morning commeth some cause of reioicing 6 Howbeit I sleeping in securitie when I was in prosperitie did fullie thinke that no change could come vnto me 7 For thou ô Lord assuredlie hadst fortified my hil wonderfullie of thy singular goodnes but as soone as thou wast offended with my foolish securitie thou turnedst awaie thy face from me and I was suddenlie stricken and fel downe 8 Then I called againe vpon thee ô Lord and praied with these words 9 I beseech thee ô Lord if I be slaine and go downe into the graue what good wil come thereof can this my bodie made dust sing praise vnto thee or can it declare that thy constancie in performing of thy promises 10 O Lord heare me haue mercie vpon me ô Lord help me 11 And lo thou hast turned this my mourning into most ful ioie so that suddenlie casting awaie sackcloth I came foorth most ioifullie 12 Therefore this tongue shal neuer cease to sing thy praise but shal be wholie consecrate to set forth thy glorie ô Lord my God I wil praise thee I saie for euer PSALME XXXI The Argument Euen as there be diuers and sundrie circumstances of the calamities and afflictions whereby God doth trie and chasten his seruants so is it necessarie in the reading of the Psalmes in the which are conteined praiers framed and set downe by the holie Ghost to consider what is common to them al and what is peculiar and proper to euerie one that we may vse them aptlie to our commoditie This Psalme then was written by Dauid as it is manifest in respect of that time when he being a little before in great authoritie and dignitie and was next vnto king Saul in the kingdome was suddenlie brought into extreame miserie by the vniust hatered of the king and the enuie of certaine that stirred vp the kings rage against him by the which and such like sudden alterations an infinite number of men in other things verie constant being suddenlie stricken haue taken most vile counsels and fallen most shamefullie as it appeareth by histories But Dauid on the contrarie part confessing his double fault both that he did forget this mutabilitie and vnstablenes of the woâ—â—â— when he was in his prosperitie and that he did almost despaire when this sudden storme of aduersitie came vpon him doth praie vnto God so much the more earnestlie trusting vpon the promises which he had learned of Samuel and of his owne vpright conscience Furthermore he doth set before him those most excellent promises of God confirmed by most manifold and plaine examples whereby God doth shew himselfe then to haue most care for his seruants when things seeme in deede most desperate Finallie he giueth thankes vnto God that he may teach al the godlie by his example that such maner of praiers are heard whether it were that he was by his faith assured that it should so come to passe as he praied wherein he was nothing deceiued either that he did write this Psalme after his deliuerance THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THou art he ô Lord to whome I flie for refuge deliuer me I beseech thee from this horrible shame euen for that thy righteousnes whereby thou alwaies performest thy promises deliuer me 2 Heare me and make haste to deliuer me for in thee alone is al my safetie and al my defence is set in thee 3 Thou art my fort and most strong rocke of defence I saie leade me therefore and guide me through the middes of these stormie tempests not for my deseruing but for thine owne glorie sake 4 Graunt that I may escape foorth of the net that they haue laied priuilie for to take me for I trust onlie in thy power 5 I commend my soule into thy hands whome I haue alwaie to be my sauiour and mindful of thy promise 6 Thou also canst testifie againe for me that I haue hated the craftie persons and the liers and haue depended onlie vpon thee 7 Therefore do I fullie trust of thy goodnes that I shal fullie reioice therein that thou hast acknowledged and regarded me so miserable and brought into such extremitie 8 Neither hast thou suffered me to be inclosed and intrapped of mine enimies but rather hast brought me foorth into a large place at libertie 9 Therefore Lord haue mercie vpon me so cruellie vexed that not onlie my face and my bowels within me but my verie soule is consumed 10 For certainlie I can scarselie drawe my breath for sorowe I waxe old with mourning so that the verie bones being weakened al my strength faileth 11 For the multitude and the authoritie of mine enimies causeth me to be abhorred of al euen of my verie neighbours so that they that knowe me wel if I do meete them abroade they flie foorth of my sight 12 Finallie I am forgotten of al as though I were dead and I am counted more vile than anie broken earthen poâ—sheard 13 I do heare the reproches and railings that al they of power do cast out against me which make me wholie to tremble whiles they take such craftie counsels against me 14 Howbeit ô Lord I trust in thee for I haue thus concluded within my selfe that thou art my God 15 And surelie the tearme of my life it is not in their hands but in thine deliuer me therefore from the hands of mine enimies and from al that persecute me 16 Refresh me thy seruant with the brightnes of thy countenance for thy mercie sake deliuer me 17 Graunt I beseech thee ô Lord that I be not put to shame that cal vpon thee but rather that death may stop their mouthes 18 That they may cease to make lies which slander me being innocent so bitterlie proudlie and disdainefullie 19 O how manifold is that thy mercie whereof al haue had experience that feare thee whome no feare of man can driue from the true profession of thy glorious name 20 For thou hast secret places ynow wherein thou canst hide and secretlie keepe them safe from the proud bragges of the wicked farre away from the poisoned and cursed speakers and wilt preserue them in safetie in thy tabernacle 21 Therefore I praise thee ô Lord hauing experience of that thy maruellous goodnes whereby I was defended as with the most mightie walles of a strong citie 22 Yet I confesse that I being cast downe headlong with such a sudden tempest did vnaduisedlie thinke in my heart that I was vtterlie cast off from thee howbeit thou notwithstanding hast heard my praiers when I cried vnto thee 23 Wherefore al ye that feele this goodnes of the Lord being admonished by mine example loue the Lord more and more for he most constantlie preserueth them that loue him and most abundantlie rewardeth the proud doer according to his deedes 24 Be strong I saie and encourage your selues more and more whosoeuer haue setled your hope and confidence in the Lord. PSALME XXXII The Argument This most pretious Psalme doth teach the chiefe and principal article of the
this most deepe streame swallowe me least I being deuoured in this deepe pit no hope of deliuerance be left vnto me 16 Graunt ô Lord of thy great mercie that I may prooue that my praiers were heard of thee and seeing thy mercies are infinite declare them by hauing regard of me 17 Doe not withdrawe thy selfe I beseech thee from thy seruant oppressed with so manie miseries but hasten ô Lord rather to heare me and to deliuer mee 18 Come vnto this my most miserable soule that thou maist deliuer it calling for thy helpe and redeeme me frō this multitude of most cruel enimies 19 Thou knowest more than al men with what and how false crimes I am charged and with what iniuries and reproches I am vexed neither can anie of mine aduersaries escape my sight 20 Ah! how sore doe these things vexe trouble and torment me especiallie seeing I haue so long waited but in vaine that some man should stand vp which should be moued with so many iniuries offered vnto me yet can there be found no-where anie man which would comfort me most miserable man with one word 21 Yea moreouer they labour to increase my miseries so much as lieth in them feeding mee with most bitter gal and they haue giuen me vineger to drinke they are so farre from comforting of me most miserable man 22 But cause thou againe that al thy benefits may turne to their destruction that they may be snared like beasts which are deceiued by the baits of meat set before them and let them find death there where they gaped for mirth and ioie 23 Take from them al the light of reason and vnderstanding and cut as it were al their sinewes that they may neither thinke nor perfourme anie thing that is good 24 Powre forth vpon them thine indignation and in the heate of thine anger correct them with iust punishment 25 Destroie their faire houses to the ground and waste al their dominion vtterlie 26 For they are so farre from hauing anie compassion on him whome it hath pleased thee to afflict so seuerelie that they haue also tormented him more greeuouslie and they haue laid new strokes one after another vpon him that thou haddest so greeuouslie wounded 27 Withdrawe therefore al thy helpe againe from them that they may heape wickednes vpon wickednes neither giue them at anie time the spirit of repentance to receiue them into thy fauour 28 And although that they insomuch as they are borne of those holie fathers may seeme to be counted amongest the number of thine to whome thou hast appointed the gift of the true life yet rase thou out their names foorth of thy booke neither count them amongst the iust 29 Let this then be the lot of those most wicked men but I ô God now being most miserable at the length shal be deliuered of thee and shal be exalted againe 30 Wherefore I wil then sing of thy name then wil I set foorth thy praises with great maiestie 31 And this I knowe wel shal be more pleasant vnto the Lord than the most great offering hauing hornes and hoofes 32 And al that are likewise vexed being comforted by mine example shal reioice and flieng vnto God by mine example shal be restored vnto life 33 For the Lord shal they saie wil heare the needie and doth not despise them who are bound in the chaines of miseries for his cause 34 Go to therefore let the verie heauens and also the huge lumpe of the earth the verie seas what things soeuer creepe in the waters let them set foorth the praises of the Lord. 35 For God wil preserue his Sion and wil build vp his cities appointed vnto Iuda and wil there assigne euerlasting habitation for his people 36 For the fathers shal sit ouer this heritage vnto their posteritie and this shal be the euerlasting possession of the seruants of God namelie of those that seeke his glorie carefullie PSALME LXX The Argument This Psalme doth conteine a praier which it is like that Dauid vsed in his banishment most commonlie and hath prescribed it vnto the Church afterward as a forme of dailie praier seeing that there neuer wanteth such enimies vnto the Church or at the least to manie of the members thereof as are here described THE PARAPHRASIS 1 COme speedilie ô God to deliuer me make haste to helpe me ô Lord. 2 Put them to shame that seeke my death command them to turne backe and to be couered with shame which desire nothing more than to see me destroied 3 Let them turne home with shame for a recompence being disappointed of their purpose which haue vaunted against me as though I had bene vtterlie vndone 4 And graunt thou of the contrarie that not I alone but al they also that haue a desire to worship thee and wait for an end of my miseries may be ioiful and reioice and that they may giue solemne and euerlasting thanks and praises vnto thee who hast deliuered me 5 In the meane season I stand here poore miser destitute of al succour make haste therfore ô God to helpe me For I depend vpon thy helpe alone ô God my deliuerer ô Lord I beseech thee delaie no longer PSALME LXXI The Argument This Psalme though it be without title in the Hebrue yet doth it seeme to be made by Dauid and written at that time when he now being aged was with so sudden and so great rage driuen from his roial seate and chased euen beyond Jordan chieflie by the treason of Achitophel and of his sonne whome he so deerelie loued And it is ful of most greeuous and iust complaints and it doth also set foorth an example of excellent constancie and of an inuincible faith And seeing the good seruants of God can looke for none other condition or state it is profitable oft to meditate this Psalme both least they should fondlie promise vnto themselues after they had ouercome manie troubles that their old age should be quiet and also least they should despaire when they shal be likewise vexed not onlie of strangers but also of them whome they haue cherished in their owne bosom but that they go forward in their vocation whilest they atteine the garland following the example of Dauid and other Prophets and of the Apostles as also of verie manie other faithful Bishops THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Flie vnto thee alone ô Lord suffer me not to be ouerwhelmed with shame for euer 2 Deliuer me rather from this calamitie as I haue had experience that thou art iust and mindful of thy promises heare me and deliuer me 3 Be thou vnto me also in the steede of a most strong tower into the which I may alwaies flie For seeing thou hast once already receiued me into thy defence where else shal I rather seeke for succour 4 Therefore my God graunt that I fal not into the hands of this most wicked and most craftie enimie which rusheth vpon me with so great rage 5 For I depend wholie
by thy power and hast stilled the most deepe surges thereof that there might be a passage to thy people 10 And by the same thy mightie arme thou hast cast downe Aegypt euen thine enimies wounded to death 11 And how can it be but thou art able to doe it vnto whome the heauen and the earth as to their onlie Creator are subiect 12 And which hast defended with a certaine special power the land which thou hast chosen and giuen vnto thine For thou certainlie hast appointed the north and south borders thereof and hast set Tabor at the west and Hermon at the east 13 Wherefore seeing thou hast a power neither weake nor idle surelie thou wilt declare thy strength and wilt lift vp thy right hand 14 Finallie thou wilt declare thy selfe in deede to be the King whose throne that most moderate equitie whereby thou gouernest thine assemblie and that seueritie of iudgement whereby thou punishest thine enimies and the enimies of thy people doe hold vp as it were two pillers vnto whome also sitting vpon this throne mercie and truth are seene to stand before him 15 O blessed is the people who being stirred vp with the sound of thy trumpets ô Lord doth go foorth the light of thy countenance shewing them the waie 16 And praising thee dailie and trusting of thy iustice doth reioice 17 For thou art both the honour and also the strength both of them and vs and we lift vp our head trusting vpon thy most merciful goodnes 18 For our defender our king I saie vpon whom we set our eies who is ordeiâ—ed ouer vs by thee ô Lord which hast consecrated and separated thine Israël forth of al people vnto thee is stablished by thy power 19 For thou at what time it pleased thee to bestowe this so great benefite vpon vs didst appeare vnto men whome thou louedst most dearelie and didst speake vnto them in these words I haue raised vp this most valiant man chosen out of the whole people by whose power my people may be defended 20 Dauid I saiâ— hath it pleased me to take onlie out of al the rest whose endeuour I would vse in that busines and therefore haue I consecrated him with my holie oile to be the king 21 Therefore my hand shal establish him with mine arme I saie wil I strengthen him 22 No enimie shal ouercome him by subtiltie neither shal anie wicked man oppresse him by force 23 For I wil destroie al that would oppresse him before his face and I wil staie al his enimies 24 My mercie shal neuer faile him my truth shal neuer forsake him and he trusting to my fauour shal lift vp his head most high 25 I wil cause him to haue one hand vpon the sea and another vpon the flouds 26 And he shal name me his father his God and his safe tower 27 And I wil place him againe as my first begotten sonne in the whole familie of the kings of the whole world euen in a throne most high aboue others 28 I wil defend him with euerlasting mercie and my couenant made with him shal be stable for euer 29 I wil cause that his generation shal be eternal and his throne as stable and euerlasting as heauen it selfe 30 For though his posteritie shal saile from my lawe neither order themselues by the rules of the lawe prescribed vnto them 31 But violate the ordinances that I haue appointed and keepe not my commandements 32 I wil then take the rod and correct their faults and punish their wickednes 33 But I wil not suffer them to be without al sense of my mercie neither wil I therefore breake my promise 34 Nor wil violate my couenant or wil change anie thing of those things that I haue spoken 35 For I the holie one haue once sworne by mine owne selfe If I lie at anie time vnto Dauid 36 His generation shal stand for euer and his throne shal be as the sunne before me 37 And it shal continue euen as the moone in al ages they both being faithful witnesses of this my promise in the heauens 38 Thou hast euen promised these things of old ô Lord how shal I now saie then that it is come to passe that thou being angrie hast refused and cast awaie this thy king 39 Wherefore I praie thee hast thou abrogated thy league made with thy seruant wherefore hast thou laid open to the reproch of al men his crowne cast vpon the ground 40 Al his forts being ouerthrowne and al his fortresses destroied 41 Thou hast laid him open to be spoiled by al that passe by at their pleasure and to be derided of al his neighbours about him 42 Thou hast ministred power and cause of ioie to al his aduersaries 43 Thou hast made blunt the edge of his sword thou hast taken awaie al courage from him that he is not able to stand against the force of his enimie 44 And thou hast blotted out al his honour and hast cast downe his throne euen vnto the ground 45 In the verie flower of his youth thou hast cut off his strength hast couered him with al shame 46 Oh Lord wilt thou withdraw thy selfe from vs for euer shal thine anger thus like a most raging flame breake foorth against vs 47 Remember how short the space of mans life is although it should be the whole time continued And shal we thinke that thou hast made men for no purpose but to take them awaie suddenlie 48 What neede anie violence I praie you to destroie vs seeing there is no man who doth not perish of his owne selfe and no man is able to exempt him selfe from the graue 49 Where are now those thine old benefits ô Lord which thou hast sworne vnto Dauid that they should remaine for euer 50 But to what purpose do I make these complaints Thou knowest most certainelie the purpose of thy counsels and be it far from me that I should doubt of thy fidelitie Onlie I beseech thee ô Lord consider with thy selfe how thy seruants are rebuked especiallie how manie reproches so manie people do vomit into my bosome 51 Euen what these thine enimies rather than ours haue reprochfullie laide vnto thy charge ô Lord and with what ieasting taunts they aunswere those things which are rehearsed by vs of the king and kingdome that thou hast established 52 Howbeit ô Lord howsoeuer these men dote and which waie soeuer thou leadest vs to and fro al land and euerlasting glorie apperteineth vnto thee And so vndoubtedlie without al faile wil it come to passe PSALME XC The Argument Moses doth here preach of the miseries of mankind speciallie of death wherof the Philosophers do teach manie things but falselie and foolishlie For they vnderstoode nothing of the creation of man nor of his fal much lesse of the true comforts against al the miseries of this life Hereof did these wicked voices arise that It was the best either not to be borne at al or to die
citie whom soone after at the persuasion of the priestes and elders they refused with so great outrage And the same state that was then of the head must be now also of the members so that it is no maruel though the godlie professors of the truth be reiected as blasphemers and Heretikes euen of those which would be counted the chiefe builders of the Church and at length also to be deliuered vp to Pilates to be crucified but yet againe that corner stone can neuer be ouerthrowne nor yet the building that is lud vpon it can by anie force policie or subtiltie be destroied THE PARAPHRASIS 1 OH acknowledge and declare ye openlie that the Lord is good for his bountious goodnes is for euer 2 Let Israël now confesse this thing for his bountious goodnes is for euer 3 Let the stocke of Aaron now confesse this that his louing kindnes is perpetual 4 Let al the sincere worshippers of the Lord now confesse this that his louing kindnes is perpetual 5 I doubtles being a notable example of his vnspeakable bountie haue not ceased as ye knowe to cal vpon him in my greatest extremitie and he as ye your selues see hauing heard me hath exalted me into this most large roome 6 Wherefore I hauing experience that the Lord worketh for me and that he is so neere at hand vnto me God forbid that I should feare the power or the threats of anie man 7 For the Lord himselfe is the chiefe leader of those that helpe me so that I can not doubt at al but that I shal see with these mine eies those enimies which remaine iustlie punished of him 8 Oh! how far better is it to trust in the Lord than in man 9 How far better is it to trust in the Lord than in anie men how excellent soeuer they be 10 Behold manie nations compasse me about but I calling vpon the Lord shal most vndoubtedlie destroie them 11 They compasse me in I saie they beset mee round about but calling vpon the Lord I shal most vndoubtedlie destroie them 12 Mine enimies in great multitudes compasse me like swarmes of bees but I shal forthwith stifle them as though they were cast into the fire and calling vpon the Lord I shal most vndoubtedlie destroie them 13 For in deede before the most cruel enimie did so sore thrust at me that I seemed euen now readie to fal but as I was falling the Lord supported me 14 Therefore I account him mine onlie strength I knowledge him to be my sauiour and praise him in my song 15 Hereof come those voices of those that sing and reioice together with me out of their tabernacles Now doubtles the Lord hath aduanced the power of his most strong right hand 16 The Lord hath now exalted that his right hand Now the Lord hath shewed forth the power of his most strong right hand 17 Behold me then that am yet aliue and about to set forth the workes of God 18 For though he hath striken me verie sore yet hath he spared my life 19 I praie thee therefore let that gate now at the length be open vnto me which onlie the louers of righteousnes must go vnto that I being entred thither may praise the Lord. 20 For it is consecrate vnto the Lord therefore is it open to the iust alone 21 Here wil I praise thee ô Lord because thou giuing eare hast deliuered me 22 For the stone which the verie chiefe builden haue so stubbornlie as yet reiected as nothing fit is not onlie now counted in the building but euen as a principal it vpholdeth the whole weight of the verie building 23 Verelie it is a worke of God in deede which maketh al the beholders thereof to be amazed 24 Go to them seeing the Lord hath commanded this most ioiful daie to shine vnto vs let vs passe it wholie in mirth becomming Saints 25 I beseech thee ô Lord preserue the King that is giuen vs from heauen I praie thee I saie I praie thee ô LORD giue the King al prosperitie 26 Let him haue prosperitie and blisse that commeth to gouerne vs in the name and commandement of GOD we wish prosperitie to you also that are the neerer inhabitants of the house of the Lord. 27 Iehouah is the onelie God who shineth vnto vs bind ye the lambe with cords that is brought to the hornes of the altar 28 Thou art my God I wil praise thee thou art my God I wil sing thy praises most lowd 29 Confesse that the Lord is exceeding good for his bountious goodnes is euerlasting PSALME CXIX The Argument This is the principal end of this Psalme which the longer it is the more excellent it is and it is written with two and twentie Octonaries that is euerie part hauing eight verses whereof euerie one beginneth at one particular letter of the Hebrue alphabet that men might be entised to the careful studie of the heauenlie doctrine And the whole treatise is set foorth partlie generallie of absolute and certaine positions or sentences and partlie of special and more particular considerations the Prophet setting downe himselfe for example to them that he teacheth and mixing praiers complaintes comforts and thankesgiuings throughout the Psalme And the whole doctrine may be brought to these foure principal heads 1 That those things are signified by the name of the heauenlie doctrine which are reuealed of God himselfe and comprehended in the holie scriptures whether we vnderstand that part which commandeth that which wee ought to do and forbiddeth the contrarie the name of the Lawe beeing taken in a more streight signification or whether we vnderstand that other part wherein it is taught what wee must beleeue to saluation the which we call the Gospel 2 That this doctrine is declared from heauen not that wee should comprehend it in our vnderstanding onelie but that euerie one should folowe it with an earnest care without fainting as the rule of his whole life 3 That we may be both willing and able to embrace and folowe it wee must of necessitie praie for the spirit of God which may both driue awaie darkenes from our vnderstanding and amend our affections that are wholie corrupted 4 Though the world beeing terrified partlie with the feare of dangers partlie with the greatnes of calamities and partlie also deceiued with a fained shew of profit doth rather go some other waie yet they onelie do wiselie which sticke vnto that waie which is set downe in the word of God what difficulties so euer do offer themselues in this life so that at the last they shal haue the fruition of true and euerlasting life THE PARAPHRASIS Octonarie I. 1 O Blessed are they that are of an vpright and blamelesse life who walke after the rule of the doctrine prescribed by the Lord 2 Blessed are they I saie who do obserue that which he hath testified to please him who do seeke him sincerelie and carefullie 3 Doubtles they are not giuen to wickednes neither bend
Lord and they shal testifie vnto their posteritie that shal be borne after them that he onelie is the authour of this maruellous worke PSALME XXIII The Argument Dauid of a shepeheard being made a most mightie king contrarie to the errour of the Epicures which do dreame that al that they haue commâ—th vnto thâ—m either by fortune or by thâ—ir owne industrie and so abuse al the good things that they haue vnto al filthines doth attribute al those things to the liberalitie of God alone vsing two similitudes one of a shepeheard that prouideth for his flocke with great carefulnes the which similitude is most apt for Dauid being once a shepeheard and it also admonisheth the kings that they ought to be the shepeheards and feeders of the people The other similitude is taken from them that keepe good hospitalitie which most liberallie receiue those trauelers that come vnto them the which thing also doth admonish vs of our state and sheweth how al things are sanctified vnto vs by the word of God and thankesgiuing whatsoeuer the Lord ministreth vnto vs for the vse of this life Last of al it teacheth vs that we ought to rise from those transitorie benefites to those euerlasting and heauenlie blessings seeing that godlines hath the promises both of this present life and of the life to come THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THE Lord is my shepeheard I neede not to feare anie famine 2 He lodgeth me in greene pastures and leadeth me to the pleasant riuers of waters 3 He restoreth me to life being ouertyred and doeth leade me in a plaine and pleasant waie deseruing thereby euerlasting praise for his mercie 4 Therefore though I should go by most darke and dreadful vallies of death I wil feare none euil trusting vpon the rod and shepeheards hooke of my shepeheard 5 Thou in the verie sight of mine enimies doest prepare a deintie table for me thou doest annoint my head with oile and giuest me a ful cup. 6 And surelie thy goodnes and mercie shal followe me to cause me to dwel in thy house al the daies of my life PSALME XXIIII The Argument This most sweete Psalme doth teach vs that as God is the creator of al things so is he the Lord of al howbeit that he hath chosen vnto himselfe out of the multitude of men some certaine persons whome onlie he accounteth for his subiects and whome alone he hath appointed to euerlasting blisse Furthermore he declareth who these are and by what workes the true members of the Church may be knowne that we may vnderstand that they are not al of the Church who are outwardlie conuersant in the Church But because there was but one certaine nation as yet comprehended vnder the couenant the Israëlites I meane and there was but one place certaine in the which the Church was bound to assemble that holie mountaine I meane in the which the Temple was then to be builded therefore doth Dauid chieflie make mention hereof and doth treate by the spirit of prophesie of the magnificent building of the Temple Yet doeth he exhort the people that they should not onlie regard the outward building and the outward rites and sacrifices but that they should chieflie giue their hearts vnto him that promised to dwel in the Temple And this same doctrine doth euen now at this daie declare the true vse of the sacraments and doth much more appertaine vnto vs vnto whome the truth is plainelie reuealed al the shadowes of the lawe being abolished than it did to the old fathers THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GOD is the Lord of the earth and of al things therin conteined euen of the whole world I saie and of al that dwel therein 2 For it is he that built the earth vpon the sea placed it to appeare aboue the flouds as we see 3 Howbeit he hath chosen vnto himselfe a certaine mountaine into the which loe who shal ascend and who shal stand in that place consecrate vnto him 4 Euen he whose hands are not polluted with wickednes that is of a pure heart which gapeth not for vaine things neither sweareth deceitfullie 5 Such a man shal receiue blessings of the Lord abundantlie and in the end shal find him a sauiour as he that can not lie hath promised 6 And this is thy true seede ô Iakob euen the generation of men that seeke God and present themselues before thee ô Lord. 7 O ye gates lift vp your postes mount vp I saie ye eternal gates that the King of glorie may enter 8 Who is this glorious king That same Lord strong and valiant that mightie warriour 9 Lift vp your head postes ô ye gates mount vp I saie you gates that this King of glorie may enter 10 Who is this glorious King The Lord of hoastes he is this King of glorie PSALME XXV The Argument This Psalme teacheth a forme of praier dailie to be vsed of the whole Church and of euerie one of the saintes of God wherein three things are requested euen by faith regarding the promises alreadie made vnto vs and confirming it selfe by the experience of former benefites The first is the free forgiuenesse of sinne The second that we may be gouerned by the holie Ghost in the whole course of our life that remaineth The third a defence from the iniuries of our enimies the which three do answere to the petitions of the Lords praier wherein we require to haue our sinnes forgiuen and that we be not led into temptation and to be deliuered from euil THE PARAPHRASIS 1 VNTO thee ô Lord I lift vp my whole heart 2 O my God my hope is onlie fixed in thee let me not be repulsed I beseech thee and put to shame and so be derided of mine enimies 3 And surelie thou wilt not suffer them that depend vpon thee to be put to shame but rather must these faithles persons that persecute the innocent be brought to shame 4 Graunt ô Lord that I may vnderstand in these so great perplexities and extremities what way thou appointest thine to walke and teach me thy pathes 5 Guide my steps in thy truth and teach me continualie for thou art he ô my God of whom I do looke faithfullie for my deliuerance 6 Be mindful ô Lord of thy mercies which thou hast shewed so oft to thy seruants and of thy manifold goodnes which thou hast declared in al ages 7 Contrariwise ô Lord forget al the follie of my youth and al my trespasses and remember me ô Lord of thy sinâ—ular mercie and goodnes 8 And why should not I thus hope seeing the Lord is merciful and true in his promises therfore doth he cal againe into the way the sinners that go astraie 9 He also after they be humbled made meete to learne doth teach them gentlie and meekelie and declareth how louinglie he vseth to gouerne his 10 Which waie so euer the Lord doth leade his his mercie appeareth as also how constantlie he keepeth his promise to them that keepe
his couenant that he hath made with vs as the singular testimonie of his mercie 11 I beseech thee ô Lord therefore for thy great mercie and for the honour of thy holie name forgiue me my sinnes the which I acknowledge to be great and manifold 12 O how happie is he that feareth the Lord for he wil teach him the waie that he ought to walke 13 His mind enioieth a continual rest a blessing shal alwaie followe him wherof his posteritie shal be partakers 14 These are they to whome the Lord doth reueale his counsels which are otherwaies hid from vs euen that his couenant I saie to them that feare him 15 Wherefore I haue mine eies alwaies bent vpon the Lord alone for he in the end wil rid my feete foorth of these nets 16 O looke vpon me and haue mercie vpon me for I am verie miserable and forsaken of al. 17 Sorowes oppresse my heart on euerie side deliuer me from these miseries 18 Behold how miserablie I am vexed and tormented and put awaie my sinnes which are the verie cause of al these miseries 19 Behold how manie do hate me and how bitter hatred they beare against me 20 Defend me and keepe me from shame for in thee onlie do I trust 21 Graunt that I may be preserued safe in simplicitie and integritie the which I do waite for of thee 22 Finalie ô God deliuer thou Israël out of al troubles PSALME XXVI The Argument It is a verie hard thing in the Court to retaine true religion and vprightnes of life and conuersation chiefelie when wicked men do reigne there flatterers do rage partlie by open violence partlie by false accusations and an other sort doth sing in their eares that they must frame their wits to serue al turnes and purposes euen as the fish called Polypus doth change himselfe into the colour of the stone whereunto he cleaueth so that some do altogither leaue their vocations prouiding for their owne commodities to the great damage of the common wealth others do by little and little fal to the Courtlie maners like the rest And some there be who for the wicked life of certaine others do either absteine from the holie assemblies or gather vnto them-selues apart priuate conuenticles as did the Catharians and the Nouatians and manie Monkes that went into solitarie places and the Anabaptistes of our time But Dauid contrariwise though his state was no better in the Court of Saul yet doth he perseuere in his place and vocation and doth the more diligentlie frequent the holie assemblies that were polluted with no idolatrie whiles he is driuen from them by violence neither when he is driuen thence doth he repent of his constancie but being alwaies one man he doth commit his cause vnto God and stil continueth to abhorre the counsels and the examples of the wicked and plainelie testifieth that he wil make a true profession of his faith and that he wil liue an vpright life resting vpon the promises of the most merciful and most mightie God THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O LORD iudge thou my cause for surelie according to my power I haue endeuored my selfe to walke vprightlie and I setling al my confidence in thee ô Lord am minded to continue without wauering 2 Thou ô Lord prooue me and trie me and search the secret of my heart 3 Surelie mine eâ—es are alwaie bent vpon thy goodnes and I haue appointed thy truth to be the guide and leader of my life 4 I haue carefullie auoided the companie of these most vaine men and I haue fled awaie from these deceitful dealers 5 I hate the assemblie of euil men neither do I accompanie the wicked 6 I do present my selfe before thine altar not onlie with my hands washed in water but rather purified from al wickednes 7 That I may openlie set foorth thy praise and celebrate thy wonderful workes 8 For there is nothing that I loue more dearelie than that temple wherein thou hast set thy seate euen the house of thy Maiestie 9 Wrap me not in I beseech thee with these wicked persons neither account me with these cruel men 10 Who do speedilie put in execution their wicked deuises and whose hands are ful of bribes 11 But I haue walked vprightlie to my power therefore haue mercie vpon me and deliuer me 12 That I do stand vpright in the waie I do attribute it to thee ô Lord and wil magnifie thy name in the publike congregations PSALME XXVII The Argument Whether we saie that Dauid did write this Psalme when he was now deliuered or when he was in the middest of his daungers it is no great matter But here are opened vnto vs euen when al things seeme most desperate three liuelie and neuer failing fountaines whence we may drawe assured comfort One is to take hold of the power of God by true faith and oppose it against al the bragges of the enimies The second a continual desire alwaie of the glorie of God keeping euermore a safe conscience and vsing diligentlie the meanes whereby our faâ—th may be confirmed that is to saie the hearing of the word preached and the vse of the sacraments if so be that we may haue thâ—m if not yet must we haue a continual meditation of them The third is earnest praier wâ—th faith and patience THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord seeing thy wil doth manifestlie appeare like a most bright light vnto me in this so great darkenes to deliuer me whome shal I feare seeing my life standeth vpon the strength of the Lord of whom shal I be afraid 2 I speake of experience for so oft as those wicked tyrants mine enimies did runne vpon me as though they would deuour me with their teeth they fel downe voide of their purpose 3 Hereafter therefore though the enimies come foorth with their armies set in araie against me yet wil I stand without al feare yea though they enter into battel against me I wil hereof take the occasion of more confidence 4 Neither do I yet herein prouide for mine owne priuate commoditie but I beg and craue this one thing of the Lord that I may dwel in the house of the Lord and leade my life with him euen to spend my whole life in beholding the beautie of the Lord and to meditate in his holie temple 5 For there trulie vnder the roose of his house wil I lie hid when anie storme commeth in the secret place of his pauilion shal I be hid whilest that I be set vpon an high and safe rocke 6 Yea euen now alreadie like a conquerour I mount vp listing mine head aboue mine enimies that compas me about wherefore I wil offer sacrifice ioifullie in his tabernacle and I wil sing and praise the Lord. 7 Receiue therefore ô Lord the voice of my crie haue mercie vpon me and heare me 8 My heart doth continualie meditate that same thy commandement Seeke ye my face that is euen as I now open my selfe wherfore I do obeie thee
onlie by his word and commandement euen that great compas of the heauens how wide and vnmeasurable so euer togither with that infinite number of starres and both the great lightes of the Sunne and the Moone wherewith he hath beautified that frame of the heauenlie firmament as with a great armie set in most comelie order was formed and made by the commandement of his eternal word and by the vnspeakeable power of his spirite also which proceedeth from him 7 Now to come vnto the creatures more neare vnto vs it is the selfe-same power that hangeth ouer vs that liquid and euer flowing element of water and heapeth it vp in it selfe and holdeth it inclosed in certaine secret gulfes and doth keepe it backe that it doth not drowne the world againe 8 Go to then let al them that dwel in the world feare and reuerence such a workemaister and tremble at his workes 9 And learne to followe the examples of those things though they want both sense and vnderstanding who yet so soone as he had spoken the word they stoode foorth and were obedient vnto him do now stil remaine at his commandement 10 It is he the same also although verie manie not onlie particular persons but also whole multitudes conspire togither outragiouslie to their own destruction and labour to bring al things to vtter confusion that yet doth ouerthrowe and breake their wicked practises and craftie counsels because he is the mainteiner and preseruer of ciuil policie and natural equitie whereby mankinde is kept in safetie 11 For it can not be that anie thing that the Lord hath determined can at anie time be made frustrate and voide but rather must alwaies and in al ages remaine stable and vnmoueable 12 But ô most blessed and happie nation to whome the Lord sheweth himselfe their God before others euen by taking a singular and peculiar care ouer them O thou trulie art an happie people if thou didst knowe thine owne blessed state whome he hath chosen to himselfe as his peculiar heritage 13 For God is not an idle beholder of the things that he hath created neither doth he suffer them to be carried at al aduentures but he doth behold al things with a watchful eie and most chieflie doth he obserue al mankind 14 And from his most hie throne he doth behold al the inhabitants of the world wheresoeuer they are placed 15 God forbid that we should thinke that he that hath created the hearts of al men and hath put into them the power of affections of reason could not consider and vnderstand what they thinke and enterprise 16 Wherefore they are doting mad how proud and mightie soeuer they be who dreame that they are able to do anie thing by their owne power seeing that al kingdomes are planted and subuerted by Gods onelie appointment 17 Wherefore their hope is deceiueable vaine who abusing the meanes giuen them by God doe depend of anie other thing than of his power alone not vnlike to the horsemen who trust to the strength of those horses which haue oftentimes ouerthrowne them 18 So then they perish through their owne fault but contrariwise them doth the Lord behold assuredlie keepe and defend which feare him and haue onelie regard vnto his mercie 19 For although al things seeme to threaten their destruction being destitute of al other helpe and sometimes both heauen and earth denie them their bodilie foode yet the Lord preserueth them safe and sound and doth minister vnto them in due season sufficientlie to passe thorough the course of their life 20 Let vs therefore earnestlie run vnto the Lord alone as he worthilie deserueth being our onelie defence and succour 21 And surelie our expectation shal not faile vs for vndoubtedlie it wil come to passe that after some sharpe assaults of these miseries he wil comfort vs with most certaine and true ioies Therfore let vs neuer cease to rest vpon the promises that he hath reuealed vnto vs and neuer faile at anie time to cal vpon his holie name 22 And thou againe ô Lord defend vs by thy mercie that we haue so oft felt from the heauens as thou commandest vs to hope and we trust that thou wilt performe PSALME XXXIIII The Argument This Psalme was written by Dauid as the title declareth for the wonderful deliuerance foorth of the hands of king Achis by dissembling madnes as is written 1. Sam. 21. And it declareth what is our dutie when we haue receiued Gods benefites that is not onlie to giue thanks vnto God and to confirme our selues in faith and hope against other temptations by such like experience but also to exhort others to doe the same by setting foorth these examples that they may belieue that these deliuerings from dangers are not special priuiledges granted to anie one man but that they are so manie preachings as it were and sermons which do appertaine both to the whole Church and to euerie membâ—r of the samâ— Howbeit the Prophet doth ad this one thing that these benefites yet do appertaine to none other but vnto them who after they be deliuered forth of dangers doe repent of their sinnes and doe feare God more seriouslie Also he admonisheth that we should ioine the deliuerance of the godlie with the destruction of the wicked that we make not God as the mockers and scorners doe onlie to see of the one side and so to be merciful that he should forget his iudgements Finallie this Psalme is so furnished with eloquent wordes and so great glistering of most graue sentences that amongest others this is wel worthie to be committed vnto memorie by al the godlie THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Wil giue thankes vnto the Lord without ceasing and I wil neuer leaue off to haue his praise in my mouth 2 I wil extol the benefits of the Lord I saie from the bottome of my heart that al the afflicted when they heare this may be thereby comforted 3 Go to then praise and magnifie the Lord together with me and let vs altogether extol and praise his name as he deserueth 4 For I haue sought the Lord and he accomplishing my desire hath deliuered mee from al that troubled me 5 Therefore shal they be bold also moued by my example to turne their eies vnto him and to make haste to run vnto him and shal not be repulsed 6 For Behold shal they saie this miserable man was heard when he called vpon the Lord who deliuered him out of al his miseries 7 And this is a sure case for like as they that feare God are assaulted of euerie side not onlie of other men but also of Sathan and his angels euen so the Lord againe doth campe about them with the inuincible armies of his Angels that they may so be preserued 8 I beseech you therefore doe not careleslie behold this great goodnes of the Lord but rather thinke vpon it againe and againe taste his most comfortable sweetnes and crie together with me O blessed is
in our dangers 2 Therefore we wil not feare at al though the earth be shaken from her foundations and the mountaines be carried into the middest of the sea 3 Though al the stormes of waters sound about vs with most horrible noise and mounting vp doe shake the verie mountaines 4 Yet the citie of God which the most high hath consecrated vnto himselfe for his habitation doth rest in the meane time safe and comforted with his most gentle and pleasant riuers 5 For seeing that God himselfe doth dwel in it how can it be subuerted nay as oft as neede is he wil wake earlie in the twi-light and wil helpe it 6 Behold the nations did rage on euerie side and the kingdomes had prepared battel euerie-where against vs but as soone as he thundered out his voice al their fiercenes although they filled the land with their multitude did fal downe their hearts melting for feare 7 For the Lord hauing farre other armies is on our side that God I saie of Iacob is our defence 8 Come hither I praie you if anie doubt of this matter or negligentlie regard these thinges and consider with me the workes of the Lord namelie what destruction and desolation is now come vpon those countries which did rage so mightilie against vs. 9 Behold how sudden these battels and tumults are ceased on euerie side behold how he hath broken the bowes and hath cut in sunder the speares and burnt al their chariots with fire 10 Heare the Lord himselfe finalie setting forth this example and thus calling vpon your enimies O ye mad men leaue off these things and learne at the least by these your miseries that I am GOD whom ye haue wounded by the sides of my people and whose name ye labour in vaine to abolish But it is so farre from your power to doe this that contrariwise I wil once dilate my glorie wide broad throughout the whole world 11 Finalie let vs conclude this fullie that the Lord being furnished with innumerable and most mightie armies standeth on our side and that that God of Iacob is a most sure defence vnto vs. PSALME XLVII The Argument The verie order of this Psalme chieflie the fift verse seemeth vnto me manifestlie to declare that this song was written by Dauid ful of most feruent zeale and sung of the sonnes of Corah in that pompe most ful of maiestie wherein he brought the Arke of the Lord at the length into the citie which was called after his owne name the which excellent storie is set downe 2. Sam. 6 1. Chro. 15. And this song of praise doth teach foure principal things 1 With how feruent zeale we are bound to seeke the glorie of God 2 How careful the princes chieflie ought to be to establish the publike holie ministerie and to amplifie it 3 What great difference there is betwixt the people chosen of God and other nations proceeding only of the mercie of God Last of al that other nations also in the end shal be partakers of this so great mercie Of these foure there is no part which doth not much more appertaine vnto vs than to the old people now when this prophesie is fulfilled at length and Christ him selfe is come vnto vs. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Al ye people being gathered together clap your hands and praise God with most ioiful voices 2 For this is that Iehouah not closed vp in this Arke for he is higher than the verie heauens notwithstanding he setteth before our eies this testimonie of his presence and mercie this I saie is the King shewing himself terrible against his enimies this is the Lord of the whole earth 3 This is hee that wil bring into subiection the people that lie neare vnto vs ouer whome we shal haue authoritie 4 This is he that hath giuen vs that most excellent heritage by whose power we may worthilie glorie of our dignitie and honour and that by his singular benefite for none other cause but that it hath pleased him to receiue vs into his fauour 5 Behold God commeth vp to his holie mountaine with triumph the Lord commeth with sound of trumpets 6 Sing vnto God sing I saie sing praises to our King sing praises 7 For this is the greatest King by farre euen the Monarch of the whole world sing al you that can sing 8 Praise God I saie who is not onelie our King but the King of al people sitting vpon his holie throne 9 For the verie gouernours of the people shal submit themselues to the people of the God of Abraham for he is onelie the Lord of the whole world and the preseruer of the same farre higher than al powers beside PSALME XLVIII The Argument There is the same argument of this Psalme and of the 46. although it seeme to haue bene written long after in the daies of Josaphat as may appeare and is to be referred to the storie which is written 1. Chron. 20. there is added therfore the praise of the citie of Ierusalem which was a figure of the Church by the beautiful situation and by the strength of the wals and forts whereby yet the Prophet doth not saie that the safetie thereof doth stand but by God alone the Lord of the citie that we may vnderstand that the Church is preserued by the same onlie defence although so oft as it so pleaseth God it is not destitute of mans armour and defence THE PARAPHRASIS 1 DOubtles the Lord doth shew himselfe great and most worthie of al praise euery-where but this is seene chieflie in that his owne citie which knowledgeth him for their God and worshippeth him in his holie mountaine 2 For this is that mount Sion of most pleasant situation looking towards the north the ornament and ioie of the whole earth the citie of the great King 3 For there verelie God dwelleth as in his palace and there is he knowledged againe to be the onlie defence thereof 4 Neither neede we to fetch anie farre proofe of this most plaine thing for behold the kings associate together were about to set vpon it 5 The which so soone as they did behold being striken with the admiration of it fled awaie speedilie 6 For so wonderful terrour and so sudden came vpon them as the pangs of a woman that trauelleth with child 7 And as the most raging violence of the wind vseth to shake the ships sailing in the deepe seas 8 Therefore we our selues haue seene the woonders which we heard of our elders of old that were done by God to deliuer them done also in the citie of the most mightie Iehouah the citie I saie of our God the which being now defended of him he wil from hencefoorth also preserue for euer 9 Surelie ô God thou hast not disappointed vs calling for thy mercie in thy palace with ful confidence 10 And the fame of this thing whither soeuer it shal come shal stir vp al men euen to the vttermost coastes of the earth to set
knowe that ye haue bene enimies to iustice from your beginning and that you were borne vnto al falshood from your mothers wombe 4 I saie these men swel with poison euen by their nature as the verie serpents doe neither wil they suffer this poison to be drawne out of them by anie persuasion 5 In this point being like the adder which stoppeth her eare against the inchanters be they neuer so cunning 6 But thou ô God vnto whome I appeale pul out the teeth foorth of the mouthes of these most cruel persons breake the iawes ô Lord of these lions that they doe not deuoure the innocent 7 And I pronounce in verie deede that it wil so come to passe For al their power shal vanish and flowe away like water and though they bend their bowes with al their force whereby they may strike the iust their shaftes no doubt shal breake in peeces 8 They shal be brought to naught euen like the snailes that mealt awaie in their owne shels and like the vntimelie fruite of a woman that dieth and is borne together 9 And their posteritie euen worthie children for such fathers like thornes growing out of the bush before they growe to sharpe pricks so shal they be destroied with sudden death carried awaie as it were with a whirle-wind 10 But the iust beholding this iust iudgement of God and imbrued with the bloud of the wicked shal reioice 11 And euerie one shal saie Surelie he loseth not his labour that loueth righteousnes Surelie there is a God in the earth that doth also giue to euerie man his owne PSALME LIX The Argument Dauid did write this Psalme when his house was beset by the commandement of Saule that he might be taken and slaine as the Hebrue title importeth the historie is read 1. Sam. 19. and the same vse is of this Psalme as of the former of like argument but it hath this excellent sentence amongst others That it is oftentimes expedient that God should not beate downe the enimies of his Church at one moment but by little and little that his iudgements might thereby be more euident and plaine of the which doctrine there commeth much profite especiallie to bridle our impatience THE PARAPHRASIS 1 DEliuer me my God from mine enimies and euen taking me vp as it were in thine owne hand rid me from these men that rise vp against me 2 Deliuer me from these men that liue in mischiefe and murther 3 For lo they partlie lie in wait for my life and partlie the most mightie of them do gather their power against me though I be guiltie of no fault 4 They come on heapes together they strengthen themselues against the innocent more and more Consider these things ô God and come and helpe me being in danger 5 I beseech thee ô Lord the verie God to whom the heauenlie armies doe obeie God of Israël rise vp and punish these prophane people and spare them not being giuen vp willinglie to al wickednes 6 For after that they haue spent the whole daie in lieng in wait for me they returne at night run through the streets of the citie barking like dogs 7 Furthermore in the darke of the night for who saie they shal heare vs they barke out the wickednes conceiued in their heart and sound nothing but slaughter and bloud being wholie bent how to take me 8 But thou ô Lord wilt deride their threatnings and wilt haue al those prophane men in derision 9 Surelie his strength doth depend of thy pleasure wherefore as these doe lie in wait about my house so againe I wil diligentlie wait for thy helpe For thou verelie ô God art my fortresse 10 For thou hast embraced me verelie with so great fauour euen preuenting my praiers that thou wilt graunt mee that I shal ioifullie behold mine aduersareis to haue their iust punishment 11 Yet slaie them not ô my God least peraduenture this people whome thou hast appointed to be gouerned by me if thou take them awaie so suddenlie either do not consider this thy iudgement or forget it by and by but scatter them beeing throwne downe by thy force and throwe them downe by the same power by the which thou wilt defend me 12 Surelie there needeth none other witnes but their owne words to conuince them of wickednes graunt therefore that they beeing conuicted by their owne arrogancie may be punished For they haue none other thing in their mouth but cursings and slanders 13 Wherefore at the length when thou hast set them foorth as a sufficient example whereby thy seruants maie be taught consume them wholie consume them I saie being most iustlie angrie with them that al men may knowe vnto the vttermost parts of the world that thou art that true and onlie God which gouernest the familie of Iacob 14 But what wil they do in the meane time euen lie in wait for thy seruant about his owne house and returning in the euening they wil barke like dogs and run about the citie least I escape anie waie 15 And they wil seeke their supper where soeuer they can get it but though they doe not finde enough to fil their greedie guts yet wil they watch about my house for to take me 16 But I wil declare thy power and wil shew foorth thy praise earlie in the morning because thou hast defended me and wast my refuge in extreame danger 17 For al my helpe resteth onlie in thee therefore though I be now closed in on euerie side yet wil I declare thy praise vpon the harpe which hast set me in safetie ô God to whose onelie free mercie I attribute my deliuerance PSALME LX. The Argument The Hebrue title declareth that the historie which is written 2. Sam. 8. and 1. Chron. 23. hath ministred the occasion for this Psalme that is to saie the battel that he had with the Assyrians and the king of Zobah whome Dauid ouercame as he did also al the people about him as he prophesied before by the power of the spirit in this Psalme For the order of the text seemeth not to suffer that we should saie that it was written after those victories And we learne amongest other things by this praier written in the name of the whole people that though the Church seeme sometimes to be vtterlie lost as it came to passe oft in the time of the Iudges and chieflie when Saule was slaine that God yet mindful of his couenant doth raise vp the banner of his word afterward more high than euer before stirring vp men indued with heroical spirites But we must remember that thâ—se things are now to be applied rather to the spiritual enimies of the Church than against the armies that fight with outward weapon although God also doth defend his from them THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O God thou verelie art worthily angrie with vs thou hast beaten vs backe and deliuered vs to the rage of the Philistins yea and thou hast set one of vs at war
they not being thus contented with the destruction of thy temple when they had thus determined to spoile al things at once that there should be no monument of vs at al remaining they burnt vp al the other buildings that we anie where had built for the hearing of thy precepts and to set forth thy praises 9 At the least ô Lord we should now see some of those our old and accustomed signes and wee should haue some one prophet who might comfort vs and might signifie vnto vs what end would be to these calamities 10 But how long ô God shal these enimies raile against thee shal this enimie neuer cease to reproch thy holie name 11 And wilt thou for euer hold in thy right hand whereby onelie we can be deliuered wilt thou turne it awaie from vs and neuer drawe it out of thy bosome 12 But thou art he who hast taken in hand to gouerne me so manie yeares ago and hast saued me so oft al they beholding and fighting against me 13 Thou by thy power hast made the sea passable for our sake and hast broken the heads of the mightie men of Aegypt being like dragons within the waters 14 Thou hast broken the head of that huge and cruel whale and thou hast giuen their carcases to be deuoured by the beastes of that wildernes 15 Thou euen contrarie to the course of nature breaking the huge rocke didst bring forth a riuer out of the veines of the flint stones and contrariwise thou diddest drie vp suddenlie the deepe chanel of that most raging riuer 16 Thou art the Authour and Ruler both of daie and night which hast set in order the certaine and vnchangeable motions of the light and of the Sunne 17 Thou hast diuided the whole compas of the earth into their borders thou hast appointed the course of summer and winter 18 And how much more easilie canst thou restore thy people if thou please in what desperate case soeuer they be onelie therefore be mindful of that thy couenant yea though thou couldst forget thy people yet doubtles thou canst not forget thine owne selfe And what reproches hath not this enimie cast foorth against thee ô Lord and what railings haue not this mad people vsed against thee 19 Ah! do not forsake nor giue vp this thy most deare turtle doue counted to be forsaken mourning vnto thee vnto these most cruel beastes neither commit the congregation of thy miserable people to perpetual obliuion 20 Remember rather thy couenant ô Lord for the whole land is now nothing else but a den of theeues and robbers 21 Let not the praiers we beseech thee of thine being so sore beaten and vexed with so manie reproches be vaine and frustrate but rather giue occasion to them that are oppressed and destitute of al succour to praise thee 22 Arise ô Lord and pleade thine owne cause and do not forget the reproches of these outragious men which they dailie cast out against thee 23 Forget not I saie the outcries of thine aduersaries but declare in deede that the brute of their tumult is come vp vnto thee PSALME LXXV The Argument Whether this Psalme were written by Asaph in the name of Dauid or it were written by Dauid himselfe and after deliuered to Asaph the singer and chanter it doth wholie agree vnto those times when Dauid reigned in the citie of Hebron when he was readie to receiue the kingdome of the whole nation by the common consent of al the tribes and it conteineth three principal points to wit that God is the Author and gouernour of al iust policie againe that these be the two principal duties of the magistrates euen to be a terror to those that be euil and to cherish them that be good finallie that this is the chiefe and final end of al namelie that glorie be giuen vnto God THE PARAPHRASIS 1 WE praise thee we praise thee ô God and that most worthilie whose power we do feele present and shal find hereafter and so shal we againe set forth thy wonderful benefites 2 And I wil surelie care for nothing so much when I shal haue the people by thy goodnes committed vnto me as to institute an holie and righteous gouernement 3 For as the case now standeth al the bonds of lawes being broken the whole kingdome is disordered but I wil againe establish the pillers thereof which are remoued foorth of their places 4 I wil bridle the proud and dissolute persons I wil terrifie the wicked that they shal not lift their hornes so high with these words 5 O ye mad men do not henceforth exalt your selues neither answere you so stoutlie and proudlie as ye are wont 6 For as ye may wel perceiue which way soeuer a man doth turne him it is not in his power to mount to higher dignitie 7 But it belongeth to God alone the most iust gouernour of al things and it is in his power and authoritie to cast off whome he wil and to exalt whome he pleaseth 8 Wherefore thou doest not resist me but God himselfe And the Lord doth carrie in his hand a cup ful of troubled wine and ful of dregs the which he wil giue to al the wicked to sucke vp and to drinke to the verie dregs 9 Thus then I diligentlie praising the God of Iacob and singing vnto him continuallie wil cut off the hornes of the wicked but I wil increase the iust with honours PSALME LXXVI The Argument J do take it to haue the same Argument and the same occasion to be of the writing of this Psalme as of the 46. and this is most notable in them both that he distinguisheth plainelie that knowledge of God whereby the Gentiles are rather conuinced than taught and conuerted from that wisedome which Christ saith that it can not be perceiued of flesh and bloud which is onlie peculiar to the Church of God and whereby onelie the true Catholike Church may and ought to be knowne and distinguished from the residue of mankinde and especiallie from the false and fained apostatical Church which onelie delighteth in ignorance THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THAT true God of Israël is onelie knowne in Iudëa who he is and he doth there onlie declare himselfe in deede how great and what maner of one he is 2 And though he fil both the heauen and the earth yet doth he not dwel euerie-where but in Salem as his tabernacle witnesseth which is placed in Sion 3 And experience it selfe doth declare this to be a most manifest testimonie of his presence seeing it is he who hath there broken in peeces the bowes and arrowes the shields the speares and al the instruments of war of the enimies of his people at once 4 Thus then hath he set foorth his owne glorie and he hath declared himselfe to be more mightie than al those spoilers people or kings how proud soeuer 5 For they how fierce or famous so euer they were are bereaued of their weapons and spoiles neither were they able
Asaph and others THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord mightie in battell how amiable are thy tabernacles 2 Wherefore for the desire of the visiting of thy courtes ô Lord which is vtterlie denied me I am wholie consumed coueting most earnestlie both in bodie and mind to come vnto thee ô God the authour of life 3 Oh alas is my condition worse than that of the sparowes and swalowes to whome it is permitted to finde some place where they may make their nests ô thine altars Lord of hosts my King and my God 4 O blessed are they that are permitted to dwel with thee and to set foorth thy praises continuallie 5 O blessed is that man to whome thou giuest grace to vse those thy sacraments appointed to strengthen their faith and who as he commeth in bodie vnto thy sanctuarie carrieth thy lawes grauen in his heart 6 Wherefore me thinkes I see the great multitudes of them that come vnto thee to go thorough the drie mores and wild figtrees affraid of no difficulties by the waie who rather than they should leaue off the iournie that they haue vndertaken do partlie dig pits with great diligence to receiue the running waters partlie do make cesternes with great labour to holde the raine-water 7 Neither do they ceasse but continue and increase in constancie whilest that one band and multitude meeting now and then with another they do come vnto thee ô high God into thy presence euen vnto Sion 8 O Lord of hosts heare my praiers giue eare vnto me poore miser ô God of Iacob 9 O God our defender behold me and regard the king whome thou hast annointed 10 For how far better is it to passe one daie in thy house than a thousand in anie place elsewhere therefore I wish rather my God to be the porter in thy house than to haue anie maner of condition amongst the prophane men polluted with sinne 11 For in other places there are continual and horrible darkenes but light is onelie with thee which art the verie true Sunne it selfe ô Lord and nothing is safe anie where else but in thee ô God the defender of thine there is most certaine safetie and the abundance of thy blessings which is appointed to them that trulie and sincerelie worship thee is infinite 12 O blessed is he Lord of hoasts which setteth al his confidence onlie in thee PSALME LXXXV The Argument This Psalme hauing the Korites for the authours thereof manie do refer to the time which folowed their returne from the captiuitie of Babylon when yet the building of the temple and the citie was letted by the Gentiles that dwelt about them But I leaue it to be considered whether it ought rather to be applied to the beginning of the kingdome of Dauid so that by the name of captiuitie not the carieng awaie of them from their habitation is to be vnderstood but the miserable seruitude of the people vnder the Palestines which had ouercome them after the death of Saule Howsoeuer it is we vnderstand by this Psalme that the Church is so pressed and vexed euen when God seemeth most iustlie to be angrie that yet it is not oppressed Furthermore this Psalme doth teach vs with what weapons chieflie the enimies being conquerours are repulsed euen by repentance and by praiers proceeding of faith whereof we haue heere a most excellent example Finallie there is added a verie cleare prophesie of the sending of Messiah in whom as Paule saith al the blessings are ratified that we may learne which are the proper and peculiar benefites of the Church and of the spiritual kingdome of Christ and to whome we must attribute the benefite of publike peace and tranquillitie when God doth grant it vnto vs. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord thou hast manie times shewed thy selfe merciful to the inhabitants of thy land thou hast restored the posteritie of Iacob from most miserable bondage vnto libertie 2 Thou hast taken awaie the iniquitie of thy people thou hast couered al their sinnes 3 Thou hast put awaie al thy wrath thou hast suppressed thy wrath I saie that it should not vtterlie flame foorth 4 Continue now therefore ô God our deliuerer to change our miserable condition and command thy wrath wholie to depart 5 I praie thee wilt thou be angrie for euer and wilt thou continue thy wrath vnto al ages 6 Wilt thou not rather restore vs to life againe and giue vs occasion againe to praise thee with great gladnes 7 Ah Lord graunt that thy mercie may appeare vnto vs and that we being deliuered may haue experience of thy great benignitie 8 But why should I vse manie words vnto God surelie it is better diligentlie to heare what God our Lord answereth vnto me For I nothing doubt but he wil answere most gentlie and promise al prosperitie to that his people towards whome it hath alwaie pleased him to vse so great liberalitie that they being admonished may be wise hereafter 9 For although al things seeme desperate deliuerance is not far off from them that worship him and that time is neere when our land now lieng in miserie shal recouer her former beautie 10 For the mercie of God shal shine vnto vs to whom also his truth shal ioine in societie Furthermore iustice and peace another noble match meeting together with mutual imbraceings shal receiue one another 11 Then the minds of men being changed againe from infidelitie vnto faithfulnes truth comming downe from heauen shal appeare in earth which the spirit of righteousnes shal make fruitful from aboue 12 So wil it come to passe that the Lord wil powre out al kind of good things vpon vs and the earth shal bring foorth her fruits abundantlie 13 Finallie al things shal be done in most due manner and order and euerie man shal frame his manners after the rule appointed of God PSALME LXXXVI The Argument This Psalme of Dauid doth also containe a verie notable example of most feruent praiers with most pretious sentences adioined partlie of the wil of God declared vnto vs and oftentimes experienced towards vs partlie drawne from his infinite power whereby wee may be comforted euen in the greatest miseries and most desperate Now the praier of Dauid is of two sorts one that he may be preserued in this life against his most cruel and most mightie enimies vnto this end that the name of God may be spread to the vttermost coasts of the earth namelie by the comming of Messiah which should be borne of him the which promise should come to naught vnlesse God did bridle the rage and madnes of the enimies another cause the chiefe is euen as the foundation of the former that God should not suffer him being broken with the greatnes of the dangers to fal awaie as it happeneth somtimes euen to them that are most strong vnlesse that God by the power of his spirit doe strengthen our wauering faith THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GIue eare vnto me ô Lord and heare mee that am oppressed
and poore 2 Preserue the life of him that is promoted by thy benefite preserue ô my God I saie thy seruant that flieth vnto thee 3 Haue mercie vpon me ô Lord crieng dailie vnto thee 4 Refresh the soule of thy seruant for vnto thee alone ô Lord my soule doth lift it selfe 5 For thou ô Lord art verelie good and merciful and vsest great clemencie and kindnes towards them that cal vpon thee 6 Giue eare vnto my praiers ô Lord and receiue the words of him that praieth vnto thee 7 Neither doe I crie without cause vnto thee but being in most extreame miserie therefore thou wilt heare me 8 For verelie amongst al those feined gods vnto whome the mad men doe attribute so much who is to be compared vnto thee ô Lord and who is able to doe like vnto thee 9 Wherefore al nations in the end shal cast awaie their false gods and shal knowledge thee their creator and reuerencing thee shal giue thee al praise 10 For thou verelie art great thou onelie art God the author and worker of maruellous works 11 Teach me ô Lord the waie that thou hast appointed that I may shew my selfe faithful and trulie obedient vnto thee and cleauing wholie vnto thee may set my mind to serue thee 12 O Lord my God I wil praise thee with my whole heart and magnifie thy name for euer 13 Seeing I haue the experience of thine infinite goodnes in my selfe and am deliuered from the lowest pit of the graue by thee 14 Thou seest doubtles how cruel and proud men do arise vp against me and how such as regard nothing lesse than thee doe labour with al power to take my life from me 15 But thou ô Lord God vpon whome onlie I do depend wholie art verelie merciful and pitiful and art not hastie vnto anger most merciful I saie and most ful of truth 16 Take care of me therefore for thine infinite mercie and helpe thy bond-seruant 17 Grant finallie that I may manifestlie knowe that thou louest me that mine enimies may be ashamed of themselues when they see that thou dost helpe and comfort me PSALME LXXXVII The Argument Manie do applie this Psalme to the time of the second temple but I had rather to attribute it to that time of the kingdome of Dauid when he set vp a tabernacle for the Arke of the Lord in that part of the citie that bare his name euen the mount Sion whilest that the temple was builded Howsoeuer it is besides the prophesie of spreading the Church of God thoughout the whole world this Psalme doth teach vs with a maruellous and diuine breuitie vnder the figure of that earthlie either temple or tabernacle either first or second that the worke of the building of the spiritual temple of God which is made of liuely stones euen the Church is altogither diuine and that the foundation thereof is onelie the good pleasure of God and that the Church is not bound to one place alone and that nothing is more stable and durable than the Church finallie that the true and euerlasting ioie doth onlie there remaine as hauing the promises both of this life and of the life to come THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THe Lord minding to build vnto himselfe a firme and stable habitation hath chosen these hils consecrated them to himselfe 2 And he hath preferred the gates of Sion aboue al the habitations of Iacob because it so pleased him 3 Wherfore excellent things are decreed of thee ô citie of God 4 For behold saith the Lord I wil account both Aegypt and Babylon amongst my people so that they shal be no more enimies vnto thee and the verie Philistins the Tyrians and Arabians shal be numbred amongst thy citizens 5 Finallie men of al nations shal not be as aliens and strangers but they shal be the natiue citizens of Sion the which God wil establish from aboue 6 For God accounting the people wil write them al in his booke 7 There shal al sound with singers and shawmes there saith the Lord al the fountaines of my benefits shal flowe foorth PSALME LXXXVIII The Argument The Hebrue title doth testifie that the writer of this Psalme was Heman by his countrie surnamed Esrait a kinsman and fellowe of Asaph of whome most honourable mention is made 1. Chron. 6 33. and 15 4. where it is said that he was a Prophet to the king and a singer and of singular wisedome 2. Kings 4.31 So that I thinke they are deceiued who refer this Psalme to the time of Joakim the last king of Iu l◠saue one who was captiue in Babylon And it conteineth such a lamentation as there is none more lamentable and pitiful in the whole Psalmes the which the whole Church and the families and also euerie priuate man may vse both in publike and priuate miseries Therefore was this Psalme afore-time named amongst the penitentials as they called them and was sung at the publike confession of the excommunicate persons the which Psalmes afterward we haue seene to be applied foolishlie and without reason to a daily and priuate babbling without respect either of time or person THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord GOD of whome I doe wait for my deliuerance I cal for thy helpe daie and night 2 Let my praiers I beseech thee come vnto thee and giue eare vnto my crie 3 My soule is ful of miserie neither is my life far from the graue 4 For I am more like to a dead than to a liuing man by the iudgement of al that doe behold me 5 And as though I had no part with the liuing I am now counted amongst the dead and amongst them that lie in graue of whose life there is none account as those whome thy hand hath cut off at once 6 And I am cast by thee as into the lowest darke and deepe pit 7 Thy wrath lieth vpon me and thou hast ouerwhelmed me with al thy flouds 8 Thou hast put al my familiars from mee vnto whome I am so loathsome not without thy knowledge so that I keepe my selfe within my house as it were in a prison and dare not go one foot forth 9 Mine eies are consumed through sorowe yet cal I vpon thee dailie ô Lord spreading foorth my hands 10 And wil there be time to exercise thy great power when men are dead wilt thou restore them to life againe that they may giue thee praise 11 Shal they that lie in graue set foorth thy mercie there and shal they that are dead set foorth thy truth againe here 12 Shal those that lie buried in the darknes of death knowe thy woonderful workes and they whose memorie death hath blotted out from the liuing acknowledge thy righteousnes 13 Wherfore I cease not to cal vpon thee ô Lord and I doe preuent the morning light in powring foorth my praiers 14 Why dost thou refuse mine oppressed soule ô Lord why doest thou turne awaie thy face from mee 15 Ah! I am miserable and readie to
being for this cause replenished with ioie and comforted with thy iudgements ô Lord wil reioice 9 Go to then ô Lord sitting vpon thy most high throne rule thou the whole earth and exalt thy selfe aboue al that is aloft anie-where 10 And ye that loue the Lord continue to hate that which is euil and doubt nothing but that he which hath freelie embraced you with so great fauour wil defend you also most mightilie and wil deliuer you from the wicked 11 And though this light of the mercie of God doth not streightwaie shine vnto the godlie let them remember that like as the seedes which are sowen in the earth do not foorthwith spring vp naie though they lie longer hid in the bowels of the earth yet they come forth more plentifullie euen so the light of righteousnes is sowen for them that loue that light whereby it shal wholie come to passe that al they that leade an vpright life are replenished with incredible ioie 12 Reioice ye therefore in the Lord so great a King ô al ye iust and magnifie the holie remembrance of him continuallie PSALME XCVIII The Argument This Psalme is the same almost with the ninetie and sixe and it conteineth the prophesie of the spreading of the kingdome of the Messiah and repeateth it againe of the which prophesie Simeon Zacharie and Marie the mother of the Lord in those their most famous hymnes are most diuine interpreters vsing almost the selfe-same words But this Psalme doth teach three things of most great importance euen in three verses One verse 1. that Christ our mediatour in this worke of our redemption hath no coadiutor at al nor partener the which heauenlie doctrine doth confute that diuelish dotage of the merits of saints as they cal them with what painted colours soeuer it be intruded and it giueth to God alone his due glorie as wel in the redemption as in the creation of man The second verse 2. that al this redemption consisteth in the iustice of Christ himselfe which verelie can not be made ours but by imputation The third verse 3. that al this benefit doth flowe foorth from the onelie free promise and truth of God himselfe THE PARAPHRASIS 1 SIng vnto the Lord a new song for he hath now shewed foorth al that his maruellous power by ouercomming al his enimies by his owne right hand onelie and by his owne arme alone 2 And now in the end he setteth foorth to be seene before al nations this benefit of so great a deliuerance which was so long looked for of our fathers and now at the length is performed which did lie hid before as in a corner euen his owne iustice wherewith they being indued shal not onlie escape the damnation which their vnrighteousnes deserueth but also shal obteine the crowne of iustice promised 3 And if anie demand what hath mooued him at the length to so great bountifulnes let him knowe that al this proceedeth from hence that hee is mindful of the promise that he hath made and by the same mercie that he was moued to promise it by the same he is moued to perfourme it in deede that he might shew himselfe most bountiful in verie deede vnto al men to the vttermost borders of the earth 4 Go to then al ye inhabitants of the earth blowe vp the trumpets vnto God sound out the instruments sing a triumphant song vnto him sing praises vnto him 5 Sing vnto the Lord both with the harps and with voices by order and course 6 Go before the King Iehouah with sounding trumpets and shalmes 7 Let the sea how wide soeuer sound againe and also the whole world with the song of al the inhabitants of the earth 8 Let the verie flouds sound round about with their noise and the verie mountaines with triumphant songs 9 Before the Lord that shal vndertake the gouernement of the world and shal gouerne the people most iustlie and vprightlie PSALME XCIX The Argument This Psalme was set foorth that the people what storme soeuer should arise turning vnto God should learne to set foorth the promise of the Messiah against al terrours of whome he so plainlie speaketh as though he had bene now present at the same time commanding al men euen to behold him in the visible sacraments set before them because they were no vaine signes of his most present fauour being euen the same in signification that ours are seeing there is but one and the same Christ whether he be to be shewed or alreadie exhibited although their signes were differing from ours Furthermore he adioineth the testimonies of three most godlie men Moses Aaron and Samuel whose office was to praie vnto God for the people both that whilest that priesthood appointed of God should remaine in authoritie the people should surelie iudge that the same God should be present with them who was with them of old as also they which desired to be heard might followe the same waie of faith and godlines that they did vnto the which doctrine of the publike and ecclesiastical praiers that is to be applied which Paule writeth 1. Timoth. 2 1. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 NOw I beseech you why should we feare the force or threatenings of anie man seeing we haue the Lord himselfe to be our King let the people fret as much as they lust yea let the earth wauer the foundations being shaken it is enough that he is with vs that inhabiteth the Cherubims 2 Verelie the Lord hath declared abundantlie the greatnes of his power in Sion and al the people nil they wil they shal be subiect to his power 3 Let vs therefore neither feare nor yet doubt but rather trusting vpon the most assured protection of God magnifie that his mightie and terrible name to the enimies for it is holie and therefore al honour is due vnto it 4 For is not this our King as he is indued with most great power so also the louer of iustice wherefore we neede to seeke none other succour besides him neither neede we to doubt but that he wil punish most sharplie al them of whome we are vniustlie oppressed For it is not possible that he should suffer their wickednes vnaduenged who is the authour of equitie it selfe hath set downe the verie rule of iustice vnto the posteritie of Iacob 5 Go to then praise ye the Lord our God and falling downe before his footestoole worship him for he is holie 6 For this cause did he consecrate Moses and Aaron of old and set Samuel also amongst them who did exercise the office of the mediator for the people the which thing whilest they did carefullie praieng vnto God they were heard of the Lord. Why then should wee doubt seeing that same priesthoode is of force but that we folowing their example should now also be heard 7 And also he did speake to those our fathers of old out of the cloudie piller vnto whome because they should keepe his commandements he prescribed the rites of
awaie al the cause of their deadlie disease and restored them to health 21 Let these men therefore praise this his so great mercie before the Lord also and publish his maruelous workes before other mortal men 22 Let them offer the sacrifices of praise vnto the Lord I saie and let them rehearse with great ioie what he hath done for them 23 But they which go vnto the seas by ship and there continue and are occupied in the waters 24 They surelie behold the great workes of the Lord and they may see with their eies how maruelous he doth shew himselfe in the mightie surges of the sea 25 For so sonne as he speaketh the windes do rise and streightwaies stir vp horrible tempests and the seas do swel with the raging stormes 26 The mariners with their ships are now lifted vp to heauen and now rolled downe to the lowe bottomes their minds fainting for feare 27 The whirlewindes do tosse them round about they stagger here and there like dronken men so that neither their cunning nor their strength hath anie place 28 Whome yet calling vnto him in this distresse the Lord deliuereth from these miseries wherwith they were vexed 29 For he which had raised the stormes doth calme them and the raging of the flouds doth suddenlie cease 30 But they when the flouds are asswaged being ioiful are at the length brought by him into the desired hauens 31 Go to then ye also set forth so great mercie of the Lord before him and declare vnto other mortal men his maruelous workes 32 Let these men I saie praise the Lord in the mid multitude of the people standing about them yea let them praise him in the assemblie of their chiefe men 33 For he the same so oft as he pleaseth turneth the wildernes into flouds and the wel warred places into a drie wildernes 34 And he turneth the most fruiteful countries into extreame barrennesse prouoked by the sinnes of the inhabitants 35 Contrariwise he bringeth in againe springs of waters flowing abundantlie vpon the deserts and countries not inhabited for their drinesse 36 And he placeth there men that liue most miserablie before who do also build most populous cities 37 Do sowe the fields do plant vines do reape corne in abundance 38 Euen because he of his singular mercie doth both multiplie them and doth increase their cattel maruelouslie 39 And they againe so doth he change the course of things are diminished and oppressed with anguish and are broken with al kinde of calamitie and miserie 40 He also maketh the princes which were terrible to others before by taking aware al their authoritie most contemptible and despised that they knowe not whither to turne them 41 He also raiseth vp the poore and oppressed and spreadeth their families like a flocke 42 Let al them therefore which are of vpright iudgement behold marke these things and take great pleasure thereof but contrariwise let al the wicked which raile against Gods prouidence being conuicted hold their peace 43 Lo then therefore whosoeuer is desirous of true wisedome let him giue himselfe wholie to consider these things that he may atteine vnto the knowledge of the infinite mercie of the Lord. PSALME CVIII The Argument This Psalme is gathered partlie of the 7 8 9 10 11 verses of the 57. Psalme partlie of the 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 verses of the 60. Psalme where ye may seeke the argument THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Being prepared with my whole heart ô God to praise thee desire to do it both with voice and instruments go to therefore my tongue 2 Go to viol and harpe awake with me in the morning 3 The nations most far off shal heare me publishing thy praises the people shal heare me singing vnto thee 4 For thy goodnes surelie hath extended it selfe vnto the verie heauens and thy truth euen vnto the clouds 5 Declare thy selfe ô God to sit aboue the heauens and shew thy glorie to the whole compas of the earth 6 That they may be deliuered whome thou louest saue them therefore by thy power and heare me 7 And doubtles it wil so come to passe God speaking vnto vs out of his sanctuarie Wherefore I wholie reioice now of the victorie for GOD wil graunt vnto mee that I shal set my kingdome in order and ouercome mine enimies Therefore I wil diuide the fieldes of the Sichemites and wil measure out the vallie of Succoth 8 I wil haue in possession my Gilead and Manasseh beyond Iordan driuing awaie the Gentiles that are about them Ephraim shal be the greatest part of mine armie I wil place the throne of iudgement in Iudah 9 But the strangers how stout soeuer shal do my seruile workes the Moabites shal hold vnder the basen to wash my feete I wil command the Idumëans to take vp my shooes being put off and cast vpon their heads I wil triumph ouer proud Palestina with ioiful acclamations as she hath triumphed ouer vs before 10 But by whose conduct shal I win so manie strong cities and what power shal I rest vpon to come into Idumëa 11 Verelie thou being our captaine and trusting vnto thy power ô my God though thou haue forsaken vs before and hast refused a long space to go before our armies 12 Therfore helpe thou vs ô Lord after the calamities of so manie yeares for the help is vaine that is hoped for of men 13 We trusting onlie vnto God shal do valiantlie he alone wil treade downe our enimies PSALME CIX The Argument This Psalme is written by Dauid with such a terrible and feareful stile as thou canst scarselie finde anie example in the whole scripture like vnto it wherefore it must be vsed in praier and also read with greate iudgement yet is there some vse thereof so that we adde these cautions Namelie first of al that we be not drawne with the spirit of vâ—ngeance or false zeale but that wee seeke rather the glorie of God onlie and that earnestlâ—e and as he himselfe commandeth then least we vse these and such like praiers vnaduisâ—dlie against certaine persons seeing that we can not easilie knowe who do sinne vnto death and we are bound to praie for the repentance and saluation of al. For otherwise that wee may make praiers indefinitelie and with the exception of the sâ—cret iudgements of God being led with the true zeale of God against the enimies who of desperate malice yeeld their seruice vnto Sathan and persecute Christ and his members cruellie with an euil conscience that he wil destroie those euil men as they deserue it is plaine hereby that Christ himselfe commandeth vs dulie to praie that his kingdome may come the which thing verelie can not come to passe but by the ouerthrowing of the kingdome of Antichrist and by destroieng al the desperate enimies of the Gospel and of the true Church Yea of such imprecations conceiued against certaine persons we haue not onelie this example and others also in the Psalmes but
that put their trust in him 10 Thou chieflie the ofspring of Aaron which ought to go before others both in doctrine and example trust in the Lord the sure shield and defender of al that put their trust in him 11 Finallie how manie soeuer do professe to worship Iehouah trust you in the Lord who is the shield and defender of them that fixe their hope in him 12 The Lord doubt ye not careth for vs he wil blesse he wil blesse the posteritie of Israël he wil blesse the kindred of Aaron 13 The Lord is bountiful toward his true worshippers both toward the noble and also the most abiect 14 He wil heape you euen you I saie and your posteritie with new benefits more and more 15 For the Lord which hath made the heauen and the earth hath receiued you into his fauour 16 And he inhabiting those most high heauens from whence he ruleth al things hath granted the vse of the earth and of infinite good creatures wherewith he hath adorned it vnto men of his singular liberalitie 17 Euen for this purpose that they should publish his glorie in the earth the which thing verelie the dead can not perfourme vnto whome death it selfe taking awaie the vse of the tongue hath inioined silence 18 Deliuer vs therefore ô God that we may sing foorth thy glorie both now being aliue and for euer Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CXVI The Argument Whether we refer this Psalme vnto Dauid whom we certainlie knowe to haue bene maruellouslie deliuered oftentimes by the Lord from most present death and also froÌ„ most great anguish of mind or to anie other it conteineth an example of a singular thankesgiuing whereby we may vnderstand how far sometime the best and most vpright men vse to be cast downe and vnto whom in such case we must flie finallie how happie an end there shal be of al temptations so that we refraine our impatience by the bridle of faith THE PARAPHRASIS 1 AL my loue is in the Lord hearing the voice of my praier 2 And giuing attentiue eares vnto mee wherefore also I wil cal vpon him so long as I liue 3 Behold I was bound in the chaines of death the verie anguish of the graue held me being ouercome with the sorrowes of my heart 4 Then I called vpon the name of the Lord I beseech thee ô Lord said I deliuer my most miserable soule 5 And what else should I say here than that which I streightwaies prooued in deed verelie that God is verie mild toward his and verie iust in perfourming his promises and that our God is most merciful 6 And that the Lord finallie doth defend those that walk plainlie vprightlie because he did help me so readilie when I was brought to extremitie 7 Go to therefore ô my seelie soule returne now vnto thy selfe and take rest seeing that so notable a change of thy state is wrought by the Lord. 8 For thou ô Lord hast deliuered my life from death thou hast staied the teares of mine eies thou hast established my feete that I did not fal 9 So that I may walke now safe and sound before thee among the liuing 10 For I beleeued the promises of the Lord and therefore did I speake euen my faith ministring voice and words to me being most sore oppressed with sorrowe 11 For I grant that I was so far cast downe that I knewe not whither to turne me and finding no staie anie-where did decline vnto this that I iudged with my selfe that both the very men and whatsoeuer they do is nothing 12 But ô Lord this most dangerous temptation being ouercome by thy power for how can that thing be vaine which is taken in hand by thine appointment or how can they be nothing with thee vpon whome thou hast bestowed thy grace what shal I giue againe vnto thee for al thy benefites which thou hast bestowed vpon me 13 Verelie I wil take in my hands the cup of thankful sacrifice and calling vpon thee by name ô Lord I wil testifie openlie that I knowledge this deliuerance to be of thee 14 And those things which I vowed vnto thee ô Lord when I was in danger wil I now paie in the presence of al the people 15 I acknowledge therefore and professe as the truth is that thou doest not despise those to whom thou hast once bin beneficial but louest them most deerelie and that thou wilt in no wise vnaduisedlie destroie them 16 Verelie therefore I am thy seruant thy seruant I saie euen thy bond seruant and therfore hast thou broken the bonds wherewith I was bound 17 And I againe as is meete doe render vnto thee this sacrifice of praise and cal vpon thy name 18 I paie the vowes vnto thee which I haue promised before the whole assemblie of the people 19 And that in the courts of thy house ô Lord and in the middest of the citie Ierusalem Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CXVII The Argument The vocation of the Gentiles is prophesied in this most short but verie excellent Psalme as Paule interpreteth it Rom. 15 11. And also the summe of the Gospel is declared namelie the giuing of the grace and truth as Iohn doth expound it Iohn 1 17. and the end also namelie the worshipping of God in spirit and truth that we may knowe that the kingdome of Messiah is spiritual Finallie we are here taught what is the office of the subiects of this kingdome and what good things they ought to waite for THE PARAPHRASIS 1 PRaise ye now the Lord ô al ye Gentiles casting awaie al your fained Gods and al ye people set forth his praise 2 For now at the length that his great mercie hath ouercome and is powred downe vpon vs and the truth of that eternal saluation promised of the Lord is now perfourmed Praise the Lord. PSALME CXVIII The Argument J do agree vnto them that attribute this excellent Psalme vnto Dauid and do suppose that it was written at the first beginning of his kingdome when the nations about him were readie to inuade him either in the feast of passeouer or in the feâ—st of the Tabernacles both that he might giue thanks to God after he had ouercome so manie difficulties and also that they which had so long resisted him might knowe that they resisted God and again that the whole people might so much the more willingly receiue the king that was giuen them froÌ„ heauen And it appeareth that Dauid so wrote these things of himselfe and of things that were past that they did chieflie appertaine to the Messias of whome he was a figure Esaie 8 14. and 28 16. Math. 21 42. Acts. 4 11. Rom. 9.33 Ephes 2 20. 1. Pet. 2 7. And Ierome witnesseth that this Psalme was thus expounded in the synagogues by the ancient Iewes the which thing is manifestlie confirmed by those ioiful acclamations of the people taken out of this Psalme when as they receiued him at his last entrance into the
themselues to vnrighteousnes which folowe the waie that he sheweth 4 For neither hast thou ô Lord commanded anie thing vnaduisedlie either as things that we should onlie vnderstand or idlie consider but thou hast commanded that they should be obserued and kept with al diligence 5 And would to God that my manners might so be ordered by thy gouernement that I might most constantlie perseuere in keeping most carefullie thy statutes 6 For then shal al things go wel with me when I shal turne the eies of my mind vnto al thy commandements 7 For then verelie shal I onlie worship thee rightlie and purelie when I do not folowe this or that manner of worship but shal learne thy most iust lawes 8 Therefore am I fullie purposed to keepe thy statutes and thou neuer forsake me when I am in distresse THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. II. 9 I Praie you by what meanes can the youth which of it selfe is headie to al kinde of vice purelie and holilie direct his manners euen if he obserue diligentlie those things which thou hast spoken vnto vs. 10 I certainelie do seeke thee with my whole heart and thou which hast wrought this wil in me staie me furthermore least I being drawne awaie with anie euil affection do wander from thy precepts 11 I do beare thy word that is laide vp in my heart like a pretious treasure least I offend thee in anie matter 12 But except thou thy selfe ô Lord that art greater than al praise hadst bin my maister and instructer trulie I should nothing haue preuailed therefore teach thou me thy statutes 13 Then euen I speaking openlie wil shew forth the lawes that are set downe by thy most holie mouth 14 I take much more pleasure of this one thing that I may keepe that waie which thou hast testified to please thee than if I had attained al the treasures of al men 15 Therefore wil I meditate thy commaundements continuallie and wil applie my whole mind to obserue thy waies 16 I wil delight my mind I saie in thy statutes neither wil I at anie time forget thy words THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. III. 17 BVT thou ô Lord continue to embrace me againe thy most bound seruant with the same fauour that I ouercomming al difficulties may remaine to obserue those things which thou hast spoken vnto vs. 18 Roll awaie that vaile which taketh awaie from the eies of my mind al the vse of the true light that I may behold those vndoubted wonderful secrets which do shine foorth of that thy heauenlie doctrine 19 For I am a stranger in the earth striuing to go to another place euen to that better heauenlie life wherefore I beseech thee hide not from mee thy precepts which verelie leade vs thither 20 For I am so inflamed wholie with great desire of knowing and keeping thy lawes both in prosperitie and aduersitie that this zeale consumeth me 21 Thou vsest to rebuke to destroie the haughtie persons and such as stubbornlie striue against thee and they are worthilie appointed to destruction whosoeuer refuse thy precepts 22 But these notwithstanding vse to reproch me with al kind of contumelie but thou remoue these things far from me because I do folowe thy wil that thou hast testified vnto vs. 23 For euen the princes and the great men also assembling themselues together do take counsel against me and slander me but I giue my selfe wholie to meditate thy statutes whilest they thus deale with me 24 These are my delightes these are the men whose counsel I vse THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. IIII. 25 YEt I confesse that I can not be but tormented most greeuouslie with so manie vndeserued iniuries so that I may seeme now without life and fastened to the graue but restore thou life vnto me like as thou doest promise this thing by thy word whereof onlie I aske counsel and comfort 26 For I do vse to open al mine affaires vnto thee and thou didst neuer faile me asking counsel of thee therefore teach me thy statutes more and more 27 Grant I saie that I may dailie knowe in these difficulties what waie is agreeable to thy commandements and that I may rest in the consideration of that maruelous wisedome which shineth foorth in them 28 For it is necessarie so to do for I wholie melt awaie for sorowe raise me now vp therfore that am fallen downe as thou hast promised by thy word 29 Remoue thou far from me whatsoeuer things may drawe me awaie from truth and right and rather graunt thou me that I may hold the waie prescribed by thy doctrine 30 For I haue chosen this as the true waie and I do prefer this before al other things 31 O Lord I endeuour my selfe I saie to cleaue fast vnto those things which are approoued by thy testimonie of the which my purpose grant I beseech thee that I do neuer repent 32 And I being drawne foorth of these streightes by thee as it were into a most broade place wil finish the whole course of my life by the direction of thy precepts THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. V. 33 TEach me ô Lord the order of life set foorth in thy decrees of the which I was not able of my selfe once to thinke that I may keepe it to the ende 34 Graunt that I may thoroughlie knowe thy doctrine the which I may obserue and keepe with al my heart 35 Direct me also that am entred into the waie of these thy precepts for there is nothing wherein I more delight 36 I beseech thee to turne my minde from filthie lucre which of it selfe would run a contrarie waie and incline it to embrace those things which thou testifiest to please thee 37 Keepe backe mine eies also that they be not deceiued by the enticing shew of most vaine things but rather bring me into the true life following thee my guide 38 And establish vnto thy seruant in deede that which thou hast promised in word to them that feare thee 39 Turne awaie that reproch which I do not feare without cause for thy lawes are good and therefore it were wickednes to condemne the loue of them in me 40 Behold I desire nothing more than thy commandements and keepe thou mee safe against al dangers for the mercie that thou hast promised THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. VI. 41 GRaunt ô Lord that I may proue by experience also that thy manifold mercie and deliuer me as thou hast spoken 42 That I may haue what to answere them who do therefore reproch me because I do depend vpon thy word 43 Suffer not I beseech thee that I being ouercome with their iniuries or with impatience should speake anie other thing but that thy word neither suffer that I being destitute thereof should vtterlie be dumbe For I do waite whilest thou execute such punishment vpon these wicked men as thy lawes do threaten 44 And whatsoeuer they do deuise against me I wil keepe the doctrine which thou hast giuen vs alwaie and for euer 45 Wherefore I going
worke yet is it of far lesse importance than the saluation of thy people in the frame of the heauen I meane that there is as it were ingrauen a sure stabilitie of that thing which thou hast once spoken Wherefore though the companie of the godlie be tossed with infinit tempests vpon the earth yet shal it be firme and stable the which thing thou hast opened by thy word to be determined by thee of the euerlasting rest thereof in the heauens 90 Surelie thy truth shal faile in no age for euen that bodie of the earth doth so remaine as it was established by thee vpon her foundations 91 And al these things doe so continue as they were ordeined and appointed by thee from the beginning obeieng thee doubtles as their Lord. 92 But if I had not learned these things of the doctrine that thou hast deliuered vnto vs whereof doubtles I did take a maruellous pleasure verelie I had perished alreadie being ouerwhelmed with calamities 93 Therefore be it far away from me that I should forget thy commandements at anie time vnto whome I confesse that I doe owe my life 94 Saue me therefore seeing I am thine and a diligent obseruer of thy statutes 95 For the wicked do labour for this with al their power that they may destroie me but I giue my selfe wholie to consider those things which thou hast testified vnto vs. 96 For I see al the most absolute perfect works to come to an end onelie thy precepts are prolonged without measure and without anie end THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XIII 97 O How do I loue thy doctrine surelie I consume whole daies in meditating of the same 98 And I doe find by experience that I haue not done this in vaine for I haue prooued to be much wiser by thy precepts than al mine aduersaries of how great dignitie or authoritie soeuer for I haue obteined a wisedome that wil neuer forsake me 99 Yea thou hast made me better learned than my verie teachers and maisters euen because I haue giuen my selfe wholie not to mans inuentions but to meditate those things onlie which thou hast giuen vnto vs for sound learning 100 Finalie I was more skilful than anie of the ancient euen because I was bent not onlie to knowe thy cōmandements but also to keepe them indeed 101 For I held backe my feete that I should not go the way that leadeth vnto euil but that I should alwaies rather hold the waie which thou hast taught vs by thy mouth 102 Neither did I turne from thy lawes but rested vpon thee my teacher and admonisher 103 And surelie I felt thy words more pleasant and sweet to my mouth than if I had tasted honie 104 Finallie thy precepts haue taught me true wisedome and therefore I abhor the other rules of the order of life as wicked and false THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XIIII 105 WHerefore that thy word hath bene and shal be like a torch shining before me as I go and as a light shewing my path vnto me 106 For so haue I sworne euen by an oth that I would doe and that I would keepe thy most iust lawes the which thing I wil perfourme in deede 107 And thou againe ô Lord keepe me safe which am maruellouslie vexed as thy word promiseth 108 O Lord let the vowes and free promises of my mouth be accepted of thee and teach me thy lawes more and more 109 Behold my life is exposed to al casualties as though I did carrie it in my hand yet haue not I forgotten thy lawe 110 The wicked haue laid snares for me yet haue not I wandered from thy precepts 111 Those things that thou hast testified vnto vs are in the stead of an euerlasting inheritance that can neuer be alienate neither doe I take anie pleasure anie-where but of them onelie 112 Finalie I haue bound my whole hart for euer euen to my last gaspe to obserue thy statutes THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XV. 113 I Abhorre the wauering and wanderers to and fro in religion and I account thy doctrine most deere 114 Thou art my refuge where I may hide my selfe thou art my shield whilest I rest vpon those things that thou hast said vnto me 115 Hence from me ye wicked that I may keepe the precepts of my God so much more purelie 116 Vphold thou me ô Lord as thou hast promised to doe otherwise I perish and doe not shame me by making my hope frustrate 117 But rather strengthen thou me that I safelie escaping may applie my selfe continuallie to thy statutes with great ioie 118 For verelie thou doest tread vnder foote prostrate vpon the earth al them that go astraie from thy statutes and their craft doth vanish 119 Thou doest cast awaie I saie al the wicked whereof this world is ful like drosse therefore is nothing more pleasant vnto me than the testimonie of thy wil. 120 Yet doe I wholie tremble for feare of thee and for that thy seueritie against the wicked THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XVI 121 LEt them shameleslie imagine what they lust I haue so behaued my selfe that no man can worthilie complaine of me that I haue committed anie thing against him contrarie to right and equitie doe not deliuer me therefore I beseech thee to the lust of the slanderers 122 But rather laieng a pawne for my sake regard that I be not oppressed by these proud men 123 For my verie eies do faile me waiting for the deliuerance alreadie promised vnto me and for the perfourmance of thy most iust word 124 Neither when I desire this doe I desire anie thing that I haue deserued but this one thing rather that thou wouldest haue mercie vpon me thy poore seruant and teach me thy statutes 125 Go to I beseech thee seeing I am thy bond-seruant grant this vnto me that I may vnderstand and embrace those things that thou hast testified vnto vs so as it is conuenient 126 For the time it selfe requireth ô Lord that thou laie thy hand to the worke seeing that these men haue vtterlie ouerthrowne thy doctrine 127 But contrariwise thy precepts are more pretious vnto me than anie gold how much soeuer 128 For I doe affirme that al thy commandements are a most certaine rule of equitie and I abhor as a thing appointed to deceiue vs whatsoeuer leadeth vs from them THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XVII 129 OH the maruellous things that are comprehended in those words that thou testifiest vnto vs so that I haue most iustlie giuen my selfe wholie to consider them most attentiuelie 130 For vnto them that enter within the threshold onelie to heare thee a certaine vnspeakeable light doth offer it selfe to be seene not so much dazeling the minds with glittering as lightening them with a ioiful brightnes and instructing them that knowledge their owne ignorance with true wisedome 131 Wherefore I haue greedilie swallowed thy precepts as thirstie men vse desiring them most earnestlie 132 Looke vpon me therefore and haue compassion on me that pant for breath
things nor that I haue entangled my selfe willinglie with great things whereby I might winne vnto me the opinion of excellencie or vnto such things as were aboue my capacitie 2 But contrarilie vnlesse I haue bin content wiâ—â— my state and haue staied my mind to depend wholie on thee as they teach the weaned infant to forget the nurse and to regard the mother alone vâ—lesse I saie I haue so behaued my selfe as the weaned infant let me in deed be refused of thee 3 So thou Israël also rest in the Lord alone boâ—â— now and afterward for euer PSALME CXXXII The Argument Salomon consecrating the temple vnto Gâ—d 2. Chron. 6. dâ—â— vse three verses of this Psalme in the last end of his praier euen in the same words whereby it is plaine that thâ—â— Psalmâ— was afterward verie notorious and famous the which Dauid their did write when he had found a plaâ— wherein he might build the temple of God and did set before him euen then that time when the Arke was to be brought into the temple it selfe being built Wherefore when the temple and seruice of God was restored after their returne it was worthilie vsed againe and sang as it is verie probable with the Psalmes of ascension both before it and after it in that solemnitie which is described Nehemiah 12. And it containeth a plaine rehearsal both of the promise of the kingdome of Dauid and of building the temple and of a most ful setting in order of the Leuitical priesthood both the which it is manifest to haue bene figures both of the kingdome and of the priesthood of Christ euen as Dauid himselfe was a shadowe of verie Christ for the which causes this pretious Psalme must alwaies be vsed in the Church by whose testimonie our faith also may be confirmed We learne further by this Psalme the visible notes of the truâ— Church that is to saie the worship of God chieflie in two points to wit to consist in the sincere preaching of the word of God and the lawful ministring of the sacraments and againe which is the true word of God and which be the verie true sacraments euen they wherein Christ the true and onelie sauiour is set foorth vnto vs euen so as he himselfe hath declared himselfe vnto his Church and al the wil of his father most fullie concerning our saluation both by himselfe and by his Prophets and Apostles Finallie we are taught by this Psalmâ— that the blâ—ssings both of this life and the other are ordeined for the godlie by God and that al the enterprises of the wicked shal come to naught and how carefullie we are bound to praie for the spreading of the kingdome of Christ and for the preseruation of those Commonwealthes wherein harbour is giuen vnto the Church THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O LORD let it be seene that thou art mindful of the promises wherewith it pleased thee to bind thy selfe vnto Dauid and out of what great miseries thou hast deliuered him not for this purpose verelie that thou shouldst destroie him afterward but that thou shouldst perfourme the promises made vnto him 2 For he againe hath bound himselfe to thee with an oth being the Lord and mightie God of Iacob and therefore a most seuere punisher of periurie euen in these plaine words 3 If I enter at anie time into my house if I shal at anie time go to my bed 4 If mine eies shal take anie sleepe or mine eie-lids winke 5 Before that I haue found out the seate of the Lord which the mightie God of Iacob may inhabite 6 Behold then hitherto this seate hath bin changed from time to time for it was sometime as we haue heard saie towards Ephrata euen in Silo which is now destroied and there was a time when we did find it in the field of Iaër 7 But now hauing found a place at the length where it may remaine we wil go thither and there wil we worship him at his seate where he sitteth euen falling downe before his holie Arke 8 Go to then ô Lord come vp into that place iâ— the which thou maist make no short abode as before but where thou maiest remaine as in a stable habitation euen the Arke which is a sure token oâ— thy power being there placed 9 Therefore let the priests which be consecrate vnto thee and are beautified both with pure doctrine and holie conuersation execute their office dulie and those that haue receiued benefits of theâ— sing here a triumph vnto thee 10 Thou being mindful of thy promise made vnto Dauid thy seruant preserue here the kingdome established by thee in his posteritie 11 For thou hast sworne vnto Dauid ô Lord by a sure and vnchangeable decree in these words I wil place one that shal be borne of thee in thy throne 12 And if thy posteritie shal keepe my couenant and the statutes which I shal teach them I wil set vpon thy throne their posteritie also as one shal succeed another for euer 13 For the Lord hath chosen Sion vnto himselfe and hath appointed it to be his seate because it so pleased him euen in these plaine words 14 This shal be mine euerlasting rest and here wil I dwel as in a place acceptable vnto me because it seemeth so good vnto me 15 I wil prouide for her victuals most diligentlie and if there shal be anie poore there I wil neuer suffer them to want foode necessarie for this life 16 I wil defend on euerie side my holie ministers chieflie vnto whome besides no possessions are giuen and I wil dailie giue occasion of new ioie to them that I haue taken in hand to defend 17 There wil I cause that the top of Dauids head shal be lifted vp to be seene more and more and if at anie time his strength be diminished yet shal it spring vp againe the brightnes of the kingdome that can not be extinguished which is there set vp by me shal shine like a firebrand and shal once lighten the whole world 18 And al his enimies verelie shal be filled with shame but his crowne shal flourish in the end with most great glorie PSALME CXXXIII The Argument Dauid vnto whom this Psalme is attributed by the Hebrue title did write it vndoubtedly when after the ciuil wars of eight yeeres space al the tribes came together to annoint him their king 2. Sam. 5. 1. Chron. 11. euen that he might exhort them to laie downe al discord and to maintaine mutual amitie with al duties both publike and priuate So then was it thought good afterward by the repeating of this same Psalme to beate into al the people the desire of peace as a thing most necessarie seeing they were yet weake and were assaulted on euerie side both by force and by traiterous practises by the gouernours of the nations neare vnto them which were most angrie against them as appeareth by the histories of Ezra and Nehemiah And it conteineth an excellent and maruellous elegant praise not simplie
earnest affection of the heart thou dost as it were neuer depart from their sides 19 Insomuch that they can aske nothing of thee aright which thou dost not grant them and alwaies helpest them when they crie 20 And euen as thou safelie keepest al those that loue thee so thou destroiest al the wicked 21 Wherefore by good right ô Lord I wil declare thy praises euen with a sounding voice and it becommeth al men to whome thou grantest the vse of this life to doe this thing diligentlie and continuallie PSALME CXLVI The Argument The Prophet doth exhort al men in this Psalme to set forth the praises of God which consist chieflie in this point that al our confidence may be fixed in him alone as both in a most mightie most moderate and especiallie in a most merciful Lord of al things of whose both power equitie and clemencie he setteth foorth some notable examples those being proued by verie dailie experience THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GO to yet my seelie soule praise the Lord. 2 For I haue thus determined to bestowe the whole time of my life in praising the Lord and to set foorth my God so long as I liue 3 And this praise properlie belongeth vnto him that we fixe our whole confidence in him alone For whome wouldest thou rather trust to princes whose glorious shew vseth to dazel the sight of foolish men But seeing euen these mortal men be also borne of mortal parents that is to saie hauing neither firme strength nor stable wil safetie cannot consist in them 4 For euen their life consisteth in their breath of the which so soone as they are bereaued the soule departing out of their bodie they are resolued againe into dust and al their cogitations do vanish awaie together with them 5 But ô blessed is that man which trusteth in the helpe of the God of Iacob and whose whole hope is laid vp in the Lord his God! 6 For hereby it appeareth euen to blind men how good and how great his power is in that he created the heauen the earth the sea and al things that are comprehended in them and his excellent goodnes and fidelitie is herein euident that he neuer breaketh his promise 7 That he doth maintaine those that are vniustlie oppressed he feedeth the hungrie and looseth the prisoners from their bonds 8 He openeth the eies of the blind and of such as are vexed for want of counsel and lifteth vp those that faint vnder the burthen of miseries finallie the Lord loueth al that loue righteousnes 9 The Lord doth defend and nourish those that are destitute of mans helpe especiallie strangers and trauelers the fatherles and widowes but vtterlie ouerthroweth them that liue a wicked life 10 Last of al other dominions are trulie transitorie and subiect to destruction but the kingdome of the Lord alone is euerlasting thy God I saie ô Sion endureth for al ages Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CXLVII The Argument The people did in this Psalme celebrate that most high benefit of their returne from Chaldëa which was like a new birth of the Church chieflie if we principallie regard the worship of God as it is conuenient and the testimonies of the mercies of God are annexed so elegantlie described as nothing can be more excellent the which though they be general yet do they properlie belong to the children of God because they onelie knowe from whome they proceed and giue vnto God his iust praise Therfore in the end of the Psalme he doth make mention of that most excellent and great benefit of al others wherewith God did bind his Church peculiarlie vnto him euen the knowledge of his wil which bringeth saluation And whereas that deliuerance from Chaldëa and the gathering together of Jsraël as the citie of Ierusalem it selfe also were figures the truth thereof is exhibited vnto vs in deede in the Gospel there is no doubt but the Christian Church is much more bound dailie to set foorth the benefit of our redemption whereby we are brought into the heauenlie countrie especiallie in these our last times wherein God hath begun to gather his Church from the other occidental Babylon THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GO to I beseech you praise the Lord for what should we rather doe than to giue thanks vnto God who besides that he is God and therefore hath bound al men vnto himselfe by good right hath bestowed vpon vs so manie peculiar benefits and againe what can be more ioiful and more to be desired than such a testimonie of his fatherlie loue 2 For behold ô God thou restorest Ierusalem being cast downe destroied subuerted and beaten into dust contrarie to the hope of al people and dost gather together thine Israël being scattered ful seuentie yeeres the which thing the worke it selfe doth testifie that thou wast onelie able to doe 3 Thou doest comfort them that are vtterlie desperate thou also doest heale the deadlie wounds that none could heale but thou 4 Euen because there is nothing which thou art not able to do for thou knowest the number of the verie stars the which as their Lord thou callest out by name 5 O our great Lord both of infinite power and also of vnderstanding 6 And which doth vse his infinit power nothing proudly or immoderatly but euen to helpe the oppressed to cast the wicked downe to the ground 7 Go to then praise the Lord that our God both with voice and with instruments 8 Which couereth the heauen with clouds from whence he draweth foorth the raine to water the earth and to cloth the tops of the mountaines with al kind of hearbs 9 With this food he feedeth the beasts and nourisheth the yong rauens when they crie being forsaken of their dams 10 Yet is there nothing in vs which should moue him to embrace vs far vnlike to those which approue an horse by beholding his beautie or courage or that doe regard a man that runneth for his swiftnes 11 For what can he find in anie man which he hath not giuen vnto him before Therefore al the benefits which are bestowed vpon them that feare him and who haue regard onlie to his mercie doe proceed of his liberalitie alone 12 Go to then Ierusalem praise thou the Lord go to Sion praise thou thy God 13 For he doth ward thy gates with bars he doth cherish and multiplie thy familie thy citizens I meane 14 He bringeth thee into amitie with thy neighbors he feedeth thee with the fine flower of wheat 15 For he needeth none armies or engins of war but so soone as he hath declared what his pleasure is his commandement goeth foorth through the whole world like a most swift post 16 He raineth downe the flakes of snowe as it were wool from the clouds he doth sprinkle the earth also with the smal hore frost as it were with dust 17 He casteth out the I se like morsels and he bindeth together al things with cold that no man is able to
abide 18 And he also againe so soone as he commandeth doth melt the things that are frosen and the waters streightwaie flowe foorth againe as though their bands were losed 19 And these things verelie do testifie most plainelie both his infinite goodnes and power yet surelie they are nothing in comparison of that benefite which he bestowed vpon his Israël when he deliuered vnto him the doctrine of saluation and the rule to leade his life both godlie and honestlie 20 Neither is there any nation vnder heauen with whome he hath so dealt but he hath left other men without this most true and most iust doctrine PSALME CXLVIII The Argument The scope and end of this Psalme most ful of maiestie euen written with a heauenlie feruencie is whereas there be extant so manie most cleare witnesses of Gods wisedome of his power and goodnes as there be things created to cal vpon al those things high lowe and of the middle sort to set foorth the praise of God with common consent For though manie of them are without both vnderstanding and sense yet they al after their maner although they be silent are said to sound foorth the glorie of God though men which haue reason and for whose cause they are made ought properlie both in their owne name and in their name to do this dutie and chieflie the godlie ought to set foorth continuallie that incomparable benefite whereby they are chosen into the felowship of the sonne of God THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GO to let them found forth the praises of the Lord euen from the most high heauens 2 O al ye holie spirits the apparitors of his Maiestie which are diuided into innumerable garrisons go ye before others in this his praise 3 Thou Sunne and Moone and al ye Starres shining in the heauens shewe forth the praise of your Maker 4 O ye most high spheares of the heauens praise ye him ye vawts of waters which hang on high 5 Let al these things I saie praise the Lord for they began to haue their being by his onlie commandement 6 And they are placed by his appointment in the same place and order where they stand most stable and they are set in order with certaine spaces and bounds which they can not passe ouer by anie meanes though they would 7 And let the earthlie things againe answer vnto the heauenlie and the creeping wormes in the hollowe holes of the earth and also the depths of waters 8 And ye flames of lightnings also hailes snowes vapours lifted vp whirlewinds and other tempests which al haue your being and are moued by his commandement 9 Mountaines and al hils trees laden with fruits the Cedars mounting vp with such maruelous height 10 Ye wild beasts also and ye that be tame whatsoeuer creepeth vpon the ground and whatsoeuer fleeth through the aire 11 But chieflie both the kings and their people subiect vnto them the princes and the gouernours of the earth 12 Yong men and old yong maides also and children 13 Praise ye the name of the Lord for he alone deserueth most high praise as he that is more deepe than the very earth more high than the heauens 14 But this becommeth chieflie the people whom God of his vnspeakable fauour hath consecrated vnto himselfe and brought them into the most high state of dignitie aboue others therefore it becommeth those that haue receiued such benefits of God to set forth his praises euen the posteritie of Israël the which people God hath chosen to be his owne familie and houshold PSALME CXLIX The Argument The interpretation of this Psalme seemeth to be more plaine and more agreeable to the holie historie if it be applied vnto the kingdome of Dauid rather than to the last times of the captiuitie of Babylon Wherefore in ny iudgement the people recouering themselues from so manie miseries which they had suffered both in the times of the iudges and of Saule himselfe both the religion of God being first restored and also the policie set in good order is taught by this Psalme to giue thankes vnto God and not to abuse his so great benefits Wherein Dauid himselfe giueth them example acknowledging the Lord God to be the King together with them And as concerning the musical instruments here named it was a part of the seruice of the lawe which is abolished notwithstanding no man vnlesse such a one as is worthie to be counted amongst beastes can denie but that there is a great power both of musicke when it is sung and also in instruments to moue mens minds yet the examples both of the former Church and the horrible abuses that streightwaies followed do teach sufficientlie how vnprofitable it is to bring in such musicke and instruments into the Church of Christ as hath bin of late And a prophesie is also added which the verie end did confirme so manie victories being granted vnto Dauid and the bounds of his kingdome being spread euen vnto Euphrates that then the promise was fulfilled at the length which was made vnto Abraham as concerning the figure for it can not be doubted but that these things were the figures of the kingdome of Christ and of his spiritual victories and of that horrible iudgement which shal be most fullie in the end at the last daie and which now and then God executeth vpon al the rebellious THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GO to al ye that haue receiued benefites of the Lord sing vnto him a new and excellent song being deliuered from so manie not dangers but deaths 2 Euen thou ô Israël delight thy selfe in setting forth his praises whose worke thou art as it were newlie formed O ye citizens of Sion reioice ye trusting in the Lord your King Gouernor which belongeth to none other nation vnder heauen 3 Set foorth his praises far and wide not onelie priuatelie but also publikelie not onlie with voice but also with fluites and timbrels and with al kind of musical instruments 4 Euen because it hath pleased the Lord of his infinite mercie to consecrate this people vnto himselfe and as the matter it selfe maketh it manifest when they seemed vtterlie to be lost to make them honourable and of most high dignitie 5 Wherefore these glorious people vpon whom he hath bestowed so manie benefites do now reioice and shal reioice hereafter and with great quietnes shal sing a triumph 6 Praising the Lord indeede with their exclamations cries but armed with double edged swords in their hands 7 Wherewith they may punish the prophane Gentiles and auenge the crueltie of the people 8 And also may drawe their kings nobles bound in chaines and iron setters 9 Euen to execute the iudgement appointed and commanded by the Lord and this verelie is the dignitie and the honour of al them whome God hath receiued to his fauour PSALME CL. The Argument Jt is probable that the holie singing men of the temple did stir vp one another with this Psalme ful of maruelous zeale We
which he did of old when he preserued our elders putting to flight the kings of Basan and brought them through the deepe streames of the sea 23 Wherefore then ô people thou didst walke through the middest of the heapes of thine enimies that were slaine dogs licking their bloud 24 Then ô God our elders did see thee going ô my God they did see thee going I saie within thy holie tabernacle ô my King 25 The singers went before thee the trumpetters folowing thee the companie of damsels also did plaie vpon the timbrels on euerie side one sort exhorting an other by course with this maner of song 26 Go to praise God with courage praise the Lord by course ye that come of Israël 27 Beniamin on the one side which was the youngest hath mightilie ouercome the enimie Iuda on the other side hath destroied them with stones also the valiantnes and noble victorie of the princes of Zabulon and Ephraim is famous 28 And as we knowledge al this power to haue proceeded from thee alone so disposing it so doe we now praie ô God that thou wilt confirme it more and more vnto vs. 29 And we doubt not but thou wilt so doe much more hereafter than euer before foorth of thy holie palace which thou hast chosen vnto thee at Ierusalem whither the verie kings also shal once come and shal offer gifts vnto thee 30 Represse therefore and bridle with thy terrible rebuke those cruel beasts that breake foorth of their holes and dens fierce rankes of buls and scatter the people that are like wanton calues that go proudlie decked in siluer euen the people that couet wars 31 Surelie the time wil come when the princes of Aegypt shal run hither vnto thee the Aethiopians with great haste shal hold vp their hands humblie vnto thee 32 Go to then ye kingdomes scattered through the earth praise God with melodie and sing vnto the Lord 33 Euen vnto the Lord that sitteth vpon those most high heauens from al eternitie as it were vpon a chariot and maketh a terrible and most mightie sound from thence 34 Acknowledge ye his power the maiestie wherof doth no lesse shine foorth in Israël than the thunders sounding in the clouds 35 For this is that sanctuarie ô God out of the which thou declarest thy selfe terrible vnto thine enimies but vnto thine ô God of Israël thou wilt minister power and strength therefore al praise and glorie be giuen vnto thee for euer PSALME LXIX The Argument Although this Psalme is altogether agreeable with the 22 Psalme written in the forme of a praier and no doubt by the occasion which either the flieng of Dauid out of the court of Saule seemeth to offer when the chastitie of his wife was not preserued safe vnto him who was married vnto an other husband much lesse did they spare his goods to the which opinion I doe incline or the treason of Absalom yet is it certaine that the holie Ghost did so gouerne the mind and the hand of the Prophet that he seemeth to haue regarded those things rather whereof he was a figure than himselfe if not in euerie place of the Psalme yet surelie in the most part thereof So then is Christ our mediatour rather brought in complaining vnto God of the crueltie of his people which could be ouercome by none of his benefits than Dauid complaining of his enimies and he also wisheth and forewarneth those punishment which the people of the Jewes did worthilie suffer for their ingratitude wherewith we also now see that they are punished of the which mystical interpretation we haue most cleare witnesses Matth. 27 48. Luke 1 20. Iohn 2 18. and 19 28. Last of al Paule Rom. 11 9. and 15 3. And seeing the members must be conformed vnto the head it followeth that there wil be great vse and commoditie of this Psalme so long as the Church shal soiourne vpon earth THE PARAPHRASIS 1 DEliuer me ô God euen now readie to be swallowed with these streames of water 2 For I am now cast downe into the most deepe mirie pit where I can by no meanes fasten my foote and I am drowned with most deepe waters flowing vpon me on euerie side 3 I am wearied with crieng my iawes are pained with hoarsenes also mine eies haue failed while I earnestlie wait for my God 4 Furthermore I may more easilie tel the haires of mine head than the multitude of mine enimies which hate me causelesse yea and the number of them that hate me deadlie is increased dailie and which thing is most greeuous of al those that spoile my goods deale so with me as though I had first spoiled others 5 But thou ô God knowest verie wel whether I haue behaued my selfe vprightlie and wiselie or no and whether I be a wicked man as these doe slander me 6 What then if I be forsaken of thee verelie they must needs also be ashamed who haue ioined them selues with me trusting to the promises that thou hast made vnto me O most mightie Lord staie thou this thing that it come not to passe neither suffer that they faile of their hope which seeke thee the God of Israël in the defence of my cause 7 For doubtles whatsoeuer they pretend they would wound not me but thee by my side and for thy cause alone am I so railed vpon and doe lie downe couered with reproch 8 Neither am I forsaken of strangers onelie but also my kinsemen and mine owne brethren doe despise me as an vnknowne person and as I were not ioined vnto them with any bond of consanguinitie 9 For euen so oft as I perceiued thy glorie to be diminished I burnt with sorrowe the which thing I neither would nor could dissemble and I accounted my self to be wounded with the reproches cast out against me 10 Wherefore I being in great heauines haue absteined euen from my meate for sorrowe the which my care these men had in derision 11 I laid downe my garment I saie and tooke vnto me haire cloth the which thing these men turned into scoffes 12 So that in the publike assemblies also they ceased not to prate on me and feasting merilie they made songs of me 13 What shal I do then Verelie ô Lord I doe notwithstanding powre out my praiers vnto thee being nothing afraid either of the power or of the pride of these men For though thou hast now loosed the raines to their dissolute wickednes I doe knowe that thou hast appointed a time againe when thou wilt bridle them and wilt declare in deed how much thou louest thine Wherefore I beseech thee ô God by that thine infinite mercie that of thy great and most assured goodnes thou wilt heare me when I crie 14 Deliuer me I beseech thee from this deuouring pit least I be wholie swallowed vp deliuer me from mine enimies and from the floud of so manie miseries 15 Forbid I beseech thee least I be ouerwhelmed vtterlie by the abundance of waters least