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
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
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
it is to minister to the Lord give you his Blessing from the holy place into which you are come to worship Him 27. God is the LORD which hath shewed us light bind the sacrifice with cords even unto the horns of the altar 27. Who is the omnipotent Lord most faithfull to his promise who hath put an end to our troubles and made peace among us O be not ungratefull to Him but solemnize this day with festival joys bind your sacrifices with cords and bring them to the corners of the Altar to be offered as testimonies of your love and thankfulness unto Him 28. Thou art my God and I wiâ—…â—…ise thee thâ—… 〈◊〉 my God I will exalt thee 28. And so for my part I am resolved who must own Thee to be my most gracious God and almighty Deliverer to whom therefore I will make continually my most thankfull acknowledgments to thy almighty Goodness alone I owe this greatness to which I am promoted and therefore I will never cease to speak the highest things I am able in thy praise 29. O give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 29. And let all good men join together with me and make their thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of the world who as He is the Authour of all good and hath been exceeding bountifull unto us so will continue his kindness unto all succeeding generations PSALM CXIX ARGUMENT This Psalm is contrived so artificially that one would think at first sight it was made after the foregoing when God had subdued the rest of David's enemies 2 Sam. VIII X. and given him leisure for such curious composures For it is divided into as many Parts as there are Letters in the Hebrew Alphabet each Part containing eight Verses and every one of those verses beginning with that Letter wherewith that Part begins The Verses for instance of the First Part all begin with Aleph or A and all of the Second with Beth or B c. And thence this Psalm is called in the Masora the great Alphabet which is an indication that David was now in a very sedate condition under no extraordinary motions when he penned this Psalm but quietly considered things as they were represented to his remembrance But when we observe how frequently he mentions his affliction as lying actually upon him now wâ—… he wrote these Meditations it forces u◠〈◊〉 â—onclude that it was penned during Saâ—…s persecution In which there were I suppose some quiet intervals see Verse 54. either between the time that Saul having his life given him by David resolved to persecute him no more 1 Sam. XXIV and his renewed attempts to destroy him upon the information the Ziphites again gave him 1 Sam. XXVI or after David's fresh demonstration of his loyalty to him before he went to Gath or while he was in that City where he had liberty to meditate on the excellence of God's Laws and the happiness of those that kept them and the comfort they were to him in his affliction which he found to be so sweet and so great that he begs of God little else but that he might be more and more in love with them which were already so much his delight that he mentions them under one name or other in every Verse of this Psalm none excepted but one Ver. 122 or two at the most Ver. 90 where he celebrating God's Faithfulness which relates to the stedfastness of his promise called in this Psalm his word it may well be thought to be no exception to that observation I shall not be so curious as to examine the nice difference which is made by some between Laws Statutes Testimonies Judgments Precepts c. because they seem here to be used promiscuously or if there be any peculiar meaning in some Verses I shall endeavour to express it plainly in the Paraphrase Theodoret hath a conjecture concerning David's design in this Psalm both in his preface to it and upon Ver. 157. which I shall mention that the Reader may take his choice David it is well known had great varieties in his condition for he both fled from enemies and chased them lived sometimes very melancholy and again most pleasantly ran in God's ways and stumbled and rose again to run that good course Now all these things says he and it is not improbable David afterward collected into this one Psalm connecting all the Prayers which He had made to God at several times and on several occasions and putting them together in this admirable Meditation divided into XXII Parts which propound one and the same most profitable lesson to all men and teaches them how it is possible to live vertuously in the worst condition Nor doth he neglect dogmatical instruction as he speaks but adds it to the other so that this Psalm is sufficient to perfect those that study exquisite vertue and to stir up the diligence of those that are lazy to comfort those that are sad to correct the negligent and in one word to afford all manner of medicines for the cure of the various diseases of mankind And if it would not have made this Book too big I should have taken the pains to shew the design of every Part in an Argument before it ALEPH. PART I. 1. BLessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the LORD 1. HAppy more happy then can be expressed are those men who do not take the liberty to live as they list but making the Law of the Lord their Rule order their life in an exact conformity therewith 2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart 2. The stricter they keep unto that Rule wherein He hath testified his will unto us most heartily studying to please Him intirely devoting themselves to seek his favour in this way alone the Happier still they are 3. They also doe no iniquity they walk in his ways 3. Especially when they will not be tempted to doe an evil action though it were to gain the greatest good in this world but constantly adhere to Him in the way which He hath prescribed them 4. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently 4. We are infinitely beholden to Thee therefore O Lord that Thou hast obliged us to be so happy by requiring us to use our utmost diligence to observe thy Precepts which we our selves know to be good for us with all care and exactness 5. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes 5. O that I may ever be one of those happy men I have no greater wish then this that all the actions of my life may be ordered and governed according to thy Will 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy commandments 6. Then shall I never be disappointed of my hopes nor blush at the crimes which are laid to my charge when my own conscience tells me that there is not one of
see such variety of humours and inclinations all conspiring with one accord to promote the common good of the whole Society 3. As the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Sion for there the LORD commanded the blessing even life for evermore 3. The dew of heaven is not more necessary for the parched mountains which though never so distant one from another as far as from Hermon to Sion are refreshed with it then this is for men of all ranks and conditions who every where perceive the comfortable fruits of it for to this the Divine favour is immutably annexed which will pour upon such Societies innumerable blessings giving them an happy and long life an earnest of endless felicity in a constant enjoyment of all manner of good things PSALM CXXXIV A Song of degrees ARGUMENT It is uncertain by whom this Psalm was composed but it seems to have been made to be sung by some one or more of the Levites at the shutting up of the Gates of the Temple to excite the rest whose turn it was to watch that night to be diligent in their office of singing Psalms and making devout prayers for the people It is the last of those that have the Title of A Song of degrees concerning which see CXX 1. BEHOLD bess ye the LORD all ye servants of the LORD which by night stand in the house of the LORD 1. ATtend to your duty O ye Ministers of the Lord who not onely by day but by night also reverently wait upon Him in his House 1 Chron. IX 33. cease not to declare how great and how good the Lord is 2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the LORD 2. Be fervent in your devotion and disclaiming all dependance on any thing else praise the Lord in his Sanctuary with pure hearts and clean hands and give thanks for all his benefits 3. The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Sion 3. Pray also for his people Israel and say The great Lord who though He cannot be confined being the Creatour of all things yet hath his special residence in this place dispense his blessings both heavenly and earthly from hence unto every one of you PSALM CXXXV ARGUMENT This perhaps was the morning Hymn which the Praecentor Ver. 4 5. called upon the Levites to sing at the opening of the Gates of the Temple as the former was sung at the shutting up of the Gates in the evening It recounts several of the great works of the Lord especially towards that Nation whom it excites to stedfastness in their Religion and to contempt of Idols and Idolaters It both begins and concludes with an Exhortation to give praise to God and so was intituled as several other Psalms are CVI. CXI c. Hallelujah or Praise the Lord. That is by this Hymn set forth the most excellent perfections and works of the Lord. There are those who conjecture from what we reade Ver. 14. of this Psalm that when it was composed they were or rather had been lately infested by some of their idolatrous neighbours Whose gods the Psalmist derides in the very same manner as he doth Psalm CXV For the four following Verses of this Psalm 15 16 17 18. differ very little from the 4 5 6 8. of that which it is certain was composed in a time of great distress as this was when it was over 1. PRaise ye the LORD praise ye the name of the LORD praise him O ye servants of the LORD 1. LET all here present praise the most wise and omnipotent goodness of the Lord Let Him especially be praised by you his Priests who minister unto his Majesty 2. Ye that stand in the house of the LORD in the courts of the house of our God 2. And by the Levites who attend upon Him in his House together with all the rest of his people that frequent the Courts of God's House who is our constant and most liberal benefactour 3. Praise ye the LORD for the LORD is good sing praises unto his name for it is pleasant 3. Let this excite you all to praise the Lord For as his Nature is most excellent so He is the fountain of all the good we enjoy and no imployment is so delightfull as to acknowledge his perfections and commemorate the benefits we have received from Him by singing Psalms and Hymns of praise and thanks unto Him 4. For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his peculiar treasure 4. I invite you above all other people to this heavenly duty both because the Lord had a peculiar kindness for Jacob your Forefather and doth still exercise a special providence over you his Children as far more dear and precious to Him then the rest of mankind who are under his care 5. For I know that the LORD is great and that our Lord is above all gods 5. And because I am sensible that the Lord under whose government we are is so great and powerfull above all other Beings though called by the name of gods that you can never praise his Majesty enough 6. Whatsoever the LORD pleased that did he in heaven and in earth in the seas and all deep places 6. His own will alone gives bounds to his power for as none can act without his leave so none can hinder Him from doing what pleases Himself in the heavens as well as in the earth and the seas and other deep waters 7. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth he maketh lightnings for the rain he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries 7. He raises vapours for instance from any quarter of the earth and makes them go up into the air where some of them break forth in flashes of lightning and that which is strange is followed with great showres of rain and from unknown places and causes strong and violent winds blow with such continuance as if they came out of some Treasury where He had gathered and long lockt them up till He had occasion to bring them forth 8. Who smote the first-born of Egypt both of man and beast 8. He made the Egyptians feel how much superiour He was to all their gods XII Exod. 12. who could not defend them from his stroke but He sent his Angel and in one night slew all the first-born in the Country both of man and beast XII Exod. 29. 9. Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee O Egypt upon Pharaoh and upon all his servants 9. Before which terrible blow He had given many other wonderfull demonstrations of his power in several miraculous plagues which He openly inflicted on thee O Egypt not onely on the meaner sort but upon the King and all his Court Exod. VII VIII IX c. 10. Who smote great nations and slew mighty kings 10. And after He had by these means brought you out of their bondage He overthrew several great Nations and slew
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
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
thine handmaid 16. In confidence of which I humbly beseech thy favour and gracious pardon though I have highly offended Thee Assist thy poor servant by thy irresistible power against those mighty forces which are ready to assault me O deliver me who am here humbled in the lowest manner before Thee looking upon my self as more absolutely thine then any slave that is born in our house can be ours 17. Shew me a token for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou LORD hast holpen me and comforted me 17. Vouchsafe me now in this great distress such manifest tokens of thy favour towards me that I may not onely be delivered but all may take notice of it And good men thereby be encouraged to hope in Thee but they that hate me be utterly confounded to see him whom they intended to destroy not onely preserved but blessed with comforts proportionable to the sorrow he hath indured PSALM LXXXVII A Psalm or Song for the Sons of Korah ARGUMENT It is as uncertain when this Psalm-Song see LXVII was composed as which of the Sons of Korah was the Authour of it But it is manifest enough that it was written in commendation of Jerusalem situate in the holy Mountains of Sion where David built his Palace and afterward settled the Ark and of Moriah where Solomon built the Temple There are those that think it was composed upon the Anniversary of the Birth or Coronation of some great Prince such as Hezekiah in whose days this City was made more famous by the glorious deliverance which God gave it from the power of the King of Assyria's Army But this is a mere conjecture and I shall follow the vulgar opinion according to which the beginning of this Psalm must be lookt upon as very abrupt but expresses the greater rapture of joyfull admiration wherein the Psalmist was 1. HIS foundations is in the holy mountains 1. GReat is the strength and beauty of this place which is founded by God in the high Mountains which He hath peculiarly chosen for the seat of his Kingdom and of his Priesthood 2. The LORD loveth the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob. 2. Though the Lord loves all the habitations of his people yet none are so dear unto Him as those within the Gates of Jerusalem A principal part of which is Sion 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee O city of God Selah 3. There is no City in the world of which such glorious things are foretold or of which any thing can now be said comparable to what we can truly boast of thee that art the City which God Himself hath separated for his own habitation 4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me behold Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia this man was born there 4. I do not deny the due praises which belong to other places and Countries but rather am wont to make honourable mention among my acquaintance and familiars of Egypt and of Babylon and of those who are nearer to us the Philistines Tyrians and Arabians bidding them observe that such a notable person was born among them 5. And of Sion it shall be said This and that man was born in her and the Highest himself shall establish her 5. But what is this to Sion of whom it shall be said in future times that not such a single person but this and that man a great many Worthies and far more eminent both in Learning and in Arms but especially in Piety were born in her for she hath no meaner instructour than the most high who shall settle her in a flourishing estate by educating and forming her inhabitants to the most excellent qualities 6. The LORD shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born there Selah 6. So that when He himself whose eyes nothing can escape shall look over the register of those Nations and count the famous men they have produced He shall find onely some one great man and he comparatively of no great value was born among them 7. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there all my springs are in thee 7. But in thee O City of God He shall find multitudes of excellent persons all eminent in their kind even among those of lower rank as well as in the higher And there shall be a constant succession of such as there is of water from a spring PSALM LXXXVIII A Song or Psalm for the Sons of Korah to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite ARGUMENT Who this Heman was is uncertain Not he who was the famous Singer in David's time for he was of the Tribe of Levi 1 Chron. VI. 32. XV. 17. whereas this was descended from Zerah who was one of the Sons of Judah 1 Chron. II. 6. where we find indeed not onely Heman but Ethan to whom the next Psalm is ascribed mentioned as two of Zerah's Sons But we cannot reasonably think that they were in those early times the Authours of these two Psalms because Ethan plainly makes mention of David and the promise which God had passed to him of a perpetual Kingdom It remains therefore that these two here mentioned were of the posterity of those Sons of Zerah and thence called Ezrahites and had the Names of their noble Ancestours given them to perpetuate the memory of those who were so famous for wisedom 1 King IV. 31. But in what time they lived cannot be certainly determined It is probable when Jechoniah otherwise called Jehojachin or after him Zedekiah was taken and carried captive to Babylon together with abundance of the Nobility and the principal Commanders and Artizans 2 King XXIV 14 15 16. In some of which ranks I suppose this Heman was who being cast into a dark prison which hath made some fancy Jehojachin himself to have made it Ver. 6 8. or otherwise as miserably treated as if he had been in a dungeon bewails his private calamity as Ethan in the next Psalm doth the publick Why it is called a Song-Psalm see upon the Title of Psal LXVII It was to be sung by the Sons of Korah interchangeably which is the meaning of Leannoth upon a Flute or Pipe see Psal LIII to the known tune of Maschil see Psal XXXII Some passages in it may be applied to our Saviour's Death and Burial in his Grave which the Prophet Isaiah compares to a Prison and so is used by our Church upon Good Friday 1. O LORD God of my salvation I have cried day and night before thee 1. O Mighty Lord by whose gracious care and good providence I have been hitherto preserved and on whom all my hopes of safety still depend I have not failed in this sore affliction to implore thy mercy with most earnest cries without any intermission 2. Let my prayer come before thee incline thine ear unto my cry 2. Let them at last prevail I beseech
shall not befall thee 13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet 13. No shouldst thou come among Serpents Asps and Dragons with all the rest of those venemous sort of Creatures they shall not be able to doe thee hurt but thou shalt victoriously trample upon them and triumph over them X. Luk. 19. XVI Mark 18. 14. Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him I will set him on high because he hath known my name 14. For so hath the Lord declared his will and pleasure to be when He gave commission to his Angels concerning me saying Because he heartily loves Me and delights in Me therefore will I deliver him from all present danger and raise him above the reach of all future because he hath acknowledged Me to be the onely safe refuge and relied on My power for his protection 15. He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him and honour him 15. I will grant him all his petitions especially when he is in any distress I will be present with him to afford him sutable comfort and not onely preserve him from perishing but after a happy deliverance make him great and illustrious 16. With long life will I satisfie him and shew him my salvation 16. And more then that he shall have the satisfaction of injoying his honour to a great old Age and when his strength fails him I will not but still give him evident proofs of my care of him and kindness towards him PSALM XCII A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath-day ARGUMENT If Adam had made this Psalm presently after he was created in the evening of the Sabbath which is a Rabbinical fancy mentioned in the Midrash upon this place sure it would have been set in this fourth Book of Psalms before that of Moses who may more probably be conceived to have composed it to raise the hearts of the Israelites to the proper business of the Sabbath-day which was to praise God when they meditated upon his wonderfull works not onely of Creation but of Providence in the government of the world Several instances of which in rewarding the good and punishing the wicked they themselves had seen since they came out of Egypt and were to see more when they came into the Land of Canaan to keep their Sabbath or rest there after their long travels in the Deserts with respect to which some thing Moses might call this A Psalm for the Sabbath-day But there is no certainty of these things or rather it is certain that neither of these conjectures are true For as Adam in Paradise had no enemies to rise up against him nor was troubled with any workers of iniquity such as we reade of Ver. 7 11. and there were no Psalteries Harps and Instruments of Musick then made which Moses himself tells us were found out by Jubal so those Instruments were not imployed in the service of God till the days of David who may therefore more reasonably be thought to have made this Psalm for the Sabbath then either of the other after God had given him such Rest round about from all his enemies 2 Sam. VII 1. that he concluded he should be able to subdue those who should hereafter adventure to oppose him such as those mentioned in the following Chapters 2 Sam. VIII X. 1. IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD and to sing praises unto thy name O most High 1. NOW is the proper season to give thanks unto the Lord for all the benefits we have received from Him and it is no less delightfull then it is profitable to sing Hymns in the praise of the Divine perfections which infinitely transcend all that can be said or thought of them 2. To shew forth thy loving-kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night 2. This is the sweetest imployment in the morning and no entertainment equal to it at night to commemorate and declare to all how bountifull Thou art and how faithfull in performing thy promises to those who depend on thy Almighty Goodness 3. Vpon an instrument of ten strings and upon the psaltery upon the harp with a solemn sound 3. Which ought to be celebrated with a full Consort not onely of our chearfull Voices but of all the Instruments of Musick 4. For thou LORD hast made me glad through thy work I will triumph in the works of thy hands 4. For all are too little O Lord to express the joy I have in the acts of thy Providence by whom as the world was made so it is still governed it ravishes my spirit and makes me shout for joy to think how excellently Thou orderest and disposest all things 5. O LORD how great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep 5. Whose administration though I cannot fully comprehend yet I admire and applaud the astonishing greatness of thy works and reverence the unsearchable depth of thy counsels and designs 6. A bruitish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this 6. Of which a stupid man who looks not beyond his senses is so wholly ignorant that seeing himself and other such like fools prosper and thrive while better men are in trouble and affliction He presently concludes Thou dost not meddle in our affairs but leavest all to chance For he doth not understand so much as this secret 7. When the wicked spring as the grass and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever 7. That when the lewdest men grow rich high and powerfull and their interest is such that by their means all the workers of iniquity and few other men are promoted the reason is because nothing in this world is of any great value nor of any long continuance but after they have flourished a while in an empty glory they shall be cut down like grass and which is more never rise up again 8. But thou LORD art most high for evermore 8. And that Thou who rulest all things though far out of their sight canst as well punish or reward men hereafter as at present being the eternal Lord. 9. For lo thine enemies O LORD for lo thine enemies shall perish all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered 9. Who shewest Thou dost not intend to let the wicked escape though now they flourish for Thou hast begun already to give thy enemies who have long prospered a remarkable defeat they have received such a notable blow that I am confident they shall perish and all their partakers though never so numerous and strongly linkt together be dispersed and utterly destroyed 10. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn I shall be anointed with fresh oil 10. But my power and authority Thou shalt raise to a formidable height and crown that dignity with such undisturbed joy and pleasure as shall
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
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
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
they may also look upon themselves as a people created a-new to praise the Lord. 19. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary from heaven did the LORD behold the earth 19. Because in much mercy He hath been pleased to preserve a miserable Nation from utter destruction and though He be infinitely exalted above all our thoughts yet the Lord hath graciously condescended to mind the afflicted condition of this distressed Country 20. To hear the groaning of the prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death 20. And to be moved by our groans to deliver us out of a sad captivity and to revive us when we had reason to look upon our selves as dead and hopeless 21. To declare the name of the LORD in Sion and his praise in Jerusalem 21. That we might go and recount in his Temple the famous things which He hath done and make the holy City sound with the praises of his power goodness and truth which He hath declared in our restauration 22. When the people are gathered together and the kingdoms to serve the LORD 22. When all the people shall be gathered together there to worship the Divine Majesty and other Kingdoms join with us unanimously in his service 23. He weakened my strength in the way he shortned my days 23. I had hopes to have lived to see this blessed time and thought I had been in the way to it III. Ezra 8 c. But He hath stopt our vigorous beginnings IV. Ezra 4. and thereby so sorely afflicted me that I feel I am like to fall short of my expectations 24. I said O my God take me not away in the midst of my days thy years are throughout all generations 24. Though I prayed most earnestly to Him and said O my God who hast so graciously begun our deliverance take me not away before it be compleatly finished but let me see thy promise fulfilled which Thou who diest not as we do I am sure wilt not fail to make good 25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of thy hands 25. For it cannot be too hard for Thee to raise Sion out of her ruins who hast many ages ago created this goodly fabrick of heaven and earth by thy eternal Word I. Heb. 10. 26. They shall perish but thou shalt endure yea all of them shall wax old like a garment as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed 26. And Thou dost neither decay nor alter in process of time as thy creatures do some of which shall perish but Thou shalt eternally subsist and all of them shall grow old like our garments with long wearing even the heavens themselves which now enwrap the earth as our cloaths do our bodies shall be folded up I. Heb. 12. and laid aside like a tattered garment when Thou shalt command that alteration 27. But thou art the same and thy years shall have no end 27. But Thou and thy Word art still the very same and shalt always continue so without any the least variation 28. The children of thy servants shall continue and their seed shall be established before thee 28. Yet all that I conclude from hence is onely this that though I do not live to see our perfect restauration yet according to thy unalterable purpose the Temple and Jerusalem shall be rebuilt and the children of thy servants who now are in great distress be peaceably settled there yea their posterity after them remain unmovable in thy favour and enjoy the tokens of thy Divine presence among them PSALM CIII A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The Title tells us this Psalm is one of Davids and the third fourth and fifth Verses may satisfie us that he composed it after his recovery from a dangerous sickness to such a vigorous health as the Eagles have when they renew their plumes To that he alludes Ver. 5. as Euthymius and Saint Hierom understand it The latter of which says upon XL. Isaiah that he had often taught the Eagles do no otherway return to youthfulness when they are old but onely mutatione pennarum by change of their feathers I have expressed this a little more largely then ordinary in the Paraphrase as I have done in the rest of the Psalm to fit it the better to their use now that have escaped the like danger who should take occasion when they thank God for such a blessing to imitate David in making a thankfull commemoration of the rest of his mercies both to him and to others both in the present and in past ages And the more to excite devout souls to this and that I might make their thankfulness the more affectionate if they please to make use of this Hymn for that purpose I have oft repeated the beginning of the Psalm which I think refers to the whole and likewise put it into a little different form of a soul actually praising God without the least alteration of the sense 1. BLess the LORD O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name 1. BLessed for ever blessed be the Lord of life and health and all other blessings Blessed be his eternal power wisedom and goodness with my whole heart do I bless Him with my most ardent love and the devoutest affections of my soul 2. Bless the LORD O my soul and forget not all his benefits 2. Which shall be every day thus employed and praise his name with continual pleasure I will never forget how shouldst thou prove so ungratefull O my soul as not to acknowledge the inestimable benefits I have received from his bounty which are more then thought can number 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases 3. More particularly I render Thee O Lord my most hearty thanks for thy late mercies vouchsafed to me Blessed be thy mercifull kindness that after a short correction for my faults Thou hast graciously pardoned them and healed all the sores and grievous wounds which they had made 4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies 4. Blessed be God who hath saved me from death and not onely spared my life but surrounded it most graciously with I know not how many benefits which make it exceeding delightfull to me I owe my friends lovers and acquaintance my carefull attendants my warm and quiet habitation the plentifull estate Thou hast given me the liberal provision Thou makest for me with all the rest of thy mercies to the bowels of thy tender compassions towards me 5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles 5. Blessed be thy almighty Goodness that my mouth which lately disgusted all things or was restrained from what is desired or was prescribed that which was disgustfull to it can now relish its food again and is satisfied with many good things I can never sufficiently bless thy Goodness who by this
means dost restore my strength and makest my youth and freshness return like the Eagles O that I may with fresh delight and joy be still praising Thee and be lifted up to heaven as they are when they have renewed their plumes in more vigorous love and affectionate desires and indeavours to imploy all my renewed strength in thy faithfull service 6. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed 6. Nor am I alone obliged to my gracious Lord for his singular favour to me but blessed be his name He relieves all those who suffer wrong and doth justice upon their oppressours who are too mighty for them 7. He made known his ways unto Moses his acts unto the children of Israel 7. Moses and the rest of our Forefathers are witnesses of this whom the Lord delivered in a stupendious manner out of the house of bondage 8. The LORD is mercifull and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy 8. And by other methods of his Providence towards them and dealings with them declared how bountifull his blessed nature is and how ready to forgive forbearing long when men deserve to be punished and soon releasing them from their pain when they heartily repent of their folly 9. He will not always chide neither will he keep his anger for ever 9. He doth not love blessed be his Name to be always chastising us for our faults And when He doth chastise us He neither loves to prolong our miseries nor to inflict them proportionable to our deserts 10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities 10. No Blessed be his holy Name there is mercy even in our punishments our sufferings are never so great as our sins but we might justly suffer a great deal more then we do for our faults 11. For as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him 11. And were we never so obedient there is not a greater disproportion between the vast circumference of the heavens and this little spot of earth then there is between his mercies towards us and our small services 12. As far as the east is from the west so far hath he removed our transgressions from us 12. To those mercies alone it is to be ascribed that we are not bemoaning our selves under innumerable miseries but He hath quite taken away his wrath from us and adored be his goodness perfectly remitted the punishment due to our manifold offences 13. Like as a father pitieth his children so the LORD pitieth them that fear him 13. O what bowels of mercy are these No father can be more indulgent and tender-hearted to his returning children then the Lord blessed be his Name is to those who so reform by his chastisements as to fear hereafter to offend Him 14. For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are dust 14. He easily relents and takes compassion on them considering how frail he hath made them and how soon of themselves they will moulder into the dust out of which He took them 15. As for man his days are as grass as a flower of the field so he flourisheth 15. For what is man that the Almighty should contend with him He looks fresh and fair but alas is as feeble as the grass and as a flower in the field whose beauty is far greater then its strength 16. For the wind passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more 16. Many accidents snatch him away even in his prime Just as the biting wind to which the field flowers are exposed blasts them on a sudden and they spring up no more in the place that was adorned with them 17. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him and his righteousness unto childrens children 17. O how much doth this magnifie the wonderfull mercy of our God! who designs to be everlastingly kind blessed be his Goodness to such short-liv'd creatures as we are rewarding the faithfull services of a few years with eternal life to our selves and with many blessings to our posterity in future generations 18. To such as keep his covenant and to those that remember his commandments to doe them 18. There is no doubt of this which hath been verified in those who have sincerely kept their faith with Him and not onely promised but constantly performed the obedience they owed Him 19. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his kingdom ruleth over all 19. For none can hinder Thee O most mighty Lord from being as kind as Thou pleasest who art the universal Monarch the blessed and onely Potentate to whom not onely the greatest men on earth but the highest powers in heaven are subject 20. Bless the LORD ye his angels that excell in strength that doe his commandments hearkening unto the voice of his word 20. Let the Angels therefore who know his greatness power and gracious Providence better then I bless his holy Name Let those mighty ones whose strength surpasses all the powers on earth and yet never dispute his sacred commands give praise unto Him with all their might and with the same chearfulness wherewith they obey his word 21. Bless ye the LORD all ye his hosts ye ministers of his that doe his pleasure 21. Let the whole company of heaven all the several hosts of those glorious creatures who have been imployed by His Majesty so many ways for our good and understand how much we are beholden to his love speak good of his Name and bless his Mercy both to themselves and unto us 22. Bless the LORD all his works in all places of his dominion bless the LORD O my soul 22. Yea let every creature throughout the wide world proclaim as well as it is able the loving kindness of the Lord let none of them be silent but all with one consent bless his holy Name And thou O my soul be sure thou never forget to make one O fail not to bear thy part in this joyfull quire that daily sing his praise PSALM CIV ARGUMENT The foregoing and the following Psalm being certainly composed by David the Greeks and from them several other ancient interpreters have ascribed this also to the same Authour For which they had this further reason that it begins as Aben Ezra observes just as the foregoing Psalm ends and celebrates the mighty power and goodness of God in the fabrick of the world as the CIII doth his benefits to himself and to the rest of the children of men As for the occasion of it we may look upon it as a probable opinion that when David thought of building a House for the Divine Service and God sent Nathan to forbid him 2 Sam. VII 5. he fell not long after into the contemplation of the Majesty of God who having built this great world as his Temple needed none of his erecting though He
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
which they were dispersed 4. They wandred in the wilderness in a solitary way they found no city to dwell in 4. And they also who travelling through vast wildernesses and sandy desarts lost their way and could find no tract to lead them to a City inhabited 5. Hungry and thirsty their soul fainted in them 5. But in this perplexity wandred up and down so long that all their Provision was spent and they were ready to dye with hunger and thirst 6. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble and he delivered them out of their distresses 6. Yet then recommending themselves to the Lord and earnestly imploring his help in this miserable strait He mercifully delivered them out of it and freed them from all their anxieties 7. And he led them forth by the right way that they might go to a city of habitation 7. Directing them when they were in a Maze into the right path again which brought them to a place inhabited where they found relief for their necessities 8. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness and for his wonderfull works to the children of men 8. O that such men would never forget to make their thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord for this singular kindness but every where proclaim his wonderfull works 9. For he satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness 9. Who thus seasonably preserved them from starving by providing in this languishing condition drink to quench their thirst and plenty of good things to satisfie their hungry appetite 10. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death being bound in affliction and iron 10. They also who have no other dwelling but a dark prison nay a horrible dungeon where to add to their affliction they are loaded with iron manacles or fetters 11. Because they rebelled against the words of God and contemned the counsel of the most High 11. As a just punishment for the crimes they had rebelliously committed against the express commands of God and the plain dictates and frequent checks of their own consciences which were the voice of the most High giving them wholsome counsel though they contemned and despised it 12. Therefore he brought down their heart with labour they fell down and there was none to help 12. And thereby provoked Him to throw them into that miserable condition to humble their proud hearts by the hardship of a tedious and painfull imprisonment in which they lay so dejected and helpless that they saw no humane means whereby they should be delivered 13. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble and he saved them out of their distresses 13. Yet they then making their addresses to the Lord and earnestly beseeching Him to take pity upon their wretched estate He was pleased mercifully to hear their prayers and free them from those miserable straits 14. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of deaâ—h and brake their bands in sunder 14. Bringing them out of their sad confinement in that dismall dungeon and setting their hands and feet at liberty from the chains wherewith they were bound 15. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness and for his wonderfull works to the children of men 15. O that such men would never forget to make their thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord for his singular kindness but every where proclaim his wonderfull works 16. For he hath broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder 16. Who when their case was desperate removed the greatest obstacles and made even brasen gates and iron bars give way to their escape 17. Fools because of their transgression and because of their iniquities are afflicted 17. In like manner we see others who forgetting God and sottishly giving themselves up to all kind of debauchery in an irregular way of living fall into grievous diseases 18. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat and they draw near unto the gates of death 18. Which not onely quite take away their appetite but make them nauseate all manner of food which they formerly abused and thereby lay them so low that they are at the very brink of the grave 19. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble he saveth them out of their distresses 19. Yet even these men when they make their addresses unto the Lord and in the weak estate into which they have brought themselves pray earnestly to Him are wont to find relief from Him when no Medicines whatsoever will avail them 20. He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction 20. He orders their recovery when all the prescriptions of Physicians prove ineffectual nay when they are left for dead raises them up to life and health again 21. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness and for his wonderfull works to the children of men 21. O that these men would be so gratefull to the Lord as never to forget his singular kindness to them but every where proclaim such wonderfull works as these 22. And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing 22. And not content themselves with the Sacrifices of beasts which in their sickness they were apt to vow unto Him but offer those far more acceptable sacrifices of a gratefull heart acknowledging his Goodness and telling every body they meet withall in such a manner as may express how much they are affected with it what great things the Lord hath done for them 23. They that go down to the sea in ships that doe business in great waters 23. Who shews no less kindness to those that have occasion to be much upon the Sea to fish or to traffique upon the main Ocean 24. These see the works of the LORD and his wonders in the deep 24. Where they behold remarkable acts of Divine Providence in the wonderfull alterations which He makes in that vast collection of waters 25. For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth up the waves thereof 25. For when they are smooth and still a sudden tempest arises by his command which puts them into such a rage that they are turned into swelling waves and billows 26. They mount up to the heaven they go down again to the depths their soul is melted because of trouble 26. On which the ships are sometimes mounted up as high as if they would touch the clouds and then sink down as low as if they would be buried in the bottom of the Sea to the great astonishment of the passengers who are ready to die with fear 27. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits end 27. For they are so tossed and whirled about that as they are not able to stand upon the decks so the most skilfull Mariners do not know which way to steer or what course to take to save themselves from perishing 28. Then they cry unto the LORD in
give my self unto prayer 4. Who have been so far from doing them any harm that I have deserved well of them 1 Sam. XIX 4 5. and even now when they requite my kindness with indeavours to destroy me do nothing but recommend my self by prayer to thy protection refusing to make use of the opportunity I had to revenge my self upon them 1 Sam. XXIV 9 10 c. 5. And they have rewarded me evil for good and hatred for my love 5. And yet this will not mollifie them but still they are so extreamly ungratefull as to repay my kindness with new attempts to doe me mischief 1 Sam. XXVI 2. And the more affection I express with the greater hatred am I prosecuted 6. Set thou a wicked man over him and let Satan stand at his right hand 6. So implacable is his malice who is the principal Authour of the calumnies wherewith I am loaded 1 Sam. XXII 9 11. against whom therefore I implore thy justice O most righteous Judge of the world Let the worst man that can be found be appointed to hear his cause when he is accused and his most malicious Adversary plead against him 7. When he shall be judged let him be condemned and let his prayer become sin 7. When sentence is given let him be condemned to be as guilty as really he is and if he petition for a pardon let it not onely be rejected but prove an aggravation of his crimes 8. Let his days be few and let another take his office 8. Let him and the false Traitour who in future times will use the Messiah as now they do me be cut off before his time and his Office 1 Sam. XXI 7. XXII 9. wherein he behaves himself with such insufferable insolence and falshood be transferred to a better man 9. Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow 9. Let not his Fatherless Children succeed him in any thing that he hath nor his Widow have any thing left to maintain her 10. Let his children be continually vagabonds and beg let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places 10. Let them not have so much as an house wherein to put their heads but be perpetual Vagabonds supporting a miserable life by begging an Alms and seeking where to lodge because their own dwellings are laid waste and desolate 11. Let the extortioner catch all that he hath and let the stranger spoil his labour 11. Let his Creditour pretending a judgment seize on all his estate and a stranger by that means reap the fruit of all his care and labour 12. Let there be none to extend mercy unto him neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children 12. Let no man shew the least kindness to his memory or upon that account bestow an Alms upon his Fatherless Children 13. Let his posterity be cut off and in the generation following let their name be blotted out 13. Let them rather be odious for his sake and the sooner destroyed so that they be the last of the name and in the next generation not one of that family be found 14. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembred with the LORD and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out 14. But according to the just sentence of thy Law XX. Exod. 5. let the punishments which were due long ago but thy patience moved Thee to forbear fall all upon him let him suffer for the sins of his progenitours on both side in whose wicked steps he would not cease to tread 15. Let them be before the LORD continually that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth 15. Let it be seen that their wickedness is not forgotten though committed many years ago but prosecute it with a continued vengeance till no body remember that there were such people in the world 16. Because that he remembred not to shew mercy but persecuted the poor and needy man that he might even slay the broken in heart 16. This will be but a deserved recompense of all his cruelties For as he let all benefits slip out of his mind and was ungratefull to those who had obliged him so he had no sense of that common compassion which is due to the calamitous but when he saw me in a necessitous condition destitute of Friends and dejected in spirit made no other use of it but to persecute me to the death 17. As he loved cursing so let it come unto him as he delighted not in blessing so let it be far from him 17. What can be more just then that the mischief in which he delighted and both wished and designed to others should fall upon himself and that he should never meet with the blessing of those righteous courses which he always hated and avoided 18. As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment so let it come into his bowels like water and like oyl into his bones 18. His very business was to slander others every where taking a pride in the mischievous effects of his cursed lies and therefore let him feel the miserable fruit of this wickedness spreading himself like the water he drinks into every vein of him and sticking as close to him as oyl unto the bones 19. Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually 19. Let him be involved in perpetual misfortunes and miseries and never be able to shake them off Let him be hampered in straits and difficulties without any possibility of getting out 20. Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD and of them that speak evil against my soul 20. This shall most certainly be the reward which the righteous Lord will give to my malicious adversaries for all the pains they have taken by slanderous reports and calumnies to take away my life 21. But do thou for me O GOD the Lord for thy names sake because thy mercy is good deliver thou me 21. Which I commend to thy protection O Lord the Governour of all things beseeching Thee to take my part and appear for me though not for my honour yet for thy own whose kindness is so exceeding bountifull unto all that for that reason I am incouraged to hope Thou wilt deliver me to whom Thou hast engaged thy self by many promises of mercy 22. For I am poor and needy and my heart is wounded within me 22. Which I never needed more then now for I am so poor and forsaken of all my friends 1 Sam. XXV 8 c. that I am ready to faint away with grief and sorrow like one that is wounded at the very heart 23. I am gone like the shadow when it declineth I am tossed up and down as the locust 23. The evening shadow doth not vanish sooner then I from the place of my present abode 1 Sam. XXII 1 3 5. XXIII 13 14. which I am forced to quit on a sudden and to wander like the
greatest dangers what would be most pleasing to Thee as most advantagious to my self 95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me but I will consider thy testimonies 95. Those wicked men who are combined to destroy me have long watched for an opportunity which they confidently expect to meet withall but it doth not discourage my study of thy Testimonies as the best defence against their bloudy attempts 96. I have seen an end of all perfection but thy commandment is exceeding broad 96. For had I greater forces then my enemies alas I never yet saw any thing so compleat but as it had its bounds and limits so it is exceeding frail and when it is arrived at perfection comes to a speedy end whereas the wisedom which Thou hast revealed to us hath infinite satisfaction in it durable and lasting satisfaction which never fails those that depend upon it MEM. XIII 97. O how love I thy law it is my meditation all the day 97. It is impossible to express the love I have to thy Law which entertains my Meditation or inables me to entertain others with admirable variety whole days together 98. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser then mine enemies for they are ever with me 98. My enemies are very crafty and use many artifices to destroy me But by observing thy Commandments I have defeated all their subtil devices and confounded them even by refusing because thy Commandments which are ever before my eyes restrained me to be avenged on them I Sam. XXIV 17 18 c. XXVI 21. 99. I have more understanding then all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation 99. I have outstripped all the Doctours of the Law of whom I formerly learnt and understand more perfectly then they the best means of securing my self because my mind is still imployed in thy Testimonies as the Rule of all my designs and undertakings 100. I understand more then the ancients because I keep thy precepts 100. Though I am but young yet I have more understanding in things then the Judges and grave privy Counsellours because my Maxime is strictly to observe thy Precepts 101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I might keep thy word 101. Whatsoever advantage it promised me I have never proceeded in any evil course to obtain my end but refused the seeming gain that I might not offend against thy Word 102. I have not departed from thy judgments for thou hast taught me 102. My respect to Thee hath hindred me from doing any injury unto others because I know Thou art the Authour of those Laws which forbid it and in the observance of them I have learnt consists my happiness 103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter then hony to my mouth 103. And a happiness it is I feel already incomparably above all other the pleasure I take in every word of thine is inexpressibly far to be preferred before all the delights of sense though never so sweet and luscious 104. Through thy precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way 104. And by thy Precepts I am so fully instructed how to behave my self that I need not to betake my self to any dishonest ways which I utterly abhor NVN. XIV 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path 105. Thy word is my onely Guide whose directions I follow in all the dark and difficult passages of my life 106. I have sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgments 106. I have solemnly resolved and bound my self by the most sacred ties which I will never break but do now confirm that I will carefully observe thy Decrees which I find to be both just and good 107. I am afflicted very much quicken me O LORD according unto thy word 107. I have suffered very much upon that account and am still sorely afflicted But I comfort my self O Lord with thy promise according to which I beseech Thee to deliver me from those that seek to destroy me and raise me out of this forlorn condition wherein I can scarce be said to live 108. Accept I beseech thee the free-will-offerings of my mouth O LORD and teach me thy judgments 108. I have no other sacrifices that I am able in this exile to offer to Thee but these of Prayer and thankful acknowledgments and vows of sincere and chearfull obedience with which I do most freely and heartily present Thee O Lord beseeching Thee to teach me still more effectually thy Judgments that I may never fail to be conformed to thy will 109. My soul is continually in my hand yet do I not forget thy law 109. To which I have hitherto so closely adhered that though I go in continual danger of my life XII Judg. 3. it doth not move me in the least whatsoever shifts I am forced to make to save my self by forsaking thy Law 110. The wicked have laid a snare for me yet I erred not from thy precepts 110. They that make no conscience of their actions have contrived a subtil plot to ruin me But I have never stepped out of the way of thy Precepts to avoid the snares they have laid for me 111. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoicing of my heart 111. I had rather alway continue as poor as I am then doe any thing against thy Testimonies which I hold to be my chiefest good and surest possession out of which none can expell me and which always yield me that inward satisfaction and joy which none can take from me 112. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway even unto the end 112. This infinitely out-weighs all other considerations and hath inclined my heart to resolve to doe alway as Thou biddest me whatsoever I may lose by it to the very end of my days SAMECH XV. 113. I hate vain thoughts but thy law do I love 113. I hate all double dealing and crafty devices that are not warranted by thy Law to which I have resolved to stick with hearty affection 114. Thou art my hiding-place and my shield I hope in thy word 114. In that way I will trust to Thee for safety and protection having a firm hope that Thou wilt be as good unto me as thy Word 115. Depart from me ye evil doers for I will keep the commandments of my God 115. Do not perswade me any longer O ye evil doers to join with you but get you gone from me for I will follow none of your counsels but strictly observe the Commandments of my God who hath hitherto most graciously delivered me 116. Vphold me according unto thy word that I may live and let me not be ashamed of my hope 116. And on whom I still depend that Thou wilt support me O Lord according to thy promise against all the assaults of my enemies that seek my life and not let me be ashamed of
our soul 4. Then they would have overrun all the Country like a violent torrent and we should have been buried in the floud 5. Then the proud waters had gone over our soul 5. Having once made a wide breach by the overthrow of our Army they would have poured in more numerous forces upon us till like an inundation of water which swells more and more they had wholly overwhelmed us 6. Blessed be the LORD who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth 6. Thanks be to the Lord to whose infinite mercies we ought to ascribe it that He hath not permitted them to domineer over us and execute their cruel intentions against us 7. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers the snare is broken and we are escaped 7. They thought they had laid their design so strongly that we could not escape no more then a little bird which a fowler hath taken in his snare but blessed be the Lord who hath assisted our weakness their plot is defeated they are broken in pieces and we thereby most wonderfully delivered 8. Our help is in the name of the LORD who made heaven and earth 8. This was not a work of our wit no more then of our power nor were we beholden to the help of any of our neighbours but we owe it wholly to his almighty Goodness who commands because He made all Creatures in whom we ought to place our confidence for ever PSALM CXXV A Song of degrees ARGUMENT We may well look upon this Psalm as a pious Exhortation to the people to trust in God when Senacherib's Army threatned to destroy Jerusalem And perhaps these were some of the comfortable words which we reade 2 Chron. XXXII 6 7 8. Hezekiah then spake to them when God chastised them by that rod of his anger as He calls Senacherib X. Isa 5. which the Psalmist here foretold Ver. 3. should not long afflict them Of A Song of degrees see CXX 1. THey that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever 1. THere are none so safe as they that repose a pious confidence in the Lord by which they shall both maintain themselves in a settled peace and tranquillity and remain for ever as unmoveable conspicuous and illustrious as mount Sion 2. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever 2. For as Jerusalem is surrounded with high hills which make it not easily accessible by any enemies so the Divine providence incompasses his people who depend upon Him to guard and defend them from all dangers not onely now but in all succeeding ages to the end of the world 3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity 3. The power of wicked Tyrants indeed may heavily afflict the righteous for a time but they shall not always harrass their Country nor continue their oppression so long as quite to tire out the patience of the righteous and tempt them to forsake their pious confidence in Him and lay hold on any means though never so unjust of obtaining deliverance 4. Do good O LORD unto those that be good and to them that are upright in their hearts 4. To prevent so great an evil be pleased now good Lord to deal well with those who are truly good and reward their fidelity who notwithstanding all these calamities sincerely persist in thy ways and preserve their integrity 5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity but peace shall be upon Israel 5. But as for those who instead of growing bettter by these oppressions decline more and more from the ways of piety unto the most perverse and crooked courses the Lord shall deliver them over to be punished with their oppressours when Israel after all these sore afflictions shall be settled again in peace and happiness PSALM CXXVI A Song of degrees ARGUMENT This Psalm is so universally thought to be a joyfull Song composed by Ezra or some such good man when they returned out of Babylon that I shall seek for no other interpretation But observe with Theodoret that when Cyrus gave them all leave to return to their own Land some were so ill minded that they chose to continue where they were But such as had any sense of the piety of their Forefathers and desired to see the worship of God according to the Law restored gladly embraced the opportunity of returning to their own Country Where they thought themselves so happy in the liberty which they enjoyed that they pray Ver. 4. all the rest of the Nation who remained still behind would come and partake of it This is the most received sense else I should have thought the deliverance from Senacherib might be here celebrated who had carried many of them Captive V. Isa 13. and other places and when they were delivered from his oppression they were indeed like men that dreamed as the Psalmist here speaks For awaking in the morning and seeing his vast Army to be dead Corpses 2 King XIX 35. they could scarce believe what they beheld with their eyes it was so wonderfull And perhaps it was first made then and afterward applied with some alteration to their return from Babylon See CXXXIII 1. WHen the LORD turned again the captivity of Sion we were like them that dream 1. TO the Lord alone must we ascribe this wonderfull change which is like the sudden recovery of health out of a tedious and desperate sickness For when the proclamation unexpectedly came forth to give us liberty to return to our own Country out of a long captivity I. Ezra 2 3. we could scarce believe it but were apt to look upon our selves as onely in a dream of so great a happiness 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing then said they among the heathen The LORD hath done great things for them 2. Which presently turned our heaviness into such a heighth of joy that it filled all places with our mirth especially with chearfull hymns in which the heathen themselves accompanied us saying This truly is the Lord's work who hath magnified his power in the strange deliverance of this Nation 3. The LORD hath done great things for us whereof we are glad 3. And truly so He hath we should be very ungratefull if we should not thankfull if we should not thankfully acknowledge the singular benefits which strangers admire the Lord hath not onely restored our liberty but declared the greatness of his power in this deliverance which justly fills us with joy and triumph 4. Turn again our captivity O LORD as the streams in the south 4. O that the Lord would be pleased to perfect what He hath begun and bring back in greater numbers the rest of
our brethren that still remain in Babylon which would be as welcome to this desolate Country as streams of water to the dry and thirsty grounds 5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy 5. Then this small handfull of people who are come to plant themselves here again and have laid the foundation of the Temple with a great mixture of sadness and tears III. Ezra 12. shall shout for joy to see so great an increase and this pious work by their help brought unto perfection 6. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoycing bringing his sheaves with him 6. Just as we behold the poor husbandman going to and fro with a little seed which in a scarce year he throws with an heavy heart into the ground returning again and again from the field with songs of joy in his mouth when the harvest comes to reward his past labours with a plentifull crop of corn PSALM CXXVII A Song of degrees for Solomon See CXX ARGUMENT The Hebrew particle which here we translate for is thought by our Interpreters in most other places to signifie of and so they translate it a little before in the Title of Psal CXXIV and a little after in that of CXXXI Therefore I shall look upon this Psalm as composed by Solomon who you reade 1 King IV. 32. made above three thousand Songs though none of them except that large Poem called the Song of Songs and as some think Psal CXXXII and as I suppose the next to this have been transmitted to posterity but onely this which is a commentary upon a pious Maxime of his often repeated in the Book of his Proverbs that it is in vain to attempt any thing if the Lord do not prosper it Teaching us therefore in all our ways to acknowledge Him III. Prov. 6. XVI 3. and not to presume that it is in our power to direct our own way that is our designs enterprises and actions to what issue we please For Though a man's heart deviseth his way yet it is the Lord that directeth his steps XVI Prov. 9. XX. 24. XXI 30 31. A truth to be deeply pondered by all especially by Princes in whose affairs this over-ruling Providence is most visible Of A Song of degrees see CXX 1. EXcept the LORD build the house they labour in vain that build it except the LORD keep the city the watchman waketh but in vain 1. THE success of all our undertakings depends so intirely upon the Lord's blessing that it is in vain by building Houses and Cities to enter into Societies unless He prosper the design and when they are framed all the care of the Souldier and the Magistrate is to no purpose unless his good Providence be their guard 2. It is vain for you to rise up early to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrows for so he giveth his beloved sleep 2. And as fruitless unless He favour it is the toil and solicitude of you the Artificers and Tradesmen in the City who rise betime and go to bed late and fare hardly when they whom He loves because they own his Providence and depend upon his Blessing more then their own diligence live securely and want nothing that is fit for them though they have no such strong guard of Souldiers to defend them nor break their sleep with labour and care to supply their necessities 3. Lo children are an heritage of the LORD and the fruit of the womb is his reward 3. Observe it also it is not in the power of the strongest and most healthfull persons though nature designs above all things the propagation of mankind to have Children when they please to inherit the riches they have got but the Lord bestows them as freely as Parents do their estates and makes those women fruitfull whose pious reliance upon Him He thinks good to reward 4. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man so are children of the youth 4. And yet there is nothing of which we are more desirous then a numerous issue especially in the flower and vigour of our youth for they will be no less defence to us in our age then arrows or darts are in the hand of a valiant Champion to beat off his Assailants 5. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them they shall not be ashamed but they shall speake with the enemies in the gate 5. Happy is that man who hath obtained so much favour of the Lord as to have his house as full of them as the Champions quiver is of arrows they will undauntedly appear for him to answer any challenge sent him by his Enemies * See Theodoret. or any accusation put in against him before the Judges PSALM CXXVIII A Song of degrees ARGUMENT It is not unlikely that this Psalm was composed by the same Authour that made the former to excite men to be truly Religious as the onely way to obtain the blessings there mentioned of the Lord. Which as he there shews we must have from his free gift and not think to acquire merely by our own industry so here he shews the Lord is wont to bestow on those who fearing to offend Him sincerely keep his Commandments Some think this was a form prescribed to be used at the blessing of their Marriages when they wished the new married couple all manner of happiness especially a long life in peaceable times Vers 5 6. Of A Song of degrees see CXX 1. BLessed is every one that feareth the LORD that walketh in his ways 1. WHosoever thou art that desirest to be happy be sure to add unto the devout Worship of the Lord the practice of Justice and Charity and all other Vertues and thou shalt never miss of it 2. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee 2. For then He will prosper thy honest labours and give thee an heart also to enjoy the fruit of them yea this will seem no small part of thy happiness that thou art able to live of thy self and not be beholden unto others 3. Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull vine by the sides of thine house thy children like olive plants round about thy Table 3. He will bless thee also in thy Wife and make her as fruitfull as the Vine which spreads it self laden with full clusters over all the sides of thy House and in thy hopefull Children too who shall grow up and flourish like the young Olive plants that are set in thy Arbour round about thy Table 4. Behold that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD 4. Observe it that this shall be the comfortable portion of the Man that religiously serveth the Lord who alone can bless our labours and continue the product of them in our Families 5. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life 5.
Address thy self unto Him in his holy place and the Lord shall bestow on thee whatsoever blessings thou askest of Him yea maist thou be so happy as to see Jerusalem the Seat of Justice and Religion in a flourishing condition all thy life long 6. Yea thou shalt see thy childrens children and peace upon Israel 6. And long maist thou live to such a good old age as to see thy Childrens Children and the whole Nation all the time in a prosperous tranquillity PSALM CXXIX A Song of degrees See CXX ARGUMENT This Psalm was made when some new Calamity threatned them either by Senacherib or as Theodoret thinks by those Nations which combined to destroy the Jews as soon as they returned from the Captivity of Babylon When they were taught by Ezra or some such holy man to recount what God had done for them ever since they were a people and to denounce the divine Vengeance against those that now sought their ruine The former conjecture seems the truer because as yet he saith vers 2. their Enemies had not prevailed against them unless we expound that phrase as I have done in the Paraphrase according to the received interpretation of the Psalm that they had not quite destroyed them and made them cease to be a Nation 1. MAny a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say 1. OUR Adversaries may Israel now upon this occasion say have very often and very sorely distressed us ever since we began to be a People 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me 2. It is hard to number how oft or to tell into how great straits they have reduced us ever since we began to be a Nation and yet by the special favour of God they have not been able to compass their desire of our utter extirpation 3. The plowers plowed upon my back they made long their furrows 3. They have laid us sometimes exceeding low and not onely scourged us so severely that the marks of it might be seen as plainly as the furrows are which the Plough makes in the ground but long continued also our vexation and torment 4. The LORD is righteous he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked 4. But the Lord at last in much mercy hath made good his faithfull Promises and broken in pieces the power of wicked Oppressours that they might not always hold us under their yoke and thus miserably tyrannize over us 5. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion 5. And may all those that still hate us and our Religion never have better success but be shamefully defeated and forced to desist in all their attempts upon us 6. Let them be as the grass upon the house tops which withereth afore it groweth up 6. Let none of their designs ever come to maturity but be blasted like the grass upon the house-top which having no root withers of it self and needs no bodies hand to pluck it up 7. Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosome 7. And as it lies unregarded by those that reap or that carry in the fruits of the Earth so let these men and all their enterprises become contemptible and be looked upon as good for nothing 8. Neither do they which goe by say The blessing of the LORD be upon you we bless you in the Name of the LORD 8. Let all their hopes so speedily vanish that there be none to favour them nor so much as to wish prosperity to them No more then there are gathethers of such withered grass appear to whom the Passingers after the usual form II. Ruth 4. should say The Lord give you a good harvest We pray God you may reape the fruit of your labours PSALM CXXX A Song of degrees See CXX ARGUMENT Some think David made this Prayer after he had plunged himself into a very deep guilt by his sin with Bathsheba I rather think when he was persecuted by Saul and reduced to so low a condition that his heart began to sink within him For the flouds of ungodly men as he speaks XVIII Psal 4. made him afraid that he should one day perish in them 1 Sam. XXIX 1. and he complains elsewhere that he sunk in the mire where there was no standing c. LXIX Psal 2 14 15. In this condition he implores the divine Mercy with great earnestness and beseeches him to pardon his sins and the sins of all the people which made them deserve that ill government under Saul and his Flatterers It is the last but one of the VII penitential Psalms 1. OVT of the depths have I cried unto thee O LORD 1. IN the greatest straits when I can see no bottom no end of my troubles but I still sink lower and lower into them I never despair of thy mercy O Lord but cry unto Thee most earnestly to deliver me 2. LORD here my voice let thiâ—… ears be attâ—… to the voice of my supplications 2. Vouchsafe good Lord the Governour of all things to grant my Petition Do not reject it I humbly beseech Thee but give me a favourable answer when I deprecate thy displeasure 3. If thou LORD shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand 3. I do not plead any merits of mine but rather accuse my self before Thee knowing that if I were the most innocent person in the world yet if Thou Lord shouldest strictly examine my life and proceed against me according to my deserts Lord what would become of me I should certainly be condemned 4. But there is forgiveness with thee that thou maist be feared 4. But Thou most graciously invitest us unto thy service by thy readiness to pardon all those that are truly penitent without the hope of which we could not so much as think of becoming religious 5. I wait for the LORD my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope 5. This incourages me to wait and expect when the Lord will deliver me my Soul is earnestly bent to expect this happy time which I believe will come because I have his Promise for it on which I depend 6. My soul waiteth for the Lord more then they that watch for the morning I say more then they that watch for the morning 6. I direct my thoughts to the Lord alone for safety and relief which I implore incessantly with my early Prayers For they that watch in the Temple for the break of day I say the Priests that watch in the Temple for the break of day are not more forward then I to offer up their morning Sacrifice to the Lord. 7. Let Israel hope in the LORD for with the LORD there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption 7. In whom let all his People place their trust and confidence for the Lord is very ready to doe good and hath more ways then we can imagine to rescue those that hope in Him out of the
into the Temple which is now built for it 2 Chron. V. 2 3 4 c. 8. Arise O LORD into thy rest thou and the Ark of thy strength 8. And be pleased O Lord together with the Ark the token of thy powerfull presence among us to translate thy Divine Glory thither 2 Chron. V. 13 14. VII 1 2 3. there to settle it self and stir from thence no more for ever 9. Let thy priests be cloathed with righteousness and let thy saints shout for joy 9. Guard also thy Priests who minister unto Thee here and incompass them with thy Goodness 2 Chr. VI. 41. that they may procure thy blessings for others and make all thy pious Worshippers who are dear unto Thee triumph in thy kindness to them 10. For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed 10. I beseech Thee have a respect to the sincere piety of my Father David and thy gracious promise to him 1 Chron. XXII 2 10 14. XXVIII 2 6 c. and upon that account deny me not but grant the petitions of thy servant who by thy special appointment succeeds him in the government of thy people 11. The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David he will not turn from it Of the the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne 11. According to that Oath whereby the Lord secured the Kingdom to his Family that faithfull Oath which He will never break saying One of thy Sons will I advance to sit upon thy Throne when thou shalt leave it 1 Chron. XVII 11. XXVIII 5. 2 Chron. VI. 10. 12. If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore 12. Yea I will perpetuate this royal Dignity to thy Children in all succeeding generations and not take it from them as I did from Saul 2 Sam. VII 15 16. if they prove faithfull and constant in their Religion and observe all the Commandments whereby I will teach and instruct them how my pleasure is that they should worship and serve me 1 King II. 4. IX 4 5 6. 13. For the LORD hath chosen Sion he hath desired it for his habitation 13. For the Lord hath such a love to Sion the seat of the royal Family 2 Sam. V. 7 9. that He hath chosen to place his own dwelling very near unto it 2 Chron. III. 1. VII 12. 14. This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it 14. Saying this is the place where my Glory shall fix it self for ever 2 Chron. VII 16. I will remove no more but here will I take up my abode for I have pitched on this place and declared that it is acceptable unto me above all other 1 Chron. XXI 26. XXII 2. 15. I will abundantly bless her provision I will satisfie her poor with bread 15. From whence I will dispense my blessings so abundantly that Sion which is become the City of God as well as of David shall never be in any want But I will make such liberal provision for it by fruitfull years that the poorest person there shall be satisfied with food 2 Chr. VII 13 14. 16. I will also clothe her priests with salvation and her saints shall shout aloud for joy 16. I will also defend her Priests and they shall be giving continual thanks and praise for the blessings they shall procure for my pious Worshippers who shall exceedingly triumph in my kindness towards them 17. There will I make the horn of David to bud I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed 17. There will I make the Regal Power and Majesty of David to put forth it self afresh in his royal Successours no sooner shall one be extinguished but another shall shine 1 King XI 36. 2 Chron. XXI 7. in such splendour as shall give a lustre to the name of that anointed Servant of mine till the great Prince the Messiah appear 18. His enemies will I clothe with shame but upon himself shall his crown flourish 18. And whosoever they be that go about to destroy this succession they shall be so miserably defeated that they shall not be able to shew their faces while with shame and confusion they behold the regal Dignity in his Family notwithstanding all their attempts against it in an unfading glory PSALM CXXXIII A Song of degrees of David see CXX ARGUMENT When there was no other strife among all the Tribes of Israel then who should be most forward in returning to their allegiance and the Children of Judah also were inclined as one man to bring back David to his Kingdom from which his Son Absalom had driven him 2 Sam. XIX 9 14. he fell into a rapturous admiration of that happy unity and concord which he commended to them afterwards in this Psalm as their best preservative and security in future ages This seems to me more probable to be the occasion of it then the concurrence of all the Tribes to make him King after Saul's death which is the common account that is given of it for then Sion was not in his possession and it is not likely he would then have made such mention of it as he doth here while it remained in the hands of the Jebusites But whatsoever was the first occasion it was aptly applied to their condition after the return of their Captivity from Babylon when as Theodoret notes the Tribes which had been divided by the imprudence of Rehoboam were then again united living under one and the same Government and worshipping God in the same place and the same manner as the Law prescribed It was as fitly used by the first Christians to express their joy for the blessed union of Jews and Gentiles and may now serve the uses of all Christian Societies whose happiness lies in holy peace and concord 1. BEhold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity 1. O Consider how beneficial and delightfull it is beyond all expression for those that come from the same stock and are of the same Religion to have no differences one with another but to live together in such a friendly agreement as if they had but one Soul among them all 2. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard even Aarons beard that went down to the skirts of his garments 2. I cannot resemble it to any thing better then to that excellent ointment compounded of several spices XXX Exod. 21 c. which consecrated the high Priest to the Divine Service VIII Levit. 12. and was poured in such plenty that running over all his face even to the collar of his garment where he did bear the names of all the Tribes of Israel it perfumed all the place with its fragrant odour for just so doth this holy concord make you both dear to God and procure you an excellent fame among men who cannot but be pleased to
ARGUMENT This is a mournfull Song composed by some of the captive Levites in Babylon when he reflected upon their sad parting with their dear Country and the scorn wherewith their insulting Enemies treated them in that strange land Which he foresaw God would severely punish by the hand of some other cruel People who should shew them as little mercy as they had shewed the Israelites The vulgar Latine ascribes this Psalm to Jeremiah upon which Inscription Theodoret who found it also in some Greek Copies in his time passes this censure that the bold Authour of it wanted wit as the Inscription it self openly proclaims for Jeremiah was not carried captive into Babylon but when he had staid some time in Judea was compelled by the disobedient Jews to go down with them into Egypt Yet there are those who to excuse this would have us think that Jeremiah sent this Psalm to the Captives in Babylon and that it is called a Psalm of David for so it is in the vulgar Latine also because made after the example of his Psalms As Virgil said he sung Ascroeum carmen among the Romans when he made his Georgicks in imitation of Hesiod In the Paraphrase of the first Verse I have followed a conjecture of Saint Chrysostom's that the Captives were not suffered at their first coming thither to dwell within any of their Towns or Cities but were dispersed all along several Rivers of the Country where they built Tabernacles or Cottages for themselves and perhaps were forced to drain those moist places to make them wholesome 1. BY the rivers of Babylon there we sat down yea we wept when we remembred Sion 1. WHen we were transported from our own Country into the Land of Babylon and had the sides of Euphrates and several of its Rivers I. Ezek. 1. assigned for our habitation there we sate down in a sorrowfull posture and could not refrain from tears when we called to mind the happy days which we enjoyed in the holy Hill of Sion 2. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof 2. We brought our harps along with us wherewith we were wont to praise the Lord 1 Chron. XV. 16. But as our fruitfull vines and figtrees under which we formerly sate were turned into barren willows and osiers so all our mirth and joy was turned into such heaviness and sorrow of heart that we let all our Instruments of Musick hang neglected upon the boughs of those dolefull trees 3. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song and they that wasted us required of us mirth saying Sing us one of the songs of Sion 3. For when our new Masters who had carried us away captive they that had laid Jerusalem on heaps and had power to doe what they pleased with us required us between jest and earnest to entertain them with our Musick and to let them hear one of those Songs which were wont to be sung in the Temple 4. How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land 4. Neither fear nor favour could extort this service from our Levites but they resolutely answered As those Songs were not made for pastime and sport but in honour of the great Lord of the world So how can you imagin that miserable slaves are disposed to sing and to sing those Songs in the Land where we are exiles which recount the mercies of God unto us in our once most flourishing Countrey 5. If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning 5. No said I then within my self if I forget thy desolations O Jerusalem though never so far removed from thee so as to gratifie their desires by prophaning thy Musick and thy Songs then let my right hand be benummed or quite lose its skill of touching the harp any more 6. If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy 6. Let me be struck dumb and never be able to move my tongue if I be not so mindfull of thee as never to sing again till I see Jerusalem and her holy Solemnities restored 7. Remember O LORD the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof 7. Which joyfull day I hope will come when Thou O Lord wilt call our enemies to an account And first of all reckon with the Edomites XLIX Jer. 10. XXV Ezek. 12. who instead of pitying Jerusalem as became kind neighbours and relations were glad to see the day of its desolations and incouraged our destroyers with their acclamations saying Lay it flat lay it even with the ground upon which it stands 8. O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us 8. And then shall your turns come O ye Babylonians who have laid waste so many Nations but shall one day be made desolate your selves XIII Isa 19 c. And may that Prince and people prosper and be happy L. Jer. 9 41. who shall pay you in your kind and use you as barbarously as you used us LI. Jer. 24 35 49. 9. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones 9. He shall be praised and thought to have done a worthy work who shall snatch your sucking children from their mothers breasts and have no more mercy on them then upon the whelps of wolves or such like creatures but shall dash out their brains against the walls of your houses or stones in the street XIII Isa 16. that there may be no remains of such a cruel generation LI. Jer. 62. PSALM CXXXVIII A Psalm of David ARGUMENT This is one of David's Psalms as the Title assures us wherein he thankfully acknowledges God's Goodness to him in advancing him from a low and afflicted condition to the royal dignity which remarkable change would invite he thought other Kings and Princes to have a very great regard to his Divine Majesty who he hoped therefore would support and defend him in his new-gotten Kingdom by the same Almighty power which raised him unto it 1. I Will praise thee with my whole heart before the gods will I sing praise unto thee 1. I Will make Thee my thankfull acknowledgments O Lord with the devoutest affections of my heart thy holy Angels shall be witnesses of my gratitude which I will express in Psalms and Hymns in the presence of the great Assembly of the Judges XXII Exod. 9. LXXXII Psal 1 6. that they may remember to whom they owe their power and authority 2. I will worship towards thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name 2. I will prostrate my self in the humblest adorations of Thee toward the place where the Monument of thy Divine Presence is and acknowledge how much I am indebted to thy almighty
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
another command which as suddenly Ver. 15. makes a thaw and by the warm breath of softer winds loosens the waters which were bound up and causes them to flow again 19. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel 19. In such things as these the whole world see how powerfull and how good He is But we have more peculiar reasons to depend upon Him for a happy return of our Nation whom He doth not teach merely by the snow the hoar frost and the ice but by another sort of word then that which sends them upon the earth Ver. 15. even by His Ten Commandments delivered from heaven XX. Exod. 1. in a most glorious and astonishing manner Ver. 18. and by Laws of all sorts which He hath given us for the government of our life 20. He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgments they have not known them Praise ye the LORD 20. This is a privilege which no other Nation in the world enjoys IV. Deut. 32 33. For though they all receive the showres and snow out of the clouds yet Laws from thence they have no acquaintance withall Therefore let not us dishonour Him so much as to distrust his Providence but continually praise the Lord and acknowledge his bounty to us PSALM CXLVIII Hallelujah See CXLVI ARGUMENT It doth not appear who was the Authour of this Hymn nor upon what occasion it was composed But the last Verse sufficiently shews the Nation was then in a very flourishing condition and therefore probably it was made by David when God had given him rest from all his Enemies which filled his heart with such love to God that it transported him into this rapture Wherein finding how short his own praises were he wishes all Creatures in heaven and earth would conspire in a sweet symphony as Theodoret speaks of singing Hymns unto Him And first he calls upon the world above and all that is therein from the first Verse to the seventh where he descends to the world here below and calls upon all things on the earth to praise the Lord concluding v. 13. that as there is one Maker of both so all that they can say of Him when they have joyned all their powers together in one Quire falls infinitely short of his most excellent Majesty Who hath set forth his most transcendent wisdome power and munificence in such variety of stupendious work that there is not the smallest of them but ministers such matter of praise nay admiration to those that attentively consider them that they cannot but wish with the Psalmish here that every one of them were able to tell us how much skill and kindness He hath shown in their contrivance or that we were able to find it out and comprehend it Thus He is to be understood when he calls upon all Creatures to praise the Lord or it is as if he had said The Lord is to be praised by or in all these things as long as the world lasts This I take to be the true account of this Psalm which I refer to the times of David because the two following seem to have been then made and there is no other we can so well fix upon unless we will conceive that it was a Meditation when they were perfectly settled in a peaceable enjoyment of their Religion after the Captivity of which there is not the least intimation in the Psalm 1. PRaise ye the LORD praise ye the LORD from the heavens praise him in the heights 1. LET all Creatures praise the Lord. First let the Celestial Quire begin and sing their thankfull Hymns to Him who hath raised them so high above us in power and might as well as in dignity and place 2. Praise ye him all his Angels praise ye him all his hosts 2. Praise Him all ye Angels who have the honour to be the prime Ministers of his most excellent Majesty O let their several Hosts and Companies in whatsoever rank or order they stand praise Him whose Sovereign Authority commands them all 3. Praise ye him Sun and Moon praise him all ye stars of light 3. Praise Him ye Sun and Moon who are his greatest visible Ministers and unwearied in his service Praise Him all the rest of the shining Stars and declare to all future generations as ye have done for so many Ages past how glorious He is 4. Praise him ye heavens of heavens and ye waters that be above the heavens 4. Let all the heavenly Regions praise Him particularly the Clouds which hang in the Aire and disstill in fruitfull showres to inrich the Earth 5. Let them praise the Name of the LORD for he commanded and they were created 5. Let all these set forth the adorable wisdome and power and goodness of the Lord For by his omnipotent word these whom the mistaken world calls Gods were created not to be worshipped but perpetually to proclaim his praise 6. He hath also established them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not pass 6. who hath made them not onely illustrious but everlasting monuments of his splendour and glory having fixt and settled them in an admirable order which they constantly observe and prescribed them Laws which they never transgress 7. Praise the LORD from the earth ye dragons and all deeps 7. O Let all Creatures here below accompany those celestial hosts in their praises of the Lord whose power the vast Whales in their several kinds and all that moves in the profound depth of the Sea abundantly declare 8. Fire and hail snow and vapour stormy wind fulfilling his word 8. Let the Lightnings Thunder and Hail the Snow hoary Frost and Ice the Winds Storms and Tempests all make a part of this Song for they constantly execute his Sovereign Will and serve his wise Designs 9. Mountains and all hills fruitfull trees and all cedars 9. The lofty Mountains also and the lesser Hills the Fruit-bearing Trees with the stately Cedars the Pines the firrs and all the rest which He hath created for several ends and uses let them all be called upon to tell how great and how bountiful He is 10. Beasts and all cattel creeping things and flying fowl 10. The wild Beasts also of the Forest and all the Cattel that feed in the Fields whatsoever creeps upon the Earth or swims in the Sea or flies in the Aire let it joyn in this Hymn of praise to Him who hath shown his manifold wisdome and diffusive goodness in them all 11. Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Judges of the earth 11. But especially let Mankind praise Him who after He had made these things brought them into the world last of all to contemplate his wonderfull works And first let Kings who here on Earth resemble the Angels or the Sun in Heaven and then let their Ministers of State and Lieutenants in their several Provinces and next all the Judges of the Earth who are
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
of various sorts of locusts X. Exod. 5 12 c. 35. And did eat up all the herbs in their land and devoured the fruit of their ground 35. Which by his command came and covered the whole face of the Country eating up the very leaves of the trees as well as all the grass and herbs upon the ground X. Exod. 15. 36. He smote also all the first-born in their land the chief of all their strength 36. And at last He finished these plagues in the slaughter of all the first-born both of man and beast the Angel of the Lord killing in one and the same night XII Exod. 29. the principal prop of every Family and the best of all their flocks and their herds 37. He brought them forth also with silver and gold and there was not one feeble person among their tribes 37. Which terrible destruction so affrighted them that they not onely let Israel go but were forward to thrust them out of Egypt and that loaded with silver and gold XII Exod. 31 35. And which is very wonderfull among so many thousand persons Ver. 37. there was not one at that time so feeble as to be unable to travel 38. Egypt was glad when they departed for the fear of them fell upon them 38. And great was the joy at their departure not onely among the Israelites but among the Egyptians who thought themselves not safe till the Israelites had their liberty but were in dread of another plague which they thought might kill them as the former had done their children XII Exod. 33. 39. He spread a cloud for a covering and fire to give light in the night 39. Nor did the Divine providence desert our Fathers after it had brought them out of Egypt but lest they should suffer any prejudice by the exceeding great heats or mistake their way in a desolate wilderness He defended them in the day from the scorching rays of the Sun by a cloud which it self gave them light to comfort and if need were to guide them in the night XIII Exod. 21 22. 40. The people asked and he brought quails and satisfied them with the bread of heaven 40. He provided also a delicate food for that vast multitude even when they were so ungratefull as to murmur against Him XVI Exod. 12 c. sending them in the evening such flights of quails and in the morning such showrs of corn out of the clouds as abundantly satisfied every one of them 41. He opened the rock and the waters gushed out they ran in the dry places like a river 41. And when they murmured again for want of drink XVII Exod. 2 6. He was so kind as to stop their complaints by making water to spring out of a rock from whence it gusht so constantly and in such abundance that it made a stream which followed them in all the parched grounds through which they marched 42. For he remembred his holy promise and Abraham his servant 42. For the Lord was resolved punctually to perform his promise passed in former ages XV. Gen. 18. II. Exod. 24. which made Him reward the fidelity of his servant Abraham even upon his incredulous posterity at that very time which He had prefixed for it XV. Gen. 13. XII Exod. 41. 43. And he brought forth his people with joy and his chosen with gladness 43. When with much mirth and joy He brought his people out of the Egyptian bondage and made them shout to see the difference He made between them and the Egyptians who were drowned in the red Sea while they were conducted safe through it on dry Land XV. Exod. 1 13 19. 44. And gave them the lands of the heathen and they inherited the labour of the people 44. And in conclusion He cast out seven Nations to make room for them in the Land of Canaan where their posterity took possession of Cities and Towns Fields and Vineyards which the labour of others had built and planted for them VI. Deut. 10 11. XXIV Josh 13. 45. That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws Praise ye the LORD 45. That they might have the more leisure to purge the Country of all its ancient superstition and filthiness and set themselves heartily to worship God after that manner that He prescribed in a strict observance of all the rest of his holy Laws For which and all other his benefits excite your selves to praise the Lord. PSALM CVI. Hallelujah i. e. Praise the Lord. ARGUMENT There is little doubt to be made but this is the Title of the Psalm as it is of many other CXI c. whereby the Authour excites them to acknowledge God's bounty to their ungratefull Forefathers For as in the foregoing Psalm they are the words of Theodoret the Divine Benefits are commemorated so in this the Psalmist both commemorates them and also upbraids the ingratitude of those that received them Which magnified the mercies of God the more in being so very kind to those wicked people that when He punished them He did not utterly destroy them The opinion of that Father is that the Psalm was composed in the person of the more pious sort of people who bewail the common calamities and implore the Divine indulgence And most Interpreters that I have met withall imagin it to have been made in the time of the Captivity of Babylon but the proof of it is very weak For the last verse but one upon which they ground that conjecture may have another construction and mean no more but this that God would be pleased when the Nation or any part of it should be carried captive to take pity upon them and restore them again to their Country Or rather in my opinion it refers to those who in the days of Saul or before were taken prisoners by the Philistines and other Nations whom David prays God to gather to their own Land again that they might worship Him in that place which He had prepared for the Ark of his presence For it seems plain enough that this was one of the Psalms which he delivered then to Asaph the first verse and the two last being set down in the 1 Chron. XVI 36 37 as the beginning and ending of another Psalm which can be none but this which he then gave in with the other two there mentioned XCVI and CV to praise the Lord withall 1. PRaise ye the LORD O give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 1. O Make your thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of all the World who was exceeding gracious to your Forefathers and will continue his kindness you may hope unto all succeeding ages 2. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD who can shew forth all his praise 2. Praise Him with all your might for when you have done your best you must acknowledge that it is impossible to express your obligations to his omnipotent Goodness For who is able to tell how miraculous 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