the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth 3. For in the day when thy forces 2 Tim. II. 3. compleatly armed with a Divine power IV. Act. 33. shall march forth to subdue the world unto thy obedience they that are fit for thy Kingdom IX Luk. 62. XIII Act. 48. shall chearfully submit themselves and present Thee with free-will Offerings in token of their absolute subjection to Thee II. Act. 45. IV. 34. And great shall be the number of chosen men 1 Joh. II. 13. who glad to see the night of Ignorance gone shall at thy first appearance by the celestial blessing fall unto Thee as thick as the morning dew 4. The LORD hath sworn and will not repent Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek 4. And happy are they who live under thy Government for the Lord hath unchangeably resolved that Thou shalt be a Priest as well as a King with full power to bless all thy Subjects not onely in that but in all future Ages even to all Eternity For Thou shalt not be a Priest like those after Aaron's order who die to make room for others but like that great King and Priest Melchisedek shalt neither have any Predecessour nor Successour in thine Office but continue a royal Priest for evermore Hebr. VII 5. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath 5. Who as he will be most compassionate to all those that heartily acknowledge Him for their Lord and submit unto His Government so will break in pieces the greatest powers on earth that provoke his displeasure by obstinate opposal of his Authority at thy right hand 6. He shall judg among the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the heads over many countries 6. From whence He shall demonstrate Himself to all the heathen world to be their Law-giver and their Judge taking a severe vengeance on those that persecute his Subjects and destroying at last even that mighty Empire which shall then rule over many Countries 7. He shall drink of the brook in the way therefore shall he lift up the head 7. But before all this He shall first humble Himself to the meanest condition not living in the state of a King here in this world but of a way-faring man IX Luk. 56. who is content with such provision as he meets withall For which cause after the enduring many hardships even death it self He shall be highly exalted to his Royal and Priestly dignity in the Heavens from whence He shall never fall PSALM CXI Hallelujah i. e. Praise the Lord. ARGUMENT It is certain this is the Title of the Psalm which consists of as many short Metres as there are Letters in the Hebrew Alphabet and therefore cannot begin with Hallelujah whos 's first Letter is the fifth not the first Letter in that Alphabet In which order it proceeds for the better help of the memory being composed thus artificially that every one as well as the singers to whom the Hallelujah perhaps is particularly directed might have in their minds a brief form of thanking God especially upon festival days for the wonderfull things He had done for that Nation It was a meditation which the Authour had in time of peace and quiet for in distress or immediately after a great deliverance mens spirits are not at liberty to use such art and curiosity in their composures as there is in this Psalm being full at those seasons of such passions as make them neglect it even when they are inclined to use it see Psalm XXV For which reason I think Theodoret's opinion hath no ground that the Psalmist hath respect to the great Victory obtained by Jehoshaphat over the Ammonites and other Nations who invaded his Kingdom for which they gave thanks to God presently after 2 Chr. XX. It is more likely that David who composed those larger forms of commemoration Psalm CV and CVI. made this as I said for a compendious remembrance of what is there more largely delivered And that He might not exceed the number of the Ten Commandments as some give the reason of it in the Verses of this Psalm the Metres of the two last are so short that they have each of them three Letters of the Alphabet in them whereas all the former have but two 1. PRaise ye the LORD I will praise the LORD with my whole heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation 1. I Will make my thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord not onely with my lips or with some slight affections of my mind but with all my heart and soul And that not onely in the private society of those good â—…en whom I am more inâ—…mately acquainted withall but in the publick congregation of all his people 2. The works of the LORD are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein 2. Who ought to join together to praise the Lord for his mighty and wonderfull works which it will not cost them much labour to understand for they are easily found out by all those who take any pleasure in such inquiries 3. His work is honourable and glorious and his righteousness endureth for ever 3. And there is not one of them but is full of majesty and splendour and the fruit of his infinite bounty and faithfulness to his promise which He still expresses towards us and will doe so for ever 4. He hath made his wonderfull works to be remembred the LORD is gracious and full of compassion 4. And such is his Goodness lest we should forget his Benefits He hath instituted solemn times for the commemoration of the wonders He hath done for us XII Exod. 14. XIII 3 9 c. which are everlasting testimonies that we serve a most gracious and compassionate Lord. 5. He hath given meat unto them that fear him he will ever be mindfull of his covenant 5. Who gave our Forefathers whom by his wonderfull works He possessed with the fear of Him XIV Exod. 31. the spoil of the Egyptians XII Exod. 35 36. and afterward fed them with Manna in the wilderness XVI Exod. according to his Covenant which He had made long before XV. Gen. 14. and will never forget in future Ages 6. He hath shewed his people the power of his works that he may give them the heritage of the heathen 6. He hath evidently demonstrated to his people the greatness of his power in destroying Sihon the Amorite II. Deut. 24 25. and Og the King of Bashan III. Deut. 21 24. with the rest of the Amorites and other Nations in the Land of Canaan X. Josh 6 11 12 c. which He took from the ancient Inhabitants that He might give it us for our possession 7. The works of his hands are verity and judgment all his commandments are sure 7. In which He did them no wrong but was exactly
both by my Birth and by my Education and by this marvellous Deliverance whereby Thou hast rescued me from the power of death which had in a manner taken hold of me 17. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the LORD 17. I can never sure prove ungratefull to Thee unto whom I am tied by so many bonds But will always be making Thee my most thankfull solemn acknowledgments for the benefits I have received And together with those praises and thanksgivings wait upon thy Goodness for the like mercies in time to come 18. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people 18. I resolve again religiously to make good these and all other my vows wherein I stand ingaged to the Lord and that not onely in private but here at this solemnity in the face of all his people 19. In the courts of the LORD's house in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise ye the LORD 19. When they are gathered together at his House in the midst of the holy City of our God where they meet to worship Him and to doe Him honour There let them all join with me to bless and praise the great Creatour and Preserver of all things PSALM CXVII ARGUMENT This Psalm like the CX seems to be altogether Prophetical of the joy that all the world should conceive at the coming of the Messiah to give Salvation first to the Jews and then to all other Nations according to his faithfull promise Saint Paul applies the first words of it to this business Rom. XV. 11. and some of the Hebrews justifie his application confessing that this Psalm belongs to that matter The brevity of it makes it the more remarkable and easier to be remembred both by Jews and Gentiles 1. O Praise the LORD all ye nations praise him all ye people 1. LET not the praises which are due to the great Lord of all be confined to our Nation but let all people upon the face of the earth praise Him Let all mankind sing thankfull hymns unto Him 2. For his mercifull kindness is great towards us and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever Praise ye the LORD 2. For they are all concerned in his transcendent kindness which hath done mighty things for us and the Lord who changes not will never fail to perform his faithfull promises to the worlds end Therefore let us all join our praises to our common Benefactour PSALM CXVIII ARGUMENT There is nothing more probable then that David composed this Psalm after God had settled him upon the Throne of Israel as well as Judah and also subdued the Philistines who hoped to have crusht him before he grew too powerfull 2 Sam. V. 17. together with other enemies round about him who though they are not mentioned yet in all likelihood joyned with them as we may gather from Ver. 10 11. of this Psalm compared with 2 Sam. VII 1. For that it was written after he had brought the Ark to Jerusalem mentioned there Chap. VI. and placed it in the House he had prepared for it seems very plain from Ver. 19. of this Psalm Where he begins to praise God in such words as had not their compleat fulfilling till the Lord 's Christ whom the Jews rejected and said He shall not reign over us was made King of the World For to Him R. Solomon himself acknowledges those words The stone which the builders refused c. are to be applied And as the latter part of the Psalm is a Prophecy of Christ in David his Type so the former part may be accommodated to all Christians who being persecuted as Theodoret speaks and tormented and disgracefully treated by many Princes and their people by Kings and Governours got a glorious Victory over them all after they had indured a thousand deaths It seems also to have been pronounced at first in some solemn assembly of all the people met together to praise the Lord for his benefits And it is the common opinion of most Interpreters that they all had a part in this Psalm The greatest part of which was spoken by David who begins with a declaration how much he was indebted to God desiring all to assist him in his praises And then coming in a solemn procession I suppose to the Gates of the Tabernacle calls upon the Porters Verse 19. to open them to him that he might praise God in his Sanctuary which he doth in the very entrance Ver. 20 and then in the Courts of his House Ver. 21. After which all the people shout and magnifie the Divine Goodness in making him who was banished from his Country their King Ver. 22 c. And then the Priests come forth and bless both the King and people in the Name of the Lord Ver. 26 and exhort them to be thankfull Ver. 27 And then David seems to take the words out of their mouth and to declare that he will never be unmindfull of God's benefits desiring all the people also to remember them Ver. 28 29. According to which account of the Psalm I have ordered the Paraphrase 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD for he is good because his mercy endureth for ever 1. O Make your thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of all the world who as He is the Authour of all good and hath been exceeding bountifull unto us so will continue his kindness to all succeeding generations 2. Let Israel now say that his mercy endureth for ever 2. Let the Children of Israel who have had such long experience of his love and now see his promises fulfilled let them confess and thankfully acknowledge that his kindness continues to all generations 3. Let the house of Aaron now say that his mercy endureth for ever 3. Let the Priests and the Levites whose business it is to attend upon His service confess now and thankfully acknowledge that his kindness extends unto all ages 4. Let them now that fear the LORD say that his mercy endureth for ever 4. And let all the devout Worshippers of the Lord of whatsoever Nation they be join together with us for there is one Lord of all who dispenses various benefits to every one of us and confess now most thankfully that there is no end of his kindness 5. I called upon the LORD in distress the LORD answered me and set me in a large place 5. You may see an example of it in me who was in grievous straits and dangers 1 Sam. XXIII 26. XXVII 1. but then imploring the Divine Protection the Lord not onely delivered me but placed me in a secure estate free from all such molestation 2 Sam. V. 3. VII 1. 6. The LORD is on my side I will not fear what can man doe unto me 6. For the Lord it is evident takes my part and therefore though I have many enemies I am not afraid of them for when He is for me what disturbance can men be they
LXXXVI A Prayer of David ARGUMENT The Title satisfies us that David was the Authour of this Psalm which the Collectour of this third Book found I suppose after the other two were made up and published and so placed it here among those which belong to the same subject For though it was composed by David when he was so persecuted either by Saul or Absalom that he was stript of all he had and left in a most forlorn condition Ver. 1. yet Theodoret thinks it was made with a prospect of the attempt which the Assyrians made upon Jerusalem and the hope which Hezekiah then placed in God for deliverance Which Notion it is likely he had from the Jews who say that this Prayer was made use of by Hezekiah in the time of that sore distress for the first words of this Psalm are the same with his in 2 King XIX 16. and the eighth and ninth Verses may very fitly be accommodated to that History as I have there observed but the rest a great deal better to David 1. BOW down thine ear O LORD hear me for I am poor and needy 1. THere cannot be a fitter object of thy Mercy O Lord then thy poor Supplicant who beseeches Thee graciously to condescend to his request for else he is utterly undone being quite destitute of all humane help 2. Preserve my soul for I am holy O thou my God save thy servant that trusteth in thee 2. And yet my life is in imminent danger unless Thou dost preserve it as many reasons make me hope Thou wilt for as Thou the righteous Judge hast been long my benefactour and I am perfectly innocent of that my enemies charge me withal so I my self have been a reliever of others in their need and besides am a faithfull servant of thine who depends intirely upon Thee and hath no confidence in any thing but onely thy Almighty Goodness 3. Be mercifull unto me O Lord for I cry unto thee daily 3. Whose mercifull help I have also implored with most importunate and incessant prayers which is another reason of my hope that Thou wilt take compassion upon me O Lord 4. Rejoice the soul of thy servant for unto thee O LORD do I lift up my soul 4. And turn the present sorrow of thy servant into joy and gladness For I have placed my hope intirely in Thee O Lord and expect nothing but from Thee alone 5. For thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee 5. Who art no less bountifull which is another exceeding great encouragement to me then I am indigent ready also to pardon those that have offended Thee yea to shew abundant kindness to every one of them in their greatest distress when with unfeigned devotion they call upon Thee 6. Give ear O LORD unto my prayer and attend to the voice of my supplications 6. As I now do O Lord most humbly beseeching Thee with repeated intreaties to give a favourable answer to these prayers and supplications whereby I deprecate thy displeasure and sue unto Thee for favour 7. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee for thou wilt answer me 7. Which I beseech Thee let me the rather obtain because my distress is so great and so urgent that thy power will now be the more magnified in delivering me as heretofore Thou hast been wont to doe upon such earnest petitions as these are unto Thee 8. Among the gods there is none like unto thee O LORD neither are there any works like unto thy works 8. For nothing is too hard for Thee nor art Thou unwilling to doe more kindnesses for us because Thou hast done so many already But as appears by thy unparallel'd works dost incomparably excell whatsoever strangers think 2 King XVIII 15. all those that are worshipped in the world as gods who are not able so much as to help and preserve themselves 9. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee O LORD and shall glorifie thy name 9. Which shall move all our neighbouring Nations 2 Chron. XXXII 23. as all the rest shall do in the days of that Great King which we expect XV. Rom. 9. to acknowledge Thee O Lord to be their Creatour and with humble veneration to submit themselves unto Thee and to honour Thee with their highest praises 10. For thou art great and doest wondrous things thou art God alone 10. For they shall clearly see by the magnificence of thy marvellous works that Thou art infinitely superiour to all those Powers whom they adore And that in truth there is no God but Thou thy self alone 11. Teach me thy way O LORD I will walk in thy truth unite my heart to fear thy name 11. Which I so firmly believe that I desire nothing more then to be perfectly instructed in all thy will which I will sincerely observe knit my heart O Lord in such pious affections to Thee that it may never in the least dissent from Thee nor be disturbed with any vain cares but intirely bent to study this alone what is pleasing unto Thee 12. I will praise thee O LORD my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy name for evermore 12. Whom I am bound to praise both as the fupreme Lord of all and as my most bountifull Benefactour with all the powers of my Soul and accordingly I do now most thankfully acknowledge Thee and will never cease to honour Thee and to doe Thee service as long as I have any Being 13. For great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell 13. For the benefits Thou hast bestowed on me are as inestimable as they are innumerable I owe my very life to Thee which hath been often snatched out of the extreamest dangers wherein I had inevitably perished if Thou hadst not mercifully delivered me 1 Sam. XXIII c. 14. O God the proud are risen against me and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul and have not set thee before them 14. Behold O God a new opportunity to glorifie that mercy for proud and ambitious men 2 Sam. XV. 1 2 c. have made an insurrection against me and raised a most formidable Army 2 Sam. XV. 12 13. to take away that life which Thou hast so miraculously preserved having no regard to thy Providence nor refusing any means whereby they may satisfie their unjust desires 15. But thou O LORD art a God full of compassion and gracious long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and truth 15. All our comfort is that Thou not they dost govern the world who art no less compassionate then Thou art powerfull readily forgiving offences or bearing long before Thou punishest Them chusing rather to heap thy benefits upon us and never failing to perform thy faithfull promises 16. O turn unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and save the son of
strength and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted 17. For they owe not their conquests to their own valour or forces though never so great but it is Thou who givest illustrious Victories to the smallest Armies And therefore by thy favour we hope that our Empire which is now broken shall be raised again to its former splendour 18. For the LORD is our defence and the holy One of Israel is our King 18. For the Lord is still our Protectour though our Prince be taken and made unable to defend us He whom Israel adores and acknowledges infinitely to transcend all other Beings is our King and Governour 19. Then thou spakest in vision to the holy One and saidest I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people 19. Who then didst reveal thy mind in a Vision to the holy Prophet Samuel 1 Sam. XVI 1. when the Philistines defied Israel and grew terrible to them XVII 10 11 24. saying I have provided myself a valiant Champion 1 Sam. XVI 18. to be your deliverer 2 Sam. III. 18. I have designed a person of singular worth from among the common people 1 Sam. XVI 11. to be promoted to the Kingdom 20. I have found David my servant with my holy oil have I anointed him 20. I have observed David 1 Sam. XVI 1. and find him a man that will faithfully serve me Go and anoint him with the holy Oil for I intend him for the Governour of my people 21. With whom my hand shall be established mine arm also shall strengthen him 21. With whom I will always be powerfully present for his assistance 1 Sam. XVII 45 c. and never desert him as I did Saul XVIII 12 24 28. But my mighty power shall extraordinarily strengthen him in all his enterprises 1 Sam. XXX 6. 2 Sam. VIII 6 14. 22. The enemy shall not exact upon him nor the son of wickedness afflict him 22. The subtilest of his enemies shall not be able to circumvent him nor the most malicious how powerfull soever oppress him 23. And I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him 23. But after all their vain attempts I will not onely protect him from their crafty violence but subdue all his adversaries under him and destroy those that hate him 2 Sam. VII 9. 24. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him and in my name shall his born be exalted 24. He shall ever find me not onely faithfull in my promise to him but kind above his expectation and by my powerfull assistance and his confidence in it his authority shall be highly exalted 1 Chron. XIV 17. 2 Sam. VII 9. VIII 13. 25. I will set his hand also in the sea and his right hand in the rivers 25. On one hand he shall conquer the Philistines and those that live upon the coast of the Sea 2 Sam. VIII 1. and on the other hand the Syrians as far as Tigris and Euphrates 2 Sam. VIII 9 c. X. 16 19. 26. He shall cry unto me Thou art my father my God and the rock of my salvation 26. For he shall intirely depend on me in all his distresses and fly to me for succour as a Child to his Parent saying with more then usual love and confidence Thou art my Father as well as my omnipotent God from whom alone I expect protection and deliverance 27. Also I will make him my first-born higher then the kings of the earth 27. Which I will never fail to afford him till I raise him to the prime dignity among all those whom I call my Sons and set him so high above all other Kings in the world that he shall be a most eminent Type of my Son Christ the King of kings and the Lord of lords 28. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore and my covenant shall stand fast with him 28. Nothing shall alter these kind intentions toward him but I will always have a love for him and faithfully perform my Covenant with him 29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever and his throne as the days of heaven 29. Which is that his Family shall never be extinct but notwithstanding the changes which all things are subject unto here below have the royal power continued in it as long as the heavens endure 2 Sam. VII 16 28 29. I. Luke 32 33. 30. If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments 30. If his Successours indeed shall depart from the Law which I have given you by my Servant Moses and not judge my people righteously 31. If they break my statutes and keep not my commandments 31. If they prophanely neglect or corrupt my Religion and observe not the rest of the Rules of life which I have enjoined them 32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes 32. Then will I execute the threatnings which are in my Law XXVI Levit. upon them and punish their transgressions with sore diseases and their Idolatries with several plagues 2 Sam. VII 14. 33. Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail 33. But I will not so chastise them as never more to doe good to his Family 2 Sam. VII 25. but will still have a kindness for it and faithfully keep my promise with it 1 King XI 34 36. XV. 4. 2 King VIII 19 c. 34. My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips 34. I will not violate the Covenant I have made with David 2 Chron. XXI 7. nor retract the promise which I have solemnly passed to his Family 35. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David 35. For I have unalterably sworn by my own incommunicable excellencies that I will as soon cease to be what I am as deceive him 36. His seed shall endure for ever and his throne as the sun before me 36. His Family as I said Verse 29. shall never be quite extinct but always remain in my favour and hold the royal dignity as long as the Sun shineth 37. It shall be established for ever as the moon and as a faithfull witness in heaven Selah 37. The Moon may as well fall from her Orb as his Authority fall to the ground and rise no more Let that be a witness of my fidelity when you look upon it XXXIII Jer. 20 21. and conclude that after all the changes and eclipses his Kingdom may suffer it shall stand as fast as that and all the rest of the heavenly bodies 38. But thou hast cast off and abhorred thou hast been wroth with thine anointed 38. But all these promises alas so sacredly confirmed and oft repeated have not secured it from a dismal subversion For Thou hast rejected with the greatest contempt and indignation our Sovereign one of the posterity of David and
and the King of Gerar XX. 3 c. to prevent the mischief which they were designing to them 15. Saying Touch not mine anointed and doe my prophets no harm 15. For He told them these were sacred persons whom He designed to make greater men then themselves and therefore charged them not to burt them but to honour them not merely as Princes XXIII Gen. 6. but as Prophets XX. 7. by whose prayers they should receive great blessings if they were kind to them 16. Moreover he called for a famine upon the land he brake the whole staff of bread 16. And when in the days of Jacob He punished the Land of Canaan as well as other Countries with such a dearth XLI Gen. 54 c. that the earth brought forth no kind of grain for the support of humane life 17. He sent a man before them even Joseph who was sold for a servant 17. He took a special care in a most wonderfull way to provide both for him and for his family for Joseph whom his Brethren first conspired to destroy but afterward were diverted from their purpose and onely sold for a slave was brought into Egypt by the secret Counsel of God XLV Gen. 5 7 c. to be the instrument of their preservation 18. Whose feet they hurt with fetters he was laid in iron 18. He was oppressed indeed for a long time by a most grievous calumny which was a sorer affliction to him then the chains and fetters that were at first laid upon him in prison 19. Vntill the time that his word came the word of the LORD tried him 19. Till mention at last was made of him to Pharaoh by one of his Officers who related how exactly Joseph predicted what had befaln him and another of his Fellow-servants as if he were a man inspired XL. Gen. 21 22. XLI 12 13. 20. The king sent and loosed him even the ruler of the people and let him go free 20. Whereupon the King presently sent for him XLI Gen. 14. that great Prince whose Dominion extended over many Provinces commanded him to be set at liberty 21. He made him lord of his house and ruler of all his substance 21. And received such satisfaction from him about his dream which none of his Wise men could interpret that he not onely wholly discharged him from his imprisonment but made him the chief Officer in the Court and under himself the supreme Governour of his whole Kingdom XLI Gen. 40 41. 22. To bind his princes at his pleasure and teach his senatours wisedom 22. Yea intrusted him with an absolute power to command all the Rulers of his several Provinces what he pleased and to punish their disobedience according to his discretion The most ancient and wisest Counsellours in the Realm were ordered to repair to him and to doe nothing without his Instructions XLI Gen. 44. 23. Israel also came into Egypt and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 23. By which great Authority he procured not onely the leave but the invitation of Pharaoh XLV Gen. 16 17 c. to his Father to come and bring all his Family with him into Egypt and accordingly he came and dwelt in the best part of all the Country XLVI Gen. 26 28. 24. And he increased his people greatly and made them stronger then their enemies 24. Where according to his promise when He bad Jacob accept that invitation XLVI Gen. 3 4. the Lord multiplied them exceedingly I. Exod. 7. and made them mightier then the Egyptians I. Exod. 9. who of Friends were now become their Enemies 25. He turned their heart to hate his people to deal subtilly with his servants 25. For the kinder God was to the Israelites and the more He increased their Numbers the greater jealousie it begat in the heart of the Egyptians which turned at last into an absolute hatred of them and provoked their malice to invent the cruellest ways first to diminish I. Exod. 10 11 c. and then to destroy them Ver. 15 16. 26. He sent Moses his servant and Aaron whom he had chosen 26. This moved the Divine compassion when He saw their oppression grew intolerable to give commission to Moses whom He had in an extraordinary manner preserved from perishing III. Exod. 10. and to Aaron whom He chose to be his Assistant IV. Exod. 15. to go and demand their liberty of Pharaoh IV. Exod. 23. V. 1. 27. They shewed his signs among them and wonders in the land of Ham. 27. And he disputing their Commission and refusing to let Israel go they proved it and perswaded him to obey it by many miraculous works which God commanded them to doe as tokens that He had sent them 28. He sent darkness and made it dark and they rebelled not against his word 28. Among which the pitchy darkness which overspread the whole Land three days except onely where the Israelites dwelt was a very remarkable punishment of Pharaoh's blindness who would not see the hand of God in all those other plagues which Moses and Aaron not fearing his displeasure but pursuing their orders had inflicted on him 29. He turned their waters into bloud and slew their fish 29. As first of all the Lord commanded them to stretch their hand upon all the waters of Egypt which He turned into bloud and made them so putrid that the fish which was in the river died VII Exod. 20 21. 30. Their land brought forth frogs in abundance in the chambers of their kings 30. And at the next stroke produced such a vast number of frogs out of the stinking waters and mudd that not onely the whole earth was covered with them but no house no room in their houses no not the Cabinets of their King and his Princes were free from their annoyance VIII Exod. 3 6. 31. He spake and there came divers sorts of flies and lice in all their coasts 31. And then followed an infinite swarm of the most pestilent sort of flies see Psal LXXVIII 45. after a troublesome and filthy plague of lice which had infested all the Country VIII Exod. 17 24. 32. He gave them hail for rain and flaming fire in their land 32. Which was succeeded after a murrain upon their Cattel and a fiery ulcer on their own bodies by a dreadfull storm of hail when fruitfull showrs of rain were most desirable together with such lightning as was never seen for it ran upon the ground and burnt up all that was not destroyed by the hail IX Exod. 23 24 c. 33. He smote their vines also and their fig-trees and brake the trees of their coasts 33. Which not onely struck down the grapes and the figgs but shattered the vines and fig-trees themselves together with many other fruit-trees in the Land 34. He spake and the locusts came and caterpillers and that without number 34. And whatsoever escaped this tempestuous storm for some things were not then grown up IX Exod. 31. was not long after devoured by an innumerable army
potent Kings who presuming of their strength opposed the accomplishment of his promises to you 11. Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan and all the kingdoms of Canaan 11. First of all Sihon King of the Amorites who were esteemed invincible XXI Numb 24. II. Amos 9. and then Og that giantly King of Bashan XXI Numb 33. III. Deut. II. and at last all the Kingdoms and Kings of the Land of Canaan XII Josh 7 24. 12. And gave their land for an heritage an heritage unto Israel his people 12. Which He graciously bestowed upon us the Children of Israel as an inheritance we should hold of Him by a Divine right of which none while we continue his obedient people shall be able to dispossess us 13. Thy name O LORD endureth for ever and thy memorial O LORD throughout all generations 13. O Lord how astonishing is this thy omnipotent Goodness the fame of which shall never be forgotten But an illustrious memory O Lord shall be continued of it from generation to generation 14. For the LORD will judge his people and he will repent himself concerning his servants 14. For though our enemies may sometimes oppress us when we offend Him yet the Lord at last will take the part of his people and deliver them and being reconciled unto his servants will turn his severity into kindness towards them 15. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold the work of mens hands 15. It is not in the power of the Idols which the heathen worship to divert his kindness from us for they are of no more value then the silver and the gold of which they are made and are so far from being able to doe any thing that they themselves are made by those that adore them 16. They have mouths but they speak not eyes have they but they see not 16. They are mere Images of things without their life having mouths but cannot give a word of advice or comfort to their supplicants and eyes also but cannot see much less prevent any danger that doth approach them 17. They have ears but they hear not neither is there any breath in their mouths 17. Ears they have but cannot hear a word that is said to them and noses also but they do not so much as breathe much less can they smell the odours that are offered to them 18. They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them 18. They that make them therefore or put any confidence in them are as senseless as themselves having eyes for instance but do not see that brutes are more excellent then such gods and that no help is to be expected from them 19. Bless the LORD O house of Israel bless the LORD O house of Aaron 19. O how much then are we all bound to bless the Lord the Creatour of all who hath freed us from this stupid blindness Let the whole Nation of the Children of Israel especially the Priests of the Lord praise Him and give thanks to Him who hath better instructed them 20. Bless the LORD O house of Levi ye that fear the LORD bless the LORD 20. Let all the Levites declare how gracious He is yea let all his pious Worshippers of whatsoever Nation they be join in this heavenly imployment of speaking good of the Lord. 21. Blessed be the LORD out of Sion which dwelleth at Jerusalem Praise ye the LORD 21. Let them all say with one accord the Lord be ever praised in this holy place who though He be the owner of all the World yet makes his special residence at Jerusalem The honour the heathens give to their lifeless Images ought to excite you all with the greater devotion to praise the Lord of the World PSALM CXXXVI ARGUMENT This Psalm like the former is a commemoration of the goodness of God expressed in his wonderfull works particularly those He had done for that Nation And it is likely was composed to be sung upon the great Festivals as every day I suppose they sung the foregoing which is of the same strain with this and contains much of the same matter onely here at every half Verse one half of the Quire answers to the other in these words For his mercy endureth for ever A form of acknowledgment prescribed by David to be used continually in the Divine Service 1 Chron. XVI 41 and accordingly followed by Solomon 2. Chron. VII 3 6. when he dedicated the Temple and by Jehoshaphat when by the incouragement of a Prophet he went out to incounter a vast Army with small Forces 2 Chron. XX. 21. and here is repeated six and twenty times to make them the more sensible that they owed all they had to the mere bounty of God and to excite them to depend intirely upon it and rest assured it would never fail them if they did piously and most heartily acknowledge it Such repetitions we use now in our earnest Prayers when we say Lord have mercy upon us c. which are no more vain then these I have variously expressed the sense of this repeated acknowledgment according as the other part of the several verses seemed to direct me 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 1. OFfer your thankfull Hymns unto the Lord of all who is as good as He is great and will continue his kindness which hath been exceeding abundant towards us unto all succeeding generations 2. O give thanks unto the God of gods for his mercy endureth for ever 2. He is the Sovereign of all the heavenly Hosts and therefore praise Him and give thanks unto Him for He can imploy them all for your help and protection as He hath in former times and you need not doubt of his kindness which continues unto all Ages 3. O give thanks unto the Lord of lords for his mercy endureth for ever 3. All the Kings and Princes of the Earth are his Subjects upon which account also give Him praise and thanks For his kindness endures throughout all Ages to defend you as He hath done hitherto from their tyrannical violence 4. To him who alone doth great wonders for his mercy endureth for ever 4. He it is and He alone whose Works are so great that they surprise all those who seriously consider them with wonder and astonishment and therefore give Him praise and thanks For his kindness will never fail still to imploy his infinite Power for the good of those who are truly gratefull to Him 5. To him that by wisdome made the heavens for his mercy endureth for ever 5. Look upon the Heavens and behold with admiration and praise the splendour and the order wherein his wisdome hath contrived and setled them For his kindness is as large and as firm and durable as they 6. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters for his mercy endureth for ever 6. And then look down to the Earth and thankfully praise Him
together rather then any other because they were the Tribes as we reade in the second of Numbers who when they were in the Wilderness always marched behind the Tabernacle when it moved and had that part where the Propitiatory was from whence God sent his Oracles and the tokens of his power just before them But then there is this to be added to make it probable that this Psalm was not penned in the time of the Captivity because as then there was no Ark nor did God sit between the Cherubins concerning which phrase the learned Reader may see Lud. de Dieu upon 1 Sam. IV. 4. as He is said here to do nor were Ephraim and Manasseh then mixed with them that we reade of so first of all it is too full of elegancies for that time of utter desolation and secondly the Greek expresly calls it A Psalm concerning the Assyrian who is the wild Boar I suppose that broke into God's Vineyard mentioned Ver. 13. and lastly Hezekiah I observe applies himself to God in the time of that distress by the King of Assyria in the very language of the Psalmist and begins his Prayer just as Asaph doth here to Him that sits between the Cherubins desiring Him to incline his ear to his requests 2 King XIX 15 16. XXXVII Isa 16 17. It was delivered to the chief Master of Musick to be sung as the LX. Psalm upon the Instruments of six strings which were wont to be used in solemn Thanksgivings see the Argument of that Psalm for he nothing doubted God would hear their Prayers and destroy Senacherib Or perhaps it was ordered afterward to be sung in that manner 1. GIve ear O shepherd of Israel thou that leadest Joseph like a flock thou that dwellest between the cherubims shine forth 1. O Thou who art the Ruler and Protectour of thy people Israel who didst long ago give a famous instance of thy power in preserving Joseph when he fell like an innocent Lamb among a company of Wolves XXXVII Gen. 18 c. and conducting him to the highest preferment reject not our humble petitions which we put up unto Thee in the like distress but shew that Thou favourest us by some illustrious token of thy presence among us in thy Holy place from whence Thou canst send Angels to defend and deliver us 2 King XIX 35. 2. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength and come and save us 2. Let the posterity of Joseph who beheld heretofore so many enemies fall before Thee when they attended upon the Ark of thy presence in the Wilderness II. Numb 18 20 22. and have lately been very zealous in thy service 2 Chr. XXX 1. XXXI 1. see thy power to be as great as ever though for some time it hath not appeared at all for us and that Thou art as forward in due time to grant us a glorious deliverance 3. Turn us again O God and cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved 3. Restore us O God to our former happiness and for that end restore us into thy favour and then there will soon be an end of our calamities 4. O LORD God of hosts how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people 4. For what can the greatest Armies 2 King XVIII 17. doe against Thee who art the supreme Lord of all the absolute Commander of the Hosts of Heaven whose help we have most importunately implored and long waited for as men impatient to see our enemies so prevalent though hitherto Thou hast been so exceeding angry with us that Thou hast not heard the prayers of thy people 5. Thou feedest them with the bread of tears and givest them tears to drink in great measure 5. But hast turned our joyfull Feasts unto fasting and weeping and our plenty into scarcity of all things but onely of tears which we pour out in large measure when we think of the danger we are in to perish by famine and by thirst 2 Chron. XXXII 21. 6. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours and our enemies laugh among themselves 6. Our neighbours the Edomites and others either pick quarrels with us or strive among themselves who shall make the greatest booty of us while our enemies that besiege us mock at our inability to help our selves and at our confidence which we place in Thee 2 King XVIII 22 23. 2 Chron. XXXII 15. 7. Turn us again O God of hosts and cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved 7. Convince them O Lord that it is not vainly placed by restoring us again to our former happiness which it is easie for Thee to doe who hast all the Hosts of Heaven at thy command if Thou wilt but be pleased to favour us as we again beseech Thee Thou wilt and then no harm shall befall us 8. Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it 8. We were once very dear unto Thee when Thou didst transplant us like a choice Vine out of Egypt into this Country from whence Thou didst drive out the ancient Inhabitants that we might be settled in their place 9. Thou preparedst room before it and didst cause it to take deep root and it filled the land 9. Thou preparedst the way for us making our terrour fall upon them before we came II. Josh 9 10 11. so that we easily expelled them and being there firmly established like a Vine deeply rooted in a fruitfull soil we increased and multiplied till we peopled all the Land 10. The hills were covered with the shadow of it and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars 10. And as a rich Vine covers the Hill on the side of which it is planted or overtops the lofty Cedars which support it so we obscured the splendour of the greatest Kingdoms and made mighty Kings become Tributaries to us 1 King IV. 24. 11. She sent out her boughs unto the sea and her branches unto the river 11. For our Empire extended it self just like such a luxuriant Vine which spreads its branches every way from the mid-land Sea to the River Euphrates 1 King IV. 21. see LXXII Psal 8. 12. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her 12. But now alas Thou hast withdrawn thy protection from us and we are left like a Vineyard without its Hedges All our strong Holds and fenced Cities are taken 2 King XVIII 3. so that we lie open to be made a prey to every one that hath a mind to spoil us 13. The Boar out of the wood doth waste it and the wild beast of the field doth devour it 13. The Assyrian King like a wild Boar that breaks into a Vineyard treads down all under his feet and seeks to root us up There is no savage Beast can make greater havock among the Vines then his barbarous Souldiers have done throughout all the Land which they
themselves of that pleasant Land wherein Thou dwellest among us in thy holy habitation 13. O my God make them like a wheel as the stubble before the wind 13. O my God whose goodness hath never failed us in distress let them not be able to stand their ground but put them to flight and make them run as swiftly as a ball down a hill disperse all their forces like the chaffe when it is blown about with a furious wind 14. As the fire burneth the wood and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire 14. Blast and consume them utterly as the lightning or the scorching rays of the Sun in a long drought do the leaves of the forrest trees or the grass upon the mountains I. Joel 19. 15. So persecute them with thy tempest and make them afraid with thy storm 15. Raise a dreadfull tempest to affright them and pursue them so with thy vengeance that they may be shattered and driven away uncertainly as in a whirlwind put them into such a pannick fear that they may not know which way to turn but clash against one another in a terrible confusion 2 Chron. XX. 22 c. 16. Fill their faces with shame that they may seek thy name O Lord. 16. And make those that escape so ashamed at this disgracefull disappointment that they may not be able to hold up their heads nor deny thy Power to be superiour to theirs but humbly seek thy favour 17. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever yea let them be put to shame and perish 17. This is the worst we wish them notwithstanding their enmity to us that they may be so astonished and confounded at their defeat as never to recover any courage to assault us nay together with their credit and their courage quite lose their power to give us any further trouble 18. That men may know that thou whose name alone is JEHOVAH art the most high over all the earth 18. And thereby be convinced which they would not believe before that Thou art what Thou art called the True and Onely God who givest Being to all things and art the supreme Governour not onely of us but of all the Nations upon earth PSALM LXXXIV To the chief Musician upon Gittith A Psalm for the Sons of Korah ARGUMENT It is uncertain to what times this Psalm belongs They seem to have most reason on their side who think it was composed upon the same occasion with the XLII and XLIII when David forced from Jerusalem by the rebellion of his Son Absalom most passionately long'd to be restor'd to the place of God's worship But it may as well or better in my judgment be thought to have been composed by some pious Levite in the Country when Senacherib's Army had blockt up the way to Jerusalem and hindred them from waiting upon the service of God at the Temple where he judged the lowest Ministry that of a Porter as we reade Ver. 10. to be far more honourable then the highest preferment among Pagan Nations And thus I shall take the liberty to expound it in my Paraphrase pointing the Reader to such places in the History of that sad time as I think will explain some passages of this Psalm which after their freedom was restored by the destruction of Senacherib's Army the Authour of it delivered to the Master of Musick in the Temple to be sung as the VIII Psalm See there 1. HOW amiable are thy tabernacles O LORD of hosts 1. IT is impossible to express the affection I have to thy Dwelling-place O Lord who art attended there by the ministry of the heavenly host XXXVII Isa 16. and needest none of our services 2. My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the LORD my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God 2. But we cannot live with any satisfaction while we are absent from Thee for I am ready to faint away in ardent longings to tread again in the Courts of the Lord's House where my tongue and my hands as well as my mind would gladly be imployed in the praises of our God who in this excells all other 2 King XIX 4 16 18. that He lives for ever 3. Yea the sparrow hath found an house and the swallow a nest for her self where she may lay her young even thine altars O LORD of hosts my King and my God 3. It grieves me O mighty Lord of all the heavenly hosts whose Subject I am and infinitely engaged to Thee to see the very Birds who know nothing of Thee injoy that liberty which is denied me who am here lamenting my distance from Thee when the Sparrows and the Ring-doves have their constant residence at thy House and there live so undisturbed that they build their nests and bring forth their young in the rafters of it 4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will be still praising thee Selah 4. O how happy are they who partake of such a privilege who live so near thy House and frequent it so much as if it were their own Their delightfull imployment is with never-ceasing praises to pay their thankfull acknowledgments unto Thee 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee in whose heart are the ways of them 5. And happy also is that man how mean soever his outward condition be who relying upon thy Divine protection XXXIV Exodus 24. goes up three times a year to the solemn Feast at Jerusalem or when he is debarred that liberty as I now am is one of those devout persons whose hearts are more in the high-ways that lead thither then at their own home 6. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well the rain also filleth the pools 6. Who travelling through the troublesome valley of Bacha where there is no water pass it as cheerfully as if it abounded with pleasant Springs and depending on God as the Fountain of what they want receive from Him the blessing of plentifull and seasonable showres to refresh them in their journey 7. They go from strength to strength every one of them in Zion appeareth before God 7. So that the whole company go from stage to stage with an unwearied vigour till they all present themselves before God to receive his blessing in his Temple upon the Hill of Sion 8. O LORD God of hosts hear my prayer give ear O God of Jacob Selah 8. O mighty Lord who commandest all the heavenly hosts which attend in that holy place and are far more numerous then the Armies that invade us 2 Chron. XXXII 7. make me one of that happy number and restore me O God who deliveredst Jacob out of all his troubles to the liberty of waiting upon Thee there 9. Behold O God our shield and look upon the face of thine anointed 9. Look graciously upon me O God who hast hitherto been our protectour against the most powerfull enemies and accept the prayer of our Sovereign who petitions Thee still to be
our Defender 2 King XIX 19. 10. For a day in thy courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tents of wickedness 10. For one day spent in thy Courts is far more pleasant than a thousand in any other place and I had rather lie at the Gates of thy House then live in the most splendid condition in Idolatrous Countries 11. For the LORD God is a sun and shield the LORD will give grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly 11. For though our happiness be sometimes clouded yet the Lord like the Sun will dispell the darkness of affliction and having brought us out of a disconsolate condition defend and secure us in a better 2 King XX. 6. The Lord will give those favour with others and advance them to great honour 2 Chron. XXXII 22 23. He will never be sparing of his blessings but heap them abundantly on those who sincerely doe his will in all things 2 King XVIII 5 6. XX. 3. 12. O LORD of hosts blessed is the man that trusteth in thee 12. O most mighty Lord who commandest all the host of heaven happy is that man who by his integrity preserves this hope and confidence in Thee though for the present he be restrained from the delightfull injoyment of Thee in thy Temple PSALM LXXXV To the chief Musician A Psalm for the Sons of Korah ARGUMENT It is thought by many that this Psalm was composed by some of the Sons of Korah after David's banishment from Jerusalem by his Son Absalom called a Captivity as we reaâ—… Psal XIV ult and his happy restauration to his Kingdom though not to such a settlement as they desired But it may be as well or better applied to the miraculous providence which drove Senacherib out of the Land who had taken many Captives V. Isa 13. and restored them to the happy liberty whose loss they bewailed in the Psalm foregoing Which way soever we understand it the composure is such that it might be much better used by them after their return from the Captivity of Babylon then at any other time when they were infested with many enemies who disturbed their peaceable injoyment of their Country and Religion And therefore it is possible it might be reviewed if not made in those days and delivered to the chief Master of Musick in the Temple to be sung presently after the Foundation of it was laid III. Ezr. 10 11 c. but the Work hindred from proceeding by the opposition of their enemies And so I shall interpret it 1. LORD thou hast been favourable unto thy land thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. 1. THou hast been exceeding kind unto us O Lord and we most thankfully acknowledge the favour Thou hast done us in delivering us the posterity of Jacob out of our sad Captivity and restoring us to the Land in which Thou thy self hast chosen to dwell I. Ezra 2. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people thou hast covered all their sin Selah 2. Our sins kept us from it in banishment a long time but now Thou hast graciously pardoned both our Idolatry and all the other crimes for which we justly suffered 3. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath thou hast turned thy self from the fierceness of thine anger 3. Thou hast put an end to the sore punishments which in thy heavy displeasure Thou inflictedst on us and turned thy severity which like sire had almost consumed us into great clemency and mercy toward us 4. Turn us O God of our salvation and cause thine anger towards us to cease 4. Compleat good Lord our deliverance which Thou hast thus graciously begun and let not our ingratitude provoke Thee to continue this new vexation and trouble that is befaln us IV. Ezra 4 5 21 23. 5. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations 5. Which forces us to sigh and say in the anguish of our Souls will there never be an end of our miseries Is it not enough that the foregoing generation hath felt the sad effects of thine anger but it must extend it self to us also and our posterity 6. Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee 6. Will it not be more for thy honour not onely to preserve this feeble life which Thou hast bestowed on us but to give us a perfect recovery that thy people may have nothing to damp their joy and intire satisfaction in thy goodness to them 7. Shew us thy mercy O LORD and grant us thy salvation 7. Make us so happy good Lord and though we deserve indeed to be more miserable then we are yet let thy mercy prevail with Thee to grant us a compleat deliverance 8. I will hear what God the LORD will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints but let them not turn again to folly 8. I will wait patiently upon the Lord the Judge of the world for a gracious Answer to these Prayers hoping that He will not condemn us to further punishment but settle his people who devoutly worship Him in a prosperous tranquillity provided they return not again to their old Idolatry 9. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him that glory may dwell in our land 9. He will be so far from deserting those who fear to offend Him that I am confident the time approaches when He will finish what He hath begun to doe for us in rebuilding our Temple V. Ezra 2 8. VI. 7 8 c. and restoring our Country to its ancient dignity and splendour 10. Mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other 10. For methinks I see goodness and fidelity justice and concord which are the principal glory of a Kingdom meeting together like ancient Friends which have been long absent and embracing each other 11. Truth shall spring out of the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven 11. And as Truth and Honesty with all other Vertues shall grow and flourish among us like Flowers and Herbs in the Spring after a tedious Winter so God shall faithfully fulfill his promises to us and exercise a most gracious providence over us 12. Yea the LORD shall give that which is good and our land shall yield her increase 12. Yea the Lord will doe us good beyond our expectation and reward our fruitfulness in good works with such a large and plentifull increase of the fruits of the earth as shall demonstrate the bounty of heaven to us 13. Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps 13. He will govern us with great justice and mercy having his faithfull promises always before his eyes from that rule He will never swerve but stedfastly proceed by it as the constant method He will hold in his Divine Administrations PSALM
prove the pious are not always miserable 11. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me 11. Nor the wicked alway prosperous For to all other pleasures this shall be added that I shall see those deprived of all power who have long watched to doe me mischief or certainly hear of the ruin of those malicious men who set themselves with all their might to destroy me 12. The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon 12. Which may be an incouragement to every good man to hope in God and not question the justice of his Providence if at present he be afflicted for as He shall overturn all his enemies at the last so He will make the righteous flourish not as the wicked do like the grass Ver. 7. but in a durable prosperity like the fruitfull Palm and the stately Cedar in Lebanon 13. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God 13. For they are under the care of the Lord our God whose House they frequent and there partake of his Divine blessing for the growth and increase of their happiness 14. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing 14. Which shall not decay as the strength and freshness of those Trees will do with age but the older they grow the more happy fruits shall their piety produce and they shall abound in wealth and honour as much as they do in that 15. To shew that the LORD is upright he is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in him 15. To demonstrate to all the world that the Lord is a most impartial Governour whom I have found my firm unmoveable Friend and assure your selves is so just and kind that he will never let wickedness go unpunished nor vertue be always unrewarded PSALM XCIII ARGUMENT There is no Title in the Hebrew to tellâ— us who was the Authour of this Psalm Nor was there any in Origen's Hexaplus or in Eusebius as Theodoret confesses who found in the Greek Copy which he used this Psalm called An Ode of David in praise of God To which hath been since added in the day before the Sabbath when the earth began to be inhabited Which Musculus thinks was not rashly done by the Greeks but suspects they were moved to it because they knew perhaps that the Jews used this Psalm upon that day As indeed they did for the words of the Talmud in the Title Kedishim confirm his suspicions which are these as I find them set down by de Dieu upon the foregoing Psalm The Canticles which the Levites sung in the Sanctuary were as follow on the first day of the week the XXIV on the second the XLVIII on the third the LXXXII on the fourth the XCIV on the fifth the LXXXI on the sixth the XCIII and on the seventh the XCII Nor is the matter of this Psalm more distant from the foregoing then the sixth day is from the seventh for it seems to me to have been composed when some of those potent enemies began to take heart again and threaten to disturb David's peace and tranquillity which in the foregoing Psalm he had said he was confident they should never be able to overthrow Though in the more sublime sense it ought to be applied to the stability of Christ Kingdom which several of the Jews acknowledge is prophesied of in this and in all the Psalms that follow unto the Hundredth 1. THe LORD reigneth he is cloathed with majesty the LORD is cloathed with strength wherewith he hath girded himself the world also is stablished that it cannot be moved 1. LET the Nations boast of the power and splendour of their Kings and trust to their military preparations this is our glory and our confidence that the LORD reigneth over us whose royal ornaments are not gold and precious stones but Majesty it self and is not armed with sword and spear but with almighty strength which is ready to fight for us who have this comfort also that He who made the world will support that excellent order wherein we are settled so that it shall not be in the power of man to disturb what He hath established 2. Thy throne is established of old thou art from everlasting 2. This we know because thy Kingdom O Lord is fixed and immoveable and did not begin now when we were made thy peculiar people but was as Thou art from everlasting 3. The flouds have lifted up O Lord the flouds have lifted up their voice the flouds lift up their waves 3. We will not be afraid therefore though multitudes of combined enemies threaten to break in upon us like a floud though they storm and rage and insolently vaunt as if they were sure to overwhelm us 4. The LORD on high is mightier then the noise of many waters yea then the mighty waves of the sea 4. Though they roar terribly and be as numerous as the waters of the Sea swelling like its boisterous waves in a furious tempest the great Lord is above them all and can instantly depress them as low as He pleases 5. Thy testimonies are very sure holiness becometh thine house O LORD for ever 5. And thy fidelity in performing the promises wherein Thou hast testified thy good will to us is as unquestionable as thy power no age shall find it fail for it becomes not Thee to start from thy word delivered to us by thy Oracle but it is thy glory to observe it sacredly for ever PSALM XCIV ARGUMENT This Psalm also wants an inscription in the Hebrew to tell us who was the Authour of it but the later Greeks intitle David to it and call it A Psalm of his for the fourth day of the week which they had as I shewed in the Argument of the foregoing Psalm from the Hebrew Tradition in the Talmud And he hath little acquaintance with the History of David who doth not see that here is an exact description of the Court of Saul who abused their Authority to all manner of oppression and violence especially against David without any fear of God or thought that He would call them to any account for it as he complains in several other Psalms particularly LVII LVIII LIX But it might as well be penned by any other holy man who lived in times of general corruption when as Theodoret expresses it their Kings and their Princes i. e. Judges loved not to be tied to the Law but pronounced unjust sentences and committed murthers selling the bloud of innocents for bribes of whom the Prophet Isaiah sadly complains Ver. 21. of the first Chapter where Ver. 10. he calls them Rulers of Sodom Certain it is the Psalmist whosoever he was desires he may see justice done upon such Atheistical Oppressours and desires good men not to be discouraged under their tyranny but patiently
a form of justice and under the colour and pretext of law make them miserable 21. They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous and condemn the innocent bloud 21. They assemble themselves together and in full council combine to destroy the righteous upon whom they pass a solemn sentence though he be perfectly guiltless to lose his life 22. But the LORD is my defence and my God is the rock of my refuge 22. But this doth not discourage me whose case this is let them decree what they please and be too hard for all laws the Lord who hates unrighteousness will be my defence He who hath been long very gracious to me I am confident will secure me from their violence 23. And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity and shall cut them off in their own wickedness yea the LORD our God shall cut them off 23. And more then that retort it upon themselves for the mischief they intended against me shall fall upon their own head He shall cut them off in their own wicked contrivances though it be not in our power yet the Lord our God who hath undertaken the patronage of those that confide in Him shall cut them off PSALM XCV ARGUMENT This Psalm likewise is without any Title in the Hebrew but the Greeks call it A Psalm of David because the Apostle to the Hebrews cites a passage out of it under his Name IV. 7. Though that it must be confessed is no concluding Argument of its being composed by him because it is usual to call the whole Five Books by the name of the Psalms of David when it is certain he did not make them all but onely the greater part Whoever was the Authour it looks as if it were intended to be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or solemn invitation of the people when they were all assembled together on the Sabbath or some publick occasion to praise the Lord their God and hear instructions out of his Law And is justly imployed still by the Church in the entrance of our Morning Service for the very same purpose For it plainly relates to the days of Christ as the Jews confess and the Apostle proves III. IV. to the Hebrews where he demonstrates to them of that Nation that the Rest here spoken of could not be merely that in the Land of Canaan which their Forefathers fell short of by their disobedience to God in the Wilderness but another far better into which they in that day were to be brought by the Messiah a far greater Captain of Salvation then Joshua And therefore it concerned them then he shews above all other times to take care they did not harden their hearts against Him when He came to invite them to a participation of the greatest blessedness but entertain his holy Gospel with a chearfull and joyfull obedience to it Theodoret is of opinion that it was particularly designed for the times of Josiah when he made that notable reformation which we reade of 2 Chron. XXXIV XXXV and called them from the worship of Idols to the service of the true God But it could never be more properly used by that Nation then when the Lord Christ came to call them to repentance 1. O Come let us sing unto the LORD let us make a joyfull noise to the rock of our salvation 1. OStir up your selves all ye that are come hither to worship the Lord and with united affections let us chearfully sing his praises Let us lift up our voices and triumphantly laud the Authour of all the good we enjoy and in whom we may safely confide for ever 2. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyfull noise unto him with psalms 2. Let us approach into his presence with thankfull hearts to acknowledge the benefits we have received from Him and devoutly proclaim with triumphant hymns what a joy it is to us that we may address our selves unto Him 3. For the LORD is a great God and a great King above all gods 3. For the Lord is infinitely powerfull and hath a sovereign authority not onely over all the Princes on the earth but all the Angels and principalities in heaven 4. In his hand are the deep places of the earth the strength of the hills is his also 4. All those Treasures are in his possession which lie in the deepest and most secret parts of the earth whither none of our Monarchs can extend their power and the loftiest hills which none but the clouds can touch are part of his dominion 5. The sea is his and he made it and his hands formed the dry land 5. The Sea also obeys Him alone who hath an unquestionable title to it and to all the rest of his wide Empire for He made both it and the dry Land with all the things contained therein 6. O come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the LORD our maker 6. O be not backward then to comply with this renewed invitation but let us all with the lowest prostrations devoutly adore his Majesty Let it not suffice us to doe it once but again let us with humble reverence bow both our bodies and souls in token of our subjection to Him Let us fall on our knees and submissively acknowledge the duty we owe to the great Lord who gave us our Being 7. For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand to day if ye will hear his voice 7. Which we above all people have reason to doe because He hath a peculiar relation to us and kindness for us providing for all our wants most liberally and continually defending us from all dangers O that you would therefore without delay listen to Him and be obedient to the voice of your Creatour Conserver and Benefactour who calls upon you most graciously by his own Son III. Heb. 6 7. IV. 7 saying 8. Harden not your heart as in the provocation and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness 8. Lay to heart what I have done for you and be not so stupidly insensible as your Fathers were at that place whose Name Meribah and Massah preserves the memory of their provoking strife with Moses and temptation of God in the Wilderness XVII Exod. 2 7. 9. When your fathers tempted me proved me and saw my work 9. When they doubted of my power and demanded new proofs of my presence among them XVII Exod. 7. though they had seen my wonderfull works in their late deliverance at the red Sea and in making the bitter waters sweet and sending them bread from heaven Exod. XIV XV. XVI 10. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation and said It is a people that do erre in their heart and they have not known my ways 10. Nor did they then cease their discontented murmurings and distrust of me but continued their stubborn infidelity vexing nay tiring my patience for the space of
forty years long before the end of which I concluded that they were a people whose heart would never be stedfastly resolved to adhere unto me for they did not mind what wonderfull things I did for them nor what I commanded them to doe for me 11. Vnto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest 11. Which so highly displeased me that I sware they should wander all their days and die at last in the Wilderness XIV Numb 28 c. and never enter into that good Land where I intended to give them rest after all their travels XII PSALM XCVI ARGUMENT This Psalm also wants a Title in the Hebrew but the Greeks are justified in the former part of their Inscription which calls it An Ode of David's by the 1 Chron. XVI where we find that at the bringing up the Ark from the house of Obed Edom to the place he had prepared for it on Mount Sion David delivered this Psalm together with the CV into the hand of Asaph to express the joy he had in God's special presence among them which all their neighbours round about he foretells should be made sensible of as well as themselves This Psalm indeed is not exactly the very same with that but there is a difference in some expressions ex gr it is called here A new Song but not there which shews it was afterward altered by some divine person who accommodated it to other uses And very probably by Ezra when they came out of Babylon which occasioned the Greeks to add in the latter part of the Inscription of this Psalm these words when the house was built after the Captivity Ezra that is made use of it to express their joy at the re-edification of the Temple But it never had a compleat fulfilling answerable to the height of it till the Messiah who was indeed the Temple of God came to dwell among us to give eternal Salvation to us Several of the Jewish Writers acknowledge that it belongs to His times and accordingly we not onely may but ought to have Him in our minds when we say Sing unto the Lord a new Song for his new Grace that is in sending Him to give Salvation to all Nations and the Lord reigneth Ver. 10. and hath all things put under his feet See Euseb in his Demonstrat Evangelica L. 1. c. 4. 1. O Sing unto the LORD a new song sing unto the LORD all the earth 1. O Sing praises unto the Lord for his new and extraordinary benefits which He hath bestowed upon us Let all the earth join together with us to sing his praises 2. Sing unto the LORD bless his name shew forth his salvation from day to day 2. We can never praise Him enough and therefore cease not to bless his Name and to spread the fame of his Almighty Goodness towards us but publish every day with joyfull hearts the great deliverances He hath wrought for us 3. Declare his glory among the heathen his wonders among all people 3. Tell the Nations round about how He hath glorified Himself let none of them be ignorant of the wonderfull things He hath done among us 4. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised he is to be feared above all gods 4. For all our praises fall infinitely short of the greatness of the Lord who is worthy of the highest praise of the whole world and hath shewn both to us 1 Chron. XIII 10 12. 1 Sam. VI. 20. and to others 1 Sam. V. 3 4 c. how dreadfull He is above all that are called Gods 5. For all the gods of the nations are idols but the LORD made the heavens 5. For all the Gods of the Nations are nothing worth being able to doe neither good nor harm But the Lord not onely made the earth but the heavens too which abundantly declare the greatness and the splendour of his Majesty 6. Honour and majesty are before him strength and beauty are in his sanctuary 6. Whose heavenly Court infinitely out-shines all the state and pomp wherein the greatest earthly Monarchs live 1. Esther 4. For all the words we have are not able to express the brightness and magnificence the power and comely order of so much as his Ministers an image of which we have in his holy place wherein He manifests Himself among us 7. Give unto the LORD O ye kindreds of the people give unto the LORD glory and strength 7. Ascribe therefore unto the Lord O ye people from whatsoever Family ye come ascribe unto Him that incomparable Majesty and supreme Dominion and Authority which you give to imaginary gods 8. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name bring an offering and come into his courts 8. And renounce them all and acknowledging the Lord alone to be the omnipotent King of all the world doe Him honour sutable to the excellency of his Majesty bring Him an oblation in token of your subjection to Him and humbly worship Him in his Temple 9. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness fear before him all the earth 9. O come and cast down your selves before the Lord in his Sanctuary where He hath fixed his glorious residence among us Adore his transcendent perfections and let all the people approach into his presence with a pious trembling and dread to offend their Sovereign 10. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved he shall judge the people righteously 10. Go ye that are already become Proselytes unto Him and publish every where in all Countries that the Lord CHRIST is the Sovereign of the World who alone can make it happy For He shall settle those in peace that submit unto his Government and they shall not be so disturbed as they were wont with wars and tumults He shall administer equal justice unto all and neither suffer the good to be unrewarded nor the evil to escape unpunished 11. Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad let the sea roar and the fulness thereof 11. Let the whole Universe therefore be filled with joy at this blessed news which the Angels themselves shall gladly receive I. Luk. 30 32. much more ought all mankind wheresoever they are dispersed on the Earth or on the Sea and the Islands thereof exceedingly rejoice and fill all places with the loud sound of their joyfull praises 12. Let the field be joyfull and all that is therein then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 12. Let the husbandmen and the shepherds and all that dwell in the fields leap for joy and the woodmen and foresters shout for joy to see the happy day approaching when all the Idols that are worshipped there shall be thrown down together with their groves 13. Before the LORD for he cometh for he cometh to judge the earth he shall judge the world with righteousness and the people with his truth 13. Let them
welcome that day and meet the Lord with forward affection who is coming to them For he comes to reform the earth and will govern mankind by righteous and mercifull Laws and faithfully keep his word with all those that truly observe them PSALM XCVII ARGUMENT Some of the Hebrews conceive as I observed upon Psalm XC that Moses was the Authour of this as well as the rest of these Psalms which want an Inscription And indeed he excelled in this faculty of composing Hymns as we learn from Exod. XV. and Deut. XXXII and might upon some other occasion as well as the overthrow of Pharaoh in the red Sea make a Song of triumph after some of those great victories which God gave them over their enemies Which was a thing in use before his time as it appears by the fragments of ancient Songs recorded in his Books particularly that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made by some Poet among the Amorites after Sihon had taken Heshbon from the Moabites to whom it formerly belonged wherein they triumph over their God Chemosh as unable to deliver his worshippers XXI Numb 27 c. And if we could be sure this Psalm was made by Moses I should think it to have been composed after the Israelites had conquered Sihon and his Land over whom they triumphed as he had done over the former possessours of that Country But the Psalm seems so plainly to have been composed in pursuance of what was said in the foregoing Psalm that the Lord reigneth and is King not onely over Israel but all the earth that one cannot but think they had the same Authour who shews the truth of that by the illustrious Victories which God as their King had given them over all those that opposed them For the eighth verse makes it manifest that this Psalm hath respect to some Conquests they had lately made over the heathen which I suppose were no other then those which David won over divers Nations not long after 1 Chron. XVIII 1. he had brought the Ark to Sion and delivered the foregoing Hymn to be sung to put the Israelites in hope and their enemies in fear of the great things which would insue upon this special presence of God among them Which moved the Greeks to call this A Psalm of David after his Land was restored unto him that is after he was made Master of all those Countries which God anciently designed to be the inheritance of Israel For that it should relate to the restoring his Kingdom to him after Absaloms rebellion is not probable because the mention of Idolaters and of their gods Ver. 7. seem to determine it to other Countries In the subduing of which God it is likely fought for them by some such tempest as we reade of 2 Sam. V. 20 21 24. whereby their enemies Armies were shatâ—ered and so terrified that they not onely fled but left their images behind them such was their haste and gave the Israelites an easie Victory over them But whatever was the carnal sense it belongs in the diviner meaning to Christ's triumph over the grave and all the powers of darkness at his Resurrection and Ascension to his throne in heaven as appears by those words which the Apostle to the Hebrews alledges out of the seventh verse and applies to Christ's royal power and authority over Angels Which the Hebrew Doctours themselves as Kimchi confesses take to be there intended and may be further justified from that exposition which we meet withall in Midrasch Tanchuma of the words of the Prophet Isaiah LII 13. Behold my servant shall prosper He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high This is the King Messiah says that gloss who shall be exalted above Abraham and extolled above Moses and be very high above the Angels of the Ministry 1. THe LORD reigneth let the earth rejoice let the multitude of Isles be glad thereof 1. THE Lord it is manifest is the Sovereign of the world under whose happy Government not onely we and they who are already become subject to Him in other places ought to rejoice but the most distant Countries have the greatest reason to be glad thereof 2. Clouds and darkness are round about him righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne 2. His Majesty is most dreadfull and hath appeared in great terrour against those that oppose Him whom as he will not wrong so He will certainly punish for He maintains his Authority and supports his Government by doing exact and equal justice 3. A fire goeth before him and burneth up his enemies round about 3. Let none therefore resist Him for flames of fire proceedâ— from his presence which make the battel too hot for his enemies who can turn no way but they feel them flashing in their faces 4. His lightnings enlightned the world the earth saw and trembled 4. It was his thunder and lightning the brightness of which the world lately saw and were so amazed that shivering pains took hold upon them as upon a woman in her travail 5. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD at the presence of the LORD of the whole earth 5. The hearts of the stoutest Kings and Captains failed them and melted like wax before the fire at this terrible appearance of the Lord at the appearance of Him whose dominion extends over all the earth 6. The heavens declare his righteousness and all the people see his glory 6. For He is the Lord of the heavens which have declared by this dreadfull tempest excited by his Angelical Ministers his severity against his enemies and made all the people sensible of the incomparable splendour of his Majesty 7. Confounded be all they that serve graven images that boast themselves of idols worship him all ye gods 7. Which may well make them all ashamed and they shall be confounded by Him if they will not renounce their errours who worship graven Images though of gold and silver 2 Sam. V. 21. and boast themselves in vain gods who can doe nothing for them Let all that are called gods whether Princes on earth or Angels in heaven bow down to Him as the onely Saviour 1. Heb. 6. and acknowledge his supreme authority over them all 8. Sion heard and was glad and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments O LORD 8. Jerusalem the mother City hath received the news of thy Victories with a joyfull heart after whose example all the other Cities of Judah are exceeding glad O Lord because Thou hast judged righteously in destroying our idolatrous enemies and defending thy faithfull servants 9. For thou LORD art high above all the earth thou art exalted far above all gods 9. Whose hearts are filled with the greater joy because Thou O Lord hast manifested thy self hereby to be the supreme and onely Potentate who rulest over all the earth and art infinitely superiour to all that have the name of gods 10. Ye that love the LORD hate evil he preserveth the
souls of his saints he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked 10. But do not content your selves merely with this passion of joy if you truly love the Lord hate every thing which you know is displeasing to Him so shall you have the Lord of all things for your continual keeper who preserves the lives of sincerely pious men and watches over them with such a carefull providence that when they are in the power of the wicked He will not suffer them to destroy them 11. Light is soweâ—… for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart 11. Be not discouraged though the world should frown upon you but rest assured that God designs you in due time more chearfull and happy days which if you continue faithfull and serve Him with upright hearts shall as certainly come as the corn at last springs up after it hath lain all winter in the ground 12. Rejoice in the LORD ye righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness 12. Let all truly good men rely on this and rejoice in their worst estate that they serve such a gracious Lord Let them give thanks unto Him for his benefits and gratefully commemorate how kind and gracious He hath been unto them that it may be kept in perpetual remembrance PSALM XCVIII A Psalm ARGUMENT There is no Title here but onely this A Psalm to which the Greeks add of David who it is very probable was the Authour or if he was not it was made by some holy man in imitation of what David saith in the XCVI of many of whose expressions this Psalm consists upon occasion of some remarkable deliverance which God had newly granted to Israel as an earnest of future blessings especially of the coming of that great blessing the Lord Christ to give compleat Salvation to his people 1. O Sing unto the LORD a new song for he hath done marvellous things his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory 1. O Let the new and extraordinary benefits which the Lord hath bestowed upon us provoke you to sing praises unto Him with fresh devotion for He hath done stupendious things and by his Almighty goodness alone and incomparable strength hath wrought salvation for those who were as unworthy to be helped by Him as they were unable to help themselves 2. The LORD hath made known his salvation his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen 2. The Lord hath declared by the wonders He hath done how mighty He is to save and deliver He made the Gentile world apparently see that He is the just rewarder of all those who piously obey Him and will not let the wicked escape unpunished 3. He hath remembred his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God 3. He hath not forgot his ancient Covenant with our Forefathers but so faithfully performed what his mere mercy moved Him to promise 1. Luke 54 72. that all mankind have seen what our gracious God hath done and partake of his Divine benefits 4. Make a joyfull noise unto the LORD all the earth make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise 4. Let them all therefore shout for joy let them cry aloud and with strong and chearfull voices sing hymns of thanks and praise unto the Lord. 5. Sing unto the LORD with the harp with the harp and the voice of a psalm 5. Let nothing be wanting to express your joyfull sense of the goodness of the Lord but let the Harp accompany your songs let the sweet sound of the Harp I say and the sound of your voices be mixt together with your Psalms 6. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyfull noise before the LORD the King 6. And let the Trumpet also and Cornet proclaim with a louder sound the exceeding greatness of your joy while you shout with triumphant acclamations to Him and acknowledge the Lord to be your King 7. Let the sea roar and the fulness thereof the world and they that dwell therein 7. Let the noise of his praises be heard like thunder throughout all the habitable world both among those that live on the Sea and those that are upon the Land 8. Let the flouds clap their hands let the hills be joyfull together 8. Let high as well as low applaud their happiness and joyn together with one consent to express by all the tokens of joy the singular pleasure and satisfaction they feel in their hearts 9. Before the LORD for he cometh to judge the earth with righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity 9. Let them meet the Lord with forward affections who is coming to reform the earth and will govern mankind by righteous and mercifull Laws distributing to every man according to his works PSALM XCIX ARGUMENT The Greeks intitle David to this Psalm which seems to have been made upon the same occasion and to the same end with the three foregoing onely with these two differences First that from the consideration of the royal power of the Lord who had manifested himself by some notable conquests over his enemies to be the onely Monarch whose Sovereignty extends over all the world they should mix fear and trembling together with that joy and exultation to which in the former Psalm he had excited them And secondly that he doth not so plainly as in those Psalms prophesie of the Kingdom of the Lord Christ But there are many passages as Theodoret observes which may be applied to the appearing of our Saviour and the infidelity of the Jews Saint Austin and Saint Ambrose apply to him that passage upon which the Roman Church builds the lawfulness of worshipping Images Ver. 5. where the vulgar Latin reading adorate scabellum pedum ejus worship his footstool those two Fathers think there is no way to reconcile this with that command Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him onely shalt thou serve but by expounding this of the flesh of Christ which is the footstool they say which the Psalmist exhorts all men to worship so far were those holy men from allowing adoration to any thing that is not God or hath not a personal union with Him And indeed Christ was represented by the Ark which was the Divine footstool here spoken of but not to be adored no more then the Hill on which it stood concerning which the Psalmist speaks in the last Verse just as he doth of the Ark in this and therefore we ought to understand both passages alike the particle in the Hebrew being the very same before footstool and before Hill and translate them thus worship at or before or towards his footstool and holy Hill as elsewhere he speaks of worshipping towards his Temple V. 8. CXXXVIII 2. And so Menochius very honestly here expounds this passage in these words worship in his Temple turning your faces towards the Ark on which
is the propitiatory which is his footstool since he sits on the wings of the Cherubins 1. THe LORD reigneth let the people tremble he sitteth between the cherubims let the earth be moved 1. LET the people fret and be tumultuous if they please it will do them no service for the Lord is the supreme Governour of the world whether they will or no and they had better with a pious fear submit themselves unto Him Though the whole earth should be in an uproar we are safe and secure for the Lord is attended with innumerable heavenly Ministers who are a Guard to his faithfull worshippers 2. The LORD is great in Sion and he is high above all people 2. The Lord whose Palace is in Sion is transcendently great there is no power on earth able to oppose Him who infinitely surpasses the united strength of all people 3. Let them praise thy great and terrible name for it is holy 3. Let them all therefore praise and reverently acknowledge thy mighty and dreadfull Majesty for that alone is every way most excellent and hath no equal and therefore worthy of all veneration 4. The Kings strength also loveth judgment thou dost establish equity thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 4. For though none can resist Him yet He is not a King that uses his power to wrong or oppress his Subjects but to do them right and give them relief in which He delights This is thy character O Lord who hast established most equal Laws among us and hitherto governed the seed of Jacob with exact justice and singular mercy 5. Exalt ye the LORD our God and worship at his footstool for he is holy 5. Do you therefore above all other people extoll the Lord our God both in your thoughts affections and words and turning your faces towards the Ark of his presence prostrate your selves before his Majesty in token of your absolute subjection to Him For He is incomparably above all other Beings and the proper object of your adoration 6. Moses and Aaron among his priests and Samuel among them that call upon his name they called upon the LORD and he answered them 6. Thus did Moses and Aaron two of his principal and most famous Ministers XXXII Exod. 11. XVI Numb 45 46. and thus did Samuel one of his greatest Prophets that were wont to intercede for you 1 Sam. VII 5 8 9. VIII 5. XII 19. These holy men fell down before Him to make their humble supplications to Him and He gave them what they desired 7. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar they kept his testimonies and the ordinance that he gave them 7. He spake to them in a familiar manner telling them his mind out of a pillar of cloud wherein He appeared to them XXXIII Exod. 9 10. XII Numb 5. XVI 42. 1 Sam. III. 10. and they like faithfull servants of his conformed themselves to his precepts by which He testified his will to them and worshipped him after that manner that He appointed them 8. Thou answeredst them O LORD our God thou wast a God that forgavest them though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions 8. Whereby they obtained great favour with Thee O Lord our God for when they prayed to Thee Thou fulfilledst their petitions passing by for their sakes the sins of those who had highly offended Thee but taking a most severe vengeance on all those who contemned their authority and were contriving how to depose them XII Numb 2 9 10. XVI 3 31 35. 1 Sam. VIII 7 8 9 c. 9. Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy hill for the LORD our God is holy 9. Imitate therefore the piety of those admirable men and raise your thoughts and affections and voices to extoll and magnifie the Lord our God as much as you are able for you can never do it enough And in token of your absolute subjection to Him go and prostrate your selves before Him at his house on the holy hill of Sion for the Lord our God is incomparably above all other Beings and alone worthy of your adoration PSALM C. A Psalm of Praise ARGUMENT There is no other Psalm hath the like Title with this which is called a Psalm of Praise or rather of Thanksgiving and acknowledgment for Divine blessings as the word is translated below Verse 4. and in most other places For which reason I suppose it is that the Hebrews imagin as the Chaldee Paraphrase as well as other of their Authours tells us it was peculiarly appointed to be sung when their sacrifices of thanksgiving were offered mentioned VII Levit. 12 13. The Companies also or Quires of them who gave thanks to God are called by this Name XII Nehem. 31 38. Which makes it probable that the Levites sang this Song upon that occasion which the Greeks think was made by David who invites all the world to join with the Israelites in the service of Him who was kind and gracious to them beyond expression Accordingly we Christians now properly use it in acknowledgment of God's wonderfull love to us in Christ by whom we offer up continually spiritual sacrifices for redeeming us by the sacrifice He made of himself for making the world anew and creating us again unto good works according to his faithfull promises which we may depend upon for ever I do not know but the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made Ver. 3. may be used here as it is 1 Sam. XII 6. for advancing raising or preferring them as He is there said to have done Moses and Aaron making them to be what they then were a famous people in a good Land which seems to agree best with the following words and not we our selves and therefore I have not omitted that sense For to deny that we created our selves is altogether needless but that it is not to be ascribed to our industry or wit that we are raised to a happy condition is a proper expression of humility 1. MAKE a joyfull noise unto the LORD all ye lands 1. LET all the people of the earth lift up their voices in triumphant Songs to the honour of the Lord who deserves all our praises 2. Serve the LORD with gladness come before his presence with singing 2. Make the service of the Lord your delight nay greatest pleasure and when you approach into his Tabernacle shout for joy that you are admitted into his blessed presence to praise Him with your chearfull hymns 3. Know ye that the LORD he is God it is he that hath made us and not we our selves we are his people and the sheep of his pasture 3. Consider that the Lord whom you worship is the Creatour and the Governour of the world who gave us our Being and all the good things we enjoy His we are and by his power and goodness not our own we are become so great and mighty a Nation whom out of his own mere good will alone He hath made his peculiar people of
he is overwhelmed and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. ARGUMENT A Prayer composed by some pious person toward the latter end of the Captivity of Babylon or rather presently after their return from thence to their own Country Ver. 13 14. who was extreamly afflicted and even overwhelmed with grief and trouble to see the Temple still lie in its rubbish and the rebuilding of it hindred by many enemies This was the cause of those sad complaints and lamentations wherein he takes the liberty to represent their condition unto the Lord and thereby give some ease to his oppressed spirit which began to lift up it self in some comfortable hopes when he considered both the faithfulness of God to his promises and the honour it would be to Him when the Nations round about should see their wonderfull restauration happily compleated and thereby be invited to embrace their Religion Which proved a lively emblem of the coming of the Gentiles into the Church of Christ the eternity of whose Kingdom is here prophesied of in the conclusion of the Psalm Which as Theodoret well expresses it may serve for any mans use who wrestles with any great calamity and implores the Divine favour for his help and deliverance It may be applied also to his sad condition who groans under the burthen of his sins and cries for mercy being the Fifth among those Seven which are called Penitential Psalms 1. HEar my prayer O LORD and let my cry come unto thee 1. REject not my humble supplication O Lord but graciously admit the earnest request which with lamentable cries I present unto thy Majesty 2. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble incline thine ear unto me in the day when I call answer me speedily 2. The distress wherein I am is exceeding great which will move Thee I hope to moderate thy anger and not absolutely refuse my petition but rather to grant me the more favourable audience and to send me the speedier relief when I implore it in a time of the sorest calamity 3. For my days are consumed like smoak and my bones are burnt as an hearth 3. For my days are spent as dismally as if I lived and breathed in smoak and the anguish I suffer is so sharp that it penetrates to my very bones and makes them as parcht and dry as the fire doth the hearth 4. My heart is smitten and withered like grass so that I forget to eat my bread 4. My vital spirits are exhausted and flag like the grass when it is struck with a pestilent blast For together with my appetite I have lost even the thoughts of my necessary food 5. By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin 5. Sadness hath seised on me to such a degree that I do nothing but groan and sigh which hath wasted me away to skin and bone 6. I am like a pelican of the wilderness I am like an owl of the desart 6. I take no delight in the company of my friends but seek for lonesome places like a Pelican in the wilderness where I may bemoan my self like the Bittern in the desart 7. I watch and am as a sparrow alone upon the house-top 7. Grief and sorrow banish sleep from mine eyes and make me like those solitary birds which spend the night on the tops of houses in dolefull shrieks and cries 8. Mine enemies reproach me all the day and they that are mad against me are sworn against me 8. This hath exposed me to the scorn of my enemies who do nothing but upbraid me with my misery and not content therewith are so furiously bent upon my ruin that they have entred into a combination and sworn they will destroy me 9. For I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping 9. Which hath still more increased my affliction and made me lie down in the ashes where while I mourn and weep they mingle themselves with my bread as tears do with my drink 10. Because of thine indignation and thy wrath for thou hast lifted me up and cast me down 10. Because thy anger still continues in great severity against us for after Thou hadst lifted me up in glorious hopes I. Ezra 5. II. Ezra 68. III. 10. Thou hast dasht them all in pieces IV. Ezra 4 24. and thereby given me the sorer fall 11. My days are like a shadow that declineth and I am withered like grass 11. And whilst I wait for better times my life declines apace like a shadow which being come near to its utmost length is ready to vanish For I have very little strength remaining but droop and languish like the dried grass which is ripe for the mowers hand 12. But thou O LORD shalt endure for ever and thy remembrance unto all generations 12. All my comfort is that though I die Thou abidest to all eternity and canst hereafter remedy all these evils which Thou dost not think fit to redress at present and wilt I am confident for all generations have transmitted down unto us the memorial of thy faithfulness and the glorious things Thou hast done for thy people 13. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come 13. It will not be long before Thou dost take pity upon the desolations of Sion and raise her out of her ruins For the time prefixed for her punishment being expired XXIX Jer. 10 11. it is the season now the appointed season for thy mercy in her restauration 14. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof 14. For her scattered stones are far more dear to thy pious Worshippers then the goodliest palaces in Babylon and therefore they cannot look upon her dust and rubbish without the most sensible grief and commiseration 15. So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD and all the kings of the earth thy glory 15. Especially when they consider how thy glory suffers thereby whereas the Nations who now contemn Thee will stand in awe of Thee O Lord all their Kings and Princes will reverence thy glorious power the fame of which now seems to lie buried in her ruins 16. When the LORD shall build up Sion he shall appear in his glory 16. When they shall see Sion rebuilt which the Lord alone can bring about and his glorious Majesty there worshipped with the ancient solemnities 17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer 17. And the prayers of miserable captives who were stripped of all prevail with Him not onely for their liberty but for their intire restitution to their former splendour 18. This shall be written for the generation to come and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD 18. This wonderfull deliverance shall never be forgotten but remain upon record to the following generation who shall transmit the memory of it to their posterity that
power was which wrought such wonders for us in Egypt and in the Wilderness and in the Land of Canaan where shall we find a man that can set forth as they deserve all the praise-worthy acts of the Lord 3. Blessed are they that keep judgment and he that doeth righteousness at all times 3. Which are so great and many that they are most happy men who by faithfull obedience to all his precepts not onely when they have newly received his benefits but throughout the whole course of their lives preserve themselves in the favour of so gracious a Lord and Master which our Forefathers foolishly lost by revolting presently from their mercifull Deliverer 4. Remember me O LORD with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people O visit me with thy salvation 4. Make me good Lord one of this happy number and let me partake of the favour Thou still designest for thy people and find Thee ready at hand in all dangers to preserve and deliver me 1 Chron. XVIII 6 13 14. 5. That I may see the good of thy chosen that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation that I may glory with thine inheritance 5. That I may live to see thy chosen people Israel settled in a peaceable enjoyment of all thy blessings 1 Chron. XXII 18. and have my share in their joy and felicity 1 Chron. XXIX 9. nay triumph together with them in the highest praises of thy bounty towards thy own Nation and peculiar inheritance 1 Chron. XXIX 10 11 12 13 c. 6. We have sinned with our fathers we have committed iniquity we have done wickedly 6. Our sins indeed may hinder these blessings from us for we are no better then our Forefathers but have offended after their example by which we ought to have been amended we are guilty of many iniquities against one another and much impiety against Thee 7. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies but provoked him at the sea even at the Red sea 7. We are the wicked offspring of those who were so stupid as not to be affected with the prodigious Works Thou didst in Egypt or presently to forget that long series of miraculous preservations and deliverances by which they were brought from thence But in the very next strait into which they fell at the borders of the Sea that remarkable place the red Sea distrusted his power and wisht He had left them in that cruel servitude of which before they so heavily complained XIV Exodus 11 12. 8. Nevertheless he saved them for his names sake that he might make his mighty power to be known 8. And yet such was his stupendious Goodness He would not let them perish in their ingratitude but to preserve the name He had gotten of their mighty Saviour gave them a new deliverance that the world might not imagin He wanted power to compleat what He had begun to doe for them 9. He rebuked the Red sea also and it was dried up so he led them through the depths as through the wilderness 9. On this consideration He checkt the course of that Sea by so strong a wind that He made a path in the midst of it and led them through those depths on as hard and dry ground as they trod upon in their march through the parched desarts XIV Exod. 21 22. 10. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy 10. By which means He saved them from Pharaoh's Army which pressed hard upon their backs as the Sea was before their face XIV Exod. 9 10. He rescued them from the power of those implacable enemies whose hatred carried them to pursue them eagerly even into the Sea XIV Exod. 23. 11. And the waters covered their enemies there was not one of them left 11. Where they were drowned every man of them the Sea which had stood fixed as a wall to save the Israelites returning back with a mighty violence to overwhelm their adversaries 12. Then believed they his words they sang his praise 12. Which was so evident a token of his power and goodness that they were perswaded by it at that present to believe God's promises XIV Exod. 31. and to sing a Song of praise to Him for this miraculous deliverance XV. Exod. 1 c. 13. They soon forgat his works they waited not for his counsel 13. But within three days they grew impatient again XV. Exod. 22 24. and forgetting the great and many pledges they had received of his Divine power quarrelled with his Servants and would not expect till He shewed what way He intended to relieve them 14. But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted God in the desart 14. But not long after this murmured again XVI Exod. And though instead of punishing them for it He satisfied them with bread from heaven and gave them several other demonstrations of his Divine presence among them in the wilderness Exod. XVI XX. XXIV c. yet to please their wanton appetite they mutined another time and cried out vehemently for flesh to eat XI Numb 4 5 c. and desired new proofs of his power to supply them 15. And he gave them their request but sent leanness into their soul 15. Which He was pleased to grant in such abundance that they surfeited of the Quails which He sent them and instead of being nourished fell into a grievous disease whereby great numbers of them were wasted and consumed XI Numb 31 32 c. 16. They envied Moses also in the camp and Aaron the saint of the LORD 16. And they that escaped were not cured of their rebellious humour but seditiously disputed the Authority of Moses And accused both him and Aaron whom the Lord had consecrated for the service of his Altar as ambitious men that took too much upon them XVI Numb 3. 17. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram 17. Which moved the Divine Justice to punish their presumption with a most terrible vengeance for the earth opened and buried alive Dathan and Abiram and the faction that adhered to them XVI Numb 32 33. 18. And a fire was kindled in their company the flame burnt up the wicked 18. And the other company raised by Korah were smitten with lightning from heaven which burnt up those impious men who were so bold as to invade the Office of the Priests of the Lord XVI Numb 35. 19. They made a calf in Horeb and worshipped the molten image 19. Whose anger they began very early to incense for even at that very place where the Lord had newly appeared to them in astonishing thunder and lightning and clouds XX. Exodus 18. and had spoken to them with an audible voice and at the second word He spake had charged them not to make any graven image XX. Exod. 4. and had called Moses up into the Mount to receive the rest of his
Laws which He had begun in a most dreadfull manner to deliver to them they stupidly made a golden Calf and prostrated themselves before the work of their own hands 20. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that cateth grass 20. Slighting that Glorious presence of the Majesty of God XXIV Exod. 16 17. which appearing in the Cloud had done many wonders for them and chusing rathe to commend themselves to the protection of an Image in which they saw no glory the Image of a dull Ox a creature without reason a servant of man that is supported it self by so weak a thing as hay XXXII Exodus 14. 21. They forgat God their saviour which had done great things in Egypt 21. The root of which sottish Apostasie was that they did not keep in mind what deliverances God had granted them under the conduct of Moses whom they now despised XXXII Exod. 1. But forgat his great works in the Land of Egypt where they never saw any similitude of Him 22. Wondrous works in the land of Ham and terrible things by the Red sea 22. Miraculous works which filled the whole Country with wonder and astonishment and concluded at last in the fearfull overthrow of Pharaoh and all his host in the red Sea through which they passed safely 23. Therefore he said that he would destroy them had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach to turn away his wrath lest he should destroy them 23. Which provoked the Divine displeasure so highly that He resolved to destroy them XXXII Exod. 9 10. and had done it if Moses for whom He had a great respect had not by his earnest intercession made up this breach and reconciled Him so far to them that He did not proceed then to take such vengeance on them XXXII Exod. 11 12 14 35. 24. Yea they despised the pleasant land they believed not his word 24. But when after this they despised XIII Numb 32. that goodly Country to the borders of which He had brought them I. Deut. 19 20. which the Spies themselves confessed was rich and desirable XIII Numb 27. XIV 32. and would not believe that God intended or was able to perform his promise to them XIII Numb 37 25. But murmured in their tents and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD 25. But murmured against Moses and Aaron in their Tents as if they had deluded them XIV Numb 1 2 c. refusing to march when the Lord commanded them to go up and take possession of it I. Deut. 21 26 32 26. Therefore he lifted up his hand against them to overthrow them in the wilderness 26. Then he solemnly sware that not one of that wicked generation who had so often rebelled against Him should ever come there but all perish in the wilderness XIV Numb 21 22 35. I. Deut. 34 27. To overthrow their seed also among the nations and to scatter them in the lands 27. And some of them be overthrown by the heathen whom the Lord would have delivered up into their hand XIV Numb 45. and others dispersed in several parts of that Country which they despised XXI Numb 1. 28. They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor and ate the sacrifices of the dead 28. Nor did they grow much better by these dreadfull threatnings and executions but not onely most shamefully committed whoredom with the daughters of Moah but embraced their Religion devoting themselves to the vile service of Baal whose Temple stood upon Mount Peor and partaking with them in the Sacrifices which they offered to dead men XXV Numb 1 2 3. 29. Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions and the plague brake in upon them 29. Which abominable wickedness incensed the Divine displeasure to such a degree that He commanded the Offenders to be kill'd and hang'd up in the face of the Sun and also sent a grievous plague among the people XXV Numb 4 5 9. 30. Then stood up Phinehas and executed judgment and so the plague was stayed 30. Which raged in the Camp till Phinehas in a holy zeal went as boldly to punish as others did to commit their crimes and thrust through the body one of the Princes of the people whom the Judges feared to meddle withall and then the plague ceased XXV Numb 5 6 7 8. 31. And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore 31. Which seasonable piece of Justice the Lord not onely approved as a praise-worthy Act but rewarded also with the promise of the Priesthood which He intailed upon his posterity throughout all generations XXV Numb 12 13. 32. They angred him also at the waters of strife so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes 32. And before this they had been so unbelieving and rebellious as having had long experience of God's power and goodness in providing for them to murmur for want of water at that place which took its name from their quarrel with Moses XX. Numb 3 13. who sadly suffered upon their account XX. Numb 12. 33. Because they provoked his spirit so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips 33. For being exasperated by their frequent mutinies he let fall some passionate words which expressed such distrust and impatience as did not become so great a Minister of God XX. Numb 12. who thereupon resolved he should not have the honour to accomplish his promise of bringing them to their rest XXVII Numb 24. I. Deut. 37. 34. They did not destroy the nations concerning whom the LORD commanded them 34. In which being settled they did not destroy those seven Nations I. Judg. 21 27 29 c. whose abominations were so foul that the Lord gave them a strict charge not to suffer them to live there any longer XXIII Exod. 30 33. VII Deut. 2. 35. But were mingled among the heathen and learned their works 35. But quite contrary they not onely let them live but against Gods express commandment XXIII Josh 7 12. entred into familiarity and made a Covenant and League with them II. Judg. 1 2. and so at last learnt to doe as they did and imitated their evil manners 36. And they served their idols which were a snare unto them 36. For they forsook the Lord who had brought them thither and worshipped the Gods of those people whom they had conquered II. Judg. 11 12. III. 5 6. which proved their utter ruin and destruction VII Deut. 16 26. II. Judg. 3. 37. Yea they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils 37. For they were so besotted with their Idolatry as to imitate their most barbarous Rites sacrificing to infernal spirits not onely their beasts but as the custom of that Country was XII Deut. 30 31. their sons and their daughters 38. And shed innocent bloud even the bloud of their sons and of their daughters whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan and the land was polluted with bloud 38. Whom they did not merely consecrate to
Locust which flies or is driven with the wind uncertainly from place to place 24. My knees are weak through fasting and my flesh faileth of fatness 24. And for want of food in those desart places I am sometimes scarce able to remove for my body which heretofore was plump and fat 1 Sam. XVI 12. is now grown lank and thin like one of those miserable lean Creatures 25. I became also a reproach unto them when they looked upon me they shaked their heads 25. Which instead of moving their pity hath exposed me to such contempt and scorn that when I am seen by any of them they deride and scoff at me as an undone wretch that vainly hopes to escape their hands 26. Help me O LORD my God O save me according to thy mercy 26. But my hope is that Thou O Lord who hast hitherto been my most gracious God wilt seasonably interpose for my relief and deliver me out of that tender mercy which is wont to extend it self to those who have nothing else to depend upon 27. That they may know that this is thy hand that thou LORD hast done it 27. Whereby they themselves may be convinced and forced to acknowledge that not by chance no more then by my small forces but by thy Almighty power alone and thy care of me O Lord I am delivered 28. Let them curse but bless thou when they arise let them be ashamed but let thy servant rejoice 28. Thy blessing and protection I implore which if Thou wilt vouchsafe me let them go on to curse and slander me as long as they please it shall not hurt me nay let them assault me with armed force they shall onely be confounded at their vain attempt and give thy servant the greater cause to rejoice at their disappointment 29. Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame and let them cover themselves with their own confusion as with a mantle 29. Which shall so increase the confusion of my malicious adversaries that they shall not be able to bear the disgrace but wish they could hide themselves from the sight of their shame which their own wickedness hath brought upon them 30. I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth yea I will praise him among the multitude 30. In hope of which defeat I now beforehand to the Lord the best expressions of my gratitude that I am able to make not onely in private but in the greatest Assemblies where I will not cease to praise his Almighty love 31. For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor to save him from those that condemn his soul 31. And bid them trust in God who hath pleaded my cause and rescued me from death and will ever be the Advocate of him that hath no helper but depends on his goodness to deliver him from the hands of those Judges who prosecute the unjust sentence they have passed upon him to lose his life PSALM CX A Psalm of David ARGUMENT There is the same reason to think this Psalm was composed by David not by some other concerning David that there is to conclude all the rest to be so which have the same Title And then as it is very plain he speaks of some person much greater then himself whom he calls his Lord so it can be no other but the Lord Christ of whom he here prophesies Not as he is wont to doe elsewhere with respect to himself in the first place as His type and figure but in plain words which can belong to none but Christ alone For no other King but He can be said in any sense to sit at God's right hand nor was there any Priest of the order of Melchisedek that could be a shadow of him David indeed seems once to have exercised the Office of a Priest when he blessed the people at the bringing of the Ark to Sion 2 Sam. VI. 18. and so to have been then both King and Priest in one person as Melchifedek was but not a Priest for ever on whom the Office was perpetually established and that by an Oath as it was on the Priest here mentioned And therefore it is in vain to endeavour to accommodate any part of this Psalm to David who conquered many of the neighbouring Countries smote their Kings made them bring him tributes and at last smote the head of the Country of Rabbah as some render the last words of the sixth verse of this Psalm that is the King of the Children of Ammon But still we are to seek how the rest can be applied to him who never had any pretence to such an authority as is here described nor can in any sense call himself my Lord but as our Lord Christ hath demonstrated spake concerning Him XXII Matt. 43 c. and his Exaltation after his Resurrection from the dead as Saint Peter and Saint Paul also shew II. Act. 34 35. 1 Cor XV. 25. IV. Hebr. 1 13. V. 6. when He set up another Priesthood and abolished that of Moses which change is here predicted And though the Jews have taken a great deal of pains to wrest this Psalm to another sense yet they are so divided in their opinions about it speaking inconsistent things like drunken men as Saint Chrysostom's words are or rather says he like men in the dark running against one another that from thence alone we may be satisfied they are in the wrong and have their eyes blinded else they would not have embraced such interpretations as those which may be seen in them that have written upon this Psalm Which some of the Jews themselves such as R. Moses Hadarsan Saadias Gaon and divers others whom I might mention have been forced to acknowledge belongs to Christ and is a very plain prediction of his Divinity his royal Dignity his Priesthood and his victories and triumphs which the Psalmist sets forth as follows 1. THe LORD said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy footstool 1. THis is the decree of the eternal LORD that the great person whom we expect and whom I honour as my Lord and Master shall be advanced after his sufferings to the highest dignity 1 King II. 19. in the heavens and reign with Him as the King of all the world till He have perfectly subdued X. Josh 24. the most powerfull opposers of his Kingdom and overcome death it self by whom all mankind are conquered 1 Cor. XV. 25 26. 2. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Sion rule thou in the mids of thine enemies 2. The eternal Lord wâ—… hath thus decreed to honour Thee O most mighty Prince will make Sion first of all to feel how powerfull thy Scepter is I. Act. 8. II. 34 37. and thence extend thy Empire over all the Earth where I wish Thou mayest and foretell Thou wilt prevail over all Infidelity Idolatry Superstition and Impiety which will set themselves against thy Authority 3. Thy people shall be willing in
enemies that invade us not that we may grow more famous no we have no thoughts of the glory that will accrue to our selves thereby but that thy Divine Majesty may be honoured and thy goodness and faithfulness to thy promises be made the more illustrious 2. Wherefore should the heathen say Where is now their God 2. What a sad thing will it be to hear the Nations that surround us insult not so much over us as over Thee saying what is become of their God in whom they trusted If He be so powerfull as they boast why doth He not deliver them 3. But our God is in the heavens he hath done whatsoever he pleased 3. Let them know that Thou art infinitely superiour to them and all their gods being the possessour of the heavens as well as the earth 2 Chron. XX. 6. whom no power of theirs can hurt or so much as restrain but art able to doe whatsoever Thou pleasest for their confusion and for our deliverance 4. Their idols are silver and gold the work of mens hands 4. Their Idols cannot hinder it in the least who are of no more value then the silver and gold of which they are made and are so far from being the makers of things that they themselves are the work of those that adore them 5. They have mouths but they speak not eyes have they but they see not 5. They are mere lifeless Images that have mouths but cannot give a word of advice or of incouragement and comfort to their supplicants and eyes also but cannot see the devotion wherewith they look up unto them or prostrate themselves before them 6. They have ears but they hear not noses have they but they smell not 6. Let their worshippers cry to them never so loudly they cannot hear a word All the Frankincense and sweet Odours which they burn to them are merely lost for they cannot smell them 7. They have hands but they handle not feet have they but they walk not neither speak they through their throat 7. Though they have thunderbolts in their hands they feel them not nor are able to doe either good or harm They cannot stir a foot from the place where they stand unless they be carried nor make so much noise as a fly being utterly void of breath as well as of sense and reason 8. They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them 8. To what then but to those Idols shall we compare the makers of them and such as confide in them who are mere Images of men having eyes but do not see that the brutes are more excellent then such gods and that the least help is not to be expected from them 9. O Israel trust thou in the LORD he is their help and their shield 9. O ye Israelites who by the Divine Favour are better instructed repose that confidence in the eternal Lord which they do in those Vanities And He will not onely protect and defend you against all the assaults of your enemies but help you to overcome them 2 Chron. XX. 9. 10. O house of Aaron trust in the LORD he is their help and their shield 10. O ye Priests and Levites do you above all others rely upon that eternal Lord whose praise you sing and to whom you offer continual Sacrifice For He will never fail not onely to protect but to assist all such as piously confide in Him 11. Ye that fear the LORD trust in the LORD he is their help and their shield 11. And let all that fear the Lord and devoutly worship Him of whatsoever Nation they be place the like confidence in his Almighty Goodness For He will never forsake those that depend on Him alone though they be not of the seed of Abraham but defend them also in all dangers and aid them against all their enemies 12. The LORD hath been mindfull of us he will bless us he will bless the house of Israel he will bless the house of Aaron 12. We have had abundant experience of his care over us in all ages and therefore though now for the present our enemies afflict us yet let us believe that the Lord will doe us good and bless us with a glorious deliverance All the house of Israel shall see how kind He is especially they that minister unto Him in his holy Temple 13. He will bless them that fear the LORD both small and great 13. And He will not forget those pious Proselytes that are come to worship Him there as the onely God but without any respect of persons give them his blessing also which shall not be denied either to old or young to rich or poor 14. The LORD shall increase you more and more you and your children 14. Nor will He grant you onely a single blessing by sending a present deliverance but heap his benefits and multiply his mercies upon you and upon all those that shall succeed you 15. You are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth 15. Ye are a happy people who live under the care and love and benediction of that mighty Lord whose power nothing can confine for He is not made like the Gentile gods but Himself created both the Heaven and the Earth 16. The heaven even the heavens are the LORD's but the earth hath he given to the children of men 16. In which He cannot be comprehended neither for his Empire extends further then you can see to the heavens which are above these visible heavens from whence his Providence reaches down even to us the children of men whom He hath placed upon this earth to admire and praise his infinite Majesty 17. The dead praise not the LORD neither any that go down into silence 17. And therefore will not suffer us to be rooted out as our enemies design 2 Chron. XX. 11. for then the earth would have none in it to sing his praises which the dead who dwell in the silent grave cannot celebrate 18. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore Praise the LORD 18. But will continue us still alive that we may praise the Lord and speak good of his Name as we do at this time 2 Chron. XX. 21 22. and leave those to succeed us who shall continue his praises in all future generations to the worlds end Hallelujah Praise the Lord. PSALM CXVI ARGUMENT I do not understand the reason why Theodoret applies this Psalm to the times of Antiochus Epiphanes when it agrees so exactly to the condition of David in his flight from his Son Absalom which seems to be mentioned Ver. 11. when Ahitophel and others proved very false to him and he had little or nothing to depend upon but onely the Goodness of the Almighty who was pleased to plead his cause and deliver him For which he resolved to be very thankfull and to call all his Friends to rejoice with him as I have expressed it Ver. 13. where the first
never so powerfull give me 7. The LORD taketh my part with them that help me therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me 7. It is sufficient that the Lord who hath done great things for me by weak instruments is still aiding to me therefore I dare look the most malicious enemies in the face and doubt not to see them turn their backs upon me 2 Sam. VIII 8. It is better to trust in the LORD then to put confidence in man 8. This is my hope and long experience hath taught me that it is much safer to relie upon Him then upon the most numerous Armies 9. It is better to trust in the LORD then to put confidence in princes 9. Far more safe to depend upon his help and protection who as He can doe what He pleases and is constant to his word so never dies then to confide in the aid of the greatest Princes whose mind may change or their forces fail or they themselves on a sudden leave the world 10. All nations compassed me about but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them 10. All the neighbouring Nations round about 2 Sam. V. 17 c. VII 1. combined with the Philistines to inviron me but by the Almighty power of the Lord I was consident that I should hew them in pieces 11. They compassed me about yea they compassed me about but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them 11. Again they made a new invasion and beset me with stronger forces 2 Sam. V. 22 c. but still by the Almighty power of the Lord I doubted not that I should cut them off and utterly defeat them 12. They compassed me about like bees they are quenched as the fire of thorns for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them 12. Though they were exceeding numerous swarming about me like angry bees and flaming with such rage and fury as if they would presently consume me yet it was but like the blaze of fire among thorns for by the Almighty power of the Lord I was confident I should destroy them 13. Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall but the LORD helped me 13. They pressed me exceeding hard and as one man conspired with all their might to throw me down from the Throne to which I was advanced But though they shaked it and it was ready to fall yet by the help of the Lord it was supported 14. The LORD is my strength and song and is become my salvation 14. To Him alone I ascribe my present happiness saying with our Forefathers in their triumphant Song XV. Exod. 2. the Lord hath armed me with invincible strength He and He alone is to be praised who hath given me a most glorious deliverance 15. The voice of rejoycing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly 15. Which comforts the hearts of all righteous men whose houses sound with such joyfull shouts of praise for my deliverance as these The mighty power of the Lord hath done most stupendious things 16. The right hand of the LORD is exalted the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly 16. He hath made his mighty power appear to be superiour to all other for not by man but by that power we have again and again obtained illustrious victories over our enemies 2 Sam. XIX 9. 17. I shall not die but live and declare the works of the LORD 17. From whence I conclude that I shall not fall into the hands of those that would take away my life but still prolong it to declare what wonderfull works the Lord hath done for me 18. The LORD hath chastened me sore but he hath not given me over unto death 18. Who hath let my enemies have power to afflict me very sorely but not to proceed so far as to destroy me 19. Open to me the gates of righteousness I will go in to them and I will praise the LORD 19. No instead of that He hath brought me to his own House again from which I was banished 1 Sam. XXVI 19. where I will return thanks unto Him And therefore O ye that minister in the Tabernacle open the Gates at which the righteous enter into the Courts of the Lord that I may go in and make Him my acknowledgments for bringing me from a most forlorn condition to a 〈…〉 20. This gate of the LORD into which the righteous shall enter 20. This is the Gate which I behold and approach with joy that leads to the Courts of the Lord at which the righteous shall enter together with me and hear me say 21. I will praise thee for thou hast heard me and art become my salvation 21. I will never cease to praise and acknowledge Thy goodness O Lord who hast graciously heard my prayer when I implored thy help and delivered me out of all my distresses 22. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner 22. And let them bear a part with me in this my Psalm of praise saying He whom the great men and Rulers of the people rejected 1 Sam. XXVI 19. as the builders of a house do a stone unfit to be employed in it is now become our King to whom we must all join our selves if we hope for safety in whom we see a figure of that glorious King who shall hereafter be in like manner refused XIX Luke 14. XX. 17. and then by God exalted to be the Lord of all the world and the foundation of all mens happiness IV. Act. 11 12. 23. This is the LORD 's doing it is marvellous in our eyes 23. This is the sole work of the Lord not the effect of humane counsels who opposed and obstructed it which surprises us with the greatest admiration to see a despised person become on a sudden so renowned 24. This is the day which the LORD hath made we will rejoice and be glad in it 24. This is the happy day which the Lord himself hath made illustrious by this marvellous work and which it becomes us to celebrate with joyfull hearts and with all outward expressions of gladness for so great a benefit 25. Save now I beseech thee O LORD O LORD I beseech thee send now prosperity 25. Most humbly beseeching Thee O Lord to preserve our King and to advance and perpetuate his Kingdom especially the Kingdom of Christ which shall be welcom'd into the world with these words XXI Matt. 9 c. It begins most gloriously be pleased now O Lord to give it answerable success and prosperity 26. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD 26. Which acclamations of the people let the Priests of the Lord meet with their approbation saying Blessed be the King which is set over us by the Divine appointment and Blessed be all the people who live under his happy Government we whose Office
thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord in the place where He dwells and makes Himself present among us 2. Our feet shall stand within thy gates O Jerusalem 2. Which motion ought to be the more readily embraced because now He hath fixed his habitation and we need not travel further then Jerusalem to enquire after the Ark of his presence 3. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together 3. To Jerusalem I say that fair and beautifull City whose buildings do not now lie scattered and divided but are all compacted and united together as we ought to be in a goodly order 1 Sam. V. 9. 1 Chron. XI 8. 4. Whither the tribes go up the tribes of the LORD unto the testimony of Israel to give thanks unto the name of the LORD 4. Thither all the XII Tribes of Israel who own the great LORD for their God go up from all the parts of the Country by his special Commandment XXIII Exod. 17. to acknowledge before the Ark of his Testimony XXV Exod. 21 22. all the benefits they have received from his almighty Goodness and this above the rest that He thereby testifies his singular care and providence over them 5. For there are set thrones of judgment the thrones of the house of David 5. Thither also they repair for Justice for the supreme Judicatory of the Kingdom sits there 2 Chr. XIX 8. and there is the seat of the Royal Family where David and his Sons have their residence and govern the people 2 Sam. VIII 15 18. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee 6. O let this be part of your devout prayers when you come there that God would preserve Jerusalem in peace Happy shall they be who out of love to the Religion and Justice which is administred in thee O beloved City contribute their indeavours as well as their prayers for thy safety and prosperity 7. Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces 7. Let no enemy this shall be my constant prayer approach so much as to thy out-works to disturb thee and let plenty of all good things abound within thy Palaces 8. For my brethren and companions sakes I will now say Peace be within thee 8. The kindness I have for my kindred and my neighbours and friends whether in the City or the Country will not let me cease my earnest prayers to God that He will confer his blessings on thee 9. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good 9. But above all the love I have to the Lord our God whose house is here whither all his devout servants resort to worship Him and celebrate his Name shall excite not onely my prayers but my study to promote thy welfare PSALM CXXIII A Song of degrees ARGUMENT This Psalm it is certain was composed in a time of great distress when they were extreamly afflicted by some haughty and insolent enemies Ver. 3 4. who those enemies were there are several conjectures And I will add mine that this short form of prayer was made by some pious person when the King of Assyria whose pride the Prophet Isaiah describes VIII 7. and many other places sent Rabshakeh and other of his Captains to besiege Jerusalem where they poured out most contemptuous nay blasphemous words against God and his people 2 King XVIII XIX It is probable if this conjecture be admitted that it was made by Isaiah whom Hezekiah desired to lift up his prayer for the remnant that was left 2 King XIX 4. XXXVII Isa 4. Accordingly we reade 2 Chron. XXXII 20. both he and Hezekiah cried unto the Lord and we may suppose lift up his eyes to heaven and said these words 1. UNto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the heavens 1. THough all humane help fail us in this sore distress yet I do not despair of relief from Thee O Lord whose Majesty and Power incomparably excells all earthly Monarchs 2. Behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God untill that he have mercy upon us 2. Behold how not onely I but the rest of thy faithfull people wait upon Thee submitting our selves to this severe punishment as poor slaves do to the stroke of their offended Master or Mistress and resolving to bear it patiently till Thou our LORD who doest inflict it wilt be pleased to shew thy self our most gracious God and in much pity towards us remove it 3. Have mercy upon us O LORD have mercy upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt 3. O be gracious unto us good Lord be gracious unto us and in much mercy take away this heavy scourge from us for we are become so beyond all measure contemptible 2 King XVIII 23 24. XIX 34. that we can scarce any longer indure it 4. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud 4. We have a long time groaned under the intollerable load of the derision and contempt of those whose constant prosperity puffs them up with pride nay makes them insolently oppress all those who are unable to resist them PSALM CXXIV A Song of degrees of David ARGUMENT If the Title had not told us that this is a Psalm of David's I should have thought it had been composed by the Authour of the former to acknowledge the wonderfull power and goodness of God in delivering them from Senacherib's Army which came in like a floud LIX Isa 19. and had overflown all the Country as far as Jerusalem VIII Isa 7 8. which might well make them be called proud waters as the Psalmist here speaks Ver. 5. because they fancied nothing could stand before them Such it seems were either the Philistines upon whom when they spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim the Lord broke forth as a breach of waters 2 Sam. V. 19 or the Ammonites and their Associates 2 Sam. X. 6 15 16. Of A Song of degrees see CXX 1. IF it had not been the LORD who was on our side now may Israel say 1. IF we had not had such a mighty helper as the Lord who took our part may Israel now most thankfully acknowledge 2. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side when men rose up against us 2. If it had not been the Lord whom none can resist who took our part when such numerous enemies united their forces as one man to make war upon us 3. Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us 3. They would then have made but one morsel of our small Army and in the furious rage wherein they were have immediately devoured us as monstrous beasts doe their prey which they greedily swallow down alive 4. Then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over
Goodness first for promising me out of thy mere grace and favour the royal Dignity and then for performing thy promise most faithfully For Thou hast manifested thy most excellent power and goodness to me in nothing so much as in punctually fulfilling thy promise 1 Sam. XVI 13. nowithstanding all the opposition which was made to it nay in raising me higher then I expected 3. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul 3. I had long ago faln short of this honour to which I am advanced hadst not Thou during all the time of Saul's persecution as readily relieved me as I cried to Thee and mightily supported my spirit by a couragious faith and hope in Thee 4. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee O LORD when they hear the words of thy mouth 4. Which will move sure all our neighbouring Kings who have any knowledge of my affairs 2 Sam. V. 11 12. VIII 10. to join with me in praising Thee O Lord when they shall hear by how many strange providences Thou hast brought to pass that which Thou promisedst to me by thy Prophet 5. Yea they shall sing in the ways of the LORD for great is the glory of the LORD 5. The wonderfull ways whereby the Lord brings things about shall be the subject of their Songs and they shall think it their greatest happiness to be guided and governed by Him for they shall confess that none can doe such glorious things as the Lord hath wrought 6. Though the LORD be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly but the proud he knoweth afar off 6. Whose sublime greatness doth not make Him neglect as they see in me the meanest persons especially when their minds are as humble as their conditions but will not let Him stoop to the loftiest Princes as they may see in Saul whom He despises when they are forgetfull of Him and ungratefull to Him for his benefits 7. Though I walk in the mids of trouble thou wilt revive me thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me 7. Which have been so great to me that should I fall again into the same straits wherein I was before and be incompassed with them I should hope that Thou wouldst preserve me and bring me safe out of them all Thy power I am confident will repress the violent assaults of my enemies and by thy almighty Goodness I shall be delivered from their wrath and fury 2 Sam. V. 17 c. VIII 1 c. 8. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me thy mercy O LORD endureth for ever forsake not the works of thine own hands 8. The Lord who hath begun will go on to finish his gracious intentions towards me not for my merits I know they are none at all but for thy own mercy sake O Lord which as it was the sole motive to what Thou hast done for me so will I hope for it is still the same and ever will be incline Thee to preserve and settle me in that dignity to which not my ambition but thy own good will and pleasure hath promoted me PSALM CXXXIX To the chief Musician A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The two last Verses of this Psalm seem to me a sufficient indication that David to whom the Title ascribes it composed it when he lay under the imputation of having evil designs upon Saul 1. Sam. XXIV 9. which as he protests against in several parts of other Psalms and calls God often to witness his integrity so here he appeals unto Him in a set and solemn meditation composed on purposed to represent before Him the clearness of his intentions which never suffered such designs to enter into his thoughts And who could believe that a man who seriously acknowledged it was impossible to conceal any thing from God's all-seeing eye who formes us in the womb should be so impudent as to make this appeal unto Him if he were conscious to himself of any such guilt And which is more how could he be confident as he declares he was Ver. 19. that God would make his innocence evidently appear by destroying his opposers if he did not know they were calumniatours whose vile aspersions when God had effectually confuted he delivered this Psalm to the Master of the Musick as a lasting testimony of his sincerity all along before he came to the Kingdom and a constant admonishment to himself and others never to promote any designs for the future by sinister arts though managed so secretly that they lay hid from the eyes of all the world since God cannot but be privy to them who loves righteousness and hates all iniquity 1. O LORD thou hast searched me and known me 1. I Am accused O Lord of grievous crimes but my comfort is Thou seest I am not guilty of them For the exactest survey cannot make any thing so well known to us as I am to Thee who art thoroughly acquainted with me 2. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising thou understandest my thought afar off 2. Thou knowest what designs I have when I sit musing at home and what I go about when I stir abroad nay my inclinations are so perfectly understood by Thee that before I have conceived any design it is visible unto Thee 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways 3. Nothing can be so narrowly sifted as all the motions of my body and mind both by day and by night are scanned by thy all-penetrating eye which comprehends and is intimately privy to all the ends which I pursue 4. For there is not a word in my tongue but lo O LORD thou knowest it altogether 4. When I am about to speak Thou O Lord such is thy most admirable wisedom needest not to be informed what it is but knowest before I open my mouth every thing I intend to utter 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me 5. Whatsoever I have done long ago is as well known to Thee as that which is lately past or which I am about to doe For I am so invironed by Thee and so absolutely in thy power that I cannot possibly escape thy notice nor so much as stir without thy leave 6. Such knowledge is too wonderfull for me it is high I cannot attain unto it 6. O amazing height of understanding It is in vain to think I can hide any thing from it which so far surpasses all I can say or conceive that it excells even my admiration 7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence 7. Into what world shall I go where Thou art not as present as Thou art in this It is impossible for me should I make never so much haste to get out of thy sight 8. If I ascend up into heaven thou art there if I make my bed in hell behold
Him the proper object of our confidence in all conditions The vulgar Latin and the present Greek intitle it to Haggai and Zachariah but there is no such thing in the Hebrew nor in other ancient Interpreters nor in the LXX in the Hexaplus as Theodoret tells us And we might rather think it not unlikely to have been composed by David when Saul who at first had a great kindness for him afterward turned his most bitter enemy were it not for one word viz. the mention of Sion which was not then in David's possession This it is possible inclined those that made the foregoing Title to think it was not composed till after-times and they could find none so likely as that after the Captivity when they soon found it was in vain to rely upon the favour of Princes some of which hindred the building of the Temple as much as Cyrus at the first had furthered it I shall not trouble the Reader with any other conjectures but onely note that the eighth Verse was most exactly and literally fulfilled in our Lord Christ when he came to give Salvation to us 1. PRaise ye the LORD Praise the LORD O my soul 1. STir up thy self O my Soul to give the Lord who gave Being to all things those affectionate praises which are due unto Him 2. While I live will I praise the LORD I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being 2. The best resolution Thou canst make is this I will praise the Lord all my life long and never cease to give thanks unto my God who never ceases to bestow his benefits on me 3. Put not your trust in princes nor in the son of man in whom there is no help 3. And let all mankind if they would be happy preserve his favour by being gratefull to Him and not with the neglect of his service court the favour of Princes and settle upon them their dependance For the greatest King on earth though never so just never so bountifull as well as rich and powerfull is still but a man who cannot be present every where when we are in danger nor be able always to help us in our greatest needs 4. His breath goeth forth he returneth to his earth in that very day his thoughts perish 4. For there is a time when he cannot help himself nor by the whole power of his Empire keep his soul from leaving his body nay a small accident may carry him away suddenly and then a clod of earth can do as much as he and whatsoever designs and projects he had laid for any mans preferment suppose they all die together with him 5. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the LORD his God 5. He and he alone is the truly happy man who expects help from the mighty God by whom Jacob was fed all his life long XLVIII Gen. 15. who trusts to Him that is Lord of the World and hath made Him his Friend so much that he can call Him his God 6. Which made heaven and earth the sea and all that therein is which keepeth truth for ever 6. For as He never dies so there can be no defect in his power nor want of his presence in every place the heavens the earth and the sea and all that is in them being his own works and as nothing can hinder Him from doing what He pleases so He will never alter his mind nor go back with his word but faithfully keep his promises for ever with those that rely upon them 7. Which executeth judgment for the oppressed which giveth food to the hungry the LORD looseth the prisoners 7. There are innumerable instances of the carefull Providence of this great King who doth not slight or forget the cries of his grieved Subjects but in due time asserts the right of those who are oppressed and can find no relief in other Courts of Judgment He supplies also the needs of poor hungry wretches who are ready to famish and is so gracious a Lord that He sets them at liberty who by unjust or pitiless men have been held in miserable Captivity 8. The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down the LORD loveth the righteous 8. The Lord sends help when there are no hopes of humane cure for He restores sight to the blind as we shall see most remarkably when the Lord Christ appears and lifts up those who are bowed together by tedious weaknesses XIII Luke 11. or crusht under other insupportable burthens and above all the Lord delights to doe good to them who have done good to others 9. The LORD preserveth the strangers he relieveth the fatherless and widow but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down 9. The friendless strangers are preserved by the Lord from those injuries which men are apt to doe them when they commit themselves to his protection And so do the disconsolate Widows and Fatherless Children find support and relief from Him against the injustice and violence of their wicked oppressours whose designs and practices He utterly confoundeth 10. The LORD shall reign for ever even thy God O Sion unto all generations Praise ye the LORD 10. Be of good comfort then O ye inhabitants of Sion who sincerely worship this great Lord that doeth all these wondrous things For his power and authority never fails but from age to age will ever succour those pious souls who are destitute of humane help therefore praise perpetually this everlasting King PSALM CXLVII Hallelujah See CXLVI ARGUMENT Saint Chrysostome and Theodoret think this Psalm hath respect to the return of the Jewish Nation from the Captivity of Babylon and the instauration of Jerusalem which followed upon it And the second and thirteenth Verses may well incline us to be of the opinion that it was made by some holy man at that time Haggai or Zachariah some ancient Interpreters imagin or rather Nehemiah who built the Walls and set up the Gates especially if we observe that there are some phrases in it which savour of the Chaldaean language And though this can be no more then a conjecture yet it is very certain and evident that in that deliverance God gave such illustrious proofs of his power wisedom mercy and justice as the Psalmist here exhorts the people to celebrate with their thankfull praises I shall follow it therefore in my Paraphrase it being reasonable to suppose that devout persons would be as forward to acknowledge the wonderfull Providence of God in their restauration as they were to bewail which they do Ps CXXXVII the ruin of their Country and that posterity would be no less carefull to preserve what was composed in memory of the one then they had been to continue the memory of the other And there is no Hymn we can find so sutable to that occasion as this 1. PRaise ye the LORD for it is good to sing praises unto our God for it is
pleasant and praise is comely 1. LET all the Nations praise the Lord who will send us new benefits when we are truly thankfull to Him our great Benefactour for the old For it is a thing highly acceptable to Him as well as delightfull to those who are imployed therein and best becomes us of all other things there being nothing so decent as to see men gratefull to Him that hath obliged them 2. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel 2. To which we stand bound above all other men for the Lord hath not onely delivered us out of a sad Captivity but in spite of all the opposition our enemies have made to it IV. Ezra 12. hath raised Jerusalem out of its ruines whereby He invites the rest of our Brethren who remain behind to return to their own Country from whence they are expelled 3. He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds 3. He comforts us after our long sorrows which had in a manner broken our heart with grief and sadness and hath in some measure repaired our breaches which like a festering wound indangered the life of our Nation 4. He telleth the number of the stars he calleth them all by their names 4. Whom He knows how to gather out of all their dispersions and to find every one of them wheresoever they are though as numerous as the stars of heaven XV. Gen. 5. which He as distinctly and exactly understands how confusedly soever they seem to us to be scattered in the skie as we do those things which we call by their proper names 5. Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite 5. Let us not despair of it for nothing is impossible with our Lord and Governour who is not like earthly Kings that rule over a few petty Provinces but the great Sovereign of the whole world whose power and wisedom are so unlimited that He is able to doe whatsoever He pleases and knows how to compass whatsoever He designs 6. The LORD lifteth up the meek he casteth the wicked down to the ground 6. And doth not because He is so great despise the afflicted but if they meekly commit themselves to his care will raise them up to a better condition and throw down the mightiest Princes that proudly oppress them as low as the very ground 7. Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving sing praise upon the harp unto our God 7. Celebrate therefore with your thankfull Songs you cannot make a less return unto Him this infinite Power and Wisedom and Goodness Begin now with the usual Instruments of Musick to sing Hymns of praise unto our God for all his benefits 8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds who prepareth rain for the earth who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains 8. Particularly for the great plenty He hath given us by his almighty Goodness II. Haggai 1. which shews it self first in raising vapours from the earth and then turning them into clouds wherewith He covers the face of heaven and then bringing forth rain out of those clouds which He sends back to the earth again and makes not onely the green pastures but the parched mountains and desart places become fruitfull 9. He giveth to the beast his food and to the young ravens which cry 9. By which wonderfull Providence He provides food even for the wild goats and suck like beasts that live upon the top of craggy rocks For He neglects not the vilest creatures but satisfies the hunger of the young ravens though it be so ravenous that they are continually crying for new supplies 10. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man 10. Let us not doubt then but He that takes care of crows will much more take care of us and not be afraid though we are of little force IV. Nehem. 3 4. VII 4. and have no armies of horse and foot to defend us For the Lord who fights for us IV. Nehem. 20. hath no need of these and will not take part with our enemies because they are superiour to us in the strength of their horses and the nimbleness of their souldiers 11. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy 11. But delights to give those his assistance and protection who worshipping Him devoutly fear to offend Him and having no help in themselves nor any earthly refuge to fly unto depend notwithstanding with a stedfast faith on his infinite mercy 12. Praise the LORD O Jerusalem praise thy God O Sion 12. Praise the Lord O ye inhabitants of Jerusalem sing joyfull Hymns unto your God O ye people of Sion XII Nehem. 27 31 40 43. who have seen this truth abundantly demonstrated in your days 13. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates he hath blessed thy children within thee 13. For He hath made this City which was lately without Walls and Gates so strong a place that no enemy dare assualt it VI. Nehem. 15 16. and hath increased the number of thy Citizens which were but few VII Nehem. 4. XI 1 2. by the manifold blessings He hath poured on them 14. He maketh peace in thy borders and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat 14. Which are not confined within the Walls of that City but He hath settled all the Country in peace no enemy appearing to infest thy borders and to disturb the husbandmen in their labours which have produced so rich a crop that plentifull provision is made for all our satisfaction 15. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth his word runneth very swiftly 15. This we ought to ascribe to his mercifull Providence who shews by the fruitfull seasons He sends after all things seem to be killed by a hard winter that He doth not intend by our affliction to destroy us and that He can easily bring all our Brethren hither who remain still in Captivity For when He would have any alteration made in the earth it is done as speedily as we can speak 16. He giveth snow like wooll he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes 16. He sends for instance a sudden cold which sometimes turns the moist vapours in the air into flakes of snow to cover the earth as with a fleece of wool and defend the corn from the biting winds and sometimes into hoary frost which He gently scatters and straws like ashes upon the earth 17. He casteth forth his ice like morsels who can stand before his cold 17. And sometimes congeals them into ice which He breaks into bits and throws down in violent hail accompanied with such extremity of cold that neither man nor beast nor the fishes in the ponds and rivers are able long to endure it 18. He sendeth out his word and melteth them he causeth his wind to blow and the waters flow 18. But then to prevent the hurt that might insue by its continuance He issues forth
like the Moon and the Stars give a good example unto all the Subjects and stir them up to meditate his praise 12. Both young men and maidens old men and children 12. Let no Sex no Age think themselves exempted from this heavenly imployment But let the Young men praise Him for their strength and the Virgins for their beauty they that are going out of the world for all that they have seen and heard of Him and they that are newly come into it for all the goodly spectacles that are before them 13. Let them praise the Name of the LORD for his Name alone is excellent and his glory is above the earth and heaven 13. Let them praise the incomparable Wisedom Goodness and Power of the Lord For how great soever any other Beings are there is no other God but He whose most excellent Majesty infinitely surpasses all that the Earth or the Heavens can tell us of Him 14. He also exalteth the horn of his people the praise of all his Saints even of the children of Israel a people near who him Praise ye the LORD 14. And yet so great is his condescention unto us who are bound therefore more particularly to praise Him He takes a peculiar care of us and hath set over us a powerfull Prince for the defence and safety of his People LXXXIX Psal 19. Whose fame He hath thereby raised to the highest pitch of honour having obliged the Children of Israel by many peculiar benefits especially this that they are a people more nearly related to Him then any other whatsoever for He dwells among them in his holy place where they approach to Him O praise Him there for this singular favour PSALM CXLIX Hallelujah See CXLVI ARGUMENT Theodoret thinks this Psalm was made for them that after their return from Captivity had many opposers but by the Divine Assistance overcame them And that it is a praediction of those great things which were done by the Maccabees Certain it is that some signal Victory was the occasion of it and thence Saint Chrysostome hath here given us a full account I think of the meaning of A new Song which according to the use of the word new in other places when they would express a thing very wonderfull such as hath not been seen or heard of before XVI Numb 30. XXXI Jer. 22. he takes to denote An illustrious and famous Hymn made for Victories for great Atchievements and Trophies Which were never more remarkable in this Nation then in the days of David and therefore this Psalm may very well relate to his reign who subdued several Kingdoms which had stood out and would not submit to Israel till his time though God had promised to give their Countries to them XV. Gen. 18. XXIII Exod. 31. 2. Sam. VIII 1 2 c. X. 19. The interpretation which I have given of the sixth Verse need not seem strange to any one who considers that it hath been and is the custom of all Nations to stir up themselves to fight by the sound of some musical Instrument or other The ancient inhabitants of Etruria saith Clemens Alexandrinus in the second Book of his Paedagogus chap. 4. used the Trumpet for this purpose the Arcadians the Whistle the Sicilians an Instrument called Pectids the Cretians the Harp the Lacedaemonians the Pipe the Thracians the Cornet the Egyptians the Drum the Arabians the Cymball But it was proper to the Israelites to go forth against their Enemies singing Psalms of Praise to God as we reade 2 Chron. XX. 21 22. who had given great Victories to their Ancestours and had promised never to forsake their Posterity while they served Him onely and piously confided in Him 1. PRaise ye the LORD Sing unto the LORD a new song and his praise in the congregation of saintâ— 1. SIng a new Hymn unto the Lord for the fresh and singular benefits He hath bestowed upon us Let Him be praised not onely in private but in the publick assemblies of those who have received special marks of his favour to them 2. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him let the children of Sion be joyfull in their king 2. Let all the Israelites rejoice in Him that made them his peculiar people and hath now raised them to great splendour among the Nations of the world let the inhabitants of Sion more particularly be exceeding glad that the Lord who is our King hath there settled his royal Throne 2 Sam. V. 9. VI. 12. 3. Let them praise his name in the dance let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp 3. Let them leap for joy and unanimously praise his most excellent Majesty in their Dances to the Flute 2 Sam. VI. 16. let them testifie their gratitude to Him by singing Psalms with the Timbrel and the Harp 4. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people he will beautifie the meek with salvation 4. For the Lord taketh pleasure in doing good unto his people and will not onely deliver them after they have been oppressed many years but if they meekly depend upon Him make them as great and illustrious as they have been contemptible and mean 1 Chron. XIV 2. 5. Let the saints be joyfull in glory let them sing aloud upon their beds 5. Which shall fill the hearts of good men who are dear to Him with the highest triumph in the honour that He hath done them and make them shout for joy in the security and peace He shall bestow upon them 6. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand 6. Which they shall not doubt to maintain against all opposers for in assured hope of Victory they shall go to War with Psalms and Hymns in their mouths concerning the great acts of the Lord which they shall couragiously sing with a loud voice when they fall upon their enemies and prefer to the two edged sword wich they carry in their hand 7. To execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people 7. Wherewith they shall take a just revenge upon the heathen for all the injuries they have done us and so chastise the insolence of the people that they shall fear again to molest us 1 Chron. XIV 17. 8. To bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron 8. For their Victories shall be so compleat that they shall not onely rout their enemies and put them to flight but lead away their Kings captive in chains and take their great Captains and Commanders prisoners and keep them fast in fetters of iron 9. To execute upon them the judgment written this honour have all his saints Praise ye the LORD 9. In order to the executing upon them the judgment which God hath long ago decreed and is recorded in his Law VII Deut. 24. XXXII 41 42 43. This is the honour which all Israel shall have when they are in favour with God and such shall be their glorious Victories and