mercy to them that he may have the more glory thanks for his work I will magnifie him with thanksgiving 3. Moral worship offered in Spirit and truth in the meanest degree of sincerity is more acceptable to God then the most pompous ceremonial service which can be done to him without Spirit and truth This also shall please the Lord better then an oxe and bullock that hath bornes and hooses that is which is perfect and wanteth nothing in the external part of commanded service 4. That which we know shall be most acceptable to God we ought to study and follow that most that we may walk before God unto all well-pleasing in special to praise him in affliction and to praise him from a contrite spirit This also shall please the Lord better then c. Ver. 32. The humble shall see this and be glad and your hearts shall live that seek God 33. For the Lord heareth the poor and despiseth not his prisoners From the third evidence of the victory of his faith in the prophecy of the fruits of his sufferings mainly as he was a type of Christ who here is most intended Learn 1. The exercise of the Saints set down in Scripture and namely the exercise of David and of Christ represented by him was foretold that it should be of great use to the Church of God in after-times as now we see it in effect The humble shall see this and be glad 2. The humble soul is most capable of divine knowledge and comfort The humble shall see this 3. The escape of our Lord Jesus out of his sufferings for us and the escape of his afflicted children out of their sufferings through faith in him is a matter of instruction comfort and joy to every humbled beleever The humble shall see this and be glad 4. As such who are pure in spirit and truly humbled do live upon Gods almes and are daily at his doores for relief of their necessities and for communion with his gracious goodnesse so shall they thrive well in this trade Your heart shall live that seek God 5. The Lordâ—… children have a life beyond the children of men which is able to quicken them in their deepest troubles and to make them blessed in their delivery out of troubles a life moral and spiritual whereby their conscience is comforted Your heart shall live that seek God 6. The right way for the godly afflicted to have the benefit of the troubles and events which Christ and his followers have had experience of is to comfort themselves in hope of the like event and successe in seeking God as they did The humble shall see this and be glad and your heart shall live that seek God 7. As the Lords poor men are much in prayer so shall they be rich in good answers For the Lord heareth the poor 8. Whoever in defence of any point of Gods truth are put to trouble either in body or minde by men or Satan or both they are all sufferers for God they are all prisoners who howsoever they be misregarded by men shall be of much price in Gods eyes He despiseth not his prisoners Ver. 34. Let the heaven and earth praise him the seas and every thing that moveth therein 35. For God will save Sion and will build the Cities of Iudah that they may dwell there and have it in possession 36. The seed also of his servants shall inherit it and they that love his Name shall dwell therein From the last evidence of the victory of faith set down in a prophetical thanksgiving for the foreseen mercies which were to come to the Church by Christs procurement and specially to the Jewes Learne 1. Large sense of troubles maketh way for large observation and sense answerable of mercies The evil of deepest afflictions the Lord can recompense with highest consolation as the beginning and ending of this Psalm giveth evidence 2. The soul that seeth the mercy of God toward it self doth see also the mercy of God upon the same grounds to all others his people in Sion his Church in every place and time and he seeth the benefits of Christs sufferings to be matter of praise unto God able to fill the whole world and he seeth his own insufficiency for the praising of God also and that all the creatures are all few enough when they all concurre in this Song Let the heaven and the earth praise him and the seas and every thing that moveth therein 3. Whatsoever condition of Gods people can be represented by the various condition motion settlement or commotion of heaven earth and seas and things therein cannot but furnish matter of joyful praise to God and come up to contribute to Gods praises Let the heaven and earth the seas and every thing that moveth therein praise him 4. Every delivery of every beleever and above all the delivery of Christ as man from his expiâ—…tory sufferings is earnests and pledges of the delivery of the Church militant out of all its troubles For God will save Sion saith the Psalmist being now delivered out of his trouble 5. As the Lord will ever maintain his Church his Sion and his Iudah so hath he a purpose to give a special evidence of this his care among the Jewes how farre soever they may at some times be from all appearance of his respect to them for in the promise he keepeth in expressely the Name of Iudah He will build the Cities of Iudah 6. What outward testimonies of Gods respect to the Jewes for Christs sake shall be given unto them after the destruction of their Cities here presupposed we must leave it to God to be in due time by his own works interpreted and to be made out according to what here is said That the Cities of Judah shall be builded that they may dwell there and have it to wit the promised land in possession the seed also of his servants shall inherit it and they that love his Name shall dwell therein Only let us observe that the duty of the true Citizens of the Church is to transmit true Religion to their posterity and that this is the best and only way to transmit also the blessing of God and the constant possession thereof unto them The seed also of his servants shall inherit it and they that love his Name c. PSAL. LXX To the chief Musician A Psalme of David to bring to remembrance THis Psalm is almost one in words with the latter end of Psalm 40. wherein David being in present danger of his life by his enemies prayeth first for speedy delivery ver 1. next for shameful disappointment to his enemies ver 2 3. and thirdly for a comfortable life to all the godly ver 4. from which condition albeit he himself was very farre for the present yet he professeth he doth relie on God by faith and prayeth for a timous delivery ver 5. From the Inscription Learn 1. Our most notable dangers and deliveries should most
siege about them that they escape not They encamp against thee saith the Psalmist speaking as it were to every one of Gods People 4. Wraâ—…h pursueth the Persecutor both living and dead and ceaseth not to follow him so long as there is any thing of him capable of punishment for God not only â—…iseth the 〈◊〉 and destroyeth the enemie and consumeth his flesh but also he hath seattered the bâ—…es of him that enâ—…ampeth against theâ—… 5. When theâ—… is nothing left of the Pâ—… 〈◊〉 unpunished in the world the wrath of God pursueth his name and memoâ—…ial and the wrong done to the innocent is the Persecutors greatâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou hast put them to sâ—…me 6 As true hâ—…ur and thâ—…â—…ring of â—…pect from men upon any is the gift of God who honoureth them that honour him so deserved sâ—… and 〈◊〉 for â—…n committed when it is poâ—…ed out as the effâ—…ct of Godâ—… justice maketh them who 〈◊〉 him to be ligâ—…ly esteemed Thou hast put them to sâ—… because God hath 〈◊〉 them Ver. 6. O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Sion when God bringeth back the captivity of his people Iacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be glad The last ground of comfort to the persecuted godly is the hope of compleat â—…ion to the Church of God and of every true member therof in Christ. Whence learne 1. There is no â—…lid consolation against persecution or any other grievance save in the salvation which is to be â—…ad in Christ He is the Sâ—…iour and salvation of Israel 2. As Christs coming â—…o accomplish salvation by pâ—…t and part in his own order and time is most certainly to be belâ—…ved and hoped for so is it most earnestly to be wished longed after and prayed for as the example of the Lords People here longing for his coming to â—…ion in his incarnation and maniâ—…ion of his grace and then in the spreading forth of his grace and salvation out of Sion to Gâ—…ntiles and Jeweâ—… doth teach us O thâ—… the salvation of 〈◊〉 were come out of Sion 3. As the captivity of Gods People dâ—… remain in any degree and measure which may make 〈◊〉 coming to be so much the more deâ—…eable and to be the object of wishes and matter of Prayer so shall every sort and degree of captivity at last be removed from Gods People till Redemption be compleatly fulfilled God shall bring back the captivity of his People 4. As of all People whoever had the name of Gods People the miseries and captivities of the Israelites because of their provocation against God have been the most conspicuous and signal So of all the People on the earth and of all the Nations which have been honoured with the title of Gods People the deliverance of Israel from captivity shall be most eminently and conspicuously comfortable for when God shall bring back the captivity of his People then Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall be glad PSAL. LIV. To the chief Musician on Neginoth Maschil A Psalme of David when the Ziphims came and said to Saul Doth not David hide himself with us DAvid being betrayed by the Ziphims First doth make his Prayer to God for delivery ver 1 2. Secondly he strengtheneth his faith by some reasons ver 3 Thirdly he is confident of his own delivery and of Gods judgement on the Ziphims whereunto he subscribes ver 4 5. And last of all he promiseth praise to God for his own assured deliverance ver 6 7. From the Inscription Learn 1. Particular straits and particular deliveries should be particularly remarked as David here remembereth the danger he was in by the treachery of the Ziphims 2. Mighty men will finde readily more friends in an evil cause then the godly do finde in a good cause As Saul hath the Ziphims to offer their service to his cruelty when David was in straits 3. The wicked are very hearty to do an ill turn and glad to finde occasion of it Doth-not David say they hide himself with us as if this had been good and blessed newes Ver. 1. SAve me O God by thy Name and judge me by thy strength 2. Heare my Prayer O God give eare to the words of my mouth From Davids Prayer Learne 1. The godly can never be so surprised with trouble but they should flie to God for delivery as David doth here and it is a rare vertue not to forget this relief in depth of distresse 2. When men beleeve that God is all-sufficient and answerable to what is spoken of him they have great encouragement to go to him in diffiâ—…ulty Save me by thy Name saith David Gods name gave him ground to pray and hope for deliverance 3. Albeit no man should rashly call God to give judgement yet in a good cause against a strong Party an upright man may call for and expect assistance from God Iudge me by thy strongth saith he 4. In servent prayer the very voice hath use as with the supplicant to expresse his earnestnesse and his faith in God and to stiâ—… him up and hold him fixed to his supplication so with God also hath it use in regard it is an expresse invocation of him and a signe of dependance upon him and of expectation of a good answer from him Heare my Prayer O God give care unto the words of my mouth Ver. 3. For strangers are risen up against me and oppressours seek after my soule they have not set God before them Selah The reasons supporting his saith in his Prayer â—…e taken from the unkindnesse unnatuâ—…alnesse and cruelty not only of his Countrey-men but also of his father in law and of his old acquaintance slippery Courtiers who sometime professed friendship Whence learn 1. No strangers are more strange then they who cast off the bands of civility and nature wherein they were bound false Countrey-men false brethren false friends false alliance are those of whom men may expect leâ—…st in their need for David findeth such men to be his greatest enemies Strangers are risen up against me saith he 2. When they who should protect a man do him most wrong God will hear the pâ—…ints put up against such men oppressours seek after my soul or â—…e 3. When the fear of God is laid aside there is nothing to be expected of the godlesse man but the worst of evills which he is able to do there is no aw band to restrain him for they have not set God before them 4. The lesse hope there be of mans mercy the more hope is of Gods help the more unkinde and cruel men be who should be friends the more may the Lords kindnesse and comfort be expected for supply of inlacks as here the dâ—…ist of Davids argument holdeth forth Ver. 4. Behold God is mine helper the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. 5. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies cut them off in thy truth In the third place he is assured of help to himself and to his friends
and of vengeance to his enemies Whence learn 1. Fervent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath readily a swift answer and sometimes wonderfully twist even before a man have ended speech as here David findeth in experience Behold saith he God is my helper 2. The sight of faith is very clear and piercing through all clouds when God holds forth the light of his Spirit unto it it can demonstrate God present in an instant ready to help in greatest straits Behold God is my helpe 3. There is more joy in Gods felt presence then grief in felt trouble for Behold God is my helper is more comfort then his friends unkindnesse and strangers malice was grievous 4. Such as do comfort and help a man in time of his tentation are not onely helpers unto him in the matter of his temporal life but also instruments to save his soul which by tentations is like to be drawn into sin and so to destraction for David saith of such men they uphold my soul. 5. Such as take part with the persecuted Saints God will take part with them The Lord is with them that uphold my soul. 6. As God is a friend to the friends of his distressed children so is he a sâ—… to their 〈◊〉 and their foes shall smart for their enmity in due time He shall reward evil to my enemies 7. The doome of the wicked enemies of Gods children is set down in Gods word his truth is the wicked mans terror and the godly 〈◊〉 strength Cut them off in thy truth 8. Albeit we may not without clâ—… warrant pray against particular persons yet we may subscribe to Gods Word set down in Scripture against his obstinate enemies and our enemies for his cause Cut them off in thy truth Ver. 6. I will freely sacrifice unto thee I 〈◊〉 praise thy Name O LORD for it is good 7. For he hath delivered me out of all trouble and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies In the last place he promiseth praise to God for the certaily he had of his deliverance whereof he was no lesse assured theâ—… if he had seen it with his eyes Whence learnâ—… Promised and hoped for deliverance is able to affect the 〈◊〉 as a mercy present and already past as here it doth David I will sacrifice to thee and praise thee 2. Readinesse of heart to glorifie God and liberty of spirit with occasion granted to praise him for a benefit is another 〈◊〉 benefit superadded and greatly to be esteemed of as David doth account of it I will freely sacrifice unto thee and praise thy Name for it is good thaâ—…â—…s not only is thy name good but to have a heart sincerely to 〈◊〉 â—…hee and liberty to expresse thy praise before others is 〈◊〉 Then is an action good when it is done because it is a good â—…on and is not gone about for by-ends I will praise his name for it is good saith he 4. In one experience of one delivery man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foresight of ful delvery out of every evil or trouble wherein he can fall as here David speaketh of hopes for full delivery he hath delivered me out of all troubles 5. The same light of Gods Word made lively by Gods Spirit is able to shew a man both the destruction of his wicked enemies and his own deliverance from them and as a man may rejoyce in Gods mercy towards himself so also may he rejoyce in Gods justice against his enemies provided he be free of private revenge mine eye hath scene thy judgements upon mine enemies PSAL. I. V. To the chief Musician on Neginoth Maschil A Psalme of David THis Psalme containeth this doctrine That albeit Christ and his followers may be in great straits by the 〈◊〉 of their pretended friends yet through Gods favour they shall be delivered as David felt in experience The use of which Doctrine is subjoyned in the end of the Psalme which well agreeeth with the Psalmists condition in the time of Absaloms and Achitophels conspiracie The parts of the Psalme we may make these three In the â—…st is set down his sorrowful supplication to ver 16. In the next his comforting of himself in the Lord his deliverer to ver 22. In the third the use of this experience in the two last verses In his supplication he prayeth in the first place for a gracious hearing because of the calumnies and cruelty of his enemies ver 1 2 3. In the next place he setteth down his pitiful condition of minde ver 4 5. making him to wish to be faire from the company of these conspirators which were combined against him ver 6 7 8. In the third place he prayeth to God to confound their counsels because the whole City was in an uproare against him seeking how to execute their mischievous plot ver 9 10 11. In the fourth place hâ—… condescends upon a more particular reason of his prayer for confounding their counsels because the plotter of the conspiracy had been most intimate in his familiarity and deep upon his counsel ver 12 13 14. Whereupon in the last place by way of prayer he prophesieth of the curse of God to come upon them ver 15. In the second part of the Psalme he comforteth himself in God First by his resolution constantly to depend upon God and hopefully to pray ver 16 â—…7 Seondly by his former experiences of deliverances granted to him before ver 18. Thirdly because he was assured God should take order with his enemies for their treacherous breach of Covenant and plaâ—…ing of their malicious designes with fair pretences and deep dissimulation ver 19 20 21. In the third part of the Psalme are the uses of this experience ver 22 23. Ver. 1. GIve eare to my prayer O God and hide not thy self from my supplication 2. Attend unto me and hear me I mourne in my complaint and make a noise 3. Because of the voice of the enemies because of the oppression of the wicked for they cast iniquity upon me and in wrath they hate me From his addresse unto God for relief in this as in his other sad conditions Learn 1. Many grievances are the godly subject unto but in none of them all is there any ease for them till they go to God and lay out their case before him Give care to my prayer O God 2. As it is ease of heart to supplicants to have any signe of the acceptance of their supplication So not to finde accesse in prayer doth adde much weight to their trouble hide not saith he thy self from my supplication 3. When a sad heart is fixed on God and findeth what to say to him it may expect that its words shall not be misregarded of God but punctually taken knowledge of attend unto me and hear me 4. Though a childe of God were never so stout-hearted naturally yet when God exerciseth his spirit with trouble he shall be made to weep before God as a childe and must not be ashamed to be thus humbled