungers and distresses wherein wée are and gather vs from among the Heathen whose captiues we are for our sinnes and amongest whome we heare and sée things tending much to thy dishonour and the griefe of our soules and marke the Prophets zeale and loue towardes the people though hée were king and the gouernement well established yet because that by the confusion that was in the dayes of the Iudges and Saul many people were out of their owne countrey hée prayeth the Lorde as for himselfe to reduce and bring them backe agayne that we may prayse thy holy name i. thy maiesty power goodnesse c. which is full also of all holinesse and glorye in thy prayse i. reioyce and boast as it were of this that wee haue him for our GOD who alone is worthy all prayse and glorye Verse 48. Blessed i. praysed bée the Lord GOD of Israell i. hée that is the defender of the people of Israel who are called Israell because they came of Iaakob otherwise called Israell for euer and euer and let all the people say so bee it i. let all young and olde one and other acknowledge that hée alone is woorthye prayse and giue their frée and willing consent vnto it for so much hee meaneth by so bée it prayse yée the Lorde Sée Psalme 104. and 105. in the ende Ver. 1. Teacheth vs that the greatnesse of Gods goodnes Do. and the continuaunce of his mercies shoulde prouoke vs earnestly and continually to praise the Lorde Verse 2. Teacheth first that Gods graces and woorkes are infinite Secondly that though wée can not so sufficiently prayse him as wee shoulde yet wée shoulde not for all that leaue off to doe that which hée hath giuen vs grace to doe Verse 3. Teacheth vs to deale well and to continue in well doing and that so wee shall in the end atteine true blessednesse Ver. 4. Teacheth vs in distresse to cal vpon the Lord. Ver. 4. and 5. Teach vs to set before vs Gods mercies towardes his children that wee may assure our selues in hope to receiue the like Ver. 6. Teacheth vs humbly vnfeignedly fully confesse to our sins Ver. 7. Teacheth vs that forgetfulnes of Gods graces is the high way to all rebellion and sinne it teacheth vs also that forefathers are not always to be followed Verse 8 teacheth that though the sinnes of his children be very great yet they doe not alwayes set or hinder the riuers of his mercies towards them Ver. 9. Teacheth first that for the benefite of his children he will make things go contrary to their natural course Secondly that when his children in mens eyes séeme to bée in the greatest daungers hée will lead them as safely as though they were in none at all Ver. 10. Sheweth that al maner of deliuerances come from the Lord onely and his power Ver. 11. Teacheth that the same things that God maketh to giue place to his childreÌ„ shall serue to the vtter destruction of his and their enemies Ver. 12. Teacheth vs alwayes to beléeue the trueth of Gods worde yea though wee sée no meane how it can be performed secondly that wée should continually prayse God for his mercies Ver. 13. Teacheth that it is a very easie thing to fall into sinne it teacheth also that forgetfulnes of gods graces is as it were the nurse mother of many other transgressions also that we should tary the Lordes leasure for the accomplishing of that which hée hath appoynted vs. Ver. 14. Teacheth that lust or concupiscence is sinne also also that we should not tempt or try the Lord Ver. 15. Teacheth that God bestowing hâ—â— benefits vpon the wicked doth many times with all lay punishments vpon them Ver. 16. Teacheth vs to loue and reuerence the
godly magistrates and ministers which the Lord giueth vs. Ver. 17.18 Teach vs that God doth fearefully punish rebels and contentious persons of what state or calling soeuer they be Ver. 19.20 See out the dotage and blockishnes of idolaters who suppose the Godhead can be fashioned or resembled by any outward thing Ver. 21.22 Teacheth that the forgetfulnes of God his benefites and workes is the high way to all manner of sinne and iniquitie Ver. 23. Teacheth two things first that our sinnes do pul destruction from the Lord vppon vs Secondly how forcible the prayers of Gods children are both for themselues and others Ver. 24. Teacheth that contempt of Gods graces offred and giuen and distrust in the trueth of his promises are two horrible grieuous iniquities Ver. 25. Setteth out what great sinnes murmuring and rebellion against the Lorde are Ver. 26.27 Declare that neither these nor any other sinnes shall escape vnpunished in the parties that do them whether they be fathers or sonnes Ver. 28. Sheweth mans readines and earnest affection to commit idolatry Ver. 29. Sheweth that mans inuentions specially in the worship and seruice of God prouoke Gods angers and bring a plague vppon them Ver. 30. Teacheth vs in the example of Phinehas to lothe and abhorre sinne Ver. 31. Teacheth vs that God graciously accepteth the déedes words of his seruants though many wayes fraught with great defectes Ver. 32. Teacheth vs how peruerse and frowarde mans nature is though the Lorde deale neuer so plentifully and mercifully with him it teacheth also that God spareth no man for his person sake in that hée punished Moses Ver. 33. Teacheth thrée things first that other mens peruersnes shoulde not make vs sinne against God secondly though it doe yet wee shall not escape vnpunished thirdly that rash and vnaduised speaches are sinne against the Lord. Ver. 34. Teacheth vs to strike and not to spare where the Lord will haue vs to destroy for then we must not be lead by our owne fonde affections Verse 35. Teacheth vs that ill company is a shrewde meane to peruerte men from goodnes Ver. 36. Teacheth vs that to serue any besides the Lorde is the next way to come to destruction both in this life and in the life to come Ver. 37. Setteth out the rage of idolaters who spare nothing no not the dearest thinges they haue Verse 38. Teacheth vs that the shedding of innocent blood slayeth the whole lande and that therefore murther shoulde not onely not bée pardoned but sharpely punished Verse 39. Teacheth vs that there is nothing that hurteth man more then in ouerwening of his owne deuises Verse 40. Teacheth vs that our sinnes turne Gods loue and fauour into hatred and displeasure Ver. 41.42 Teach vs that sinne doeth drawe euen all temporall punishmentes vppon vs as forraine gouernement oppression captiuity c. Verse 43. Teacheth vs that God doeth not once onely but sundry times deliuer his people Secondlye that many the more graces they haue from God the more they are puffed vp in their owne deuises Thirdly that sinne against God is not onely a cause to humble vs but doeth in déede humble vs though perhaps wicked men will not sée it or féele it Verse 44. Teacheth vs first that GOD hath a tender eye ouer the afflicted ones Secondly that hée neuer forsaketh them if they call earnestly vppon him Verse 45. Teacheth vs that Gods frée couenaunt and eternall mercy without any thing of ours at all are sufficient inough to mooue him to take pity vppon vs in our afflictions Ver. 46. Teacheth that GOD onely hath the touching of mens heartes to bowe them hither or thither according to his good pleasure Verse 47. Teacheth vs to pray for other and euen Gods dispersed members as for our selues also that our owne ease and prosperity or preferment shoulde not so farre preuayle with vs as to make vs to forget them Verse 48. Teacheth all men continually to prayse the Lorde and to prouoke others thereto what in them lyeth Psalme 107 I Woulde diuide this Psalme into two partes Di In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faythfull to prayse the Lord for his mercy goodnes prouidence and power towardes them from verse 1. to the ende of the 10. In the seconde hée prouoketh them to praise the Lorde for his general power prouidence and goodnes towards others from ver 21. to the end of the Psalme Se. This Psalme hath no title or inscription at all Ver. 1. Is the same both in worde and sense that verse 1. of this Psalme 106. is and therfore sée that Ver. 2. Let them which haue béene redéemed of the Lord vz. out of bondage captiuity and dispersion q.d. let them that haue receiued this benefite at the Lords handes to bée set at liberty when they were in bondage prayse him shew vz. openly and to others howe vz. graciously and mightily hée vz. alone and none but hée hath deliuered them i. fréed them being sore oppressed through the cruelty and tyrannie of them that held them vnder from the hand i. from the power and might of the oppressor i. of them that oppressed them hée putteth in this place the singular for the plurall Verse 3. And gathered them vz. againe and together and that by his mighty power out of the landes vz. rounde about them into which they were dispersed for their transgressions sake from the East and from the West from the North and from the South i. from all quarters whereunto they were dispersed that word that we turne South signifieth also Sea and so shall you finde it translated in sundry textes but the meaning is because the red Sea lay southwarde from the land of promise Verse 4. When they wandered vz. a long tyme vp and downe in the desert and wildernesse out of the way hée meaneth out of the right way which did leade them whither they woulde haue come for GOD for their disobedience made them to wander fourty yéeres in the wildernes that so they might die and not come into the lande of Canaan and found no Citie vz. all that while of their wandering to dwell in i. to stay and refresh them selues in Verse 5. Both hungry and thirsty hée meaneth that whylest they were in the wildernesse they suffered many times great want of bread and drinke yea so much that their soule faynted in them i. their life was ready to decay and there séemed to bée but little difference betwéene death and them Verse 6. Then they vz. being in this great distresse and affliction cryed vnto the Lord in their trouble i. prayed earnestly vnto him and hée deliuered them i. set them frée from their distresse i. from the distresse that they were in Verse 7. And ledde them foorth vz. of the wildernesse and that safe and sounde by the right way vz. into the promised lande that they might goe vz. through his good direction to a Citie of habitation i. not onely to a citie inhabited but to a Citie whose
charged with iniustice or vnfaithfulnes Ver. 9. He i. the Lord alone sent vz. by the hands of Moses Aaron meaning by the word sending bestowing or giuing redēption i. deliuerance vz. out of Egipt to his people vz. Israel when they were bōdslaues captiues he hath cōmanded his couenant vz. to remain sure certain for euer i. continually holy and fearefull is his name i. his maiesty goodnes power c. is ful of holinesse feare reuerence c. The Prophet meaneth that God in deliuering his people was not a father vnto them for one day only but established his grace and confirmed his couenant made with Abraham to the end that the hope of eternall life and the reuerent feare of his Maiesty might remaine continually in his church and he addeth these words holy and feareful is his name not only to discern betwéene him and al counterfeit Gods whatsoeuer but also to teach his children thereby to walk in the obedience of his maiesty Ver. 10. The beginning of wisdome i. of true holy wisdom such as is acceptable before god is the feare of the lord i. a right a reuerēt fear of gods maiesty imprinted in mēs harts he meaneth not by beginning the A B C as it were but the top height as it were of all holy heauenly wisdom sée Deut. 4.6 vnder the word feare he containeth al piety the seruice of God q.d. They that haue not gods feare and order themselues according to his law are altogether brutish Now we may try whether the feare of God be in vs by this touchstone to wit whether wee willingly receiue his yoke and suffer our selues to be gouerned by his word al they that obserue thē i. his commaundements or statutes as before ver 7 of this Psal haue good vnderstanding i. are truely wise indéed wheras without these there is nothing else but foolishnes his praise indureth for euer i. the praise that is due vnto God for his goodnes and mercy indureth yea and ought to indure amongste his to al posterities Do. Ver. 1 teacheth vs first to thank God for his benefits secondly to do it vnfeinedly with al our affection thirdly to do it both priuatly and openly Ver. 2 teacheth vs that Gods children ought to exercise thēselues in déepe meditation of Gods works Ver. 3 teacheth vs that al gods works do wōderfully set forth his glory maiesty Ver. 4 teacheth vs first that we cannot deface the excellēcy of gods works though we would secondly it describeth the excellency of loue and mercy that is in the Lord specially towards those that are his Ver. 5 teacheth vs that God giueth his children whatsoeuer he féeth good meet for them also that God promiseth nothing to his but he performeth it Verse 6 sheweth that though gods power be known to al yet chéefly to those that are his people Ver. 7 teacheth vs that al that God doth he doth in mercy to his seruaunts and in iudgemente to his enemies Verse 8 noteth the certaintie assurednesse and cōtinuance of gods word Ver. 9 teacheth that God in the middest of their greatest miseries remembreth and deliuereth his own people Ver. 10 teacheth vs that this is true wisedome to yéeld God that seruice only that he requireth at our hands also that it is not ynough to know but that we are bound to do Gods commaundemēts Psalme 112. Di. THis Psalm may be diuided specially into two parts In the first the Prophet sheweth the great blessings of God vpō those that feare him frō ver 1 to the end of the 4. In the secōd he sheweth certain qualities or notes wherby to discern good men describeth all the cursed estate of the wicked Frō ver 5 to the end of the Psalm For the title of this Psal Se. also sée before Psal 106. in the title Ver. 1 Blessed is the man i. fulnes of blessings is to him of what sexe or state soeuer he be sée Psal 1.1 that feareth the Lord vz. vnfeignedly with his whole hart Vnder this word feareth the Lord he comprehēdeth al the whole worship seruice of God and delighteth greatly i. taketh much and continual pleasure as Psal 1.2 in his cōmandements i. in the cōmandemēts which God hath prescribed Ver. 2. His séed i. the houshold race and posterity of such a good man shall bée mighty i. shal grow not only to a great increase but also to strength continuance that shal not rot away vpon earth i. in this earth that the Lord hath giuen to the sonnes of men the generation of the righteous i. the godly race and posterity of good men continuing in their fathers goodnesse shal be blessed vz. with plentiful blessings that from the Lord. Ver 3. Riches treasures i. al maner of wealth wch is noted both because the prophet vseth 2 words signifying almost one thing and also because hee speaketh of them in the plural nūber shal be in his house i. in his possession and vse to serue his own turne and the turne of all those that any manner of way depend vpon him and his righteousnes i. his vprightnes and goodnes both towards God and men indureth for euer i. shall neuer decay q.d. though many rich men through deceitefulnes of riches fall away from their former goodnes yet this good man neuer shall doe so because he is vpholden in the same by the strength of God and his spirite yea and withall he sheweth what difference there is betwéene the good and the bad wicked mens riches goe away by and by but good mens righteousnes continueth for euer True it is that the good are oftentimes poore but the Prophet herein specially magnifieth the grace of god that the godly content themselues with mediocritie and that on the other side the prophane men are neuer satisfied what abundaunce so euer they haue Ver. 4. Vnto the righteous i. vnto thē that striue to a righteous life and holy conuersation ariseth vz. through Gods speciall appoyntment gift and grace light i. all maner of prosperity and blessednes both inward and outward in darkenes i. in the greatest distresse misery and aduersitie that can come vppon him the Prophet meaneth that God maketh them to féele his grace and goodnes which are vpright in heart in the middest of their greatest afflictions they knowing this that all that is layd vpon them shall turne to their good hee i. the godly and faithfull man is mercifull and full of compassion vz. towardes such as are in neede and distresse righteous i. vpright and faithful in al his dealings with other Some referre this to God but methinke the other is the more apt sense Ver. 5. A good man i. one whome God hath framed to goodnes for otherwise none is good saue God onely Mark 10.18 is mercifull vz. to the poore and néedy vnderstanding by mercifull curteous in speach and ready in déede to performe what in him lyeth and lendeth vz.
vnto another that wanteth yea he lendeth fréely looking for nothing againe Luke 6.35 This is a fruite of mercy the vsurer lendeth also but that is to sucke away the wealth of an other and measureth his affaires i. ordereth and disposeth the thinges he hath to do not doing any thing rashly or yet forslowing the occasion when hee may doe a thing well not being prodigall on the one side or miserable on the other side but in all his dealings obserueth the rule of equitie and right by iudgement i. by sound iudgement and good aduise Ver. 6. Surely hee shall neuer bee moued vz. vtterly or altogether q.d. he shall remaine always stedfast and sound what soeuer aduersities come vnto him Sée 2. Corinth 4.8 but I woulde rather read and the righteous sée before ver 4. of this Psalm shal be had in euerlasting remembraunce vz. before God and his Angels and amongest all the company of good and godly people Ver. 7. He will not bée afrayd of euill tydings i. of any euill tydings how heauy soeuer they bee which shalbée brought to him by euil tydings he meaneth reports of some euill or mischiefe that séemeth to drawe nigh or hang ouer mens heads for his heart is fixed vz. stedfastly vppon God and his prouidence and beléeueth vz. with all his heart in the Lord vz. who is able and will also in good time deliuer him q.d. whatsoeuer euill newes he may heare hée will not be afrayd but will alwaies remaine quiet in his spirit the reason is because he hath wholy reposed himselfe vppon Gods fatherly prouidence and care euen as though hee were in his bosome or lappe Ver. 8. His heart i. the perswasion of his heart is stablished i. surely and firmely set vppon God and the trueth of his promises therefore hee will not feare vz. any thing whatsoeuer that man can doe against him Sée Psalm 118.6 vntill he sée his desire vppon his enemies i. vntill he sée them through Gods might and power ouerthrowne as hee himself hath wished by the word vntill hée meaneth not that when they are ouerthrowne then hée shoulde bée afrayd for that were to feare where no feare is but vntil is vsed here for perpetuity of tyme as before Psalm 110.1 q.d. hée shall neuer feare Ver. 9. Hée i. the good and righteous man hath distributed vz. vnto others the things hée had and that not slenderly or niggardly but fréely and as euery mans necessitie requireth and his power able to perfourme and giuen vz. of his owne and that fréely and liberally to the poore i. to the néedy and such as wanted his righteousnesse remayneth for euer i. hée shall continually haue a meane and ability to doe well it may bée also vnderstoode of the fruit of righteousnesse Sée before ver 3. of this Psalme his horne i. his head as 1. Sam. 2.1.10 vnderstanding also therby his force strength state dignitie prosperity and whatsoeuer was excellent in him shal be exalted vz. mightily and greatly with glory i. with abundance of glory q.d. hée shal increase and grow from glory to glory till hée come to the height or toppe of glory Verse 10. The wicked shall sée vz. both with his mynde and eyes it i. the felicity and the prosperity of the good and be angry i. grieue despite and freate at it hee shal gnash with his téeth vz. euen not only for anger as the Bore which whetteth his tushues but also for griefe and payne as Matth. 8.12 and consume away vz. out of this life and from amongest men and that through despite and enuy and the desire of the wicked shall perish i. the wicked shal not attain and performe that which they wish and desire but shal bee frustrated of their hope by desire he vnderstandeth their wicked thoughts counsels indeuours labours and attempts against the good and by perishing he meaneth that they shal be made frustrate and come to nothing sée Psal 146.4 Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth first that the way to attaine true blessednesse is to serue the Lorde according to his worde Secondly that Gods seruants shoulde haue a very great and continuall delight in his lawe Ver. 2. Teacheth first that Gods people shall both inwardly and outwardly growe much euen in this life secondly that the riches of Gods blessings reacheth not onely to the godly but also to their godly séede and posterity Verse 3. Teacheth vs first that riches are not euil because they are reckoned amongst Gods blessinges secondly that we can not haue them vnlesse it please him in fauour to bestow the same vppon vs thirdly that the godly through the strength and power of GOD continue stedfast in goodnes vnto the end Ver. 4. Teacheth vs first that the godly shal be 〈…〉 middest of their greatest heauinesse secondly that godly men 〈…〉 hearted and â—â—ithful in all their dealings Ver. 5. Teacheth men that are able to lend fréely and vtterly condemneth al vsury secondly it teacheth men holy wisedome to doe euery thing they doe with aduise and vprightnes Verse 6. Noteth not onely the continuaunce and sure footing as it were that the godly haue but also euen the great glory and renoune wherwith the Lorde crowneth them Ver. 7. Teacheth vs that whosoeuer stedfastly trusteth in the Lord néed not feare any thing whatsoeuer Ver. 8. Teacheth vs that we ought to haue a stedfast and an assured perswasion of the truth of gods promises also that the wicked shall come to ruine and destruction Ver. 9. Teacheth vs that this is one good note to knowe good men by that they are liberall handed to the néedy also that the Lorde will make the glory of his children more and more to increase Ver. 10. Teacheth first that it is the nature of the wicked to pine away at the prosperitie of the good Secondly that all the deuises and attempts of the vngodly agaynst the good shall through Gods mightie power either come to no effect or else fall in his iust iudgement vppon their owne heades Psalme 113 I Thinke this Psalme doeth specially consist of two partes Di. In the first the Prophet exhorteth men to prayse the Lorde deliuering them also a forme thereof and this is comprehended in the thrée first verses In the second hee sheweth as it were causes wherefore he is to be praysed vz. for his infinite power and wonderfull prouidence from ver 4. to the end of the Psalme The title of this Psalme is the same with the title of Psalme 106. Verse 1. Se. Prayse vz. the Lorde O yee seruantes of the Lorde hée speaketh both to the Leuites and other people whome the Lord had chosen to serue him but specially to the Leuites whom the Lord had appoynted for leaders and guydes vnto the rest prayse vz. both in the inwarde man and in the outwarde man i. both with heart and mouth the name of the Lorde i. his maiesty power and goodnesse manifested to all but especially to you and in that hee doubleth this woorde prayse hee doeth
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
euer since the beginning hath preserued and increased the same the heauen and the earth vz. and al thinges therein conteined q.d. you may assure your selues of a most plentiful blessing séeing that he who blesseth you is the author preseruer gouernor of heauen al things therin of the earth al things therin which also he hath giuen to vs as verse following Ver. 16. The heauens euen the heauens i. the most high heauens are the Lords i. apperteine and belong vnto him as the special place of his delight and dwelling and yet we must not so vnderstand it as God were tyed to any one certaine place for his maiestie filleth the heauens and the earth but he hath giuen vz. of his large liberality and goodnes the earth vz. wherein men dwel to the sonnes of men i. to men and their séede after them that they should inhabite and vse it so that in this life they might by the thinges thereof bee prouoked to serue God and stirred vp thereby to the hope and fruition of eternal felicity Verse 17. The dead prayse not the Lord the Prophet meaneth that if God preserued not his Church the whole order and course of the worlde shoulde bee turned vpside downe for to what end should the creation of the worlde serue if there were not a people to call vpon God whereupon he gathereth that there shal always be some which shal praise the Lorde euen vntil the end of the world and so with al there is set out the end wherefore men are placed in the world vz. to prayse serue God q.d. that we dye not must be attributed to gods glory therfore euen our life also must be occupied about his praise sée Psal 6.5 whether they that go downe into the place of silence i. neither do they praise him that are brought to their graues and layed in them sée for this speach Psal 94.17 sée also Isaiah 38.18 The Prophet vttereth vnder diuers words one the selfesame thing Ver. 18. But we vz. which shal liue and be deliuered from our distresses wil prayse the Lord vz. for the benefites that we haue receiued from him from hencefoorth and for euer i. continually and alwaies prayse ye the Lord sée Psal 104. and Psal 105. in the very end Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs when we do in prayer appeare before the Lord to craue any thing at his handes vnfeignedly to cast from our selues all trust and confidence in our selues to flie to gods soueraine goodnes and trueth only Ver. 2. Teacheth vs that gods glory is after a sort hazarded amongst the enemies of God and his people when his own people are discomfited or disgraced Ver. 3. Teacheth vs that the more the enemies do blaspheme God the more we should be throughly perswaded of his power because that their dealing doeth prouoke him to execute a more swift and hard iudgment vpon them Ver. 4.5.6.7.8 doth liuely paint out the vanity of idoles themselues and of al such as either make or worship them Ver. 9. Teacheth the godly howsoeuer other men run a whoring after idols to cleaue only to the Lord. Ver. 10. Teacheth the ministers preachers of Gods word to make themselues examples vnto other of stedfast confidence in God Ver. 11. Teacheth vs that with the seruice of god there must be ioyned faith in God and his word or else it is nothing Ver. 12. Teacheth vs that God neuer forgetteth his children and merciful couenant made with them also that the godly shal haue from the Lord both assurednes and plentifulnes of blessings Ver. 13. Teacheth vs that God respecteth no mans person but in euery nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnes is accepted before him Ver. 14. Sheweth that Gods grace and loue reacheth euen to the godly and their posterity after them Ver. 15. Teacheth vs that those whom the Lord pursueth with his fauor shal not nor can not want any thing that is good Ver. 16. Setteth out the large liberality and fatherly care of God towardes men also it teacheth vs that séeing he hath giuen vs the things of this life we shold vse them wel and so as they may further vs to the hope of a better life Ver. 17. Teacheth vs that when God giueth vs life in this world he doth thereby as it were prouoke vs to set forth his glory and praise Ver. 18. Teacheth vs thrée things first that we should praise the Lorde for his mercies for euen to the ende haue we our life giuen and his blessings are bestowed vppon vs secondly that this our thanksgiuing should be continual and thirdly that we should prouoke and stirre vp other men to do the like Psalme 116. THis Psalme as I take it may bée diuided into two partes Di. In the first the Prophet setteth out on the one side his loue fayth towards the Lord and on the other side Gods mercy and goodnes towards him from ver 1. to the end of the 11. In the second part hee promiseth humble and hearty thankesgiuing vnto the Lorde for that continuall heape of benefites which hee had receiued from his mercifull handes from verse 12. to the ende of the Psalme This Psalme hath no title as many other Psalmes both before it Se. and after it haue not sée Psal 114.115.117.118 c. Ver. 1. I loue vz. with all my heart and vnfeignedly the Lord vz. only and alone and none either with him or besides him and vnder the word of loue the Prophet sheweth that there was nothing without god that either could like him or please him because hee hath heard i. because he hath yéelded vnto and granted my voyce vz. sent forth vnto him and my prayers vz. which I made vnto him vnder these words voice and prayers the Prophet meaneth such prayers as he powred forth vnto the Lord not only with his heart but also with his mouth and words Ver. 2. For he hath inclined his eare vz. as one that were ready for to heare mee this is spoken of God according to mans capacity vnto mée vz. being in distresse and when I prayed vnto him as followeth when I did call vppon him vz. for helpe and ayde by earnest and hearty prayers in my dayes i. in the tyme of my affliction as may appeare by the next verse following sée Psal 137.7 also Lament 1.21 and by the woorde dayes hée noteth that hee had continuaunce and length of trouble Ver. 3. When the snares of death compassed mee vz. on euery side and rounde about so that there was almost no hope of escaping no more then of a bird or wild beast taken in a snare or grin by this manner of speach hée meaneth that euen then when hee was ready to dye the Lord in mercy looked vppon him Sée 2. Sam. 22.5.6 also Psalm 18.4.5 and the griefes of the graue i. great and extreme griefes which brought me almost to the graue made me as it were ready to bee put into it caught
me i. tooke hold of me so that sore that I was almost past hope of escaping when I found trouble and sorrow i. when I perceiued my self to be much plūged in abundaunce of griefe for so much I take these two words trouble and sorrow ioyned together to import Ver. 4. Then I called vpon the name of the Lord i. I prayed vnto him himself and besought his goodnes to manifest his power in helping mee saying I beséeche thée vz. from the bottome of my heart O Lord i. thou that art both able and willing to help deliuer vz. from danger and distresse my soule i. my life which is in great hazarde by meanes of the dangers that hang ouer it and are ment against it Ver. 5. The Lord is merciful vz. towards al but specially towards thē that cal vpon him in truth and righteous vz. in performing his promises made to his people and maintaining them in their iust causes and our God i. the God which we serue is ful of compassion and therefore he wil neuer forsake his that are in misery the Prophet sheweth in this verse what was the comfort of his soule in the middest of his afflictions Ver. 6. The Lord vz. alone preserueth vz. by his mighty power and that out of all the mischieuous imaginations that the wicked can deuise the simple i. such as are destitute of mans counsel and therfore the more subiect to iniury amongst men the more easily circumuented and yet do all that notwithstanding commit themselues and their causes with a simple and quiet mind into the hands of God I was in misery q.d. I can speake this by myne own experience for when I was in wonderful and great distresse so that there was almost no hope of deliuery as ver 3. of this Psal and he saued mee i. deliuered me out of the same according to his prayer made ver 4. Ver. 7. Returne vnto thy rest O my soule i. bee no more troubled and disquieted but stay thy selfe vpon God sée Psal 42.5.12 This same returning to rest is that same stay that the faithful haue in God and his woorde in the middest of their griefes so that they vtterly fal not for the Lord hath bin beneficiall vnto thee vz. many and sundry waies al this verse together is q.d. Take courage vnto thée be quiet go vnto god in whom alone thou shalt find marueilous tranquility for he hath hertofore wil hereafter shew himself fauorable vnto thée ver 8. Because this is a proof by his own experience of that which he spake before that God had béen beneficial vnto him thou vz. alone mark the sodain change of the person from the thirde to the seconde hast deliuered vz. fréely safe and sound and through thy mighty power my soule i. me my selfe from death vz. whereunto I was almost brought or else you may vnderstande by death most extreme daunger mine eyes from teares i. thou hast taken away from me al sadnes and heauines he putteth the outward signe both for the signe and the thing it selfe and my féete from falling vz. into these deadly dangers and trappes which were layd for me and whereinto certainely I had fallen if I had not bene kept and deliuered by thée Ver. 9. I vz. being grounded and stayed vpon God shall walke vz. through his goodnes and defence meaning by walking liuing and being conuersant q.d. I shall liue before God i. safely and soundly for men thinke those things to be sure which they haue their eyes continually fixed vpon in the land of the liuing i. in this world or earth or amongst men dwelling vpon the same and so wee haue had it sundry times vsed before So that in this verse the prophet vpon the benefits which he had before receiued concludeth that he shal be alwaies vnder the care and gouernment of God Verse 10. I beléeued vz. the Lord and his word therfore I spake vz. vnto God by prayer and to my selfe in mine afflictions the wordes before expressed in this Psal for I was sore troubled i. much afflicted with assaultes both inward and outward In this verse the Prophet sheweth how weake and féeble his flesh was in the time of aduersity which almost reiected the promises of God had not Gods spirit vpholden him in faith q.d. then was faith forcible and triumphed in my mind when I called vppon God as is expressed before in this Psal ver 4. and spake vnto mine owne soule words of comfort ver 7. thē I beléeued in déed I spake nothing but that which I was fully perswaded of and my tongue and the affection of my hart agréed well together Ver. 11. I said i. I both thought it and spake it and held it as a resolute conclusion in my feare i. when I was in great feare and ready for feare to flie from the rage of Saul for the word doth not only signifie feare but hast making as appeareth Psal 31.22 q.d. with feare and flying I was caried forcibly into these perturbations of the flesh al men are lyers i. there is no certaintie and assurednes in their wordes q.d. Samuel who for his excellency might be preferred before all men promised me that I should obteine and possesse the kingdome but now I perceiue he spake not in the spirit of prophecie but of his owne brayne and lyingly Thus in the rage and heate of the flesh doth Dauid touch not God in déede openly but his prophet Samuel as though he had not sufficiently known Gods will and had gone beyond the boundes of his calling q.d. wée must no more beléeue men for there is nothing in them but vanity and lying Ver. 12. What vz. thing in al the world shal I render vnto the Lorde i. yéelde giue vnto him for al his benefits towards me i. for that innumerable number of benefites which he hath bestowed vpon me giuen me fréely This interrogation or question sheweth that hee thought himselfe so much bound vnto God for his graces as that he was not able to yéeld any thing that might counteruaile the least part therof Ver. 13. I wil take the cup of saluation or else in the plural number saluations as it is in the Hebrew text that is of very many helpes and deliuerances In this verse and the verse following the prophet promiseth publike profession of Gods name of the benefits bestowed vpō him which he will performe before the Church The meaning is that hee woulde offer to God sacrifices of praise and thanksgiuing and then that he would as the maner was in those sacrifices make a holy feast and banket also vnto the people in remembrance of that manifold deliuerance which hee had receiued from the Lord for in this place he doth no doubt allude to the custome of the law which was to make a banquet of some part of the sacrifice in token of reioysing whē they yéelded solemne thanks to God And because that those sacrifices were offred often times
for some deliuerances he addeth the cup of saluation that is deliuerances how Dauid performed this sée 1. Chro. 16.1.2.3 c. and will call vpon the name of the Lord i. pray vnto him also q.d. I wil not only thank him for his benefites but pray vnto him for the increase and continuance thereof Ver. 14. I will pay vz. with a frée and willing heart my vowes i. the thinges that I haue vowed or the sacrifices of thanksgiuing which I promised vnto him if he deliuered me out of distresse for amongst other that vsed to make vowes they did it that were in extreme danger distresse q.d. I wil not only by wordes confesse my self to be safe from danger so witnes the thankfulnes of my mind but I wil declare it also by offring the sacrifices which I vowed to the Lorde at what time Saul did pursue me very hardly The ende of vowes was to seale in the hearts of Gods children a hope to obtaine that which they did aske and moreouer to prouoke and bind them to thanksgiuing and this liberty to vow is permitted vnto Gods children to comfort them in their infirmities and not otherwise and that word pay noteth that it is due debt and that it can not be omitted without sinne if the thing vowed be lawful euen now q.d. I will not deferre it in the presence of all his people i. in the temple or place of publike exercise whether al Gods people resorted or else before all the Israelits whom he gathered together to Ierusalem to bring the arke of the Lorde thither Sée 1. Chro. 15.3 Ver. 15. Precious i. deare and of great account and regard in the sight of the Lord i. before him and his iudgement is the death of his saints i. death or mischief imagined or performed towards those whom he alloweth of q.d. God by my example hath declared how deare vnto him is the life of faithfull men séeing that hee hath so often preserued me assaulted so many wayes and with so great force or thus God doeth grieuously take good mens deathes and therefore they shall not escape vnpunished that kill them And marke this that for his comfort he setteth this against the malice of his enemies that God doth not at al aduenture deliuer his vp to death but maketh great account of them for the word saints sée Psalm 30.4 Ver. 16. Beholde Lord q.d. most true is it Lorde that thou wilt not haue the godly slayne for thou hast preserued me thy poore seruant for I am thy seruant vz. and thou hast shewed mée this grace and fauour I am thy seruaunt hee repeateth the same againe as a matter of no small comfort vnto himselfe neither must wee so vnderstand him as though hée grounded the causes of his deliuerance vpon his seruices perfourmed to God but vppon Gods frée election q.d. from my mothtrs wombe yea before I was borne this honour and goodnes was prepared for mee and the sonne of thy handmayde i. of a woman who did purely worship thée and this he speaketh because that children by reason of their first education imitated the disposition and manners of their mothers for which cause also it should séeme that the names of the kings mothers are so commonly expressed in the bookes of kings sée for this phrase Psal 86.16 thou vz. alone hast broken vz. in pieces or a sunder by thy almighty power my bands i. either the bands that I was bound in or else the bandes that were prepared to bind me in by this maner of spéech he meaneth that god had deliuered him from the danger wherin he was or else he had kept him that he came not into the troubles that his enemies had prepared for him Ver. 17. I will offer vnto thee a sacrifice of praise vz. for thy mercy goodnes shewed vnto mee he meaneth that he wil acknowledge confesse gods goodnes praise him for the same for here he protesteth again as he had done before ver 13.14 that hee would giue God thanks which is a signe that he was not vnthankful and I will cal vppon the name of the Lord marke the sodaine change of the person from the seconde to the third he meaneth by this speach that he wil neuer cease to worship God to praise God sée before ver 13. of this Psal Ver. 18. I wil pay c. This is the same with ver 14. before going both in words meaning therfore we shall not néed to stand vpon it Ver. 19. In the courtes of the Lordes house i. in the place of publik resort and assembly whether the people came together to serue God meaning no doubt the Church euen in the middest of thée O Ierusalem i. openly in that most famous City in which was at that time the only place appointed for gods sacrifices and seruice because there was but one only altar and that was placed there from which also it was not lawful for any man to withdraw himselfe Ver. 1. Teacheth vs vnfeignedly to loue the Lord Do. also that he is nigh to the supplication praiers of the faithful Ver. 2. 3. Teach vs that the time of affliction is an acceptable time to pray to God in that affliction it selfe addeth also an edge vnto our praiers Ver. 3. Doth further teach into what great anguish distresse the children of god are many times brought Ver. 4. teacheth vs earnestnes continuance in praier vnto almighty God Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that the consideration and féeling of Gods mercy is ought to be a notable spurre vnto prayer Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that Gods mercy towards other men our selues also should assure vs that our prayers shal be heard and we deliuered Verse 7. Teacheth vs to comfort our selues what wee may in our distresse and heauinesse also that God himselfe is the onely proppe and stay of those that are his Ver. 8. teacheth that god doth graciously preserue those that depend vpon him how great or how many soeuer their troubles bee Ver. 9. Teacheth that those which are vnder the sauegarde prouidence and protection of almightie God shal neuer miscary Ver. 10. Teacheth vs that faith in God and his promises maketh vs bold in prayer to him and ouercommeth all assaults of Satans malice our owne corruption Ver. 11. Teacheth into what extremities gods children oftentimes fal specially whē they do not presently see the accomplishmēt of Gods promises Ver. 12. Teacheth vs that Gods benefites are so many and excellent that wee are not able to comprehende much lesse to answere the least part of them Ver. 13. Teacheth that vnfeigned and humble thankesgiuing is the most acceptable sacrifice to almighty God Ver. 14. Teacheth vs that when we haue vowed any thing which is lawfull and holy wee ought to performe it but what serueth this for vowes of monkery single life c. Ver. 15. Teacheth vs that god careth for that very tenderly those that are his which is a
open vnto him euen as though the Sacrifices were already present and ready that I may go into them vz. willingly chearefully and gladly and praise the Lord vz. with all my hart for his graces bestowed vpon me Ver. 20. This is the gate of the Lord q.d. seing that these gates belong vnto the Lord it is very méete they should be opened to his seruaunts the righteous shal enter into it vz. there to prayse the Lord and to pray vnto him Ver. 21. I vz. the people of Israell and Iudah the holy Ghost speaketh of them all as though they were but one because they all make but one body and here beginneth the third part of the Psalme will praise vz. with my whole hart and continuallye thée vz. O Lord for thou hast heard me i. granted my praiers and requests made vnto thée and hast ben my deliueraunce i. him that hath deliuered me out of al trouble Verse 22. The stone vz. which God himselfe had appointed as méete for the building to stay vphold and bind together the whole kingdome whiche vz. stone also the builders refused i. the principal gouernors both in the church and in the Kingdome in Saules time and in the dayes of Ishboseth if wee respect Dauid but if we respect Christ then the Priests Pharises and all the rest who by duty should haue built vp the Church and not destroyd it is vz. now thorow Gods appointment the head of the corner i. the chéefe stone in the building not only because it is sette in the most excellentest place of the whole building but also because it doth sustayne the whole waight of the house In this verse referred to Dauid the people shew how that though the greate men stood agaynst him yet God exalted him to the kingdome maugre all their deuises which as it followeth in the next verse was a wonderfull thing But it is truly accomplished in our Sauiour Christ as appeareth Matt. 21.41 Act. 4.11 who is indéede the true corner stone Ephe. 2 20. in whome all the building coupled together groweth vnto a holy Temple in the Lord Ver. 23. This vz. exaltation of the chéefe corner stone so contemptuouslye reiected of the greate men of the world was the Lords doing vz. only and that in mercy towardes vs miserable men whether wee respect Dauid as the figure and so apply it to the people of the Iewes or else referre it to Christ as the truth and substaunce and it is meruaylous in our eyes i. we déeme it and take it to be a wōderfull thing far beyond the reach of our wit and reason and yet we know and beléeue the same to be faithfully performed Ver. 24. This is the day vz. in which the Lord sheweth by effect that he is gracious towards vs in giuing vs so good a King which the Lord hath made vz. for our comforte and good let vs reioyce vz. before the Lord and be glad in it vz. for the graces which hée hath bestowed vpon vs. Verse 25. O Lord I pray thée vz. euen for thy owne names sake and for thy mercy sake and the word I is to be taken here as verse 21 of this Psalme saue now vz. our King thy seruaunt vnderstanding by the word sauing not only deliueraunce from daunger but aid and succoure to ouercome al our enemies and that word now importeth a present supplye without delay not that they prescribe God a time but to the ende the enemies might be quickly ouerthrowne O Lord I pray thée now vz. at this present wherein good occasion is offred giue prosperity vz. to our King and to vs in his ministery These be the prayers of the people wishing good vnto their King and themselues sée for this purpose Psalme 20. thorowout Verse 26. Blessed be he vz. with all kind of graces both outward and inward that commeth vz. to rule and gouerne amongst vs in the name of the Lorde i. by power and authoritie giuen him from the Lord q.d. That thrusteth not in himselfe but taketh the kingdome vpon him by the commandement and appointment of God Sée this applyed to our Sauiour Christ Mat. 21 9 We vz. which are the Lords Priests and wayt vpon the Altar haue blessed you vz. both King and people vnderstanding by blessing praying for them and wishing them all good which was a part of the Priests office as appeareth Deutron 10.8 Num. 6 23 c. out of the house of the Lord he noteth the place frō whence this blessing was pronounced vz. euen in that place where God was serued and in which place both Priests and people were assembled to worship him and these are the Priests words and prayers Verse 27. The Lord vz. which hath done these things for Dauid and vs is mighty vz. aboue all both in heauen and in earth and hath giuen vs vz. thorow his great mercy goodnesse light i. prosperity and al kinde of gladnes for so much do the Hebrewes comprehend vnder the word light sée Esth 8 16. binde the sacrifice vz. of praise and thanksgiuing which you offer to the Lord putting one number for an other and vnderstanding by one many as may appeare because he addeth with cords for many cords néed not for the tying of one sacrifice but hee meaneth that they should bind and bring al their sacrifices together and haue them in a readinesse as it were presentlye to offer them vp to the Lord vnto the hornes of the Altar he meaneth by this spéech that they shoulde bring them together and fill as it were the whole court of the Lord for further then that place it was not lawfull for the people to goe so that he meaneth by bringing them to the hornes of the Altar nothing else but presenting them before the Lord that as nigh as they might by warrāt of the law go so that Dauid minding to ioin the outward ceremonies of the law with the inwarde affection and seruice of the hart exhorteth euery one to prepare to present that which is necessarye to offer vp to God for the sacrifice of thanksgiuing The hebrew word whiche is here turnd sacrifice doth properly signify a sacrifice offred on some feast day the word that is translated cords signifieth a cord made of many thréeds or ropes put together and hath his name as it should séeme of the thicknes of it Ver. 28 Thou art my God i. he that alone hath mightily deliuered me from mine enemies These be Dauids words vttered either in his own name or in the Priests name concluding the Psalm with thanksgiuing as he had before taken vpon him that person both of the people Priests ver 21. ver 26. of this Psalme I wil praise thée vz. for thy goodnes mercy power manifested vnto me euen my God q.d. Though thou art a God vnto al yet by particular experience I haue found thée so chéefely vnto me therfore I wil exalt thée vz. amongst men with praise thanksgiuing Ver. 29.
they are without sinne that walk in his waies i. that lead a life according to such rules as he hath prescribed vnto them Immanuel readeth this verse thus who also worke no iniquitye q.d. They also are blessed who labour indeuour to the vttermost of strength and grace receaued from God to put downe iniquitie and vniust dealing either in themselues or others or both but walke vz. as much as in them lyeth in his wayes i. in the rules of life which he hath appointed them both texts are good and also both the sences but I rather allow of the latter Verse 4. Thou vz. O Lord hast commaunded vz. men or vs thy seruants to kéepe i. to indeuor and in déede what they may to performe both in thought word and déede the obedience of thy law thy precepts i. the thinges whiche thou in thy lawe haste commaunded vs diligently i. with care and conscience and continually as it were all the dayes of our life Immanuel varieth also somewhat in this verse reading it thus which vz. wayes mentioned in the latter ende of the thirde verse thou hast commaunded by thy commaundements to be greatly or diligently kept the Prophet that he might somewhat terrifie men declareth that the obseruation of the law is euen of God himselfe required and that with some seuerity to the end also that men might know that the breach therof shal not remain vnpunished Verse 5. Oh that my wayes i. my life and conuersation as verse 1 of this Psalme were directed i. might be directed that is disposed and ordred thorow thy power prouidence and goodnesse to kéepe vz. vnfeignedly and with a good hart thy statutes i. the thinges that thou hast established as statutes for me to obserue and kéepe This wish of the Prophet noteth both the want of abilitie in himselfe and also the great desire he had therto Verse 6. Then should I not be confounded vz. either before thée or men when I haue respect i. regard both outwardly and inwardly vnto all thy commaundements vz. to do and performe the same He meaneth that after he shal haue learned of God and bin taught of him he wil both acknowledge and hold the same fast and so by that meanes escape shame and confusion Ver. 7. I wil praise thée vz. alone with an vpright hart i. with a sound and sincere affection voyd of hipocrisie and counterfeiting when I shal learn vz. being taught and instructed by thée the iudgements of thy righteousnesse i. thy righteous iudgements vnderstanding by iudgements Gods commaundements whiche containe nothing in them but perfect righteousnesse Verse 8. I wil kéepe vz. very much or very earnestly and diligently he speaketh this not as though he were able of himself to performe them but to shew what a minde and purpose he caried with him and what a great good will he had thereto thy statutes i. thy lawes and commaundements and note that there is neuer a verse in all this Psalme but you haue in it eyther word law statute iudgement cōmaundement or some such like equiualent therto to signifie Gods word by forsake me not vz. in the middest of mine assaults temptations and infirmities ouerlong i. a long season He prayeth the Lord not only not to leaue him in temptation but also to respect his infirmity and weakenesse least he should go aside from the right way Ver. 1 teacheth vs Do. that obedience to Gods law is the high way to al blessednesse Ver. 2 teacheth vs first that with knowledge there must be ioyned obedience and practised secondly that we must séeke the Lord with all our soule and affection Ver. 3 teacheth that Gods children frame not a conuersation to thēselues according to their own fantasie but according to the rule of Gods word Verse 4 teacheth vs to haue care conscience and diligence in the obseruation of Gods lawe least otherwise wee heape iudgement against our owne soule Ver. 5 teacheth vs to carry with vs both purpose and prayer that we may walk in obedience of Gods law Ver. 6 teacheth vs that obedience to God his truth is the way to auoyde shame both before God and men Ver. 7 teacheth vs first to praise God for his mercies secondly to do it sincerlye and with a sounde affection thirdly that we can neuer rightly praise God or serue him til we haue learned his law Verse 8 teacheth vs what holy purposes we should carry with vs of obedience to Gods law and how for the better informing of vs that way wée should as it were lay vowes vpon our selues thirdly that féeling our owne misery and weakenesse we should by earnest prayer haue recourse to the Lord for his mercy Beth. Di. THis is the seconde letter of the Hebrew Alphabet and serueth to sette out the seconde part of the Psalme In which the Prophet sheweth firste that GOD his worde is the onlye rule to reforme corruption by in what state soeuer verse 9. Secondlye what care and conscience hée hymselfe had to walke in the obedyence of GOD and his Lawe verse 10 11 13 14 15 16. Thirdlye hée praysed GOD for his graces and prayeth vnto him more and more to instructe him in his truth and this is contayned in the 12. verse Se. Verse 9. Wherewith i. by what mean or with what thing shall a yong man i. hée that is the sonne and seruaunte of GOD whosoeuer hée bée but hee chéefelye speaketh of yong men because affection of sinne is most raging in them redresse i. reforme it is in Hebrewe purge or make cleane his waye i. the waye that hée is naturally inclined to walke in and this hée propoundeth in the way of a question aunswering the same himselfe which is also vsuall in the scripture and namely Psalme 15 1 2 also Psalme 24 8 10 in taking héede thereto i. in diligent caring and looking to it that he fal not or stumble not in the fame according to thy word i. according to the commaundements and counsels which in thy word thou giuest to that end The Prophet here prouoketh men in good time to dispose of their life and euen speciallye then when affections begin to boyle within them Now when men will chuse vnto themselues an order of life wherein to liue there is no better counsell more readily to direct them in the right way then this to wit to haue an eye to the Lawe and to looke what is prescribed vnto them therein Ver. 10. with my whole hart i. soundly sincerely and vnfeignedly sée verse 2 of this Psalm haue I sought thée vz. O Lord and that according vnto thy worde whiche I haue in part learned and layd vp in my hart as ver 11. and which I do further desire to bée taught and instructed in verse 12. let me not wander vz. hither and thither as one that is out of his way and knoweth not whether he goeth but followeth his owne imagination and yet strayeth from the righte waye from thy commaundementes vz. which thou hast
his seruants and haue beene comforted vz. excéedingly specially in the inward man by the sight and beholding thereof Verse 53. Feare vz. of heart and trembling meaning thereby also great feare is come vppon me i. hath taken strong holde vppon mee for the wicked i. because of these great iudgments which shall fall vpon the wicked that forsake thy lawe i. that breake and transgresse thy lawe in their wordes thoughts and déedes others I knowe giue other senses but methinketh this is plaine and right vz. that the prophet considering Gods horrible iudgmēts against the wicked was as it were seased and striken with a very great feare Ver. 54. Thy statutes i. thy worde and lawe haue béene my songes i. as some interpret it haue giuen me occasions to write songs I woulde rather expound it thus haue giuen me pleasure ioy and contentment because men greatly reioyce and content themselues in musicke in the house of my pilgrimage some thinke that he meaneth his banishment when he was persecuted by his enemies and fled from the face of Saul Abshalon or others in which distresse he wandered vp and downe and yet because he was long in it hee did count it as it were the house of his dwelling I rather thinke that hee vnderstandeth hereby the whole course and race of his life both that time and all other times for the Prophet had not then comforte only but al the dayes of his life so that in the house or place of his pilgrimage is as much as if he should say in whatsoeuer place of the world I am haue béen or shal be yea al the days of my life and this the rather because the godly haue alwayes estéemed their liues for a pilgrimage as Gene. 47.9 Psal 39.12 also ver 19. of this Psal Sée also Heb. 11.9.10 Ver. 55. I haue remembred sée ver 52. of this Psalme thy name i. thy maiesty goodnes and power as Psal 20.1 O Lord vz. whom I serue in the night vz. when others sléepe q.d. euen then doe I watch and remember thée when others take their rest and haue kept thy lawe vz. with a good and sincere heart Ver. 56. This I had i. al these graces were giuen me from thy goodnes only because I kept i. indeuored what in mee lay to kéepe performe thy precepts i. thy law and commandements he bosteth not here of any merit of his owne but saith that God in working a special deliuerance did yéeld a notable testimony to that goodnes which was in him Immanuel redeth this verse thus This is a comfort vnto me that I kéepe thy cōmandements q.d. euen the litle or slender obedience that I yéelde to thy lawe doeth much comfort me Do. Ver. 49. Teacheth vs that Gods promises made vs in his worde ought to be special grounds of our perswasions touching his mercies towards vs. ver 50. Teacheth vs that Gods promises are speciall comforts vnto vs in the time of our distresses Ver. 51. Declareth what is the nature of the vngodly vz to scoffe continually at gods religion the professers therof also that no contēpt or ignominie in this life should draw vs away from the obedience of our God Ver. 52. Teacheth Gods children to receiue comfort not only in his mercyes practised towards them but also in his punishments powred forth vppon the wicked Ver. 53. Teacheth vs that we should not only be grieued when we sée gods law broken but to be striken with feare of those iudgments that from God shal fal vpon the wicked ver 54. teacheth vs that nothing should minister more ioy contentment to vs in this life then gods word Ver. 55. teacheth vs continually to meditate on gods power goodnes maiesty c. also that wee shoulde many times forbeare euen our ordinary rest and sléepe to the ende wee might performe that duty Ver. 56. Teacheth vs that God giueth continual blessings to them that haue care and conscience to obserue his lawes Cheth Di. AL that the prophet speaketh in this eight part of the Psalme may be referred either vnto God before whom he powreth forth earnest supplications for the assistance of his grace in the obedience of his word ver 57.58.64 or else vnto himselfe wherin he declared what care he had of obedience to gods law and to obserue al the meanes that might cause him to grow therein neglecting also all things that might hinder him therein and this is conteined in ver 59.60.61.62.63 Ver. 57. O Lord thou art my portion vz. alone q.d. I haue none that I hang or depend vpon but thée alone Sée Psalme 73.25 I haue determined vz. with my selfe and that altogether whatsoeuer come of to kéepe vz. in my life and conuersation thy wordes i. the worde that thou hast giuen me as the rule of my life the meaning is q.d. séeing that thou O Lorde art mine inheritance and hast in mercy chosen me to thy selfe I haue fully concluded with my selfe to kéepe thy law Ver. 58. I vz. being priuy to mine owne weakenesse wretchednes made my supplication in thy presence i. prayed before thée and to thée it may be vnderstood euen of some solemne prayer that the Prophet made before the arke with my whole heart i. vnfeignedly and without wandering affections those setting my heart earnestly vpon things that I vttered with my mouth be merciful vnto me vz. thus distressed as I am according to thy promise vz. made and giuen to me and other thy seruants also that call vpon thée sée ver 49. of this Psalme q.d. performe thy promise made vnto me by thy word in Christ and not in respect of my infirmity Ver. 59. I haue considered vz. diligently and carefully my waies i. the maner and order of my life heretofore and turned vz. from those corrupt and naughty pathes of wickednes my féete i. not my féete onely but mine affections also sée Eccle. 4.17 into thy testimonies i. into the way kéeping of thy law q.d. I haue vewed my life past and I do also wel consider my conuersation present and now the thing that I wholy purpose is this to giue my selfe to the vttermost of my power to kéepe thy commandements ver 60. I made hast vz. after the beholding of the former things delaied not i. nothing hindered me q.d. I made spéed in déede for so much doth this doubled spéech meane for such a doubled speach sée Psal 118.17 to kéepe vz. sincerely soundly without hipocrisie thy commandements i. the things which thou haddest commanded Ver. 61. The hands of the wicked i. the great troupes companies of vngodly men by this phrase hée noteth the multitudes of his enemies haue robbed me i. haue taken from that by fraude violence all that euer I had but vz. for all that I haue not forgotten thy law i. the things prescribed in thy law and the comforts therin conteined q.d. neither their flattery nor their fraude nor any thing that they coulde do against me could draw
me away from the obedience of thy trueth Verse 62. At midnight vz. when others are fast and sound a sleepe Sée before verse 55. This declareth his ardency and affection q.d. euen then when I shoulde take my rest as others doe will I rise vz. not onely from my sléepe but euen out of my bed to giue thanks vnto thée vz. for thy gret infinite blessings bestowed vpon me or as followeth because of thy righteous iudgementes i. because of the faithful performing of all those thinges which thou hast promised either in mercy to thy seruants or in iustice to thine enemies Verse 63. I am a companion i. I vse and frequent the company of all thē that feare thee i. serue and worshippe thee with that reuerent feare that appertayneth vnto thée and kéepe thy preceptes i. hee sheweth howe men may know whether they themselues or others feare GOD or no euen by keeping his lawe and doing the things that it requireth And the Prophet kept company with these good men both that he himselfe by them might bee confirmed and also that he might aide and confirme them Ver. 64. The earth i. the whole world it selfe and all the creatures therein conteined O Lord vz. whome I serue alone is full vz. in euery place and quarter so that a man can turne his eye or head no way but he shal sée plaine testimonies of it of thy mercy vz. towardes it and al thy creatures teach me thy statutes sée ver 26. of this Psalme he desireth that the mercy of God which is spred abroad ouer all creatures may be manifested to himward so that thereby he may profit in Gods lawe because that the spirit of vnderstanding is a principal signe of Gods fauour and grace and this petition consisteth of two partes vz. that God pitying his wretchednesse and want of knowledge woulde perfourme his promise made to him in that behalfe whereunto the better to induce God he vseth an argument taken from the abundance of Gods mercy manifested to al his creatures that is the second part or point Do. Ver. 57. Teacheth vs that séeing God hath chosen vs to bee his people wee should carry with vs a resolute perswasion to obey his lawe Ver. 58. Teacheth vs that the prayers which we make vnto God should be vnfeigned and procéed not onely from the tongue but from the heart also also that in our prayers we should make Gods mercies and promises principall proppes of our faith Ver. 59. Teacheth vs not onely to haue a carefull eye to our conuersation past and present but also it sheweth vs that the single sight therof is a good meane to bring vs to the obedience of God Ver. 60. Teacheth vs with speed to turne vnto the Lorde and not to put of from day to day as worldly men doe Verse 61. Doeth not only set out the cruel and spoyling minds that the wicked haue but sheweth also that the children of God shoulde haue such constancie in his trueth as nothing shoulde withdrawe them from it Verse 62. Teacheth vs to haue such care of Gods seruice that wee should many times break our sléepes as it were to performe that duety Ver. 63. Teacheth vs as to auoyd euil company so for the profite that maye come to our selues thereby and for the good that we may do to others to frequent good company Ver. 64. Setteth out the largenes of Gods mercy and sheweth what want of knowledge wée haue in Gods holy worde Teth Di. THis being the 9. part of the Psalme consisteth specially of these pointes first the Prophet confesseth gods great goodnes towards him and prayeth for the continuance therof Ver. 65.66.68 Secondly he declareth that euen the afflictions which they suffered in this life were through the consolation which he had in the word comfortable and profitable vnto him Ver. 67.71.72 Thirdly he setteth out the cruelty and naughtines of the wicked and his owne goodnes and yet without any boasting thereof ver 69.70 Ver. 65. O Lord vz. the only true God thou hast dealt vz. in euery thing Se. and euery way graciously i. in all fauour loue and mercy with thy seruaunt i. with me thy seruant for he speaketh of himselfe in the thirde person according to thy worde i. according to thy promise that thou hast made and giuen mee q.d. as thou hast graciously promised mee all goodnes so hast thou graciously also and in great mercy perfourmed the same Ver. 66. Teach mée vz. who of my selfe am blinde and ignorant good iudgment and knowledge vz. out of thy holy woorde q.d. teach mee by the light of thy holy worde in sound iudgements and knowledge to discerne betwéene trueth and falshoode for I haue beléeued vz. stedfastly thy commaundementes vz. that they are good true and holy he meaneth also by this manner of speach that hee did willingly imbrace all that which was appointed in gods lawe Ver. 67. Before I was afflicted vz from thée and by thine appointment I went astray vz. from the wayes of thy commandements but nowe vz. since thy corrections were vpon mée I kéepe vz. with a sincere and good mynde vnderstanding by kéeping obseruing and obeying thy word i. the things manifested and cōmaunded in thy word Sée Hosea 5.15 Immanuel readeth it thus when I did not yet speake i. euen from my birth I am a sinner a stranger from thy lawe and the childe of wrath as Psal 51.5 I went astray i. I was a sinner against thée as before but now I kéepe vz. diligently or in my heart meaning also that he layd it vp in his mind thy word i. thy promises Thus he applieth it to original sinne whatsoeuer it is certaine it is that hee was not deliuered from that stubbornes and peruerse rebellion wherewith all mankinde is infected but by the mighty working of Gods holy worde and spirit Ver. 68. Thou vz. O Lord art good and gracious as to all so specially to thy people sée Psal 86.5 teach me thy statutes sée ver 26.64 of this Psalme and marke howe to moue the Lord to teach him in his lawe hée setteth before him Gods bounty and goodnes Ver. 69. The proude sée ver 51. of this Psalme hee meaneth by this speach the chiefe men amongest them who were puffed vp with a peruerse and vayne trust in their honours and riches haue imagined as secretly and within themselues so cunningly and finely a lye i. false and vniust accusations hee putteth one for many against mee vz. euen to take away my life if it be possible but I will kéepe vz. through thy goodnes strength and assistaunce thy precepts i. the thinges that thou hast commaunded with my whole heart i. sincerely and vnfeignedly Ver. 70. Their heart i. their minde vnderstanding is fat as grease i. is mightily fatned so that there is nothing in it as it were but fat he meaneth by fat as grease not onely that they were puffed vp with prosperitie and so made vnapt to vnderstand holy thinges
speach to euery faithfull man assuring them of Gods fauour and care towardes them by the promise which hee hath made vnto all his people and to his whole Church which euery one particularly ought to apply to himselfe thus saying God is my keeper for he that kéepeth thée vz. vnder his prouidence and protection and this hee speaketh of God onely wil not slumber vz. neuer so litle or any whit at all q.d. thou néedest not to feare because he hath his eye watching continually ouer thee for thy good Ver. 4. Beholde q.d. marke this and take it as a certaine trueth he that keepeth vz. vnder his prouidence and protection as before ver 3. Israell that is his faithfull people and Church Paul calleth thē Galat. 6.16 the Israel of God and Rom. 11.26 al Israel will neither slumber nor sléepe vz. because it agréeeth not to his nature and eternall Godhead Hée meaneth by this that as he will neuer be careles ouer them so he wil always be prouident and watchfull for them Ver. 5. The Lorde vz. alone and none other but hee is thy kéeper i. is hée that graciously protecteth thee and thyne the Lord vz. alone as before is thy shadowe i. is a place both of pleasure and sure defence vnto thée at thy right hand i. on euery side of thée Immanuel turneth this latter part thus the Lord which is thy shadowe is at thy right hand vz. to aide succour and defend thée and this I take to be the more plain reading and sense Ver. 6. The sunne i. the extreme parching and pearsing heate of the sunne shal not smite thée i. shall not touch thée to hurt thée by day i. in the day time because by Gods ordinance it is appointed to shine in the day Genesis 1.16 nor the moone vz. which shineth in the night and here you must vnderstand this much shall smite thée to hurt thée with her colde as the sunne in the day time should not hurt them with heate nowe he promiseth not that we shal be exempted from all griefes vtterly but he setteth out this comfort that hauing God fauourable vnto vs wee shal be in such safety that no euill which shal fal vpon vs shal destroy vs for vnder the discommodity in the heate of the day and of cold in the night he compriseth all inconueniences from which the Lorde wil deliuer his faithful people if it be profitable for their saluation and the aduancement of his owne glory Ver. 7. The Lord shal preserue thée vz. through his great power and of his infinite goodnes from all euil i. from all manner of distresses plagues punishments c. vnderstanding it with the conditions before alledged to wit if it may serue for his glory or their saluation or if it do take holde of them that it shall not destroy them he shall keepe vz. safely and surely thy soule i. thy life and whole man as Psal 120.2.6 Ver. 8. The Lord vz. thy God shal preserue as before ver 7. thy going out and thy comming in i. al thy affaires and businesses for whatsoeuer men doe they doe it at home or abroad as Deut. 28.6 meaning that God would direct all his enterprises and actions and giue good successe to al his affaires from henceforth and for euer i. continually or alwayes Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs howe ready we are to séeke straunge aydes and helpes besides God our Lord. Ver. 2. Teacheth vs to correct our iudgementes in that behalfe and to hang only vpon him that is able to helpe vs. Verse 3. Teacheth vs that Gods prouidence extendeth it selfe not onely to all the faythfull generally but to euery particular one of them yea to euery member and part of their bodyes Ver. 4. reacheth vs that it is a singular comfort to gods church to knowe that they haue so vigilant a watchman ouer them as the Lorde is Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that the Lord kéepeth and protecteth his children on euery side Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that euen al Gods creatures shal be in a league with his children not to hurt them Verse 7. Teacheth vs that no affliction shall take hold of vs otherwise then shal make for Gods glory and our saluation Ver. 8. Teacheth vs that vnlesse al our affaires both generally and particularly bee directed by God they can haue no good successe To shut vp this Psalme it is lamentable to consider howe much this Psalme hath béene and is abused in our Church seruice appointed for womens purification where it is put down to be vsed as a thanksgiuing whereas wée sée that the Prophets speciall purpose is to shewe in what assurance they are that are vnder the prouidence and protection of almighty God it being of the same argument with Psal 91. and not so much as one word or sillable in it tending either to prayer or thankesgiuing which I take to be a part of prayer Psalme 122. THis Psalme consisteth specially of two partes Di. In the first the Prophet sheweth his owne ioy and the readines of the people in the seruice of God entering into a commendation of the Citie Ierusalem wherein God was truely serued ver 1.2.3.4.5 In the secōd he exhorteth al to pray for the good of the church and that he might the better draw them on to the performance of that duty he doth not only goe before them in his owne example but sheweth them certaine reasons of it ver 6.7.8.9 The title A song of degrées sée Psalm 120. Se. in the title or Psalm of Dauid i. a Psalm that Dauid made reioycing greatly that the arke which was a token of Gods presence was brought into Ierusalem for this title sée Psalme 6.8 and many others in their seueral titles Ver. 1. I reioyced vz. heartily greatly when they i. the people saide vnto mee vz. their King and Prince wee i. all together one and other of vs will goe vz. willingly and gladly in to the house of the Lord i. into the place where the Arke should bée placed and that to worship and serue God by prayer thankesgiuing c. he meaneth that he much reioyced in this that he himselfe knew that the arke of God should dwel as it were in mount Sion and that the people did willingly agrée thereto that there they might worship God Ver. 2. Our féete i. euen we our selues a part for the whole as Psalm 121.3 shall stand in thy gates O Ierusalem i. nowe we shal not goe from place to place to séeke the arke of couenant as wee were wont to doe for it shall dwel and abide in Ierusalem whither we will goe vp to serue the Lord. Ver. 3. Ierusalem i. this excellent citie to which wée shal goe to serue our God in is builded vz. very excellently and beautifully as appeareth 2. Sam. 5.9 1. Chronic. 11.8 and yet this must not bee referred to the wals and towers only but chiefly to the policy and order of gouernment which was therin as may appeare by that which
followeth as a citie that is compact together in it selfe i. as a faire glorious and round city whose buildings are euen and proportionable one of them with an other and by this hee compareth the concord which was amongst the citizens of Ierusalem to buildings houses wel proportionably set together Ver. 4. Whereunto i. to which Ierusalem the exercises of religion obserued there the tribes i. the twelue tribes of Israel euen the tribes of the Lorde i. the tribes which the Lorde himselfe hath to be his speciall portion and inheritance for this is added both for explication of the former to set out also the excellency of the persons goe vp vz. to worship and serue God and he vseth the word of going vp because the City stood vpon an hil according to the testimony to Israel i. according to the ordinance that God had ratified established amongst the Israelites by which he sheweth that they did nothing in that behalfe but by warrant from god Immanuel turneth it thus to the testimony of the Israelites i. to the Arke of the testimony which god gaue to the Israelits and for that end he allegeth Exod. 25.21.22 others read it thus which is a testimony to Israel vz. of the couenant made betwéene god and them but methinketh the first sense is most plain of al to praise the name of the Lord i. to set forth by praise and thanksgiuing the maiesty power and glory of God and he putteth one part of Gods seruice for the whole and note that in this verse he commendeth Ierusalem for the exercises of religion as in the next for the execution of iustice equity Ver. 5. For there i. in Ierusalem are thrones set for iudgement i. iudgement places are erected and established putting the places of publike iustice for iudgment and iustice it selfe the persons that administer the same because it were in vayne to haue the places without the men the matter euen the thrones of the house of Dauid i. thrones appointed by God to Dauid and his posterity for so I take house to be vsed in this place and this repetition importeth that it was Gods purpose to haue the prerogatiue of the kingdom established in Dauids posterity vntil such time as the true eternitie of that kingdom were manifested in Christ who hath his throne in the middest of his church Verse 6. Pray vz. O al ye good and faithful people for he vttereth his speach in the plural number for the peace of Ierusalem i. the felicity prosperitie and quietnes of it both publike priuate inward and outward as may appeare by the words following to the end of the Psal let them prosper vz. in al goodnes thus hee teacheth them to pray not only for it but for all them that cary any good affection to it that loue thée vz. vnfeignedly and with a good heart Ver. 7. Peace i. al maner of prosperity and blessednes as ver 6. of this Psalm be within thy wals i. within thy houses O Ierusalem which are compassed about with wals the Hebrew word doeth signifie a ditch wherewith cities are commonly compassed and that maketh some to turne it thus in thy ramparts that is in places about thée appointed for thy defence whatsoeuer it is he wisheth well to the Citie and people and prosperitie within thy palaces i. in the greate and noble houses that are within thée so that he would haue al sortes blessed the city it selfe both within and without Ver. 8. For my brethren vz. which serue God with me dwel there and repaire thither for the exercises of gods religion as I do and neighbors sake to whom I am bound to doe good by gods lawe to loue as my selfe I wil wish thée now i. euen at this present and not onely now but al the dayes of my life if my wishing can do thée good thou shalt not want it prosperity i. all maner of prosperous and good things And these be Dauids owne wordes testifying his great loue to the place of Gods worship and his brethren assembled there Ver. 9. Because of the house i. because of the seruice of the Lord which is in that place where the Arke is so hee putteth the place of worship for the worship performed in it of our God i. of the Lord whom we al serue I wil procure vz. by all the meanes that possible I can thy wealth i. al prosperity and goodnes for thée so he sheweth that hee sought not his owne profit only or the profit of those that were his but generally of the whole Church of God Ver. 1. Teacheth vs that we ought to be very glad Do. to sée or heare the people zealously and willingly giuen to the seruice of God Ver. 2. Teacheth vs to delite and continue in those places and assemblies wherin God is truely and sincerely serued Ver. 3. Teacheth vs that not only glorious buildings but chiefly vnitie and concord are a singular ornament to any City or commonwelth Ver. 4. Teacheth vs that the exercise of Gods worde and religion doe specially commend a Citie or Countrey to vs. Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that the administration and execution of publike iustice is a notable commendation also to any towne or countrey Verse 6. Teacheth vs to exhort others to pray for the state of the Church and teacheth vs also in our owne persons to pray for it and for them that fauour and affect it Verse 7. Teacheth vs to pray both for the outwarde and inwarde quietnes of Gods Church Ver. 8. Teacheth vs to haue a care for our brethren and neighbours in respect of godlinesse euen as for our selues Verse 9. Teacheth vs that euen a holy loue to Gods Church should cause vs to do any thing for the benefit profit and good therof that possible we can Psalme 123. THis Psalme though very short Di. consisteth yet notwithstanding of two parts In the first the Prophet sheweth how earnestly he wayted vpon the Lord for helpe and deliuerance out of all his dangers ver 1.2 In the second hee prayeth to the Lorde for the redresse thereof shewing that euen his own misery and the miseries of others prouoked him earnestly thereto and this is cōprehended in the two last verses The title A song of degrées or Psalm of Dauid this is expounded before Se. Psal 120. and Psalm 122. Ver. 1. I vz. being distressed on euery side séeing all ayde of man to forsake mée lift vp vz. earnestly and attentiuely hoping looking for helpe from thence mine eyes i. not onely the eyes of my body but of my mind and fayth also to thée vz. O my God and Lord which dwellest in the heauens i. which art God almighty he meaneth by this title that God is exalted farre aboue all creatures and that he guideth and gouerneth them according to his good pleasure it setteth out also the power of God ouer all creatures and his gouernement and prouidence and declareth further that
neither hee himselfe imagined neither should we imagine any fleshly thing of God Ver. 2. Beholde euen as the eies of seruants looke vz. earnestly and attentiuely vnto the hand of their misteris i. vnto their power aide and helpe not doubting of their faithfulnes succour and defence neither yet looking for aide from others besides their misteris and as the eyes of a maide vz. looke and wayte vpon the hande of her maistresse i. the power helpe and succour of her whom God hath placed ouer her as before in this verse so our eyes vz. both of our bodyes and of our mindes as ver 1. of this Psalme wait vz. with patience continuance vpon the Lorde vz. only our God i. whom we serue and worshippe vntill hee haue mercy vpon i. vntil he shewe by effect that hee wil take pitie vpon vs and deliuer vs out of our griefs the woord vntil in this place meaneth not as though that then they would leaue of to trust in him but it noteth continuance and perpetuity of tyme sée Psalm 110.1 and many other places Ver. 3. Haue mercy vpon vs vz. that are so greatly distressed and afflicted O Lorde haue mercy vpon vs this doubling of their prayer noteth both their great earnestnes and also their great néede wherein they were for wee haue suffered vz. a long while together to much contempt vz. from the proud and wealthy men of the world as may appeare by the next woordes following Verse 4. Our soule i. euen our whole life is filled to full vz. in our iudgements if thou O Lord thinke it so also of the mocking of the wealthy i. with the mockes and taunts which the rich men of the world vomit out against vs and he speaketh thus because that many times riches ingender fearcenes and pride of heart and of the dispitfulnes of the proude i. with that despite and hatred which the proude vse against vs. Do. Verse 1. Teacheth in all extremities whether men sticke to vs or forsake vs to hang vppon the Lorde our God onely Verse 2. Teacheth vs by a notable similitude neuer to leaue off either trust in God or prayer vnto him til such tyme as hée graciously looke vppon vs and graunt vs our petitions Verse 3. Teacheth vs to bee earnest in prayer with the Lorde our God Ver. 4. Setteth out the naughty nature of the wicked men of the worlde who can doe nothing else but mocke and disdayne the sonnes and seruants of the most high God Psalme 124 THe Prophet in this Psalme specially propoundeth two things Di. first in what case he and the rest of the godly should haue béene through the rage of the wicked had not the Lorde taken their part ver 1.2.3.4.5 secondly hee prayseth the Lorde for setting him and others frée from the great dangers wherin they were and so concludeth the Psalme in the commendation of Gods grace and power ver 6.7.8 The title is expounded before Psalme 122. in the title thereof Ver. 1. Se. If the Lorde vz. by his almightie power and presence had not béene on our side i. had not taken our partes may Israel nowe say vz. very iustly and truely hee putteth this worde Israel for the people of God as Galat. 6.16 Verse 2. If the Lorde had not béene on our side by this repetition of one and the selfe same thing hee noteth both the greatnes of the daunger wherein they were and the excellency of the benefite which God did bestow vpon them in deliuering them from the same and it may stand vs in stéede of a bridle to keepe vs occupied in the meditation of Gods deliueraunces to the end we forget them not when men vz. casting all feare of God and loue of his people aside rose vp vz. in their rage and madnes against vs vz. to destroy vs. Ver. 3. They had then swallowed vs vp quicke i. without all doubt they had destroyed vs and by these woordes swallowing vp quicke they signifie both the barbarous crueltie of the enemie and also their owne weakenes to resist so mightie enemies and here marke that very likely it is that Dauid made this Psalme in his owne name and the name of the Church when their wrath was kindled against vs i. when they were set on a rage presently as it were to destroy vs. Ver. 4. Then the waters i. the great abundaunce of their wrath and fury and the daungerous estate of affliction wherein wee were Sée Psalm 69.1 had drowned vs i. had ouerwhelmed vs and quite and cleane destroyed vs and the streame vz. of their rage had gone ouer our soule i. had persed euen vnto the inward man and had doubtles taken away our life Verse 5. Then had the swelling waters gone ouer our soule hée repeateth the same thing againe both to set out the cruelty of the enemies and the desperate estate as it were wherein they themselues were that by this meanes Gods mercie might bee the more magnified who had graciously deliuered them from the same and in that they compare the forces of their enemies to great riuers streames waters and such like they therby declare that the enemies had more outwarde force then the Churche had and they doe it also to this ende that declaring it in his liuely colours other men might bee made the better to féele it Ver. 6. Praysed be the Lord vz. continually for this his great goodnes mercy towards vs which hath not giuen vs vz. vp that is deliuered vs or made vs which in his iustice for our sinnes he might haue done as a pray i. to be spoyled and deuoured vnto their téeth i. vnto their cruelty and rage hée compareth the enemies here to wild beastes that with their téeth teare in sunder such things as they get to pray vpon Ver. 7. Our soule i. our life and we our selues as sundry times before and namely Psal 120.2.6 is escaped i. is graciously deliuered and so by that meanes hath escaped their barbarous cruelty euen as a birde vz. taken in a foulers snare or grinne and yet notwithstanding is by some mean or other deliuered escaped thence out of the foulers snare i. out of that snare which the foulers lay for it or for thē the snare vz. which our enemies prepared and layd for vs and this word sheweth that the wicked did ioyne to their force and violence treason and subtiltie and that yet notwithstanding Gods people yea though they were voyd of counsell and of force were miraculously preserued by Gods owne hande is broken vz. through the might and power of our God and wee are deliuered vz. through his goodnes out of al those dangers Ver. 8. Our helpe i. the help and succour which we looke for and must haue is i. standeth onely and is no where else to be found but in the name of the Lorde i. in his might power maiesty goodnes c. as Psa 20.1 which hath made heauen and earth this is expounded before Psal 121. ver 2. Do.
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
of shafts and arrowes still whiche he had put downe in the other verse before going for this is a reason of the thinges which go before they i. neyther the fathers nor the children for so largely would I take it shall not bee ashamed i. they shall not giue place to their enemies but shall ouercome them yea and shall possesse the gates of their enemies as is promised whē they speake with their enemies vz. face to face in the gate vz. eyther of the Citie if it be besieged or else in the place of publike iustice because the iudges were wont to fit in the gates of the Citie to determine publike causes as Genesis 34 20. Deut. 25 7. 2 Samuel 15.2 and in many other places Ver. 1 Teacheth vs that nothing eyther in house or citty Do. can be well begun go well forwarde or come to good end except the Lord be the directer and guider thereof Verse 2 teacheth vs that no meanes eyther lawfull or vnlawfull can performe any thing except the Lords blessing concurre with the same and yet we should not therefore neglect the meanes but vse them alwayes with prayer to God to blesse them to vs so farre forth as maye make for his glory and our comfort Verse 3 teacheth that children are a blessing which it pleaseth the Lord to bestow vppon the sonnes of men not that wée should conclude them to be accursed that want them For the want of blessing yea of sundrye blessing maketh not accursed for who then should be blessed Verse 4 doth teache vs both how good and profitable holy education is to children and also what fruite it yéeldeth to wit in the children readinesse and obedience to the parents Verse 5 teacheth vs that good children are a singular glorye vnto their parents yea and they adde estimation vnto themselues also Psalme 128. Di. THis Psalme may be diuided into two parts In the first the Prophet doth both generally and particularly set out the blessinges of God towards the faythfull Verse 1 2 3. In the second part hée assureth them of the continuaunce of Gods fauour and blessing vpon them and their posterity ver 4 5 6. Se. The title is expounded before Psalme 120. Ver. 1. Blessed is euery one vz. of what estate or condition soeuer he be and that word blessed containeth in it abundance of blessednesse q.d. he shal be plentifully blessed whosoeuer he bée that feareth the Lord i. that rightly serueth and worshippeth him He putteth the beginning of Gods seruice for the whole for wee can neuer rightly serue God til we haue a reuerent feare of his maiesty printed in our hartes walketh in his wayes i. that kéepeth his commaundements and directeth his life according to such lawes as God hath prescribed For God doth not otherwise allow of our life except it be reformed according to his law walking is put here as in sundry other places of the Psalmes for order of lise and conuersation Verse 2. When thou eatest this by the consente of the best interpreters would be turned thus for thou shalt eat shewing a reason as it were of his blessednesse and not as though the godly man were not blessed till hée did eate the fruit of his labours which many times he doth in this life and so the blessing of God vpon him in this life should be called into question and doubte we will therefore turne it thus for thou vz. that hast a care and conscience to fear God and marke how he passeth from the third person to the second shalt eate vz. quietly thorow Gods blessing and fauour towardes thee meaning by eating enioying and liuing by the labours of thine hands i. that whiche thou thy selfe with thy hand hast laboured for q.d. no forrain enemy nor any extortioner shal spoile thée of that which thou hast trauailed for but thou shalt enioy with al profit vse it with al pleasure thou shalt be blessed vz. with all maner of blessings from the Lord both outward and inward both bodily spirituall and this is another grace that God wil shewe to his seruants it shal be well with thée vz. whersoeuer thou art whether at home in thy house or abroade in thy fields as is promised Deut. 28 3. meaning also by this maner of spéeche that euen all his affayres businesses should mightily prosper go well forward Ver. 3. Thy wife shal be as the fruitfull vine i. shal beare thée many childrē as the fruitful vine doth many clusters and bunches of grapes posteritye séede is reckoned amongst the outward blessings that God bestoweth vpon his on the sides of thine house some expound it thus nigh to thy house Methinketh he alludeth to the common custome of men who plant vines vnder their houses and at the sides of them specially at the sides of them where they may haue the most sun by which they may be most defēded frō the cold for heat maketh the Vine plentiful faire and flourishing and thy children vz. which god shal giue thée by hir shal be what like the Oliue plants i. as faire as pleasaunte as the plants of yong Oliue trées or as the yong trées themselues yea I stretche it somewhat further that is they shal be alwayes gréene fresh florishing and increasing sée Psal 52 8 round about thy table by this spéech he expresseth the great delight that children bring vnto their fathers while they sée them as many in number so neate and trimme standing alwayes as it were in their fight Ver. 4. Le here he stirreth vp the faithfull both to behold and also to acknowledge the blessings of God reckoned vp before and these that followe after surely vz. without all doubt thus vz. as is before expressed and as hereafter followeth shal the man be blessed i. euery man as verse 1 of this Psalme that feareth the Lord sée also ver 1 of this Psalme Now we must know that hee promiseth the faithfull earthly blessings from God not that they should stay and rest themselues there but to the end that by the same they might be lifted vp to the meditation of the heauenly life Verse 5. The Lord vz. whom we serue and worship out of Sion i. out of the place wherein he dwelleth and is worshipped and here he putteth the faythfull in minde that it is because of the couenaunte which he hath made with thē that he bestoweth these graces vpon them not for any merite or worthines in them shal blesse thée vz. with his grace and fauour and that so largely and plentifully that thou shalt sée i. both with the eyes of thy body with the eyes of thy faith yea that thou thy self shalt enioye the wealth i. the prosperitie peace and all maner of goodnesse sée Psal 122 9. of Ierusalem i. of the Citie and Church of God because God was serued therein so that he descendeth from particular blessings to the common blessing of the whole Church from whence as it
watching all night do desire to sée the breaking vp of their watch in the morning Verse 7 Let Israell i. Gods faithfull people as before Psalme 129 and afterwardes Psal 131 3 and in this verse he exhorteth all the Church by this example to hāg vpon God wayt vz. with patience on the Lorde vz. only and no other but him for with the Lord is mercy i. hee is gracious and mercifull as before verse 4 of this Psalme and this is a reason why he woulde haue the faithfull to hang vpon the Lord and with him is greate redemption vz. procéeding from that mercye of his as the streame from the Fountayne Meaning by that word great redemption that the Lord hath diuers meanes to deliuer his by and to draw them out of all daungers wherein soeuer they shal be Ver. 8. And he vz. himself and no other for him shall vz. most certainlye and assuredly redéeme i. set frée and deliuer Israell i. his faythfull people which shall haue their trust in him from all his iniquities i. not onely from all their sins but also from all daungers and distresses whereinto their sinnes mighte cast them For so largely doe I rest perswaded that the word shoulde be taken in this place Do. Verse 1 teacheth vs that the more afflictions increase vpon vs the more earnest and often should we be with the Lord by prayer Verse 2 teacheth vs that because sinne cleaueth fast vnto vs and our praiers pierce little or nothing that therefore we should continually call vpon the Lord to heare our prayers Verse 3 teacheth vs in our prayers to haue recourse vnto Gods mercy onely also that no man is able to stand as righteous in the presence and iudgement of God Verse 4 sheweth that Gods mercy should not breede carelesnesse in vs but care and conscience to walke before him in feare and trembling Verse 5 teacheth that there was neuer yet any one confounded that did vnfeignedlye put his trust in the Lord Verse 6 teacheth vs earnestly to hunger and thyrste after the Lord. Verse 7 teacheth vs to prouoke others as well as our selues with patience to waite vpon the Lord. Verse 8 teacheth vs that it is God onlye that can deliuer from sinne and from all those punishments whiche sinne hath pulled vpon vs. Psalme 131. Di. THe Prophet in this Psalme propoundeth two thinges first he setteth downe the simplicitie and humblenesse of his own minde ver 1 2. Secondly he exhorteth the faithfull by his example to stryue to patience verse 3. Se. The title is expounded before Psalme 120 also Psalme 122 in the title thereof Verse 1. Lord vz. whom I serue q.d. thou knowest whether it bee true or no that I speake though men will not beléeue me mine heart is not haughty he beginneth with the fountayne of pride which is in the heart q.d. Thou knowest that I haue not so much as in hart affected the Kingdome or Saules ruine or taken in hande any great matter but by a stedfast faith haue wholye stayed my selfe vpon thée and rested in the obedience of thy will neither are mine eyes loftie from the inward which is the hart he commeth to the outward which are the eyes q.d. that there was not in his visage or countinance any signe of pride but that outwardly he gaue an euident testimony of the humilitie of his hart inwardly neither haue I walked in great matters i. I haue not attempted high enterprises by fact without the reache of my calling and hid from me i. I haue not assayed to looke into such thinges as passe the lighte of capacity and vnderstanding which thou gauest me Verse 2. Surely q.d. this is most certain and thou knowest it though I would not report it I haue behaued my selfe vz. both outwardly and inwardly like one weaned from his mother i. euen as a little childe which is humble and lowly in whiche respecte our sauiour sayth except we receaue the kingdome of God as a little child we shall not enter therein Mar. 10 15. and Paul bee not children in vnderstanding but as concerning maliciousnesse be children 1 Cor. 14 20. and kéept silence i. speake very little or nothing I am in my selfe i. in mine owne perswasion and that in the vpright testimonie of a good conscience before God as one that is weaned i. as a yong childe in respect of affections and wicked desires for children commonly are not very old when they are weaned Ver. 3. Let Israell waye on the Lord sée this expounded Psal 130. ver 7. from henceforth and for euer i. from this time and continually Ver. 1 teacheth vs to auoyd pryde and arrogancye Do. both inwardly in the hart and outwardly in the countenance and behauiour Ver. 2 teacheth vs to striue to all humilitie and lowlinesse of affection Ver. 3 teacheth vs not only with patience for the time to wait vpon the Lord but to doe it continually for euer Psalme 132. THis Psalme may be diuided into two parts Di In the first is conteined a prayer for Dauid the Lords Priests and the faithfull people of God with a declaration of their zeale to Gods worship and seruice from verse 1. to the end of the 10. In the second there is expressed both Gods promises made particularly to Dauid and his posterity also to the whole churche generally from ver 11. to the end of the Psalme The Title is expounded before in the title of Psal 120. Ver. 1. Lord vz. Se. which art the only true God iudgest vprightly remēber i. declare by effects that thou remēbrest and beholdest him that thou doest approue the purpose of his mind in graunting him his request for otherwise God neuer forgetteth specially those that are his sée Gen. 8.1 Dauid vz. thine annointed king seruaunt and al his affliction i. al and euery one of the troubles which he hath indured specially the great care of his hart for the building of thy Temple of which sée 2. Sam. 7 1 2 3. but specially that which followeth in this Psal and all this he alleageth not as boasting of any thing he did but that séeing the Lord mercifull vnto him he might thereby take an argument of good things Ver. 2. who sware vnto the Lord i. bound himselfe vnto him by an oth and that to this end that therby he might be the more carefully bound to perform the good wch hée had promised sée Psal 119 6 vowed a vow i. promised that certainly this difference I take to be betwéen an oth a vow that the one is made with calling god to witnes the other is a solemn protestation or promise only yet so that if it be made concerning good things and by them that haue power in themselues to perform it it bindeth the cōscience sée Num. 30 thorow out to the mighty god of Iaakob i. to God who by his mightie force and power did deliuer the Patriarche Iaakob from all his daungers faying vz.
thée meaning that he would prouide that one of his children posterity should cōtinually succéed him in the kingdom Ver. 12. If thy sons i. thy posterity these are gods words to Dauid establishing the couenāt with him his séed kéepe vz. vnfaignedly and with all their hart my couenaunt i. the couenante which I haue made with them and is passed betwéene them me and my testimonies i. my law word and that euery particular péece of it for so muche do I think doth the plural number in this place signifie that I shall teach them vz. by the ministery of my seruaunts the Priests and Prophets their sonnes also i. their posterity euen to many generations shall sit vpon thy Throne i. shall succéede thée and them in the Kingdome putting throne a part of the kingdome for the whole and it is called Dauids throne or kingdome because he was the first man of al his race that God aduanced to that high honor for euer i. for a lōg season referred to Dauid his natural séede but for all eternitie referred to Christ sée these words expounded 1 King 2 4 also 1 King 8 25 also 2. Chron. 6 16. Verse 13. For the Lord vz. himselfe hath chosen vz. of his great mercy Sion i. his Church or Ierusalem vz. to be the place where his arke should abide he himselfe be serued and loued vz. of his own good pleasure and not for any excellency or worthines that was in it to dwell in it i. to remayne and to abide there as in the next verse Ver. 14. This vz. place is my rest i. is the place wherein I will haue mine arke to staye for euer i. for a long tyme if we referre it to the Materiall Ierusalem but continuallye euen to all eternitye if wée referre it to the Churche here will I dwell i. in this place I will giue of my presence power and continuall aboade for I haue a delight therein i. I haue delighted and loued to dwell there as in the nexte verse before going sée Psalme 78 68. Verse 15. I vz. who am able to do it wil surely i. without all fayle blesse vz. plentifully and abundantly hir vitailes i. all thinges that I shal giue her necessarye for the maintaynaunce of this present life q.d. I will not only giue them abundaunce of vitailes but I will make their meate and drinke profitable vnto them and will satisfye vz. with abundaunce and plentye her poore i. the poore which shal be in Sion or in the Churche with breade i. with thinges necessarye for the nourishmente of this life He ioyneth here spirituall graces to the temporall blessinges declaring that hée will so prouide euen for the poorest of them that they shall not onelye not want their ordinarye vittayles at anye tyme but haue them in greate plentye Verse 16. And vz. I my selfe who am the only Lorde will clothe sée before verse 9. of this Psalme hir Priestes i. those that attende vppon holy exercises and seruices in hir with saluation i. with deliueraunce from daungers and distresses he meaneth that hee will defende and kéepe vnder his sauegarde the ministers of his Church and his saynts i. the people of Sion or of the Church sée before verse 9 shall shout for ioy vz. of that goodnesse and grace whiche GOD shall shewe to the whole Churche and euerye particular member of it and this phrase shouting for ioye or as it is in the hebrew in singing shall sing doth not only note the great ioy which they shall haue But the certaintie and assurednesse of it also Ver. 17. There i. in Sion Ierusalem or in the Churche will I make i. cause thorowe my power goodnes the horn of Dauid i. the power might kingdome c of Dauid my seruant to hud i. to prosper and increase it is a metaphor taken from beasts who haue snags in their heads as deare haue which are vnto thē in stéed of bowes as it were by which he noteth their flourishing and prospering for I haue ordeined vz. in mine eternal counsel a light vz. euen in that place meaning by light the regall dignity glory and the godly person that should execute the same as 2 Sam. 21.17 1 King 11 36. for mine annointed i. for Dauid my seruaunt whom I haue appointed to be King some expound it thus q.d. I wil bring to passe that the kingly dignity shal not so be quenched but that it shall always shew forth some light the other sence is better in my minde Ver. 18. His enemies i. Dauids enemies and the enemies of his godly posteritie will I clothe with shame i. compas them about with confusion of face so that they shall not dare to lift vp their heads meaning further that he would euen confound and destroy them but on him i. him himselfe his posterity shall his crown florish i. his kingdom shal continue florishing and not wither away but be preserued alwayes in his force and beauty and this was fully accomplished in Christ Verse 1 teacheth vs to beséech the Lord to declare by effect that he thinketh vpō vs. Do. Ver. 2 teacheth vs to bind our selues by all lawful means we can to the obedience seruice of our God Ver. 3 teacheth vs that we shoulde little estéeme all the pleasures of this life in respect of God and his glory Ver. 4 teacheth vs that we should make but little account of profitable necessary thinges in respecte therof Ver. 5 teacheth vs to ioyn our selues to the exercises assemblies of gods congregation Ver. 6 doth cōmend vnto vs the care of Gods Church religion seruice Ver. 7 teacheth vs not only to heare of Gods Church but when wee haue heard of it to labour the finding of it Ver. 8 teacheth vs to pray the Lord to be continually present with vs to beséech him to giue vs al the signes testimonies of his fauour Ver. 9 teacheth all but specially Kings to pray for the ministers and officers of Gods Church for the whole congregation Ver. 10 teacheth vs to offer vp all our prayers in the name meditation of Christ Iesus only Ver. 11 sheweth how that God for the strengthening of our fayth in the truth of his word doth euen bind himselfe vnto vs by an oth Ver. 12 teacheth vs that albeit the couenant that God hath made with vs be of it selfe and as it procéedeth from God frée yet it is deliuered vnder certaine conditions whiche he would haue to be obserued that we in some measure performing the same might be more and more confirmed in the truth of it Ver. 13 sheweth vs that gods frée loue is the chéefe cause of al his graces towards the Church Ver. 14 teach vs that Gods grace towards his Church is vnchangeable and abideth for euer Ver. 15 setteth forth Gods great liberality towards the Church and his singular fauour who will not destitute no not the meanest or poorest Ver. 16 teacheth vs euen in
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
side from the hand of strangers sée for the vnderstanding of this and all that followeth in this verse the 7. and 8. verse of this Psalme where you shall sée the very same wordes Ver. 12. That our sonnes i. the posteritie that we shal leaue behind vs through thy fauour towardes vs and thy iudgements vpon thine and our enemies may be as the plants i. tender faire gréene and florishing growing vp in their youth this may be referred either to the childrē or to the plants but I rather refer it to the plantes q.d. euen as plantes set in good grounde grow vp a pace so by this thy blessing the séede that we shall leaue behinde vs shall increase in all comelines beautie and good thinges and our daughters i. our seede and posteritie for vnder these two sonnes and daughters hee meaneth all posteritie either male or female which they coulde leaue behinde them as the corner stones vz. of the house builded or in the foundation of the house which were not onely profitable to vpholde the whole building as Psalme 118.22 but also was finely hewen cunningly wrought grauen i. curiously wrought and cut after the similitude of a pallace i. after the forme of most costly stones wherewith most costly buildinges as palaces are built But I like better Immnuel who readeth it thus that our sonnes being as the plantes growing vp in their youth our daughters being as the corner stones al this agréeth with the sense before giuen may bee the building of the temple i. may be such stones as may be vsed to the building and polishing of Gods church that we may altogether grow vp to an holy temple in the Lord Ephe 2.21 also Ephe. 4.12.13 Ver. 13. That our corners i. not onely the barnes and store houses which we haue but euery corner of our dwelling house maye bee full vz. through thy blessing and abounding vz. in great measure and plenty with diuers sortes vz. not onely of graine and corne but of all maner of prouision and that our shéepe may bring forth vz. through thy especial blessing thousandes and ten thousandes i. may increase infinitely and as it were without number for he putteth a number certaine for an vncertaine in our stréetes i. openly so that not only we our selues to our great ioy but our aduersaries to their great griefe may beholde the same Verse 14. That our oxen vz. also through this thy blessing may be strong to labour i. méete and fit for all that labour whereunto thou hast appointed them and we shal according to thy will vse them he meaneth by this that the people may bee rich and abounde with al maner of worldly blessings that there bee none inuasion vz. of the enemie against vs that is that the enemy runne not in vppon our lande and vs neither make breaches in our wals nor enter into our cities nor going out vz. to battle and warre which can not be if none come to assault them nor no crying in our stréetes i. neither noyse or sodaine tumult as commeth to passe in the taking of townes nor no mourning by any occasion either when the enemies slay vs or otherwise q.d. that no euill thing at all may come vpon vs that no good thing may passe from vs and that we haue no heauines nor cause therof within vs our Cities but al things ioyful and pleasant Ver. 15. Blessed are the people that be so i. in so good a cause d.q. most happy surely are they yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lorde i. they in déede are blessed who howsoeuer they haue or inioy the outward blessings before rehearsed or haue them not yet so do tast and féele the grace of God that they are still perswaded of his fatherly loue towards them and in the apprehension thereof goe on forward towards the obtaining of the heauenly inheritance Ver. 1. Teacheth vs that we can do nothing no not outwarde things well Do. vnlesse the Lorde teach and instruct vs. Ver. 2. Teacheth vs first that God alone is the whole aide and defence of his children secondly that it is not kings powers and pollicies that kéepe the people in good order and subiection but hee alone who boweth their heartes thereto Verse 3. Teacheth vs that there is nothing in man as of man that can commend him to God Ver. 4. Setteth out the vanity brittlenes and shortnes of mans life Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that God néedeth not to vse any great power for the ouerthrowe of his enemies Verse 6. Teacheth vs that wee may safely pray agaynst the malicious and obstinate enemies of his trueth Verse 7. Teacheth vs that vnlesse GOD deliuer vs out of our great daungers there is no way or meanes for vs to escape out of them Verse 8. Teacheth vs that there is nothing but vanitie lying and falshoode to bée looked for at the handes of the wicked Verse 9. teacheth vs to bee alwayes thankefull to the Lorde for his mercies and because wee are very dull thereto to stirre vp our selues by all the meanes wee can Verse 10 teacheth vs that Kinges victories and their deliuerances from daungers procéed from God as well as the poore mans doeth Ver. 11. teacheth vs that because we can not helpe our selues wee shoulde pray the Lorde to deliuer vs from distresses Verse 12. teacheth vs that it is a singular blessing to haue a posteritie grafted into Gods Church Verse 13 teacheth vs that abundance of al things come from the Lorde onely Verse 14. Teacheth vs that neither our cattell nor any thing else can stand vs in steede without Gods especial blessing and al these three verses layde together doe teach vs further what great commodities insue to Gods people by the ouerthrow of their enemies also that euen these outward blessinges are to Gods seruants sure seales and testimonies of a better hope Ver. 15. Teacheth vs that they in déed are in some measure blessed that haue these outwarde benefites bestowed vpon them but yet they are in better case which though they wante them féele with assuraunce of perswasion the eternal fauour of God towards them in the hope and certaintie of a better life Psalme 145 Di. THis Psalm propounding specially the matter of thanksgiuing and praise vnto the Lord may bée diuided into foure partes In the first hee himselfe promiseth to praise the Lorde shewing a cause wherefore Ver. 1.2.3 In the second he doeth as it were prophecie that all Gods creatures and workes shal serue to set forth his praise from ver 4. vnto to the end of the 12. In the third he sheweth reasons and causes why men should praise the Lorde to wit for his gouernement his mercy his prouidence c. from verse 13. to the 20. And lastly hee shutteth vp the Psalme with promise of thankesgiuing as he began it ver 21. Se. The title A Psalme of Dauid i. which hee made of prayse vz. vnto the Lord i. of such prayse and thankesgiuing as
afflictions or aduersities or whether they bee already fallen into the same God reacheth out his hande and either keepeth them from falling or else deliuereth them being fallen Verse 15. The eyes of all vz. thinges whatsoeuer wayte vppon thée vz. with patience and that for their â—â—â—â—re and sustenaunce and thou giuest vz. euen in thy mercy them their meate i. that portion of foode that thou hast appointed for them in due season i. in that time that thou séest with thy selfe to bee good and méete for them Verse 16. Thou openest thyne hande i. thou stretchest forth thy power and giuest plentifully and largely to all thy creatures and fillest all thinges liuing i. whatsoeuer liueth and moueth or hath sense féeling and groweth of thy good pleasure hee noteth here the cause why all the creatures are norished vz. Gods good pleasure and will Sée for these 2. ver Psalme 104. ver 27.28 c. Verse 17. The Lorde is righteous i. iust and equall in all his wayes i. in euery thing that hee taketh in hande hée meaneth that God obserueth a most vpright course in euery thing he doeth howe corrupt or partiall so euer men be in their dealings and holy in all his workes i. his very workes declare that there is a certaine kynde of vnspeakeable holinesse in his maiesty that woorde holy would bee better turned good or mercifull and so doeth Immanuel turne it sée to this end ver 9. of this Psalme Ver. 18. The Lorde is néere i. euen ready at hand not onely to heare them but to helpe them vnto all that call vpon him i. to those that worshippe and serue him a part of Gods seruice put for the whole as Gene. 4.26 1. Corinth 1.2 also 2. Timot. 2.19 yea to all that called vppon him in trueth i. without feigning or hypocrisie or else that call vppon him in such sort that they perfourme not the inuocation of his name by their inuentions and superstitions In summe hee setteth trueth against infidelitie doubting impacience murmuring counterfeite humilitie and vicious affecting of thinges which are the fruites of lying for true worshippers Sée Iohn 4.24 and this hée addeth in the way of correction q.d. though I sayde before that the Lorde heareth all them that call vppon him yet I meane it of al them that call vppon him in trueth Verse 19. Hée will fulfill i. accomplish and perfourme the desire of them i. the thinges which they shall desire and will according to his will Sée 1. Iohn 5.14 because God setteth vppon their affections a lawe of obedience that feare him i. that serue and worshippe him this hath béene sundry tymes expounded before hee will also heare their cry i. graunt them their requestes which they pray euerlastingly vnto him for and will saue them i. both deliuer them out of all the daungers of this lyfe and at the ende bring them to eternall life Verse 20. The Lorde preserueth vz. from any notorious hurt or daunger or if not so yet hée maketh away for them to escape out of it as shal bee most for his glory and their comfort all them that loue him vz. vnfeignedly and with a good heart Sée Roman 8.28 but hee wil destroy vz. in his wrath and iust iudgement all the wicked vz. of the worlde of what estate or condition so euer they bee Verse 21. My mouth shall speake the prayse of the Lorde i. I will boldly and openlye in wordes set foorth his prayses hee putteth the instrument wherewith wordes are vttered for the wordes themselues all flesh i. all men for when this word is so put alone without adding any thing to it doeth most commonly in the Scriptures respect men shall blesse his holy name i. shall prayse his maiesty power and goodnes for euer and euer i. continually sée ver 1.2 of this Psalme Verse 1. Teacheth vs not onely to be thankfull to God for his mercies Do. but also to continue in the same because his mercies are continually powred forth vppon vs. Ver. 2. teacheth vs that wee shoulde let no day passe without heartie thankesgiuing to the Lord for his graces Ver. 3 teacheth vs that Gods power and incomprehensible maiesty should prouoke vs to thankfulnes Verse 4. Teacheth vs to haue a care to conuey the remembraunce of Gods benefites to our posteritie Verse 5. Teacheth vs to imploy more time in the meditation of Gods workes then heretofore we haue done Verse 6. Teacheth vs as well to publish Gods iudgements as his mercies that the wicked may bee pearsed with a feare of his maiesty Verse 7. teacheth vs neuer to be ashamed to publish gods promises Ver. 8 9. Are excellent descriptions of god by his qualities and comprehende much matter of comfort for those that bee afflicted and also conteine very excellent causes why we should prayse and thanke God Ver. 10. Teacheth vs that it becommeth all Gods creatures but specially his faythful people to blesse and prayse the Lorde Ver. 11. and 12. Teach vs not onely for our owne good and the discharge of our owne duety but that others also therby may be drawne to do the like Ver. 13. Teacheth vs that howsoeuer mens kingdomes be brittle yet Gods gouernment ouer all but specially ouer his indureth for euer Ver. 14. Teacheth vs that God so prouideth for his children in their daungers and distresses that howsoeuer they bee afflicted yet they do not vtterly perish Ver. 15. Setteth out Gods gracious prouidence fatherly care ouer his children Ver. 16. Sheweth that the Lorde is liberall handed towardes his creatures and that al the good thinges which we haue procéede from his good will and pleasure Verse 17. Teacheth vs that whatsoeuer God doeth he doeth in all vprightnes though perhaps we through the blindnesse and corruption of our nature can not conceiue so thereof Ver. 18. Teacheth vs that God quickly heareth the earnest and vnfeigned prayers of his Seruauntes Verse 19. Sheweth that God will graciously deliuer his out of all their daungers Verse 20. Sheweth the vnlikely reward betweene the godly and the vngodly Verse 21. Teacheth vs both in our owne persons and in others to stirre vp and prouoke our selues to continual thankfulnesse Psalme 146 Di. THis Psalme may bee diuided into two partes In the first hee prouoketh himselfe to prayse God promising to perfourme it as long as he liueth to which he addeth a dehortation that we should not trust in any man nor giue them the matter of praises Ver. 1.2.3.4 and 5. In the second he sheweth certaine causes why he and other should prayse the Lord from ver 6. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title Prayse ye the Lorde sée Psalme 106. in the title Ver. 1. Prayse thou the Lorde O my soule vz. for his mercy and goodnes towardes thée vnderstanding by soule the seate of his affections which is the heart Sée Psalm 103.1 Ver. 2. I will prayse the Lorde vz. for his mercies during my life i. as long as I liue and all the dayes
of my life as long as I haue any being vz. either in this life or in eternall life for the action of prayse and thanksgiuing to God shal not cease then I will sing vz. prayses and thankesgiuing vnto my God i. vnto him whom I serue and whom I haue founde by particular experience to haue bene a singular God to mee Ver. 3. Put not your trust i. haue not any confidence or affiance in them as though that without God or against him they were able to helpe you in princes vz. how litle or how great soeuer they be in authority nor in the sonne of man i. in any man whatsoeuer and this he doeth to the end that God may haue his whole gloryâ—â—ecting and abolishing all peruerse hopes specially those which we haue in great personages for there is none helpe in them i. he or they altogether are not able of themselues to helpe either themselues or other distressed and this is one reason why they shoulde not trust in men Verse 4. His breath departeth i. euen his soule and vitall spirite that is hee dieth and so the hope which men repose in him or them perisheth and hée returneth to his earth vz. out of which he was taken as Gene. 3.19 and this must bée vnderstoode in respect of his body then vz. when hee dieth his thoughtes perish i. all that hee thought vppon and deuised in his imagination come to nothing and this is an other reason taken from the vanity of mans life Verse 5. Blessed is he i. he is in a good and blessed state that hath the GOD of Iaakob for his helpe i. that hath the true GOD to helpe and deliuer him in all assayes Sée Psalme 144.15 whose hope is in the Lorde his GOD i. that putteth his trust onely in that true god howsoeuer men do destitute forsake or faile him Ver. 6. Which made heauen and earth sée Psalme 124.8 also Psalme 121.2 the Sea and all that therein is i. whatsoeuer liueth and moueth in the same Sée Psalm 8.8 which kéepeth his fidelitie for euer i. which doth faithfully and continually performe whatsoeuer he hath promised Ver. 7. Which executeth iustice vz. vpon the wicked and vngodly and that woorde Iustice sheweth that God doeth them no iniurie when hee punisheth them for the oppressed i. on the behalf of the oppressed q.d. when they are oppressed and none able to deliuer them then doeth God take vppon him the defence of their iust cause against the oppressours which giueth bread to the hungrie i. foode and sustenance to them that want it the Lorde loseth the prisoners vz. out of their prison and bondage as he did Ioseph by bowing rulers heartes to set them at libertie Sée Psalm 105.20 Verse 8. The Lorde giueth sight to the blinde the Lorde raiseth vp the crooked i. hée healeth all diseases yea though they be neuer so harde and incurable howe true this is the whole body of the Scripture declareth and specially the miracles of our Sauiour Christ in the newe testament and by crooked he meaneth them that bee broken and bowed as it were together with afflictions and infirmities the Lorde loueth the righteous i. pursueth them especially with his fauour séeming after a sorte to restraine that to the godly which hée had generally spoken before Ver. 9. The Lorde keepeth vz. safe and sounde and free from hurt and daunger the strangers vz. which are tossed from one place to an other and haue as it were no body to comfort them hee relieueth the fatherlesse and widowe i. hee comforteth them in their distresse and heauinesse vnder these three hee comprehendeth all them that bee destitute of ayd and defence or haue no means to come by the same of these see Exodus 22.22.23.24 but hee ouerthroweth vz. in his iust iudgement the way of the wicked i. all his deuises woordes and workes Sée Psalme 1.6 Ver. 10. The Lorde vz. our God which we serue shall raigne for euer vz. do his Enemies against him and his what so euer they can O Sion he speaketh to Sion that is to the Church because God speciallie raigneth for the preseruation thereof thy GOD vz. whom thou seruest endureth from generation to generation i. ruleth and raigneth for euer and euer as Psalme 145.13 Prayse yee the Lord sée Psalme 106. in the end Do. Ver. 1. teacheth vs that our praysing of God should procéed from the harte Ver. 2. teacheth vs that we should continue in it and neuer be wearie of well doing Ver. 3. teacheth vs earnestlie to fight against that naturall corruption which is in vs that is to trust in others besides the Lord. Ver. 4. setteth out the breuitie and brittlenesse of mans life Ver. 5. teacheth vs that how soeuer wée be forsaken of men yet we are in good case if we trust in the Lorde Ver. 6. teacheth vs to prayse God first for the workes of creation secondlie for his mercifull promising and faythfull performinge of that which he hath promised Ver. 7. teacheth vs that how soeuer men deale vniustlie one with an other yet God alwayes executeth Iustice Secondlie it teacheth vs that he doth not for euer forget the pore afflicted estate of his people Thirdlie that we ought to prayse him for his prouidence towardes the poore and néedie and his pitie towardes the prisoners Verse 8. teacheth vs that many times in matters past mens reache the Lord worketh most mightilie to the end that all the glorie might be geuen to him Ver. 9. teacheth vs that these whom men commonlie make least account of GOD most highlie regardeth and estéemeth it setteth out also the vnlikelie rewarde of the wicked and of the godlie Verse 10. teacheth vs that it is a singular comfort to the Church and to euerie member thereof to knowe that GOD is the King thereof and his Kingdome and gouerment shall endure for euer Psalme 147. THis Psalme standinge chieflie in exhorting men to the prayse of GOD Di. may be deuided into thrée partes First he prouoketh men to prayse God speciallie for his Graces and goodnesse towardes his Church from Verse 1. to the ende of the sixt In the second he exhorteth men to prayse him speciallie for his prouidence to all creatures and namely towardes Men. from Verse 7. to the ende of the 11. In the thirde he prouoketh them to prayse him for his might power and goodnesse towardes all but chiefly towardes his Church from Verse 12. to the ende of the Psalme Se. This Psalme hath no title as many other before going haue none Ver. 1. Prayse ye the Lord vz. for his mercy and goodnesse for it is good i. profitable and comfortable euen to vs sée Psalme 92.1 To singe vz. prayses and thankes giuings vnto our god i. vnto him who hath testified by infinit tokens his great care and loue towardes vs and we agayne on the other side do serue and worship for it vz. prayse and thankes giuinges is a pleasaunt thing i. is an acceptable thing euen vnto
GOD also as who requireth the same at our handes as a péece of his seruice Psalme 50.15 and prayse vz. giuen vnfeynedly vnto GOD is comelie vz. both before him and all good men though the wicked of the worlde make no account of it but as a deformed thing sée for these two wordes good and comelie Psalme 133.1 Verse 2. The Lord vz. him selfe doth buyld vp vz. thorowe his goodnesse and power Ierusalem i. his Church and vnder the terme builde the Holy Ghost doth meane that GOD is the author the founder yea all in all for his Church and gathereth to gether vz. by the voyce of his worde and the vse of his Sacramentes the dispersed of Israell i. the straying members of his Church If we referre it to Ierusalem and the Iewes he meaneth that GOD hath bene alwayes a gracious Father vnto that people and that howsoeuer they were now scattered abroad into other cuntreyes yet he would bringe them home agayne to theyr owne If wée referre it to the Church as wée may and ought to do in déede he meaneth then that it is not builded by mans power but by a heauenly and diuine power that is by GOD himselfe who gathereth into the bosome or lappe of his Church all those that are strayed from it and appertayne to his election Verse 3. Hee i. the Lorde healeth vz. by his worde and most comfortable promises conteyned therein which are the medicines of our soules and the diseases thereof and this he doth for his promise sake broken in harte i. humbled in the inward man for their sinnes committed agaynst him sée Psalme 51.17 it may also be taken for such as be grieuouslie afflicted either outwardly or inwardly yea throwen downe and ouerwhelmed as it were with their affliction and buildeth vp their sores i. remedieth and redresseth their hurtes and euills and cureth as it were theyr griefes like a good Shéepheard Ezech. 344. and as the good Samaritane Luke 10.34 and as a good Surgion is wont to doo after that he hath opened and dressed his patients woundes Verse 4. He i. the Lorde counteth the number of the starres i. knoweth the very certayne number of them and not that we should thinke that he sitteth there to reckon them after the manner of men calleth them all by their names i. knoweth howe to name euery one of them q.d. that GOD which sitteth in heauen and knoweth all thinges yea euen the least thinges that are and who also ruleth all thinges euen in the very Heauens and doth by name beare rule ouer euerie one of them according to his authoritie and might sée Isaiah 40.26 yea euen that God is worthie to be praysed declaring also that it is no more harde matter for God to gather his Church the dispersion thereof then to number the starres and to giue to euery thing his office might property guiding them all by his prouidence and wisedome in such sorte that nothing shal be disorderous in that great multitude Ver. 5. Great is our lord vz. in goodnesse great is his power vz. also d.q. both his goodnes and power is very great yea infinite Sée Psal 135.3 his wisedome is infinite vz. to men as who can neither account it nor throughly comprehende it vnderstanding by wisedome his most fatherly and wise gouernement also and the particulars thereof Ver. 6. The Lorde relieueth i. comforteth by his woorde and spirite and many times in his prouidence exalteth to great honour as Psal 113.7 the méeke i. the humble hearted and such as by their afflictions are brought to true lowlines and abaseth the wicked to the ground i. casteth them downe from the top of their honour euen as lowe as can bee Ver. 7. Sing vz. prayses and thankesgiuing vnto the Lorde vz. our God with prayse i. with ioyfulnes also as well as with prayse sing vz. Psalmes of prayse vpon the harp hee addeth instruments for the better stirring of men vp Sée Psalme 144.9 and yet this was but temporal and arbitrarie vnto our God sée ver 1. of this Psalme Verse 8. Which couereth the heauens with cloudes i. casteth thick cloudes conteining raine in them ouer the firmament meaning thereby that God doeth by that meanes chaunge as it were the face of the heauen which shoulde drawe vs euen to wonder at his power and prepareth vz. by that meanes raine for the earth i. for the good and profit of the earth because without raine and moisture from heauen it woulde bee vtterly barren and maketh vz. through his speciall blessing as the first cause and the raine as the instrument the grasse to growe vz. in great plenty and abundaunce vpon the mountaines i. in most barren and drie places which are for the most part very scant of grasse because they are nigh to the parching and pearsing heate of the Sunne Verse 9. Which giueth vz. in mercy to beastes their foode i. the nourishment wherewith they are maintained and liue and to the young rauens which are not able to féede themselues which crye vz. through want of foode and sustenaunce Sée Iob. 39.3 and in this verse the Prophet setteth out Gods fatherly care and prouidence which stretcheth it selfe euen to Rauens or Crowes whiche are the most contemned foules almost that are men making no account of them as for foode but vtterly to destroy them as hurtefull and noysome Verse 10. Hée i. GOD hath not pleasure i. careth not for nor delighteth in in the strength of an horse of which you may reade a liuely description Iob. 39.22.23 c. and vnder this and that which followeth hee comprehendeth all meanes of flesh and blood whatsoeuer in which many men put their trust but that is a peruerse thing and much to bee condemned and yet without that wee may lawfully vse all holy meanes which God shall giue vs neither delighteth hee in the legges of man vz. howe strong well proportioned swift and nimble so euer they bee meaning notwithstanding that God exerciseth this goodnes towards vs of the vse of the meanes not for any worthinesse that is in any of the Creatures but for his owne glory fake and the good of his Church Verse 11. But the Lorde delighteth in them i. both careth verye much for them and taketh singular pleasure in them that feare him i. sincerelye worshippe and serue him hauing a reuerent feare of his maiesty in their heartes and attende vz. in hope and patience vppon his mercy i. the time till in mercie hee perfourme that which hee hath graciously promised them Verse 12. Praise the Lorde vz. for his mercy and goodnes O Ierusalem i. O thou his Church prayse thy God i. the GOD which thou seruest O Sion by Sion and Ierusalem he vnderstandeth both one thing vz. Gods Church and congregation Sée Psalme 51.18 meaning also by this often prouoking of men to prayse the Lorde to teach them this that they can neuer want occasion or matter in that behalfe Ver. 13. For he hath made