expect none but muddy troubled water that then the Prophet saith He shall drink of the Torrent intimates That the drink offer'd him should be much and troubled And at his Passion he descended into the very depth of the Torrent and drank very deep of it 3. In the way That was while he was Viator in his Journey all the time of his life that preceded his Resurrection and Ascension 2. His Ascension and Honour But Claritas Humilitatis praemium because he thus humbled himself and willingly underwent his Death and Passion for the Glory of his Father and the Salvation of Mankind therefore shall God lift up his Head he shall ascend into Heaven sit at his right hand and be constituted the Judge of quick and dead he shall rise from the dead and have all power committed to him in Heaven and Earth The Prayer out of the One hundred and tenth Psalm O Almighty God most gracious and merciful Lord sinned all Mankind hath and by it incurr'd thy displeasure and by the disobedience of our first Parents had we not since added to that disobedience béen utterly lost it was not in the power of any creature to save us it was not within the compass of any humane or angelical ability to make our peace to get our pardon and to reconcile us again unto thée The sentence of death was passed upon us and nothing could respite the execution but thy own Ordinance A Mediator was wanting to interpose and hear all differences a Priest to step in and make an Atonement an Advocate to plead for thy people and allay the anger that was gone forth And such an one O merciful Lord Thou out of thy méer love hast in mercy provided for us Thou saidst to thy own Son Thou art a Priest for ever and thy own Son said Lo I come to do thy Will Ver. 4 and so by thy wonderful Decrée and his willing Obedience we are redéemed Who ever heard so strange a thing who could or would ever believe this report hadst not thou O God revealed it The zeal of the Lord hath done this for us the zeal of the Son of God hath done this brought to pass that which flesh and blood would never believe were it not That thou hast commanded it to be believed O mystery beyond comprehension which when we séem to comprehend yet we understand not the secret so far passeth what our weak capacity can reach unto And in this thou O merciful Father hast condescended to our infirmity for that thy Decrée and thy Sons love be never more doubted Thou hast secured us by an Oath an Oath of which thou wilt never repent That he is a Priest for ever A Priest must have something to offer and he offer'd himself a Priest must offer blood and he offer'd his own a Priest must step in and appease thy anger when it was at the highest a Priest must reconcile when the terms of difference were the greatest And such an High Priest thou hast sworn thy Son shall be given him for us and to us not only to them that lived then and before but to all thine that are now and shall be hereafter for thou hast ordained to be a Priest for ever O holy and good Father how much hast thou loved us who hast not spared thine one only Son but hast deliver'd him to be our Priest and our Sacrifice and therefore our Priest because our Sacrifice to Sacrifice himself upon the Altar of the Cross that he might cancel and nail there the Hand-writing that was against us and by death destroy him that had the power of death the Devil This could not be done till he had drank of the Brook in the way till all thy storms and waves had gone over him for so it behoved Christ to suffer Ver. 7 and to enter into his Glory But now all those indignities that agony those unknown sufferings are at an end and thou hast lifted up his head He that sacrificed himself on Earth is an High Priest an Advocate a Mediator an Intercessor for his Body in Heaven and there applies his purchase and continues this his Office for his Servants and Saints O Lord I am the meanest the most sinful of this Society so often as I provoke thée to anger by infirmity or surreptitious by enormous or presumptuous iniquities turn thy face from me a wretched Caitiff and behold those wounds in his hands féet and side and accept of that precious Sacrifice which he made upon the Cross for me hear the cry of those wounds that intercede for me at thy Throne of Grace I rely upon no other Advocate I will sue to no other Mediator if he be not able to save me then let me perish for ever speak peace to my soul in his Name be reconciled unto me in his blood and make his intercession so powerful unto me That I may be purged from my sins and turned from mine iniquities And this Supplication I do not only offer unto thée for my self but for all thy people Ver. 1 for whose sakes thou hast lift up his head and said unto my Lord Sir thou at my right hand All power is now given unto him both in Heaven and in Earth for he is not only a Priest but a King also a Scepter he hath and a Rod in his right hand this is the Rod of his strength and it came first out of Zion Ver. 2 I mean his Gospel that Law which came first out of Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem O set thy King upon thy holy hill of Zion give him the Heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession break them with a Rod of Iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Oppose all those that oppose the growth and enlargement of his Kingdom Let him rule in the midst of thine enemies and sit at thy right hand until thou hast made all his enemies his Foot-stool O Lord let him preside and have the Dominion over all till there be no Adversary left that shall dare to oppose him in his Offices Behold we humbly beséech thée how in these our dayes there are risen up blasphemous and wicked men cruel and bloody Antichrists who go about to break his Bands asunder and dare boldly and impudently say of him We will not have this man to reign over us Be present then O Lord our Saviour at the right hand of thy people and strike through Kings Princes and Potentates in the day of thy wrath Exercise judgment against these blasphemous and heathenish Rebels let not thy Eye pity them nor thy Sword spare them but fill the places with their dead bodies and in what Countrey soever they remain what Aire soever they breath let their factious bodies and their Machivillian and Tyrannical heads and leaders receive their deaths wound from thy hand and fury O Lord pronounce a favourable sentence for thy Church and let
Son of God Be wise therefore O ye Kings in which Ver. 11 1. The persons to whom this fair Caveat is given Kings and Judges 1 Know their Duty 2. What they are here taught 2 To do their Duty First To know their Duty Be wise be learned Secondly To do their Duty Serve the Lord in fear rejoyce with trembling Ver. 12 kiss the Son 3 Without delay and that 3. The time when this is to be done even Now the Reason double 1. Drawn from his wrath and the consequent punishment 1 Lest he be angry and destroy them Lest he be angry and ye perish from the right way 2. From the happy condition of those who learn to know him and fear 2 Because they are happy that trust in him and serve and adore him For if his wrath be kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him The Prayer collected out of the second Psalm O Blessed God unto whom all hearts are open and from whom no secrets are hid whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun and pass through the World and behold all the thoughts and conspiracies and actions of men Encline thine ear and hear open thine eyes and sée the attempts of Satan and wicked men The Heathen have raged furiously and the people have tumultuously assembled Ver. 1 and imagine vain things yea the Kings of the Earth have risen together they have taken counsel and joyn'd their power against God Ver. 2 and against him who is thy Anointed These many in number Ver. 3 strong in power encourage themselves in mischief saying Come let us break off these Bonds of Laws and Religion from off our necks by which they would yoke us and cast away their cords in which they would bind us for we will not that he or his Anointed reign over us For of a truth Lord against thée and thy holy child Iesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the Nation of the Jewes have gathered themselves together and do whatsoever thy hand and thy Counsel determined before to be done And now O Lord behold their threatnings for thy Names sake for thy Sons sake for thy Promise sake let not the gates of Hell prevail against thy Church Ver. 4 Thou that sits in Heaven laugh them to scorn Ver. 5 Thou which art the most High have them in derision speak unto them in thy wrath and vex them in thy sore displeasure Raise up thy power Ver. 6 O Lord and come amongst us Set thy King upon thy holy Hill of Zion Ver. 7 He is thy only begotten Son from everlasting and yet was content for our Redemption to humble himself to the womb and be born and made of a woman that he might preach thy Law and make known the glad tidings of salvation to all people Ver. 8 Give him therefore the Heathen for his inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his possession Merciful God who hast made all men and hatest nothing that thou hast made nor wouldest the death of a sinner but rather that he should be converted and live have mercy upon all Iewes Turks Infidels and Heretiques and take from them all ignorance hardness of heart and contempt of thy Word and fetch them home blessed Lord to thy stock that they may be saved among the remnant of thy true Israelites that there may be but one Fold and one Shepheard As for such who obstinately and wilfully and maliciously stop their ears that they may not hear and shut their eyes that they may not sée lest they should hear with their ears and sée with their eyes and thou shouldst heal them These are the men O Lord who will not have thée reign over them poure therefore thy indignation upon them and bring them down in their pride and obstinacy Ver. 9 break them in pieces with a rod of iron and dash them into shivers like a Potters vessel of which being broken into smaller parcels there is no use nor hope or possibility of reparation Gracious God Ver. 10 poure down the graces of thy holy Spirit upon all thy people especially upon the Kings and Rulers of the Earth give them those gifts that may make them wise and those graces that may make them good let them learn their Duties Ver. 11 and do their Duties to thée O so encline all our hearts that we may serve thee in fear rejoyce before thee with reverence that we kiss bow down and adore thy Son submit and be obedient to him receive his Doctrine and acquiesce in his Laws and never be at rest till our heart assure us that thou art reconciled unto us through him O who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry we tremble therefore to féel at this time the effect of thy hot wrath upon us Ver. 12 for thou hast suffered us to perish from the right way for truth to embrace lying vanities and for thy Gospel to worship our own imaginations This is the just reward of our disobedience this is the just revenge and punishment of our sin in that we have not served thée in fear nor come into thy Courts and rejoyced before thée with reverence nor bow'd our knées and béen obedient to thy Son Vers 12 For this thy wrath is kindled and it burns not a little against us O Lord grant that this thy severity may have a true impression upon our hearts let us be true penitents and by our sighs and groans give thée no rest in heaven till thou return and have mercy upon us Recall us again to the right way Vers. 12 and never let us more erre and wander from it Confirm our hope it rengthen our faith alwayes let us put our confidence in thy mercy knowing that they alone who put their trust in thée are blessed for when thy wrath is kinded they shall be gather'd under thy wings and shall be safe under thy feathers Call us O Lord to thy truth justifie us by thy Sons blood sanctifie us by his Spirit and make us of that number to whom thou wilt say at the last day Come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world Amen Amen PSAL. III. The occasion of this Psalm was Absalons rebellion DAVID being deserted by his subjects rail'd upon by Shimei pursued for his Crown and life by his ungracious son and not finding to whom to make his moan betakes himself to his God and before him he expostulates his wrong confesseth his faith and makes his prayer There be then three strains of this accurate Psalm 1. His complaint 2. The confession of his confidence 3. His Petition The first part Davids complaint of his enemies 1. He begins with a sad and bitter complaint amplified 1. By the Number and Multitude of his enemies That they were Multi Many Multi valde very many that they were multiplicati
Vers. 1 That many multiplied and increased So many they were that he could not on a sudden number them Vers. 2 For all Israel was gathered from Dan to Beersheba as the sand of the Sea for multitude 2 Sam. 17.11 2. From their malice They came together to do him a mischief 2 That malicious They rose up not for him but against him not to honour him but to trouble him not to defend him as they ought but to take away his Crown and life 2 Sam. 17.2 3. From their insultation and Sarcasm It was not Shimei only 3 That insulters scoffers but many that said it Many there be that say unto my soul Vers. 2 There is no help for him in his God 2. The second part of the Psalm sets forth Davids confidence The second part Davids confidence in God 1. To their maltitude he opposeth one God But thou O Lord. 2. To their malicious insurrection Jehovah who he believ'd 1. Would be a Buckler to receive all the arrows they shot against him Vers. 3 2. His glory to honour though they went about to dishonour him 3. The lifter up of his head which they would lay low enough 3. To their vain boast of desertion There is no help for him in his God Vers. 4 he opposeth his own experience I cryed unto the Lord and he heard me out of his holly hill 4. By whose protection being sustained and secured he deposeth all care Which quiets his soul and gives him rest and fear all anxiety and distraction 1. He sleeps with a quiet mind I laid me down and slept I awoke Vers. 5 2. He sings a Requiem I will not fear Vers. 6 I will not be afraid for ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about The third part He prayes that God would deliver him as hitherto he had 3. In the close or third part he Petitions and prayes notwithstanding his security Arise O Lord Save me O my God To move God to grant his request he thankfully remembers him of what he had done before 1. Arise and save me Vers. 7 for thou hast smitten all my enemies on the cheek bone For to him alone Salvation belongs thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly Thou art the same God do then the same work be as good to thy servant as ever thou hast been 2. Vers. 8 He intersets an excellent ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or Maxime Salvation belongeth to the Lord. Which he desires may be extended to his people also As if he had said 'T is thy property and peculiar O Lord to save If thou save not I expect it from no other 3. Lastly as a good King should in his prayers he remembers his Subjects Thy blessing be upon the people The Prayer collected out of the third Psalm O Omnipotent and wise Jehovah without whose providence nothing falls out in this world that broughtst thy own people through the red Sea and Wilderness before thou gavest them rest in the land of Canaan We acknowledge that thy wrath is just and that all the punishments brought upon thy people procéeds from thy righteous hand and that we have deserv'd for our disobedience and rebellion to be cast out of thy sight and to have thy Candlestick removed from us But gracious God cast us not off as a people in whom thou hast no delight once more make trial of us whether we will not serve théé with more fear rejoyce before thée with more reverence and give kisses of love and obedience unto thy Son So sanctifie all afflictions unto us that they may be a means to bring us to rest Behold Vers. 1 Lord how they are increased that trouble thy poor Church how many they are that rise up against us Vers. 2 how many that say There is no help for us in our God Will the Lord absent himself forever and will he be no more intreated Is his mercy clean gone for ever and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious and will he shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure And I said It is mine own infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high I will remember the works of the Lord and call to mind thy wonders of old time Our fathers O God our fathers trusted in thée and thou didst deliver them With their voice they cryed unto thée Vers. 4 and thou heardst them out of thy holy hill They laid them down with a quiet mind and slept without anxiety and thou sustainedst and upheldst them Vers. 5 We are the children of the same fathers sons of the same hope heirs of the same promises Be then O Lord a buckler to us to desend us Vers. 3 our glory who are despised and lift up the heads of thy people that are brought very low Secure us and we will not fear save us Vers. 6 and suffer us not to be afraid of the ten thousands of enemies that have set themselves against us round about Put them in fear that they may know themselves to be but men Vers. 7 Arise and help us and save us O our God and smite all our enemies on the cheek-bone and break thou the teeth of the ungodly Repress their Serceness and break their strength who more cruel than brute beasts séek to devour us Whom have we in heaven but thée Vers. 8 and there is none we desire on earth in comparison of thée Salvation belongs only to thée O Lord Let therefore thy blessing be upon the people that fears thée and wait for deliverance from thée Thy people of Israel many times by their sins provoked thine anger and thou punishedst them by thy just judgment yet though their sinnes were never so grievous if they once return'd from their iniquity thou receivedst them to mercy We therefore wretched sinners bewail our manifold sins and earnestly repent us of our former wickedness and ungodly behaviour toward thée and whereas we cannot of our selves purchase thy pardon and blessing yet we humbly beséech thée for Iesus Christs sake to shew thy mercy upon us and to receive us again to thy favour Let the smell of his garment ascend into thy nostrils and through him let thy blessing be upon the people Let our sons be as the young plants and our daughters as the polish'â corners of the Temple let our garners be plenteous with all manner of store let our shéep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our stréets let our oxen be strong to labour that there be no decay no leading into captavity no complaining in our stréets O good Father impart to us so great a share of thy blessing that we may be fully perswaded that our help and salvation depends upon thée alone Vngracious children we are and deserve it not yet out of thy méer mercy we humbly beséech thée to bestow thy benediction upon us for his
Vers. 1 and promised to hear those that call we thy poor afflicted and distressed people straitned with miseries and beset with sorrows in obedience to thy commands are bold to present our supplications before thée O God of our righteousness hear us when we call enlarge us in distress have mercy upon us be gracious unto us and hear our praper How long shall the sons of men turn our glory into shame Vers. 2 how long shall the vanity they have lov'd and the lyes which with an obstinate and malicious heart they have sought for and forg'd and their mischââous counsels Vers. 3 prevail against us O make them know that however they seek to oppress us yet thou whose power no man can resist hast chosen to thy self and wilt take into thy love those who are godly and that when they call and cry to thee thou wilt hear them The Ark is departed from Irsael and shame hath cover'd our faces and wilt thou also turn away thy face for ever Return O Shulamite return return that we may look upon thee Vers. 4 Then perhaps those who now despight and hate us may be reconcil'd unto us and turn their anger into love and their rage into sorrow that they persecuted them whom thou hast smitten Move all our hearts good God that we map stand in awe and sin no more that we may recollect our wayes and examine our own consciences upon our beds that so out of compunction and godly sorrow we may lament our furious thoughts toward our brethren and hereafter bear more peaceable and quiet minds one toward another And because no sacrifice can please thee Vers. 5 but that of a person to whom thou art reconcil'd bath our souls in thy blood purifie our hearts by faith that through thy Son and in thy Son we may present unto thee our thanks for thy favours bestow'd upon us and reserv'd for us and our bodies and souls a holy reasonable and living sacrifice upon the Altar of a broken and contrite heart In a word so adore thee in spirit and truth so love and practice piety and charity that we may alwayes find thée propitious unto us There is not any thing O Lord but desires its own good and happiness Vers. 6 The Sea tells us that it is not to be found in it and the earth that it is not to be found in it From thée our heart procéeded and restless it will be until again it rests in thée Lord then lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us shine upon us with thy favour beautifie us with thy grace Vers. 7 assist us with thy hand and help so shall we be both glad and secure The joy of harvest the content of new wine the plenty of oyle are but fading pleasures in comparison of thy love Never then so let us set our hearts upon them that we forget thée but from these gifts let us rise to love thée which art the giver and be better pleas'd with the light of thy countenance in which there is solid and eternal joy than when our corn and oyle and wine is inceased So let us love these that we live in thée In thée alone is rest in thée security in thée tranquility Vers. 8 grant therefore O dear Father that amidst all the storms and troubles of this life we may lie down in peace and sléep in peace Thou only O gratious God art able to make us dwell in safety to thée therefore we flie for protection to thée alone for safety and succour Frée us from our sins deliver us from our dangers protect us from our enemies but especially from our sins that we may live in thy love dye in thy favour rest and sléep in our graves in peace rise in thy power and remain with thée in glory for ever and ever Amen PSAL. V. By occasion of his enemies It consists of five parts 1. AN introduction in which he petitions to be heard and professeth his earnestness about it vers 1 2 3. and his confidence of audience 2. He delivers his Petition vers 8. and the reason of it His enemies ver 8. 3. These his enemies he describes to the life vers 9. 4. He prayes against them that God would destroy them vers 10. 5. He prayes for the Church that God would preserve it vers 11 12. 1. The first part He prayes for audience In the entrance he prayes very earnestly for audience And the very Congeries shews that he meant to be earnest and fervent in it He chooseth such a Copy and variety of words to express the same thing Vers. 1 which yet have an Auxesis in them Vers. 2 and riseth by degrees from words he comes to meditation from thar to a voice from a voice to a cry 2. Then he earnestly desires God 1. To give ear Very earnestly 2. Then to consider 3. To hearken to him He gives ear that would understand what the Supplicant means He considers that weighs the justice of the cause He attends and hearkens to that intends to satisfie the Petitioner This therefore David desires earnestly that his words be understood his cause suit and meditation consider'd and his voice and cry heard granted satisfied 2. Three reasons for it The reasons he useth here to beget audience are very considerable 1. Vers 2 The relation that was betwixt him and his God Thou art my King and my God Vers. 2 2. 1 His relation to God That he would sue to no other To thee will I pray Which he illustrates 1. 2 To him alone he would sue From the time A morning Petition which the epikeuxis makes Emphatick 2. From the composure of it it was a well composed and order'd prayer 3. Vers. 3 He would lift up his eyes with it My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct dirigam disponam my prayer unto thee and will look up 3. 3 Who hears good men not sinners The third reason taken from the nature of God to wit whom he will and whom he will not hear Sinners God will not regard to good men he is ready to look Vers. 4 and on that ground he desires also audience The sinners which God would not hear Vers 5 he describes to the life 1. Men that delighted in wickedness evil Vers. 6 foolish men workers of iniquity lyars blood-thirsty and deceitful Now 't was not likely that God would hear such These he describes And shews his own conditions For thou art not a God who hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall any evil dwell with thee These should not stand in his sight These he hated These he would destroy These he did abhor 2. But he on the contrary was a faithful soul that relied on his God a fearful soul Vers. 7 that alwayes stood in awe a religious soul that was alwayes ready to come into his house Notwithstanding which he relies on Gods mercy In
the quantity and degrees of his calamity which he shews to be very great from the effects 1. In general he was in a languishing disease I am weak 2. In particular a sharp pain in his bones My bones are vexed 3. Vers. 2 Trouble in his soul My soul also is sore troubled 2. Vers. 3 From the continuance of it It was a long disease a lingring fickness and no ease he found Vers. 4 no not from his God The pain though great I could the better bear 2 From the continuance of it if I had any comfort from heaven But thou O Lord how long This makes me a man of sorrows that thou my Lord seems to have withdrawn thy countenance long long from thy servant Vers. 3 Lord how long 3. Vers. 3 3 From the consequence viz. Death From the consequence that was like to follow death and the event upon it 'T is my intention to celebrate thee and praise thy name This the living only can do therefore let me live For in death no man remembers thee and who will give thee thanks in the pit Vers. 5 4. And that to Deaths-door he was now brought he shews by three apparent symptomes 1. Sighs and groans which had almost broke his heart The symptoms of it being the companions of a perpetual grief with these he was oppressed even to weariness I am weary of my groaning Ver. 6 2. The abundance of tears which fell from him had even dried and washed his body these fell in such showres and so continual Ver. 6 That he made his bed to âwim and watered his couch with his tears 3. His eyes also melted away and grew dim so that he seemed old before his time for grief preys upon the vital spirits and dries up the bones Ver. 7 Thus he complains My eye is consumed because of grief it waxeth old 5. And that which increased his grief and added to his sorrow was 4 From the joy his enemies took at it that he had many ill-willers who did laugh and boast and insult over him in this his extremity My eye is waxen old because of mine enemies Ver. 7 Secondly But at last receiving comfort and joy from his penitential tears The second part His insultation over his enemies These he rejects with scorns he begins to look up and from his complaint he turns upon his enemies who gaped after his death and over them he insults in the three last verses 1. He rejects these Reprobates from him with scorn and indignation you looked for my end and expected my ruine but all in vain and therefore now deluded of your hopes Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity 2. He assings the cause in effect Ver. 8 because God hath been moved by his prayer to reject them upon which ground he was so confirmed and pleased Because God had heard his prayer that he comes over it again and again thrice for failing 1. For the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping Ver. 8 2. The Lord hath heard my supplication Ver. 8 3. The Lord will receive my prayer Ver. 9 3. Then in the close there follows his imprecation His imprecation that which is made up of these three ingredients which he prayes may light upon them 1. Shame and confusion Let them be confounded to see their hope frustrate 1 Shame 2. Vexation Let them be vexed that they suffer by the hand of justice Ver. 10 3. Eversion Let them return with shame enough 2 Vexation that their plots come to nothing 3 Eversion may befall them And these two last he aggravates by the weight and speed for he desires that their punishment might begreat and speedy 1 Grievously 1. That their vexation should be nor easie nor mild but very sore Ver. 10 let them be sorely vexed 2. That their shame and overthrow linger not but be present hasty 2 Suddenly and sudden Let them be turned back and put to shame in a moment or suddenly The Prayer collected out of the sixth Psalm O Omnipotent holy and just Lord to whose commands we owe obedience and whose will ought to be our Law I wretched sinner and disobedient Caitiff do confess that for my disobedience I have deserved thy just displeasure I have provoked thy wrath and done evil before thée O Lord I have sinned and multiplied my iniquities Now therefore I vow the knées of my heart and humbly beléech thée to forgive and not to destroy me with my iniquities O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger Ver. 1 neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure I tremble O dear Father and am even out of heart when I remember my great offences and féel thy severe justice My soul is sore vexed and the pains of Hell have overtaken me But thou Ver. 3 O Lord how long how long wilt thou turn away thy face from me and set me up as a mark to shoot at how long Lord wilt thou be absent for ever and shall thy jealousie burn like fire how long shall I take counsel in my soul and be thus vexed in my heart wherefore hidest thou thy face and holdest me for thy enemy wilt thou break a leaf driven too and fro with the wind and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble For thou writest bitter things against me and makest me possess the sins of my youth Ver. 6 I am weary and worn out with sighs and groans and every night when solitude and darkness brings to me the memory of my sins Ver. 7 I make my Bed to swim and water my Couch with my tears The eye of my mind is darkned at the sense of thy revenge and the eye of my body grown dim and consumed with grief Have mercy upon me Ver. 2 have mercy upon me O my God and for thine own sake remit my sin and heal the running ulcers of my soul with thy grace for I am weak and unable to any good heal me from this my infirmity and the wounds of my transgressions Ver. 4 for which my bones are now justly vered Return O Lord who art now justly turned away from me for my sin and be propitious to me deliver my soul from the fear of thy judgment and eternal death and save him who hath deserved to be cast away for thy mercy sake I said in the cutting off my dayes Ver. 5 I shall go to the gates of the grave I am deprived of the residue of my years I said I shall not sée the Lord even the Lord in the land of the living I shall behold man no more with the Inhabitants of the world For in death no man remembreth thee and in the grave who shall give thee thanks Wilt thou shew wonders among the dead or shall the dead arise and praise thée shall thy wonders be known in the dark or thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten But unto thée have I cryed O Lord and in the morning
shall my prayer prevent thée Lord why castest thou out my soul why hidest thou thy face from me I am afflicted and ready to dye yea from my youth up thy terrours have I suffered with a troubled mind thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy displeasure hath cut me off This is the desire of my enemies Ver. 7 among whom I daily live who insult over me for my sins and labour to draw me to despair of thy mercies these come daily about me like water and compass me about together Oh let not their mischievous imagination prosper left they be too proud never let them cry there there so would we have it But I will praise the Lord for that he hath done I will wait on thy name for thy Saints like it well Ver. 8 therefore all ye workers of iniquity who have temptted me to sin and pressed me to despair Depart from me for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping Ver. 9 the Lord which I repeat with joy and comfort hath heard the voyce of my supplication the Lord hath received and graciously answered my prayer So let thine enemies perish Ver. 10 O Lord so let them be ashamed and suddenly confounded and sore vexed even as many as are adversaries to thy Church and thy Glory Amen PSAL. VII The occasion A slaunder and accusation laid against him by Cush the son of Jemini that he sought to kill Saul from which he frees himself before God THree parts there are of this Psalm 1. His Appeal to God by way of Petition ver 1.2 6. 2. The Reasons of it set down through the whole Psalm 3. The first part Davids Appeal to God by way of petition to which he desires God to be The Doxology or his Thanksgiving ver 17. 1. He begins his Appeal with a Petition for freedom and deliverance from his Persecutors Save me deliver me ver 1. in which he desires God to be 1. Attentive to him first upon the Relation that was betwixt them for he was his Lord his God secondly He trusted in him O Lord my God I trust in thee Ver. 1 ver 1. 2. 1 Attentive 2 Benevolous Benevolous For he was now in danger of death he had 1. Enemies 2. Many Enemies 3. Persecuting Enemies 4. But one above the rest a Lyon who sought first to catch then to tear and rend him to pieces so that if God forsook him he would do it Save me from those that persecute me and deliver me least he catch my soul as a Lyon and tear it in pieces while there is none to deliver ver 2. The second part His reasons of Appeal 2. And then he gives his Reasons why he doth appeal to his God which are his own Innocency and Gods Justice 1. He makes before God a protestation of his Innocency Accused he was 1 His innocency that he lay in wait and plotted for Saul's life and Kingdom but he purgeth himself shews the impossibility of it and that with a fearful imprecation 1. O Lord my God if I have done any such thing as they object Ver. 3. 4. if therâ be iniquity in my hands if I have rewarded evil tâ him that was at peace with me ver 3 4. which was indeed an impossible matter And imprecates evil to himself if it were not so for I have deliver'd him that without any cause is my enemy as Saul in the Cave 1 Sam. 24. 2. Upon which he falls to a fearful imprecation to light upon himself if he were any way guilty Then let my enemy persecute my soul and take it Ver. 5 let him tread down my life upon the Earth and lay mine honour in the dust In effect thus then let my enemy have his will upon me take both my life and my honour dearer than my life from me lay all in the dust Kingdom Life Fortunes whatsoever thou hast promised me and I expect 2. And which is the second Reason of his Appeal being thus innocent 2 Gods justice he call to God for justice Arise O Lord in thy anger lift up thy self Ver. 6 because oâ the rage of mine enemies and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded 1. The rage of my enemies is great 2. The judgment was thine that chose me from my Brethren to be King of thy people Israel Thou commandest Samuel to anoint me Arise thou therefore lift up thy self and awake for me 3. Besides this will be for thy Honour and Eâification of thy Church 3 Gods glory The Congregation of thy people shall compass thee not me about Ver. 7 they will assemble to praise thee for their sakes therefore return thou on High Ascend the Tribunal and do justice Now upon this Argument of Gods justice He stayes upon Gods justice he dwells and insists till the last verse of the Psalm and he implores it upon the ingemination of his own innocency and the impiety of his enemies God the Judge 1. He avows God to be the Judge not of his cause alone but of the whole world The Lord shall judge the people Ver. 8 2. Then he importunes him to do justice to him and to wicked men He implores his justice 1. To him an innocent and upright person 1 To him an innocent Judge me O Lord according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me 2. To the wicked O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end Ve. 9 3. And yet again he prayes over the same thing but not only for himself 2 Upon the wicked In God all the properties of a a good Judge 1. Knowledge 2. Prudence 3. To save but all good men Establish the just and adds his Reason that God is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã He knows not only the words and deeds but the heart also The righteous Lord trieth the very hearts and reins and therefore fittest to be a Judge in whom is required knowledge and prudence 4. The other two properties of a Judge are to save to punish and the triumph of his faith is that he knows he will do both 1. He will save the just and upright in heart he will judge the righteous Ver. 10 and therefore his defence is in God 2. He will punish the wicked for he is angry with the wicked every day Ver. 11 And yet even to them he shews much clemency and forbearance 4 To punish he stayes for their conversion he whets bends sharpens prepares his instruments of death he cuts them not down shoots not till-there is no remedy 5 Clemency Marry If they will not turn he will whet his Sword Ver. 12 he hath bent his Bowe and made it ready Ver. 13 he hath prepared for him the instruments of death and ordains his Arrows against the Persecutors 5. But mercy shewed unto the wicked it seems will not mend and better him nor Davids innocency But forbearance mends
Lord. Vers. 7 The administration of his Kingdom is 1. Eternal The Lord shall endure for ever Vers. 8 2. His Office to be Judge He hath prepared his Throne for judgement 3. He is an universal Judge He shall judge the whole world 4. He is a just Judge He shall judge in righteousness Which begets a confidence in his people he shall minister judgement to the people in uprightness 5. He is a merciful Judge to his people Vers. 9 For the Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in time of trouble 5. The effect or consequent upon this his execution of justice which is the confidence thence arising in the hearts of his people which are here describ'd by their knowledge of God 2. Seeking him Vers. 10 They that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee 2. An Exhortation to others to praise God 2 He exhorts others to praise God Sing praises to the Lord that dwells in Zion that is in the midst of his people and Church to defend them Declare among the people his doings The second part Of which he assigns the reason that he is a just God and will require their blood at the hands of those that oppressed and slew them Vers. 11 An inquisition for blood he will make And when he makes inquisition for blood For his justice he remembreth them the innocent unjustly oppressed and slain Vers. 12 and forgets not the cry of the humble The cry of their blood shall be heard 3. A Petition for himself that God would shew him mercy 3 He Petitions for favour and look upon his affliction Have mercy upon me O Lord The third part consider the trouble of them that hate me thou that lifts me up from the gates that is the power of death Vers. 13 As if he had said Do by me now as thou hast done heretofore And the Reason or Argument by which he perswades God to hear him and shew mercy is drawn from the final cause Vers. 14 he looks not so much upon himself as Gods honour it is That he may have just cause to praise God which he vows That I may shew thy praise 2. All thy praise 3. In thy Church in the gates of the daughter of Zion 4. That I may do it with joyful lips 5. Which I will do I will rejoice in thy salvation 4. And then as if he were shewing forth this praise in the Congregation The fourth part he sings forth his Song of Triumph his ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã over his enemies in Metaphors And performs in a Song of Triumph 1. The heathen are sunk down into the pit that they made 2. In the net which they hid is their own foot taken 3. This is the Lords doing Vers. 15 Therefore though wicked men did doubt before of his providence and justice yet Vers. 16 now the Lord is known by the judgement he executes For 4. The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands Higgaion Selah Which is a thing exceedingly to be meditated on and not forgotten 5. The wicked shall be turn'd to hell and all the people that forget God Vers. 17 their breath is in their nostrils and dye they must which is some comfort to those they oppress and if they repent not Vers. 18 suffer eternal punishment 2. But the chief comfort is The fifth part is A Petition and proceeds from Gods justice and his goodness toward the innocent unjustly oppressed For the needy shall not alway be forgotten the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever Their hope shall not be frustrate Vers 19 5. The Conclusion is Petitory Arise O Lord. Against the enemies of the Church 1. Let not man prevail over thy people 2. Let the heathen be judg'd in thy sight Vers. 20 3. Put them in fear O Lord now they fear nothing That they may fear being in their height and prosperity they are insolent and proud manifest thy divine presence to their terrour For then 4. And know themselves to be but men They will know themselves to be but men infirm and mortal creatures and not insult over thy people and glory upon their own strength and prosperity The Prayer and Hymn out of the ninth Psalm for the Church in affliction persecuted and oppressed by enemies I Will praise thee Vers. 1 O Lord with my whole heart and I will make known to others as much as in me lies those wonderful works which thou hast done for thy people in all ages Vers. 2 I will not be glad and rejoice so much in the vain and empty things of this life as in thée the giver of them and for that I will sing praise to thy name O thou most high higher than all things in this world and far beyond all praise that I can give For thou Vers. 7 Lord who art from all eternity and shall continue the same for ever Vers. 8 hast prepared thy seat to judge the world on which being ascended thou wilt judge the world in righteousness rewarding every man according to his deserts repaying good things to those who know thy name and séek thée but heavy judgements to those who dishonour thée and oppress thy people Have mercy upon me Vers. 13 O Lord consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me Vers. 4 O thou that sittest in the Throne and judgest right maintain my right and my cause Vers. 16 and lift me up from the power of death Make thy self known by executing judgement for me Vers. 3 O let my enemies be turn'd back and perish at thy presence Vers. 18 Forget not the cry of the needy and let not the expectation of the poor perish for ever Vers. 12 Make inquisition for that innocent blood of thy servants which they have poured out like water that cannot be gathered up again and forget not the voice of Abels blood that yet from the earth cryes unto thée O God we have heard with our ears and our Fathers have declared unto us the noble works that thou didst in their dayes and in the old time before them Vers. 5 how thou hast destroy'd the wicked and rebuked the heathen and put out their name for ever and ever Vers. 9 Arise therefore O Lord be a refuge to the oppressed Vers. 19 a refuge in this needful time of trouble let not man prevail and let thy enemies be judged in thy sight Put them in fear O Lord that they may know themselves that they are not God but weak infirm and mortal men Now they are proud of their victories and puff'd up with their successes O break the hardness of their heart with some calamities and fearful disasters that being brought to consider their own frail condition and intolerable insolence they may cease to pride it against thée and thy Church O thou enemy Vers. 6 thou breathest nothing but
destruction and blood overturning of Cities and polluting of holy Temples but thy destructions shall come to a perpetual end Vers. 17.18 and thy memorial shall perish Thou shalt fall into the pit that thou hast made and in the snare that thou hast set thy own foot shall be taken Thou shalt be brought to the sides of the pit thou without repentance shalt be turn'd into hell with all the people that forget God And therefore all ye servants of God Vers. 11 which trust in him sing praises unto God which dwelleth among his people and walks in the midst of the Candlesticks declare in the Congregation his marvellous works shew forth all his praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion and rejoice in his salvation So they Vers. 10 O Lord who know thy name thy eternal power justice and goodness toward them that trust in thee shall fall down and relie upon thee because thou hast never forsaken them who in their tribulations have sought thy help in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ PSAL. X. A Prayer to God to destroy the enemies of the Church and the oppressours of his people THERE be three parts of this Psalm 1. A Complaint 2. A Narration of his enemies malice 3. A Petition to be deliver'd from them The first part is a Complaint 1. The Complaint is contain'd in the two first verses Vers. 1 and it is double 1 Of Gods absence 1. Of Gods absence which is quickned by an ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Vers. 2 1. Why standest thou so far off O Lord 2. Why hidest thou thy self in times of trouble 2 Of his enemies 2. Then he complains of his enemies Whose Characters are The wicked in his pride doth persercute the poor These he describes by many Characters 2. The first is Insolency Pride and the effect persecution of good men The second part They being gotten to dignity places of honour and enrich'd Vers. 2 they become persecutours And they do it in Pride 1 Insolency and persecution This occasions an imprecation against them Let them be taken in the devices they have imagined They conspire and make Leagues to oppress good men let them be taken when they least think of it 2. The second Note of this wicked man is that he gloryeth in mischief 2 Boasting in wickedness which is a sign of extream malice Vers. 3 The wicked boasteth of his hearts desire 3. A third is that he applauds encourageth others in their rapine 3 Encouragement of others in mischief plunder and spoil to which they are moved by their covetousness He blesseth the covetous whom God abhorreth 4. A fourth is his Contempt of God and man and Perseverance in evil Vers. 5 1. Man he contemns His wayes prosper all succeeds well with him 4 A contempt he never thinks to be call'd to an account 1 Of Man Thy judgements are far out of his sight and therefore in scorn he slights and puffs at all his enemies 2. And God he reverenceth not Vers. 4 Through the pride of his countenance he will not seek after God 2 And God neither is God in all his thoughts 5. The fifth Note is his profane security He saith in his heart Vers. 6 I shall never be moved I shall never be in adversity Excessere metum mea jam bona 5 Profane security Major sum quam cui possit fortuna nocere 6. The sixth Note is his falshood His mouth is full of cursing 6 Falshood Vers. 7 deceit and fraud under his tongue is mischief and vanity Verborum faditas He will not stick at an Oath and curse himself and imprecate God to be a revenger if he perform it not that so under the colour of Religion and Piety he may deceive 7. The seventh is his Cruelty set out in the ninth and tenth verses 7 Cruelty and Hypocrisie FactoruÌ rabies where he is compared to a Thief an Archer a Lyon Vers. 8 and if force will not do it craft shall Vbi non valet vellis leomnia assuit vulpinam for Vers. 9 he falleth down croucheth and humbleth himself Vers. 10 that the Congregation of the poor may fall into the hands of his Captains and strong ones He is animo vers 6. Ore vers 7. Opere malus vers 8 9 10. 8. The eighth Note upon him is that he is a close Atheist 8 Atheism Vers. 11 He hath said in his heart God hath forgotten he hideth away his face A petition to be freed from this wicked man and will never see it Which is the cause of his Cruelty Falshood Security c. The third part of the Psalm is a Petition to be freed from this wicked man The third part Arise O Lord lift up my hand forget not the humble Vers. 12 To perswade which he useth two Arguments 1. Vers. 13 That thereby God should assert his own glory For why should the wicked be suffer'd to blaspheme in this manner Wherefore do the wicked contemn God while he doth say in his heart Thou wilt not require it 2. Vers. 14 Taken from Gods glory nature office 1. In punishing wicked men 2. And defending the helpless Surely thou hast seen it for c. verse 14. Then he returns to his prayer 2 That God would set an end to his power and enforceth his second Argument taken from the justice and office of God 1. That he would out this wicked man from his power and strength Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man Vers. 15 seek out his wickedness till thou find none Till thou find none to punish let none escape Let them appear no more 2. Vers. 16 Then that he would hear and defend the righeous be no worse now to his people than he had been 3 That he would hear and defend the righteous as he had formerly 1. The Lord is King for ever and ever 2. He had expell'd the Canaanites before them The heathen are perish'd out of the land 3. Thou hast heard the desire of the humble Upon which he concludes with the expression of his confidence full of much comfort Of which he is confident 1. Thou wilt prepare the heart of the humble to wait on thee 2. Vers. 17 Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear 3. To the safety of the oppressed To judge the fatherless and poor 4. Vers. 18 To the ruine of the Oppressour That the man of the earth may no more oppress The Prayer collected out of the tenth Psalm for deliverance from tyrannous and oppressive enemies O Almighty and Merciful God whose eyes go through the world and doest sée to how many dangers thy poor Church is exposed and the rage and tyranny of wicked men against thy people we grievous sinners yet thy humble servants justly at this time for our transgressions against thée environ'd with cruel enemies and ready to be swallow'd up
the Anaphora Quousque quousque quousque How long what for ever 2. The second part He petitions that His Petition set down in the third verse of which there be three degrees opposed to the parts of his complaint ver 1 2. 1. 1 God would look on him Look upon me or consider me Thou hast hitherto seemed to turn away thy face but once behold me and shew me one good look 2. 2 Hear him Hear me Thou hast seemed to have forgotten but now I pray thee remember me Ver. 3 and shew that thou dost not neglect my prayer 3. 3 Illuminate him Lighten my eyes I have been vexed in my soul and agitated various counsels to recover thy favour but do thou instruct me and illuminate me what course I shall take Now that this his Petition might be the sooner heard This Petition he enforceth he presseth many Arguments 1. 1 From the relation betwixt God and him From that Relation that was betwixt him and God O Lord my God hear me 2. 2 From the event 1. Death From a bitter event that was like to follow upon the repulse and delay if God heard him not he should die his heart failing him Lest I sleep the sleep of death 3. Ver. 4 From another consequent that would follow viz. the boasting and insultation of his enemies 2 Insultation of the enemy Lest my enemy say I have prevailed against him and those that trouble me rejoyce when I am removed But though he were delay'd yet he despairs not for 3. The third part He yet despairs not In the close the Prophet professeth his faith joy thankfulness 1. His faith I have trusted in thy mercy 2. Ver. 5 His joy My heart shall rejoyce in thy salvation 3. Ver. 6 His thankfulness I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me The Prayer collected out of the thirteenth Psalm Ver. 1 O Lord how long wilt thou so carry thyself toward me as if thou hadst altogether blotted me out of thy Memory How long O Lord as if thou wert angry dost thou hide thy face and turn thy countenance from me seeming to have no care of me or to shew me the least favorable aspect How long shall I be in a doubt what to do Ver. 2 and deliberate with my self whither or to whom to flie for succour in this my extremity I am daily oppressed with sadness and sorrow in my heart while nothing presents it self to my mind that may ease my grief Besides my enemy thinks that he hath gotten the upper hand over me O Lord how long shall he exalt himself insult and cruelly and proudly triumph over me 'T is enough 't is enough O Lord that thou hast turned away thine eyes from me 't is enough Ver. 3 that thou hast long shut thine ears at the voice of my complaint Now cast upon me one kind look consider my adversities and hear my grievous moans Thou whom I only serve Thou upon whom alone I do depend In these great evils in this agony of soul Ver. 4 in this déep darkness of discomfort I live and pine I pine and grieve and my eyes are grown dim with floods of tears but do thou O Lord with the chearful light of thy countenance dispel this thick darkness that is come over my soul lighten mine eyes that I may sée some way of escape lest being oppressed with the sense of my misery I be swallowed up of sorrow and surpressed by a deadly sléep of despair Should such a thing happen my enemy will rejoyce at it and be apt to boast I have prevailed against him and those that trouble me will be glad when I am moved or removed But O Lord though hitherto I behold outwardly no other things Ver. 5 but signs of thine anger and displeasure yet as I have alwayes trusted so I will trust not in my merits but thy mercy and my heart when thou shalt frée me from this grief and fear shall rejoyce and be glad in that salvation thou shalt send me And for very joy from a grateful heart I will give thée thanks Ver. 6 and sing Hymns to the honour of my Lord who hath repaid me good for the hope that I have reposed in him and I will chant Psalms to the praise of that God who hath dealt lovingly and bountifully with me declaring the greatness and goodness of his power and love for my deliverance ever and ever PSAL. XIV Which is Practical Atheists Character TWO parts there are of this Psalm 1. The Description of the Practical Atheist from ver 1. to 7. 2. A Petition for the Church ver 7. 1. The Atheist is here noted out to us divers wayes The first part The practical Atheist described 1. From his name Nabal a Fool or rather a Churle 1 By his name no natural Fool but a sinful a Fool in what he should be wise 2. His hypocrisie or cunning He saith but he will not have it known 1 By his name 't is to himself he saith in his heart he is a close politick Fool. Ver. 1 2 His hypocrisie 3. His saying or his chief and prime principle There is no God 3 His principle No God which is manifested 4. From his practice confessing God in his words for some politick advantages yet in his works he denies him for 1. His heart is wicked and unregenerate They are corrupt 1 By his corrupt heart 2. He is guilty of the sin of Commission in a very high degree They have done abominable works 2 By his works which are abominable 3. And he is guilty of the sin of Omission There is none that doth good This in general after the Prophet descends to some particulars 3 Never good Davids conviction of the Atheist 2. David demonstrates what he said three wayes and convinceth them 1. By the testimony of God himself for he brings him in as a witness against them and such a witness that cannot be deceived for he is 1. An eye-witness Prospectat He looks on 1 By God who is an eye-witness 2. He is in Heaven above them and by that advantage may see all He looks down from Heaven 3. And all he sees and is diligent to enquire Ver. 2 He looks from Heaven upon the children of men From heaven sees all 4. And enquires into his actions And the end is to enquire into their Religion To see if there were any that would understand and seek after God 2. Ver. 3 And then he gives his testimony in these general terms They are all gone aside And gives this testimony they are all become filthy there is none that doth good no not one 3. 1 In general that not one good And then in the next verse he reckons up two especial sins of which they were guilty Injustice and Impiety 1. Ver. 4 Injustice For they eat up his people
will bless the Lord not only for those temporal blessings formerly mentioned but rather for these spiritual following Ver. 7 1. 1 For illumination For the illumination of my mind that I may understand the thing that is right I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel 2. 2 For Sanctification For my sanctification My reins instruct me in the night seasons when I am most retir'd methinks I hear a still voyce within me This is the way walk in it 3. 3 For his perseverance For my confidence and perseverance I say the eye of my faith full upon him without irregular affections and passions 1. I have set the Lord alwayes before me I do not forget him 2. Because he is at my right hand to help me that I fall not 3. I shall not be moved Satan may stand at my right hand to resist and trouble me Zach. 3.1 But God is on my right hand to assist and deliver me Ver. 9 or comfort me therefore I shall not be greatly moved 4. 4 His joy in it For that joy I find in me I am in a good plight as much as heart can wish or need require therefore my heart is glad wicked men rejoyce in appearance And for his assurance 1. Of the Resurrection by Christ their joy is but skin-deep but Davids is deeper his heart glory flesh rejoyceth spirit soul body overjoyed the cause is The Resurrection of the Body Resurgam 1. My flesh shall rest in hope or dwell In this world as in diversorio in the grave as repositorio in heaven as in ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Mansion 2. Ver. 10 Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell My body say some in the grave but there is more in it 3. Neither wilt thou suffer Chasid Thy Holy One to see Corruption the Messiah that is to come out of my loiâs Christs Resurrection is the cause Ve. 9. 11. the pledge the security of ours Job 19.25 5. And eternal life which he illustrates The promise of a future life which is here illustrated 1. From the quantity Fulness of joy 2. From the quality Pleasures 3. From the constancy and honour done us At thy right hand and his hand is strong and none can take us out of it 4. From the perpetuity duration continuance for evermore 5. From the cause the presence sight beatifical vision Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore The Prayer out of the sixteenth Psalm O God thou hast béen a merciful God unto me through my whole life and bestowed upon me many spiritual and temporal blessings which thou hast denied to many of thy better servants Ver. 6 that inheritance which thou my heavenly Father hast alotted to me Ver. 5 is fallen to me in a rich and pleasant place and it is sufficient for me because thou hast bestowed it who art all-sufficient O Lord though I am altogether unworthy of this favour yet be thou still the portion of my cup replenish it and uphold and maintain me in it for I shall quickly lose and forgo it if it be in mine own kéeping But upon these outward things I set not my heart Ver. 2 for my goods are nothing to thee for can a man be profitable to his God as a man that is wise is profitable to himself The sole way that I can honour thée with these outward blessings is by doing good to the Houshold of faith make me therefore carry a charitable mind Ver. 3 and a liberal hand to these make me set my delight upon the Saints that are in the earth and upon such as excel in vertue for these thy Son hath suffered for their salvation he shed his blood in these thou delightest and let it be my delight then to do them good Increase to that end Ver. 7 and continue unto me thy Graces illuminate my mind with thy Counsels Ver. 6 let my reins also instruct me in the night season that I may yield to thy holy inspirations let thy Spirit that continual spring of comfort and counsel dictate and suggest unto me what I ought to do and to choose that good part that shall never be taken from me I know O Lord that they who depend upon lying vanities Ver. 4 and run after another god do but multiply sorrows to themselves never let me then joyn with them in their bloody offerings nor let their names be mentioned by me or come within my lips with approbation and honour These are enemies unto thée O Lord preserve me from them and I know thou wilt preserve me Ver. 1 because I put my trust in thee Thou art my Lord I have set thee alwayes before me Ver. 8 be at my right hand and I shall never be moved So shall I have cause to bless thée and rejoyce in thée Ver. 7 My heart also shall be glad while I remain in the Land of the living And when this Tabernacle in which I sojourn shall be taken down and I gather'd to my Fathers Ver. 9 My flesh shall rest quietly in the grave in hope of a joyful Resurrection for I am assur'd Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell because thou hast not suffer'd thy Holy One to see corruption I am a Member of that Body whereof he is the Head he the Redéemer I one of those that he hath redéemed and therefore I hope to sée God in my flesh and to see him not with other but with these same eyes Confirm me in this hope strengthen me in this faith shew me in the valley of death the path of life while I live here conduct me in the way of grace that leads to glory where in thy presence I shall have fulness of joy I shall sée thée face to face and enjoy that happiness in a full measure which nor eye hath séen nor ear hath heard neither can enter into the heart of man to understand neither shall this joy admit of any end or satiety for at thy right hand there is pleasures for evermore This happiness O Lord is only in thy power to bestow vouchsafe therefore to give it unto us we beséech thée for the merits of thy only Son our Saviour Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen PSAL. XVII Davids Appeal to God in justification of himself and his Petition for defence against his Enemies THERE be three parts of the Psalm 1. A Petition 1. For Audience ver 1. ver 6. 2. For perseverance in good ver 5. 3. For special favour ver 7 8. 4. For deliverance at this time especially v. 13 14. 2. A Narration in which we meet with 1. His Appeal to God and his own justification ver 2 3 4. 2. The Reasons of it his Enemies and their Character ver 9 10 11 12 13 14. 3. A Conclusion which hath two parts one belonging to this life and the other to the future ver 15. 1. He
begins with a Petition and it is for Audience The first part He petitions for Audience and he perswades it upon two Reasons 1. The justice of his cause 2. The sincerity of his heart 1. Hear the right O Lord attend unto my cry give ear unto my prayer 2. Ver. 1 That goeth not out of feigned lips it comes from a sincere heart and not from the lips only And gives the Reasons therefore hear it 2. Then again there be other Reasons why I desir'd to be heard Ver. 6 1. I am apt to slip and fall from thee Hold up my goings c. Ver. 5 2. The danger I am in is great and it must be a strange miracle Ver. 7 some special grace if I perish not Shew thy marvellous loving kindness Ver. 13. 14. 3. My Enemies insolent and mighty and thy Sword only can deliver me The second part He appeals to God as his Judge Arise O Lord disappoint him and cast him down c. ver 13 14. 2. His Appeal to God since a verdict must pass upon me Let my sentence come forth from thy presence for I know that thou art a just Judge Ver. 2 thou art sway'd with no prejudice Let thine eyes behold the things that is equal and then I am assured it will go well with me Ver. 3 For thou hast before this time taken me to task Being conscious of his innocency and hast found nothing and I am resolv'd that thou shalt find nothing nothing as touching that cause that my Enemies alledge against me 1. Nothing in my heart Thou hast proved my heart 2. Nothing in my tongue For I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress 3. Ver. 4 Nothing in my hand For concerning the works of men which are mischievous by the words of thy lips I have had so great regard to that which thou hast expresly in thy Word prohibited That I have kept my self from the paths and wicked wayes of the Destroyer of him that to satisfie his own lusts breaks all Lawes Perfasque nefasque ruit 4. And yet desires assistance I confess indeed that I am a poor weak and infirm creature apt to fall as other men Ver. 5 without thou sustain me by thy grace do thou therefore keep me in this mind ever Hold up my goings in thy paths thât I slip not And this first Petition he renews again Ver. 6 and quickens it by his assurance and confidence to be heard He renews his Petition I have called upon thee for thou wilt hear me O God Encline thine ear to me and hear my speech And he puts in a special Petition which hath two parts or clauses Ver. 7 1. Shew thy marvellous loving kindnesses More than ordinary which he perswades from the person of God O thou that savest by thy right hand them that put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them 2. Ver. 8 That he would save him with the greatest care and vigilancy as a man would preserve the apple of his eye as the Hen her Chickens Keep me as the apple of thine eye hide me under the shadow of thy wings And to perswade this Ver. 9 he fetcheth his Argument from his present necessity he was inviron'd with enemies And perswades it from the quality of his enemies wicked men deadly enemies whom he describes 1. Capital enemies they were and they oppressed him They compass'd him about 2. Ver. 10 Powerful proud rich enemies they were Men inclosed in their own Fat with their mouth they speak proudly They insult and threaten him Ver. 11 3. Their counsels were fixt and bent to ruine him Figentes lumine terram 4. Ver. 12 Cruel they were as Lyons like a Lyon c. ver 12. 5. Ver. 14 Enemies they were that prosper'd in their designs ver 14. They are men of this World 2. They have their portion and look for no other in this life 3. Their bellies are fill'd 4. Their children are many 5. And they leave off their substance to their Babes Therefore he petitions the third time Ver. 13 ver 13. Arise O Lord disappoint him He petitions yet again The third part 1. Faith c. 3. The Conclusion containing the expectation of David opposed to his enemies felicity 1. In the life As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness 2. In this life to come when I awake up i. e. rise from the dead after thy likeness I shall be satisfied with it The Prayer collected out of the seventeenth Psalm I Have called unto thée O Lord be not deaf to my prayer but attend to my cry Ver. 1. 6. Encline thine ear and hear my speech be favourable to the justice of my cause and grant my petition which I make unto thée from the bottom of my heart and offer unto thée not with feigned and dissembling lips I know that thou art a just Iudge who art sway'd with no prejudice to thée therefore I do appeal Let my sentence come forth then from thy presence Ver. 2 and let thine eyes which behold all things consider that which is just and right and look upon that which is equal betwixt me and my accusers For my innocence is not unknown to thée for thou hast proved my heart Ver. 3 whether it were sincere or no thon hast visited me by a night of crosses and temptations and often spoken unto me and searched me out by many thoughtful cogitations which thou hast sent into my soul when déep sléep falls upon man Thou hast tried me as gold in the fire by many a sharp tribulation and yet hast not found any perfidiousness or malicious falshood in me for I have purposed notwithstanding the provocations and great pride and injuries which cruel men have laid upon me that my mouth shall not offend and blaspheme Ver. 4 And though it be a difficult thing for flesh and blood not to wish and speak and return ill to such impious and injurious Malefactors yet in all my life I have had an eye to thy Commandments and by the words of thy lips I have kept my self from the wayes and works and paths of those who attempt to corrupt thy Truth and destroy thy Law But I do not impute this my innocence Ver. 5 and Christian Conversation to my own strength I am not as the Pharisee proud ot it for whatsoever is in me good and vertuous I attribute it wholly to thy grace and benignity I am a weak creature as apt to fall and sin as any I beséech thée therefore who by thy preventing grace hast caused me to enter into the way of thy Commandment go along with me by thy concomitant grace in it Uphold my goings in thy paths that my foot-steps slip not that nor my desires nor actions deviate from the right way and so I become worthy that thy talent of grace be taken from me So many enemies I have that lay wait to subvert me in
discipline and science strength defence that he had from god 4. from the safe custody that in the battle he receiv'd no wound Vers. 36 5. From the success of the battle He had his enemies in chase Vers. 37 and follow'd them in pursuit 6. From the greatness of his Victory Vers. 38 it was a compleat and full Conquest For by it his enemies were taken consumed wounded not able to rise they fell under his feet subdues their necks brought down c. 7. From the cause in which he takes nothing âo himself but attributes the whole to God Thou hast girded me c. Thou hast subdued Thou hast given me the necks of my enemies Which is indeed acknowledged through the whole Psalm 2. The Consequent upon this Victory The consequent of the Victory viz. The enlargement of his Kingdom was the propagation and enlargement of Davids Kingdom 1. That before these Victories there was murmuring at him by the people but now being a Conquerour they were all quiet Thou hast deliver'd me from the strivings of the people His Crown was quiet Vers. 43 2. He was exalted to be the head of heathen Moabites Ammonites c. serv'd him Vers. 44 3. Nay a people whom I have not known Aliens shall serve me nay assoon as they hear of me they shall obey me c. Vers. 45 4. 'T is true indeed they shall dissemble in it and do it for fear more than love and take every occasion to fall off and fade away But yet however they shall do it submit and be content to serve me The fourth part Davids Doxology for his Victories The last part contains the main Scope and intent of David in this Psalm which is to celebrate and extoll the Name and Mercy of God for his Victories And it hath two parts 1. His present thanksgiving 2. And his profession for the future 1. The Lord liveth and blessed be my Rock Vers. 46 and let the God of my salvation be exalted And to that end in the two next verses he maketh mention again of his Victories and attributes the whole success to God 2. And he professeth that he will never cease to do it no not among the heathen Therefore I will give thanks to thee among the heathen and sing praises c. 3. And he professeth that he had great reason to do it Great deliverance giveth he to his King His one of his own chaise And sheweth mercy to his Anointed Uncto suo to David And not to David a lone but to his seed for evermore An ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or Thanksgiving for some great Victory collected out of Psalm 18. O Lord whose eyes are brighter ten thousand times than the Sun thou who beholdest all the wayes of the children of men and wilt reward every man according to his doings Vers. 25 who to the good and innocent wilt shew thy self good and merciful and to the perverse and froward wilt shew thy self averse and severe We thy afflicted people have in the depth of our sorrows cryed unto thée and thou hast out of thy goodness saved us and hast brought down the high looks of the proud The sorrows of imminent death and the incursions of furious men like torrents of water encompassed us the snares they laid for us made us afraid the grave was open and ready to swallow us But in these our distresses we call'd upon the Lord and cryed unto our God and he heard us out of his holy dwelling in Heaven and the cry of our ardent and instant supplication was heard by him accepted and granted Lord when thou wentest out against our enemies when thou marchedst out into the field against Edom Vers. 13 the earth trembled and the heavens dropt the Lord also thunder'd from heaven and the highest gave his thunder hail-stones and coals of fire From Vers 7. to 15. He fought from Heaven the Starres in their courses fought against Sisera O my soul thou hast troden down strength For O Lord the Earth the Heavens the Mountains the lightning the thunder the dark and thick clouds the wind and rain the bail-stones and tempests all have obey'd thy voice and conspired at thy command to the destruction of our enemies to tear them to scatter them to discomfit them They were too strong for us Vers. 16 they took all advantages against us in the day of our trouble and weakness but then thou Lord wert our Protector and Defender even then he reached us his hand and help from Heaven he sent his Angels from above he took us he drew us he deliver'd he fréed us from our strongest Enemies from those who hated us from those bitter calamities which like many waters did environ our souls And he brought us out of these straits into a large and safe place he deliver'd us even because he had a favour unto us Thou Lord out of thy frée love and mercy hast done it So it was because so Lord it pleased thée What shall we give unto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done unto us Assist us with thy Grace and we will from henceforth keep thy wayes and not depart from our God as the wicked do His judgements shall alway be before us and we will not put away his Statutes from us We will walk more closely and uprightly with our God and keep ourselves from our own iniquity even from the temptation of that bosome-sin with which we have been hitherto defiled For then we know that the Lord will reward us after our righteous dealing and integrity according to the cleanness of our hearts and hands in his eye-sight We will therefore love thee Vers. 1 O Lord our strength for thou art our Rock and our Fortress and our Deliverer thou art our God our strong hold in thee will we trust our Buckler and the horn of our Salvation and our high Tower For who is God save the Lord Vers. 31 or who is the Rock save our God It is God that hath girded and arm'd us with strength and blessed us to make his work perfect He hath given us expedition in our actions and power to possess the strongest Fortresses He hath taught and instructed us in the art of Warre and fitted our arms making them in strength like a bow of steel nimble to shoot dextrous to hit and kill the enemy And in the very mouth of danger thou hast given us thy salvation for a shield and the power of thy right hand hath upholden and sustained us Vers. 36 that we fell not and thy favour hath made us great increased us in power and dignity We séemed to be inclosed and shut up in inexecrable difficulties but thou hast enlarg'd our steps and in these slippry places not suffered our féet to flide In thy name and power it is that we have pursued our enemies Vers. 37 that our féet being not wearied in the pursuit we have overtaken them that we have not turn'd again till we have
destroy'd them and consum'd them that we have wounded them Vers. 38 till they were not able to rise that they are fallen under our feet And that we should do thus valiantly it is not our strength and skill in Warre but thy goodness For it is thou Lord only that hath girded us to battle thou hast subdued under us those that rose up against us Thou hast given us the necks of our enemies that we might destroy them that hate us In their trouble and distress they cryed to the Lord who is wont to hear those that cry and call to him but wretches they were and unworthy and therefore there was none to hear to the Lord whom they before derided and contemn'd did they cry but he would not hear them Then being destitute of thy help and forsaken by thée we beat them as small as the dust which the wind whiffles away from the face of the earth we cast them out as dirt of the streets which is troden to nothing by the féet of every passenger O Lord deliver our King from the strivings and tumults Vers. 43 and contradictions of the people restore Him to His Crown and rights and make Him the Head to this people who for their perfidiousness and perjury deserve it not bring down this rebellious Nation this heathenish people and let them fall down and submit to Him and those who out of malice and self-ends would not acknowledge Him serve Him Assoon as they hear of His name let them obey Him and not as if they were méer strangers and aliens to Him reject Him any longer and laying aside all dissimulation willingly and readily yield homage to Him The Lord who liveth be His Rock and blessed be His name and let the God of His Salvation be exalted Avenge Him and subdue the people under Him deliver Him from His enemies kéep Him as the apple of thine eye lift Him up above those who have risen up against Him and preserve Him from the tyranny and treachery of the violent man So shall all honest Subjects and true-hearted Israelites that bear any good-will to Zion celebrate thée O Lord who art foorthy to be praised and give thanks unto thee among the people and sing praises to thy name O Lord send deliverance to the King shew mercy to thy Andinted to restore Him to His Throne and people bless Him in His person and bless Him in His posterity for evermore Amen PSAL. XIX This Psalm is Doctrinal and teacheth us the way to know God His Glory is the Subject THERE be two parts of it The first is Doctrinal 2. Penitential The Doctrinal parts âath two Members 1. The first member teacheth us to know God by natural reason even from the book of the Creatures from vers 1. to vers 7. 2. But because this way is unsufficient to save a soul therefore in the second part we have a better way prescribed which is The Book of the Scriptures whose excellencies are described from vers 7. to vers 11. The Penitential part begins at the twelfth verse For since the reward to be expected proceeds from the keeping of Gods Law and Davids heart told him he had not kept it therefore he beggs pardon and grace from vers 12. to 14. By the Glory of God understand his Goodness The first part The Declaration of God from the creatures especially the heavens his Wisdom his Power in a word all his Attributes of which we have a double Declaration 1. A testimony from the Creatures but especially the Heavens whose Magnitude Beauty Order variety perpetual motion light influences c. declare that there is an Omnipotent wise good God and Creatour of them Vers. 1 With this David begins The Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work 2. Vers. 2 The vicissitude of Day and Night proceeding from their motions declare this also Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge c. 1. The Heavens then are diligent Preachers for they preach all day and all night without intermission One day telleth another and one night certifies another 2. Vers. 3 They are leraned Preachers for they preach in all Tongues For there is nor speech nor language but their voices are heard among them 3. Vers. 4 They are Universal and Catholique Preachers for they preach to the whole world Their sound is gone through all the earth and their words to the end of the world 3. Vers. 4 But among all these Creatures the Sun for which God in heaven hath set a Throne 2 The Sun or Tabernacle makes the fairest and clearest evidence or declaration and that three wayes especially 1. Vers. 5 By his splendour light beauty He riseth as gloriously as a Bridegroom coming out of his Chamber 1 By his splendour 2. Vers. 6 By his wonderful celerity and quickness of his motion running every several hour 225. 2 By his motion Germain Miles as Math maticians teach He rejoiceth as a strong man to run his race His going forth is from the end of the heaven and his circuit is to the end of it and yet is not tired nor weary 3. 3 By his heat The second part By his strange and miraculous heat that pierceth even to the Minerals concocts matures enlives all things Sol homo generant hominem Nothing is hid from the heat thereof 2. 2 The Declaration by his Word Which is commended But because this Declaration is not sufficient to make man happy therefore hath God made a farther Declaration and revealed himself in his Word the Scripture call'd here The Law which is here commended 1. Vers. 7 From the Authour It is the Law of the Lord. 2. In many respects From the Sufficiency thereof It is perfect 3. From the Utility It converts the soul gives wisdom to the simple 4. From the Infallibility The Testimony of the Lord is sure 5. Vers. 8 From the perspicuity and plainness of it The Statutes of the Lord are right Without perplexities ambiguities sophisms windings turnings 6. From the effect it breeds in the Soul it quiets the troubled conscience They rejoice the heart Justificati pacem habemus 7. From the purity of it The Commandments of the Lord are pure they admit no feces of foul Opinions nor give countenance to any sin 8. Vers. 8 From the effect it hath upon the soul It enlighteneth the eyes for it dispells all ignorance doubting of God carnal security diffidence false worship And makes us understand our own deformities defects c. 9. Vers. 9 From the Sincerity of it The fear of the Lord is clean Other Religions are polluted with humane inventions strange Ceremonies Sacrifices Worships Lusts Wickedness gods This not so but the contrary 10. From the continuance of it It is to be a perpetual standing Law It endureth for ever Aeternum Evangelium 11. And therefore both From the truth and equity contain'd in it True and righteous
us from the darkness of sin and ignorance Good God so affect my heart with the love of thy Law that I may desire it more than gold Ver. 10 yea than much fine gold let it be sweeter to my mouth than the honey-comb Grant good Lord that I who desire to be thy servant may be taught by it Ver. 11 and from the kéeping of it let me expect my reward and have my reward in this present life security and peace of conscience and be refreshed by the comforts of thy holy Spirit and in the life to come live with thée in those Mansions which thou hast prepared for those who kéep thy Law for ever But thou O Lord knowest the frailty of my flesh how weak my endeavours are how imperfect my obedience If none but the observers of thy Law shall be rewarded I must néeds despair of a blessing either in this or another life in that the Errors of my life which I know are very many and those which I know not are numberless How often do I commit that wickedness which I ought to leave undone and omit those Duties which I ought to have done How often doth vice steal upon me in the cloaths of vertue and Error and Falshood in the shape of Truth Who can tell how oft he offendeth Ver. 12 Therefore O my good God I beséech thée of thy infinite mercy cleanse me and wash oft these secret spots of my soul with the rest of which in particular I have no knowledge yet my conscience in general tells me that of such I am guilty And however so long as I carry about me this body of flesh Ver. 13 I must also carry about with me this body of sin yet I beséech thée keep me from presumptuous sins never suffer my will to be so over-born that I sin against thée with a high hand though it dwell yet let it not reign though it remain yet let it not dominéer and tyrannize in my mortal body Thy servant Lord I desire to be and no vassal drudge and slave to sin never then suffer it to have the dominion over me This is that great offence which is inconsistent with grace that turneth thée to be our enemy that excludes from the Kingdom of Heaven never never O Lord suffer me to be guilty of it Thou that hearest prayers to thée shall all flesh come Ver. 14 now with a prostrate soul and a penitent heart I appear before thy Throne and humbly beg audience Let these words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be alwayes pleasing and acceptable to thee O Lord thou art my Rock my Strength hold me up that through weakness I fall not from thée Thou O sweet Jesus art my Redeemer and hast bought my soul with a dear price that of thy precious blood frée me from the power of sin the sorrows of death the power of Satan and pains of Hell and bring me by thy Merits and Passion to everlasting life that I may reign with thée for ever PSAL. XX. Is a Form of Prayer delivered by David to the People to be used by them for the King when he went out to Battle against his Enemies THERE be three parts of it 1. A Vote or Benediction of the People for their King from ver 1. to 5. 2. A Congratulation or Triumph of the People after the victory supposed to be obtained from ver 5. to 9. 3. A Petition ver 9. 1. The Vote and Congratulation is directed to Davids person The first part by form of Acclamation the particulars are that he may have Ver. 1 1. Audience in his necessity The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble The vote of the people for the King 2. Protection The Name of the God of Jacob defend thee 3. Help and Strength in the Battle Send thee help strengthen thee which is amplified by the place Out of the Sanctuary out of Zion either from the Sanctuary where prayers were made for him so that they desire their prayers may be heard for him or E Coelo 4. Acceptance of his person testified by the acceptance of his offerings and sacrifices as that of Abel Oderetur omnia munera tua holocaustum tuum in cinerem redigat 5. Answer concession and grant of his Petitions Grant thee according to thy own heart and fulfil all thy counsel which is plainly set down in the next verse The Lord fulfil all thy Petitions Which granted they vow thanks The Vote being ended they perswade that it may be granted because it will redound to Gods glory for then they would shew themselves thankful and honour him for the victory 1. We will rejoyce in thy salvation or as some read it Do this O Lord ut exultemus That we may rejoyce In tua salute referring it to God as the Authour or to the King as saved 2. And in the Name of our God will we set up our Banners Joyfully will we enter into the City with displayed Ensigns and erect them triumphantly as Trophies of the victory to the honour of our God 2. Now follows the Congratulation and Triumph of their faith The second part for they give thanks as for a victory already obtain'd for to their faith it was certain Before they pray'd for Audience and Protection Ver. 6 here they testifie they were certain and secure of both They comfort themselves by faith that God will grant what they ask of him Now know I. 1. Of Protection Now know I that the Lord will save his Anointed 2. Of Audience He will hear him from his holy Heaven 3. Of Help Helping him with the saving strength of his right hand And the certainty of their victory proceeded solely from their confidence in God to him they impute it wholly in the former verse such was their gratitude which that it might be the clearer they illustrate it by an Argument drawn à dissimili they were not as the common sort of Souldiers that trust more to their Arms than to their Prayers 1. Amd the rather because they trust not in their Ammunition As most men do Hi in curru in equis Some put their trust in Chariots and some in Horses as the Ammonites 2 Sam. 10.6 2. But we do not so We will remember the Name of the Lord our God The use of Arms is common and lawful to good and bad men but the difference lies in the confidence Here is an elegant Antithesis 2. And therefore the success was according their confidence in their Armour and Ammunition destroyed our trust in God hath saved us They are brought down and fallen The third part A short ejaculation but we are risen and stand upright The whole sum of the Psalm is repeated in this Epiphonema 1. Save Lord. 2. Let the King that is Christ bear us when we call The Prayer collected from the twentieth Psalm O Lord which art King of Kings Lord of Lords and yet hast commanded us
to make intercession for Kings and all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Hear the prayers of thy Church which we send up unto thée for our King now in the day of his trouble Ver. 2 let the power of that God who defended Jacob from the fury of his brother Esau protect him and set him on high in a safe place Send him help from thy Sanctuary thy Throne in Heaven strengthen and support him by those prayers that are offered out of Zion for him Remember O Lord those fervent supplications and intercessions that are daily offered at thy Throne of grace in his behalf and accept the vowes and sighs and groans sent up unto thée by thy afflicted people for his restitution Grant unto him according to his own hearts desire and fulfil and give good success to all his counsel and whatsoever he for the advance of thy glory piety justice and the good of his people shall request that be pleased to hear and deny him not the request of his lips Our enemies put their trust in their Arms and Ammunition and suppose that their strength of Horse and arm of flesh shall hold them up and kéep them safe in that power which they have got by violence blood perjury and hypocrisie But we will remember the Name of the Lord our God being assured that a Horse is but a vain thing to save a man neither shall he deliver any man by his great strength it is not these humane helps we put our trust in but in thy Name alone Truly when thou shalt perform this for us as we trust thou wilt then will we rejoyce in thy salvation and in the Name of our God will we set up our Trophies of victory O let his enemies be brought down Ver. 8 and fall flat before him and let all those who with a sincere heart séek to advance his cause and right thy Church and thy sincere worship Ver. 6 rise and stand upright Make it known That the Lord will save his Anointed that he hath heard him and the prayers that have béen offered for him from his holy heaven and that he hath restored him by the saving strength of his right hand Save Lord save the King the Church and thy People Let the King of Heaven thy Christ our Iesus whom thou hast exalted to be Lord and King hear us when we call Amen PSAL. XXI The Peoples ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or Carmen Triumphale THIS Psalm is the Peoples Thanksgiving after the Victory In the former Psalm they pray'd for David when he went out to War in this they praise God for the Conquest God gave him over his enemies and the singular mercies God bestowed on him Three parts there are of it 1. A general Proposition in ver 1. 2. A Narration which is twofold from ver 1. to 4. 1. An enumeration of the particular blessings bestowed on David from ver 1. to 6. 2. An account how God would deal with his enemies from ver 6. to 13. 3. A Vow or Acclamation ver 14. The Sum of the Psalm is contained in the first verse The King shall joy The first part the King shall be exceeding glad Ver. 1 Joy then is the affection that King and People were transported with for all that follows shew but the rise and causes of it The joy of the King in Gods salvation 1. The rise or object of it The strength of God the salvation of God 1. His strength by which he did subdue his enemies contemn dangers 2. His salvation by which he escaped dangers fell not in battle 2. The second part Then they make a large Narration of the goodness of God to Davids person in particular of which the severals are these following 1. God granted to the King what he ask'd with his heart and mouth Gods goodness to David Thou hast given his hearts desire and hast not witholden the requests of his lips 2. He granted unto him more than he asked was more ready to give Ver. 2 than David to pray Thou preventedst him with the blessings of goodness Ver. 3 3. He chose him to be King Thou hast set a Crown of pure gold upon his head in which God prevented him chosen him when he thought not of it 4. When he went to War He asked his life Ver. 4 and thou gavest him even length of dayes for ever and ever which is most true in Christ who was the Son of David in him his life and Kingdom is immortal 5. A great accession of Glory Honour Majesty he was no poor obscure King now as at first nor contemptible in the eyes of the people Ver. 5 but greater than Saul or any King of Israel that followed of which yet he was not to boast not in his power not in his riches wisdom but in Gods goodness His glory is great but in thy salvation Honour and Majesty hast thou laid upon him All which are sum'd up under the word Blessing in the next verse Ver. 6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever And added this to the blessing that thou hast given him a heart to rejoyce in it Thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance 6. The continuance of these blessings which is another favour Ver. 7 with the cause of it Davids confidence in God The cause his trust in God For the King trusteth in the Lord and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved 2. Hitherto is the first part of the Narrative that concerned Davids person in particular now follows the effects of Gods goodness to him ab extra and the whole Kingdom in the overthrow of his enemies The overthrow of his enemies by God and necessary it was to add this since no Kingdom though abounding with good Laws Wealth Subjects prudently governed can be happy except it be defended and safe from enemies abroad Now here their ruine and destruction is described and the cause 1. God by Davids hand would do it Thine hand the Sword of God and Gideon 2. He would certainly do it Ver. 8 for he should find them out wherever they were Thy hand shall find out all thy enemies and thy right hand shall find out all that hate thee 3. Ver. 9 This was easie to do as easie as for fire to consume the stubble Thou shalt make them as a fiery Oven in the time of thy wrath the Lord shall swallow them c. 4. Ver. 10 This destruction should be universal it should reach to them and their posterity Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the Earth and their seed from among the children of men 5. Ver. 12 Their judgment fearful and unavoidable God would set them up as a Mark to shoot at that should turn their back and yet they should not so escape because when they fled God would overtake them with a bended Bow and shoot his Arrows upon them
Thou shalt make them turn their back when thou shalt make ready thine Arrows upon the siring against the face of them And at last the cause is added of this severity against them Ver. 11 of that succour he will afford his afflicted The cause oppressed people and the sharp revenge he will take upon their enemies For they intended evil against and imagin'd a mischievous device which they were not able to perform A great comfort this The Epilogue is an Acclamation The third part A Vote to Gods glory and it hath two parts 1. A Petition 2. A Profession 1. Be thou exalted Lord in thy own strength Shew thy self more powerful than all Men or Devils in destroying the enemies of thy Church Ver. 13 2. Their thankfulness And we will be a thankful people So will we sing and praise thy power 1. Serva Regem Populum 2. Nos agemus gratias A Prayer for Kings and all in Authority collected out of the twenty first Psalm O Lord shew thy mercy to the King that is now in great distress and cast aside by a stubborn rebellious and self-ended people Call for him again Ver. 1 and make him the Head-stone of the Corner that he may unite these distracted and divided Kingdoms give him occasion to rejoyce in thy strength and to be excéeding glad of that salvation which thou alone now he is deserted of all men art able to send him against his malicious enemies Thou art the Lord of Hosts and victory and success procéed from thée fight for him O Lord and fight with him that he may be safe and being saved rejoyce and rejoycing ââng of thy Name all the day long With instant and fervent prayers he Ver. 2 and with him his true-hearted people sollicite thée to avert thy wrath and shew tender compassion grant him then what he shall desire with his heart and deny him not the request of his lips With heart and tongue Petitions are presented to thy Throne for him hear O Lord Ver. 3 and grant and grant and do what is desired Nay prevent his Petitions give him more than he hath asked or we can expect let the blessings of thy goodness flow upon him unexpected and set upon his head a Crown of the purest gold which of right belongs to him and which his ambitious and bloody enemy most injuriously hath ravish'd and detains from him Ver. 4 His enemies purshe him to take away his life but do thou bestow upon him length of dayes let him live to a good old Age safe and obeyed in his Kingdom He is now despised but let his glory be again great and illustrious he is now dishonour'd but do thou load him with honour his Majesty is laid low in the dust but do thou raise it so he shall have just cause to make his boast not of his wealth not of his power not of his wisdom but of thy salvation goodness and deliverance only Set him a blessing for ever to his people and make him exceeding glad with thy favour and countenance He hath had often experience that the help of man is but vain that they are all but weak and broken réeds which run into the hand wound and grieve those that lean upon them therefore setting aside all humane confidences he reposeth his trust only in thée Thou art his God and the God of his Father whose blood was shed to maintain thy Truth through the mercy then of thée the most High God let him not be moved much less removed as he places his trust in thée so place him again in his Fathers Seat As thou hast heretofore shewed thy Power against thy enemies Ver. 8 so declare thy Might now let no lurking places hide them no Fortresses secure them find them out with thy hand and make them féel thy just and severe revenge Ver. 9 pursue those that hate thée and thy Truth let thy right hand lay hold of them and execute thy wrath upon them never suffer them to escape Ver. 10 but make them as a fiery Oven in the day of thy anger that presently devoures those that are cast into it swallow them up in thy hot indignation Ver. 12 and let the fire of thy just vengeance consume them Destroy the fruit of their loyns from the Earth and root out their seed from among the children of men make them to turn their backs and slie in the day of Battle and yet so let them not escape for even then make thou ready the arrow upon the string and set them as a Butt to shoot at prepare thy Bow against the face of them let them sée with great grief the faces of those thou hast saved and féel their arm For by their Treason and Rebellion against thy King Ver. 11 they have intended evil against thée they have imagined to destroy thy Truth to abolish thy Gospel and Ordinances which yet as appears by their own factions and divisions they are not able to perform Frustrate O Lord their counsels and never let them be able to perform them Raise up thy power O Lord and come amongst us Ver. 13 Be thou exalted in thy own strength shew thy self more potent than all Divels and Men who rejected our Kings and do eat up and oppress thy people so shall we sing and praise thy power PSAL. XXII De Messia ejus Passione Regno THIS Psalm though in some sense it may be applied to David as a Type yet Christ is the thing signified and therefore it is primarily and principally verified of and in him for he is brought in here speaking First complaining of his dereliction then shewing his Passion and the cruelty of his Enemies Thridly intreating ease and deliverance from them Lastly Promising to his Father thanks foretelling the preaching of the Gospel and the enlargement of his Kingdom by the accession of all Nations There be three chief parts of this Psalm 1. Our Saviours complaint and the causes of it lively and prophetically expressing his sufferings almost through the whole Psalm 2. His Petition and Prayer that God would not absent himself but deliver and save him ver 3 4 5 9 10 11 19 20 21. 3. His Thanksgiving from ver 22. to the end Davids and in him Christs complaint of dereliction 1. He begins with a heavy complaint of Dereliction in his extremity and that he could not be heard though he roared and cried which is thus pathetically expressed and ingeminated My God my God why hast thou forsaken me The first part why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring Ver. 1 O my God I cry in the day-time but thou hearest not and in the night-season and am not silent 2. And that he might seem to have the more just reason to complain for this desertion God carried himself to him after an unusual manner when other his Saints called upon him he heard them he sent them comfort which in this
external internal worship 3. And to perswade to this he gives two reasons 1. Drawn from Gods goodness his acceptance of the Worship 1 Because God will accepts is and hearing our prayers and affording help when we call Vers. 24 For the Lord hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted neither hath he hid his face from him but when he cryed to him he heard him 2. This is the first Reason A second there is at the 26. verse 2 By the promises made to them which is the great good that should happen to those that believe and accept of the Gospel preach'd to them Vers. 26 Whom he calls here The Meek i. e. the humble the broken-hearted the penitent the heavy-laden those who are oppressed with the burden of their sins and astonished at the sense of Gods wrath Three promises of comfort are made unto them 1. 1 They shall be satisfied with the Gospel They shall eat and be satisfied i. e. They shall be fed by the Word of the Gospel and the Sacrament and they shall be satisfied with the glad tidings thereof 2. 2 Celebrate the Eucharist They shall praise the Lord for this mercy seeking his favour in his Ordinances especially the Eucharist The Sacrifices of the New Testament are Sacrifices of praise 3. 3 Their conscience quieted Their heart shall live for ever Their conscience being quieted and pacified and freed from the sense of Gods wrath And now the Prophet goes on These promises made to the Gentiles as wel as the Jews and sets forth unto us the extension and amplitude of these benefits that they belong'd not only to the Jews but even to the Gentiles by whose Conversion the Kingdom of Christ was to be enlarged All the ends of the World Vers. 27 1. Being warn'd by the preaching of the Gospel and allured by these promises shall remember themselves Who were to be converted consider of their lamentable condition in which they are and deplore their former estate impiety idolatry c. and the mercy of God now manifested to them being laid to heart 2. They casting away their gods and forsaking their lewd courses shall turn unto the Lord from whom they have been alienated 3. And embrace a new form of Religion And being converted they shall embrace a new form of Religion under the Gospel All the Kingdoms of the Nations shall worship before thee Of which the reason is Vers. 28 Because Christ is advanc'd to the Throne All power is given to him For Christ is exalted to be King For the Kingdom i. e. of the Church is the Lords and he is the governour among the people And then he instanceth in two sorts of men that should become subjects of this Kingdom In effect all Rich and poor 1. Vers. 29 The fat upon the earth that is the wealthy the mighty Kings Princes 1 To whom the rich should be Subjects Great Men are not excluded from the society of this Kingdom and participation of Grace All they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship 2. 2 And the poor penitents Ezek. 27.30 They also that go down to the dust that is who are poor neglected draw out their life in misery and sit as it were in the dust Those that are perpetual Mourners and have perpetual dust and ashes on their heads These shall bow before him And No man hath quickned his own soul Or None can keep alive his own soul This clause is diversly read Moller Et qui animam suam non vivificat Vulgar Et anima mea illi vivet Jun. Qui animam suam in vita non conservaverit Musculus Quorum nemo animam suam vivificabit Chald. Et anima impii non vivet And therefore admits of several interpretations which read in the Authours 3. 2 And to be a perpetual King Lastly He doth amplifie the greatness of this benefit by the perpetuity of Christs Kingdom It was not a Feast of one hour but it was to continue 1. Vers. 30 A seed shall serve him It shall be counted to the Lord for a generation a holy Nation Whom his seed shall serve a royal Priesthood 2. And when one generation was past another should come up to perform this Duty Vers. 31 being instructed by their fathers They shall come and declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born For ever Manebit semper Ecclesia 3. Lastly He concludes with the cause of all why we call'd why justified why sanctified why saved Quia ipse fecit Ipse God the Authour of all This is Gods doing or if we read That he hath done it Then it is to be a part of the Declaration A Prayer collected out of the 22. Psalm to be used by a disconsolate soul in a spiritual Desertion O Heavenly Father and most Merciful God thou séest that at this time I am a man of sorrows and beset with heaviness thy comforts I now most néed and yet thou séemest to turn thy face from me My God Vers. 1 whom I have alwayes served my God whom I have alwayes trusted why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so farre from my help why is it that thou doest not hear the words of my complaint O my God Vers. 2 I cry day and night to thée to take away this bitter cup from me but thou who art wont to hear those who call upon thee yet doest not regard the voice of my roaring As water that is poured out upon the ground and hath no consistence Vers. 14 as wax that melts at the heat of the fire and loseth its continuity so is the heart in the midst of my body it flows every way and is melted by the furnace of thy fierce wrath I have not whereon to stay I have not whereon to consist I pine with grief I dissolve with pain I pine and languish and faint and dye My bones are fill'd with torture Vers. 15 all the strength of my limbs is wasted my vital spirits fail my moysture is dryed up my tongue cleaveth to my gums and I am brought even to the very dust of death I looked about to sée if any would pity me Vers. 17 but I found them all miserable comforters they shew no pity no compassion at all Vers. 6 For as if I were a worm and no man they stare and look upon me delighting themselves in my misery They scoff and scorn me so that I am become the reproach of men and the despised of the people Their words are bitter their gestures worse Vers. 12 They laugh me to scorn they shoot out their lips they shake their heads They thus insult over me nay blaspheme thée He trusted in God that he would deliver him let him deliver him now if he hath any delight in him They compass me as wild Bulls they enclose me as mad doggs they gape upon me as roaring Lyons They pierce my soul
They part my goods among them and cast lots upon mine inheritance But O thou God of Israel thou continuest propitious and benevolous Vers. 3 why then doest thou stop thine ears at my prayers Thou hast perform'd thine Oath to out fore-fathers they trusted in thée in the depth of their calamities and thou didst comfort or deliver them They cryed in their afflictions and thou sentest them help they hoped in thée and were not ashamed or frustrated of their hope But me who have alwayes call'd upon thée who have alwayes hoped in thée thou hast deserted and forsaken exposed as the vilest and most contemptible worm to be trampled upon by every foot and insulted over by my cruel enemy Yet O Lord I am thy creature and thy hands have fashioned me in my mothers womb and being fashioned thou art he that brought'st me into this light upon thée have I fastned all my hope even from my infancy even from that time to this very hour thou hast shew'd thy self a merciful God in nourishing governing and preserving me from all evil Do not thou therefore who hitherto hast béen present with me whom I have acknowledged whom I have honour'd in whom I have hoped Do not O do not thou depart be not farre from me for most grievous trouble is near and there is none besides to help me none to mitigate the pressnre of my calamities with any comfort But O thou Father of Mercies deferre no longer but haste thee to help me O Lord my strength deliver my soul from the Sword my soul I say which is only dear to me from the power of the Dogg Save me from the Lyons mouth from my Adversary the Devil that goes about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour and hear me and frée me from the hands of Tyrants This if thou shalt do for me Vers. 22 as I certainly believe thou wilt then I will appear before thee in the great Congregation then I will declare thy Name thy Power thy Goodness to all my brethren to those who are bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh to all those who are partakers of the same Covenant and of the same spirit with me I will fréely and openly profess and praise thée Before thée and of thée shall I make my boast in the most frequent Assemblies of thy Servants Thy praise shall ever be in my mouth and those sacrifices of thanksgiving which I have vowed these I will pay in the presence of all thy people And I will call to my brethren to ioyn with me saying O ye of the seed of Jacob that fear the Lord and O all ye of the seed of Israel that imitate his faith and piety praise the Lord glorifie my and your God fall low before him adore and worship him for he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of me a poor afflicted despised wretch neither hath he hid his face from me but when I cryed unto him he heard me O Lord thou heardst thy Son when he pray'd for himself hear him we beséech thée Vers. 16 when he prayes for us And look nor upon us as we are in our selves wretched polluted creatures but look upon the face of thine anointed behold his hands and his féet digg'd through with nayls for our sake behold his blood poured out like water and all his sinews stretched upon the Cross and his bones put out of joint consider his bitter Agony in which as if he had béen near some furnace he fell into a sweat and melted into drops of blood when thou hidd'st thy face affordest him no comfort when in bitterness of soul being forsaken by thee he complain'd and cryed My God my God Remember how for us he became the reproach of men Vers. 1 and the out-cast of the people Vers. 7 how they laugh'd him to scorn and shak'd their heads at him forget not those Bulls those Lyons those Doggs that came about him to devour him and when they had brought him to the dust of death they parted his garments among them and cast lots upon his vesture O let not this blood be spilt in vain but for these sufferings unknown to us but felt by him have pity upon us and save us Since he hath given his soul a Sacrifice for sin Isa 53. divide him a portion with the great and let him divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul to death and was numbred with the transgressours and bare the sins of many let him see his seed let him prolong his dayes and let the pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hand Since he hath borne our iniquities and made intercession for the transgressours let him see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied and let this thy righteous Servant justifie many Let all the ends of the world remember themselves Vers. 27 mourn and deplore their former estate lament for their impiety and forsaking their lewd conversation be turned unto the Lord and let all the kindreds of the Nations instead of the creature worship the Creatour For thine O Christ is the Kingdom and Power and Glory and thou by the meritorious Death and Passion Vers. 28 hast merited to be the governour among the Nations A seed even of the Gentiles shall serve thee they shall be counted to the Lord for a generation Vers. 26 These are the méek upon earth these are the poor in spirit these are the contrite and broken-hearted To these thou hast sent the glad tidings of the Gospel for these thou hast prepared a banquet of thine own flesh and blood Oh give us grace so to eat thy flesh and drink thy blood that we may eat and be satisfied and being fill'd with joy of heart we may praise thée that we séek to thée and please thée and our consciences being quieted and secured by this repast we may acquiesce and live in the perswasion of thy peace and reconciliation for ever O let the fat on earth the greatest the richest the mightyest Princes and Potentates on earth long after this food and in testimony of their faith and Religion eat adore and worship These even these must go down to the dust for no man can keep alive his own soul Let these then together with all other Mortals bow their knées at the Name of Iesus and come and eat this spiritual meat that they may live for ever Thou O Iehovah art our righteousness this will we declare to a people that shall be born our childrens children shall know that thou alone hast done this for us that thou hast redéemed us that thou alone art the Authour and Finisher of our justice and salvation that thou doest justifie thou doest sanctifie thy people and wilt save them by the meritorious Death and Passion of our Lord Iesus Christ And therefore for this we will declare thy Name unto our brethren we will praise thee we will glorifie thee we will fear adore and worship thee Our
notwithstanding our failings we shall have good hope to have thy righteousness imputed to us for our justification when we shall appear before the God of our Salvation O Lord who art the Saviour of all those that séek and open to thée I lift up my heart to thée being destrous to approach thy presence in the right place where thou may'st be found and the right time whilest thou may'st be found Open my dull ears and hard heart that thy Son my Saviour that King of Glory may come in and dwell with me Grant me grace Ver. 7 that I may still hear while he calls open while he knocks and kéep him with me after he is entred that I may ascend thy Hill and stand in thy holy place that I may not only sojourn in thy Tabernacle but also rest and dwell upon the Mountain of thy holiness And O Lord give this Grace unto all Princes that they shut not the gates nor of their Cities nor hearts against thy Son when he would enter and bring the glorious light of the Gospel rather let them set them wide open that there may be a frée passage for the King of Glory to enter for then thou Ver. 8 who art the Lord of Hosts and Mighty in Battle wilt go forth with their Armies and subdue before them their enemies O thou who art the King of Glory the Lord strong and mighty remember thy dwelling place that now lies waste and those doors in which we do hope everlastingly to praise thée By these we entred to offer unto thée our supplications before thée in these houses we were want to praise thée But now they are thrown down desolate and forsaken Arise therefore O Lord thou and the Ark of thy strength build again the walls of Jerusalem and set up the gates of Zion that thy people may enter in and magnifie thy Name singing with joyful lips Thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen PSAL. XXV This Psalm is a continued and earnest Prayer of a man pressed with enemies danger and sensible of Gods heavy displeasure for his sin AND the several Petitions which he makes may make the Partition 1. His first Petition is that his enemies triumph not over him ver 2 3. 2. His second is for instruction ver 4 5. which he urgeth ver 8 9 10 12 13 14. 3. His third for mercy and forgiveness ver 6 7 11. 4. He inforceth and renews his first Petition ver 15 16 17 c. with many Arguments 5. He prayes for Gods people the Church ver 22. 1. He prefaceth with the profession of his faith and confidence in God The first part which is the chief wing of all prayer Vnto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul Ver. 1. 2. O my God I trust in thee He relies not on nor seeks not after any humane helps David relies on God and prayes and upon this living hope he prayes 1. For his hope that it shame him not as it doth when a man hopes 1 That his hope be not frustrate and is frustrated Let me not be ashamed make it appear that I hope not in thee in vain 2. Let not my enemies triumph over me glorying that I am deserted Ver. 3 and this Petition he perswades by this Argument the consequent may prove dangerous if thou send me no help but it will be to thy glory if I be relieved for if he were delivered the faith and hope of others would be confirmed if deserted the good would faint and fail the wicked triumph and therefore he prayes O let none that wait on thee be ashamed but let them be ashamed which transgress that is do me wrong maliciously without any cause given them by me 2. Then he petitions for instruction The second part for instruction that he may be so alwayes governed and confirmed by the Word of God that he sink not under the Cross but relie on Gods Promises 1. Shew me thy ways and teach me thy paths Ver. 4 that thou dealest harshly with thy best servants bringest down before thou exaltest mortifiest before thou quicknest settest the Cross before the Crown Teach me shew me that this is thy way 2. Ver. 5 Direct me in thy Truth and teach me Make me remember that thy promises are firm and true yea and Amen to those that trust in thee this makes me hope still Thou art the God of my salvation on thee do I wait all the day 3. The third for mercy He prayes for mercy and a remove of his sin that might obstruct it 1. Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses which have been ever of old Ver. 6 i.e. Deal mercifully with me as thou hast ever done to those that flie to thee in their extremities 2. Ver. 7 Remission of sin especially of the rebellious concupiscence which in youth most domineers And remission Remember not the sins of my youth nor my ransgressions Ver. 11 according to thy mercy remember me for thy goodness sake O Lord This Petition he repeats ver 11. For thy Names sake O Lord pardon my iniquity and upon this my confession for it is multa or magna great David here breaks off his prayer Of which that he may be the more assured he calls to mind Gods goodness and to confirm his confidence discourseth of the Nature and Person of God even in the greatest fervency of our prayers the greatness of our sins the unworthiness of our persons the anger of God against sin come into our minds stagger our hope and tell us we shall not be heard no better way than to confirm us than to call to mind the nature and the wayes of God with his people and this course David here takes he saith 1. 1 That he is good Good and upright is the Lord. 1. Good for he receives sinners gratis 2. Vpright constant and true in his promises therefore instruet He will grant me my request ver 4. He will teach sinners and me though a great sinner in the way 2. 2 Favourable The meek he will guide in judgment He will not suffer them to be tempted above their strength but will teach them what to answer and will not proceed secundnm rigorem juris but will interpret all in the most favourable sense 3. 3 All his wayes mercy and truth In a word All the wayes of the Lord are Mercy and Truth Mercy in that he freely offers remission of sins the graces of his Spirit government in this life mitigation of our calamities and at last a discharge from them and eternal life Truth in that he will perform what he hath promised To those that keep his Testimonies Non est mendax sed verax But with this caution that men perform with him for it is unto such as keep his Covenant and Testimonies i. e. in faith and a good conscience walk before him the Covenant
affrighted me nor flattery won upon me to turn to the right hand or unto the lest But I have put my trust in thee thy loving kindness hath been before my eyes and I have been pleased in the way of Truth Be merciful therefore to me Ver. 1 O Lord that I may go on as I have begun and suffer not my féet to slip in this way nor to fall out of the way By the way side there be too too many tempters and temptations the most are destitute of thy fear having one thing in their heart another upon their tongue in whose hands is mischief and their right hand is full of bribes But thou knowest O Lord That I have not sate in counsel with these vain persons neither will I go in and converse with these dissemblers for I have hated with a perfect hatred the Congregation the Assembly the Society of these Malignants and with my whole heart have detested their Covenants and Engagements I have not I will not sit with these wicked and evil doers lest I should be infected by them or countenance and confirm them in mischief and draw on others by my example They Lord have demolished and polluted thy dwelling place but I love the habitation of thy house by their irreverence in that place they dishonour thée but I will come and fall low before thy Foot-stool well knowing that there thine honour dwelleth And when thou shalt again open those doors unto me if I contracted any soil I will wash it off with a flood of tears and being an innocent among thy innocent people and about thy Altar I will adore and with the Quire of those that sing to thy Name I will praise and exalt thy Mercy and Majesty There will I publish with Thanksgiving and tell abroad all thy wondrous works There with Hymns and Psalms composed to that end I will declare to all men that are there present how wonderfully and mercifully thou hast wrought for me and for thy people in delivering us from the hands of our blood-thirsty enemies Since then O Lord I have alwayes detested and declined the counsels and confederacies of evil-doers since I have béen ever studious of Religion and loved the communion of Saints Take not away my soul with sinners and involve not my life in that perdition which here and hereafter is due to these men of blood and oppressors of the innocent As for me I have walked innocently wronging none nor desirous to wrong any though I have séen the wicked prosper in their wickedness and some have judged them happy men yet I am not moved with their multitudes success or example I will yet walk in my integrity therefore good God destroy me not with these evil doers be merciful unto me and redéem my soul from the evils with which I am encompassed and from those evils that hang over their heads My foot hath hitherto béen kept right by thy grace and mercy therefore when thou shalt bring me back again to thy Temple I will not be unthankful but I will sing praises to thy Name in and with the great Congregation Amen PSAL. XXVII To comfort one in Danger and Adversity against Despair THERE be four general parts of it David shews 1. How free he is in danger from fear and the causes ver 1 2 3. 2. He expresses his love to Gods House and Religion ver 4 5 6. 3. He prayes ver 7 c. 4. He exhorts to depend on God ver 14. Possible it is that some Man Friend or Foe might ask David The first part David fears not because God is with him what heart he had in his miseries and persecutions all the time of Saul To whom David might return this Answer That he was never disheartned he never did despair and the Reason was because God was his Light to guide him his Rock to save him his Strength to sustain and uphold him The Lord is my Light and my Salvation of whom then should I fear Ver. 1 The Lord is the Strength of my life of whom then should I be afraid Of which he had experience And this he amplifies in the next two verses first by experience he had already found this true When the wicked Ver. 2 even mine enemies came upon me to eat up my flesh they stumbled and fell secondly he puts a case Say that an Host of men should encamp against me my heart shall not fear Ver. 3 though War should rise against me in this will I be confident The Arguments of his confidence were Gods goodness ver 1. And was therefore confident and his own experience ver 2. to which he adds three more in the 5 10 13 verses 1. That God would hide him in his Tabernacle ver 5. Ver. 5 2. That when his father and mother forsook him God took him up ver 10. 3. That he should see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living ver 13. He expresseth his great love and desire to the Tabernacle and House of God The second part His love to Gods house One thing I have desired this one before all other things and he was constant in it That emphatically I will seek after that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the dayes of my life and that for three ends Ver. 4 1. To behold the beauty of the Lord to taste how good and gracious the Lord is 2. To enquire in his Temple there to search the mind of God 3. To offer in his Tabernacle sacrifices of joy Ver. 6 and to sing praises to the Lord. And this was another Argument of his security For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me he shall set me upon a Rock and now shall mine head be lifted up above all my enemies round about me In the last part he falls to prayer The third part 1. He prayes For Audience and an Answer Hear O Lord when I cry with my voyee have mercy upon me Ver. 7 and answer me 2. 1 The ground of his prayer obedience The ground of his prayer his obedience to Gods Command Thou hast said seek ye my face Thy face Lord will I seek 3. Ver. 8 The matter of his prayer in general Hide not thy face from me put not thy servant away in anger Ver. 9 in which he hath good hope to speed even upon former experience 2 The matter of his prayer in general that God desert him not Thou hast been my help be not now worse to me than thou hast been therefore leave me not now nor forsake me O God of my salvation when father and mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up 4. Ver. 10 The matter of his prayer in particular Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in a plain path In particular to he taught a way to escape his enemies i. e. Teach me
what to do that I may please thee and lead me in a plain path that I may escape the ambushes and snares of my enemies deliver me not over to their will for they seek my ruine Ver. 11 1. Who are They are perjured men false witnesses are rise up against me 2. Ver. 12 They are mischievously bent They breath out cruelty 5. 1 Perjured men And their cruelty and falshood is so great that I had fainted were it not for my hope in thee 2 Cruel men I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living Ver. 13 At last he concludes with an Exhortation The fourth part He takes heart and perswades others to it that all others would take out his example and in their greatest extremities be couragious and put trust in God as he did Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart Wait I say on the Lord Be an expectant for he that shall come will come in his good time The Prayer collected out of the twenty seventh Psalm O Heavenly Father whatsoever the World plots the Devil endeavours and wicked men conspire against us that we are fully perswaded shall come to nought Ver. 1 and be utterly frustrate For thou O Lord art our delight to direct and comfort us our salvation to deliver us the strength of our life to support us whom then should we fear of whom then should we be afraid when we have so powerful a Saviour to defend us Though an Host of armed men should encamp against us our heart should not fear though War should rise against us Ver. 5 in this we would be confident that in the time of trouble he will hide us in the secret of his Tabernacle he shall set us upon a Rock to which the malicious hand of our enemies shall never be able to reach How often have our enemies Ver. 3 no otherwise than ravening Dogs set upon us to fear and eat up our flesh and how often have they béen defeated and frustrated of their purposes and fallen before us This O Lord is thy doing this the work of thy hand Ver. 6 Thou only hast lift up our heads above our enemies round about us For which great mercy One thing I have desired of thee this One before all other things Ver. 4 and this I will ever seek deny me not that in peace and quietness I may dwell all the rest of my life in that place where the House of my God is that I may have experience of the beauty of holiness and taste of that delight with which thou dost affect thy servants by the manifestation of thy presence that I may there inquire and learn my Duty and make a progress in the knowledge of spiritual things Ver. 6 that I may there compass thy Altar and offer the Sacrifices of Joy and sing Psalms of Praise and Hymns of Thanks to thee my God O my God hear my voyce for I have long cried and called unto thee deliver me from mine enemies that pursue me Ver. 7 and bring me back and give me a quiet Mansion in the place thine Honour dwelleth being moved by my unjust persecution have mercy upon me and return me a favourable answer My careful heart hath alwayes thought upon thée and béen revived with thy command Seek ye my face call upon me in the day of trouble and therefore with elevated eyes and hands and with an intent heart I have sought thy face thy presence thy favour thy protection and I will never cease to séek it till I shall sée thée face to face And since from my heart I séek it O do not turn and hide thy face from me and deny me not thy favour Conceive not so great anger and displeasure against thy servant who yet have deserved it for his sins as to cast me away and deny me that help which thou hast hitherto graciously afforded me My father my mother my friends my acquaintance my neighbours have all stood afar and forsaken me in my trouble and wilt thou also leave me at this time This hath not béen thy custom for when I have béen destituâe Thou hast been my help when I have béen exposed Thou hast taken me up Forsake me not then now O God of my salvation be my Helper who without thée am nothing be my Saviour who except thou save am like to perish Teach me thy Law and set me in the way in which I am to walk make it plain to me that I mistake it not lest by the errour in thy way and transgression of thy Law being forsaken of thée I fall into those snares and ambushes which my enemies have set for me O never deliver me over to their will Consider O Lord their injustice who have suborned false witness against me and such as breath out cruel words to take away my life So great is their malice That I had utterly fainted but that I believe verily to receive that happiness which thou hast promised in this life and after to enjoy those good things which thou hast engaged to give in Heaven which is truly the Land of the living For these thy word is past and therefore I will wait on thee this shall make me of good courage and strengthen my heart I will wait I say on the Lord with patience and though he defer me I will not faint but I will be instant with him in prayer and beg his aid being assured that at the last he will hear me for the merits of Iesus Christ my Saviour Amen PSAL. XXVIII A Prayer for Help and a Thanksgiving THREE parts there are of this Psalm 1. A Prayer from ver 1. to 6. 2. A Thanksgiving from ver 6. to 9. 3. A Prayer for the Church ver 9. The first part is a Prayer to God and he first prayes for Audience ver 2. The first part He prayes for Audience Hear me And his prayer is so described that it sets forth most of the conditions requisite in one that prayes 1. The object God Unto thee O Lord I cry Ver. 2 2. His faith To thee I cry who art my Rock Ver. 1 The conditions required in a supplicant 3. His fervour it was an ardent and vehement prayer I cry 4. Humility it was a supplication Hear the voyce of my supplication 5. His outward gesture I life up my hands Ver. 2 6. According to Gods order Towards thy holy Temple His Argument to perswade Audience The Argument he useth to perswade Audience is drawn ab incommodo Lest if thou make as though thou hearest not Ver. 1 I become like them that go down into the Pit have no hope of life in me no comfort no heart at all ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã That he prayes for is that he might not partake with hypocrites 2. Then he expresses what he prayes for which is that either First He might not be
corrupted by the fair perswasions of hypocrites Secondly Or that he might not be partaker of their punishments Draw me not away with the wicked and workers of iniquity upon whom he sets this mark Ver. 3 Who speak peace with their Neighbours but mischief in their hearts Against whom he imprecates 3. Against whom he useth this imprecation which is the second part of his prayer Give them according to their deeds and according to the wickedness of their endeavours Ver. 4 give them after the work of their hands render unto them their desert He doth not simply pray that punishment may overtake them but that it may be proportionable to their desert and he prayes earnestly for it as appears by the often repetition of words importing the same thing which that it seem not strange in the next verse he gives the Reason that they were enemies to Piety and contemners of God far from repentance and any hope of amendment Do this unto them Because they were enemies to piety Because they regard not the works of the Lord nor the operation of his hands And then intimates that this their punishment was just and that it should come from above Ver. 5 Therefore he shall destroy them and not build them up Then there follows an excellent form of giving Thanks The second part His thankfulness into which he falls by an admirable Acclamation Blessed be the Lord of which blessing he assigns the Reasons which excellently expresseth the chief parts of Thanksgiving 1. Ver. 6 That God heard him He hath heard the voyce of my supplications 2. The Reasons of it That he would be his Protector The Lord is my strength and my shield 3. Ver. 7 For his grace of confidence My heart trusted in him 4. That from him he had relief I am helped 5. The testification and annuntiation of his Gratitude Therefore my heart greatly rejoyceth and in my song will I praise him He remembers the Indenture I will deliver thee and thou shalt praise me and therefore with heart and tougue he gives thanks 6. And that God should be sure to have all the Honour he repeats what he said before Ver. 8 The Lord is not my strength but their strength i. e. of all those that are with me and he is my strength also the strength of salvation for there were a plurality of them of his Anointed He concludes the Psalm with a Prayer The third part He commends the Church to Gods care and tuition in which he commends the whole Church to Gods Care and Tuition 1. Save thy People in the midst of these Tumults and Distractions 2. Bless thine-Inheritance that they may increase in knowledge piety wealth 3. Feed them and give them a better Shepheard than Saul 4. Lift them up for ever Make their name famous among the Gentiles give them dominion over them that it may be known they are thy peculiar people The Prayer collected out of the twenty eighth Psalm VNLD thée O Lord with all intention of heart and fervour of spirit I cry forsake me not and withdraw not thy help from me be not deaf and still silent to answer my prayers Ver. 1 lest I become as heartless and hopeless as they that descend into the grave Ver. 2 Hear the voyce of my supplications when I call unto thee when with affectionate desire and heat I lift up my hands to thy Mercy-seat Suffer me not to be corrupted with the fair perswasions of hypocrites Ver. 3 nor to be drawn away and deceived by the flattering lips of the workers of iniquity lest I be partaker of their sin and punishment who give good words and speak peace to their Neighbours when yet they imagine mischief in their hearts I know Ver. 4 O Lord that thy justice will overtake their sin and therefore as thou hast decréed Reward them according to their deeds and according to the wickedness of their endeavours Ver. 5 give them after the work of their hands pay them what they have deserved I know they are malicious sinners that break thy Commands not upon ignorance and infirmity but presumptuoufly and with a high hand Shew thy great works in the Earth they regard it not let thy power of thy hand work wonders they pass it by without the least observance therefore O Lord destroy them with an irreparable ruine and never permit them to be raised and built again Blessed and thrice blessed be the Lord Ver. 6 to whose ears this my supplication is come and who I am certain will grant what I have asked of him The Lord is my strength to confirm me my shield to defend me in him my heart trusted and I am helped therefore my heart greatly rejoyceth my mouth I will open to his honour my song shall be of him all the day long and with a chearful mind and a grateful tongue I will praise him Lor save thy people and bless thine inheritance save them with thy hand bless them that they may increase in knowledge piety and wealth feed them with thy Word and lift up their heads above those that hate them that it may be known they are thy chosen Israel the people of thy love Be unto them a Tower of strength against the face of their enemy and send them salvation by the hand of thy Anointed and at last bring them to eternal life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Another out of the same Psalm O Heavenly Father we humbly beséech thy goodness when we cry unto thée to hear our supplications for if thou turn away thine ear and neglect to give us Audience in these our pressures and afflictions the men of thy hand will prevail against us and bring down our life unto the pit We do acknowledge before thée that our wayes have béen perverse our works wicked and the imagination of our hearts only vain and evil continually yet O Lord we desire to be holy render therefore not unto us not according to our deserts but according to thy great mercies Of thy insinite goodness reckon us not with the workers of iniquity suffer us not to be seduced by and punished with wicked men as we have deserved return unto them O Lord seven-fold into their bosome but to us thy people be propitious Be unto us O Lord strength and a buckler save us in our dangers féed us in our necessities favour us in our enterprises and give us success in our actions O Lord we are thine inheritance the people that thou hast adopted to be thy children and heirs heap upon us here thy mercies and hereafter bring us to an everlasting inheritance in Heaven by the precious merits of Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen PSAL. XXIX An Exhortation to praise God THERE be two parts of this Psalm 1. The Exhortation it self ver 1 2. 2. The Reasons to perswade drawn 1. From his Power from ver 3. to 11. 2. From the Protection of his people ver 11. The Exhortation which is
rare proceeds from a King 1 He exhorts Princes to praise God and not from a common man a Prince a great Prince minds Princes and great men that there is one greater than they and that therefore they yield unto him his due honour and worship 1. That they withold it not from him but freely yield it up and give it Ver. 1 for which he is very earnest as appears by the Anaphora Give give give 2. That in giving this they yield him no more than his due Give him the honour due unto his Name 3. What they are to give Glory and strength They must make his name to be glorious give him such glory as is fit for his name 2. Then again attribute their strength to him 4. That they bow before him and adore him Incurvate Junius 5. To perswade this he proposeth two Reasons That they exhibit this honour in that place they ought in atrii sancto ejus Vulg. In decoro sanctitatis Jun. In decore splendore ornatu sanctitatis Moller In the beauty of holiness his Temple And that they may the easilier be perswaded to give the Lord this honour due unto him he proposeth two Reasons to be considered 1. 1 His power shewn His Power a Power though they be Filii fortium high and mighty Potentates far beyond theirs which is seen in his Works of Nature but passing by many other he makes choice of the Thunder and those impressions that follow it this he describes 1. From the nature of it for however men of it do conceive natural causes In the thunder which is Vox Jehovae yet religious men will look higher and when they hear those fearful Murmures in the Aire will confess with David it is Vox Jehovae Vox Jehovae here seven times repeated and this voyce hath affrighted the proudest the mightiest Tyrants 2. From the place whence this voyce is given the watery Clouds The voyce of the Lord is above the waters Ver. 3 upon many waters 3. From the force and power They are not vain and empty noises but strike a terrour Humanas motura tonitrua mentes The voyce of the Lord is powerful Ver. 4 the voyce of the Lord full of Majesty 4. The effects of it From the effects which he explains by an induction 1. Upon the strongest Trees the Cedars the Cedars of Lebanon The voyce of the Lord breaks the Cedars c. 2. Ver. 5 Upon the firmest Mountains even Lebanus and Sirion for sometimes the Thunder is accompanied with an Earth-quake and the Mountains dance Ver. 6 and skip as a Calf 3. Upon the Aire which is no small wonder for when nothing is more contrary to fire Ver. 7 than water it is miraculous that out of a watery Cloud such Balls of fire should be darted The voyce of the Lord divideth the flames of fire Ver. 8 4. In the Creatures of all kinds especially the wild for it makes them fear and leave their Caves and the Woods yea makes the Dear for fear abortive The voyce of the Lord shaketh the Wilderness c. The voyce of the Lord maketh the Hindes to calve 5. In the mighty Rains that follow upon it When the Cataracts of Heaven are opened and such floods of water follow that a man may justly fear a second inundation would drown the World out of all which he draws this conclusion The Lord sits King for ever Ver. 10 2. 2 His works of grace His second Reason is drawn from his Works of Grace when he moveth the hearts of his people to acknowledge his voyce and to give him glory in his Temple Ver. 10 in his Temple doth every man speak of his honour Secondly by the security he gives in people even in that time he utters his voyce and speaks in Thunder whereas the wicked then tremble and quake The Lord will give strength unto his people Ver. 11 the Lord will bless his people with peace i. e. security and peace of conscience The Meditation collected out of the twenty ninth Psalm O Omnipotent God wheresoever we cast our eyes Ver. 1 we have occasion to fall low before thy Foot-stool to adore worship and praise thée so admirable and illustrious is thy dignity and glory which is apparent in all thy Creatures Thy voyce O Lord is heard in the Clouds above whence thou roarest to us in Thunder and whence being resolv'd into Rain thou sendest many and mighty waters In this murmur of the Aire thy voyce is heard with so much power and Majesty that the greatest Atheists have trembled at it and hid themselves thy voyce hath béen so terrible to their ears thy presence in that voyce so full of horrour to their guilty consciences This thy voyce is of so great strength that it breaks the Cedars and splits to pieces the strongest Daks Those mighty Trées have béen torn by the voyce of thy Thunder and rent asunder by thy hot Thunder-bolts The earth was also moved and shook withall and the rocky mountains and strong hills of Lebanon did tremble and quiver and leap too and fro at thy voyce At thy voyce it is that those bottles of Heaven at the same instant send down Rain and dart flames of fiery lightnings miâ'c with that water Thy voyce it is that makes all the Beasts of the Desert to tremble and shake and to leave for fear their Dens and Thickets and to discover themselves to pursuit and danger yea to abortion The breath of thy mouth makes bare the Trées and thy blasts rend off the branches The Rain sometimes descends in such Spouts and violence as if it threaten to drown the World but it is thy hand that preserves the earth For thou sittest upon the flood and kéepest in the waters that they overflow not nor pass farther than thou hast decréed O Lord our God thou remainest a King for ever O then all ye who are mighty upon earth give unto the Lord give unto the Lord glory and strength acknowledge that you have your power and glory from him Give unto the Lord the glory due to his Name worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness adore him in his holy Temple where his service hath beauty in it and in which every one doth speak of his glory O Lord while the wicked do tremble at thy voyce thy people are thereby confirmed against dangers and calamities For thou Lord wilt give strength unto thy people Bless O Lord thy people with the blessing of peace A Prayer out of the same Psalm O Almighty God great hath béen thy mercy unto us that by the voyce of thy Son thou hast made known unto us the great mysteries of our salvation O let this thunder never sound in our ears but let it strike a terrour into our hearts that we despise not so great Redemption and let it raise in our eyes a showre of penitent tears that our sins should crucifie the Son of God O let this thy voyce be
full of Power and Majesty powerful for the conversion of many people and so full of Majesty that all the Potentates and wife men of the World fall low and worship thée make it of that strength that they be never able to resist it and of that efficacy that hey be willing to yield to it As for those tall and proud Cedars which obstinately and maliciously refuse to give thée the Honour due to thy Name break them in pieces and let them féel thy hand But for those who are moved by this thy voyce divide unto them the flames of thy spiritual fire that may illuminate and melt and purisse their blind hard and polluted cold hearts distribute and divide unto them the gifts of thy Spirit subdue their vices by thy Grace Let them méet in thy Temple and alwayes praise thée in the beauty of holiness Bless them with peace of conscience while they are in this vally of tears and trouble and receive them at last to an eternal peace in the life to come Amen PSAL. XXX The occasion of this Psalm was some grievous sickness or danger from which David was delivered TWO parts there are of it 1. The Rendition of praise and thanks ver 1 2 3. 2. An Exhortation to others to do it by his example and Gods dealing with him from ver 4. to the last He beings with his profession of praise The first part He praiseth God I will extoll thee O Lord and adds the causes 1. Ver. 1 For thou hast lifted me up as a man out of a dark deep pit 2. And adds the causes Thou hast not made my Foes to rejoyce over me but turned their mirth to sadness 3. Thou hast healed me in body and mind 4. Brought my soul from the Grave c. Lent me life when I was dying Of all which effects he conceals not the means by which he procured them O Lord my God I cryed unto thee Ver. 2 and thou didst all I have mentioned for me 2. The second part And exhorts the Church to praise him After he had given Thanks he speaks to the whole Church and exhorts by his example to acknowledge and celebrate the goodness of God in defending and delivering those which are his Sing unto the Lord O ye his Saints and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness Ver. 4 And to perswade them he gives the instance in himself in which he declares Lest they have experience of Gods anger as he had That God was justly angry with him but soon appeased 1. Angry he was but his anger endureth but for a moment but life and continuance of life is from his favour There may be heaviness for a night but joy cometh in the morning 2. And justly angry he was for my sin my carnal security In prosperity I was and in my prosperity I said I shall never be moved Lord by thy favour thou hast made my Mountain to stand strong 3. And the effect of his anger was my Trouble Thou didst turn away thy face and I was troubled This is the example he sets the Saints that they be not secure when the World goes well with them lest they have experience of Gods anger as he had Next he shewes how he behaved himself to avert Gods wrath How he averted Gods anger which also he proposeth as a pattern for them to follow in the like cause 1. Viz. By prayer He betook himself to prayer 2. And sets down the Form he used 1. He that is ill calls for the Physitian so did I this was the fruit of my chastisement I cryed to thee O Lord and unto the Lord I made my supplication 2. The Form he used And the Form I used was this thus pathetically I pleaded with God 1. What profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit 2. Shall the dust praise thee shall it declare thy Truth Can a dead man praise thee or canst thou make good thy promises to the dead 3. To which I added Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me O Lord be thou my Helper 3. And then shewes the effect of his prayer that it was turned And the consequent of it was he was relieved Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing Thou hast put off my sack-cloth and girded me with gladness 4. This God did for me and he did it for this end That my glory may sing praise to thee and not be silent O Lord my God I will give thanks to thee for ever Now O ye Saints ye see my case For which he gives thanks you see what course I took you see the effect and the end why God was so good to me it was That I should praise him and therefore I propose my example to you to imitate Betake you to God in your necessities and having obtained deliverance by your prayers remember to sing praises to God The Prayer collected out of the thirtieth Psalm INTO thy hands O Lord I commend my body my soul my thoughts my affections my goods whatsoever is mine I dedicate to thée beséeching thée to dwell with me for then no uncleanspirits shall have power over me nor heinous transgressions shall pollute and profane what thou hast bestowed upon me sanctiffe to my use and to thy honour all thy Creatures Thou Lord hast béen a bountiful God unto me and bestowed upon me many blessings which thou hast denied to many of thy better servants but I have béen an ungrateful wretch and in my prosperity forgot thée my God I forgot mine own condition and was so secure of thy favour that I began to be proud and puff'd up upon the conceit of mine own wisdom and strength Ver. 6 I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved I thought thou hadst made my hill so strong that I could not be shaken or overthrown by the force or practise of any enemy But now this sottish pride and presumption is shaked off from me experience I have that it is thy favour and goodness alone that must kéep me safe for thou didst only hide thy face from me and I was troubled Troubled in my body troubled in my house troubled in my estate I saw my self frustrate in my expectation Great trouble Lord is now upon me and thy wrathful displeasure doth now for my security and pride go over me But now O Lord take away thy hand from me for I am even consumed by thy heavy hand What profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit How shall my life be beneficial to thy honour or to men if being taken away by an untimely death I be laid up in the Grave and my body rot in the Earth Shall the dust praise thee or shall it declare thy Truth Shall a dead man resolved into ashes sing praises to thy honour among men or make boast of thy faithfulness in performing what thou hast promised 'T is for thine honour then to
prorogue my life and for thine honour sake I entreat that thou respite me that thy servants may sée that thou hast made good thy Word unto me and thy enemies may not have occasion to deride the Truth of thy promises and blaspheme For this reason especially unto thee O Lord I cry in my distress and unto the Lord do I make my supplication Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me Lord be thou my Helper And when I thus prayed Thou O Lord in mercy hast heard me I cryed and thou hast healed me I called in the pit and thou stast lifted me up Thou hast brought my soul from the Grave Thou hast kept me alive that my enemies should not rejoyce over me Thou hast turned for me my heaviness into joy Thou hast put off my sack-cloth with which I am cloathed as became a Mourner and girded and compaised me on every side with gladness For thine anger in which thou didst justly chastise me though sharp was but for a moment and in thy favour I have found life weeping hath endured with me for a night but joy came to me in the morning Therefore my tongue shall sing and praise thee I will not be silent of thee O Lord my God I will extoll thy Name and give thee thanks for ever And all you who are his Saints joyn your voyces with me and give thanks to him remember that he is a good and merciful God remember that he is a holy God and will visit the iniquities of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth Generation Remember that he is a gracious God and will not alway be chiding nor keeps his anger for ever Appear then before him and where he is pleased to be present sing Praises to him O Lord we will âlwayes send forth thy honour through the Name of Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen PSAL. XXXI For one in anxiety of spirit THIS Psalm is composed and mixt of diverse affections for David sometimes prayes sometimes he gives thanks now he complains now he hopes one while he fears another while he exults This vicissitude of affections is sixfold and it may very well divide the Psalm 1. With great confidence he prayes to God from ver 1. to 6. 2. He exults for mercy and help received ver 7 8. 3. He grievously complains of the misery he was in from ver 9. to 14. 4. He prayes again upon the strength of Gods goodness from ver 15. to 18. 5. He admires and exults and proclaims Gods goodness from ver 19. to 22. 6. Lastly He exhorts others to love God and be couragious ver 23 24. In the six first verses He prayes The first part he prayes to God and shews his Reasons 1. Ver. 1 That he be never shame in his hope Let me never be ashamed 2. That he be delivered speedily delivered 3. Ver. 3 That God would be his Rock and House of defence to save him 4. That God would lead him and guide him Lead me guide me 5. That God would pull his feet out of the Net that they privily laid for him In effect his Petition is the same His Reasons viz. to be delivered from his danger and his Reasons to perswade God to do this for him Ver. 1 are 1. His faith and confidence In thee O Lord I put my trust 2. The reason of his faith God a Rock Thou art my Rock and Fortress 3. That this would redound to Gods honour For thy Names sake lead me 4. Thou art my strength 5. I rely upon thee Into thy hands I commit my spirit 6. Do to me as thou hast ever Thou hast redeemed me heretofore 7. I do not as other men trust to vain helps but on thee only I have hated them that regard lying Vanities but I trust in the Lord. And in effect as his Petition was the same so are his Reasons also His confidence in God to be his Deliverer his Fortress Rock Redeemerâ c. In which we have an example of a man in misery that thinks he can never say enough for himself and that makes him descant on the same thing which is no flat Tautology but an elegant ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or Expolition Then again we have a pattern for a pious soul in trouble to imitate Ver. 1 that be the pressure never so great yet he sayes to his God Thou art my Rock my Fortress my Strength Thou hast redeemed me I know I shall not be ashamed of my hope therefore I will trvst in thee So he begins so he concludes this first part of his prayer 2. Next he exults and gives thanks for some former deliverance The second part and by the experience of that doubts the less in this Perhaps the Chorus sang this He exults and gives thanks Moller 1. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy And his reason follows from his experience 2. For thou hast consider'd my trouble 2. Thou hast known i. e. Vers. 7 seen my soul in adversity I have seen Upon his deliverance I have seen the afflictions of my people c. 3. And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy 4. But hast set my feet in a large room 3. And now he prayes again 2. The third part He prayes again And complains of what he suffer'd within and without 1. He prayes Have mercy upon me O Lord. Vers. 9 2. Then he complains Complains and in his complaint shews the reason of his prayer for mercy 1. Within at home he was in a sad case For I am in trouble my eye is consumed with grief yea my soul and my belly Totus marcesco Of the sad case he was in My life is spent with grief and my years with sighing my strength faileth because of my iniquity and my bones are consumed 2. Without I have little comfort either from friends or enemies 1. I was a reproach among all my enemies 2. Then for my friends they stood afar off They especially but especially among my neighbours and I became a fear to my acquaintance They that see me without fled from me 2. And then he aggravates the greatness of his grief and scorn This he aggravates and contempt I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind u muertos y ydos no son amigos I am become as a broken vessel What more vile what more useless 3. And which is yet more the people they mock me I have beard the slaunder of the many 4. And the Consequent was mischievous Fear is on every side 2. While they conspire or took counsel together against me 3. And their counsel was they devised to take away my life What could enemies do more or friends permit And after his Complaint The fourtââ part he comforts himself with his first and chief reason again But I have trusted in thee O Lord and said Thou art my God Vers. 14 Let them conspire take counsel and devise
that fear thee It passeth mans understanding to conceive and the eye of humane reason sées it not which judgeth of all things by the present success This thou hast reserv'd in secret for those which serve thée with a sincere heart and in thy good time thou by great works which thou wilt do for those who trust in thee wilt manifest it even before the sons of men The pride of man is great and in their pride they attempt to throw down those who in sincerity worship thée their tongues are sharp and contentious and in their malice they invent many lyes and scandals against them but thou O Lord wilt hide those thou lovest in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man and wilt keep them secretly as in a Pavilion from the strife of tongues And yet I pressed with the consideration of many evils in which I thought my self forsaken said rashly in my hast Surely I am cut off from before thine eyes thou wilt never certainly cast any favourable look toward me Such was my infirmity so great my inconsideration But thy mercy passed by even then my weakness and setled my staggering soul Notwithstanding my imperfections thou heardst the voice of my Supplications when I cryed unto thee Hear me then now O Lord consider my troubles know that my soul is in adversity have mercy upon me for I call unto thée for help and let me not be ashamed But as for the wicked let them be put to confusion and let them be cut off for the grave that they be able to do no more mischief Let those that invent and speak lyes be put to silence that with pride disdain and cruelty speak against the righteous Blessed be the Lord and praised be his name who hath not only delivered me out of danger but hath shewed unto me in a superabundant manner his marvellous great kindness and loaded me with happiness glory and superfluity of all things yea and set me in a safe and defenced place O lovâ ye the Lord all ye his Saints all ye that serve the Lord in holiness murmure not against his providence but when ye sée me a man destitute of all humane help delivered hope for the same favour from his hands be of good courage and strengthen your hearts O Lord preserve the faithful and though the wicked flourish and pride it in their success yet look upon our affliction and plentifully reward the proud doer As for those who with an honest heart serve thée give them constancy and perseverance in thy love fear and Truth and let their hope in thée be well rooted and confirmed through the Son of thy love Iesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour Amen PSAL. XXXII Is Doctrinal and sets forth the happiness of one whose sins are remitted THE Title of the Psalm is Maschil and at the eighth verse the reason is given I will instruct thee and teach thee In this then there is an instruction given especially about these three points which divide the Psalm 1. The Happy estate of a justified person vers 1 2. 2. The unhappy condition of that man who is not assured that he is justified and reconciled to God vers 3 A justified person is happy 4. and the way prescribed how to gain that assurance vers 5. 3. A Lesson given for obedience after a man is brought into that state v. 8 9. 1. The Prophet first instructs us in what justification consists It is a free remission The first part How he must be qualified a covering of sin a non-imputation of iniquities 2. How the man must be qualified that obtains it He must have an honest sincere and upright heart Vers. 1 be far from guile doubling hypocrisie vers 3. Now such a one he pronounceth Vers. 2 A Happy man Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered He must confess his sin not excuse or hide it Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputes not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile who doth not excuse palliate extenuate his sin but confesseth it 2. The second part And this he makes good by his own experience he hid his sin he doubled with God he confessed not and he was in an unhappy and unquiet condition all the while This David did he hid it 1. I held my peace I confessed not I did not ask pardon and When I held my peace And he was unquiet in his soul and kept silence dissembled my sin 2. I was wounded with the sting of a guilty conscience fears horrours troubles of soul c. My bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me my moysture is turn'd into the drought of Summer 3. But when he confessed it And then he shews you the way he took to recover his happiness which was a clear contrary course He would conceal his sin no longer from which he had so much unrest but he was resolv'd to open and display it before his God 1. Vers. 5 I acknowledg'd my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid 2. I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord. Of which the effects are divers 1 He obtained remission 1. The first upon himself He recover'd his happiness consââing in Remission And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin 2. 2 By his example others seek for grace The second upon the whole Church upon every good man that took out and follow'd his example For this i. e. that thou hast been so merciful to me Vers. 6 and pardoned me a penitent confessor shall every one that is godly pray unto thee for pardon in a time when thou may'st be found in the day while grace is offered 3. Vers. 6 Comfort in extremities and safety in the greatest dangers Surely in the floods of great waters 3 And are secure in extremities in an inundation of calamities the troubles shall not come nigh him that depends upon Gods goodness and mercy and is reconcil'd unto him by repentance And he shews the reason from his own experience God was his Protector 1. Thou art my hiding place thou shalt preserve me from trouble 2. Thou shalt compass me about with Songs of deliverance deliver me and make me sing for joy and give thanks 3. And now David sets down the Duty of a justified person The third part David instructs a justified person in his way that he be after his pardon obedient to his God and that not out of compulsion but freely and willingly About which that he be not to seek either God from Heaven or David in his person becomes his Doctor I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go I will guide thee with my eye Vers. 8 And a good servant needs no stripes he will observe nutum or nictum heri As my eye is alwayes over you carefully to instruct
rejoice in thee and we shall have just occasion to triumph that we have trusted in thy Holy Name O Lord let thy infinite Mercy be upon us according as we hope in thee For thy Sons sake we hope for mercy and for his sake let it descend upon us Amen PSAL. XXXIV ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THIS Psalm is composed with great art which must be observ'd by him who will rightly Analyse it The Scope of it is to praise God and instruct in his fear The parts in General are 1. He praiseth God himself and calls upon others by his example to do so from vers 1. to 8. 2. He sets himself in the place of a Master instructs and teacheth in the fear of God from vers 8. to the last 1. David praiseth God The first part He praiseth God himself which he professeth thus 1. I will bless the Lord. 2. His praise shall be 3. He would boast in it 2. Vers. 1 He would not cease in it it should be done all his dayes Continually 3. Expressed it should be by his mouth Vers. 2 but by a tongue affected by the heart My âoul shall make her boast in the Lord. 4. And so long he would continue in it till others were moved to do the like The humble shall hear thereof and will be glad 2. Upon which he provokes others to join with him to praise God also And incites others to it O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together Vers. 3 And that he may the easilier encourage them unto it In that God heard his prayer and will hear others also he proposeth his own example of Gods dealing to him I sought the Lord and he heard me and deliver'd me from all my fears Yea but perhaps it may be said This was a singular mercy exhibited to David To which he replies in effect No a Mercy it is Vers. 4 that belongs to all that seek God Vers. 5 They looked unto him and were lightned and their faces were not ashamed Vers. 6 But it seems this did not satisfie neither For they rejoin And by his Angel deliver them This poor man cryed and the Lord heard him that is David but he was in favour and saved him out of all his troubles Vers. 7 To which he replies by this general and undeniable Maxime The second part The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them Be they who they will He gives them counsel And for this cause he perswades them to join with him in the praise of God 2. And thence he falls to his instructions Now the Lessons are two Vers. 8 1. That they make a trial of Gods goodness 1 To relie on God O taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him Vers. 9 2. That they become his Servants O fear the Lord ye his Saints 2 To fear him for they shall not wanr for there is no want to those that fear him Which he illustrates by a comparison The lyons lack c. But they that seek the Lord shall not These promises and this blessing belongs to none but such as fear God Vers. 10 That then no man deceive himself conceiving that he shall have a share in the blessing when it belongs not to him he enters upon and discourses of the common place The Fear of God and calls his Auditours to be attentive 3 This fear he teacheth Come you Children hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. That fear of the Lord which if a man be desirous of life and to see many dayes Vers. 11 shall satisfie him And if he be ambitious to see good Vers. 12 the peace of a quiet soul and good conscience shall lodge it with him 4 And shews the qualities of the man in whom this fear is 1. Let him be sure to have a Lock upon his tongue Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips that they speak no guile 2. Let him bear no affection to injustice Vers. 13 Decline and depart from evil 3. Let him be charitable ready to do good works Do good Vers. 14 4. Let him be a Peace-maker Seek peace and ensue it Else he fears not God These be the Characters of those that seek the Lord and fear him and these shall want no manner of thing that good is Nothing that God sees good for them Object Yea but are not the righteous exposed to obloquies scorn injuries c. and do not the wicked flourish in wealth power and authority c. To these God is propitious Resp. Yes indeed but they the godly are neither unhappy for this nor the ungodly happy For though the world deride them and tread them underfoot yet they are dear to God 1. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous Vers. 15 and his ears are open to their cry 2. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil Vers. 16 to cut off the remembrance of them from off the earth And upon this point David makes his ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Which largely he declares and comes over it in the rest of the Psalm 1. The righteous cry and the Lord heareth him Vers. 17 and delivereth him out of all his troubles he hears him ad voluntatem or ad salutem and delivers him either by taking them from him or him from them 2. Vers. 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit Consolatur confirmat roborat 3. I confess that many are the afflictions of the righteous But deserted they are not But the Lord delivers him out of them all because he makes him patient constant able cheerful in all Superiour to all 4. He keeps all his bones so that not one of them is broken Perhaps it refers to Christ whose bones were not broken or to the bones of the Saints in their graves which shall come again together Capilli capitis numerantur But as for the ungodly But the wicked shall perish for their malice it is not so with them Occidet impios malicia The very root of their perdition is their malice The first shew'd to God the second to good men 1. Vers. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked 2. And they that hate the righteous shall be desolate And then David concludes this Psalm with this excellent ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Though God suffers his Servants to come into trouble yet he delivers them from thence For that is the nature of Redemption The godly delivered to free one from misery for Redeem'd one cannot be who is not under some hardship This shall be done saith David The Lord redeemeth the souls of his servants Vers. 22 and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate The Prayer collected out of the thirty fourth Psalm MAny Vers. 1 O Lord are the
rent me and ceased not with hypocritical mockers in feasts they gnashed upon me with their teeth 5. And then prayes again to be delivered from them And a Conspiracy in all to vers 20 21. Then he returns to his Prayer again and expostulates his cause with God wondering that he should be so patient Lord how long wilt thou look on resoue my soul from their destruction and my Darling from the lions And to move God the sooner to do it he repeats his former reason vers 9. engaging himself to be thankful Vowing thanks I will give thee thanks in the great Congregation I will praise thee among much people And yet so he gives not over He continues his prayer but continues his suit even unto the end of the Psalm sometimes praying sometimes imprecating 1. He deprecates Let not them which are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me 1 Deprecating neither let them in scorn wink with their eyes at me without a cause And that God be the readier to hear him and stay this their joy and triumph he subnects this reason For they speak not peace but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land Again they are impudent lying people Yea they opened their mouth wide against me and said Aha aha our eye hath seen it This is a Truth this not hid from thee This thou hast seen and from them to thee I turn my eyes 2 And praying God to protect him and thus make again my prayer 1. Keep not still silence Neglect not alwayes my cause or grant them impunity 2. Stir up thy self and awake to my judgement even unto my cause my God and my Lord defend me and punish their impudence 3. Judge me according to thy righteousness which suffers not the just to be oppressed alway 4. Let them not rejoice over me And in me over the Truth and a just cause 5. Let them not say in their hearts So would we have it let them not say We have swallowed him up 6. But rather let that befall them which I have before pray'd for Let them be ashamed 3 And bring them to shame and brought to confusion that rejoice at my hurt let them be cloathed with shame and dishonour that magnifie themselves against me The conclusion is drawn from the consequent of Davids prayer The third part He moves the Church to give thanks if heard then he and the whole Church all good men would rejoice with him 1. To them he first turns his speech Let them shout for joy that favour my righteous dealing yea let them say continually The Lord be magnified which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant 2. Which he would be ready to do Then he professeth for his own particular as he had done before vers 9 10. 18. My tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long The Prayer collected out of the thirty fifth Psalm O Lord thou séest with how many enemies I am beset and how maliciously they are bent against me they set their snares and hide their nets as in a déep pit that I may unawares fall into the mischief that they imagined And that their injustice and ingratitude may the sooner move thée to have pity on me Behold they have suborn'd against me false witnesses who laid to my charge things of which I was no way conscious When they were afflicted I humbled my soul with fasting when they were in trouble I poured out my prayer for them I behaved my self as though they had been my friend or my brother I went heavily as one that mourneth for his mother But they have rewarded me evil for good to the great discomfort of my soul Their words are not the words of peace but they devise deceitful matters against those that are quiet in the Land Even they who had nothing but swéet words of peace in their mouths took their opportunity to open their mouths wide against me to insult and boast Ah ah we have now seen what we desired with our eyes Thus have they rejoiced in my adversity and gather'd themselves together for my ruine yea the very abjects gathered themselves together who did dayly tear my good name and never gave over In their feasts I was their mirth and the drunkards and scurrilous persons made their Songs of me Yea so much they were enraged against me that for very anger and indignation they gnashed on me with their teeth being ready and very desirous to devour me Lord how long wilt thou look upon this how long wilt thou leave me in the hands of these ungrateful and cruel men Vp Lord rescue my soul at last from destructions and my darling from these lions O thou the Lord of the whole world although thou hitherto seemest not to see what I have unworthtly suffered yet I know thou hast seen it because thou seest all things Keep not then still silence in my cause but thou who hast been alwayes present with me and shewed me thy favour withdraw not now thy help and be not farre from me Thou who to my prevalent enemies hast seemed to sleep now rouse up thy self awake and shew that my judgement and cause is dear unto thee O Lord my God to whom I have alwayes committed my self and on whom I do wholly depend Plead thou my cause O Lord with them that strive with me Do me justice according to thy righteousness and suffer not mine enemies to have their desire and to rejoice over me Never let them say in their hearts 'T is well So would we have it neither let them have occasion to boast We have swallowed him up Wrongfully they pursue me without a cause they hate me let them not then exsult at my ruine nor in scorn wink at me with their envious and bloody eyes That this happen not fight thou against them that fight against me lay hold on the shield and buckler and stand up for my help Draw out also the spear and stop the way against them that persecute me and assure my soul that thou wilt be my salvation Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt And as the lightest chaff is blown hither and thither by the wind so let them the Angel of the Lord scattering them be carried up and down by the passions and impulses of their own lusts and knowing not what counsels to follow be driven headlong from one evil to another till they come into such dark and slippery ways that they know not what to refuse and what to choose and so at last be taken and fall by the darkness and lubricity of their own counsels and imaginations In which let destruction come upon them unawares and let the net that they hid privily catch themselves into that very destruction let them fall Let them be ashamed and brought to
grief and scorn is fallen upon me justly for my sin To them Lord I have done no hurt but thée I have offended and to thée I will declare my iniquity and be sorry for my sin I beséech thée therefore O Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath nor chasten me in thy hot displeasure Forsake me not O Lord my God be not far from me for I séem to be destined and appointed to bear stripes and affliction and my sorrow is continually before my eyes But in thee O Lord is my hope answer for me O Lord my God in my prayer I have and will alwayes say Lord hear me lest otherwise my enemies should rejoyce over me for when my foot at any time slippeth they proudly insult and magnifie themselves against me make haste to help me O Lord my salvation Amen PSAL. XXXIX THIS Psalm is conceived to be penned upon the same occasion with the former in some grievous distress he was that 's certain whether by Absolom or Shimei or some great sickness uncertain However as he professed before at his sufferings and in juries he was patient and silent I was as as a deaf man that heard not and as a dumb man c. Psal 38.13 14. Yet here he confesseth that the tentation was so sharp and the provocation was so great that he could not choose but speak he could hold no longer but must needs burst out yet as there so here his complaint and petition is to his God There be three parts of the Psalm 1. A Manifest of his resolution and full purpose of heart for silence ver 1. and the consequence upon it ver 2 3. 2. His Expostulation with God about the shortness and variable condition of life ver 4 5 6. 3. His Petition for remission from sin ver 8. from punishment ver 10. for a farther respite and grace ver 12 13. First David acquaints us here with his resolution Dixi I said I decreed The first part Davids resolution to be silent I fully purposed and it was filent and dumb in the presence of his enemies 1. I said I will take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my tongue and again I will keep my mouth as with a bridle while the wicked is before me Ver. 1 2. And this resolution for a while he kept I was dumb with silence Ver. 2 I held my peace even from good even from a just defence But his heart boyled within him sain he would speak 3. But I found in this very great difficulty nay impossiblity 1. For all this while my sorrow was stirred it was pain to me to be silent 2. My heart was hot within me I was in flame to utter my mind Ver. 3 3. And while I was thus musing the fire burst out what was within And at last he burst out and spake in a querulous manner The second part I saw could not be concealed no more than fire for a while raked up in embers and at last I spake with my tongue Secondly But better it had been he had been silent still since in a querulous manner he begins to expostulate with God Lord let me know mine end and the measure of my dayes what it is As if he had said Ver. 4 Better it were my dayes were ended and I in my Grave than to be thus vexed in body and mind without by enemies and perfidious friends and if yet it must be so it were well I knew the end of it and how long I must be under this Cross and were my life what others is The condition of mans life yet it hath many properties to alleviate the comforts of it 1. It is very brittle and frail Make me know how frail I am Ver. 4 1 Frail. 2. It is very short it may be measured out by a hand-breadth 2 Short which is no long measure nor a yard that is made of it Behold thou hast made my dayes as a hand-breadth Ver. 5 3. Nay which is yet of less reckoning 'T is as nothing before thee a nihil 3 A Nihil 4. 'T is full of vanity Verily every man at his best state in his strength 4 Vain riches power is altogether vanity his labours promise much satisfie little 5. 'T is unstable and uncertain as a shadow the image of a shadow 5 Uncertain Surely every man walketh in a vain shadow Ver. 6 6. 'T is full of trouble and disquiet Surely they are disquieted in vain 6 Troublesome 7. His labours are for he knows not whom He heapeth up riches 7 Laborious and knows not who shall gather them Thus David querulously expostulates but presently recollecting himself 2 He checks himself he stops and checks as it were his immodesty nor the brevity nor the vanity nor the uncertainty nor the anxiety of his life shall hereafter much trouble him he had a surer Rock than any worldly thing whereon to rely which was his God And now Lord 3 And shewes God to be his stay what wait I for my hope is in thee Let others toyle for riches admire dignities empires pleasures let them be proud of these and complain that their life is too short to enjoy these But I have far a stronger hold to trust to even thee O Lord who I am perswaded wilt be propitious to me and be my stay among all the variety and instability of humane things this was his comfort Thirdly The third part He prayes Then upon this confidence he falls to prayer 1. For remission of sin Deliver me from all my transgressions 2. 1 For remission For defence against ill tongues Make me not a reproach to the foolish 3. Pardon for his immodest expostulation upon promise not to do the like I was dumb 2 For defence I opened not my mouth hereafter I will humble my self under thy hand 3 Pardon for his impatience and be silent for thou hast done it my affliction is from thee 4. 4 A remove of punishment and pleads for it A remove of his punishment Take away thy plague away from me 1. And he adds the cause either remove thy hand or I must needs yield and perish I am even consumed by the means or by the blow of thy hand 2. And this he amplifies by a similitude of a Moth and adds a second Reason When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity thou makest his beauty consume away as a Moth which is bred in the Garment and insensibly corrodes Upon divers Reasons frets eats it as doth some disease our body that bred in it consumes it And for confirmation he repeats his former words ver 5. delivering it here in a ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Surely every man is vanity Selah mark that 3. To which may be added a third The consideration of our present condition in this life we and all our fathers are but pilgrims and strangers in this
life I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my fathers were therefore parce Faith is alwayes strugling with tentations before ver 7. he is confident God is his hope but yet his calamities his sickness his enemies the brevity fugacity troubles of his life ever and anon come into his memory and therefore he prayes again for mitigation of these and his prayer ariseth by a gradation 1. He prayes for Audience Hear my prayer O Lord. 2. He inforceth his prayer Then that his cry for such it was be heard Give ear unto my cry 3. For admission of his tears Hold not thy peace at my tears the Reason is a stranger thy grace thy favour 4. For some relaxation and ease O spare me that I may recover my strength which he quickens with this motive before I go hence and be no more seen Restore me to thy favour in this life hereafter it will be too late to expect it Ne moriar desperans The Prayer collected out of the thirty ninth Psalm O Lord when I beheld the flourishing estate and successes of the wicked and the life of the godly worn out with sorrow and afflictions I being not able to comprehend the secret wayes of thy Providence was resolved to lay my hand upon my mouth and acquiesce in thy will and wisdom Even so Lord it pleased thée so thou wisely disposest and brings to pass all things and though I were able to put in a just Apology for this thy doing yet I said weithin my self Ver. 1 I will take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle especially while the wicked is before me that I say nothing against thée my God nothing unworthy my self But while I was dumb with silence while I held my peace and refrained even from good words Ver. 2 that which my heart gave me I must justly speak the grief within me was so vehement and my sorrow was so stirred Lord I confess my own weakness and infirmity that my heart was like fire within me and in that intemperate heat zeal and indignation at the wickeds prosperity I spake thus unadvisedly and immodestly with my tongue being tyred and wearied out of my life I desired to dye O Lord make me know when this my miserable and calamitous life shall end in which I suffer such heavy things and of which I am over-weary make me know the period and measure of my dayes that I may be certain what and how long I am to suffer and what the delay is that I must be under this Cross Short I know my time is and easily measured as easie as a hand-breadth 't is a moment 't is as nothing in comparison of thée and eternity and wilt thou not then suffer me to swallow my spettle Behold all things that are in the World are vanity of vanities and man among the rest his labour his power his strength his favour promise much and little satisfie and wilt thou then contend with such an one and persecute him as the dry stubble O Lord man is but the shadow of a shadow which is the image of a thing and yet is truly nothing so he passeth away being onward his journey toward death never continuing his condition in one and the same state and wilt thou then add so his affliction This O Lord néeds not for he is apt to afflict himself that little time which thou hast given him which he ought to endeavour that he might enjoy in a quiet and peaceable manner is disquieted with the perturbations of the mind for he disquiets himself in vain with fear and joy and hope and a covetous desire especially he heapeth up riches and cannot tell who shall gather them The Prodigal and unthrifty here dissipates what he had with so much care and perhaps sin heaped together or else Thieves or enemies violently plunder and carry them away These considerations O Lord I must confess pierced my soul and these thoughts wounded my heart and made me a little impatient till by thy mercy I recollected my self and retired my heart from all things below and fixed upon thée For now Lord what wait I for what is my erpectation what my confidence what my wealth my power my command my strength my life No no Lord I renounce my trust in all or any of these Thou Lord only art my hope my rock my strong Castle my defence my help my subsistence Thou O Lord which savest all those who hope in thy mercy deliver me from all my transgressions and make me not a reproach to foolish men to whose hands thou hast now justly delivered me for my iniquities against this thy just procéeding I will not open my mouth because I know that thou who wilt and dost all things uprightly hast caused me thus to be troubled to correct my enormities and exercise my patience But yet O Lord I beséech thée make an end of beating me and remove thy stroak that sense of thy wrath those terrours of conscience and pains of body under which I groan for I am even consumed and am ready to faint by the blow of thy heavy hand Thou hast made me an example that when thou correctest and rebukest man for his iniquity Thou makest his beauty to consume away insensibly as the fair gloss doth from the garment that the Moth frets so vain a thing is man As therefore thou hast made me an example of thy justice so set me forth as a Monument of thy mercy in hearing my prayers and cries and considering my tears which I poure out before thée Lord hear my prayer and give ear to my cry and hold not thy peace at my tears for I am as all my fathers were a man in this World of a short continuance the City I séek is above my way thither through this vally of tears in which for a time I must sojourn a Citizen I am of that City a pilgrim and a stranger here and the time I am to abide in it is but a little while O spare me then and deal more remissly and kindly with me forbear these severe stroaks that I may a little recover my strength by an assurance of thy grace and favour unto me before I go hence and be no more séen among men Cease good Lord to smite and afflict me in this grievous manner give me some ease and relaxation of my pain lay no more upon me than thou wilt make me able to bear O let me recover my strength of faith and hope in thée in this my pilgrimage it is not long but I must depart from hence and not be séen any more in this land of the living Grant therefore good Lord that I leave not this World with a conscience oppressed and affrighted with the grief and burden of my sin but that being discharged of that guilt I may quietly and peaceably resign my soul into thy hands being cloathed and beautified by
be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me Aha Aha! 3. 3 He prayes for all good men The third part of his prayer is for all good men Let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee let such as love thy salvation say continually The Lord be praised his Name be magnified In the Close And for himself he renews his Petition for himself and to move God the sooner 1. He puts himself into the number of the poor aflicted people he boasts not I am a just man a King a Prophet But I am poor and needy 2. Shews his hope and confidence Yet the Lord I know thinks upon me 3. He casts himself solely on God Thou art my Help and my Deliverer 4. Therefore make no long tarrying O my God delay me not The Prayer collected out of the fortieth Psalm O Lord I am poor and destitute of all humane help think upon me Thou art my Helper and Deliverer in all my troubles do not therefore longer delay me but send me some aid and comfort Withhold not thou thy tender mercies which thou hast hitherto shewed from me and let thy loving-kindness and truth in performing thy promises alwayes preserve me For troubles more than I can number are come about me and my iniquities which in my prosperity séemed to be at rest now muster themselves against me and arrest me before thy Tribunal so that I am not able to stand in thy presence or with confidence look up to thée they are multiplied and excéed in number the hairs of my head upon the view of which my soul is in a bitter agony and my heart and vital spirits fail me Great evils I have formerly suffered under thy hand but in those depths I ardently continually and patiently expected thee my Lord and thou didst incline thy ear to me and heard'st my cry be pleased then now O Lord to deliver me O Lord make haste to help me bring me out of this misery and calamity in which I am plunged as in some déep Pit or in some miry and thick Clay and being delivered set me upon a Rock and safe place and settle and confirm my goings that I may walk with a shady and inoffensive foot I know by experience That the man is blessed that makes the Lord his trust and relies not upon his wit his wealth his power these are all lying vanities and proud men that trust to them will be deceived I beséech thée therefore instruct me in thy Truth and kéep me from putting any confidence in such lyes and alwayes give me an humble soul to rely upon thy mercies and not upon my own counsels Didst thou take pleasure in Sacrifices and burnt-offerings then would I give them thée but these Ceremonies thou dost not now require nor ever didst estéem without the sacrifice of a contrite heart but thou hast boared my ear and made me thy servant teach me then my Duty and make me obedient to thy Will as was thy only Son of whom it is written in the Volume of thy Book Lo I come I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Law is within my heart Many O Lord my God and wonderful are the Works which thou hast done not to me alone but to all those that trust in thée and thy thoughts which are for good to Mankind who can number They cannot be declared they cannot be spoken they cannot be set in order before thee But of all thy works of wonder that is most admirable that thou shouldest send thy only Son into the World fit him with a body and cloath him with our flesh bring him down and humble him to the state of a servant that he might do thy Will redéem lost man by making his soul a sacrifice for sin 'T is the wonder of wonders that upon the Cross he should shed his blood to save us weak men and without strength ungodly and without worth enemies and without love for scarcely for a righteous man will one dye But in this thou hast commended thy love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us O wonderful love O unexpressible mercy We that were ungodly sinners are justified by his blood we who were sons of wrath are through him saved from thy wrath we who were enemies are reconciled unto thée by his death we in him have received that perfect righteousness and justice which alone we dare plead before thy Tribunal his obedience being a full satisfaction for our disobedience his voluntary sacrifice the sole oblation with which thou art well-pleased And this mercy and faithfulness thou hast declared and published to the sons of men and sent thy servants into the World that they should proclaim these glad tidings of which thou hast called me the unworthiest of all thy servants to be an Embassadour And this thy righteousness have I preached in the great Congregation lo my lips have not refrained to speak of thy goodness I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart I have not concealed thy faithfulness in performing thy promises and thy salvation which thou fréely offerest to all penitent Believers This I have declared in the frequentest and fullest Assemblies For this I now suffer and bitter enemies I have That seek after my soul to destroy it O let them be ashamed and confounded together let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil let them receive confusion for the reward which is due to their iniquity let them be forsaken and destitute of help in the day of trouble as many as insult over me glory in their wickedness and say so would we have it Frée me O Lord from their hands That those who with an honest heart seek thee may see it and rejoyce and be glad in thee and those who love thy salvation expecting defence and deliverance from thée alone may have just reason continually to say The Lord be magnified who is so merciful and just toward his servants Amen PSAL. XLI IN this Psalm David shews how men should and how commonly they do carry themselves toward men in affliction and trouble 1. They should carry themselves compassionately and kindly which would make them happy and find mercy from God from ver 1. to 4. which is the first part of the Psalm 2. But they commonly carry themselves unkindly and afflict the afflicted of which David complains from ver 4. to 10. which is the second part 3. Upon which unkindness he flies to God and prayes for mercy ver 11. shews his hope and confidence in God ver 11 12. and blesseth him ver 13. which is the third part 1. He begins with an excellent ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or a grave sentence The first part He is blessed Blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy i. e. any man in trouble want c. Ver. 1 This man
the right and strait way we have not forgotten our God nor holden up our hands to any strange god No not when thou hast smitten us in a land of captivity where we converse with Dragons in the shape of men and every hour presents us with the face of death Should any such wickedness be in our hands it could not be hid from thée Thou Lord wouldst search it out for thou knowest the secret of the heart And now Lord what is our hope truly our hope is then in thée Thou art our King O God command deliverance for Jacob Give us power by thée to push down our enemies and through thy Name to tread them down that rise up against us We will not trust in our Bowe neither shall our Sword save us it is thou alone thou alone O Lord who must save us from our enemies who must put them to shame and confusion that hate us At this time we are in great distress Ver. 25 our soul is bowed down to the dust our belly cleaveth to the ground Awake therefore O Lord why sleepest thou arise and cast us not off for ever Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and oppression Arise for us and help us and redeem us for thy mercy sake then in God will we boast all the day long and praise thy Name for ever Ver. 8 Thy mercy will appear to be so wonderful and signal in our delivery that we will give thée perpetual and eternal thanks celebrate and extoll thy loving kindness from Generation to Generation PSAL. XLV An Epithalamium or spiritual Marriage-Song composed for the solemn espousal of Christ and his Church THE Type of the Messiah is Solomon of the Church especially of the Gentiles to be espoused Pharaoh's daughter Three parts there are of the Psalm 1. A Preface v. 1 2. 2. The body of the Psalm containing two commendations 1. Of the Bridegroom from ver 3. to 10. 2. Of the Bride from ver 10. to 18. 3. The Conclusion promissory and laudatory ver ult 1. In the Preface the Prophet commends the Subject he is to treat of The first part The Preface signifying 1. That is a good thing good as speaking of the Son of God Ver. 1 who is the chief good 2. And good for us for upon the Marriage of Christ to his Church depends our good 2. That the Authour of this Psalm and the Subject of it is God He was but the pen the instrument to write it full he was of the Holy Ghost therefore his heart was enditing and his tongue followed the dictate of his heart and presently became the instrument of the ready Writer viz. of the Holy Spirit My tongue is the pen of a ready Writer And so having insinuated into his Auditory 1. The second part By the commendation of the matter of which he is to treat viz. that it is good 2. That it tends to a good end viz. to the honour of the King i. e. Christ the King of his Church He falls upon the main business which hath two particulars 1. He turns his speech to Christ the King The excellency of Christ and commends him for many eminent and excellent endowments never was there such a Spouse 1. For his beauty Thou art fairer than the children of men 2. For his elocution and speech Full of grace are thy lips Ver. 2 3. For his valour and fortitude Gird thee with thy Sword upon thy thigh O most Mighty Ver. 3 4. For his happy success and prosperity in his Kingdom Ver. 4 And in thy Majesty ride on prosperously 5. For his equal administration of his Kingdom in Truth Meekness Righteousness Ride on because of Truth Meekness and Righteousness Ver. 5 6. For his Battels and Conquests Thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the Kings enemies Ver. 6 whereby the people shall fall under thee 7. For the stability and eternity of his power Thy Throne O God Ver. 7 is for ever and ever 8. For his justice and equity The Scepter of thy Kingdom is a right Scepter Thou lovest righteousness and hatest iniquity 9. For the fulness of his gifts and graces superlatively beyond all others Therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyle of gladness above thy Fellows 10. For his splendour both in his garments and buildings All thy garments smell of Myrrhe Ver. 8 Cinnamon and Cassia out of the ivory Palaces whereby they have made the glad There is nothing we can call good The commendation of the Church either internally or externally nothing praise-worthy in any Prince that may not be found in this King 2. From the Bridegroom he descends to commend the Bride which is the Catholick Church whom he sets forth 1. By her Attendance 1. No mean persons but Kings daughters and honourable women Ver. 9 2. By her Name Title and Dignity A Queen 3. By her Place On the right hand did stand the Queen 4. By her Attire and Vesture She stood in a vesture of gold of Ophir And in the very midst of this great Encomium His counsel to the Church he breaks off and by an Apostrophe turns his speech to the Church lest she forget her self in the height of her honour giving her this good counsel 1. Ver. 10 O daughter of the most High audi hearken mark what Christ saith 2. Vide look about and consider what is done for thee 3. Incline thine ear and be obedient 4. Forget thine own people and thy fathers house leave all for Christ thy old wayes Ver. 11 thy old opinions deny thy self 5. The consequence Gods favour and good will Reasons to perswade to obedience The consequence of which will be this So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty ver 11. 6. And there is all the reason in the World that thou hear that thou be obedient and conformable to his Will 1. For first He is the Lord thy God and thou shalt worship him 2. Then again it will redound to thy benefit for thence will accrue unto thee great wealth Ver. 12 Tyre shall bring the purple and rich gifts The daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift and the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour ver 12. The counsel and admonition being ended The second Encomium of the Church he returns again to the Encomium of the Spouse and commends her 1. For her inward vertues and endowments The Kings daughter i. e. the Church Ver. 13 is all glorious within 2. For her externals whether doctrine manners offices which are as it were her cloathing 't is of wrought gold 3. For her Rites and Ceremonies They are as Needle-work of divers colours Ver. 14 in divers Churches 4. Her Maids of Honour Virgins holy and sincere souls men pure in heart in life and doctrine living in every particular Church these her companions shall follow her 1. These from all Nations shall
be brought to thee i. e. the Church 2. Ver. 15 They shall be brought with joy and gladness and enter into the Kings Palace Ver. 16 gladly and willingly they shall enter into his Courts on earth and after be received to a Mansion in Heaven 5. For her fruitfulness Barren she shall not be for she shall have many children The Churches gratitude good children and great for the Fathers the Patriarchs Prophets Priests in the old Law Apostles Evangelists and their Successors in the New that may be made Princes in all Lands her Officers are not contemptible 3. The third part The conclusion which is gratulatory for for this honour the Church would 1. Erect as it were a statue I will make thy Name to be remembred in all Generations 2. Ver. 17 The praise shall be perpetuated Therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever The Prayer collected out of the forty fifth Psalm LET the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart be alwayes acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my Redéemer Ver. 1 grant that my heart may endite a good matter and make my tongue a ready instrument of thy Spirit nimbly and aptly and solely to express what thou shalt dictate to me of the King of glory O thou wonderful God and Man the Messiah and Saviour of the World Ver. 2 Thou wert fairer in thy conception and more beautiful in thy birth than all the sons of men born we were all in iniquity and in sin our mother conceived us but thou wert holy in and from the womb being fréed and purified by the Holy Ghost from the stain and spots of our original corruption and when thou wast pleased to manifest thy self to the World thy lips were full of grace thy words drop'â as the honey-comb never man spake like thée never was there such discourses of mercy such calls and offers of love by which thou didst encourage the weary and heavy-laden to come unto thée and we miserable sinners to be reconciled to God for which God hath blessed thee for ever and given thée all power in Heaven and Earth for which we bless thée for ever on Earth and hope to do it in Heaven Now since thou art the Lord of power Gird thy Sword I pray thee Ver. 3 upon thy Thigh O most Mighty conquer and subdue thy enemies whether impious Devils or devilish men take from the one that dominion which they usurp over thy people and bring the other readily and willingly to submit unto thée this will increase thy glory this will improve thy Majesty and Renown Ver. 4 and in thy power prosper and ride on that Truth and Meekness and Righteousness may flourish in thy Kingdom which is easie for thée to do because the right hand of thy power and Divine Omnipotence shall wonderfully teach and direct thée in this work causing thée to the admiration of all not to desist till thou hast obtained an absolute victory and lead in triumph thy enemies Let the words of thy Gospel be sharper than arrows Ver. 5 with a wonderful quickness let them pierce the hearts of many Nations that whereas now they are rebellious and enemies to thy Kingdom they may be wounded to their good that they may fall under thée even at thy foot-stool yield to thy command and be ready to do thy will whose Throne is for ever and ever Ver. 6 and the Scepter of whose Kingdom is a right Scepter Cause them to love that which thou lovest and hate that which thou hatest Thou lovest righteousness make them then in love with equity Ver. 7 thou hatest iniquity cause them to hate all injustice and since thou wast anointed with the oyle of gladness above thy fellows yet for thy fellows anoint also all those that thou hast taken into this fellowship with a fragrant portion of this thy holy oyle that they rejoyce to do thy will Let Kings Daughters noble and princely souls Ver. 9 stand among those thy Saints whom thou hast honoured and brought to thy obedience O let the Queen thy Church whom in mercy and loving-kindness in judgment and justice thou hast espoused to thée stand on thy right hand cloathed in a golden Robe of thy Righteousness O let the smell of their garments be as a Field that the Lord hath blessed Ver. 8 and the swéet of their vertues and graces more odoriferous in thy Nostrils than the perfumes of Myrrhe Cinnamon and Cassia compounded by the skilfullest art of the Apothicary And thou O Daughter so peculiarly beloved and elected by the Messiah consider and encline thine ear attend and give diligent héed what the King shall teach thée concerning the true God and his Service Our eyes are heavy and we cannot sée our ears are deaf and we cannot hear Lord open our eyes that we may sée and say thou Ephatha to our ears that we may hearken and soften our hearts that we may consider of the great honour thou hast done us Teach us to leave father and mother and house and land for thy sake to forget our own people and our fathers house and all that is most dear unto us the bewitching lusts of our own wills and the vanities of our former lewd conversation Enrich our hearts with thy gifts of Grace so shall the King have pleasure in our beauty and we shall acknowledge him for the Lord our God adore fear reverence and worship him Kéep our hearts O Lord in thy fear for then the Nations round about us shall séek and sue to us the Princes of Tyre shall come and bow to us and offer us gifts the rich also among the people shall intreat our favour and desire they may be united to our Communion Adorn us O Lord inwardly with thy Graces and outwardly with an orderly worship and discipline Let our chief glory be that which is within the hid man of the heart and then make us beautiful without in all the ornaments of true Religion vertuous works and Christian lives and over and above in the vestments of outward Ceremonies which are as it were the needle-work and embroydery of Holiness By all which the Virgin-souls of the people may be brought unto thee and accompany us to glorifie our Father which is in Heaven This may move them to enter into the unity of the Church with joy and gladness which is the door of those mansions which thou hast prepared for them in Heaven where they shall enjoy thy sight and thy presence for ever Raise up O Lord our King instead of the fathers of our profession the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles Apostclical men Bishops Pastours and lawful Ministers of thy Word whom thou may'st make Princes to féed and guide to govern and teach thy Church in all lands O Lord thy Mercies are so great and manifold to thy Church that I will make thy name to be remembred in all Generations O let the people praise thee and sing of thy honour for
places but especially The excellencies of the Church In the City of our God in the Mountain of Holiness Then he descends to set forth the Excellencies and Ornaments of the Church 1. It is the City of God Built govern'd by him He resides there 2. It is a Holy Mountain The Religion in it Holy The people a Holy people 3. Vers. 2 It is Beautiful for Situation God had put his beauty upon it 4. The joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion The joy of all the Land of Juda then and after of the whole earth Because the Law was to come out of Zion 5. The City of the great King that is God He founded it and rules in it Vers. 3 6. God is known in her Palaces In her is the knowledge of God yea and by an experimental knowledge to be an Asylum a sure refuge 2. And well it is that it is so for Jerusalem i.e. The Church hath many The second part The enemies of the Church and great enemies which vers 5. the Prophet begins to describe and desires that notice be taken of them for he points them out with an Ecce Fâr Lo. 1. They are many and powerful They were Kings a plurality of them Vers. 4 2. Confederate Kings The Kings were assembled Many and Mighty But prevail nor Vis unita fortior But all the endeavours of these Kings of these Confederate Kings came to nothing 1. They passed by together Together they came and together they vanished Vers. 5 2. They saw they wondered They saw the strength of this City and wondered how it should be so strangely delivered out of their hands And troubled at it 3. And upon it they were troubled they trembled and hasted away Fear took hold upon them Which the Prophet illustrates by a double Similitude 1. By a travailing woman Fear and trembling took hold upon them Vers. 6 as upon a woman in travail 2. By the fear of Mariners at Sea Vers. 7 when an Euroclydon threatens to tear their shâp Their amazement was such Gods protection of her as when Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an East-wind 3. Now follows the third part of the Psalm The third part in which are two especial points 1. A grateful acknowledgement of Gods protection of his Church 1 Gratitude Vers. 8 as he promised As we have heard so have we seen in the City of our God Heard we have that he will protect this City and we see that he hath done it and perswaded we are that he will alwayes do it God upholds the same for ever 2. And this shall never be forgotten by us Vers. 9 We have thought upon thy Name O Lord and loving-kindness in the midst of thy Temple 3. And so thought of it as to praise thee for it According to thy Name so is thy praise O God to the ends of the earth Vers. 10 All the earth shall know that thy righ-hand is full of righteousness That thou with a powerful hand dost help thy people oppressed with injuries and dost punish their enemies by which thou dost give a manifest evidence of thy righteousness and justice The other point of the third part is an Exhortation to Gods people 1. That they exult and rejoice for that which God does for them 2 To which the Church is incited Let Mount Zion rejoice let the daughters of Judah be glad because of thy judgements in defending thy Church Vers. 11 in punishing their enemies 2. That they take especial notice of his miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem with all the particulars of it that notwithstanding the Army was great that lay against it yet no harm was done to any part of it Walk about Zion and go round about her and tell the Towers thereof Vers. 12 Mark ye well her bulwarks and consider her palaces See mark consider whether they are not all yet standing entire 3. And do it for this That you may tell it to the generation following Vers. 13 Leave it upon Record how miraculously God hath delivered you 4. Now for this there is good reason For this God Vers. 14 This God that so protects and defends his Church and takes revenge for us is our God by Covenant and promise for ever and ever and he will for ever keep this Covenant with us He will be our guide even unto death and in death Leave us he will not when all the world leaves us Therefore exult rejoice mark it and make it known to the generation to come The Prayer collected out of the forty eighth Psalm O Lord God of Israel Vers. 1 thou which dwellest betwixt the Cherubints thou art the God even thou alone of all the Kingdoms of the earth and yet amongst these thou hast erected to thy self an everlasting Kingdom and set thy King upon thy Holy Hill of Zion this thou hast chosen to be the City of our God the Mountain of Holiness This thou hast seated on a fruitful Hill ordained to be the joy of the whole earth In this City of the great king and in her Palaces thou hast hitherto made thy self known for a sure refuge Lord bow down thine ears and hear Lord now open thine eyes and see for lo the Kings of Nations are assembled they passed by together and are confederate against thee they lay their heads together with one consent and take counsel how they may lay Jerusalem in the dust O Lord let not our sins be of more power to destroy than thy mercy to save this thy City shew thy strength and come and help us let all our enemies be troubled let them hast away let fear take hold suddenly upon them as the pangs upon a woman in travail Break their power and dissipate their Armies as ships at Sea are broken to pieces by some violent and unexpected wind O Lord we have heard with our ears and our fathers have declared unto us what thou hast done in the dayes of old As we have heard so let it be seen in the City of our God make us experimentally to know that thou wilt establish this thy City thy Church for ever So shall we have just reason to think of thy loving-kindness and to magnifie thy mercy in the midst of thy Temple Vers. 13 to praise thy name to the ends of the Earth to exalt thy right-hand so full of righteousness to speak of thy judgements and to tell of all thy wonderous works to all generations to come O let Mount Zion rejoice and the daughters of Judah be glad for the bulwarks that yet stand fast and the palaces that flourish proclaim that this God is our God for ever and ever that he is a great Lord and greatly to be praised and that he will be our guide unto death Amen PSAL. XLIX ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã AND the Doctrine it teacheth is That rich men be not proud of their wealth nor poor men dejected and troubled at their mean estate since all
speaks in these following words To the wicked God saith 1. Vers. 16 What hast thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant in thy mouth 2. They contemners of Gods Law The reason is because in words thou professest thou lovest me but in deeds thou denyest him Thou hatest instruction in thy heart hatest that Law Vers. 17 that with thy mouth thou commendest and hast cast my words behind thee Written I have to thee the wonderful things of my Law and thou hast counted them a strange thing This I shall now prove and illustrate by a distribution This proved 1. Vers. 18 Thou hast no regard of the eighth Commandment When thou sawest a thief then thou consentest with him In the consent is the more malice it shews that it was not rashly done but on purpose deliberation counsel 2. Vers. 19 Nor of the seventh Thou hast been partaker with the Adulterers 3. Vers. 20 Nor of the ninth Thou givest thy mouth to evil and thy tongue frameth deceit Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother thou slanderest thine own mothers son Against thy brother not a stranger and that not casually neither or in anger but studiously thou satest and speakest 4. No nor of the first For thou hast had a profane thought even of me Vers. 21 and of my mercy forbearance and long-suffering These things hast thou done and I kept silence arose not presently to take vengeance on thee And thou thought'st that I was altogether such a one as thy self A Patron an approver of wickedness as thou thy self art But from any such imputation God no Abetter of wickedness here I purge my self before the Heaven and Earth and the whole World For I will not suffer this thy wickedness to go unreveng'd The day shall come when I will reprove thee Vers. 21 and punish this thy wickedness with severe punishments and set in order before thine eyes the villany that thou hast committed and labour'd to hide Confess at that day thou shalt that the sentence pronounc'd against thee is most just Yet He gives warning to the wicked threatens that he may spare And yet in judgement God remembers mercy It becomes a Judge even when he is pronouncing sentence to take unto him the bowels of compassion And these God who is to be our Judge here puts on ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã For he gives a fair warning to the wicked that they repent and perish not 1. Now while you have time consider this Vers. 22 that God is not pleased with outward Rites Formalities and Ceremonies only that he is not to be pacified with long prayers and preaching of his Law if the life be wicked For this is upon the point to forget that he is a God of pur eyes and cannot behold iniquity Consider this then I say lest like as an angry lyon Promiseth help to the sincere he break out upon you on a sudden and there be none to deliver This is a fair warning to the wicked Vers. 23 2. Now to those who worship God in sincerity he makes a quite contrary promise of defence help salvation Who offereth with an honest heart praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright goes the right way that Gods Word directs I will shew the salvation of God He shall be saved and know that he worships not God in vain The Prayer out of the fiftieth Psalm O Most Mighty and just God who hast appointed a day in which thou wilt judge the world when all flesh shall appear before thee to render an accompt of their wayes whether good or evil never let that strict accompt that we must make slip out of our memory but let the sound of that Arch-angels Trumpet sound in our eares Arise ye dead and come to judgement God to whom the secrets of all hearts are open is then to be the Iudge Vers. 6 the Mighty God even the Lord is to sit upon the Tribunal himself Vers. 1 Our God that hath been patient and long-suffering shall then manifest himself Vers. 3 Silence he will not keep but by his judiciary power he will vindicate and revenge all the deeds and sayings of perverse sinners And he will come in a terrible manner for before him shall go a fire that shall consume and purge the whole world A day it will be of darkness and gloominess a mighty tempest will go before him and the whole frame of the universe will be in a Commotion How shall then our hearts fail us for fear Vers. 1 when the heaven and earth shall be call'd to as Witnesses against us the heaven whose light and influences we have enjoyed but been unthankful the earth whose various fruits and beneficence we might have used but have abused All his creatures at that day will declare his righteousness and proclaim that we are a rebellious people Out of that celestial habitation and that Zion which is above Vers. 2 shall our God appear in perfect beauty His Saints Vers. 2 and those who have made a Covenant with him shall be gather'd round about him When all the workers of iniquity shall call to the Hills to cover them and the Mountains to hide them from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Majesty O most Merciful and Gracious God Vers. 22 give us an understanding heart to consider this Never suffer us to forget thee that that day-come not upon us unawares snatch us not away to condemnation from which if we dye in our sins no man is able to deliver us Keep us O Lord with thy mighty hand that when in words we profess to know thée in déeds we deny not let us never consent to the Thief nor partake with the Adulterer far be it from us to give our mouths to evil and our tongues to frame deceit let us not join with the malicious and factious and sit and speak against our brother or detract and slander our mothers son never let such obdurate obstinacy seize upon our hearts that we hate instruction or cast thy words behind us These are sins inconsistent with grace and evident Arguments of a reprobate soul those that abuse thy patience and long-suffering commit them and that have profane thoughts of the Divine Majesty defile themselves with them Against all sinners but these especially thou hast testified these thou hast reproved keep me therefore O Lord from these presumptuous sins Thou art God even my God when thou speakest give me an ear to hear and what thou commandest give me a will to do O let me glorifie thee and order my Conversation aright that I may obtain salvation I have grievously sinned and wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before my God Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings with calves of a year old will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Rams or ten thousand Rivers of oyle All the Beasts of the Forrest are
his and so are the Cattle upon a thousand Hills will he eat Bulls flesh or drink the blood of Goats To what purpose are the multitude of sacrifices and the fat of fed Beasts these thou delightest not in incense is an abomination unto thee the calling of Assemblies the new Moons the Sabbaths all external worship is hateful and a trouble unto thée so long as the persons of those who observe them are not accepted so long as the men are Formalists Hypocrites and have their hands full of blood 't is the penitent soul to which thou wilt look the sincere heart which thou wilt regard Cleanse me therefore O Lord and wash my heart give me power to put away the evil of my doings let me cease to do evil and learn to do well that so my person being pleasing in thy sight thou may'st hear my prayers and accept my thanks It is now a day of trouble and as thou hast commanded I call unto thee for help Ver. 15 Lord hear my prayers and deliver me as thou hast promised so shall I glorifie thy Name be obliged to offer thee Thanksgiving and pay my vows to the most High Remit Lord and pardon the sins of thy people put our present sufferings and extream afflictions before thy eyes and return to us who return to thée with fasting wéeping and mourning so shall we have just occasion to offer thée praise and glorifie thée for this great mercy and deliverance for ever and ever thy statutes shall be our song in the house of our pilgrimage and we will run the way of thy Commandments all the dayes of our life PSAL. LI. One and a chief of the Penitentials THE occasion of this Psalm was the message that David received from God by Nathan the Prophet for the murder of Vriah and his Adultery in defiling Bathsheba this put him into the state of a Penitent and to petition to God for mercy for pardon for grace for peace of conscience for renovation of his heart It in general contains Davids prayer 1. For himself ver 1. to 13. 2. And three vows or promises ver 13. to 18. 3. For the Church from ver 18. to the end David being in a perplexed estate conceived he could have no comfort The first part but in Gods mercy and therefore he first in general prayes for that Have mercy on me Ver. 1 O Lord not on David the King thine Anointed but on me The general Petition for mercy that am not worthy to be called thy servant thy son and the motive he useth to gain that is not any plea or merit of his own but 1. The kindness of God Have mercy on me according to thy loving-kindness 2. The compassion of God According to the multitude of thy compassions The general Petition for mercy being offered next he tenders three particular Petitions 1. His first particular Petition is for forgiveness of his sins the fact was past The first Petition for forgiveness but the guilt remained he therefore earnestly petitions Put away mine iniquities and upon this he insists and in other terms comes over it for a soul that is truly sensible of sin is never at rest and satisfied with one deprecation for sin is a spot a deep stain Therefore wash me throughly wash me from mine iniquities Ver. 2 and cleanse me from my sin Amplius lava as if one washing were too little for a double sin for two such sins To this Petition for mercy he subjoins a confession of his sin knowing well To this he subjoins a confession that this was the readiest way to obtain it for he that confesseth and forsakes his sin shall find mercy in which we may learn many excellent conditions requisite in a true Confessionist 1. He enters into a serious consideration of the nature of sin he feels the weight the burden of it feels the anguish and abhors it I excuse it not 1. I know my iniquity I know it now to abhor to reform it Ver. 3 2. It is ever before me not to please me but to trouble and grieve me 3. He aggravates it with divers names iniquity sin transgression it is Pasteanos rebellion it is Greavah crooked dealing Chatta errour and wandring 2. And so he falls upon an open and plain confession Peccavi I have sinned Ver. 4 and this he first aggravates by two circumstances He aggravates his sins 1. From the person 1. Of the person It is against thee against thee I say a good gracious God that from a Shepherd hast made me a King a great and terrible God that art able and hast threatned to punish there was neither grace nor fear in me that I durst sin against thee against thee the Epizeuxis is emphatical yea against thee only have I sinned In maxima fortuna minima licentia So highly thou hast advanced me that I need to fear none but thee but this hath not kept me from this sin in this was unthankfulness Vriah was my Souldier I need not fear him the People my Subjects they cannot judge me it is to thee I am to answer for breach of thy Law I esteem therefore my sin to be against thee only for I had not known this sin to be a sin hadst not thou forbidden it nor need not fear any wouldst not thou punish it 2. Of the manner it was an impudent sin done in thy sight 2 The manner before thy eyes thou being by and looking on and so done without any reverence of thy Majesty as it were in contempt I have done this evil in thy sight So that I confess that in reproving and threatning me by Nathan thou art a just God and to be justified in thy sayings and clear in the judgment of any who with an impartial eye shall examine my offence and thy proceeding for I have deserved whatsoever thou hast threatned and given thee just cause to speak and judge as thou hast done Vt is not here causal but consequential for it is not his meaning that he sinned for that end that God should be justified but that this would follow upon it whensoever he was brought to confess his sin then God would be justified in his proceeding against him Ver. 5 3. He proceeds in the Amplification and Exaggeration of his sin He yet aggravates his sin 1. That it proceeded from original sin in him and declares from what root this his actual sin sprang even from his original Behold I was born in iniquity and in sin hath my mother conceived me This very sin that I have committed gives me occasion to enquire into my state and I find and confess upon a diligent inquisition that I am universally corrupted even from my mothers womb and that I carry about me the seeds of all sin 4. Ver. 6 Another aggravation of his sin is that in himself he found not that which God loves 2 From an insincere heart Thou requirest truth in the inward parts
transgressions of them with a pen of Iron and point of a Diamond with whom thou mindest to enter into judgment let not me O Lord be of that number let not my debt stand registred in that Book but of thy mercy and not my merit put it away and blot it out for if my sin stand upon thy account I am but a dead man Lord quicken me Lord forgive me my trespass and put away the hand-writing of thy Ordinance that is against me O Lord if thou wash me not I shall have no part with thée spots I have Ver. 2 that are not the spots of a son pollutions that are of a scarlet dye wash me then by thy vower from iniquity and cleanse me by thy Spirit from my sin or else as an Aethiop I shall never change my spots O Lord lest my uncleanness banish me from my fellowship with thée wash I beséech thée not my féet only but my hands and my head also Wash my féet that is my unclean affections wash my hands that is my unclean actions and wash my head that is my unclean imaginations cleanse me in all that the pollution of any do not cast me from thy presence O Lord I do not hide and conceal the iniquity of my bosom Ver. 3 I séek not to cover it as hitherto I have done but behold now I know it I acknowledge it I confess it to thée against my self therefore shew Lord some pity and compassion upon a miserable sinner and forgive it my sin is ever before me do thou therefore cast it behind thy back My sin is so secret to the eye of the World that no eye beholds it Ver. 4 to them I séem to be what I am not from them I find no trouble but thou O Lord art he to whom all creatures must render an account against thee then against thee I confess that I have grievously offended and done evil in thy sight and therefore it is not O Lord without cause that I suffer these heavy things from thy hands I have deserved them all and given thée just Reason to procéed against me as thou hast done and now I here acknowledge it before the world that thou mayest be justified and have the praise of righteousness even in those things which by the hands of men thou hast brought upon me Righteous art thou O Lord and just in thy judgments I know that in me that is in my flesh there dwells no good thing it is not one Fact only in which I am culpable Behold I was born in iniquity and in sin hath my mother conceived me A Transgressor I have béen from the womb for that bitter root of sin ingraffed in my nature hath gathered strength and shot forth new branches my understanding is darkned my will perverted and my affections bent to evil so that I am truly abominable in thy sight and ashamed of my self especially being conscious to those foul and enormous actual sins that grow from this polluted féed Behold Thou lovest Truth in the inward affections but wo is me I am a man of a double heart Thou hast often instructed my conscience by many secret motions of thy holy Spirit and taught me the way of wisdom but I foolishly have given a check to those inspirations and strayed like a lost shéep in the wayes of folly the light of my conscience I have put out and against my own knowledge I have transgressed Miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of sin I thank God through Iesus Christ my Lord he hath shed his blood for me he alone is my Iesus Purge me then O Lord not with hyssop but with his blood nor Sope nor Niter nor Fullers Sope can make me clean but that stream which issued out of his wounds and side Purge me then with this blood and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than snow though my sins were as scarlet yet I shall be whiter than wool though they be red like crimson yet ãâã shall be white as the driven snow O Lord I hear within me the accusing voyce of a disquiet conscience which pursues accuseth and terrifies me O Lord let me hear the voyce of joy and gladness send down from above the Comforter who alone can speak peace to my soul and then my body which pineth away under this anguish and my bones which séem to be broken through my disconsolate condition shall again recover their wonted strength and my flesh upon me shall rejoyce If then Lord mark what is amiss who can abide it even thy dear Son when he endured the looks of thy angry face fell into agony his soul was heavy his flesh in such pain that he sweat thick clotts of blood how miserable then am I so long as thou shalt look upon me with an angry brow Hide O hide thy face from my sins and blot out all my misdeeds Turn thy angry look from me and look upon the face of thy Anointed that so thy anger when it reacheth me may as the Sun-beams passing through some thick cloud be refracted and mitigated O Lord by my sin I have grieved thy holy Spirit and forced thée who art properly my heart and life of my heart to forsake me come again Lord and restore life unto me without thée I am dead in trespasses and sins I have lost my life Ver. 10 and like a man wanting his quickning spirit when thou wentest away my life went away Return O Lord and come again and create a new heart within me Of my self I have fallen by thy assistance I must rise lend me then the helping hand of thy grace that may lift me up And being fallen my heart is foul Ver. 11 polluted and unclean and who is able to bring a clean thing out of an unclean This is a work much like the producing the first World out of the Tohu and Bohu set O Lord Almighty thy power to work again and create in me a clean heart Fallen I am into the old age of sin begin with me again and make me young and lusty as an Eagle Ver. 12 Cast me not away and forsake me not in my old age of iniquity as a dead man out of mind but let thy presence yet be with me and restore me to the joy of thy salvation O take not from me the graces and assistances of thy Spirit thy right Spirit thy holy Spirit thy frée Spirit A perverse spirit I find in my self thy Spirit will rectifie it and teach me to go the right way an unclean spirit I am possessed with thy Spirit will sanctifie it and purge it from pollution 't is the spirit of bondage to which I am subject thy Spirit can set it at liberty and make it frée impart therefore some nay a liberal portion of this thy Spirit that may teach me the right way that may set me in a holy course that may kéep preserve uphold and confirm me in it that
their malice For every day they wrest and put what sense they please upon our words all their thoughts are against us for evil They conspire assemble lie in wait for us Every word we speak every action we do they observe and mark that they may take away our lives In these extremities we have no security Vers. 1 but in thy mercy arise O Lord and maintain thine own cause be merciful unto us defend thy Truth and thy people that suffer for thy Truth Thou hast made to us many precious promises upon which give us grace so to rely that whatsoever sadness hardship calamity fall upon us that we may trust in thy Word and praise our God for that gracious Word of protection that hath procéeded out of thy mouth Why should we be afraid what man can do unto us when thou hast past thy word to be our Guardian It is not as the profane of the World imagine That thou hidest away thy face and wilt not see For if we are in banishment and pursued Thou tellest every step we take if our eyes drop down tears they are not lost for thou puttest them into thy bottle our sighs and groans are noted in thy Book When therefore now we are Exiles for thy sake and wander among a strange people Bottle up our tears hear our groans register our sighs before us and turn back our enemies Shall they escape by their iniquity in thine anger cast down the people O Lord. So shall we have just reason to praise our God for his Word bound we are by duty bound we have our selves by vow to do it For thy vows are upon us and therefore we will render praises unto thee O Lord deliver our souls from death and keep our feet from falling and we will walk in sincerity of heart before our God in the light of the living in this light the light of thy countenance give us grace to walk that we may live with thée for evermore through Iesus Christ our Lord. PSAL. LVII Ne Perdas ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã aut Deprecatoriùs THIS Psalm was composed by David when he hid himself from Saul in the Cave 1 Sam. 24. The contents of it are His Petition ver 1. The Reasons that perswaded him to it from v. 1. to 6. His profession of thanks ver 5 7 8 c. 1. His Petition is ardent the Epizeuxis shews it The first part His Petition for mercy and it is for grace and protection Be merciful unto me O God be merciful unto me 2. And he presently subjoins his Reasons to perswade God to be merciful 1. From his faith and confidence he had in God alone The Reasons The second part 1. His affiance in God For my soul trusteth in thee and under the shadow of thy wings as the Chicken doth under the wing of the Hen shall be my refuge untill this Tyranny be over-past 2. From the sufficiency and efficiency of God I will call upon God 1. The most High sufficient then he is and able to deliver me 2. That performeth all things for me and will therefore effect it 2 Gods sufficiency and efficiency And upon this Argument he insists in the following verse He shall send from Heaven some miraculous way he shall do it send from Heaven and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up Selah God shall send forth his Mercy and Truth perform his word and mercifully save me 3. The third Reason of his Petition was 3 His great danger the extream danger he was then in by a cruel and merciless enemy 1. My soul is among Lyons a ravenous bloody creature Ver. 4 2. I lie even among those that are set on fire their anger and hatred to me is implacable 3. Even among the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp Sword They calumniate me and wound deeper than these weapons A Spear wounds near an Arrow afar off a Sword at hand near or far off they spare not to disgrace me fortiter accusant 4. And now he draws an Argument more strong than all the rest for he puts God in mind of that which he will not part with 4 Gods honour his Glory A glory it would be to him to be merciful to save and deliver and therefore he prayes Be thou exalted O God above the Heavens and let thy Glory be above all the earth that is shew thy Power and assert thy Glory let not the wicked thus exult which if thou shalt do thy Glory will be conspicuous above in Heaven and below over all the earth And then he falls again upon his complaint describing the practises of his enemies 1. He reiterates his danger But foretels the event They have prepared a Net for my steps insidiantur as Fowlers 2. So that my soul is bowed down my life is in great danger 3. They have digged a Pit before me intending to take me as some wild Beast but praised be God I foresee the event They are fallen into the Pit themselves ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Neque enim lex justior ulla est quam necis artificem arte perire suâ Upon the confidence of which David gives thanks The third part For it gives thanks which consists of which also may be a fourth Argument for no such way to procure a new favour as to be thankful and by his example we may learn how to give thanks two especial points our thanksgiving must consist of and we meet with both of them here the first is Commemoration the second Annunciation 1. He that will be thankful must treasure up in his heart and memory the courtesie that is done him 1 A Commemoration so had David done and therefore he mentions his heart and to make it more emphatical he names it again My heart 2. 2 An Affection After he remembers it he must be affected with it and resolve upon it so doth David My heart is ready or else My heart is fixed confirmed I am in it to be thankful and I cannot be altered 3. 3 An Annunciation 'T is not enough that a man carry about with him a thankful heart he must anunciare tell it abroad and make it known publickly what God hath done for him 1 With joy yea and do it joyfully too I will saith David sing and give praise 4. He must use all means he can to make it known Tongue Psaltery and Harp 2 By all means possible are all little enough whence by an Apostrophe David turns to these Awake my Glory i.e. Tongue awake Lute and Harp I my self will awake 5. 3 With fervency He must not do it in a sleepy manner but with contention and earnestness of spirit Awake awake I will awake 6. 4 Opportunely He must take the first opportunity to do it and not hang off and delay it I will awake early 7. 5 Publickly He must
Wicked men these are corrupters of all Truth and Religion Blood-thirsty men these are that thirst after the blood of thy Saints and use all their force power and conspiracies to root them out of the Earth they lie in wait for our souls they are gathered together for our ruine O send us help from thy holy Heaven and save us from the rage of them who would eat us up Many many grievous offences we have committed against thée our God but it is not for these crimes they at this time invade us but they are haters of true Religion and implacable enemies to true Piety which because we maintain therefore they craftily take counsel and wisely they work to our destruction O Lord Thou knowest that without any fault or offence of ours they run and prepare themselves to Battel Therefore O just God who art a witness of our innocency and their cruelty be not like one that sléeps arise to help us that séek thée behold our miseries and stand up for us that stand for thée and since thou art the Lord of Hosts who hast all Armies at thy Command and the God of Israel whom thy people serve suffer not thy chosen to be thus oppressed by wicked men whose pride excéeds that of the Heathen Visit them in anger O Lord and be not merciful to them that offend of malicious wickedness they are an object of vengeance not of mercy execute then thy severe wrath upon them Are not their works altogether the symptoms of an obstinate and hard heart Earnest they are to execute their plots they run too and fro In the Evening when good men are at rest then they arise for mischief mad as Dogs to bring their purposes to pass They grinne they threaten they walk round the City observing where they may take their Prey Boldly they speak with their mouth what their heart intends and the words that procéed from thence are very Swords breathing to us nothing but death and utter extirpation Thy Majesty they regard not and as for man their pride and power is so great they care not who hears them for they know that few are able and fewer willing to help us But thou O Lord sittest in Heaven upon thy Throne and hearest and séest all things both our oppressions and their insultations frustrate their attempts evacuate their endeavours have their persons in derision and laugh all their projects to scorn Let them not be visited with the visitation of all men Slay them not lest the people forget it but scatter them among the people make them for their flagitious lyes and perjuries become Wanderers and Beggars Let them run here and there for meat and grudge if they be not satisfied Consume them O Lord consume in thy wrath bring them down from their Throne out them from their power and dignity let their unjust gotten goods perish and their great wealth come to nought that they may know that it is God that rules in Jacob and unto the end of the World The sin of their mouth is impudent the words of their lips blasphemy Ver. 12 their very preaching is cursing and lyes therefore spare them not but let them be taken by the pride of their words and fall into that snare of destruction in which they were wont to boast that they would catch other innocent men Make us so happy O our Eod that we may sée our desires upon thy enemies so shall we sing of thy power and praise thy mercy aloud in the Morning and all shall know that thou art a strong Tower of defence and a sure refuge to all that in sincerity of heart in the day of trouble call upon thée Unto thee O Lord will I sing for thou O God art my Refuge and the God of my Mercy Thou alone hast mercy on me and to thée alone will I call for mercy through Iesus Christ my Lord. Amen PSAL. LX. ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã vel Triumphale BEfore Davids time 1 Chron. 18. and in the beginning of his reign Israel was in a distressed condition He composed and quieted all And made War and conquered the Moabites c. Edom only was not vanquished In this Psalm then he gives thanks for his victories And prayes for assistance for the conquest of Edom. The parts of it in general are 1. A commemoration of the former lamentable distracted condition of the Israelites vers 1 2 3. 2. The condition of it under his reign much better from vers 4. to 9. 3. His thankfulness in ascribing all his victories to God from vers 9. to 12. 1. The first part The former condition of Israel which he laments In the first he shews that God was angry with Israel 1. Of which he laments the effects of his anger 2. And then prayes for the aversion 1. O Lord thou hast or hadst cast us off 2. Thou hast scattered us abroad thou hast been displeased 3. Vers. 1 Thou hast made the earth to tremble 4. Thou hast broken it 5. Thou hast shew'd thy people heavy things 6. Thou hast given us a drink the wine of astonishment Every syllable of which Congeries will appear to be most true to him that shall examine the story of the Israelites before Sauls reign under his government upon his death and the first entrance of David to the Kingdom The stirs he had and wars with the house of Saul until Ishbosheth was taken out of the way 2. Imputes to Gods anger All which wars civil and external with the calamities that flowed from them Vers. 1 he imputes to Gods anger vers 1. Thou hast been displeased 3. And prayes to God to turn to them And upon it prayes 1. O turn thee to us again Let us enjoy thy countenance which was averted Vers. 1 2. Vers. 2 Heal the breaches of the Land Close the wounds made by these contentions and it seems they were not yet all perfectly closed For he adds It shaketh 2. The second part But now the condition of it was much better All being brought under one King The present condition of Israel 2. And he victorious over his forreign enemies 1. Thou now hast given a Banner to them that fear thee All Israel all those that are thy servants are brought to acknowledge and fight under one standard Vers. 4 in effect have receiv'd me for their sole King the factions and parties being quieted David being King 2. That it may be display'd Set up that Israel may know under whom to fight and whose part to take 3. According to Gods promise Because of thy Truth Who by this hast made it appear that it was no fiction nor no ambition of mine to set up this standard But a Truth that I was by Samuel by thy special appointment Anointed to be King And I am now invested with the Crown for the performance of thy Truth and Promise 4. Vers. 5 And the end is especially that I should bring deliverance to thy
have made the Land to tremble and the foundations thereof to shake Hear the prayers of those that fear thée for thy Truths sake make good thy Word to thy Beloved let the Fugitives return under the Banner of thine Andinted and make up the breaches of this Kingdom and thy Church Thou hast spoken in thy holiness that thou wilt be a God to the righteous and to his seed O perform this promise and let the séed of thy righteous servant inherit his Crown and Dignity Rejoyce I shall and with me all that fear thée when we shall sée him divide Sichem and measure out the Vally of Succoth let Gilead be his and Manasseh his bring Ephraim under his subjection and be the strength of his Crown and Judah his Law-giver Subdue Moab and Edom unto him make Moab his Slave and Vassel and let him trample upon the neck of Edom that Edom which in the day of Jerusalem cried Down with it down with it to the ground and thou O Philistia which hast brought forth Sampson to make thée sport and insulted over the captivity of Israel the Lord reward thée as thou hast dealt with us and lead thée in Triumph as thou hast triumphed over Gods people 'T is true O Lord that thou hadst cast us off and didst not go forth with our Armies but we trust in thy Promises and rely upon thy Word we do not doubt but in thy appointed time Thou wilt bring us into the strong City and lead us into Edom Thou alone Thou alone art able Thou must do it for us for vain is the help of man All our strength is but as Tow and all our ammunition and endeavours is but to sit still without thée Help us then in this our trouble so we that are infirm shall be strong we that are of a weak heart shall grow couragious and do valiantly and with the assistance and power of thée our God we shall tread down our enemies In thée is our hope in thy right hand our help give us power to do great things to the honour of thy Name and to addance the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen PSAL. LXI ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã IT is probable that this Psalm was composed by David when he was forced from Jerusalem by Absolon As therefore in other calamities so now he prayes and vowes perpetual service Two parts 1. His prayer ver 1 2 3. 2. His vow from ver 3. to 8. 1. He begins with a prayer in which he begs The first part His prayer for 1. Audience 1. Audience Hear my cry O Lord attend my prayer ver 1. 2. The Reason to enforce it Ver. 1 1. He was in banishment in the farther part of the Land of Judah The Reason From the farther part of the earth will I cry to thee Ver. 2 2. He was in great extremity when my heart is over whelmed 3. For defence Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I That is 2 For defence and protection to some safe and defensed place to which my enemies may have no access whither without thy help I cannot ascend And he adds a Reason also of this part of his prayer Ver. 3 drawn from his own experience For thou hast been a shelter for me The Reason a strong Tower from the enemy 2. His faith now presents him as delivered and therefore he vows The second part He vows 1. I will abide in thy Tabernacle for ever I will return and adore thee in thy Temple Ver. 4 2. I will trust under the Covert of thy wings He alludes to the Cherubims whose wings covered the Ark. And of this he assigns divers Reasons also 1. For thou O God hast heard my vows i. e. my prayers His Reasons 2. Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy Name made me King over thy people and more fully performed to me the promise made to Abraham of the Land of Canaan 3. Thou wilt prolong the Kings life make me longaevus 4. And his years viz. in his posterity as many Generations of which the beginning of the next verse is the ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã He shall abide before God for ever His Vote for establishing his Throne And now David assuring himself of his Crown and that his posterity should inherit it puts forth an earnest Vote for that which should establish it O prepare thy Mercy and Truth which may preserve him i. e. Me thy King for these two vertues Mercy i. e. Clemency and Truth do commend a King and make him dear to his Subjects for in the practice of these 't is not possible that his Government should be harsh unjust or tyrannical Which if it please God to bestow on him then he makes a new vow So will I sing praise unto thy Name for ever Which Upon which he renews his vow however it seems to be a new vow here yet it was that he had vowed before and ingaged to discharge for in singing praise to Gods Name he should but pay what by vow he had often undertook I will sing praise to thy Name for ever that I may daily perform my vowes The Prayer collected out of the sixty first Psalm O Blessed Lord God when now I am oppressed with bitterness of soul for the grievous tentations that lie upon me to thée I flie upon thée I call and as thou art a merciful Father Ver. 1 and a gracious God I beséech thée hear my cry and attend unto my prayer At this time I live in a strange land Ver. 2 banished from my friends an exile from thy house and yet even there with an ardent affection and a loud voyce I invoke thy mercy Ver. 3 even here my heart is overwhelmed with sorrow lead me then to some Rock to which my enemies may have no access and whither without thy help I shall never be able to ascend Thou hast been heretofore and I beg of thée to be so still a shelter for me and a strong Tower against the enemy I have indéed broken thy Law and polluted the holy society of thy Saints and deserved to féel what I now suffer viz. to be driven from that holy fellowship but restore me once more O Lord to that society and then I will abide in thy Tabernacle for ever and prize abode all other things that protection which I shall find under the shadow of thy wings Safer I am assured to be under thy feathers from the improbity of wicked men than the poor Chicken can be under the wings of the tender Hen from the beak and talent of the Vultur Lord bow down thine ear and hear the vows of thy Servant and restore Him to His inheritance suffer Him not for ever to live in a strange Land but as he was born to be so constitute Him to be Supreme over those that fear thy Name Prolong the Kings life and to His dayes and lengthen His years from Generation to
13. the fertility of the Deserts Hills Valleys Meadows Pastures is from thee in all parts of the Earth thy riches are conspicuous so much That they even the little Hills shall rejoyce they shall laugh and sing Redebit ager i. e. florebit His meaning is that men may plow sowe dig dung c. but it is God that gives the encrease A Thanksgiving collected out of the sixth fifth Psalm O Heavenly Father the great the good God so many and so great are thy mercies and benefits toward the children of men that honour and praise and glory is thy due from all into whose Nostrils thou hast breathed the breath of life Ver. 1 but more especially from those whom thou hast chosen to be thy people In Zion then the Mansion that thou hast made choice to dwell in we will sound thy praises in Jerusalem the City of the great King will we perform our vows Such is thy gracious goodness Ver. 2 that thou wilt encline thine ear and hear the prayers of a poor afflicted people In trouble when man would turn away his face and stand afar off then thou hast commanded to call on thée and hast promised deliverance in trouble therefore shall flesh weak and sinful but penitent and believing flesh come unto thée being assured that thou wilt hear Is this the fashion of men O blessed Lord God nay they stop their ears they turn away their faces this thou wilt not do and for this thy Name be praised This is an act of thy méer mercy Ver. 3 not of our desert for our iniquities prevail against us many they are even a plurality of them great they are sins of a scarlet dye of a crimson colour and they prevail against us far excéeding our strength to master if either the multitude or quantity or prevalence were able to condemn our condition were miserable our case desperate But we know O Lord that thou art a merciful God and that thou hast ordained a Laver for us of thy dear Sons blood and we believe That the blood of Jesus Christ shall purge us from all our sins as for our transgressions we know thou wilt purge them away This is an inestimable favour but thy goodness stayed not here Ver. 4 as out of love Thou hast elected us before the foundation of the World so again after our submission Thou wilt again be reconciled unto us and cause us to approach unto thée O the blessed estate of that soul whom thou hast chosen for he shall dwell in thy Courts and be satisfied with the goodness of thy House even of thy holy Temple O satisfie our thirsty souls with the pleasures of this house séed us with the bread of thy heavenly Word refresh and strengthen our souls with thy holy Sacraments so shall our dying hearts rejoyce and our mouth shall be filled with thy praise for thy loving-kindness is better than life it self our lips shall praise thee O God of our salvation Thou that art the hope of all the ends of the Earth Ver. 5 and the confidence of them that remain in the broad Sea we know thou hast done terrible things for thy people and shewed mighty signs and wonders for their deliverance in righteousness thou hast procéeded against their Oppressors and answered their Petitions when they cryed unto thée Thou art the same God still hear us and answer us also and do wonders for us on Earth and signs in the Heavens above that so the out-goings of the Morning Ver. 8 they that dwell where the Sun ariseth and the out-goings of the Evening that dwell where the Sun sets may rejoyce and sing beholding the great deliverance which thou hast given to thy people Vnworthy we are of the least of thy mercies but yet thy goodness hath overflowed unto us Thou hast opened thy hand and filled us not only with these but with many temporal blessings Thou by thy strength hast set fast the Mountains Thou hast stilled the noise of the Seas and set bounds to its pround waves that they return not again to cover the Earth Thou hast quieted and stilled the tumults and madness of the people Thou hast appointed the Moon for certain seasons and the Sun knoweth his going down Thou in mercy to us hast visited the Earth when it was parched and burnt and dry and by the Bottles of thy Clouds hast watered it and greatly enriched it by thy Rivers causing that dry Element to be a kind nursing mother to all kind of fruits and herbs for the sustenance of man and beasts The Corn that stands in the Vallies is thy Corn the water that descends into the furrows thereof is thy rain Thou makest it soft with thy showres for so thou hast prepared it so thou hast provided for it that it bring forth meat for the use and service of men The séed fastens upon the root shoots into the blade knits in the ear but this spring is from thée it is thy blessing that it fills it swells it ripens for the Sickle The crown and glory of the year is thy goodness and the fatness and fertilty of the earth is from thee Paul may plant and Apollo may water but it is God that gives the increase That every part of the year yields its fruits in dus season is from the continuance in that path which thou hast ordained for every creature to walk in Thy drops descend upon the Pastures of the desert places that the wild Beasts may have whereon to féed thy Clouds empty themselves upon the little hills that the clusters of Grapes shrink not and wither by the abundance of pasture the shéep are cloathed with wool and from thy bounty the Vallies stand so thick with corn That men shall laugh and sing Great and marvellous are thy works O Lord God Almighty just and true are thy wayes Thou King of Saints thy wisdom is infinite thy mercies are glorious and we are not worthy to appear before that presence at which the Angels cover their faces yet since thou O Lord art worthy to receive glory and honour and power because thou hast made preserved redeemed us we unworthy wretches do in all humility and obedience offer thée all possible laud praise and honour O my God I will give thanks to thée for ever Amen PSAL. LXVI ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THE occasion of this Psalm was some great deliverance which God shew'd to his people for which David invites the Church to give thanks and proposeth himself for an example of Gratitude The parts are 1. An Invitation 1. To praise God from ver 1. to 5. 2. To consider his works from ver 5. to 8. 2. A Repetition of the Invitation ver 8. for the benefit and deliverance lately received from ver 9. to 12. 3. A Protestation and Vow for his own particular to serve God ver 13 14 15. 4. A Declaration of Gods goodness to himself from ver 16. to 20. 5. His Doxology ver 20. 1. An
was good reason for God had been very good to him which in the next verses he declares and calls to others to come and hear that too 1. Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my soul To those that fear God he calls to come for they were most likely to regard it Vers. 16 And he calls them not to confider what Sacrifices how many how bountiful he offered Not what he had done to God but what God had done to him 2. And this was that God had done for him I cryed unto him with my mouth and extoll'd him with my tongue and God heard me and attended to the voice of my prayer vers 17 19. 3. Yea but then he would have notice taken what kind of person he was when he cryed and prayed No impious person no impenitent sinner conscious enough of infirmities but no way indulgent to his sin For if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me God hears not sinners 5. The fifth part A Doxology Lastly He closeth the Psalm with a Doxology blessing God that out of mercy not of any merit he would hear and grant his requests Blessed be God which hath not turn'd away my prayer nor his mercy from me The Thanksgiving and Prayer out of the sixty sixth Psalm O All ye that dwell in the earth Vers. 1 make a joyful noise unto God set a Psalm to the honour of his name obscure not his glory darken not his honour but in a glorious and magnificent fashion make it known that praise and honour are his due Say even before God O Lord how wonderful and admirable are thy wayes and thy works past finding out how terrible are thy doings even among thy very enemies so that not only they which love and serve thée with an honest heart shall submit unto thée but even those whom thou hast conquered by thy power and subdued by thy mighty arm Those willingly these against their wills shall adore and worship and sing praise to thy name which is great wonderful and holy But O the stupidity of men O the dullness of our wits God does terrible things but they are not regarded his works are wonderful but they are not considered Come then and sée the works of God and confessed it must be that he is terrible in his doings toward the children of men Who was it that turn'd the red Sea into dry land was it not thée O Lord Who made Jordan to stand on a heap till thy people went through the flood on foot was it not thy power Even we we that were not then born will rejoyce for it being assured that thou which didst these wonders for them wilt do even mighty things for us also in them we were delivered we were saved In him I say did they rejoice and in him will we rejoice since it is the same God that rules by his power for ever the same God whose eyes of providence beholds all Nations conserving Crowns disposing Scepters and upholding Cities and civil Societies in a word the same God that brings down the rebellious though they exalt themselves and set their nests above the clouds O God of our salvation thou hast of late shew'd thy people heavy things Vers. 10 proved us thou hast by many tribulations tryed us by a fiery affliction even as silver is melted and tryed in the fire till it be purified and refined from the dross but not consumed Thou hast permitted us to be brought into captivity and slavery Our enemies have enclosed us as with a Net out of which we had no hope to escape upon our loyns they have laid heavy loads as if we were no better than beasts of burden They have set their feet upon our necks and insulted and rode over our heads So many have been our calamities so many our pressures that we seem'd as men burning in a fiery furnace or compassed round with a vast deluge of waters And yet O Lord we were not consumed thou even thou hast upheld our soul in life and not suffered us for any affliction to fall from thee pressed we were but not oppressed sing'd but not burnt tempted but not overcome in mercy thou hast not suffered our feet to slip And to endear and crown this thy mercy the more unto us after all this trial and trouble thou hast brought us into a moist fertile and wealthy place where for sorrow we shall have joy for discomfort refreshment for barrenness fertility for want plenty in a word for our troubles rest and felicity Now for this wonderful and unexpected vicissitude O bless our God ye people and make the voice of his praise to be heard This thy goodness O Lord shall never be written in sand nor laid up in an ungrateful heart for this I will go into thy house and fall low before thy foot-stool and offer unto thee a Sacrifice of praise which is better than all burnt-offerings I will pay thee there those vowed thanksgivings which my lips have clearly uttered and my mouth hath distinctly spoken when I was in trouble Cheerfully and willingly I will offer unto thee as a Holocaust upon the Altar of a penitent heart the whole man body and soul to be a living holy and acceptable Sacrifice unto thee And indeed I should be very ungrateful should I offer less for Come you hither all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my soul In my great distress and sorrow of heart I cryed aloud to him for help with my mouth and as I cryed my tongue exalted and extolled him as him alone that was able and I expected to deliver me and because I call'd unto him with a clean and sincere heart he graciously heaââ me and gave attention to my prayer For of this I am assured that had I served him with a double heart and called upon him with hypocritical lips that the Lord had not heard me For obstinate malicious impenitent sinners he will not hear nor such as regard iniguity with their heart Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which hath not turn'd away my prayer not that I am worthy to be heard not that I can bring any thing of worth that may encline his ear It is his sole mercy his love his goodness that I can plead and out of his mercy he hath heard and I am assured that he will hear those petitions which I offer unto him in the name of Jesus Christ his Son my only Lord and Saviour Amen PSAL. LXVII ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THIS Psalm contains a Prayer of Israel first for the flourishing estate of their own Church and people and then that the Mercy and Blessing of God might be so extended to them that the Kingdom of Christ might be enlarg'd and all Nations come in and bless and praise God with them with joyful hearts and exultation of spirit The parts are 1. A general Prayer
thou hast wrought in us Bring down our enemies till they submit every one and humbly bring pieces of silver untill Princes come out of Egypt and strangers stretch forth their hands and become Homagers to thee our God O how glorious will be thy praise how excellent thy Name Ver. 32 when all the Kingdoms of the earth with one heart and one voyce shall sing praises to thee Thou ridest upon the Heavens which were of old Thou speakest from thence in Thunder and sendest out a mighty voyce therefore will we ascribe strength unto our God which is the God of Israel O God Thou art wonderful and terrible out of thy holy place when thou communicatest thy presence to thy servants Thou art the God of Israel that gives strength and power unto thy people Blessed therefore be our God Amen PSAL. LXIX ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã IN this Psalm David shews to what extream straits he was brought by malicious enemies and yet he is but the Type for the bitter passion of our Saviour are by these not obscurely set out to us The parts are 1. Davids prayer and the Reasons he useth for help from ver 1. to 23. 2. An imprecation against his enemies from ver 23. to 31. 3. His profession of thanks from ver 30. to the end 1. The first part His prayer and the occasion and reason He petitions Save me O God ver 1. and then adjoyns his Reasons which are many 1. The present condition in which he was in expressed by divers Metaphors comparing his enemies to waters 1 His present danger deep waters deep mire great floods 1. Ver. 1 Save me for the waters are come in unto my soul 2. I sink in the deep mire where there is no standing 3. I am come into the deep waters where the floods overflow me no more hope for me to escape without thy help than for a man of life who is compassed with the waves of the Sea Yea and that which adds to my grief I call to thee and thou seemest not to hear 1. I am weary of my crying 2. My throat is dry 3. My eyes fail while I wait upon my God nothing is wanting on my part and yet I have no answer and yet I will wait still for thou art my God 2. 2 From his enemies Farther yet when I consider my enemies I have reason to cry Save me for they are malicious 2. Many 3. Mighty 4. Injurious 1. Malicious They hate me without a cause 2. Many They are more than the hairs of my head 3. Mighty and injurious They that would destroy me being my enemies wrongfully are mighty Then ârestored that I took not away 3. 3 From his innocence From his innocence touching which he appeals to God O God Thou knowest how guilty I am of that which they impute to me for foolishness viz. I am not guilty and yet my faults are not hid from thee Before thee I confess that I am a sinner but not guilty of any folly done to them for that which they call folly viz. thy Service is my greatest wisdom 4. 4 From the hurt may come by it Lest if he suffer thus and be not saved others then by it will be discouraged fall away and judge it a vain thing to depend and rely upon thee and therefore he prayes Let not them who wait upon thee O Lord God of Hosts be ashamed for my cause let not them who seek thee be confounded through me O God of Israel 5. 5 That he suffers for Gods sake And the fifth Reason he gives which may be most perswasive that God hear and save viz. that what we suffer is not for his own but for Gods sake Because for thy sake have I suffered reproach shame hath covered my face for this I am become a stranger to my Brethren An ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã an Alien to my mothers children And upon this cause he stayes usque ver 13. and shews how he was affected toward God that he might make it appear For it was for that for this cause it was he suffered 2. And then how for it they were affected to him 1. 1 His zeal He was zealous for his God The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up and for this he suffered The reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen on me 2. 2 A penitent He was religious a Penitent fasted usque ad castigationem animae I wept and chastned my soul with fasting but when I did this that also was turned to my reproof 3. He humbled himself even to wear Sackloth I made Sackloth my garment but he could not so please neither I became a Proverb to them to them of all sorts 1. To the high and such as were in Authority Those that sit in the Gate speak against me 2. To the low common and ordinary people And I was the song of the Drunkards 2. This I suffer for thy sake and therefore he now renews again his Petition He renews his Petition and enforceth it near upon the same Arguments and first he prayes earnestly hoping that he hath chosen for this a fit season But as for me my prayer is unto thee in an acceptable time 1. Hear me ver 13. Deliver me let me not sink let me be delivered ver 14. Let not the water-flood overflow me neither let the deep swallow me c. And again Hear me O Lord turn unto me Hide not thy face from thy servant Hear me speedily Draw nigh to my soul and redeem it Deliver me 2. Thus earnest he was in his prayer and his Arguments to perswade Audience are 1. Gods goodness mercy truth In the multitude of thy mercy hear me in the truth of thy salvation Hear me O Lord for thy loving-kindness is good Turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies 2. I am in very great troubles and dangers In the mire and like to sink in deep waters that overflow and are ready to swallow me in a pit whose mouth is ready to shut upon me I am in trouble therefore hear me speedily and deliver me 3. I am thy servant 't is for my service to thee I suffer therefore hide not thy face c. 4. Do it do it because of my enemies as if he had said Though I be not worthy for whom thou shouldst do this yet mine enemies are such that they deserve no favour they deserve not that I be left in their hands 1. They are scorners and that thou knowest Thou hast known my reproach my shame and my dishonour my Adversaries are all before thee in thy sight they do it 2. And this their base usage toucheth me near and puts me into an agony Reproach hath broken my heart I am full of heaviness 3. My friends stand afar off flie and forsake me And I looked for some to take pity but there was none and for comforters but I found none 4. Lastly they
were inhumane They gave me Gall to eat and in my thirst they gave me Vinegar to drink Nothing more true than these four degrees in Christs Passion such enemies he found such Jewes 2. His prayer being ended The second part An imprecation he fitly subjoins a heavy imprecation by way of a Prophecy 1. And first he prayes That as they gave him Gall and Vinegar in his thirst that they might find the like at their Table Let their Table be made a snare to them and that for their welfare a Trap A heavy judgment The degrees are eight when that which God ordains for our necessity delight content health prosperity should be our hurt discontent sickness death 2. That they be struck blind and he means not so much in body as in mind a grievous judgment when a man can neither see imminent dangers nor future evils Let their eyes be darkned that they see not 3. That they be infeebled in their bodies and counsels Make their loyns continually to shake i. e. let them be unfit for War and action or as Saint Paul renders it Ever bow down their backs let them be in perpetual slavery and carry burdens 4. That they suffer speedily greatly and continually 1. Greatly for he prays effunde poure out and that is commonly out of a full Vessel and plentifully 2. Speedily Poure out thy indignation on them for ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Basil 3. Perpetually Let thy wrathful anger take hold of them for ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 5. That their Countrey be wasted and their posterity thrust from their inheritance and houses Let their habitation be desolate and none dwell in their Tents And here the Prophet interserts a Reason which was their ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or which is worse their adding affliction to affliction so far from commiseration that they help to increase the grief of those whom God hath wounded For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten and they talk to grieve those whom thou hast wounded 6. That they may fill up the measure of their iniquity and so be ripe for Gods Sickle Add iniquity to iniquity withdraw thy grace that they sin freely 7. That they dye in the state of impenitency Let them not come into thy righteousness 8. That they finally perish Let them be blotted out of the Book of the living and not be written with the righteous 3. The third part He sings praise Hitherto we have heard Davids complaints and prayers but now out of the sense of divine protection he breaks out into praises 1. Ver. 29 He confesses his own condition As for me I am poor and sorrowful and then acknowledgeth Gods help Let thy salvation set me on high And assures himself of Gods acceptance The effects shall be 2. Then with full voyce he sings praise I will praise the Name of God with a Song and will magnifie it with Thanksgiving 3. And of this praise he promiseth himself acceptance This also shall please the Lord better than an Oxe or Bullock that hath Horns and Hoofs And the effect of this his praise for his deliverance 1 Joy to the afflicted will be double First upon the godly poor afflicted people and secondly upon the whole World 1. The effect upon the poor will be joy The humble and meek shall see this and be glad and your heart shall live that seek God their sad heart shall revive 2. The Reason is For the Lord heareth the poor and despiseth not his Prisoners David and Christ he heard and this gives assurance that he will hear suos vincta those that suffer for him Then secondly 2 Thanksgiving in all men the effect it shall have upon the whole World is a general Thanksgiving 1. Let the Heaven and the Earth praise him the Seas and every thing that moveth therein 2. And the Reason he gives for it is worth noting which is his goodness to his Church and people 1. For Gods goodness to his Church In saving them from their enemies He will save Zion 2. In confirming his Kingdom among them He will build the Cities of Judah 3. In giving them security and peace That men may dwell there and have it in possession 4. In conserving it perpetually that the Cates of Hell shall not prevail against it The seed also of his servants shall inherit it and they that love his Name shall dwell therein Not Hypocrites but they who love him sincerely and worship him in Spirit and Truth The Prayer collected out of the sixty ninth Psalm O Blessed Lord God who art more ready to grant than we to ask let this be the time when my prayer shall be accepted by thée O God Ver. 13 in the multitude of thy mercy hear me Hear me O Lord for thy loving-kindness is good Turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies and hide not thy face from thy servant for I am in trouble Hear me speedily Ver. 1 and save me O my God The waters are come even unto my soul Ver. 1 O let not the water-flood overflow me neither let the deep swallow me up and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me I sink in deep mire where there is no standing deliver me out of the mire Ver. 2 and let me not sink Now in the midst of these extremities I am weary with crying unto thee my throat is dry and hoarse through my daily complaining yea and my eyes are grown weak and dim in looking upward Ver. 18 and in waiting for help from my God Draw nigh then unto my soul and redeem it and let me have an experience of the truth of thy salvation My enemies O Lord are many and mighty and malicious Ver. 4 Those that hate me are more in number than the hairs of my head Mighty they are also Ver. 5 and most injurious for they call me to an account for that I never took and punish me for that I never deserved O Lord Thou knowest my foolishness Ver. 4 and my faults are not hid from thee against thee only I have sinned but to them I have done no harm and yet such is their malice that they séek to destroy me wrongfully and without any cause of mine séek to take away my life To thée O Lord all things are manifest Thou hast known my reproach my shame and my dishonour and my Adversaries are alwayes before thee and this reproach is so great that it hath even broken my heart and I am full of heaviness and which is yet more grievous in this my distress I looked for some to take pity on me but I found none and for comsorters but I found none for not only my enemies afflicted me but even my friends ran from me Ver. 8 and forsook me I am become as it were a stranger unto my Friends and Brethren and an Alien to those who are of my own blood my mothers children and most familiar friends stand staring upon my trouble
deny me and afford me no comfort And all this is done unto me without any fault or offence of mine Ver. 7 it is for thy sake I have born this reproach For thy sake shame hath covered my face for the zeal of thy House hath eaten me up I have béen very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts they have thrown down thine Altars and slain thy Prophets with the edge of the Sword very studious I have béen and fervent to maintain thy Religion in its purity which others have cast down and in it so much as lies in them have reproached thée but the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me Because thy Name was dishonoured I wept I chastned even my soul with fasting and whereas I ought for this to have béen more dear unto them I became a scorn even my humiliation and acts of repentance were turned to my reproach I testified also my sadness by my Sackloth and for this I became a Proverb of reproach The Iudges the chief of the City they which sit in the Gates speak against me condemning me and detracting from me and as for the common ordinary sort of people the Drunkards they made songs of me In a word They gave me Gall to eat and Vinegar to drink so inhumane they were that whereas in my greatest sufferings and extremities they ought to have refreshed and relieved me they increased my sorrows and under a colour of refreshment added affliction to the afflicted Now in the midst of these grievances that which most grieves my heart is the scandal of the Cross afraid I am lest that any of thy people looking upon those things which I suffer should estéem me stricken smitten of God and afflicted and thereby take an occasion to renounce the Truth of Religion and fall from thée I beséech thée therefore O Lord God of Hosts Let not them that wait on thee be ashamed for my sake let not them that seek thee be confounded for my sake O Lord God of Israel O Lord to remove this scandal there is no readier way than to bring them down to humble them and to poure the vials of thy wrath upon them Let then their Table be made a snare unto them and what should have been a welfare let it become a trap Gall and bitterness they have offered to me let their dainties be bitterness in their mouths and gall to their palates A snare they have laid for my féet and let that in which they hope to be prosperous and happy be an occasion of falling the very eating of the Paschal Lamb their ruine and thy Word the food of their souls an occasion of errour In hearing let them hear and not understand and in séeing let them sée and not perceive make the heart of this people fat and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they sée with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and convert and be healed Inféeble them O Lord and make their loins to tremble and shake bow down their backs with slavery and hard bondage and press them continually with such burdens of miseries that they may groan and sigh under the heavy hand of their Oppressors Plentifully and speedily poure forth thy indignation upon them and let thy fiercest anger and vengeance continually pursue them let their houses be desolate not a stone left upon a stone and their land without an inhabitant let them procéed from one wickedness to another and add sin to sin till their iniquity come to the full neither ever let them repent them of their wicked wayes that thou might'st pardon and forgive their heinous transgressions or justifie them at thy great Tribunal with mercy thou wilt indulge to all true penitents And although hitherto they have béen reckoned among thy people of whom they are born and with whom thou hast established thy Covenant yet O Lord let them be blotted out of the Book of the living and not be written among the righteous And it is but just that all this happen unto them because when common humanity and thy Word also requires That we weep with him that weeps and lament with him that laments they have helped on the affliction for they persecute Him whom thou hast smitten and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded O Lord I am wounded I suffer justly under thy hand but to them I have done no harm at this time I am poor and sorrowful destitute of all humane help and affected with extream heaviness Arise then for me and let thy salvation set me up on High Deliver me O Lord from these troubles and so shall I praise thy Name with a Song Ver. 30 Save me from my enemies and I shall magnifie thee with Thanksgiving which sacrifice Ver. 31 I know will better please thee than the fat of fed Beasts or the incense of Rams Besides all those that are of a dejected spirit humbled and brought low at the sight of my afflictions will consider this sée they will That God heareth the poor and despiseth not those who are in captivity and imprisoned for his sake and they will be glad and rejoyce at it and the heart of all those that seek thââ which was even dead before will then revive and live O Lord save Sion and build the Cities of Judah let men dwell there and have it in possession let the seed of thy servants inherit it and all those that love thy Name dwell therein so shall the Heaven and Earth praise thee and every thing that moveth therein Amen Amen PSAL. LXX ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THIS Psalme is the same with the five last verses of the fortieth Psalm The Contents of this Psalm are 1. The Prayer of David for himself that he may be freed from his enemies ver 1. which he repeats ver 5. 2. For the speedy destruction of the wicked ver 2 3. 3. For the prosperity of the godly ver 4. 4. The Arguments he urgeth to move God to grant his prayer 1. His miserable condition I am poor and needy 2. Gods office Thou art my Helper and Redeemer therefore make no long tarrying O my God The Psalm needs no farther Analysis because it is fully Analysed before in the end of the fortieth Psalm The Prayer out of the seventieth Psalm O Lord we therefore daily implore thy mercy because we are daily beset with danger Enemies we have without within us from whose malice and cruelty we can find no safety Ver. 5 except in thy favour and mercy Thou alone art our Help and Deliverer make then no long tarrying O my God rather make haste to deliver us Ver. 1 make haste to help us Many there are that seek after my soul let them be ashamed and confounded Ver. 2 many there are that desire my hurt let them be turned backward and put to confusion suddenly let them be turned back and put to flight Ver. 3 that rejoyce at
seventy fifth Psalm for the King those that are in authority and for the Church under affliction O Almighty God Lord of all power King of kings and Lord of lords who hast taught us by thy holy Prophet that promotion comes nor from the East nor from the West nor from the North nor from the South but that thou art the righteous Judge that puts down one and sets up another Establish we beséech thée in the Throne of this Kingdom thy faithful Servant our bread Soveraign Let the dew of thy abundant blessings fall upon his head give him the success of David the wisdom of Solomon and the zeal of Josiah Take pleasure in him O Lord and restore him to his just right and people and make him a most mighty Protector of thy heritage a most religious Defender of thy Sacred Truth and a gracious Governor to all his Subiects When he shall receive the Congregation Vers. 2 and at any time sit in judgement Vers. 10 let him judge according to right let him cut off the horn the pride the power of wicked men and on the contrary be studious to honour and exalt the right and humble desires of the righteous At this time the foundations of the earth are out of course the earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved Vers. 3 The seats of justice are corrupt all Laws are silenc'd an indulgence is given to theft and rapine Religion is trode under foot and men in their manners are dissolute being guided by their own counsels and swayed by their own affections How is the faithful City become an Harlot It was full of judgement righteousness lodged in it but now Murderers Our Princes are become rebellious and companions of Thieves every one loveth gifts and followeth after rewards they judge not the fatherless neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them Set up then thy Servant upon the Throne that he may restore our Iudges as at first and our Counsellours as at the beginning Religion and Iustice are the Pillars of the Land they are now ready to fall or rather fallen O let him bear up these Pillars repair the breaches of this distracted Church and Kingdom and confirm both Laws and Iustice being heard to speak and a right order for thy worship and service being re-establishes So shall this our Land be call'd again The City of righteousness the holy and faithful City Give him O Lord courage in the execution of his Office Vers. 4 let him make the wicked to pass under the whéel and the ambitious arrogant and proud to know that in his Kingdom they are not to deal foolishly nor yet being confident of their power to exalt their horn and in contempt of all Laws exercise rapine and violence Let such as set their horn on high be brought down by his hand and those that are contumacious and stiff neck'd fort'd to bow to his yoke and made to féel that he carries not the sword in dain but that as he is the Minister of God for good to those that do good so also he is the Minister of God a revenger of wrath upon him that doth evil And now having presented unto thée our supplications for our King we are bold also to offer unto thy Majesty our humble petitions for that part of thy Church which thou hast committed to his care this for many years thou hast fed with the bread of tears and entertain'd with the water of affliction But it is our comfort that the Cup is in thy hand Thou measurest out our draughts and beginnest such a portion as thou pleasest The wine is indéed red and of a high colour but yet it is full of mixture with the tartness of thy great displeasure there is mixt the swéetness of thy promises engaged thou art that we shall taste and drink no déeper of it than thou wilt make us able to bear O Lord make thy Word good unto us stay thy hand turn from thy fierre wrath let it suffice that we have drunk so déep of this Cup. There remains only the dregs behind and as we have béen inebriated with this wine so let the ungodly of the earth wring out the dregs and suck them out So shall we have just rââson to declare the equity of thy justice Vers 9 and to sing praises to the honour of the God of Jacob. Unto thee O Lord Vers. 1 will we give thanks yea unto thee will we give thanks for that thou art near and thy name is ready to help all that call upon thee of which the exaltation of our King and the deliverance of thy people will be a miraculous declaration Thy Church shall for ever remember thy just judgements and sing forth with full voice thy praises when they shall sée the horns of the wicked broken and those preserved and secured who have wholly addicted themselves to the study of justice and piety as we are taught and commanded by our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ PSAL. LXXVI ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã vel Triumphalis THE Glory and Power of God is in this Psalm amply set forth in his defence of Jerusalem and Zion which were types of his Church and it hath Three parts 1. The Prerogative of Judah and Israel vers 1 2. 2. A Narration of Gods Majesty in his Church from vers 3. to 11. 3. An Exhortation to worship and serve God vers 11 12. 1. 1 The Jews Prerogative The first part In the two first verses is set forth the Jews Prerogative above other Nations 1. Vers. 1 That God was known among them In Judah is God known 2. That his Name was great in Israel Great for his manifold deliverance Vers. 2 Illustrious 3. 2 Gods zeal for his Church At Salem is his Tabernacle his Temple his seat of worship His presence singular 4. His dwelling in Zion I will dwell in the midst of them and I will be their God 2. The second part Next he declares Gods power and Majesty and vindicating his people and destroying their enemies There i. e. at Jerusalem before Zion as in the dayes of Senacherib Or else in the Land of Judah There brake he the arrows of the bow By which he shew'd himself 1. Glorious the shield and the sword and the battail Selah By which he became Glorious 2. And Terrible vers 7. 1. Glorious Thou art more Glorious and Excellent viz. among good men than the Mountains of prey Than the Kingdoms gotten by violence murder and robbery And this his glory was made manifest in these particulars 1. That they who came to spoyl were spoyled The stout-hearted are spoyled 2. They have slept their sleep Either dead Or overtaken with so deep a slumber that like men surpriz'd by a deep sleep and suddenly awaked they were amaz'd and knew not which way to turn themselves Their hands were feeble their courage lost 3. Which he explains in the words following And none of the men of might have
found their hands ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Pind. 4. The cause of this consternation At thy rebuke O God of Jacob both the Chariot and Horse are cast into a dead sleep Thus God became Glorious and Excellent among good men 2 Terrible 2. Vers. 7 But he became Terrible also to wicked men So Terrible that 1. Thou even thou art to be feared for who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry None be he never so proud 2. Vers. 8 Of which this is an evident Argument Thou didst cause judgement to be heard from heaven It was so in the destruction of Senacherib The earth feared and was still Men saw it were amaz'd at it and put to silence And this work of God in overthrowing his enemies The effects of it and saving his Church he farther amplifies When God arose to judgement to save all the meek of the earth Vers. 9 The consequent was this 1. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee 1 Praise from the wicked The fierceness and rage of man against thy Church shall at last turn to thy praise confess they shall being conquered by thy hand that thou art mightier than they so did Pharaoh This is the finger of God so Julian ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 1. The remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain 2 And victory Though they body and rally again yet thou shalt overcome and conquer their fury 3. In the Close he exhorts all Gods people to vow him honour The third part For which and to perform their vow 1. Vow and pay unto the Lord your Gâd let all that are round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared All to vow praises 2. And he adds his Reason in an Epiphonema 1. He shall cut off the spirits of Princes Take away from Tyrants their courage and prudence 2. He is terrible to the Kings of the earth They shall know he is God A Psalm of Thanksgiving after some great Victory collected out of the seventy sixth Hsalm O Omnipotent God and most merciful Father it hath pleased thy unspeakable goodness beyond any merit or desert of our's Ver. 1 to make thy self known to us in thy Gospel and thy Name great and famous in our Israel Declared thou hast to all Nations that Salem the City of peace is that place where thou wilt set up thy Tabernacle and Mount Sion thy Church Ver. 2 that habitation which thou wilt defend from the violent attempts of her malicious enemies Our ingratitude no question was very great and our provocations many our lives not answering to the light of thy Word which thou madest shine unto us and because we rebelled against thée therefore this great Army of rebellious men is justly risen up against us who threatned to unroot thy people and utterly to lay waste thy Zion But thou O Lord passing by our transgressions hast put a hook into the nose of our enemies and a bridle into their lips defended miraculously thou hast thy City Jerusalem for thy own sake and for thy servant Davids sake our blessed Saviour There hast thou broken the strength of the Bowe Ver. 3 and not suffered him to shoot an arrow there in our land thou hast made void their Shield dull'd the edge of the Sword scattered their Army and by thy power dissolved and brought to nothing all their warlike preparation and ammunition When we are compassed as it were with a darksom cloud of fear and even despaired of any help and succour then thou didst appear in glory thy excellence then arose to save us our aid was from Heaven our deliverance from above thy Kingdom established in righteousness and holiness far excéeds that power that is gotten by violence murder and robbery therefore they that came to spoil us are spoiled they are consumed and have slept their sleep out of which when they awaked they have béen amazed that in their hands of so much wealth and plunder which they dreamed of they found nothing which hapned unto them not by the course and ordinary changes and chances of things in this World no nor yet by our force and power but at thy rebuke O God of Jacob by thy command by the severity of thy judgment both the Chariot and those who trusted in it both the Horse and his Rider are fallen O Lord Thou even thou art terrible Thou even thou alone art to be feared Who is there though never so potent though defenced with the strongest Army that is able to resist thée that may stand in thy sight when thou art angry At this time thou hast fought from Heaven for us Thou didst make all people to hear thy judgments from thence and the Tyrants of the earth when they felt the power of thy hand trembled and shaked at it their heart melted and their knées smote together quiet they were and silent not daring to mutter against thée or against thy people O Lord the fierceness the rage the pride of man shall turn to thy praise even thy enemies the profanest men being humbled by thy judgments shall confess thy power and acknowledge thy hand say they shall This is the finger of God that thou Lord goest before thy people that thou hast done it and their posterity shall by their example be restrained from doing any such wickedness and by their fathers punishment taught to fear God And now O all ye which are Israelites indéed and perptually stand in his presence Vow unto your God for this his great mercy and pay the sacrifice of praise bring presents unto him whom alone you ought to fear and reverence To him I say vow and perform your vows who for your sake hath cut off the animosities and taken down the courage of Princes and made it appear That he will be a terrible God to all the Kings of the earth to whom be praise to whom be glory now and for ever Amen PSAL. LXXVII ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã In this Psalm the Prophet shews the bitter agony which a troubled spirit undergoes upon the sense of Gods desertion and the comfort again it receives upon the consideration of Gods great and gracious works Two parts of this Psalm 1. He sets forth the strife betwixt the flesh and the Spirit and how the flesh tempts to despair and calls into question the goodness and favour of God from ver 1. to 10. 2. Next he shews the victory of the spirit over the flesh being raised encouraged and confirmed by the Nature Promises and Works of God from the 10th verse to the end of the Psalm an excellent Psalm this is and of great use in all spiritual desertions 1. The first part I cryed unto God with my voyce even unto God with my voyce and he gave ear unto me Ver. 1 in the day of my trouble I sought the Lord ver 1 2. Here David shews the course he took to find ease in his extream trouble of soul he accused not
is most likely by the Assyrians The parts are 1. A Prayer vers 1 2 3. 2. A complaint by way of expostulation from vers 3. to 8. 3. In the twelve last verses to move God to commiseration He 1. First reckons up Gods love to Israel under the Allegory of a vine from vers 8. to 12. 2. Deplores the waste made upon it vers 12 13. 3. Prayes that God would return look upon and restore the vine from vers 13. to 18. 4. Makes a vow of perpetual service vers 18. 1. The first part His Petition In the beginning of this Psalm the Prophet offers up his Petition for audience for help for favour for repentance and remission of sin 1. Vers. 1 For audience Give ear For if God will not hear 't is to no end to pray 1 For audience 2. Vers. 2 For aid assistance help Stir up thy strength and come and save us shine forth 2 For assistance shew us a favourable countenance 3. Vers. 3 For amendment which is the essense of repentance Turn us again and cause thy face which seems to us cloudy 3 For grace to amend angry now to shine and we shall be saved Vere faelices And the Argument he useth to perswade this His Argument to perswade it Gods love to his Church is from the person of God and his former administration 1. He shew'd himself a shepherd 2. He was glorious in Israel 1. O shepherd of Israel thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep Free us from these Wolves 2. Thou that fitt'st between the Cherubims hast taken up thy seat among us and shew'd thy glorious presence by the Ark that the Cherubims cover Shine forth and shew thou hast not left us 2. Shew thy self before Ephraim Benjamin and Manasseh i.e. before all Israel 2. The second part To his Prayer as ardent Petitioners use he adjoins his Complaint Of which the particulars are these 1. His complaint 1. For Godsanger He complains that God was angry and shews his anger in this that a prayer would not be heard O Lord how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people A sad case this when God who hath commanded Call on me in trouble and I will hear thee yet will not hear No marvel if he began the Psalm with Give ear O Lord. 2. He complains of their lamentable condition their grief and calamity was so great 2 For the misery the Church was in that they eat nor drank without tears no pleasane meat came in their mouths Thou feedest them with the bread of tears and givest them tears to drink in great measure 3. He complains of the ill usage they found from all Vers. 6 both Neighbours and enemies 3 By the ill usage of their oppressors 1. Thou makest us a strife i.e. an occasion of strife to our Neighbours for they contend about us striving who shall reign and domineer over us 2. And our enemies laugh among themselves Make a mock and scorn of us After which complaint the Prophet ingeminates his principal Petition Upon which he redoubles his prayes 1. Turn us again O Lord God of Hosts Make us penitents Converts new men 2. And cause thy face to shine Clear up thy countenance and frown no more 3. And then we know the effect We shall be saved q.d. Vivemus regnabimus faelices erimus nullo bono destituti 3. And that he might the sooner move God to commiseration The third part And puts God in mind what he had done for his people under the Metaphor of a Vine 1. First he puts God in mind what he had done for his people Israel 1. He brought this Vine out of Egypt A choice Vine then translated thence 2. Thou castest out the heathen Purgest as it were Under the Metaphor of a Vine the ground for it 3. Thou plantest it A plant it was of thy own and men love their own plants 4. Thou preparest room before it Removedst all impediments that might hinder the growth 5. And didst cause it to take root Else the planting the making room had been in vain 6. And it fill'd the Land The Vine that is the people grew and multiplyed Which is amplified in the two following verses in which the Amplitude and Glory of the Kingdom is declared 1. The hills were covered with the shadow of it and the boughs thereof like the goodly Cedars 2. She sent out her boughs to the Sea and her branches to the river i.e. Euphrates 2. The Prophet deplores the waste now made upon the Vine 1 And he deplores the waste made upon it and that by God For he faith 1. Why hast thou broken down her hedges The fence being broken down the Vine cannot be safe This the Prophet laments that God had said flat Whether Angels or Laws or his Statutes were the Hedge all was gone Or if the Kings power that was taken away 2. And upon the remove of the Hedge there followed a Triple mischief 1. All those that pass by the way do pluck her Every one that would made havock of the Clusters 2. The Boar out of the wood doth waste it Some home-bred enemy in power enters and spoils it 3. The wild beasts of the field devoure it Tyrants from abroad 3. He prayes to God to have compassion 2 Prayes that God would have compassion on the Vine and look upon his Vine again 1. Return we beseech thee O Lord God of hoasts Thou art the Lord of Armies return then and fight for us We neglected thee when present but once more return and we shall more esteem thy favour and beware how we drive thee from us 2. Look down from heaven Thence protect us For earth cannot help us 3. Behold and visit this Vine Take it once again into thy care For he that will not visit his Vine is not like to have any care of it 4. And on the Vineyard He prayes for the whole Land the Vineyard And visit the Vineyard that thy right-hand hath planted Vers. 15 i.e. thy power And the branch i. e. people that thou madest strong by thy promise and Covenant that it should grow into an ample and great Kingdom for thy self i. e. for thy glory for thy service To bring forth grapes for thee And now once more he interserts and repeats his complaint 1. It is burnt with fire 2. It is cut down Igne ferro grassantur hostes He repeats the complaint 2. They i. e. the boughs branches shoots of the Vine perish at the rebuke of thy countenance It is not the enemies swords but thy rebuke of us for our sins that hath brought upon us this devastation 5. And again prayes He prayes again almost in the same words of the 15. verse Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right-hand and upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thy self In the interpretation of this verse Interpreters
agree not For by the son of man 1. Some understand Christ who is often call'd the son of man and is the man on Gods right-hand 2. The Jews Zerobabel or some other chief Leader Which Jansenius saith is the more probable opinion 3. Others the Jewish Nation and the whole body of that people whom God is pleased to call His Son Israel is my first-born who was the man of his right-hand because grown strong by his power To this opinion Musculus and Moller encline According to the first interpretation which is Basils the sense is this Let thy hand and power be shew'd by the man of thy right-hand thy Son and for his sake spare thy Vineyard and let not the enemy utterly waste it 2. According to the second he prayes that God would send them some strong and mighty Saviour or Deliverer 3. According to the third he prayes that God would shew his power and might and not suffer his people whom he had taken unto him in the place of a Son and to the glory of his name join'd to himself by the right-hand of his power and strength of Covenant now to the ignominy of his name to perish by the cruelty of wicked men 4. The fourth part The last part of the Psalm contains a promise of Gratitude That they would revolt and rebell no more but constantly adhere to God and renounce their Idols A vow of Gratitude 1. So will not we go back from thee We will no more be backsliders 2. Quicken us Revive us from this death this calamity Or Quicken us by thy Spirit and Grace 3. And we will call upon thy name We will serve thee and not any strange god And so he concludes the Psalm with that verse twice before set down and explain'd vers 3. vers 7. now repeated Turn us again O Lord God of hoasts cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved The Prayer collected out of the eightieth Psalm O Almighty and Merciful God Vers. 1 who hast béen accustomed to be present with thy people and to lead them and féed them as a good Shepherd doth his flock give ear at this time to our prayers and graciously hear now we call on thée Thou who art the Lord of all Spirits Vers. 2 and sits invisibly above the Cherubims manifest now thy power turn away thy srowning countenance and let the gracious light of thy face once more shine upon us Stir up thy strength which thou hast séemed to withdraw and come and save us from those evils with which we are at this present compassed and deliver us from those oppressors and oppressions we are forced to endure For those iniquities and grievous sins we have committed against thée Vers. 3 we do acknowledge that thou hast justly rejected us from thy grace and favour and as it were turn'd thy back upon us But gracious God turn us from our ungracious and malicious wayes and turn us unto thée that so thou may'st furn from thy sterce anger and turn unto us Assured we are that upon our turning thou wilt refurn and we shall revive we shall live the life of grace we shall be prosperous we shall be happy For so efficacious is the light of thy countenance that upon the least shine thereof upon us all our enemies will be put to flight and we shall be safe O Lord in this needful time of trouble we have as thou hast commanded called and cryed unto thee but thou séemest not to hear nor yet to answer our Petitions than which there cannot be a greater sign of thy displeasure O Lord God of hoasts that commandest all the Armies of heaven and earth vow down thine ear and hear us look down from heaven and consider our afflictions O Merciful and Almighty God how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people They know no other way to paci ââée no other way to recover thy favour If thou reject our supplications we are undone for ever Heavy are the things which we now suffer so heavy that the bread we cat is soaked in tears and the drink we drink mingled with tears and that not sparingly but in a very great measure so that when we are to take our ordinary repast we have more mind to wéep than to take these refreshments for thou hast brought us to that low condition that our Neighbours who were wont to stand in feare of us strive who shall trample upon us and our enemies provoke and load us with ill words insult over and deride us But O Lord God thou which hast the power over all Armies now at length convert us unto thée by thy grace draw us from our evil wayes and receive us to thy favour which for some years thou hast with-held which if in mercy thou shalt vouchsafe then we shall be saved Thou Lord hast béen heretofore very gracious and indulgent to thy Church She is the Vine and we are the branches This Vine thou hast brought out of Egyptian darkness thou hast called it thy choice Vine thou hast planted it in a very fruitful hill thou hast fenced it and gathered out the stones thereof thou hast prepared room for it and caused it to take root and it flourished so much that it filled the Land the shadow thereof covered the Mountains and the boughs thereof were tall and spreading as the Cedars the branches reached from Sea to Sea and her green Cyences to the end of the earth In a word thou hast chosen planted senced rooted husbanded propagased extended this Vine Kings became her Nursing fathers and Queens her Nursing mothers O then why hast thou broken down the Hedges with which she was formerly secured Why hast thou withdrawn thy protection under which she was so safe To that pass being destitute of thy savour we are brought that all that pass by every one that lists now enters into thy Vineyard and without any prohibition pluck off the grapes The Boare out of the Wood doth unroot it the wild beasts out of the field crop devour and trample upon it Vers. 13 cruel and prophane tyrants more like beasts than men do riot in and depopulate thy Vineyard O thou Lord of hoasts who being angry hast turned away thy face from us take pity of thy own plant look down from heaven thy dwelling place and send us help from thence for vain is the help of man behold and visit yet once more this thy Vine with a pleasing countenance That Vine which not with another but with thy own right-hand thou hast vouchsafed to plant that Vine I beséech thée to restore to its former beauty look upon that people which thou hast call'd thy Son thy first-born a weak and unable people to help it self and subsisting only by thy strength that power with which to the honour of thy name thou hast fortified them against their enemies And now upon the withdrawing of thy hand the merciless enemy burns it with fire and hacks
hypocritically and falsly as all flatterers do But to that pass they should have been brought that they should be glad to dissemble with and flatter Gods people 2. 2 Their peace long and lasting The second benefit is That their time should have continued for ever i.e. Their peace their tranquility their health their quiet habitation should have been very long and not interrupted with War Sedition Tumults 3. The third benefit is The abundance of all things Expressed by wheat 3 Abundance of all things to satisfaction and honey 1. I should have fed them also not with bran mixt with flowre as poor folks use and is usual in time of famine with the finest of the wheat 2. And with honey out of the Rock in which in Judaea Bees commonly liv'd would I have satisfied thee 'T is a blessing to say I have enough The Prayer collected out of the eighty first Psalm INsinite Vers. 1 O Lord are the causes that we have with the greatest alacrity to praise thée Thou art our strength thou art the God of Jacob we will therefore sing aloud and make a joyful noyse unto thee and because our breath is too short and low to resound thy praises we will call in the assistance of musical instruments the Nary the Lute and Psaltery and when those Feasts and Solemn Festivals shall come which are set forth for to celebrate thy mercies to man-kind we will blow abroad thy honour with shrill sounding Trumpets In which we yet shall but do our duty for this was made a Statute for Israel and a Law of the God of Jacob. Thou wert merciful to thy people Israel when in trouble they called upon thee thou deliveredst them thou broughtst them to Mount Sinai and proclaimed thy Law in their eares with the sound of a Trumpet when they heard a voice never heard before Thou easest his shoulder from the burden of carrying earth tiles bricks and straw and his hands were delivered from making the pots Thou hast been to us no less merciful than to them when in our afflictions and troubles we have called upon thee thou hast come down and delivered us thou hast freed us from our Aegyptian darkness of ignorance thou hast loused us from the slavery of the devil and from the drudgery and service of sin which laid a heavy burden upon our consciences and instead of thy Law proclaimed with so much terrour in Mount Sinai thou hast spoken to us from heaven by thy only begotten Son and sounded in our ears the glad-tidings of the Gospel And now Lord what doest thou require at our hands for all these favours even the self-same that thou requiredst of Israel For thus thou then spakest to them and thus thou speakest to us Hear O my people Vers. 8 and I will testifie unto thee O Israel if thou wilt hearken unto me there shall be no strange god in thee neither shalt thou worship any other god I am the Lord thy God that brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt But my people would not hearken to my voice and Israel would none of me And wo be so us miserable wretches our ears have béen dull of hearing and we have not hearkned to thy command though we have not set up strange gods yet we have worshipped our own imaginations and adored our own inventions We have forgotten that thou brought'st us out of our more than Aegyptian darkness of ignorance and sin and fill'd our mouths with all good things In a word we have not hearkned to thy voice we have set thée by for the vanities of our own hearts and would none of thée In justice therefore thou hast given us up to our hearts lusts and we have walked in our own counsels and because we would not receive the love of the truth that we might be saved for this cause hath God sent us a strong delusion that we should be lieve a lye and take pleasure in unrighteousness But O Lord though Israel hath transgressed yet let not Judah sin in Sodom thou hadst a Lot in Ur of the Chaldees an Abraham in the Land of Uz a Job though the four hundred Prophets have followed Baal yet there is one Micajah left nay seven thousand vnées that have not vowed to the Idol these will hearken unto thee these will walk in thy wayes Lord here their prayers hearken unto their groans for the remnant that are left And thou who wouldst have spared that sinful City at the request of Abraham could ten righteous men have been found in it return in mercy to the thousands of Israel which day and night cry unto thee to spare thy people O Lord for their fakes rather for thine own sake spéedily subdue and bring under our enemies and turn thy hand against our adversaries let all those who by their works and practical Atheism séem to hate thee bow like lerbants before thy people and at least shew and sein a voluntary subjection not daring to carry themselves proudly and stubbornly before thy servants nor to manifest their secret rancour But let the time of those who in sincerity of heart in truth and in spirit worship thée endure for ever let their peace be secure their tranquility long their prosperity perpetual their habitation quiet and their health confirm'd When they shall open their mouths wide in prayer fulfil their requests whatsoever they shall ask in thy name according to thy promise give it Because they first seek the glory and prosperity of thy Kingdom and the righteousness thereof let all other things be added unto them Supply them with the dew of heaven and the fatness of the earth when other Prodigals féed upon husks then feed them with the finest of the wheat Let the Rocks yield them honey the Mountains Brass and Iron let their pastures de clothed with flocks Vers. 1 and their valleys to codered over with corn that they shout for ioy and sing that they take a Psalm and bring forth the Tabret the merry Harp with the Lute and on thy great and appointed Solemnities sing aloud to the God of their strength and make a cheerful noyse to the God of Jacob. Grant this O Lord for Jesus Christs sake our only Lord and Saviour Amen PSAL. LXXXII ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THAT the Prophet might admonish and check the Judges of the earth about their duty he sets God in the midst of them commanding that they do justice and âhreatning revenge for their injustice assuring them that he will rise one day and judge them Three parts of the Psalm 1. The Prophets Proclamation vers 1 2. Gods contestation with the Judges of the earth from vers 2. to 8. 3. The Prophets prayer that God would rise to judge v. 8. 1. The first part Gods preâence proclaimed in the Court. The Prophet as a Cryer in a Court proclaims first a very profitable Doctrine and layes a solid foundation for all justice viz. That all Judges remember that as at
the place of thy service where I may publickly acknowledge thee to be all these O happy men that may dwell in thy house for there as a good Master of the Family thou dispensest to them the bread of eternal life Thou suppliest unto them matter of praise and they again are as ready to praise thee in which constists the chief pleasure and selicity of man So often as they meet there they will invocate thy name offer thanksgiving confess their sins and give glory to God vow they will to propagate thy Truth and in reverence and fear do all acts of piety and devotion These are happiest but those are also happy that have a destre and a liberty to ascend thither O Lord increase in us these destres and give us again this freedom our strength is in thee and our hearts are in thy wayes and though we must pass through the Valley of tears yet we desire to ascend to that place which thou Lord hast appointed to thy self for an habitation In the strength of the Lord God we will procéed till we appear before God in Zion and find that Majesty and mercy which we so earnestly long for and séek For whatsoever happiness we are capable of in this life we know it is to be obtained in the pious Assemblies of thy Saints O Lord God of hosts hear my prayer give ear O God of Jacob. Thou who art our Shield and Protector behold me with a serene countenance and when I shall lift up my eyes unto thee O turn thy face toward thy Anointed and for his sake look upon me and thy people with mercy and bring us back again to thy house Grant that the love of thy house may be to us that which thou desirest that we may think the time of one day spent in it better than thousands in doing our own pleasure yea and that it is better to be the meanest servant a door-kéeper in the house of God than to dwell with honour in the Tents and Palaces of ungodly men The pleasures and delights which we may hope for in those Tents are nothing to the contents we may enjoy in thy house for there we shall enjoy thée who art our Sun our Shield the Father of all good gifts and wilt deny no good thing to those who sincerely serve thée O Lord be unto me a Shield and a Sun A Sun to illuminate us A Shield to protect us Dispell our darkness comfort and warm our hearts with thy light increase us with thy swéetest influence and defend us by thy power Give us grace and adopt us for thy Sons and at last bestow upon us eternal glory Thou hast promised to deny no good thing to those who walk before thée in simplicity and integrity Inable us then O God to walk in thy wayes with a pure and an honest heart For then we may be comforted with this hope and assurance that we shall be blessed and that we shall come at last to those eternal Mansions in heaven by the merits of Iesus Christ our Lord. PSAL. LXXXV ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã MYstically this whole Psalm is a Prophesie concerning the redemption of Mankind from the Tyranny of sin and Satan by the coming of Christ prefigured by the deliverance of the Jewes either from Egypt or rather from Babylon after which they fell again into grievous troubles under Antiochus Three parts of the Psalm 1. An Acknowledgment of Gods formet mercies ver 1 2 3. 2. A Petition upon that ground that he would still do the like 4 5 6 7. 3. A profession of obedience and an advice to continue in it ver 8. that men may be partakers of the promises both spiritual 9 10 11. and temporal ver 12. which shall be performed to those who keep in the wayes of God ver 13. 1. In the three first verses A Commemoration of Gods mercies the Prophet makes a Commemoration of Gods mercies to his people of which the Fountain is his good will and favour Lord Thou bast been favourable of which the effects were temporal and spiritual The first part 1. Temporal Thou hast been favourable to thy Land Ver. 1 Thou hast turned away or brought back the captivity of Jacob 1 Temporal freed them from the Babylonian yoke 2. Spiritual which consisted in two things Ver. 2 1. Justification Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people 2 Spiritual and covered all their sins Ver. 3 2. Reconciliation Thou hast taken away all thy wrath and hast turned thy self from the fierconess of thy anger 2. And now upon the experience of these former mercies The second part Upon this favour he prayes the Prophet commends a new Petition the sum whereof is briefly this Thou hast been favourable to us before and therefore we hope that thou wilt be so now this is the consequent of the former antecedent and upon it in confidence he prayes Turn us then O God our Saviour c. to the 8th verse Ver. 4 in which Petition is said over again That God would assure those mercies what was acknowledged before in the Commemoration of the benefits 1. Thou hast turned away the captivity Restore us then turn us then or return to us O God our Saviour 2. Thou hast been reconciled be again reconciled to us Thou hast taken away all thy wrath c. ver 3. Ver. 5 Now cause thine anger towards us to cease Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all Generations This is contrary to thy nature who art slow to anger 3. Thou hast brought us back and so revived our hearts ver 1. And wilt thou not revive us again by delivering us from our present calamities and this death that thy people may rejoyce in thee 4. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people c. ver 2. Shew us then thy mercy O Lord and grant us thy salvation Save us in mercy first from sins the cause of our sufferings and then from the punishment our present miseries 3. And that the Church might prevail in her Petition she now promiseth obedience and to wait upon God I will hear what the Lord God will speak The third part As if she had said For which he waits why do I expostulate thus with my God why do I thus complain I will attend to his Word and hear what he will say for he is a trusty Counsellor in all our afflictions Ver. 8 and this it is that he will say I wound and I make whole I kill and I give life Being assured that God will turn all to the best 1. For he will speak peace unto his people and to his Saints Though he begins to his people in the cup of his Cross yet he keeps the best wine till the last and turns his Cross into a Crown if they hear what he saith he will speak peace to them And speak peace to his people 2. If they
each form hath a reason annexed 1. Ver. 1 Bow down thy ear hear me Ratio For I am poor and needy i. e. destitute of other help 2. Ver. 2 Preserve my soul Ratio For I am holy i.e. pious and studious of holiness ready to serve thee 3. Ver. 3 O thou my God save thy servant Ratio That trusteth in thee relies on thy help and for that exposed to dangers 4. Be merciful unto me O Lord Ratio For I cry unto thee dayly I cry and call without intermission 5. Rejoyce the soul of thy servant comfort me with thy presence and sense of thy favour Ratio For unto thee O Lord I life up my soul i. e. with great desire I long after thee And all these Reasons perswade to Audience from the person of the Supplicant who because he was in distress and yet studious to please his God did rely upon God and daily cry and earnestly desire the sense of his favour therefore he did lift up his soul to him The second part A continuance in his Petition from the nature of God 2. And yet he continues his Petition from the consideration of the Nature and Person of God to whom he prayes Hear me and turn away thy wrath 1. For thou O Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee Ver. 5 give ear therefore unto my prayer and attend to the voyce of my supplications 2. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee Ratio For thou wilt answer me it runs thus Thou art merciful to them that call upon thee ver 5. I call None like to him in his works therefore thou wilt answer 3. There is none among the gods like unto thee O Lord neither are there any of their works like thy works None like in goodness wisdom power in thy works which thou dost to save thy people and therefore I call and cry to thee for help And this the Prophet amplifies in the two next verses as if he had said the event doth shew That there is none like thee no works like thy works for 1. All Nations which now worship Idols she ll come i. e. be converted and worship thee O Lord and shall glorifie thy Name 2. For thou dost great and wondrous things of which the conversion of the Gentiles is one Thou art God alone And upon this Reason Therefore he begs to be governed by his Word and Spirit that none is like God none comparable to him in his works 1. He falls to prayer again and first begs of God that he may be governed by his Word and Spirit for then he would be an obedient servant Teach me thy way O Lord and I will walk in thy Truth unite my heart to fear thy Name For which he professeth to be thankful 2. And secondly professeth he would be a thankful servant I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy Name for evermore To which he subjoyns his Reason For great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest Hell i. e. from the greatest troubles And upon both these his obedience and thankfulness he pleads to be heard 3. And yet he presseth another Argument viz. The third part He presseth his prayer from the nature of his enemies The person and quality of his Adversaries 't is but Reason that God hear him for he was beset with enemies and these were proud men 2. Potent men 3. Ungodly men 1. Proud they were The proud have risen up against me 2. Potent they were and many of them The Assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul 3. Ungodly men Atheists Scorners They have not set thee before them 4 And now he hath recourse again to his former Arguments The fourth part He amplifies his former Argument but amplifies them 1. First drawn from the Nature of God ver 5. But thou O Lord art a God full of compassion and gracious long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and truth 2. The second from his own condition ver 1 2. O turn unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and help the son of thy Handmaid i.e. one born within thy Covenant and of a poor humble mother 3. The third from the quality of his Adversaries that they which were Atheists might see Gods hand in his deliverance and confounded by it Shew me a token for good i.e. shew by some evident sign that thou art not angry with me but that thou hast received me into thy favour That they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast holpen me and comforted me The Prayer collected out of the eighty sixth Psalm O Lord great in Power infinite in Majesty so great is our misery and poverty and so destitute we are of help Ver. 1 that we are unworthy of any gracious aspect from thée but since thou art a God who lookest upon thy néedy and poor servants vouchsafe us one good look let our humility bend thy Majesty Bow down thine ear to our prayers and condescend to our requests Ver. 2 Kéep our lives that we fall not into the hands of our enemies O thou who art our God sée'st and know'st that we desire and endeavour to serve thée in holiness preserve therefore the souls of thy servants who have no other hope but thée Be merciful unto us O Lord who every day call and cry to thee Rejoyce the grieved and sad souls of thy servants who renouncing all worldly helps do lift up their souls unto thee Give ear O Lord to our prayer and attend to the voyce of our supplications if not for our sake if not out of the consideration of our present miseries yet for thine own be to us now what thou hast alwayes béen and alwayes wilt be Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy toward all that call upon thee This Lord is the day of our trouble a day of darkness and gloominess and in this we call upon thée Lord hear us bow down thine ear and according to thy wonted mercy receive our Petitions O good God be propitious for if thou wilt thou canst relieve us among men some would but cannot some can but will not help And among the Angels there is none of what order soever like unto thée their power though great is not to be compared to thy power their works though marvellous are nothing to thy works which are so full of wonder that even those Nations who yet know thée not and are out of the Covenant upon whom thou hast together with us set thine own image even these being moved by the greatness of thy works shall at last come and bow and worship before thee and magnifie and glorifie thy Name for thou dost great and wondrous things Thou art God alone O God at this time because we have béen ungrateful
to dye even from my youth up thy terrors I have suffered with a troubled soul yea I have been so amazed and astonished with them that I have been even distracted and ready to dispair In me there hath appeared manifest signs of thy displeasure for thou hast laid me in the lowest pit and imprison'd me in darkness and in the depth of calamities As wave sacreeds wave so thy fierce wrath goeth over me it lies hard upon me and I am afflicted with all thy storms these billows came round about me dayly like water and not one after another set upon me but they engirt me all together My eye mourns Vers. 8 and grows dim by reason of affliction Lord then hear my err that I dayly present unto thee Turn from thy fierce anger and shew me again the light of thy countenance Deliver me from these thy terrors from the grave from this death and I will magnifie thy name and mercy among the living O Lord give a gracious answer to these my sighs and prayers stand not far off for ever Forsake me not in my distress but make haste to help For thou alone art the God of my salvation if thou leave me I must perish Wherefore good Father succour me and pardon my sin which hath brought this thy just indignation upon me for the merits of thy dearly beloved Son Iesus Christ my Lord. And thou O sweet Saviour which thy self hast suffered and wast for my sake tempted be a merciful and faithful High Priest to me in things pertaining to God make reconciliation for my sins and succour me that am tempted Amen PSAL. LXXXIX IN this Psalm the Prophet praiseth God and sets forth his goodness and faithfulness particularly that he made an everlasting Covenant with David and his seed In which the stability and perpetuity of Christs Kingdom of which the Kingdom of David was but a Type is excellently described and foretold The parts of this Psalm are these 1. The Sum Pith and Argument of the whole Psalm viz. the Loving-kindness and truth of God vers 1 2. 2. The particular instance of Gods goodness and truth in making a Covenant with David vers 3 4. 3. A Doxology containing the praise of God for his wonders faithfulness power providence justice judgement mercy truth from vers 5. to 15. 4. The Happy estate of Gods people from vers 15. to 19. 5. A special example of Gods goodness toward his Church exemplified in David but truly verified in Christ from vers 19. to 28. 6. How Davids posterity should be dealt with upon their disobedience from vers 28. to 38. 7. A Complaint or Expostulation upon the contrary events where he doth deplore the torne estate of the Judaical Kingdom from vers 38. to 47. 8. A Petition for mercy and restauration from vers 47. to 51. 9. An Epiphonematical conclusion vers 52. blessing God for the hope he hath in his favour and help in all estates 1. The Breviary of the Psalm is set down in the first verse and amplified by the reason in the second The first part The Sum of the Psalm Gods Mercies Thus he begins 1. I will sing Chant set forth in a Song The fittest way to express our joy for any thing so best inculcated so best remembred so best deliver'd to others to remember Vers. 1 2. Of which David will sing Of the mercies plurally for they are many And his Song should be of all 3. For ever Intentionally though not actually for as a wicked man could he live alwayes would alwayes sin so a good man could he live alwayes would alwayes sing the mercies of the Lord. 2. Or if ever be join'd to Mercies it is his everlasting Mercies 4. With my mouth I will make known thy faithfulness from generation to generation With my mouth while I have a being I will make known and when I have no being I will commit them to writing Ut sciat haec aetas posteritasque legat His reason for it is because Gods mercy is everlasting Because his mercy is everlasting and therefore fit to be the subject of an everlasting Song 1. For I have said Set down this for a certain position Vers. 2 an undoubted truth 2. Mercy shall be built up for ever 'T is not exhausted in one age but as a house built on a strong foundation it shall stand firm and be perceiv'd age after age 3. Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens As is thy mercy so is thy faithfulness perpetual as the heavens in which is found no change 2. And for the proof of Gods goodness and truth The second part The instance the Covenant he produceth an instance in his Covenant made with David Where by a Prosopopeia he brings in God speaking 1. I have made a Covenant with my chosen It was not Merit then Vers. 3 it was free Election 2. I have sworne Faelices nos quorum causâ Deus jurat To David my servant And the Covenant and Oath is extant 2 Sam. 7.11 3. And the tenour of the Covenant is Thy seed will I establish for ever and build up thy Throne to all generations Thy seed signally which is true of Christ only who was of the seed of David to whom the Lord gave the Throne of his father David Luke 1.32 33. who was to reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end The words then are not to be understood of Davids temporal Kingdom but of the seed of David that is Christs spiritual Kingdom for that was to be established for ever 3. And now what the Prophet undertook in the first verse he performs The third part Of this all good men will sing for at the fifth verse his Doxology begins The person is only chang'd and that to advantage For there he spoke of himself I will sing Here he saith it shall be done by others The heavens shall praise Vers. 5 1. Some by the heavens understand the Church and the Preachers in the Church Heavens Angels 2. Others the Angels and blessed spirits in heaven Both are true and of both it may be well affirm'd O Lord the heavens shall praise thy wondrous works Thy faithfulness also in the Congregation of Saints 2. The Subject of the Heavens and the Angels and Saints praise are The Subject of their Song 1. Gods wondrous works and his Truth In general Vers. 5 all his miracles but in particular this wondrous work viz. his making a Covenant with David in taking an Oath to perform it 1 His Works his Truth and his faithfulness in keeping it For it is a wonder that so great a Majesty should so far condescend And now he sings praise to this Majesty setting forth the power of it 2 His Majesty to whom none to be compared and that in three respects 1. By way of comparison in the 6 7 8 verses viz. That there is nor Angel
would stay here it were but against Man but they add one wickedness to another to their injustice and cruelty they add impiety and blasphemy And of that I complain next Yet they say Vers. 7 The Lord shall not see neither shall the God of Jacob regard it That he nor hears nor sees nor regards what they do What tell you us of the Lord what do you talk to us of the God of Jacob that God of revenge tush he hath nor eyes nor eares or if he hath he is far removed and cares not for these things below he shall nor see nor hear nor understand nor consider nor examine what we do in this world This is their impiety this their b asphemy This the true cause of all their injustice tyranny cruelty oppression Now our Prophet sets himself seriously to reprehend and confute this The third part Whom David reprehends for their Atheism confutes and derides By an Apostrophe he turns to them and calls them fools and proves by a manifest Argument that they are fools demonstrating that God is nor deaf nor blind as they presumed and conceived from the cause to the effect and urgeth them Emphatically ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 1. Vers. 8 Vnderstand ye bruitish among the people Oh ye fools when will ye be wise Shews that God 1. Understands what will you be bruitish alwayes will you never have common sense in your heads 2. Vers 9 He planted the ear caused you to hear and shall not he then hear 2 Hears 3. 3 Sees He formed the eye with all the tunicles and put into it a visive faculty by which you see and shall not he see Nil dat quod non habet To say the contrary is as if you should affirm the fountain that sends forth the stream had no water in it or the Sun that enlightens the world had no light or the fire that warms had no heat Are these affirmations fit for wise men Neither is it that the God of Jacob doth nor hear nor see Farther yet Vers. 10 4. He chastiseth the heathen as Sodom Gomorrah c. 4 Chastiseth or he chastises them by the checks of their own conscience the Synderesis being set in their souls to that purpose their thoughts accusing them or excusing and shall not he then correct you who go under the name of his people and yet so impiously blaspheme 5. 5 Knows the vain thoughts of man He that teacheth man knowledge hath endued him with a reasonable soul and made him capable of all Arts and Sciences is he stupid is he without understanding Shall not he know Nay nay say or think what you will it is not so so far he is from being deaf that he cannot hear your words or blind that he cannot see your actions that he looks into your hearts and knows your thoughts counsels and judgeth them all vain Vers. 11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man that they are but vanity With which ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã he concludes his reprehension 4. And so from them he comes to the Good man The fourth part David shews the happinness of good men who are Blessed and shews his happiness whom he labours to comfort in his extremities whom he pronounceth Blessed Blessed is the man and his blessing lies in these things 1. In his sufferings because when he is punished he is but chastised and his chastisements are from the Lord. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest Vers. 12 2. In his teaching that when he is chastised 1 In his sufferings in that taught thereby Obedience he is but taught obedience to the Law of God taught by book taught out of thy Law which because he hath not well kept therefore he is whipt and by it taught to heed it to love it to affect the observation better hereafter 3. In consideration of the end that he sret not Vers. 13 but bear more moderately the insultations and injuries of the wicked for the end And patience in regard of the end why God chastiseth and teacheth thee out of his Law is That he may give thee rest a quiet and even soul from the dayes of adversity and that thou shouldst expect with patience Domc. so long till the pit be digged up for the ungodly Such a day there is and the day will come Hell as ready to receive the sinner as a Grave digged up for a dead body Expect it therefore with a quiet mind Vers. 14 4. And the reason is That though God for a time seem to be angry Of which the 1. Confirmation is from Gods faithfulness and equity and suffer his people to be afflicted yet he will not utterly neglect and forsake them For the Lord will not cast off his people neither will he forsake his inheritance 5. A day of judgement and execution of justice shall come when judgement shall return unto righteousness Vers. 15 When the Church is in affliction these two seem to be seperated and divorced but they shall meet again and kiss each other The justice of God which seems to be only potential and habitual and as it were asleep while his chosen do suffer and wicked men oppress them shall then be apparent and actual so that the justice of God in the defence and deliverance of his Church and the judgement of God in the condemnation of the wicked shall be conspicuous 2. In which the just shall so fully acquiesce that all those who are upright in heart shall follow it Applaud acknowledge it A second confirmation of the comfort he gave to the Church in affliction 2 Confirm'd by his own example Object is fetcht from his own experience from the 16. to the 20. verse Object Yea but this time of judgement may be long in the mean while 't is necessary to have some helper and help against the persecutions and injuries of cruel men Who will arise for me Vers. 16 and labour to protect me in so great a concourse of devils or mischievous men who will stand up for me and defend me against the workers of iniquity Resp. Even he that then stood up for me No man but God alone Resp. Vers. 17 he did it and unless the Lord had been my help my soul had almost dwelt in silence I had been inter silentes laid in the grave among the dead saith David vers 17. 2. If I said and complain'd to him that I was in any danger Vers. 18 My foot slips I was tempted and ready to fall Thy mercy O Lord held me up in mercy he lent me his hand and sustained me 3. Vers. 19 In the multitude of the thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul 1. The thoughts within me were sorrows of heart and many they were occasioned from within from without a multitude of them and yet I did not only patiently undergo them but found comfort in them 2. Thy comforts delight my soul as were the
now and at the day of judgement Jehovah is become the Supreme King and all other Kings and Powers become his Vassals and Servants A benefit so great that he moves the world to be glad of it Let the earth rejoice let the multitude of the Isles that is the inhabitants of both be glad thereof All men wheresoever and whatsoever for if they be oppressed by Tyrants yet the Lord they serve is Mightier the Kingdom is his all Power in heaven and earth given into his hands and he can repress and bring into order the proudest Tyrants He hath this name written on his thigh King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.16 For the good 2. And 't is most certain that he will make use of his Scepter for the good of his Subjects and for the confusion and ruine of their and his enemies which is often done in this life but if deferr'd for some reasons best known unto him yet it shall be certainly done at the last day when his appearance will be very terrible yet comfortable to His. For 1. Clouds and darkness shall be round about him Vers. 2 as it was when he gave the Law in Sinai Of his Subjects 2. Righteousness and Judgement the habitation the Basis of his Throne 1. Righteousness justly to pass sentence in the defence of his people And so comfortable to them 2. Judgement to be poured out upon his enemies And so a terrible day to them 3. A fire goeth before him and burns up his enemies round about Vers. 3 His lightnings enlightned the world the earth saw it and trembled The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth For the confusion of his enemies In which three verses are set down the terror of that day as it is described Mat. 24 29 c. 2 Pet. 2.10 c. Psal 18.7 c. Which fire yet shall not hurt the godly it shall burn up only his enemies as is here said 4. And at this day the heavens declare his righteousness When his appearing shall be glorious when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-angel and the Trump of God 1 Thess 4. 2. And all people his glory appearing in the clouds of heaven with all the Angels about him when every knee of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth shall bow unto him Phil. 2. 2. Upon the consideration of Christs Soveraignty The second part Upon which the Prophet and his glorious appearance at the last day our Prophet imprecates and exhorts 1. He imprecates that confusion and a curse may fall upon all Idolators Confounded be all they that serve carved Images Vers. 7 and boast themselves of Idols Which is indeed their shame 1 Imprecates 2. 2 Exhorts He exhorts Adore him all ye gods ye that excell in power on earth ye Angels that excell in power in heaven adore worship invocate submit to this King For this was and ought to be the practice of Gods people 1. Vers. 8 Sion heard of it heard that the Lord reigned that he would come to judge the quick and dead 3 And the people of God exult that Idolators should be confounded that Christ only was to be adored and rejoiced at it and was very well pleased with the News and desired it should be so 2. Vers. 9 The daughters of Judah that is the people of God rejoiced because of thy judgements O Lord did exult because thou O Lord do'st judge all men with a just judgement 3. But that which did most of all excite and heighten their joy was the exaltation of Christ to the Throne that the Lord of Gods people was now to be the Supreme Lord. Glad they were because Thou O Lord art high above all the earth high above all Kings and earthly Monarchs that thou art exalted far above all gods i. e. far above all Angels who are called gods by participation and far above all Devils who are worshipped as gods by an error of judgement 3. The third part The Character by which Gods people may be known At the eighth verse he made mention of the Church and call'd them Zion he spoke of the people of God under the name of the daughters of Judah and he saith they did exult and rejoice at it But that no man footh up himself with this Title for there be many who lay claim to Zion that belongs not to Zion and seem to rejoice that Christ is King who wish in their hearts it were otherwise Vers. 10 The Prophet sets down an infallible Character by which the Elect may be known viz. The Love of God and the infallible consequent of it The Hatred of evil to which he exhorts Ye that love the Lord hate evil 1. 1 They love God O you that make God your choice and Christ your King not feinedly but truly not with the lips alone but with the heart that fear and worship God not according to the external work but according to the Spirit of the Law 2. 2 They hate evil See that ye hate evil 't is not sufficient to fly it to decline from it but you must detest and hate it which without the work of the heart will never be done For the heart is the fountain of all actions good or bad from it before God they have their denomination and acceptance As out of the heart proceeds the love of the chief good so out of the heart again proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries c. Mat. 15. And that we lend the easier ear to this counsel The reward for this work the Prophet proposeth two great rewards to those that love the Lord and hate evil 1. Enemies they have in this life that hate them that seek to oppress thâm against these God promiseth protection from these deliverance 1. Vers. 10 He preserveth the souls of his Saints often their lives but alwayes their souls 1 Preservation which is a benefit beyond the other The Accuser of the brethren shall not hurt them 2. He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked sometime out of their hand that they fall not into it and sometime out of their hand when they are in it Ovis erepta lupo Now this is their first reward 2. Vers. 11 A second reward there is in the next verse That in their miseries they shall be fill'd with content 2 In miseries they shall find comfort and find comfort when they little expected it but then they must be righteous and upright in heart 1. 1 Light content Light is sown for the righteous or as the old Translator reads out of the Septuagint Light is risen up to the righteous The diversity as Moller and Bellarminâ arose out of the nearness of the two Hebrew words Zarahh and Zarach Zarahh signifying Seminare and Zarach oriri
By the first the Metaphor is more hard by the second the more easie and sweet but the sence will be the same 1. By light then here is understood Gods favour the light of understanding truth goodness with the effect of it or that which ariseth from it comfort content of soul tranquility peace of conscience 2. Now this is sown as seed it often times lies hid under the clods but at last it shews it self 2. Or as light is obscured by some cloud which at length breaks forth or riseth to some height as the Sun in the morning The sence then is this Such a time there is when the just man may say Wisd 5. 6. The light of righteousness hath not shined unto us and the Sun of righteousness rose not upon us The favour of God hath seemed to us to be hid and buried as it were in disfavour But this saith our Prophet shall not be alwayes the favour of God is sow'd and it will spring up again The light of comfort of peace of conscience though it be clouded and darkned yet it will break forth and rise again 2. Again There shall be gladness for the upright in heart 2 Gladness of heart For uprightness doth direct and establish the heart whence there ariseth an ineffable joy in the conscience when a man is a Witness to himself that his will is conformable to Gods Will and all those things and only those things please him which please his God Which is the second reward or fruit that he reaps who loves God and hates evil 3. He concludes Therefore And out of these premises the Prophet draws his inference and conclusion which he forms into an advice Vers. 12 Since light and joy doth arise to those who are upright in heart and that joy is from God Then 1. You that are just rejoice not in the vanities of this world 1 Rejoice in the Lord. as do the unjust but rejoice in the Lord who gives you this justice 2 Be thankful and rewards it with this joy 2. Then again be thankful for it Give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness It is his holiness his righteousness not your own that you carry in your hearts and so often as this comes to your remembrance bless and thank him for it The Prayer collected out of the ninty seventh Psalm O Omnipotent Lord I never think of that great day when I must stand before thy Tribunal and render an account of my words thoughts and actions but my heart trembles for fear and my knees are ready to smite one against another Terrible thou wert upon Mount Sinai when thou gavest and terrible thou wilt be when thou wilt exact an answer for the breach of thy Law The clouds and thick darkness then round about thee amaze my sinful soul the fire that shall go before thee Vers. 2 and burn up thine enemies round about thee flasheth in my eyes the lightning darting out of the clouds Vers. 3 and the earth trembling under me makes me tremble Methinks I hear men call to the Mountains to cover them and the Hills to hide them from the severity of thy wrath but these Rocks of Stone dissolve and melt as Wax at thy presence at thy presence O Lord at the presence of thee who art the Lord of the whole earth My heart O Lord is hard like one of those Rocks hardned it is by the deceitfulness of sin send down into it the fire of thy holy Spirit that may dissolve and melt it as war and make it apt to receive thy impressions of grace of a hard heart make it soft and tender of a heart of stone make it a heart of flesh that I may hear thy Law and obey it that I may repent for the breaches of it and every day judge my self that I may not be judged of the Lord. Never let that day flip out of my memory when the heavens shall declare thy righteousness Vers. 6 and all the people see thy glory for then the whole world shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with all the Angels about him with the voice of the Arch-angel and the Trump of God when that general Summons shall be blown abroad Arise ye dead and come to judgement A day indéed this will be of darkness and gloominess a day of sorrow Vers. 7 and such as never was from the beginning of the world So in it self so to thy enemies so to Idolators These would not that thou shouldst reign over them Confounded therefore on that day be all they that serve graven Images and that boast themselves of Idols Thou art our King O God send help unto Jacob and we are surâ thou wilt send help Vers. 2 because thou hast set up thy Kingdom for that end and reignest that thou mightest do good to those that are upright in heart Righteousness and judgement are the habitation of thy Throne Vers. 8 as in judgement thou wilt procéed against the workers of iniquity so wilt thou also in justice deal with all those that love the Lord and hate iniquity At the hearing of this it is that Zion rejoiced and the daughters of Judah were glad O make me one of the inhabitants of this Zion that I may lift up my head and not be amazed at the remembrance of that fearful day being fully assured that it shall be the day of my Redemption not my destruction O thou who shalt be my Iudge be my Saviour also preserve my soul and the souls of all thy Saints and deliver us out of the hand of the wicked Able thou art to do it for thou Lord art far above all the earth thou art exalted far above all gods If thou wilt thou canst save us and we believe thou wilt because it was the end thou camest into the world the end why thou sufferest that painful and shameful death of the Cross to save sinners Sinners O dear Saviour we are we desire in uprightness of heart to serve thée though we cannot shake off the sin that hangs so fast on yet we detest and hate it The consciousness of our guilt too often over clouds ouâ joy O let it break forth again and shew us the light of thy countenance the comforts of our souls are buryed under the thoughts of thy displeasure oh that the day were come that they might shoot again and spring up then would we hope though we sowed in tears yet we should reap in joy This if thou wilt grant us Then will we rejoice in thee our Lord and King and give thanks at the remembrance of thy righteousness thy holiness thy merits thy innocent life and undeserved death which alone we can trust to at that day PSAL. XCVIII Propheticus ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THIS Psalm is an evident Prophecy of Christ's coming to save to judge the world and therefore the Church hath well subjoined
chief Ruler as 2 Sam. 8.18 1 Chron. 18.17 and so it may have reference to Moses a chief Prince but in the proper sense to Aaron for he was the chief Priest Samuel 2. And Samuel no Priest but a Levite yet chief Judge among those call'd on his name 3. They called upon the Lord for themselves and the people and he answered them Of Moses the story is extant Exod. 32.31 Of Aaron Numb 16. 46 47 48. Of Samuel 1 Sam. 7.5 9 10. 4. Vers. 7 He spake unto them that is to Moses Exod. 33.8 9 11. and unto Aaron Numb 12. from 5. to 8. But unto Samuel we read not that he spake in the cloudy Pillar And now he aptly adds the reason why God so readily heard these three Why he heard them it was because they were his servants and obey'd the commands of their King For as Christ saith He that loves me will keep my Commandments He then that will be heard in his prayers Because they were obedient servants ought to hear God in his Commands So did they 1. They kept his Testimonies those Precepts that were common to all others 2. And the Ordinances he gave them as Publick persons who were to rule in Church and State And that this was a great mercy and favour to them and the people the Prophet acknowledgeth by his Apostrophe to God in the next verse 1. 1 He answered them Thou answeredst them O Lord our God Which the Story confirms Vers. 8 2. 2 He forgave them Thou wast a God that forgavest them that is the people for whom Moses and Aaron and Samuel pray'd For as Moller observes in Hebrew the Relative is often put without an Antecedent 3. 3 Even when he punished the people Though thou takest vengeance on their inventions The Calf was broken Exod. 32. and the false gods put away 1 Sam. 7. Though their sin was remitted yet a temporal and corporal punishment follow'd them Numb 14.23 30. Numb 20.12 2. The second part The Prophet concludes the Psalm Carmine Ambaebaeo with the repetition of the fifth verse The Conclusion of all That we only what he calls there Gods footstool he here calls Mount Zion And in the verse is contained the full scope and intent of the whole which is That we exalt our King and adore him 1. Exalt the Lord our God not that we can do it Vers. 9 or make him higher but we must contribute what we can to his exaltation 1 Exalt God which is then done when we gratefully acknowledge his Power in defence of his Church and his Clemency in hearing our prayers and the Intercessions of his servants for us 2. Worship at his Holy Hill 2 Adore which literally is to be understood of Zion the place which he had chosen for his worship where now the Tabernacle was and after the Temple was built But concerns us also that live in the Catholique Church to serve him in unity meeting together in such holy places which are set apart for his worship 3. For the Lord our God is holy which is the ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or reason For he is Holy why Zion was Holy and many other persons and things in relation to him A consideration very necessary as Musoulus well observes for this profane age The Prayer collected out of the ninty ninth Psalm O Omnipotent Lord who reignest sitting above she Cherubims and governest the whole world by thy wisdom Vers. 1 though the enemies of thy Church be many yet will we not fear though the whole earth be moved yet will we not be afraid For the Lord is great in Zion and high above all people Vers. 2 Yet because the united force of our enemies is great and their iniquity twisted together for the ruine of thy Church Vers. 3 that they be not alwayes prided with their success and thy people over-much disheartned arise O Lord and make them know that thy name is great terrible and holy so great that thou canst and so holy that thou wilt and so terrible that thou wilt in fury take vengeance upon pride and iniquity We are assured O Lord Vers. 4 that thy authority and Kingly power loves equity that thou doest establish equal Laws and doest execute judgement and righteousness in thy Church by punishing the wicked and rewarding the just Arise up for us therefore in the judgement that thou hast commanded and reward the just according to the integrity of their hearts stir up thy strength and come amongst us and help us for thy Name-sake O God our King and Saviour And if at any time our wickedness go over our heads to provoke thy wrath against us then turn thy face from us upon thy dear Son our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ whose intercession is far more powerfully with thée than that of Moses or Aaron and Samuel could be for thy people He is our High Priest be mindful of his invocation his Sacrifice his Blood his tears his cryes which he offered upon the Altar of the Cross for us His blood speaks better things than that of Abel That of Abel shed by us cryes aloud for vengeance against us and what we suffer are the effects of that cry the revenge of that blood O blessed Saviour still the cry of that blood with thy blood wash the stains of it away with those streams which issued from thy bloody side and for the merit of that blood hear the prayers of Moses Aaron and Samuel who had no hand in that blood but kept and do yet keep thy Testimonies and the Ordinance thou gavest them that offer unto thee for themselves and for thy people They dayly call upon thée hear them O Lord our God and answer them though the sin of this people be great yet forgive them though thou takest vengeance according to their inventions So shall we praise thy great and terrible Name for it is Holy So shall we exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool for he is Holy We will exalt the Lord that reigneth over us our God that delivers us and hears our prayers and worship at thy Holy hill and chant with a loud voice that the Lord our God is holy for evermore PSAL. C. A Psalm of Praise ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THE Title shews the Scope that it was composed for a form to praise God yea and in the publique Congregation and therefore is well chosen to be a part of our Liturgy There be two parts of this Psalm 1. An Exhortation to praise God vers 1 2 4. And the manner how to be done 2. The reasons that perswade to it vers 3 5. 1. He exhorts to praise God In his Exhortation to praise God required it is 1. The first part That the praise be Universal none exempted from it All ye lands or all the earth Vers. 1 2. That it be hearty full and performed with a cheerful soul Make a
mighty King of Kings and Lord of Lords by whom Kings and Princes decree justice Ver. 1 that especially which thou requirest of thy Vicegerents on earth is That they shew Mercy and execute Judgement that they extend acts of Grace and Charity toward the good and to be a terror to evil doers Come Ver. 2 Lord unto me with thy aid and Spirit for without thy help I am not able to do any duty and make me first to reform my self and my house Cause me to walk wisely with zeal and prudence in a perfect way Give me power to walk constantly and with delight in my own family with a perfect heart Ver. 3 that I may be a pattern of good works unto all within my house an example of piety religion iustice and charity to all about me Slip Lord and fall I may but it shall not be willingly and maliciously for I will set no wicked thing before my eyes that I should be tempted thereby Thou Lord hast hitherto put into my heart a hatred of the works of them that turn aside Ver. 4 and gracious God continue in me that hatred still for so I am sure that nor the Wedge of Gold nor the Babylonish Garment shall cleave to my fingers Give me so much courage O Lord as to execute judgement upon the wicked Ver. 5 and so much charity as to extend mercy to the good Let my justice be so exemplar that every man of a crooked and perverse froward heart be afraid of me and depart from me let me never know countenance or shew the least friendship to a wicked person Embolden me to cut off every one that privily slandereth his neighbour Ver. 7 As for the men who shew the pride of their heart with the rowling of their eyes and for such who have a heart so full swoln with ambition and covetousness that nothing can satisfie suffer me not to have any familiarity with them not so much as to admit them to my Table Thou knowest O Lord how full the world now is of fraudulent persons and men of lying lips make my sevetity so awful and my authority so reverential that he that works deceit do not dare to dwell stay and remain within my house and he that tells lyes be afraid to tarry in my sight As on the contrary move me to discern Ver. 6 and to be favourable is all those who are faithful in the Land men of truth and trust let my eyes be bent upon them to do them good these let me call from all places to dwell with me and if there be any that walk in a perfect way bring him to be my servant my Counsellor my bosome-friend Iustice and Religion are the Pillars of any Kingdom and at this time the foundations of the earth be out of course make me to beat up the Pillars of it Write the book of thy Law within my heart and let the advancement of true Religion be my chiefest care Ver. 8 After let me carry so great a love to justice that the wicked of the Land be by me early and speedily destroyed and all wicked doers be unrooted and cut off from the City of my God This is a City of Saints far far be removed from it all yride and covetousness all fraud and lying all Idolatry and false worship all impiety and injustice Let righteousness flourish in the Gates and piety in the Temples thereof and holiness shew it self in the lives of the Citizens to the glory of thy Holy name and the salvation of our poor souls through Iesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen PSAL. CII The Title of this Psalm is A Prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed and poureth out his complaint before God It is by the Church chosen for one of the Penitentials IT seems to me to be composed by the Prophet to be a form of prayer to be used by the faithful Jews in the time of their Captivity at Babylon For in it is expressed the sad condition they were then in in the person of an afflicted man the present state of Religion under the desolation of the Temple which the Prophet laments and yet again comforts himself and his people upon the consideration of Gods Eternity and Immutability and that therefore he will perform his promise have mercy on Sion build again the Temple restore them again to their own Land in which they should quietly and happily dwell This no question is the literal sense of the Psalm but it cannot be doubted but the Prophet had a farther intent in it For the faithful among the Jews knew that the Restitution of Solomons Templâ was but a Type of that Temple which the Messiah would build up of living stones and inhabit by his Spirit This then they prayed for and for the erection of it when they prayed for the re-edification of the other as appears by very many passages in this Psalm Two General parts there are of this Psalm 1. A description of the Calamity of the Church under the person of an afflicted man from vers 1. to 12. 2. The comfort yet she took in these Calamities and the ground of it from vers 12. to 28. 1. The whole is formed into a prayer A Prayer The first part which is proposed in the two first verses and an earnest motion made for audience 1. Ver. 1 Hear my prayer O Lord and let my cry come unto thee 2. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble encline thine ear to me In which he complains and shewes his sad condition in the day when I call answer me speedily 2. And he presseth his prayer by way of complaint shewing many wayes what a heavy case he was in 1. Ver. 3 By a consumption of his strength 1. My dayes are consumed as smoke In many respects which though it swells into the air in a great thick body yet it is suddenly dispersed and vanisheth 2. And my bones which are as it were the pillars of this house my body are burnt and dryed up 1 A Consumption as it were an hearth or the stones of the hearth which the fire by continuance burns out 3. My heart is smitten and withered like grass that either cut down withers to hay or standing is burnt up by the scorching heat of the Sun 4. To this pass I am come that I can take no sustenance I forget to eat my bread 2. From his continual weeping and pining away By reason of the voice of my groaning 2 Grief my bones cleave to my skin 3. From his Solitude He was deserted of his friends Clausa fides miseris 3 Solitude I am become like a Pellican in the Wilderness I am become like an Owle in the Desert Solitary Birds 4. 4 Watching From his continual watchings I watch and am as a sparrow alone on the house top As Moller observes this kind of bird impatientissime viduitatem ferunt 5.
5 Reproach From the reproach of them who had been his friends but were now his enemies for a wicked man thinks himself reproached by a good mans honest conversation Wisd 5. Mine enemies reproach me all the day long and they are mad against me are sworn against me have conspited by an Oath to undo me 6. And that which made them so mad and sweâr was my repentance which I testified by ashes on my head 6 Sadness and tears in my eyes I have caten ashes like bread my dayly food and mingled my drink with weeping I drank tears with my wine that is I was fed with bitterness and sustain'd with tears which they derided And now behold the reason why every true penitent is thus humbled All these increased by the sense of Gods anger it is not for want nor yet for want of wit but it is out of a true sense of Gods anger which he hopes to pacifie by his sorrow and humiliation 1. Ver. 10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath for my former sin 2. Which I collect thus Thou hast formerly lifted me up then sure I was in thy fovour but hast now cast me down whence I may well conclude that I am in disfavour with thee 3. And the effect plainly shews it For my dayes are as a shadow that declines and am withered like grace Become mortal flying fading from thy wrath raised by my own default 2. The second part He yet comforts himself in Gods promises Hitherto the Prophet hath petition'd and complain'd His case was lamentable yet he is notswallow'd up of sorrow Heart he begins to take and comfort he promiseth himself in the Eternity and Immutability of God and his love to his Church Hence he conceives hope of reconciliation and being moved by the Spirit of God foretells the restauration of Zion and Jerusalem and typically the state of Christs Church 1. To his Church on which he will have mercy and had when he restored them True I wither away as grass and so shall all Individual men But 1. Thou O Lord shalt endure for ever and therefore thy Church and promises to thy Church 2. And thy Remembrance from generation to generation The Covenant which thou hast made shall be remembred from father to son Ver. 13 till the worlds end 2. Thou seemest now to sleep But thou shalt arise 1. Thou shalt have mercy on Zion and save thy people 2. For the time to favour her yea the set time is come Literally the seventy years of the Captivity were neer expired Typically by the Spirit the Prophet foresaw and conceiv'd the Redemption of the Church in the future as a thing present And both he calls a time of favour for from the favour and mercy of God both proceeded 3. And this Consideration wrought a double effect This wrought a double effect 1. One upon Gods people for the present viz. an earnest desire to have it so Ver. 14 Earnest they were that Jerusalem should again be built the Church set up For thy servants take pleasure in her stones 1 A desire to have it so and favour the dust thereof Ver. 15 2. The other upon the Heathen 2 Another on the Heathen viz. Compassion Conversion So the Heathen shall fear thy name which began when Darius and Cyrus saw and acknowledged the Prophesies and obeyed them 2. And all the Kings of the earth thy glory which was truly fulfill'd in the conversion of Constantine c. to the Faith And he adds the cause why Kings and Nations should be so strangely converted because he had beyond all belief and expectation of man Ver. 16 so strangely delivered his people from Captivity and so miraculously set up his Kingdom in his Church This shall be done When or because the Lord shall build up Zion he shall appear in glory Before he cast his people into the grave as it were without any hope of life or restitution but when he shall bring them from thence he shall make his glory and honour manifest And that which moved him to it was the prayers of his people Ver. 17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer Which effects followed on their prayer Of this mercy a Record to be kept Now lest the Jews should conceive that what was done for them did concern them only and not their Children or to speak more properly the whole people of God in all ages to come God would have a Record kept of it 1. This shall be written for the generation to come 2. And the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord Ver. 18 Cum viderint impleta quae praedicta And of this he assigns two reasons even the self-same set down at the 16. and 17. Verses 1. For be hath looked down from the height of his Sanctuary Ver. 19 from the heaven did the Lord behold the earth 2. To hear the groans of the prisoners Ver. 20 to loose those that are appointed to death That the glory be returned to God Now this Mercy from God calls upon us for our Duty for the proper end of it was and the effect that it should work upon us is that we should be thankful Therefore he looked down therefore he heard the groans of the prisoners c. That being freed 1. They should declare the name of the Lord in Zion Ver. 21 and his praise in Jerusalem 2. And this praise should be compleated Ver. 22 When the people are gathered simul or in unum united together and the Kingdoms to serve the Lord. The Gentiles join with the Jews in it And here methinks I hear the Prophet breaking off his comfort The Prophet laments he shal not live to see it and breaking out in the midst of his prophecy with Balaam As if he had said I am assured all this shall come to pass and be done for Gods people but alas who shall live when God doth this Whosoever shall I shall not certainly For he weakned my strength in the way and hath shortned my dayes Ver. 23 Yet my desire is it might be otherwise Yet he desires he might and in this my desire is but the same with many Kings and Prophets that have gone before me all which long and desired to see the flourishing estate of the Church under the Messiah and therefore Ver. 24 I said O my God take me not away in the midst of my age But suffer me to draw out my life to see that that all good men have aspired to see to wit that I may behold Christ promised in the flesh and be a partaker of the glory of his Kingdom Which Petition And presseth that he might Perswading God to it upon 24. The consideration of Gods eternity and immutability that it might be the easier granted he presseth it by a Collation of Gods Eternity and Immutability with his own life As if he should say Spare me
a little before I go hence and be no more seen for I am nothing unto thee Thy years are throughout all generations and therefore 't is but equal that thou indulge an ample space of life to thy image that he may attain eternal happiness And he proves God to be Eternal because he is Immutable not so the earth not so the heavens 1. Not so other creatures all they change corrupt Not the earth for it had a beginning and that from thee Of old though long ago yet a beginning it and thou placed it not upon a foundation already laid but laidst the very foundation thereof broughtst it out of nothing to what it is and placed it in the midst of the World as now it is Ponderibus libratasuis 2. Not the heavens For they are the work of thy hands i. e. thy Wisdom and Power Heaven then and all Creatures in it Earth and all below cannot be Eternal They began 3. Neither shall they continue They shall perish be either annihilated or alter'd from their present condition They shall not be what they are now no not heaven nor earth As then they are not Eternal so neither are they Immutable Now in opposition to these he puts the Almighty God But thou shalt endure And yet more fully he expresseth this Truth in the following words 1. Yea all of them shall wax old like a garment make a farther step and access to a final period in regard of their duration 2. As doth a garment their use shall cease together with man as doth the use of a garment with him that useth it Isa 34.4 1 Pet. 3.10 2. And as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed as the Curtains and Carpets and Hangings are folded up when the Family removes 3. However they shall not wax old by the course of Nature but by the mighty power of the God of Nature Thou shalt change them and they shall be changed Well But God always the same be this so as is most true and must be granted yet it is not so with thee O God But thou art the same Vers. 27 and thy years shall have no end Thou art Immutable Eternal and because Immutable Eternal Now the reason why God cannot suffer any change is evident for every thing that is mutable is endued with a power to attain to something by that change which it had not before But God is actus purissimus and an Essence of infinite perfection and therefore when he wants nothing nothing can be added to him and consequently he is Immutable Now the Eternity and Immutability of God being confirm'd Vers. 28 the Prophet draws hence a comfortable Conclusion for the servants of God His Church and servants shall therefore continue also and for their children viz. such as imitate their piety for they shall be partakers of eternity also So is the Covenant Gen. 17.7 1. The children of thy servants shall continue That is The Apostles with the Patriarchs their Parents shall dwell in thy Kingdom in the heavenly Jerusalem 2. And their seed and as many as they have begotten by the Gospel if they remain in the faith which works by love they shall be established persevere remain continue before thee live in thy presence for ever As thou art Eternal so shall they be Eternal The Prayer collected out of the one hundred and second Psalm O Almighty God great Lord of heaven and earth we miserable sinners with fear and shame cast down our selves before thee Ver. 1 humbly confessing that for our selves we are unworthy that our prayers should have access to thee since we have broken all thy righteous Laws and Commandments and walked unworthy of thy Gospel and our Christian vocation But O Lord of thy mercy and clemency make us so worthy to pray Ver. 2 that thou mayest hear our prayers and let the cry of thy Spirit in our hearts be so vehement that it faint not in the way but approach thy Throne of grace Though we be foul and filthy sinners that have defaced thy image yet do not thou in displeasure turn away thy face from us It troubles us that we are thus foul and this is the day of our trouble for it oh thou who hast promised to accept the Sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart now when we are in trouble encline thine ear unto us in this day when we call upon thee our heavenly Physician hear us and answer us and that with speed Ver. 3 left if thou prolong the time thou shalt not be able to find whom to heal and save For O Lord we are in a very lamentable condition for the dayes of our life and prosperity are consumed as smoke that vanisheth in the air and the pillars of our bodies our bones Ver. 4 are burnt up as a hearth that the fire wears away Our heart is smitten out of the sense of thy wrath and pineth and withereth away as grass scorched by the heat of the Sun so great is our misery so pressing our calamity that we forget to take our dayly repast to eat our bread which nature it self requires of us We lived in delights Ver. 5 but now by the voice of our groaning by the continual sorrows and expressions of those sorrows that are upon us our flesh is consumed and our bodies brought to such a leanness that our bones will scarce cleave to our skin For very grief we fly the soriety of men and seek out places that are fit for mourners Ver. 6 We are like a Pellican a bird that delights to live alone in the Wilderness and like an Owl which flying the company of other birds the light and sight of men dwells in a secret dark and retired place where she sings a sad tune and we a heavy song Ver. 7 Our nights we spend in continual watchings very grief suffering us not to close our eyes and at break of day we breath forth our sighs unto thee as the Sparrow that sits alone and laments the loss of her mate upon the house top And in these our distresses we find no comforter Ver. 8 all our friends have forsaken us and our enemies making their advantage of it have gathered themselves together against us they reproach and revile us all the day long and being mad against us and set upon mischief they have enter'd into a conspiracy and bound themselves by an Oath to undo us Ver. 9 For this cause we eat no pleasant bread neither came any wine in our mouths but such as was kneaded with penitential ashes and mingled with the salt of tears and weeping And what soul that was ever under the sense of Gods disfavour can blame us for this since Thy wrathful displeasure goes over us Ver. 10 thy indignation pursues us Thou who in mercy didst lift us vp hast in judgement cast us down The sad consideration whereof doth beyond all that man can do afflict us But how long O Lord wilt
thou break a leaf driven too and fro Ver. 11 How long wilt thou pursue the dry stubble While thou Writest these bitter things against us our dayes are like a shadow and decliues and we are withered as grass whose beauty and glory fades in a moment But why art thou thus vexed O my soul Ver. 12 and why art thus disquieted within me O put thy trust in God Call to mind that he endures for ever and the remembrance of his Covenant to all generations 'T is thy promise O Lord we look to 't is thy Covenant only we hope in according to thy word arise and have mercy upon Zion pity thy poor afflicted people for the time to favour her is now very seasonable Ver. 13 yea the time is come For thy servants think upon and take pleasure in her stones not so much those stones with which those goodly structures Ver. 14 in which we were wont to meet and praise thee were built and beautified as those living stones built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Ver. 17 Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone and it pitieth them to see her in the dust In the dust Lord we favour them and for these we pray that they may be restored to their places in thy Sacred Temple Ver. 16 O regard the prayer of the poor destitute and despise not our desire for this will tend to thy honour and enlargement of thy Kingdom being alsured Ver. 15 that when the Lord shall build up Zion and when he shall appear in glory that the heathen shall fear the Name of the Lord and all the Kings of the earth thy glory Look down then O Lord from the height of thy Sanctuary and from heaven behold the earth Ver. 19 Hear the groaning of the Prisoners and loose those that are appointed to death Ver. 20 that they may declare the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise at Jerusalem Ver. 21 May we but obtain so great a mercy it shall be written for the generations to come and the people our children that shall be born Ver. 18 shall praise the Lord They shall praise thee and sing of thy mercy in the great Congregation even when the people are gathered together and the Kingdoms to serve the Lord. That thou wilt make an Inquisition for innocent blood I am assured that those who have profaned thy dwelling place shall be as a rolling thing before the wind Ver. 23 I do believe that they who have swallowed down riches shall vomit them up again I know for God shall cast them out of their belly But thou hast so weakned my strength in the way and so shortned my dayes that it is not likely I shall lide to sée it Lord might my eyes sée thy salvation I would willingly sing with old Simeon Ver. 24 Now let thy servant depart in peace Yet will I pray O my God take me not away in the midst of my age I am thy Creature O Lord created after thy own image yet not to live for ever on earth as thou shalt live in heaven for thy years are throughout all generations Even the earth whose foundation thou hast laid and the heavens which are the work of thy Power and Wisdom wax old as a garment and as a vesture shall be wrapt up they shall perish and be annihilated spare me a little then because I am a creature of a short continuance and can bear no proportion to thy esernity for thou art the same and thy years have no end But I yield my self to thy Will I submit my self to thy dispose if I cannot arrive to what I desire to sée Jerusalem in prosperity yet grant that I may see my Lord in the Land of the living for I am assured that the children of thy servants shall continue and their seed shall be established before thee and live in thy presence for evermore Amen PSAL. CIII ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã A Psalm to David THE Title shews the Psalm to be inspired into David by the Holy Ghost and the end is to comfort a soul heavy and laden but especially with the burden of sin To him every word in it drops like an Honey-comb so that had not the comfort been revealed and sent from heaven it could never have been believed that Almighty God should be so merciful to sinful man Three parts there are of this Psalm 1. The Exordium in which David by an Apostrophe turns to his own soul and stirs it up to bless God ver 1 2. 2. The Narration or an ample Declaration of the Benefits from the first to the last conferred by God upon him and others and the causes of them from ver 3. to 20. 3. A Conclusion in which he makes a motion to Angels and all other Creatures to joyn with him in the praise of God from ver 20. David stirs up his soul to praise God The first part to the last 1. David being fully perswaded that he was one of the number of the Elect stirs up himself in the person of the Elect to praise and speak well of God in the two first verses 1. Bless God think on the Benefit and bless the Benefactor Ver. 1 Extoll him with praises 2. O my Soul bless him because the Soul alone can know and inform the whole man what God deserves for his blessings 2. Again he would not have it a lip-labour but come from a heart affected with it Heartily done for quod cor non facit non fit 3. Not the Soul alone but that all that is within him Totum hominis And the whole man whatsoever is within his skin every part every faculty about him Will Understanding Memory Affections Heart Tongue Hand Eyes c. All joyn 4. And bless Jehovah for he gave them their Being and their Properties and Operations 2. Praise his holy Name his Essential Properties his Wisdom Power Goodness Justice for to oclebrate God in all these is To praise his holy Name 5. Bless the Lord O my Soul for he comes over it again Ver. 2 that he might press the Duty more emphatically and shew his vehement desire to have it done it shewes we freeze and are cold in the Duty and need a Goad to quicken us 6. And forget not all his benefits He repeats it and adds That we forget not His Benefits 1. Forget not He would not be guilty of the common Errour forgetfulness of a good turn for ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Which if it happen 't is impossible to be thankful and therefore Omnium ingratissimus qui beneficii accepti non reminiscitur Forget not then 2. All his benefits Not all no nor indeed any of them for not one but deserves a blessing 3. His benefits Some read Munera the Vulgar Retributiones If Munera they are freely given if Retributiones they are more than we can deserve yet it pleases him to accompt them so Let but a man well consider how many evils we
néedy to an opulent and a voluptuous life which the many aim at in their prayers but the end of this our Request is That thanks may be given to thy holy Name and that we may triumph in thy praise that the purity of that Religion which thou hast delivered and committed unto us may be conserved and propagated and thy worship now intermitted may be restored and thy praises which by the sadness of these times have béen silenced may again with triumph be heard in the Congregation Then with joyful lips we shall give thanks unto the Lord and by experience make it known That thou art good and that thy mercy endureth for ever Ver. 1 Not indéed as we ought not as thou deservest for who can utter the mighty Acts of the Lord or who can shew forth all his praise But we will do what we can exalt with our voyces and honour thée with our lives We will keep thy judgments and do righteousness at all times that thy praises may be comely in our mouths and our lives become thy Gospel Grant us this mercy O Lord and then the Priests shall sound forth at thine Altar Blessed be the Lord God of Israel and all the people shall say with a chearful heart Amen Hallelujah The end of the fourth Book of the Psalmes according to the Hebrewes PSAL. CVII ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THE Title of this Psalm is Allelujah because in it are set forth the praises of God for delivering such as are oppressed from four common miseries after every of which is expressed those intercalary verses Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness c. Then they cryed unto the Lord in their trouble As also for the effects of his Providence who only by his power orders and governs the change and vicissitudes we see in the World There be four especial Points handled in this Psalm 1. A Preface in which he exhorts all to praise God especially the Redeemed ver 1 2. 2. A Declaration of his goodness in particular 1. To the banished and strangers famish'd from ver 3. to 9. 2. To the prisoners and captives from ver 10. to 16. 3. To the sick from ver 16. to 23. 4. To the Mariners from ver 23. to 32. 3. A praise of Gods Power and Providence which is evidently seen in the changes and varieties of the World of which he gives several instances by which it is proved That he is the sole Disposer and Governour of the Universe from ver 33. to 42. 4. The Conclusion which sets forth the use we are to make of it ver 42 43. 1. The first part He incites all to praise God This Psalm begins as did the former and the intention in it is the same viz. That we celebrate and set forth Gods praise yea and for the same Reasons O give thanks unto the Lord Ver. 1 1. For he is good 2. And merciful For his mercy endureth for ever 2. And those who he invites to perform this Duty are indeed all who are sensible that they have received any mercy or goodness from him any way Especially the redeemed in Soul or Body whom he calls the Redeemed of the Lord that men may know when they are freed from any evil that it is only by chance or by their wisdom c. Gods hand is in it he is the first and chief cause of it the rest inferiour instruments to bring to pass his Providence 1. Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so i. e. that he is good that he is merciful 2. Ver. 2 They say so whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy If the Holy Ghost by the enemy means the Devil then he speaks of our Redemption by Christ if by the enemy some Tyrant Tribulation c. then a corporal and temporal Redemption but the last is generally understood and especially is referr'd to the first afflicting misery Banishment and the next verse intimates so much 3. And gather'd them out of the Lands from the East and from the West from the North and from the South which is yet as true of our spiritual Redemption and Christs collection of his Church from all parts of the World Mat. 8.11 John 10.16 11.52 2. Most Expositors therefore begin the second part at the second verse But some at the fourth The second part but the matter is not much material In those two there was mention made of Gods goodness in their deliverance in their collection from all lands But in the following is an evident Declaration of what they suffered during their absence from their Countrey which is the first misery described here by the Prophet to which a mans life is subject And it is the heavier Cross when a man is forc'd to it by Banishment as is apparent by the complaints that have been made of it by those that have suffer'd they are sine foco sine lare Curat nemo vagos laedere nemo veretur Exul non curae creditur esse Deos. Omnes exhausti jam casibus omnium egeni And this is the misery which the Prophet first instanceth in this place which first he describes then shewes the course the Banished took and lastly acquaints us with the manner of their deliverance which is the method in the rest 1. The first kind of misery Banishment Their misery was 1. That they wander'd no small discomfort to an ingenuous nature to be a Vagrant to walk from place to place and not have a certain House to put his head in In which they 1. Wandered 2. In solitary places Gods people were for a time ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã pilgrims and strangers and all that time few and evil were their dayes 2. The place adds to the misery Banished men are not confined to solitary places alwayes though that they have not the company they desire yet company they may have but the case of these Banished was That they wander'd in the Wilderness in a solitary place they fovnd no City to dwell in Literally it was fulfilled in the Israelites while they travelled through the Wilderness 3. Hungry and thirsty omnium egeni Men may wander and be in solitary places 3 Suffer'd hunger and thirst but yet have a supply of necessary food To this pass sometimes Gods people come that they have nor meat nor drink as Eliah the Israelites David c. 4. 4 Even to fainting And the Famine may be so great that their souls that is their life is ready to faint in them This is the Incrementum that the Prophet useth to aggravate the misery of Banished men and are the several steps by which it riseth 2. The course they took Next the Prophet shewes us the Course that these banished and hungry souls took for ease and help and that it failed them not no nor the rest following that took the same Course and therefore he four times repeats it versu intercalari The way was
thy praise Smite Lord our flinty hearts as hard as the nether milstone with the hammer of thy Word and mollifie them also with the brops of thy mercies and dew of thy Spirit make them humble fleshy flexible circumcised soft obedient new clean broken for we know That a broken and contrite heart thou wilt not despise O Lord our God give us grace from the very bottom of our heart to desire thée in desiring to seek thée in séeking to find thée in finding to love thée in loving thée utterly to loath our former wickedness never let us return in our hearts back again into Aegypt never let us long after the Léeks and Onions and Garlick thereof But being by thy mercy delivered and brought from thence and from the slavery of sin and Satan let it be our whole endeavour to walk humbly and obediently before our God that living in thy fear and dying in thy favour when we have passed through the Wilderness of this World we may possess that heavenly Canaan and happy land of promise prepared for all such as love thy coming even for every Christian soul and who is thy Dominion and Sanctuary Grant this O gracious God in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ who lives and reigns with thée and the Holy Spirit one God World without end Amen PSAL. CXV ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THE Prophet being zealous of Gods Honour which the Heathens went about to take from him and attribute to their Idols is earnest with God that it might be manifest that Honour did belong to him alone and might not be given to another There be four parts of this Psalm 1. His Vote and Petition for Gods Honour ver 1. that did not belong to any Idols because of their vanity from ver 3. to 9. 2. An Exhortation to praise God and hope in him from ver 10. to 12. 3. The Benefit that will accrue from it a blessing from ver 12. to 16. 4. A Profession that for the blessing they will bless God ver 17 18. 1. The first part His zeal for Gods honour Some joyn this Psalm to the former conceiving that the Prophet having expressed the goodness of God in the deliverance of his people from Aegypt would not have any part of the Glory attributed to Moses Aaron or any merits in them but wholly ascribed unto God himself And therefore he thus begins 1. Ver. 1 Not unto us not unto us nor any Leader amongst us 2. ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Not to us ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã to thy Name give the praise Which he desires to assume for three Reasons But unto thy Name give glory We seek it not take it wholly to thy self And this he desires he would alwayes shew in the protection of his people for three Reasons 1. For manifestation of his mercy Give glory to thy Name for thy mercy 2. Ver. 2 For declaration of his faithfulness in keeping his promise Do it for thy Truths sake Of which the last is that the Heathen do not blaspheme 3. That there might not be given an occasion to the Heathen to blaspheme as if they his people should be forsaken and destitute of help Wherefore should the Heathen say Where is now their God Well say it so fall out that the Heathen impiously ask the question Vbieorum Deus We have in a readiness what to answer them To the glory of our God but to the dishonour of their Idols Be it they do yet the answer is our God is in Heaven which he proves by an elegant Antithesis 1. As for our God he is in the Heavens and his miracles wrought for his people testifie as much Ver. 3 for he hath done whatsoever pleaseth him He hath and can deliver his people when he pleaseth Their gods are all Idols as appears and if it be his pleasure they must suffer also 2. But now I may better ask Where are their gods gods did I call them nay nay they are but Idols they deserve not the name of gods as is evident by the matter 1 By their matter whereof they are 2. the Makers of them 3. Their vanity and inutility 1. Their Idols are silver and gold at the best of no more precious stuffe Ver. 4 and yet though such from the Earth they fetch their Original 2. 2 Their makers The work of mens hands Works they are and not Masters of the work they made not themselves but were made and therefore baser than the basest Smith that made them 3. Of no use of no power at all 3 Their uselessness of no power for they can make no use at all of those parts which they seem to have for having the shape of men they can do nothing as men Ver. 5 For they have mouths but they speak not eyes they have Ver. 6 but they see not They have ears but they hear not noses they have but they smell not They have hands but they handle not feet they have but they walk not neither speak they through their throat They cannot do that which Beasts can send out of their mouths an inarticulate voyce or found so far they are from speaking 4. And thus the Prophet having derided their Idols he goes on 4 He derides the Idol-makers and derides 1. The Idol-makers They that make them are like to them a sensless people that think to make a god out of gold silver wood and stone 2. The Idol-worshippers So is every one that puts their trust in them And Idolaters trust and relies on that which cannot help In this life they are like to them for they seem neither to see and hear than hear and see indeed when they will not hear and see what belongs to their good and the Truth whence Christ saith out of the Prophet of such Having eyes they see not and ears but they hear not Mark 8. 2. And so the Prophet having passed this Sarcasme upon the Idols The second part and Idolaters he leaves them and turns his speech to the Israelites whom he exhorts to trust in God He exhorts Israel to trust in God 1. In general the whole Nation O Israel trust thou in the Lord Let the Heathen trust in their Idols but you are Gods servants trust you then in that Lord you serve And to encourage them he adds his Reason 1 In general all Israel He is their help and their shield the Lord Protector of the whole Nation 2. In particular the Tribe of Levi O house of Aaron trust in the Lord 2 In particular the Levites You are the Leaders and Guides in Religion and God is your portion and therefore you ought to trust especially in him He is their help 3 All that fear the Lord. and their shield a shield you need and he will be the Lord Protector of your Tribe 3. In a word Ye that fear the Lord Jewes or Proselytes in what Nation
soever ye live see that ye trust in the Lord and that for the same reason For he will be their help and their shield also In every Nation those that fear him and do righteousness are accepted of him He will be a Lord Protector even to these as to Job Naaman c. 3. And that his Exhortation to trust in God might take the deeper root The third part The blessing upon it he tells all three that they should be no losers by it for it was it that had and would bring a blessing upon them For God doth not use to forget those that trust in him but he hath been mindful of us Ver. 12 And by a singular and especial Providence and care of us he hath shew'd it and he will shew it to every one of you 1. To you of the Nation He will bless the house of Israel 1 To the Nation 2. To you of the Priesthood He will bless the house of Aaron 3. To all you that fear him He will bless them that fear the Lord 2 To the Priesthood both small and great And the Prophet taking his example from God 3 To all that fear him This the Prophet seconds with his prayer poures forth his blessing upon them also he thought it not enough to exhort them only to trust in God and acquaint them that God would bless them except he seconded it with his prayer and therefore to Gods blessing he adds his own and desires the blessing may rest upon the heads of them and their children 1. The Lord shall increase you more and more you and your children 2. Let the World curse you and speak evil of you yet I say Ye are the blessed of the Lord come ye blessed Deutr. 28. 3. That Lord which made heaven and earth which words are added that they be assured that their blessing is a real blessing coming from him in whose hand is the dew of heaven and fatness of the earth in which form Isaac blessed Jacob Gen. 27.28 4. It comes from one that is able to bless 1. For the heaven even the heavens are the Lords In them he especially shewes his Presence Majesty Glory from thence descend the dewes of grace and the drops of rain that water the earth 2. As for the earth he hath made a Deed of Gift for that He hath given it to the children of men that by his blessing upon their labour they may be sustained with food and rayment so that while they live in it and enjoy the Goods thereof they praise him 4. The fourth part For that is the true end of their being here the chief nay the sole end they live upon it And that for their blessing they again bless God the end that God gave it to them an end which they that are dead cannot attain unto This he illustrates by an Antithesis betwixt the dead and the living 1. Ver. 17 For the dead praise not the Lord neither any that go down into the silence Among them there is great silence of the dewes of heaven and the fatness of the earth they need neither and therefore they praise not God for them The blessing of the City and blessings of the Field are nothing unto them they have no mouths to fill and therefore no mouths in a corporal manner to open in the praise of God Him they praise but it is after their manner not ours him they praise but it is for other blessings than ours 2. Ver. 18 But we as yet are upon the earth we enjoy his protection we enjoy besides spiritual these temporal blessings also this his gift we must make use of And therefore we will do that the dead cannot We will bloss the Lord from this time forth for evermore By our selves while we live and desire it may be done by our posterity when we are going down into silence 3. However ye that are alive this day Praise ye the Lord. The Prayer collected out of the One hundred and fifteenth Psalm O Omnipotent and Gracious God in all Ages thou hast béen merciful to thy people and even in their greatest afflictions raised up the spirits of some one or other of thy servants by whose hands thou hast delivered them At this time we are in great misery at this time we are in affliction send us help from thy Sanctuary raise us up some Moses to go before us some Joshua to sight for us Ver. 2 some Sampson to deliver us wherefore should the uncircumcised triumph over us and say Where is now their God The reproach O Lord redounds to thée this insultation is to thy dishonour arise then O Lord and give the glory unto thy Name shew thy merciful countenance and that thou art a God of Truth Ver. 1 and for thy Mercy and Truths sake come down at last and deliver us Merit there is none on our part why thou shouldst do it for us and therefore it must be mercy Merit there is too much on our part why thou shouldst not do it and therefore if it be done it must be thy Truth thy Word pass'd to thy servants that moves thée to it We destre not that any part of this work be attributed to us but that the honour of it be wholly thine Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name which is now blashemed and vilified Ver. 3 give the Glory for thy Mercy and for thy Truths sake Make them know that have so long trusted in lying vanities and worshipped the imaginations of their own hearts That our God is in Heaven that he hath done whatsoever pleased him that as it hath béen his pleasure to humble us so it is his pleasure to exalt us he hath brought us very low but he can set us again on high when how and by whom he pleaseth O Lord heal our back-slidings and love us freely turn away thine anger from us be as a dew to thy Israel make his branches âoread Ver. 9 and his beauty as the Olive-trée let him revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine what have we to do any more with Idols vain men That have hands and cannot help and ears and will not hear Thée O Lord will we hear Thée will we alone observe For thou art our help and our shield Thou wilt be the Lord Protector to thy Israel Thou wilt be a shield to the house of Aaron Thou wilt be a helper to all those that fear thée therefore renouncing the arm of flesh we will trust to thée alone O Lord be mindful of us and bless us bless the house of Israel that people which thou hast chosen to thy self and gathered from among the Nations Bless the house of Aaron that Tribe that thou hast chosen to thy self and set apart to come near unto thée among this people O Lord bless them all that sear thy Name in what part of the World soever they remain of what condition soever they he
Eucharistical Sacrifices of the old Law in which when any man offe'd ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã that is a Sacrifice to God out of thankfulness for soâe deliverance he made a Feast to the people 1 Oblatâum ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã as did David 1 Chron. 16.1 2 3. where he dealt to every one of the people a loaf of bread a good piece of flesh and a flagon of wine in the receiving of which with a joyful voyce they sang praise to God for his benefits This then they say David here promised and he calls it the Cup of salvation because it was to be offer'd in thankfulness of the salvation obtain'd 2. But Bollarmine casts this off as too light and with the Fathers 2 Pati Crucem ferre understands it of the Cup of patience and affliction and tribulation which is often in Scriptures call'd a Cup Matth. 20.22 Psal 75.8 c. and may well be call'd the âup âf tribulation because through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God This then is it that David saith When I have nothing more excellent to offer to God for his many benefits I will drink with a willing mind the Cup of the Lord though it be a bitter Cup full of tribulations and afflictions for I am assured that it will be a Cup of salvation unto me and therefore 2. I will call upon the Name of the Lord 3 Invocare that he would strengthen me to drink of it whensoever it pleaseth him to administer it to me Or if we follow the first Interpretation I will call on the Name of the Lord offer unto him an Eucharistical Sacrifice for my deliverance 3. I will pay my vowes unto the Lord in the presence of all his people It was usual for Gods servants in their extremities to make vowes it is likely David did so 4 Selvere votâ ea ratione quia morâ sanctorum preciosae and here he promiseth to pay them and that not privately but publickly in the presence of all the people Bellarmine refers the words to his open confession of his God and his readiness to drink the Cup although it were to Martyrdom And in the next words he renders a reason why he was so ready to pay his vowes or to confess his Name in the open Assembly because he had learned that pious men are under Gods protection that even in death it self they are his care Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of all his Saints An excellent Epiphonema The lervants of God do trouble themselves in vain and doubt to no purpose whether they be a care to him or no while they live for even their very death is precious unto him or they are precious to him in their death then he takes care of them as a man would do of the most precious Diamonds 4. David yet waxeth not proud upon this nor upon any of Gods favours Non superbie David sed profiretur se servum but in all humility though he were a King yet he was not too great to be a servant to his God a son of his Handmaid the Church which passionately he expresses 1. Oh Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid 2. And yet no slave but a voluntary servant Thou hast loofed my bonds taken from my neck the bonds of fear and fallen upon me with the yoke of love Mat. 11.30 Thou hast freed me from the slavery of the Law Eumque honestum and wouldst have me to be thy servant out of love Cur servire reguare est 3. And therefore I will do what thy servants ought and so he takes an occasion to say over again what he said before I will offer unto thee the Sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vowes unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people In the Courts of Gods house in the midst of thee O Jerusalem praise the Lord. Within the Church he would do his service what is without is nothing worth The Prayer collected out of the One hundred and sixteenth Psalm O God most merciful most gracious in making and most righteous in performing thy promises Ver. 5 who forgivest iniquity and sins and Ver. 6 preservest the souls of them that walk with a simple and sincere heart before thée Ver. 1 because thou hast heard my voyce and my supplications because thou hast inclined thine ear unto me The sorrowes of death compassed me and the pains of hell gat hold upon me I tound trouv'e and sorrow I was brought very low then I call'd upon the Name of the Lord then I cryed O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul Ver. 8 and thou wast ready at hand to help me Thou hast deliver'd my soul from ceath Ver. 2 mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling Thou hast dealt very bountifully with me in pardoning my sin hearing my petitions and restoring me to the comforts of thy Spirit therefore I will call upon thee as long as I live therefore I will walk before thee in righteousness and holiness as long as I have a Being I was greatly afflicted Ver. 10 and all the comforts that I could receive from the lips of man were but vain they all proved miserable miserable comforters unto me In my baste I said they were all lyars till thou by thy holy Spirit didst secure me that thou wert and wouldst be unto me a merciful Father and sealest unto me an unexpected pardon This by the power of thy Spirit I have and do believe Ver. 10 and in it I acquiesce I expect no more I have enough Return then unto thy rest Ver. 7 O my troubled soul for the Lord hath dealt very bountifully with thee And now Ver. 12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me I find by experience that the death and afflictions of his Saints are as precious Iewels in his fight these for his sake I am content if it be his Will to undergo of this Cup if it séem good to him I am content to drink Oh Lord I am thy servant truly I am thy servant and the son of thy Hand-maid A patient son of my mother the Church and if it please thée to poure out to me a full draught of this red wine Thy Will not mine be done But if thou shalt take away the Cup from me or else proportion it according to my strength I will take the Cup of salvation with a contented mind and I will offer the Sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord. I have vowed my self to be thy servant though I can be but an unproficable servant yet I will pay my vowes unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people Now even now while I remain in the land of the living I will endeavour That my light may so shine before men
that they may glorifie my Father which is in Heaven Thy praise I will sound forth thy Name I will magniffe confess I will that thou hast been to me a gracious God and merciful Father even in the Courts of the Lords house even in the midst of thee O jerusalem in which I know thou wilt alone accept of thanks and hear and grant the pelitions of thy servants that are offered unto thée through the merits and in the Name of thy Son Iesus Christ our Lord and Saviour PSAL. CXVII A Hymn ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã THIS Psalm is short and sweet it contains a Doxology to God for his mercy and truth and it is also Prophetical in reference to the calling of the Gentiles as it appears Rom. 15.11 Two parts there are of it 1. An Exhortation to all Nations to praise God The first part 1. A Doxology both Gentiles and Jewes 1. He speaks to the Gentiles Praise the Lord all ye Nations he means after they were converted and made sons of the Church For how shall they call on him in whom they have not believeââ Rom. 10. 2. He speaks to the converted Jewes whom he notes under the name of people as they are call'd Psal 2.1 Acts 4.25 Praise the Lord all ye people Both now make but one Church and therefore both now ought to joyn together in the praise of God 2. The ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or the Reason give for it The second part 1. Because his merciful kindness is great nay confirmed toward us 2 The reason in sending his Son to be a Saviour both of Jewes and Gentiles His Church is built on a foundation against which the gates of Hell shall not prevail 2. Neither is his mercy only by this confirmed but the truth also of his promises fulfilled as he promised to send a Messias so he hath performed it and this his truth endures for ever for it shall never be challenged there is no other Messiah to be expected now for this Praise ye the Lord. The Prayer collected out of the One hundred and seventeenth Psalm O Omnipotent and gracious God when all Mankind walked according to the course of this World according to the Prince of the power of the Aire the spirit that works in the children of disobedience When they walked according to the lusts of the flesh and fulfilled the desires of the flesh and were by nature the children of wrath Thou who art rich in mercy for thy great love wherewith thou hast loved us wast pleased to send thy only begotten Son Jesus Christ and to deliver him to death for the salvation of the World This thy great mercy it pleased thée to make known to us by thy Apostles and to call us who were Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the Covenant of Promise to be partakers of thy merciful kindness In Christ Jesus we who were sometimes afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ so great hath thy mercy béen even toward us therefore from us immortal thanks are due unto thée who find our selves saved not for our merits but by thy sole goodness We therefore beséech thée that thou wouldst so confirm our hearts by the Spirit of faith that without any doubt adhering to thy truth which endures for ever we may apprehend those good things which thou hast promised and offerest fréely to us O Lord have mercy upon all Iewes Turks Iufidels and Hereticks and take from them all ignorance hardness of heart and contempt of thy Word and so fetch them home blessed Lord to thy flock that they may be saved among the remnant of thy true Israelites let us all méet in one Fold and have but one Shepherd that all Nations may praise the Lord and all people sing Hallelujah to thy holy Name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen PSAL. CXVIII ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã DAVID being freed from many dangers and confirmed in his Kingdom according to Gods promise in this Psalm gives thanks The parts of this Psalm are 1. An Exhortation to praise God for his mercy from ver 1. to 5. 2. A perswasion to trust in God and that from his own example who call'd upon God in trouble and was deliver'd from ver 5. to 15. 3. The Exultation of the Church for it from ver 15. to 19. 4. A solemn Thanksgiving kept for it and in what manner it was celebrated from ver 19. to 28. 5. David invites to praise God The first part A short Doxology ver 28 29. 1. David invites all to praise God O give thanks unto the Lord and adds his Reasons 1. For he is good than which nothing could be said more briefly nothing more powerfully he is properly and absolutely good and therefore ought to be praised because there is nothing rightly worthy of praise but that which is good Ver. 1 Solum honestum laudabile 2. His reasons are 1. Good Good to us a mercifull God But secondly He is good and ever good to us a merciful God which flowes from his goodness and is then most conspicuous when it is imparted to those in misery Praise him because his mercy endureth for ever His mercy created us his mercy redeemed us his mercy protects us his mercy will crown us there is then no end of his mercy This his mercy extends especially to his people To his people and therefore he puts into the mouth of all his people this song of his mercy whom he distributes into three parts 1. Ver. 2 Let Israel now say the whole Nation that his mercy endureth for ever 2. Ver. 3 Let the house of Aaron that whole Tribe consecrated now to him say that his mercy endures for ever 3. Ver. 4 Let them now that fear the Lord Proselytes c. now say that his mercy endures for ever that is the burden of the Hymn so he begins so he ends ver 29. 2. The second part And so in general having given a Commendation of his mercy he desoends to that particular in which his mercy did consist The particulars of his mercy viz. A great deliverance of him when he was in a great strait which he could impute to no other cause than his mercy 1. Ver. 5 I was in distress And that 's the case of Gods people as well as Davids 2. I called upon the Lord I boasted not of my merits I complained not that I suffered unjustly but I fled to his mercy and invoked so did the Church in Peters case Of which he is an example Acts. 12.5 3. The issue was The Lord answered and set me in a large place and so it fell out to Peter Upon which experience David exults Shewing how God had been mercifull to him upon which he makes three Conclusions as the Church in the like case may so that all be still attributed to God and his mercy 1. The Lord is my helper And the first inference upon it
with a profession of his Integrity where we may not think that he is justifying himself before God but only declaring how unjustly he was oppressed by men Defensio est non arrogantia 1. Ver. 1 I have done judgment and justice Judgment is the effect of justice and by the exact Rule of Justice And prayes that God leave him not to his enemies David had so proceeded in judging the people that he had given to every one his own and yet he could not live free from the calumnies and slanders of wicked men and therefore he prayes 2. Ver. 2 Leave me not to my Oppressours And his Petition hath equity in it for 't is but equal that he who had been so just to others should have justice done him And by it we may learn to commend a just cause to God if we look for his assistance Now in this Petition David proceeds and useth many other Arguments to perswade it 1. Be surety or undertake for thy servant for good My enemies suspect me of injustice and violence but do thou interpose and be surety for me that it is not true neither that ever they shall find any such dealing at my hand or answer for me when I am not by for what they lay to my charge 2. Let not the proud oppress me His condition is miserable Ver. 3 that falls into the hands of proud men for their insultations are unsufferable and they merciless such he fears and prayes against them 3. And this he doth in an ardent manner and the reason is because he saw he was destitute of all humane help it was Gods help that only could secure him which he expected and almost fainted in the expectation of it 1. My eyes fail The eyes of faith and whole intention of my soul are fixed on thee and they are ready to fail while thy help comes not 2. My eyes fail for thy salvation Not only that which is temporal in the deliverance from mine enemies though I vehemently desire that too but for that salvation of Gods people mentioned Psal 106.4 4.6 3. For the Word of thy righteousness The ground that I wait for thy salvation is thy Promise thy righteous Word passed to me 4. And he proceeds in this prayer and desires God to deal with him But deal with him as an honest servant as with an honest servant not which did his Will but yet desired to do it and was displeased with himself and sorrowful when he did it not he pleads not meââ but mercy 1. O deal with thy servant according to thy mercy Ver. 4 2. And teach me thy statutes which he often asks and is then obtained when God infuseth so much love into our hearts that we know and do his Will for knowledge without charity puffs up but edifies not 5. He asks the same again renewes his Petition with a Reason and this frequent Petition of the same thing shewes his ardent desire to obtain it I am no stranger unto thee but a domestick servant and therefore bound to obey thy Commands let me want no grace that may enable me to serve thee Ver. 5 I am thy servant give me understanding that I may know thy Testimonies It is a gift of thy donation only 6. And now he enters his complaint and useth that as a new Argument He complains of the ungodly that destroyed Gods Law that God hear him 1. It is time for thee Lord to work to do judgment against the wicked To us there is a time when God seems not to work in that he executes not his wrath against the wicked Ver. 6 in such a time it is no sin to pray with David That God would arise and work for a time it is when his Church is in a publick trouble the sins of the Amorites full and his people brought low 2. For they have destroyed thy Law Not only broken it disgraced but cast it aside and destroyed it A time then it is to work and execute now made it void 7. Which David was zealous to preserve But their malice and endeavours were not so great to evacuate and destroy Gods Law as Davids zeal and affection was bent and inflamed for the preservation of it which he useth as another Argument that God would not leave him in the hand of his Oppressours ver 1. Therefore I love 1. Therefore David was no Temporizer in Religion Ver. 7 whose affections toward Gods Word depended upon times and persons but his love appears in this That when his enemies fought to destroy it then he loves it They endeavour to make void therefore I love thy Law 2. I love thy Law He saith not he fulfilled it but only he loved it it is a good progress in godliness when we come thus far that we can say with David I love thy Law 3. And shews his love to it And that he might shew the greatness of his affection he mentions those things which are most loved gold fine gold or jewels to which his love was not so great as to Gods Commandments I love thy Commandments above gold yea above fine gold And he insists upon this point his love to Gods Law What would they make it void and cast it aside This makes me the more esteem it and judge that there is the more excellency in it Ver. 8 It must needs be good which wicked men set lite by Two things I find in me arising from hence which are quite contrary an esteem and hatred but yet of contrary objects 1. And his estimate of it Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right He had an high estimate of Gods precepts he thought them just in all things just because they prescribe nothing but that which is exactly just and just because they bring a just punishment on the Transgressors and a reward to the righteous 2. Therefore I hate every false way Nor one way but every way of sin and the flesh many they are but he hates them all and his hatred arose out of the justice and equity he perceived to be in Gods Law therefore I hate The Prayer O Most Omnipotent God I can no way excuse my self before thy Tribunal for my manifold breaches of thy Law For I have sin'd against Heaven and against thee and am not worthy to be call'd thy son but to man I have done no harm Ver. 1 I have alwayes born such a love to justice that I have done that which is just and equal Thus with a good conscience I can profess before thée and therefore I beséech thée leave me not in the hands of those who continually calumniate me and séek to oppress me Thou knowest O Lord Ver. 2 how they detract from me and invent lies against me when I am no by do thou then interpose in my behalf undertake to answer for me and suffer not the proud Transgressors of thy Law to bring upon me that force and injury
morning and cried 2. Mine eyes prevent the night morning and evening he prayed 2. For audience deliverance increase of grace That which he pray'd for was 1. Audience Hear me O Lord And again Hear my voyce ver 5. 2. Ver. 1 Deliverance Save me ver 2. 3. Increase of grace Quicken me ver 5. 3. Ver. 2 The end that he desires salvation and grace 1. That he might keep Gods statutes First is That he might keep Gods Statutes Hear me I will keep thy Statutes 2. Ver. 1 Save me that I may keep thy Testimonies ver 2. 3. Ver. 2 I prayed and watched that I might meditate in thy Word ver 4. 4. Ver. 4 Quicken me according to thy Word for the self-same end ver 5. 4. His arguments to perswade it The Arguments he especially useth besides the former to move God to hear and grant his Petitions are 1. His faith and hope I cried because I waited and hoped in thy Word and promises 1 His faith 2. Gods mercy Hear my voyce according to thy loving-kindness The common Argument to be used by all Gods children 2 Gods goodness for were they never so righteous and just yet in mercy they must desire to be heard and not for their merits 3. The danger that he was now in by persecuting enemies 1. Ver. 6 They draw nigh they are at hand the danger is near 2. 3 The danger he was now in His comfort that God was near him Yea and great too for they are mischievously bent they follow after mischief hunted after all occasions to do evil 3. Most impious men they are far from thy Law they hate it shun it labour to make it odious in every eye 5. But the comfort is that they are not so near but thou art as near they to do mischief but thou to defend me let then their number power malice be what it will thy power and mercy is beyond it 1. Thou art near O Lord let then these my enemies be far from thy Law they cannot be far from thee Ver. 7 Thou art near and wilt reach them by thy justice And would not desert him and this is my comfort 2. For all thy Commandments are Truth Albeit the evil of wicked men follow me because I follow thee yet I know thy Commandments are true and it is not possible that thou shouldst desert thy servants who stand to the maintenance of thy Word their wickedness shall never escape thy hand of punishment they may punish my body but they cannot deprive me of my Crown of glory 6. He concludes with an Epiphonema Of which he is confident being assured upon his own experience of the stability and immutability of Gods Word I know thy Commandments are Truth for Ver. 8 1. Concerning thy Testimonies thy Will that thou hast testified in thy Word 2. I have known of old even ever since I began to look into them study them and practise them 3. That thou hast founded them for ever They are of eternal Truth immutable and indispensable and this is the Anchor of our souls that we be not carried away with the winds and waves of tentations The Prayer OVL of a vehement desire I have cried to the Lord for help and that not only with my tongue and voyce but with my whole heart Ver. 1 hear me good God which if thou wilt vouchsafe to grant I will more studiously and fréely séek to know and kéep thy statutes Ver. 2 I have called and eried to no other God but thée therefore save me from these pressures and dangers Ver. 3 and being by thée saved and delivered I will more diligently kéep thy Testimonies Neither have I only called upon thée by bay but I have prevented the bawning of the morning with a great cry I have sought thy face and implored thy help because I repose my sole hope in thy promisses I have prevented also the night watches my eyes day and night have béen intent upon thée that I might be occupied in the meditation of thy words both in those in which thou hast promised thy mercy and in those in which thou hast signified thy Will and exacted my obedience Hear therefore my voyce according to thy loving-kindness and according to that equity by which thou usest to procéed with all those that love thée and call upon thy Name quicken me with the sense of thy savour and deliver me from this imminent death and danger And the impiety of my enemies makes me be the more instant to obtain this mercy for they that persecute my soul are set upon mischief they hunt after my life nay they hate not me only but thy Law it is odious in their eyes they look strangely upon it and desire it should be as odious in others From this imminent dagger it is not possible for me to be safe but by thy hand and guidance As then they approach near to hurt so do thou approach near to help and make it appear by my deliverance that all thy promises are truth This I have known long since and now Lord let me have erperience of it again so shall I have just cause to praise thy judgments and sing of thy mercies and make it known That thou hast founded them forever nor the rage of man nor the malice of Devils shall be ever able to shake thy-Truth or evacuate thy promises which thou hast maââ to thy Church in Iesus Christ our Lord. 20. RESH IN this Section David petitions to God for help in his affliction The Contents 2. Complains of the multitude of his persecutors 3. Laments their condition 4. And shewes his constancy and love to Gods Word 1. David in his affliction prayes to God David begins with a petition In afflictions it is some comfort to us to have our case known consider'd and examined especially by those that love us therefore David desires 1. Ver. 1 That God would consider his case Consider my afflictions so much at least 1 To help him 2. Then that he would help him Deliver me from my tempting enemies 3. His Reason to perswade both For I do not forget thy Law though I perfectly keep it not yet I have not cast it behind my back I do not forget it I desire to keep it This he could plead with a good conscience if not what he had done yet what he would have done therefore he could boldly make this request Deliver me 4. 2 To be his Advocate But yet he goes further and desires God to be his Advocate to him he appeals 1. Plead my cause and deliver me At the bar of men a just cause oftentimes miscarries for want of a good Advocate Ver. 2 and is born down by an unjust Judge wherefore I beseech thee who art the just Judge of the World take my cause in hand plead it to their faces and deliver me Arise up for me in the judgment that thou hast commanded 2.
Jerusalem which is above and this is Nazianzenes conceit Junius and Tremellius prefix before these Psalms this Title Canticum excellentissimum it seems to me that their meaning was to affix this commendation that they excel the rest and by some degrees were to be prefer'd For certain it is that in qualities the more intense the quality is the nearer to perfection as we say water that hath seven or eight degrees of heat comes nearer to the true nature of heat than that which hath but two or three when then usually these Psalms were called Psalms of degrees they were pleased to translate it a most excellent Psalm The first Psalm of Degrees being the 120. DAVID being oppressed by the Calumnies and flatteries of Sault Courtiers especially of Doeg composed this Psalm In which he first prayes 2. Then sets forth the mischief of a foul false tongue 3. Complains of his banishment 1. The first part David flyes to God David being in distresse implores not the help of man but of God 1. Ver. 1 When I was in distress I cried to the Lord. He took the best Prayes to be delivered and the right way 2. Ver. 2 And he heard me So he had in all his distresses before and therefore he did believe he would do so now From a false tongue 2. And the Prayer he offered was this O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul 1. From lying lips for from these come detractions calumnies defamations c. false testimonies which are all against the rules of justice and he had reason to pray against these for he was accused for a seditious person a disturber of the peace a traytor to Saul 3. And from a deceitful tongue Which under the colour of friendship coucheth deceit such a one will make you believe he is your friend offer you his service that he may search out your secrets to do a mischif Flattering dissembling fraudulent words you shall have from him There be lying lips without a deceitful tongue For a detractor does his mischief openly a flatterer secretly so that when a deceitful tongue is joyn'd with lying lips The second part the mischief is intolerable 3. Ver. 3 Which David well understanding expostulates with a kind of indignation 1. The miscief of it What shall be given unto thee Or What shall be done unto thee O thou false tongue 2. To which he answers sharp arrows of the mighty with coales of Juniper They that read the words thus conceive the Prophets meaning to be that a false tongue is such a mischief that there cannot be a greater nothing can be added unto it Lingua mali pars pessima servi Which the Prophet amplifies by two similitudes the first is of an arrow sharp and shot by a strong man 2. The second of coals of Juniper 1. Arrows which wound a far off and on such a sudden that it is hard to void them 2. Sharp arrows prepared by the Artificer and such as pierce deep 3. Sharp arrows of the mighty shot by a strong hand and so much the more dangerous 4. With coals they are fiery they burn and destroy as fire as lightning especially when they are instruments of the Devil who hath his fiery darts Ephes 6. 5. With coals of Juniper which of all coals are hottest and keep fire longest they say that they glow within or raked up in ashes keep fire a whole year But these words may be otherwayes read and then the sense will be other What shall the decitful tongue give unto thee or what shall it profit thee Ver. 3 They that calumniate and do wrong to other or moved to it upon some gain The vanity and revenge of it But detractors gain nothing by it but hatred for they make themselves suspected and contemned by wise men nay even odious to them to whom they tell the tale ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã What shall it profit thee What nothing But this is not all for Gods vengeance will overtake thee Thy reward is It is the sharp arrows of the mighty man with coals of Juniper 1. The mighty man is God Ver. 4 and he will pursue thee with his sharp arrows of wrath 2. And shall consume thee with eternal fire ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã more hot and lasting than coals of Juniper 3. And now David falls upon his complaint and laments his case The third part To this the best men subject A case to which honest men are subject for the more pious any man is the more subject he is to ill tongues Ver. 5 1. Wo is me that I sojourn in Meshech that I dwell in the tents of Kedar 1. He laments his banishment when he was forced to fly from Saul Sometimes banished to live with wicked people Which was Davids case This he laments and sojourn where he could get a place to abide even among the Syrians Ammonites Philishims and in the Wildernesse to lodge in Tents as did those of Kedar the Arabians 2. These men were inhumane barbarous impious such as were the posterity of Meshech and Ishmael It was then all one to him to live among those he did as to live among them It was a Wo to him to live among so firece a people enemies to piety and civility And amplifies shewing the unquiet nature of his enemies 2. And he amplifies his complaint by the continuance of the evil and expounds in plainer words what he said in the former verse My soul hath long dwelt among them that are enemies to peace Ver. 6 By peace they could not thrive Davids disposition to peace and therefore they hated the very name of it ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 3. My disposition is quite contrary to theirs 't is not like then I live a contented life among them 1. I am for peace I am a man of peace Or Pax eram even peace it self 2. But when I speak unto them thereof Ver. 7 they make themselves ready to battel or they are for War As Philip of Macedon said of his Macedonians Illis pacem esse bellum bellum pacem The Prayer out of the one hundred and twentieth Psalm MAny are the afflictions and distresses into which for my sins thou Ver. 1 O Lord hast justly brought me but I murmur not against thy providence I have not despaired nor yet trusted to the arm of flesh for my deliverance but with earnest and servent prayer I have cryed unto thee and thou hast delivered me Of which having had experience and now being oppressed with a heavy misery Ver. 2 I again fly unto thee O Lord deliver my soul that my enemies may not hurt me who with slanderous calumnies and a fraudulent tongue seek to undo me their words are smoother than oyle but they have War in their hearts Ver. 3 These are very swords that wound near at hand and these are as arrows that wound afar off these are shot by the mighty and sharp they are that
is the help of man This is our infirmity this is our sin And while we are compassed with this tentation our faith presents us thée alone a God both able and willing to help diffident then of all other helps we fly to thée we cry co thée being fully perswaded that our help must come from that Lord not from the arme of flesh Ver. 2 not from other gods but from th Lord alone who hath made heaven and earth By that power then O Lord that thou hast made heaven and earth we beg from thy merciful hands that thou wouldst come and save thy poor Church that is afflicted and persecuted by bloody and mercilesse enemies Lord Ver. 3 suffer not any of their insultations so far to prevail against us that the féet slip or fall in the way of Truth let not our faith be shaken nor our hope ashamed Thou art that good Shepherd that kéeps Israel séem not then any longer to these gréedy wolves to slumber and sléep in deferring to take vengeance upon them Ver. 4 lest they insult over us and say Where is now your God Return return O Lord to the ten thousands which mourn in Israel and vouchsafe to deal with us not as we are a sinful Nation a people loaden with iniquity but as thou art in thy self immense goodness and clemency inexhausted Make thy promise good to us and be our Kéeper be a shadow to us on our right hand a refreshment when the hottest Sun of persecution scorches our heads and any dark tentation cools our devotion O Lord preserve us from all evil if it be thy pleasure and though some disaster may lite upon our body and goods yet preserve our soul that being safe and preserved by thée we cannot miscarry Kéep us Lord in all our actions in all tentatious in all places at all times be present with us in out going out and at our coming in prosper whatsoever we take in hand and make the end thereof be successful never leave us in this present life but let thy grace guide us to that which is eternal through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen The third Psalm of Degrees CXXII THE Ark was a Testimony of Gods presence among his people and a Type of the Church this was by David brought up and fix't at Jerusalem when the Jebusites were by him driven out of the Fort of Zion To the place where that was fixed the people of Israel were bound to ascend three times a year to worship and that with gladness of heart to which end they went up thither with a Pipe David then in the person of the people The sum of this Psalm 1. Expresseth his joy that he might join with the Church in Gods service ver 1 2. 2. Commends the Church under the name of Jerusalem for her Unity ver 3. Religious Worship ver 4. Policy Civil Ecclesiastical ver 5. 3. Exhorts all to pray for her Peace and Prosperity ver 6. And puts the Form of Prayer into their mouths ver 7. 4. Shewes his own readiness and professeth to do it or rather performs it ver 8 9. 1. The first part David congratulates that the Ark c. was setled The Proposition of this Psalm is a Congratulation in which he doth express his joy and thanks that so happy a time was come in which a certain place was assign'd where he and the people might meet and worship God in which the Ark of the Covenant which was a Testimony of Gods presence might rest which was not done till his time And he took it for an assurance that the Jewish Religion and the Kingdom or Scepter should not depart from Judah till Shilo came and for this he doth congratulate with the people 1. I was glad First he expresseth his own joy 2. When they said unto me Ver. 1 He was to hear of the unanimity of the people mutually exhorting one and other to this Service 3 We will go into the house of the Lord the place of his worship where we shall hear his Word call upon him give him thanks when I hear these words from them I am ravished with joy 4. And I will gladly join and bear a part with them Ver. 2 Our feet shall stand in thy gates O Jerusalem Hitherto our feet have not had a certain place to stand and worship thee the Ark being carried from place to place But now it is fixed at Jerusalem and we know whither from henceforth to resort our feet are quiet and rest stantes or rather constantes we will go up to the house of the Lord and constantly there serve thee it is a mercy to know where the Church is fix't to which we ought to resort 2. And upon this he takes an occasion to commend Jerusalem three wayes The second part 1. For the unity of it especially in Religion He commends Jerusalem expressed under the Metaphor of a City whose buildings were well compacted together till the Jebusites were thence expel'd it was two Cities but now it was but one Ver. 3 guided by the same Lawes ruled by the same Religion 1 For her Unity in which there was a great and admirable consent among the Citizens Jerusalem is builded as a City that is compacted together In such a City the Buildings are uniform orderly disposed handsomely erected and seated so in Jerusalem all things in Gods worship are uniform orderly beautiful and there is a wonderful harmony of minds and consent among the Citizens 2. He commends Jerusalem next that it was the place constituted for Gods worship Ver. 4 1. For thither the Tribes go up three times a year as was ordained Exod. 2 For Gods Service to which all Israel resort unanimously 23. to remember their Eduction from Aegypt the Law given his preservation of them in the Wilderness and conservation ever since for these were the ends of the three Feasts the Passeover Pentecost that of Tabernacles 2. The Tribes of the Lord An honourable Title bestowed on Gods people holy men out of every Tribe 3. Vnto the Testimony of Israel to the Ark of the Testimony Or as it was agreed by Covenant betwixt God and his people concerning which he testified his Will Exod. 23. 34. Dent. 16. 4. The end of their ascending was To give thanks unto the Name of the Lord that was their work and it must be ours Psal 84.4 Gods Will is that nunquam cesset à laude qui nunquam ab amore 3. He commends Jerusalem thirdly for the Civil Policy and Ecclesiastical Ver. 5 it was the Metropolis 3 For the Civil Policy and Ecclesiastical 1. For there do sit the Thrones of judgment the Tribunals and Courts of Justice are there 2. The Thrones of the house of David The Kings Court and Seat was there which was established in David and therefore the Prophet useth the word sitting as if he had said now setled there which before this time were not Nor in
Name attributing the success to thy mercy only Never suffer us to be distracted with anxiety for the things of this life or be over-sollicitous for to morrow but having used those means which thou hast ordained honest labour and a competent thrist let us rely upon thy Providence and compose our minds to rest and sléep in it for this is the acquiescence thou givest to those thou lovest We know O Lord that children are the props of our Families Ver. 3 and that these are thy blessings also For children are an heritage of the Lord and the fââit of the womb are thy Reward Thou O God hast the Keyes of Heaven and Hell of Rain and Providence of the Grave and of the womb let not then thy servants féel the curse of dry breasts and a barren womb but make us joyful parents of children that may increase the number of thy redéemed Give us thy grace and favour that we may instruct them with diligence and méekness govern them with prudence and holiness and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord provide for them such useful imployments That they may be as Arrowes in the hand of a mighty man Ver. 4 defences and succours to our old age If it he thy blessed Will let them live to a full age and make us happy that we have our quivers full of them from whose powerful arm may be shot quick and sharp arrowes into the very hearts of those Ver. 5 who are enemies to all Piety thy Gospel and thy Truth fill O Lord thy Church with such children of youth who while they oppose the Adversary and maintain the sincerity of Religion in word and déed may never be ashamed nor yield when they speak with the enemies in the gate Grant us these things O gracious Father for thy Son our Lord Iesus Christs sake PSAL. CXXVIII IN this Psalm the Prophet perswades to fear God upon the several Rewards that attend upon Piety The Contents are these 1. He describes the pious man and pronounceth him blessed ver 1. 2. He proposeth the particulars of his blessing ver 2 3 5 6. 3. He gives his Acclamation to it ver 4. 1. The first part That man that fears God He describes the man who is to expect the blessing two qualities be must have 1. He must fear the Lord Fear to offend him not decline from him Ver. 1 2. Is Blessed He must walk in his wayes For this is the true character of his fear 3. This man shall be blessed yea every such man high or low rich or poor there is no exception Blessed is every one In a happy condition 2. The second part And the blessedness and happiness consists in these particulars 1. He shall enjoy those Goods which he hath honestly gotten with the labour of his hands Ver. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands His happiness is not in having much 1 In his goods but enjoying it Eccles 6.1 2. 2. Happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee So well that he shall have enough for himself and be able to relieve others and leave somewhat to his children 3. 2 In his wife Happy he shall be in his marriage too often ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã But he that fears the Lord and marries in the Lord shall be happy in his match 1. Ver. 3 His wife shall be as a fruitful Vine Fatifera non steriliâ 2. Upon the walls of thy house Domi porta modest and shamefac't staying at home and caring for the things of the house while her Husband is taking care abroad ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 4. 3 In his children Happy in his children 1. Thy childreâ like the Olive-branches Fresh green spredding fruitful and pledges of peace not like sharp Thorns and a pricking Hedge 2. Round about thy Table It will be a comfort to see them sit with them eat with them and hear their pretty Discourse Now these temporal happinesses the Prophet concludes with an Acclamation Lo ãâ¦ã the man be blest that fears the Lord. Thus in his goods Ver. 4 wiââ ââildren The third part 3. But there is a blessing attends him far beyond all this The Acclamation the summe of which is Ver. 5 1. Gods blessing The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion God shall-bless him by a federal blessing a Church-blessing 2. Thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem 1 With a Church-blessing the peace and prosperity of the Church all thy dayes 3. Yea thou shalt see thy childrens children Ver. 6 Et natos natorum qui nascuntur ab illis 2 With grand-children 4. And peace upon Israel 3 With a peaceable life And a flourishing Commonwealth and Kingdom for by peace is understood all prosperity The Prayer out of the One hundred and twenty eighth Psalm O Holy and just God if no blessing or happiness can befall any Ver. 1 but those which fear thée and walk in thy wayes we must needes acknowledge the cause to be just why we are brought into these straits and woful afflictions For when thou hadst opened unto us a full Sea of mercies and beyond our deserts confer'd upon us infinite and unspeakable benesits we have neglected thy fear and gone a whoring after our own inventions and thy Commandments being cast aside we have walked after our own wayes O Lord pardon our iniquities and be merciful to our sins Ver. 2 put thy fear into our hearts and obedience to thy Lawes Ver. 3 so shall we yet hope to eat the labour of our hands that we may yet be happy that our wives may be as the fruitful Vines upon the walls of our houses and our children as the Olive-branches round about our Tables Good God however thou please to deal with us yet remember thy afflicted Church and bless her out of thy high and holy place of Zion Ver. 5 she is thy Spouse let her then flourish as a fruitful Vine Ver. 6 and bring forth children unto thée let her sée her childrens children and enjoy a perpetual and a setled peace After our great troubles and afflictions it would be the rejoycing of our hearts might we but sée the good of Jerusalem all the dayes of our life and behold thy people Israel that are now divided by Factions and Schisms united in a Christian peace O thou who art the God of peace grant us this for his sake who made our peace thy only Son our Saviour Iesus Christ PSAL. CXXIX THE intent of the Prophet in this Psalm is to comfort the Church in affliction and to stir her up to glorifie God for his Providence over her alwayes over her for her good and bringing her enemies to confusion and a sudden ruine The Contents are 1. The indefatigable malice of the enemies of the Church ver 1 2 3. 2. That their malice is in vain for they pâââail not from ver 2. to 4. God saves them
3. For they are accursed and cut off from ver 4. to 8. 1. The first part God puts into the mouth of his people what they may comfortably say to their enemies The indefatigable malice of the enemies of the Church even in their greatest extremities when their malice is at the highest 1. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say Ver. 1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth In which observe Ver. 2 1. Her afflictions many c. That afflictions do attend Israel and must be expected by all that will live righteously in Christ Jesus 2. That these afflictions are many for sape Many a time have they afflicted me 3. That this affliction began with the Church even from the righteous Abel and hath continued ever since the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs felt it It is from my youth 4. This affliction was a fore affliction which the Prophet by an elegant Metaphor illustrates Ver. 3 of a Plow and Plowers and Furrows drawn out at length The Ploâââs plowed upon my back and made long Furrowes They dealt unmercifully with me as the Husbandman doth with his ground tears it up with his share and spares not the green gundon till be hath turn'd it all up 2. The second part But all this their malice all their fighting is to no purpose oppugnârunt non expugnaruââ 1. They prevail not Yet they have not prevailed against us they have not prevailed to extinguish the Church Ver. 2 prevailed they have to reduce hâr to a low and sad condition but they have not destroyed her nor never shall for the gates of hell shall not prevail against her ââârabit ut palma 2. The Reason is The Lord is righteous A righteous a good a just Lord and out of his Justice he protects all those that he hath under his Tuition and punisheth their Adversaries Ver. 4 3. For God delivers her For this righteous Lord hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked hath cut asunder their Tacklings Chains Repes with which they plowed and made their Furrowes He hath delivered Israel from their oppressors 3. The third part In the following verses to the end the Prophet either by way of inâââââion or prediction And takes revenge on her enemies sets down the vengeance that God would bring upon the enâmies of his Church for their malice which hath three degrees 1. Ver. 5 The first of which is That they fail of their hopes and their attempts frustrated Let them all be confounded ashamed and turn'd back that hate Zion that are Osores Persecutors 2. The next is That their persons prove useless and quickly perish Let thou be as grass growing on the house-tops grass in a Medow is good for somewhat on house-tops for no use It withereth before it groweth up Mowed it is never Wherewith the Mower fills not his hand nor he that binds up the sheaves that rakes it together fills his bosom 3. The last is a want of a blessing from God or man No man saith so much as God speed as is usual to do to Workmen in Harvest Neither do they which go by say Bendithy chây The blessing of the Lord be upon you we bless you in the Name of the Lord. They were about an ill work Who durst say God bless or prosper you in it The Prayer out of the one hundred and twenty ninth Psalm O Omnipâtent and merciful God it is not unknown to thée how that people whom thou hast chosen unto thée for thy heritage hath béen in all Ages afflicted and vered by cruel Tyrants Ver. 1 even from that time that thou madest a Covenant with our fathers to this very day They have fet their Plowes to work upon our backs wounded us with afflictions and ânrrowed us with sorrowes The escape out of one danger hath but béen the entrance into another and of these there hath béen a continuance as in a plow'd land in which furrow is added to furrow and ridge to ridge till the whole be turned up But thou whom we serve hast shewed thy self unto us a good Master a righteous and a just God Thou hast cut asunder all the cords of the wicked in which they trusted the snare is broken and we are delivered their hopes and expectation is eluded their endeavours brought to naught Though they had plotted our vestruction Ver. 2 Yet they have not prevailed against us This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes especially when we call to mind our ingratitude toward thée and our unexcusable disobedience But now we humbly beséech thée look not upon our merits but upon the glory of thy Name for we deserve not only these but far greater punishments Ver. 5 But of thine infinite mercy pour not upon us the hottest of thine indignation but let it rest upon those that are enemies to thy Truth let them all be confounded and turned back that date and séek to extirpate Zion let them quickly wither away as the grass that grass that growes upon the house-top as an unprositable and an unuseful thing let them perish and never be harvested or brought into thy Barn make it appear That the séed of their frauds and deceits cannot fill the hand much less the bosom and heart of any one that hoped to carry in heavy sheaves from them O Lord preserve thy people in their integrity and kéep them from joining their counsels with them let none of thine that go by and sée what is done say The blessing of the Lord be upon you we bless you in the Name of the Lord But let thy blessing rest upon thy people and upon thine inheritance whom thou hast chosen kéep them from all evil increase them in all goodness for the merits of Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen PSAL. CXXX Being one of the Penitentials IN this Psalm the Spirit of God proposeth to us the case of a person oppressed with the wrath of God against sin yet flies to God for mercy and trusts to receive from him comfort remission and pardon The Contents are these 1. Acknowledging his miserable condition he prayes to be beard ver 1 2. 2. He desires remission of sin ver 2 4. 3. He makes mention of his hope and confidence ver 5 6. 4. He exhorts Gods people to trust in him ver 7 8. 1. The first part David begging with an ardent affection and desire pathetically he prayes that he may be heard Davids cry to be heard he likens himself to a man in the bottom of a Pit or that must cry aloud to be heard 1. Ver. 1 Out of the depths have I cryed to thee O Lord. De profundis non de profundo Because a true penitent cryes out of two depths the depth of his misery and the depth of his heart sensible of that misery 2. Ver. 2 Lord hear my voyce Although I be in these depths and thou dwellest on high
yet thou canst hear me and therefore I cry O Lord hear 3. Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications 'T is to no purpose to cry for audience except he will be attentive to whom we cry And therefore begs of God that he would vouchsafe to hear to attend 2. The second part Yea but there was great reason why God should nor hear nor yet encline his ear to his cry He was a grievous sinner and God hears not such Well be it so yet his case was but the same with other men All men involv'd in sin as well as he and therefore if this should be a sufficient impediment that he should not be heard the like lay against other men and so God attentive to no prayer He desires therefore to remit his sin and that this might not be charged upon him 1. Ver. 3 If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquity O Lord who shall stand mirabilis rhetorica 2 He cryes for Remission of Sin I nor no other man can bring into thy sight any thing else but filth sinne shame and therefore if thou shouldst deal with us in rigour of justice and execute thy anger necessary it is that all be condemn'd not a man stand in thy sight 1 Acknowledging his own misery But it becomes not thy infinite goodness to destroy all men and therefore I need not seem overbold if I cry out of my depths and ask a pardon 2. Ver. 4 But there is mârcy with thee or forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feard 2 Gods mercy True repentance requires two things the recognition of our own misery and the perswasion of Gods mercy Both are needful for he that knows not his own misery seeks not for help and he that knows not Gods mercy despairs In the three former verses David acknowledgeth himself in a pitiful case for he was in the depths and cryes from thence that if God should deal with him in rigour of justice he were undone never able to abide it In this verse he comforts himself with Gods mercy and that notwithstanding the greatness and multitude of his sins he hoped for pardon as if he had said Though no man can abide it if thou shalt mark our iniquities yet I know that by nature thou art merciful and forgivest fin 2. 3 The end of remission that God be feared That thou mayst be feared not with a servile but with a filial fear which comprehends invocation faith hope love adoration confession giving of thanks and all the duties of the first Table With this fear I fear thee in this I fly to the throne of grace and because thou art a Merciful God I hope for pardon 3. The third part The method of Gods Servants in their addresses to heaven is that they Believe 4 He hopes and expects favour Hope Pray Expect This course David took he prayed believed he hopes in Gods mercy and now he expects to find favour in the fifth and sixth verses Ver. 5 Every word of which is able to inform confirm and comfort a distressed soul 1. I expect the Lord. Upon him only he relies and prescribes nor time nor manner leaves to him to succour him at what season he pleaseth For his part he would be still an Expectant 2. For which he will wait My soul doth wait His expectation was not formal but real an expectation that proceeded from the fervency of his heart He hungred and thirsted after righteousness 3. His expectation was no presumption Upon Gods word but well grounded upon Gods Word and Promises Dent. 4.29 30. And in his Word is my hope 4. And that we may know his expectation was earnest Ver. 6 full of faith and hope he repeats it My soul waits for the Lord He ingeminates his hope which he declares by a Similitude of men set upon a watch in the night that long for the morning 5. I wait for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning I say more than they that watch for the morning It was now night with him darkness and misery was upon his soul the morning he expected was remission which must come from Gods mercy for this he waited this he expected more greedily than watchmen look for the morning light that they may be freed from their station Which though it be not in their power yet they expect it He proposeth his example to Gods people 4. This his example he proposeth to Gods people and exhorts them to do the like and to animate and encourage them in it adds his reasons 1. Let Israel hope in the Lord. Take out my example Ver. 7 and do thereafter Let them cry è profundis expect upon his word and promise wait his leasure For which God is mercy 2. For with the Lord there is Mercy Not only a Merciful God but Mercy it self With him it is and from him it flows to us And our Misery is a fit object for his Mercy No other creature can help because miserable And plentious redemption 3. And with him is Redemption That we needed being sold under sin and that we found a price given for us to redeem us the precious blood of his dear Son 4. And this his Redemption was Copiosa redemptio plentiful abundant for by it he redeemed the whole world 1 Joh. 1.2 Ver. 8 and bequeathed to his an inheritance in heaven Rom. 8.17 Which he will apply to Israel only 5. But this is to take effect upon Israel his people only For he shall redeem Israel from all his sins It is not as the Jews expect a temporal redemption but a spiritual as the Angel told Joseph His name shall be Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins which is begun in this life and shall be perfected in the other where we shall be delivered not only from sin but the punishment and danger of sinning The Prayer out of the one hundred and thirtieth Psalm O Most just and holy God whose eyes cannot approve iniquity no not in thy best and dearest servants we must néeds confess that for our rebellion and ingratitude against thée we are justly brought to this abyss of troubles from which without thy help we cannot escape Ver. 1 Being then oppressed and overwhelmed with these depths of sin and misery Ver. 2 from the bottom of our hearts we cry unto thée O Lord Lord hear our voice and let thine ears be attentive to our supplications lest if thou make as though thou hearest not we become like them that descend into the pit Pity our infirmities and remember thy mercy for which our misery is a fit object be not unto us a severe Iudge but a merciful Father and take not that revenge upon us which we deserve for if thou shalt observe and punish according to the rigour of justice Ver. 3 what man amongst us is so holy and pure in thy eyes that he may
the Amoritish Kings and the thirty one Kings of Canaan He smote great Nations and slew mighty Kings as for example Ver. 10 Sihon King of the Amorites and Og the King of Bashan Ver. 11 And gave away their land for an heritage Ver. 12 an heritage unto Israel his people All which is evident out of the books of Numb Deut. Joshua 5. The fifth part For this he extols God To the commemoration of the revenge that God took upon the enemies of his people and the benefits he bestowed on them he adds a conclusion formed into an Epiphonima in which he first extols Gods name and then shews his mercy to his people 1. Thy Name O Lord endures for ever i. e. for these thy wonderful works 2. And thy memorial throughout all generations Thy memory thy fame the remembrance of thy Acts shall flourish and remain to all posterity 2. And the reason is drawn from his mercy which excites us also to praise him 1. And shews his mercy to his people For the Lord will judge his people The world judgeth them forsaken but he is their keeper and defender and will judge their cause and at last take revenge on their persecutors and deliver them 2. And he will repent himself concerning his servants Though he punisheth his dearest children yet he will be at last entreated be propitious and kind and remove his heavy hand Psal 136.23 6. The sixth part 2. God above all gods The Prophet hath proved that God is absolutely great in himself which he proposed vers 5. And now he proves the second part of his proposition that our Lord is above all gods For being compared to the Idols of the Heathen he far exceeds them They were Divels not gods they the work of mens hands made of earthy materials they could not infuse life sense reason into their images as God did into his image man they nor saw nor heard nor moved For he shews their vanity divers ways And shews the vanity of Idols 1. From their matter wherof they were made The Idols of the beathen are silver and gold Ver. 15 2. From the efficient cause their makers men The work of mens bands 3. From their impotence from performing any act of life They have mouths but they speak not eyes they have but they see not They have ears but they hear not neither is there any breath in their mouths 4. From the sortishness and misery of those that worship them They that make them are like unto them Ver. 18 so is every one that trusteth in them The makers are blind mute deaf understand nothing at all who suppose that they can make gods And they that trust in them more sotrish that think a stone can help them 7. The seventh part In the last part he invites all the true worshippers of God to praise him because they are lively images of the living God they see they hear they speak they understand That therefore all praise God and therefore they praise that God from whom they the faculty of living hearing speaking seeing and understanding To this he invites 1. All Israel Bless the Lord O house of Israel 2. Ver. 19 Then the Priests Bless the Lord O house of Aaron 3. The Levites Bless the Lord O house of Levi. 4. Lastly of all the Laity Ye that fear the Lord bless the Lord. To which he adds his own vote concluding with this Epiphonima 1. Blessed be the Lord out of Zion where he shews his presence by the Ark. 2. Which dwelleth at Jerusalem who though he be every where by his Essence and presence yet peculiarly dwells in his Church by his inhabiting Spirit Let the Citizens of Zion and Jerusalem never cease to bless him The Hymn and Prayer collected from the One hundred and thirty fifth Psalm O Omnipotent God all we thy servants now gathered together in thy Spirit to blesse thy name and here met in the Courts of the house of our God to praise thee Ver. 1 do acknowledge that we have instnite reasons to pay this debt to thy divine Majesty For we know O Lord that thou art good good absolutely in thy self and gracious unto us and that all our goodnesse is as nothing in comparison of thee We know again that to sing praises unto thee is a pleasant thing and therefore our heart shall be glad when we send forth prayses unto thee with joyful lips Wee know also that thou art great and far above all Gods Thy benefits are innumerable not only which thou hast conferd upon thy chosen people thy Israel who is thy pecultar treasure but even which with a full hand thou hast poured forth upon all mankind For in heaven the earth the seas and in all deep places thou hast done whatsoever thou pleasedst Thou so orderest the clouds the vapours the lightning winds and rain that they may be obedient to thee and serviceable for the use and sustenance of man And when thou hast in thy power the hearts of all Kings and Princes thou so bendest them as may make most for the good and saidation of thy people upon them thou revengest their wrongs and deliverest in due time thy chosen people from their power and oppression Egypt the Amorites and Canaanites felt thy power whom thou smotest in thy anger plaguest and slew in thy wrath and gavest away their Land for an heritage even for an heritage to Israel thy people Thy Name O Lord endureth for ever Ver. 13 and thy memorial through all generations and therefore our hope which is grounded upon thy promises is thereby confirmed and increased that though thou art risen up in judgment against thy people yet at last it will repent thée concerning thy servants O merciful God arise we beséech thée and behold the miseries and calamities of thy poor servants and deal not with us according to the merit of our iniquities Pardon our offences and let it repent thée of the evil thou hast brought upon us We have liv'd unworthy of thy Name unworthy of our Vocation yet at last break the force of the Devil and his instruments and repress their pride and boldness that we be not compelled to fall down and worship the imaginations of their own brains which are little better than the Idols of the Heathens that nor saw nor spake nor heard nor understood Which mercy if thou will grant us then all that fear the Lord both Priest and people the whole house of Aaron of Levi and all Israel shall have just occasion to bless the Lord and say Blessed be the Lord out of Zion which dwelleth at Jerusalem Allelujah PSAL. CXXXVI THIS Psalm is of the same Argument that the former For in it all men are call'd upon to praise God for his greatness and goodness his providence and mercy in creating governing and ordering the world but especially his love shew'd to his people the Church All which works because they proceeded from his Mercy therefore
it rase it even to the foundations And thou O Babylon which hast done the work as I doubt not but as my God hath begun and will in his good time take a condign punishment upon the Edomites so also he will bring thée down Thou art miserable and thou shalt be miserable Happy shall that King and people be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones O merciful God whatever wrath and indignation is due unto us for the breach of thy Commandments and dishonouring thée in thy Service remove it O Lord from thy people and transfer it upon them that with an implacable malice pursue thy people and séek by all means to corrupt and waste thine inheritance which was purchased by the precious blood of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ PSAL. CXXXVIII DAVID delivered from his enemies and troubles and advanced to the Kingdom gives thanks to God acknowledgeth Gods goodnesse in hearing his prayers foretels the conversion of Kings shews that God regards the humble rejects the proud puts his trust in God for the future and prayes that God would continue and enlarge his mercy to him More briefly 1. In the three first verses he promiseth a grateful heart and to sing forth the praises of God because God heard his cryes and prayers and in tribulations sent him comfort 2. In the three next he shews what after Kings would do when the works and truth of God should be made known to them 3. In the two last verses he professeth his confidence in God shews what he hopes for from him and in assurance that God will perfect his work prayes him not to desert and forsake him David shews his thankfulness 1. First David shews his thankfulness which he illustrates and amplifies 1. The first part And illustrates it that From the manner of the doing of it done it should be cordially sincerely ardently totally I will praise thee with my whole heart 2. From the witnesses before whom it should be done Before the Gods will I sing praise Ver. 1 Coram Elohim Not only privately but publickly before the Potentates 1 He would do it heartily 2 Before all men whether Angels or Kings of the earth Psal 111.1 Psal 107.32 3. From the place the Temple then the Tabernacle a symbol of Gods presence with his people Ver. 2 It was as it were Gods Palace and there he ruled as a King 3 In the Temple and therefore he would fall low bow worship I will worship toward thy Holy Temple Which the Jews did when absent from Jerusalem Dan. 6. 4. 4 The causes inducing him to it From the causes inwardly inducing him to it I will praise thy Name for thy loving kindnesse and for thy truth 1. 1 Gods calling him to be King For thy loving kindnesse in calling me from the sheepfold to the Kingdom 2. 2 Performing his word And for thy Truth in performing thy promise In performing which 5. Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name This clause is diversly read Thou hast magnified thy Name in thy Word that is in performing thy Word above all things Or Thou hast-magnified thy Name and thy Word above all things Or Magnificas cum toâo nomine tuo sermonem tuum Jun. All these have the same sense But the vulgar reads it thus Quoniam magnificasti super omne nomen sanctum tuum And Bellarmine by Sanctum tuum understands Christ who Luc. 1. is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã to whom he gave a Name above every Name I suppose our English Translation should be pointed thus Thus hast thou magnified thy Word above all thy Name or and above all thy Name For Musculus by and joyns the Substantives 3 For hearing and granting his petitions Magnificasti super omnia nomen tuum eloquium 6. From Gods facility in hearing and granting his petitions which he presented to his God in the time of his banishment and affliction Ver. 3 In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul Infirme creatures we are and in temptations and afflictions must faint except God strengthen us Out of all these motives David would praise God 2. David having set down what God had done for him The second part in mercy call'd him from following the Ewes great with young ones anointed him to be a King heard his prayers strengthned him in his affliction and in truth performed his promises conceives it impossible but that either the Neighbour or future Kings should take this when they heard of it into their consideration and âcknowledge the miracle and praise God for it This certainly is the literal sense This mercy to David was like to move other Kings to magnifie God though it may have an eye to the conversion of Kings in future to the faith 1. All the Kings of the earth Hiram Toe c. or the future Kings of Israel Judah shall praise thee when they hear the words of thy mouth what thou hast said of me David and of my seed Ver. 5 2. Yea They shall sing in the wayes of the Lord that is of the wayes of the Lord Muscul of his mercy truth clemency For great is the glory of the Lord he is very glorious in all his wayes his works his proceedings 3. Of which this is one Though the Lord be high yet hath he respect to the lowly of which I David may be an instanÌce But the proud he beholds afar off He removes far from him he will not have to do with them they are in remotis agendis of which Saul may be an example and the Devil 3. Because God who is high looks upon the lowly The third part With it so mov'd he was that he puts his affiance in God therefore David being conscious to himself of his own humility promiseth himself help from God in all his tribulation even for the time to come 1. If I walk in the midst of trouble that is on all sides exposed to trouble Ver. 7 2. Thou wilt revive me make me live and preserve me safe and untouch't 3. Thou shalt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of my enemies Thou by thy power shalt restrain their fury that would devour me and hinder their endeavours and enterprises 4. And thy right hand shall save me Thy power thy virtue thy Christ who in Isa 53. is call'd the arm of the Lord shall do it The last verse depends on the former because he knew And that that God who had would yet deliver him that as yet many troubles and afflictions remained to be undergone therefore he was confident that the same God who had hitherto delivered him would be a good God to him for the future and deliver him in time to come and so make his work perfect 1. The Lord will perfect that which concernt me not for any
merit but mercy 2. Of which he gives the Reason Thy mercy O Lord endureth ãâã âver Ver. 8 It is not for a moment it vanisheth not with one benefit For his mercy but ãâã is eternal so is it eternal and the resote I know that God will persââ in me what he hath begun 3. And to that end he concludes with a prayer And for this he prayes Forsake not the work of thy own hands Thou which in mercy hast begun this work conserve increase perfect it because it is thine own work only and none of mine If we desire that God should perfect any work in us we must be sure that it is his work Absolons work had no blessing for it was none of Gods The Prayer out of the One hundred and thirty eighth Psalm O Lord I will praise thee with my whole heart neither will I do this privately and within the walls of my house but in publick and in the Assembly of thy Saints even before Angels and the greatest Princes who are Terrestrial gods Ver. 1 I will sing Psalms to the honour of thy Name I will bow my self and fall low and worship towards thy holy Temple and there praise thy Name for thy loving-kindness in making unto me many gracious promises and for thy Truth in performing what thou hast promised in both which Thou hast magnified thy Name Ver. 2 and thy Word above all things that are in heaven and earth Thou hast commanded me to call on thée in time of trouble and I in obedience to thy Word have call'd And in the day when I cryed Thou answer'dst me by which Thou hast magnified thy Word and in my weakest estate Ver. 3 Thou hast strengthned me with strength and consolation in my soul by which Thou hast magnified thy Name So many have béen thy mercies so wonderful thy Providence so strange thy protection toward me through my whole life so beyond expectation thy salvation sent unto me in my greatest dangers Ver. 4 That whosoever shall hear the words of thy mouth spoken of me and fulfilled in me will be ready to praise thee yea Ver. 5 they shall sing of the wayes of the Lord of thy wisdom thy power thy justice thy goodness and confess upon the consideration of thy works That great is the Majesty and Glory of our God For though thou art high most high in nature most high in power most high in command and empire Ver. 6 yet thou humblest thy self and hast respect to the lowly for whose sake thou humbledst thy self in thy Son didst vouchsafe to descend from Heaven and converse with them As for the proud Thou beholdest them afar off as no way approving their haughty thoughts O Lord remove far from me all pride of heart and create in me an humble spirit that thou may'st cast one good look toward me descend into my heart by grace and that I may from this low estate ascend unto thée Thou O Lord hast hitherto béen merciful unto me and deliver'd me from many troubles Ver. 7 but yet I carry about me a body of flesh and my sorrowes are not at an end I must look for afflictions and I expect them that which alone can arm me against these calamities is the experience of thy former mercies hitherto thou hast and I am assured that hereafter thou wilt deliver me Though then I walk in the midst of trouble I know thou wilt revive me Thou shalt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of mine enemies quell their fury and allay their rage and thy right hand shall save me O Lord perfect thy work in me that thou hast begun It procéeds not from my merââ but thy mercy Ver. 8 and this thy mercy is not for a moment but endures for ever ãâã vanisheth not with one benefit but is eternal as thou art eternal And all the works that flow from me whether within me or done upon me are thy works forsake not then but protect and cherish the works of thine own hands nor leave me who am thy workmanship created after thine own image Good God renew in me what is decay'd by the fraud and malice of the Devil or my own frailty let thy grace pursue me and thy right hand uphold me that I may attain to that perfection of thy Saints in glory through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen PSAL. CXXXIX IN this Psalm David having aspersions laid upon him by his enemies appeals to God in justification of his innocency and he desires of God to be his Witness and Compurgator ver 23. Now that this his Appeal be not thought unreasonable he presents God in his two especial Attributes Omniscience and Omnipresonce Then he shewes how free he was like to be from the faults with which he was charg'd in that he loved goodness and good men and hated the wayes of wickedness and wicked men This is the Sum. The parts are 1. A Description of Gods Omniscience from ver 1. to 7. 2. The Description of his Omnipresence from ver 7. to 18. 3. Davids hatred of evil and wicked men from ver 19. to 23. 4. The Protestation of his own innocency which he offers to the Test and Tryal of God ver 23 24. 1. He begins with Gods Omniscience The first part Gods Omniscience He and takes upon him the person of mankind for what he saith of himself is as true of all men for we are all known to God Ver. 1 1. O Lord Thou hast searched me out proved examined Knowes tryed me by an exact search or scrutiny it needed not but he would have us know that God most accurately searcheth into all our wayes not the least thing we do is hid from him Thou searchest me out and knowest me Now what he said in general he opens in particulars Ver. 2 2. As first for our Actions he searches and knowes them 1 Our actions 1. Thou knowest my down-sitting and my uprising when where and for what cause I sit down or rise 2. For our thoughts he searches them also 2 Our thoughts Thou understandest my thoughts afar off from all eternity Thou knowest my counsels my cogitations even before I began to think them Ver. 3 3. The intents and purposes of our thoughts and actions 3 Our intents the ends we aim at Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my wayes 4. Yea and our words too There is not a word in my tongue but Ver. 4 O Lord Thou knowest it altogether 4 Our words And of this he gives this Reason because God is our Maker Ver. 5 toti quanti quanti sumus we are his work Thou hast beset me behind and before The Reason is because he is our Maker and laid thy hand upââ me The Vulgar reads this verse thus Ecce Domine tu cognovisti omnia novissima antiqua mea tu formasti me posuisti super me manum tuam where Bellarmine saith there be
therefore O Lord I cry and profess before the whole World Thou art my refuge my stay my hope Ver. 6 my strong Tower of defence Thou alone while I remain in this land of the living art my portion and heritage I have chosen thée for my shield and buckler my affections are to thée and I will rely only on thée Therefore good God attend unto my cry for I am brought very low weakned and humbled and depressed and brought to a forlorn condition Ver. 7 Deliver me from those that persecute me and thirst after my blood for they are grown far too strong for me Bring my soul out of this affliction with which I am straitned as in a Prison and I will praise and magnifie thy Name Nay the righteous and sincere-hearted Israelites that expect the performance of thy promises and long for it upon this mercy extended to me shall then compass me about adhere unto me and congratulate my deliverance and restitution Sing they will in the house of the Lord that thou hast dealt bountifully with me Get thy self honour then upon Pharaoh and all his Army deliver out of this Aegyptian bondage thy poor afflicted Israel bring them into the promised Land expel the Canaanites before them and exalt the Kingdom of thy Son Iesus Christ our Lord To whom with thée and the Holy Ghost be all Glory Dominion and Power now and for ever Amen PSAL. CXLIII Being the last of the Penitentials DAVID being driven from Jerusalem by his son Absolon wisely calls to mind his sin as being the cause of it which in this Psalm he deplores and desires grace and mercy of God The parts of this Psalm are 1. A Prayer to God for remission of sin grounded upon Gods promise and goodness ver 1. not upon his own worthiness ver 2. 2. A Narration of the sad state of his Affairs ver 3 4. 3. The Comfort he received in his sad condition and whence ver 5 6. 4. His Petition containing divers particulars to which are annexed particular Reasons from ver 7. to the last 1. The first part In the beginning he petitions for Audience Hear my prayer O Lord give car to my supplication Ver. 1 but expresses not the matter he pray'd for which yet out of the following words may well be collected to be remission of sin David begs on for which he was thus punished and this he begs of God to grant both in regard of his promise and mercy 1. 1 Gods promise In faithfulness answer me Thou art a faithful God that hast promised pardon to penitents a penitent I am make then thy Word good to me and pardon me 2. 2 And mercy a pardon And in thy righteousness which here signifies mercy and loving-kindness In thy mercy then answer me and seal my pardon justifie me because I confess my iniquities Isa 43.26 Men call for confession from the guilty to condemn God to pardon And that this is the sense appears more clearly by the next verse 1. Ver. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant Call me not to a strict and rigorous account at thy Bar of Justice And not for his merit This he deprecates so that justitia in the former verse could not be taken for that justice which punisheth sin and rewards righteous deeds for that he pleads not here but declines it yea and assigns the Reason 2. For in thy sight shall no man living be justified Not I nor any man that ever did doth or shall live Let me then have my pardon upon thy promise and mercy and not for my merits It is not then the most commendable work that can justifie any man at the Bar of God but his mercy in Christ which he hath promised to accept Taught he hath us daily to pray Remitte debita 2. The second part And now he enters upon the Narration of his sad condition which he urgeth as another Reason to perswade God to remit his offence Ver. 3 and it is taken from the grievousness of tentation His sad condition to which the enemy brought him and the consequent of it 1. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul I look not so much upon my son Absolon that seeks my life as upon the enemy of Mankind Satan who entic'd me to Adultery and tempted me to Homicide 2. He hath smitten my life down to the ground He hath humbled me made me vile and contemptible in thy sight made me a lover of the earth and earthly pleasures who before had my Conversation in Heaven 3. He hath made me dwell in darkness as those that have been long dead For after that he had intangled my soul with earthly pleasures he made me dwell in spiritual darkness that I saw not the way to life but was indeed dead in trespasses and sins I knew no more of what belonged to the life of the Spirit than those that have been long dead Eph. 4.18 19. 2.5 And the effect that it wrought upon me For which he was ready to faint and despair was fear consternation and horrour of mind out of the sense of thy wrath against my sin 1. Ver. 4 Therefore my spirit was overwhelmed within me I suffered a kind of ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã in my soul I was ready to faint when I consider'd thy holiness and my impurity thy severe justice and my inability to satisfie it 2. And my heart within me is desolate far from all comfort Troubled I was not lightly not superficially but seriously and inwardly my soul was heavy to the death 3. The third part But recovers In this sadness I cast about what to do Though I felt thy hand heavy upon me yet despair I durst not even from this miserable state I began to fetch my remedy I found it was thy grace to bring me to this astonishment for my sin that my heart was not hardned in sin but astonished for sin mollified when it was thus troubled and à dolore parturivi salutem That then which came into my head were thy wayes that thou hadst taken with penitent sinners before me 1. I remember the dayes of old The dayes of Adam Noah Abraham Moses c. who all being thy servants yet sinning grievously Upon the remembrance of Gods mercies to others and repenting Thou admit'st to mercy whose examples I applied and they kept me from despair read Psal 77.5 6 7 c. for all these were Testimonies of thy ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã of thy love to man And meditation of them 2. I meditate on all thy works I muse upon the works of thy hands I did not slightly run them over but I meditate I muse upon them for in this combate betwixt hope and despair comfort is not obtained but by a long and serious meditation of Gods works his works in making a second Covenant with us and purchasing and applying Redemption The profit admirable 3. And the profit that came
from this my meditation was admirable For Ver. 6 1. I stretch forth my hands unto thee I began earnestly to pray 1 Prayer and to put forth my hand unto thee as a child doth to his father from whom he hopes to receive what he asks and what he wants some help some Boon 2. My soul thirsteth after thee as a thirsty Land 2 A thirst after grace A thirsty soul I have that hungers and thirsts after righteousness and as the earth in a drought chops and gapes till the rain falls and closes it so doth my soul open for want of thy dewes of grace and nothing can close it till this comfortable water descend Farther as the earth without rain hath no consistence but is pulverized neither is it clad with flowers nor mantled with grass nor loaden with fruits but presents it self to the eye with a burnt wither'd bare face So the soul not moistned with the grace of God becomes loose and falls asunder on this and that side to vice and wickedness tost it is by tentations as dust by the wind it wants the Robe of Justice to cloath it and the garment of wisdom to adorn it it is unprofitable and barren and brings forth no fruit of good works all which a penitent by experience finds true in himself and therefore he thirsts the more for grace the more sensible he is of the want of it 4. The sad case in which David was upon the sense of Gods indignation The fourth part makes him seek out speedily for a remedy as the sick in haste seeks to the Physitian and he that is thirsty seeks for drink Quiet he could not be 3 An earnest desire of reconciliation nor his thirst be satisfied before he had some assurance that God was reconciled to him which is an evident Argument of a true contrite soul never to be at rest till he have an assurance that his peace is made being impatient of all delayes of reconciliation And to this purpose he puts up a Petition which consists of many parts and many reasons 1. His first petition is for speedy audience Ver. 7 as being impatient to be deferred Hear me speedily O Lord and his reason for this 1 For this he petitions and gives his reason is the sad condition in which he was and was like to be till he was assured that God was pacified for his sin He said it before but now repeats it My spirit fails I am in extremity I scarse can draw my breath 2. This petition he enforceth in other words Hide not thy face from me 2 He inforceth it on another reason thy presence thy favour thy help But not averse inexorable but look up once more in mercy on me His reason for this is That if God hide his face still from him He be like unto a dead man or which is worse like to them that go down into the pit of hell For those whom God pardons not not gives the life of grace they must perish for ever 2. His next Petition is near the same with the former 3 He sues yet again and gives his reasons but inforced upon another reason 1. Cause me to hear thy loving kindnesse Thy pardoning mercy which must proceed out of meer clemency and pity Cause me to hear it out of thy Word or else I may hear thy Word and never hear my pardon It is thy Spirit that must work with it 2. In the morning Betime speedily quickly Or in the morning when the light of grace shines I have been long enough in the darknesse and night of sin let the day of grace at last rise upon me 3. His reason For in thee do I trust I let not my hold go in all this my extremity In the spiritual combate then we must not look to the beginnings of it as to the end In the beginning is nothing but matter of discomfort horror despair But the end hath comfort in it hope and confidence He that can say in thee is my trust despairs not 3. 4 He fears a relapse and prayes against it His third Petition 1. Cause thou me to know the way in which I should walk David being a true penitent and being now assured of pardon is fearful of a relapse and therefore prayes to God to work in his heart so powerfully that he might know his way and hereafter walk in it as it becomes a friend and a son 2. His reason His reason For I lift up my soul unto thee My course the intent of my heart is to that purpose I have now bid adiew to all secular desires and therefore I desire the Lamp and light of thy Word to direct me in my walk 4. 5 He prayes for deliverance from his enemies His fourth Petition 1. Deliver me O Lord from mine enemies From the Devil and all his instruments from ill concupiscences and the effects which fight against the soul 2. His reason His reason For I flie unto thee to hide me i. e. from them I lie Ver. 9 as it were under the umbrage and shadow of thy wings 5. Ver. 10 His fifth Petition is near the same with the third 1. 6 He petitions for instruction in Gods Law Teach me to do thy Will both by an active and passive obedience Instruct me to know thy good perfect and acceptable Will and in adversity to submit to it and bear my Cross with patience and in prosperity to do it and not to be proud arrogant secure obstinate and presumptuous 2. His reason His reason For thou art my God who hast promised me help and whom I have promised and bound my self to serve Thou art the beginning and end of all my good from whom I have received my being my soul my body and from whom I expect beatitude and glory to do thy Will is the way to attain it teach me then to do it as thou art my God 6. 7 He petitions to be guided by Gods Spirit His sixth Petition Thy Spirit is good Not mine not the evil spirit it is thy Spirit which is the Authour of goodness love obedience c. Let this Spirit then lead me in the right plain way that I may walk wisely knowingly uprightly constantly 7. Ver. 11 His seventh Petition 1. 8 A summary petition for all before Quicken me O Lord comfort restore me to life remit my sin justifie me free me from this fear 2. For thy Names sake Not for my merits but for thy mercy and the glory that will thereby accrue to thy Name in acquitting a penitent and restoring him to thy favour and as it were to life Muscular well observes That they only can pray this prayer 1. Who are brought into a sad condition and oppressed with the sense of death 2. Who belong to God and whose life and quickning brings honour to his Name 3. Who seek the honour of Gods Name and not their own honour
2. He goes on For thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble And that upon mercy Freedom he desires but still upon mercy 8. His last Petition is for the destruction of Satans Kingdom 1. Of thy mercies cut off my enemies 9 He petitions for the destruction of Satans Kingdom His reason and destroy all them that afflict my soul 2. His reason For I am thy servant a Client a Follower one under thy Protection and Patronage one of thy Family honoured with the dignity of thy servant and well contented to do my Duty and serve thee honestly therefore defend me and destroy my enemies for these in being mine are thy enemies The Prayer collected out of the One hundred and forty third Psalm being penitential O God Thou God of mercy and compassion Ver. 1 hear the prayer of an afflicted penitent soul and give ear to my humble supplications answer me O Lord in thy faithfulness and remit my sin in thy righteousness many promises I find thou hast made to a grieved spirit and to blot out the transgression of a returning sinner to which now in anguish of my spirit I lay claim Ver. 2 I believe thy promises I rely upon thy equity in performance of them as thou art then both faithful and just remit my sin Merits good God before thée I have none to plead I could produce a Bill loaden with a Mass of corruptions and rebellions these make me unworthy to approach thy presence and appear in thy sight O my God pity me for thy Names sake ãâ¦ã thy own goodness sake and enter not into a severe account and reckoning with thy servant be not my adversary contend not in judgment with me for if thou shouldst call me to the Bar Ver. 3 I have nothing to put in against the dreadful sentence nothing of my own that can appease thy anger or abate the fury of one stroak of thy severe arm My case is the same with other men with all men when thou shalt call us to an account of our stewards place silent we must be as having nothing to say for our selves because in thy sight shall no man living be justified That enemy of Mankind hath persecuted my soul pursued me he hath with a whole storm of tentations and by these he hath smitten and wounded me and made me vile and contemptible in thy sight He hath so far prevailed Ver. 4 that I have fastned my affections on earth and earthly things Walked I have in the vanity of my mind my understanding hath béen darkned I have béen alienated from the life of God by ignorance and blindness of heart I became past séeling and gave my self over unto all lasciviousness working uncleanness with greediness and this hath brought me to the sad condition in which I am Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me and my heart within me is desolate shame and sorrow is upon me for so offending so gracious a God a stonishment and amazement possess my soul because I am destitute of thy comfort I put my mouth in the dust and my face in darkness and hate my self because I have yielded to that sin which I am sure that thou hatest just cause I have but yet I will not despair methinks as in thy servants from the beginning of the World Thou hast set me a pattern of repentance so thou hast prescribed me a remedy against desperation I remember then the dayes of old that Adam transgressed Ver. 5 and that thou graciously madest a promise unto him for the womans Seed to break the Serpents head that Noah was dronken and incestuous Moses refractery and disobedient Aaron ââolatrous and perverted by the people to sin to all which with infinite others when they turned unto thée by hearty repentance Thou gavest a pardon upon these monuments of thy mercy I will meditate upon these examples of thy grace I will muse and when I sée thy works of goodness in them and upon them encouraged I am to stretch forth my hands unto thée as hoping to receive the like savour and as a thirsly Land doth gape for the latter rain Ver. 6 so doth my soul hunger and thirst after thy righteousness as knowing well that without it my soul can neither be beautiful in thy eye nor yet fruitful in the works of piety or charity Hear me then gracious God spéedily and without delay for till thy grace descend Ver. 7 my spirit faints and fails hide not thy loving countenance from me any longer lest my heart become as cold as a stone within me and I be wholly comfortless and like them that go down into the pit cause me to hear of thy loving kindness and let the morning of thy grace comfortably shine upon me who have too long sate in the darkness of sorrow Ver. 8 for in thée alone is my confidence in thée my trust Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk Ver. 10 and teach me to do thy Will and let thy good Spirit lead me into the Land of righteousness Ver. 11 quicken me O Lord for thy Names sake and for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of this agony and trouble Thou art my God and I lift up my soul unto thee deliver me O Lord from my enemies for I flie unto thee to hide me and of thy mercies cut off mine enemies and destroy all them that afflict my soul For thou art my Lord my Patron and I am thy Client and servant The seven following Psalms are Eucharists or Thanksgivings Hymns properly they are PSALM CXLIV An ode of David THis Psalm is of a mixt kind for in it is contain'd a thanksgiving A prayer And doctrine Interpreters are not agreed upon the occasion and time of the writing of it For some think being moved thereto by the Title that it was composed by David upon his victory over Goliah Others upon his victories after over the Philistines Ammonites c. Some again in the beginning of his reign before he was fully setled But be it as it will The parts of the Psalm are 1. A thanksgiving from vers 1. to 5. 2. A petition from vers 5. to 12. 3. A discussion of happiness and wherein it consists from vers 12. to the end 1. The first part He gives thanks In the beginning the Prophet gives thanks and praiseth God 1. He gives him thanks Blessed be the Lord. And he expresseth his reason Ver. 1 Which teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight In general 1 For the Art of War God taught him Who hath taught me the Art of War In particular That taught my hands to use the sling and my fingers to choose the stones and direct them to the forehead of Goliah For this was Artis opus non virtutis Skill not strength which he taught me 2. Ver. 2 He praiseth God and that for many Titles He is my strength my goodness 2 Because his strength his goodness c.
have the Lord for their God This is an acute sense of this whole clause But if I mistake not David in earnest intends it as a blessing when men enjoy even Temporal blessings so it be with God For Godliness hath the promises of this life as well as that which is to come And it may not be conceiv'd that God created so many excellent things in this world only for fools and disobedient persons Temporal blessings the rewards of piety Besides many of his best Servants have enjoyed the particulars here mentioned let no man think then but they may be rewards of piety David therefore prayes 1. Ver. 12 Vt That our sons may be as plants grown in their youth Well planted well rooted green and flourishing Which is the first happiness of any family For sons are the pillars of any house They first desired and for them other things 2. Vt That our daughters may be as Corner-stones Antarij lapides Stones that joyn and knit the buildings Polished after the similitude of a Palace i. e. very beautiful specious hansome for upon such stones there is commonly most Art shew'd 3. Ver. 13 Ut That our garners may be full affording all manner of store Semper domus tota boni assidui Domini lccuples abundat haedo lacte caseo gallina c. Referta est cella vinaria olearea mellarea c. It hath in it newand old 4. Ver. 14 Ut That our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets Our flocks increase 5. Ut That our Oxen may be strong to labour Healthy not sickly 6. Vt That there be no breaking nor going out No plundering among us nor inroads made upon us as Job 1. But that we live in peace and enjoy our own 7. Vt That there be no complaining in our streets No screetches of women tumults of people cryes and clamours in our Cities as is usual in insurrections and irruptions of enemies This is a part of Davids prayer and it hath coherence with the tenth verse where he thanks God for delivering him from the sword This he desires God to continue that under his reign his people might be happy and enjoy the fruits of peace viz. that their sons might grow up as plants in their youth c. Which if it happen so they take in the last clause of the Psalm They make happy he pronounceth them a Happy people For he concludes all with this Epiphonema 1. Happy is that people that are in such a case Ver. 15 Such as he formerly named 2. Yea Happy is that people whose God is the Lord. With God That hath for his God the True God that is perswaded he is loved by him adopted to be his son and that he takes care of him For if they be happy who possess those outward blessings They must needs be much more happy who possess the fountain of those blessings and all other The Prayer collected out of the one hundred and forty fourth Psalm O Lord God of hoasts Ver. 1 we acknowledge that all military skill and power ãâã from thée for thou teachest our hands to War and our fingers to fight thou art our strength in the battel our fortress to fly to our tower to defend us the fountain and original of all our good our deliverer from danger and captivity our shield to protect us and kéep off all blows therefore we have and will ever hereafter relie and trust on thée The success which we have had at this time and the victory over our enemies is from thée and for it we bless and praise thy Holy Name Thou hast put into the hearts of the whole Army to be subdued and obedient to the conduct of their Leaders and valiantly to oppose themselves to the fury of the enemy to thée therefore we attribute the honour of this conquest and not to our own arm To thée this ready obedience and courage in this people and not to our own wisdom or directions Amazed Lord and astonished I am when I consider this mercy for what is man that man should obey him Or what is man in comparison of thy glory that thou shouldst set him over others to be obeyed Ver. 3 What is any son of man that thou takest notice of him or that thou shouldst make account of him Maââs like to vanity capable indéed of great things but till thou fill him like an empty vessel only full of thin aire vain studies he follows empty things he desires He is of a short life and of no continuance for his Dayes are as a shadow which alwayes shifts the place till night coming on it passeth away And wilt thou open thine eyes and look upon such an one and wilt thou take him from the shéepcoâe from following the shéep to be a Ruler over thy people thy people Israel O Lord establish this house and confirm this throne for ever But thou seest O Lord how thine own work is opposed Ver. 5 rebellious men there are that rise up against it and furious men who seek to destroy it Bow the heavens O Lord and come down and declare thy power from above to their confusion Send forth thy hand and rid and deliver me out of these great waters from these troubles and free me from the hand of them who are strangers to thy worship and true piety whose counsels are mischievous and their works profane for their mouth speaks vanity and their right-hand is a right-hand of falshood Rid me O Lord and deliver me from the violence and conspiracies of these men so will I sing a new song unto thee O God upon a Psaltery and instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee Experience hath taught me by my wonderful escape from an imminent death that it is thou that givest salvation unto Kings and hast delivered David thy servant from the hurtful and unjust sword Good God as thou hast hitherto protected and sustained me so restore me again to my people and let my government over them be prosperous successeful and peaceable Let the sons of my subjects be as young plants well rooted gréen and flourishing full of strength sap and youth and let their daughters be as corner-stones well composed and well beautified fair as the polished works of a Palace Lord blesse their substance and make them to abound in riches and plenty of all good things let their garners and storehouses be full afording all manner of store let their sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets Let their Oxen be strong and healthy to labour Suffer not any inrode from enemies abroad to be made upon them nor sequestrations at home to molest them let there be no tumults or complaints lamentation or mourning heard in the stréets of our Cities Give them O Lord these outward symbols of happiness and the rewards of godliness and obedience Ver. 15 For happy are the people that are in such a case But
receive Petitions of those that call on him in Truth 6. This is the sixth quality of a good King to shew himself easie to receive Petitions and to them that implore his aid which God doth Deââr 4.7.2 But the Prophet corrects his works and limits them 'T is to all that call upon him in Truth which word includes all the conditions of a good prayer 1. Faith For he that prayes without faith prayes to an Idol of his own brain 2. Hope and confidence He prayes not seriously that hopes not to be heard 3. Love For no man can call on him seriously whom he hates or to whom hateful 4. Desire For no man prayes heartily that desires not to obtain 5. Attention and intention without which the prayer is babling no true prayer Ver. 19 The Lord will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and save them 7. 7 To grant Petitions This is the seventh quality of a good King to grant Petitions so that they ask such Petitions as is fit for the King to grant this will Christ do 1. He will fulfil the desires But with this limitation So they fear him 2. He will hear their cry So it must be a cry vehement earnest 3. And will save them Hear he will ad salutem semper licet non ad voluntatem Ver. 20 The Lord preserves all them that love him but all the wicked will he destroy 8 Clemency 8. This is the last quality of a good King Parcere Subjectis debellare Superbos Which Christ will do The Conclusion a Doxology he preserves his Martyrs in patience constancy faith Ver. 21 receives them to glory and takes revenge on their enemies Martyres non eripuit sed nec deseruit 4. The Conclusion is an Epiphonema and answers to the beginning of the Psalm 1. For all these things which I have said My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord This shall be my work while I live 2. And I wish it may be done by all others also And let all flesh blest his holy Name for ever and ever A Hymn collected out of the One hundred and forty fifth Psalm I will ertol thée O my God and King and Governour of the whole World not that my words can make thée Higher who art the most Highest nor my praises make thée more Excellent Ver. 1 who art of all Excellencies the most Excellent but that I may insinuate and commend thy greatness to those that either know thée not or do not honour thée for this end I will bless thy Name through my whole life every day will I praise thée and leave upon Record a Hymn that the people that are yet unborn may magnifie thée it is my desire That thy Name may be praised for ever and ever Ver. 2 For thou Lord art truly great great in Heaven great on Earth there is no end of thy greatness it is unsearchable it is incomprehensible and therefore my desire is That there may be no end of thy praise Ver. 3 but that one Generation report it to another that the father record it to the son and the son deliver over to his séed thy works and thy mighty acts Ver. 4 for which thou art worthy to be praised Glorious O Lord are thy works terrible and yet full of mercy not any of them but beget wonder in me The Heavens above the Sun Moon and Stars speak of the glorious honour of thy Majesty Thy creation of them Ver. 5 declares thy power thy providence for their constant course thy wisdom their light motion influence and their effects in and upon these inferiour bodies thy goodness I never consider those strokes of divine vengeance which thou hast inflicted upon disobedient rebellions and incorrigible sinners Ver. 6 but they declare thée to be a terrible and a jealous God Thy hand was terrible upon the old World mighty upon Pharaoh with his Aegyptians just but full of indignation against that gain-saying Rabble that rose against the King and the Priest At the consideration of these terrible acts I tremble upon the meditation of these works of power I am horribly afraid That only which revives my heart is thy mercy and goodness for I know Thou art a gracious God and full of compassion slow to anger Ver. 8 and of great mercy That thou art good to all and thy mercy is above all thy works which Ver. 9 when I recount in my memory I can no less than abundantly utter thy great goodness Ver. 7 and sing of thy righteousness that gives thy Word and kéeps it that in justice dost administer all things inflicting severe judgments upon the rebellious and sparing thy servants dost reward their weak endeavours with thy choicest blessings Ver. 10 For which thy Saints shall bless thee they shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy power They shall make known to the sons of men thy glorious Acts and commend to the ignorant the excellency of thy power that it is far beyond any Monarchy on earth in extent of place wealth time For whereas there 's is limited thine is universal there 's encumbred with troubles and wants thine is quiet peaceable and rich whereas there 's have had and shall have their periods thine shall be continual in duration Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and thy Dominion endureth throughout all Generations And since we are assured That thy Church in which thou reignest shall continue for ever O Lord stir up thy strength and come amongst us O let thy Kingdom come O Lord uphold those who are ready to fall and raise up those who are bowed down Our eyes wait upon thee O Lord feed all thy faithful people with thy Word and Sacraments in due season open thine hand and satisfie with thy grace every hungry and thirsty soul Thou Lord art righteous in all thy wayes and holy in all thy works be nigh therefore to all that call upon thee with a pure true and honest heart fulfil the desires of them that fear thee and hear their cry and save them Preserve gracious God with a singular care all them that love thée from all evil but for the wicked which oppress them and séek to trample them under their féet bring them to a spéedy destruction So shall my mouth speak forth the praise of the Lord and I hope also That all flesh shall have just occasion to bless thy holy Name for ever and ever Amen Ver. 21 PSAL. CXLVI A Hymn Hallelujah THE Subject of this Hymn is the same with the former and it hath These four parts 1. An Exhortation to praise God ver 1. which David is resolved to do ver 2. 2. A Dehortation from confidence in man how great soever ver 3 4. 3. On the contrary he pronounceth them happy that trust in God ver 5. 4. And to this confidence in God he perswades for many Reasons from ver 6. to the last 1.
troubles in the flesh so were comforts in my soul which did mitigate the sorrow of my heart which did arise from that which grieved the outward man so that the sad thoughts of my heart were turned into matter of joy 2 Cor. 7.4 I am fill'd with comfort I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation Can then the sorrowful thoughts of the heart The prolepsis can tribulations and afflictions delight any soul Yes they may the soul of a pious and righteous man while he considers That 1. Apodosis shewing the true use and end of afflictions Either by them he is purged from the impurity of sin that cleaves so close to him 2. Or that he is by them proved and tryed by God whether he will cleave fast to him 3. Or that God doth this to make him conformable in his sufferings to his head Christ Jesus 4. Or that his reward in heaven for his patience shall be the greater For our light affliction which is but for a moment works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 In the multitude of the greatest sorrows these are Gods comforts and they may delight a soul 3. 3 Confirm'd from the nature of God that will revenge injustice His third Reason to comfort the Church in affliction is drawn from the Nature of God to whom all iniquity especially committed by those in the seats of justice is hateful of which because those who are in high places are most guilty for they most oppress his people therefore he will be sure to take the severest revenge on them And with this also he comforts the people of God under the Cross 1. Vers. 20 Shall the Throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee Thou art a just God Especially in Magistrates who hope to bear it out 1. By their Throne 2. By wicked Laws and wilt thou have any thing to do any society with those that sit upon Thrones and Seats of justice and execute injustice which they hope to bear out by their power 2. Which frame mischief by a Law i. e. Frame wicked Laws or under the colour of Law and Justice oppress the innocent Summum jus summa injuria and injuries may and are too often done ex pravâ interpretatione legis With those who do injustice by the sword of justice God will have no fellowship 3. Vers. 21 And yet there is a third pretence of wicked men to colour their proceedings against innocent men 3 By their Council The first was their Throne 2. The second was the Law And the third is their Council and consultations in them These they call to that end Coeunt turmatim Jagheddu Congregabuntur Convenient They meet by Troops as Thieves they Assemble they Convene in Synods they gather themselves together and that to a most wicked end 1. Against the soul of the Righteous ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Septuag To hunt 2. To Condemne the Innocent Blood Their Laws are Dracc's Laws Now what shall the poor Innocent do in such a case From whom God will defend his people How shall he be comforted Help he must expect none from man from man it cannot come it must come from Heaven and therefore let him say with David Let my enemies rage as they list Vers. 22 and exercise all cruelties toward me under a pretence of zeal piety and legal justice 1. But the Lord is my defence that their treachery and plots shall not hurt me 2. My God is the Rock of my refuge on whom my hope shall safely relie 3. I am fully assured for I have his Word and his promise engaged for it 1. That he shall bring upon them their own iniquity that is Vers. 23 that the iniquity of the wicked man And punish them for their injustice shall return upon his own head As thy Sword hath made women childless so shall thy mother be childless among women saith Samuel to Agag 1 Sam. 15.33 Judges 1.7 2. And shall cut them off in their own wickedness in malitia eorum not so much for their sin as the malice of it 3. Which for assurance of it he repeats and explains who it is that shall do it Yea the Lord our God shall cut them off the Lord whose providence they derided our God the God of Jacob whom they contemned vers 7. The Prayer collected out of the ninty fourth Psalm O Omnipotent Lord God Vers. 6 strange and wonderful is the insolence of wicked men for they do not only slay the widow and stranger and murder the fatherless Vers. 5 but they are come to that height of pride and madness that they break in pieces thy people and afflict thine heritage yea they set their mouths against heaven and blaspheme thee to thy face Vers. 7 boldly and presumptuously they say The Lord shall not see neither shall the God of Jacob regard it O Lord how long shall the wicked Vers. 3 how long shall the wicked thus triumph How long shall they utter and speak hard things How long shall all the workers of iniquity boast themselves of their power their strength Vers. 1 their armies their success their wisdom To thee O Lord God Vers. 2 vengeance belongs to thee vengeance belongs evidently and apparently shew thy justice Lift up thy self ascend into thy Throne and Tribunal O thou Judge of the whole earth and reward the proud after their deserving Man I see being advanced to honour hath no understanding Vers. 8 and without thy Spirit of wisdom is to be compared to the beasts that perish for is it else possible that a creature endued with reason should become so bruitish as to imagine that he that planted the ear and gave him power to hear should not hear Or so foolish as to think that he who framed that admirable Organ of the eye and placed in it the visive faculty should not see himself be deaf and not listen to what is proudly spoke against him and blind and not regard what is maliciously done against his people Is it conceivable that any man should be so follish and stupid as to suppose that he who hath fallen in fury upon many Nations for their sins shall not correct him for his transgressions that he who hath taught man knowledge and shewed him by his own conscience what is good and evil and by it reproving him when he does amiss and by it taking revenge on him a is it possible I say that he should not know and revenge it Yet to this Blasphemy and Atheism some have arrived O Lord never let any of thine fall into this bruitishness far remove from them this folly make them wise to know that thy ear of jealousie hears all things and that thy eyes run through the world and tryes the children of men that thou art present in all our wayes seest our actions hearest our words nay searchest into the secrets of our hearts and the depth of our counsels and that it is
but in vain to offend thee and think to be hid to attempt to break in pieces thy heritage and murder the innocent and think to escape The Lord knows the thoughts of man that they are vanity Thou Lord at this time hast shewed thy people heavy things thou hast given us a Cup of deadly wine to drink Vers. 20 The enemies of thy Truth have set themselves down in the Throne of iniquity they have framed mischief by a Law they have gathered themselves together met in Assemblies and Synods against the soul of the Righteous and have condemned the Innocent blood Who shall now rise up for us against the evil doers Or who dare stand up for us against these workers of iniquity At this their prosperity our feet had well nigh slipt at this their oppression the treadings of many were well nigh gone Nothing can support us but thy mercy make us trust to it nothing can comfort us in our sorrows but thy promises In the multitude of the thoughts that we have in our hearts send down thy comforts that may delight our souls Make us know that thou wilt have no fellowship society or commeres with the Throne of iniquity that thou art not in the midst of their Assemblies and Councils to bless them nor doest approve their mischief framed by a Law Vers. 14 Teach us out of thy Law that the afflictions of the godly are from thee our Father and a seal of our adoption and therefore Blessed is the man whom thou chastnest Vers. 13 and instructest with this Rod. Out of thy Law we learn That God will not cast off his people nor forsake his inheritance O let this quiet our hearts and set them at rest in these dayes of adversity Laught we are again out of thy Law Vers. 15 That judgement shall return unto righteousness that thy judgements which now seem to sleep will at last awake Vers. 13 and in justice overtake the murderers of thy people assured we are that the pit shall be digged up for the ungodly till that be done let us wait with patience Vers. 15 and wish an upright and sincere heart acquiesce in thy promises and follow the wayes of thy justice approving thy wisdom knowing the time thou choosest is best for us In the mean time be thou our help our defence our rock or refuge our help Vers. 17 when these wolves are ready to devoure us our defence when they strike at us Vers. 22 our rock when they come as the waves of the Sea about us and our City of refuge when they pursue us But as for them the time is best known to thée and we submit to it and when that time is come bring upon them their own iniquity cut them off in their own malicious wickedness Vers. 23 yea cut them off O Lord our God to thee be praise glory and honour now and ever PSAL. XCV A Psalm to be sung at all times in all places Bellar. by all men ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã FOR it contains an invitation to praise God with internal and external worship and therefore is fitly chosen by the Church to be sung in the beginning of our Liturgy to excite all men present to serve God infear and rejoice with reverence Two parts of this Psalm 1. An Exhortation to praise God to adore worship kneel ver 1 2 6. 2. Reasons to perswade to it 1. Gods mercies ver 3 4 5 7. 2. His judgments in punishing his own people Israel for their neglect of this duty from ver 8. to 11. 1. David begins this Psalm with an earnest invitation including himself The first part David calls an Assembly crying 1. O come let us come along with me though a King he thought not himself exempted Ver. 1 2. And the Assembly being come together he acquaints them what they came for 1. To sing to the Lord heartily merrily joyfully Exaltemus 1 To sing to God 1. Let us make a joyful noise make a Jubilee of it Jubilemus 2. Openly and with a loud voyce Let us make a joyful noise with Psalms 3. Reverently as being in his eye his presence 4. Gratefully Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving 2 To adore and worship outwardly inwardly 2. To worship to bow down to kneel ver 6. Adoration humble Adoration outward worship that of the body as well as inward that of the soul is his due and that for these reasons Ver. 6 2. For God calls for nothing from us which there is not great reason The second part His Reasons to perswade it but that we yield him serve him then we ought with heart and body out of many respects 1. Because he is the Rock of our salvation whether temporal or spiritual Ver. 1 so long as we rely on him as a Rock 1 Because our Rock safe we are from the tyranny of men from the wrath of God from the power of the Divel death hell 2. Because he is a great God and a great King above all gods Jehovah Ver. 5 a God whose Name is I am an incommunicable name to any other 2 A great God and King for his Essence is from himself and immutable all other derivative and mutable and the great Jehovah great in Power Majesty Glory and greater than all other Nuncupative gods Idols Kings for he is above them all above all gods 3. The whole orb of the earth is under his power and dominion Ver. 4 3 Under his Dominion the whole World In his hands are the deep places of the earth the strength of the hills is his also The globe of the earth in all its extensions is subject to him 4. And no marvail for he is the Creator of both 4 The Creator which is another Argument The Sea is his and he made it Ver. 5 and his hands formed the dry land Ver. 6 5. He is our Maker the Creator and Lord of man also 5 Our Maker 6. Our Lord God in particular 6 Our Lord God for he hath called us to be his inheritance For we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand Now all these laid together and well weighed being wonderful expressions of his mercy and loving-kindness are of strength enough to perswade us heartily reverently openly to sing to and praise him to adore bow down and kneel before him 2 In which duty if we fail he proposeth what is to be expected by the example of the Israelites 2. In which if we obstinately and stubbornly fail we have a fair warning given us what is like to follow by the example of the Israelites purposed here by the Prophet That if mercy will not win upon us then judgment may Lege Historiam ne fiat Historia Numb 14. Exod. 17. The sum is this 1. God gave them a day and he gives it you 't is the hodie of your life 2. In this day he speaks he utters his voyce