potent Kings who presuming of their strength opposed the accomplishment of his promises to you 11. Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan and all the kingdoms of Canaan 11. First of all Sihon King of the Amorites who were esteemed invincible XXI Numb 24. II. Amos 9. and then Og that giantly King of Bashan XXI Numb 33. III. Deut. II. and at last all the Kingdoms and Kings of the Land of Canaan XII Josh 7 24. 12. And gave their land for an heritage an heritage unto Israel his people 12. Which He graciously bestowed upon us the Children of Israel as an inheritance we should hold of Him by a Divine right of which none while we continue his obedient people shall be able to dispossess us 13. Thy name O LORD endureth for ever and thy memorial O LORD throughout all generations 13. O Lord how astonishing is this thy omnipotent Goodness the fame of which shall never be forgotten But an illustrious memory O Lord shall be continued of it from generation to generation 14. For the LORD will judge his people and he will repent himself concerning his servants 14. For though our enemies may sometimes oppress us when we offend Him yet the Lord at last will take the part of his people and deliver them and being reconciled unto his servants will turn his severity into kindness towards them 15. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold the work of mens hands 15. It is not in the power of the Idols which the heathen worship to divert his kindness from us for they are of no more value then the silver and the gold of which they are made and are so far from being able to doe any thing that they themselves are made by those that adore them 16. They have mouths but they speak not eyes have they but they see not 16. They are mere Images of things without their life having mouths but cannot give a word of advice or comfort to their supplicants and eyes also but cannot see much less prevent any danger that doth approach them 17. They have ears but they hear not neither is there any breath in their mouths 17. Ears they have but cannot hear a word that is said to them and noses also but they do not so much as breathe much less can they smell the odours that are offered to them 18. They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them 18. They that make them therefore or put any confidence in them are as senseless as themselves having eyes for instance but do not see that brutes are more excellent then such gods and that no help is to be expected from them 19. Bless the LORD O house of Israel bless the LORD O house of Aaron 19. O how much then are we all bound to bless the Lord the Creatour of all who hath freed us from this stupid blindness Let the whole Nation of the Children of Israel especially the Priests of the Lord praise Him and give thanks to Him who hath better instructed them 20. Bless the LORD O house of Levi ye that fear the LORD bless the LORD 20. Let all the Levites declare how gracious He is yea let all his pious Worshippers of whatsoever Nation they be join in this heavenly imployment of speaking good of the Lord. 21. Blessed be the LORD out of Sion which dwelleth at Jerusalem Praise ye the LORD 21. Let them all say with one accord the Lord be ever praised in this holy place who though He be the owner of all the World yet makes his special residence at Jerusalem The honour the heathens give to their lifeless Images ought to excite you all with the greater devotion to praise the Lord of the World PSALM CXXXVI ARGUMENT This Psalm like the former is a commemoration of the goodness of God expressed in his wonderfull works particularly those He had done for that Nation And it is likely was composed to be sung upon the great Festivals as every day I suppose they sung the foregoing which is of the same strain with this and contains much of the same matter onely here at every half Verse one half of the Quire answers to the other in these words For his mercy endureth for ever A form of acknowledgment prescribed by David to be used continually in the Divine Service 1 Chron. XVI 41 and accordingly followed by Solomon 2. Chron. VII 3 6. when he dedicated the Temple and by Jehoshaphat when by the incouragement of a Prophet he went out to incounter a vast Army with small Forces 2 Chron. XX. 21. and here is repeated six and twenty times to make them the more sensible that they owed all they had to the mere bounty of God and to excite them to depend intirely upon it and rest assured it would never fail them if they did piously and most heartily acknowledge it Such repetitions we use now in our earnest Prayers when we say Lord have mercy upon us c. which are no more vain then these I have variously expressed the sense of this repeated acknowledgment according as the other part of the several verses seemed to direct me 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 1. OFfer your thankfull Hymns unto the Lord of all who is as good as He is great and will continue his kindness which hath been exceeding abundant towards us unto all succeeding generations 2. O give thanks unto the God of gods for his mercy endureth for ever 2. He is the Sovereign of all the heavenly Hosts and therefore praise Him and give thanks unto Him for He can imploy them all for your help and protection as He hath in former times and you need not doubt of his kindness which continues unto all Ages 3. O give thanks unto the Lord of lords for his mercy endureth for ever 3. All the Kings and Princes of the Earth are his Subjects upon which account also give Him praise and thanks For his kindness endures throughout all Ages to defend you as He hath done hitherto from their tyrannical violence 4. To him who alone doth great wonders for his mercy endureth for ever 4. He it is and He alone whose Works are so great that they surprise all those who seriously consider them with wonder and astonishment and therefore give Him praise and thanks For his kindness will never fail still to imploy his infinite Power for the good of those who are truly gratefull to Him 5. To him that by wisdome made the heavens for his mercy endureth for ever 5. Look upon the Heavens and behold with admiration and praise the splendour and the order wherein his wisdome hath contrived and setled them For his kindness is as large and as firm and durable as they 6. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters for his mercy endureth for ever 6. And then look down to the Earth and thankfully praise Him
who brought it out of the waters and preserves it in its just extent from being again overflowed by them for his kindness is no less immoveable and by length of time can never be impaired 7. To him that made great lights for his mercy endureth for ever 7. Witness those great Lights which never go out but always call upon us to praise and give thanks to Him who made them to illuminate the world and to be the emblems of his kindness which sends its benign influences continually upon us unto all generations 8. The Sun to rule by day for his mercy endureth for ever 8. By day the Sun exerts his power to quicken all inferiour Beings and excites us to praise Him and be thankfull to Him whose kindness thereby perpetually administers to us all necessary things and will do so to the end of the world 9. The Moon and Stars to rule by night for his mercy endureth for ever 9. And by night the Moon or the Stars supply its place and let us see how much we are bound to praise and thank Him whose kindness is so constant that in the worst condition it will never quite forsake us 10. To him that smote Egypt in their first-born for his mercy endureth for ever 10. We must needs say so and think our selves ingaged above all others to give Him thanks if we call to mind that memorable night XII Exod. 29. when He punished the Egyptians with the loss of all their first-born For his kindness still continues for ever to relieve those that are injured and to punish their insolent Oppressours 11. And brought out Israel from among them for his mercy endureth for ever 11. Let us not forget how after that stroke He brought our Forefathers out of the cruel Bondage wherein they had long held them XII Exod. 41 42. but thankfully acknowledg that wonderfull deliverance For it is an argument why we should never distrust his kindness in the sorest straits that can befall us 12. With a strong hand and with a stretched out arm for his mercy endureth for ever 12. His Power let us remember is irresistible which first by lesser then by greater signs and wonders delivered us out of their hands VI. Exod. 5 6. VII VIII c. to praise and magnify Him whose kindness is stupendiously great and will never cease to succour those who depend upon Him 13. To him which divided the red Sea into parts for his mercy endureth for ever 13. Let us therefore give thanks to him who when our Forefathers utterly despaired of safety XIV Exod. 10 11. commanded the red Sea to retire and leave a broad way for them to pass v. 21. which plainly proves that his kindness is inexhausted and alway ready to help us in the most dreadfull dangers 14. And made Israel to pass thorough the midst of it for his mercy endureth for ever 14. For he led them safely through the very midst of the Sea which rose up like a wall on either hand of them XIV Exod. 22. and will by his kindness eternally secure all those that piously confide in Him 15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the red Sea for his mercy endureth for ever 15. But throw those that oppose Him headlong into destruction as He did Pharaoh and his Host in the very same place where Israel was preserved XIV Exod. 27 c. For his kindness loves to compleat his favours and perfect what He hath begun for his people 16. To him which led his people through the wilderness for his mercy endureth for ever 16. And accordingly when He had thus delivered them He led his people by the direction of a glorious Cloud through an untrodden Desert and there with our thankfull praises let it be remembred made a miraculous provision for them Exod. XVI For his endless kindness wheresoever they went still with new Benefits pursued them 17. To him which smote great Kings for his mercy endureth for ever 17. When potent Kings opposed their passage to the promised Land He utterly discomfited them to his praise be it thankfully acknowledged For his kindness was not stopt by difficulties but ever overcame them 18. And slew famous kings for his mercy endureth for ever 18. Though they were Kings famous for their prowess yet such was his for ever to be praised kindness towards us He gave us as easy and as absolute a victory over them as He had done before over Pharaoh and his Host 19. Sihon king of the Amorites for his mercy endureth for ever 19. Over Sihon King of that fierce Nation of the Amorites who were thought invincible II. Amos 9. For his kindness was mightier then they and gave us this as an earnest of future conquests over our Enemies 20. And Og the king of Bashan for his mercy endureth for ever 20. Over that huge Tyrant Og the King of Bashan III. Deut. 11. For his kindness added that as a new pledge of what He intended to doe for us when we came into Canaan 21. And gave their land for an heritage for his mercy endureth for ever 21. And gave both their Countries to be held of Him as a perpetual inheritance For his kindness doth not decay nor loves to revoke his Favours but continues to the latest Posterity 22. Even an heritage unto Israel his servant for his mercy endureth for ever 22. An Inheritance they were which he setled upon us the Children of Israel as long as we continue his faithfull Servants For his kindness hath no end but delights to perpetuate his Mercies to those who are worthy of them 23. Who remembred us in our low estate for his mercy endureth for ever 23. Nay when for our Sins we were severely afflicted and in danger to be thrown out of this good Land into which at last He brought us Judg. II III IV c. He was pleased graciously to relieve us For his kindness pardoned our ingratitude and was as forward as ever to bestow fresh Benefits upon us 24. And hath redeemed us from our enemies for his mercy endureth for ever 24. And rescued us many a time when we cryed unto Him from the power of those that tyrannized over us For his kindness was not spent by the frequent deliverances it had given us but still granted new matter for our thanksgivings to Him 25. Who giveth food to all flesh for his mercy endureth for ever 25. Whose Bounty is not confined to us alone but supplies the wants of all mankind yea of all living Creatures For his kindness hath no bounds nor will ever cease to make a plentifull provision for them 26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven for his mercy endureth for ever 26. O raise your hearts to give Him thanks with the highest praises whose power extends it self beyond this Earth even unto the highest Heavens For his kindness is so unwearied that we may hope from thence to be ever receiving more and more of his Blessings PSALM CXXXVII
in all generations 1. O Lord who sustainest and governest the whole world Thou hast been the constant Protectour of our Nation for many Ages having afforded all things necessary for the defence and security of our Forefathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob when they had no certain dwelling-place but were strangers in the Land whither we are going and supported us in the Land of Egypt where in a time of dearth Thou madest an ample provision for us as Thou hast also done hitherto in this barren desert 2. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God 2. Where though we have no Towns nor Houses we ought to think our selves safe and to trust in Thee who art the same mighty God Thou ever wast not onely before we and our Forefathers were made but before the mountains arose out of the waters and Thou commandedst the rest of the earth and this beautifull world to appear and ever wilt be whatever changes there be here without any alteration 3. Thou turnest man to destruction and sayest Return ye children of men 3. We have highly offended Thee indeed and so did our first Parents who became thereby most wretched and miserable Creatures and were doomed by Thee to return to the dust out of which they were formed as all their posterity must do whensoever Thou summonest them to obey that sentence Thou hast passed upon them 4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night 4. And should we have a reprieve for a longer time then our first Father Adam and some of his successours had who lived near to a thousand years we should be wretched still especially when we compared our selves with Thee in whose account the longest life is as inconsiderable as one day and that when it is spent and gone nay as three or four hours which pass away in sleep 5. Thou carriest them away as with a floud they are as a sleep in the morning they are like grass which groweth up 5. But alas in these ages Thou carriest men away suddenly as a violent torrent doth those things it meets withall in its passage they vanish like a dream when we awake and are as grass which in the morning is grown higher and stronger then it was 6. In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up in the evening it is cut down and withereth 6. But how flourishing and fresh soever it then appear is cut down before night and loses all its beauty such is the frailty of man who now is in vigorous health and anon languishes and falls to the earth 7. For we are consumed by thine anger and by thy wrath are we troubled 7. This I am sure is our condition who have so provoked Thee to anger by our sins that we perish in an instant XVI Numb 35 46. and are perpetually disturbed with dreadfull apprehensions of thy heaviest displeasure XVII Numb 12 13. 8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance 8. After many threatnings Thou hast proceeded as a righteous Judge to call us to a severe account for all our foul crimes though never so secretly committed and makest it appear by our punishments to all the world XIV Numb 20 c. that we are a perverse generation though we pretend to thy service 9. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath we spend our years as a tale that is told 9. For we constantly feel some effects or other of thine anger whereby our lives decline exceeding fast and many times before we can say what 's this is at an end 10. The days of our year are threescore years and ten and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years yet is their strength labour and sorrow for it is soon cut off and we flie away 10. We fall short of the days of our Forefathers being now all doomed to perish in the Wilderness and not to exceed commonly the age of LXX or if men be of a vigorous constitution at most of LXXX years the best part of which also is spent in toilsome travels XX. Num. 14. XXI 4. XXXI 11. II. Deut. 1 3 c. and much sorrow and vexation to see the strongest among us cut down like grass in a moment or at least making great haste unto their graves 11. Who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy wrath 11. And yet alas who is there that seriously considers and lays to heart the dreadfull effects of thy displeasure which irresistibly falls upon us XXV Num. 1 2 3 c. or with such a pious fear as it ought to excite takes any care to prevent more terrible punishments then those we have felt already 12. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisedom 12. Lord do Thou touch us with a sense of thy judgments that we may not presume thus foolishly to offend Thee as our Fathers have done but making a just account of the shortness and uncertainty of our lives may wisely apply our selves to make the best use we can of them in repenting of our sins 13. Return O LORD how long and let it repent thee concerning thy servants 13. And then be pleased to turn thy severity into kindness towards us Let it suffice good Lord that we have indured so many and long punishments and now at last revoke or mitigate the sentence Thou hast past upon us who though very disobedient are thy servants 14. O satisfie us early with thy mercy that we may rejoice and be glad all our days 14. O let us see some appearance of thy love to us which may satisfie and chear our languishing souls like the morning light after a tedious night and instead of sighs and groans fill us with shouts of joy all the remainder of our days 15. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen evil 15. Compensate our past troubles with future comforts and make our happiness to equal if not exceed the misery we have suffered 16. Let thy work appear unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children 16. Declare to all the world that Thou hast not quite forsaken us thy servants but wilt still work wonders for us and doe more glorious and magnificent things for our Children though we have sinned against Thee XX. Numb 17 18 c. XXXI 2. II. Deut. 25. III. 24. 17. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us and establish thou the work of our hands upon us yea the work of our hands establish thou it 17. Let them inherit by the special favour of the Lord our God that lovely and pleasant Land XLIX Gen. 15. VIII Deut. 7 8 c. which He hath promised to give us and for that end direct
whom He takes a tender care 4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise be thankfull unto him and bless his name 4. When you enter therefore into the gates of his Sanctuary present Him not merely with the sacrifices of beasts but with the most acceptable sacrifice of hearty Thanksgiving and as you stand in his Courts attending on Him cease not to sing his praises Thank Him I say for all his benefits and praise his incomparable perfections 5. For the LORD is good his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations 5. For as his power is transcendent so is his goodness as appears by his never-failing bounty towards us and his stedfast faithfulness to his word for the mercy promised to our Forefathers He hath exactly fulfilled in our days and will continue to all succeeding generations PSALM CI. A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The Title tells us who made this Psalm and the matter of it is so plain that any body may see it is a pious resolution of David to govern first himself and then his Court and then his Kingdom with so much care that the good might expect all favour from him but no wicked man of any sort have the least countenance or incouragement The onely difficulty is to know when he composed it whether before or after he was settled in his Kingdom The first words of it seem to countenance those who think he was possessed of it and newly entred upon the Government which he thankfully acknowledges But the words that follow verse 2. O when wilt Thou come unto me seem to justifie their opinion who think he was now under Saul's persecution yet having confidence in God's promises which he long'd to see fulfilled made this religious Vow of being a good King and proposed to himself an excellent form and manner of life when God should be pleased to perform them To reconcile both these there is a middle way lies open to every ones view that reads his history For upon the death of Saul he was immediately promoted to the Kingdom though not intirely but resolved then with himself how well he would govern when God should make him King over all Israel as He had done over Judah And so I shall order my Paraphrase supposing him to reign now in Hebron 2 Sam. II. 1 2 3 4. and expecting to reign in Jerusalem 2 Sam V. 3 4 5. which I presume he here calls the City of God Ver. 8. because there he intended to settle the Ark as well as to fix his Court when he should be possessed of it That passage indeed hath induced some to think that he composed this Psalm after he had made an attempt to bring the Ark thither but failing in it 2 Sam. VI. 9 10. sighs here for its enjoyment Which I shall not dispute because I would not prolong this preface unnecessarily It is sufficient in my judgment to say that it doth not seem likely he would defer this resolution so long after he was installed in his Kingdom For it required time to prepare a place for the reception of the Ark sutable to the Majesty it represented 1. I Will sing of mercy and judgment unto thee O LORD will I sing 1. I Will never forget but celebrate with perpetual praises that mercy which hath raised me from a low condition unto the Throne and that just punishment which I see inflicted upon all my opposers both which I ascribe O Lord to Thee alone and not to my vertue or valour and therefore to Thee will I sing my gratefull Hymns 2. I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way O when wilt thou come unto me I will walk within my house with a perfect heart 2. Nor will I satifie my self merely with Songs of praise but study with all diligence integrity of life and purity of manners O when wilt Thou perfect what Thou hast begun for me and settle me peaceably in my Kingdom Then I shall be able to live more regularly then now in this state of war and confusion 2 Sam. III. 1 39. and so I resolve to doe sincerely indeavouring to make my self an absolute pattern of piety and vertue to all my Court. 3. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside it shall not cleave to me 3. No pretended reasons of state and politick ends shall make me so much as project any thing against the Law to which I will ever tie my self For I abhor the practices of those who decline that Rule to pursue their own private desires no such corrupt principles shall be entertained in my mind 4. A froward heart shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person 4. I will turn him instantly out of my service who shall dare to suggest to me any crooked counsels I will have no familiarity with him much less make him my favourite who makes no conscience how he compasses his ends 5. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer 5. I will be so far from listening to their private whispers who by secret calumnies and detractions indeavour to supplant their fellow-servants that I will severely punish and banish them my Court nor will I indure those whose pride makes them overlook all others as if they were another sort of Creatures or whose unsatiable covetousness and ambition makes them study their own advancement more then the publick good 6. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me 6. I will look out for trusty persons men fearing God and of clear integrity and in what part of the Country soever I find them make them of my Privy Council and no man shall bear any other Office in my Court but he that lives unblameably 7. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight 7. No subtil knave that is made up of shifts and tricks or that devises cunning cheats to oppress my subjects shall remain in my service Though he have craftily got into it under a guise of simplicity yet no false informer flatterer or any other sort of Liar shall continue in my favour 8. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD 8. As soon as ever I am settled in my Throne I will use my utmost diligence to reform the whole Nation especially the place of thy peculiar residence which ought to be an example to the rest of the Kingdom taking care that all offenders be severely punished in the Courts of Justice and if there be no other remedy cutting off those evil members who have got an incurable habit of doing wickedly PSALM CII A Prayer of the afflicted when
ye servants of the LORD praise the name of the LORD 1. O Ye Ministers of the Lord and whosoever you are that love his Service praise his eternal Majesty be not remiss in this heavenly imployment but with your best affections praise the power wisedom and goodness of his eternal Providence 2. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore 2. Praise him now in this present Age and wish that those incomparable perfections of his may be celebrated with the praises of those that live in future times as long as the world shall last 3. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised 3. And not onely here in this little spot of earth but wheresoever the Sun shines and lets men see how splendid and glorious his Majesty is 4. The LORD is high above all nations and his glory above the heavens 4. For all the Nations of the earth are his and but a little parcel of his supreme Dominion which extends far beyond the Sun and Moon and Stars whose light is but a dim resemblance of the brightness of his glory 5. Who is like unto the LORD our God who dwelleth on high 5. Do not think that any of them though worshipped by other Nations as gods is comparable to that great Lord and our most gracious God whom we adore for the very place where his glorious Majesty resides is far higher then they 6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth 6. And it is a great condescension in him that He will have any respect to the most illustrious of those celestial bodies though He be so gracious also as to extend his kind and carefull Providence even to us who dwell upon this earth 7. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill 7. Where among other manifest tokens of his stupendious goodness He is pleased to take special notice of those whom the world despises and to raise them out of a mean nay sordid condition to such a pitch of honour and dignity 8. That he may set him with princes even with the princes of his people 8. That at last they are advanced to sit upon a Throne and made the Governours of his own people 1 Sam. II. 8. 2 Sam. VII 8 9. compared with 1. XXIV 14. 9. He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyfull mother of children Praise ye the LORD 9. And which is still more strange He opens the barren womb which according to the course of nature would have brought forth nothing and makes a numerous Family spring from thence to the great joy of her that bears them 1 Sam. I. 20. II. 21. Praise the Lord in these and such like wonderfull works of his PSALM CXIV ARGUMENT As the foregoing Psalm puts them in mind of several works of the Divine Providence about particular persons so this makes a brief narration of some miraculous works wherein the Lord declared his power when He brought the whole Jewish Nation out of the Egyptian bondage 1. WHen Israel went out of Egypt the house of Jacob from a people of strange language 1. WHen our Forefathers with their whole Family were brought out of Egypt and not one of them left behind among that barbarous people who had long oppressed them 2. Judah was his sanctuary and Israel his dominion 2. There was a most glorious appearance of God among them by that bright cloud the token of his presence which then had no other peculiar place for its sanctuary but stood over the whole Camp of Israel XIII Exod. 21. XIV Numb 14. whom He then took for his peculiar Kingdom XIX Exod. 6. 3. The sea saw it and fled Fordan was driven back 3. At which appearance the red Sea forsook its channel and left a dry path for them to march through XIV Exod. 21 24. and so did Jordan also afterwards to make way for their easie entrance into Canaan III. Josh 15 16. 4. The mountains skipped like rams and the little hills like lambs 4. All the Mountains great and small which adjoined unto Sinai trembled and leaped like so many affrighted rams or little lambs before the same most dreadfull Majesty XIX Exod. 18. 5. What ailed thee O thou sea that thou fleddest thou Jordan that thou wast driven back 5. To what else shall we ascribe that sudden ebb of the Sea and that no less strange retreat of Jordan when it overflowed all its banks 6. Ye mountains that ye skipped like rams and ye little hills like lambs 6. What made the mountains and hills leap up like affrighted rams or lambs as if they would run away from the place where they were so firmly fixed 7. Tremble thou earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the God of Jacob 7. But onely the glorious presence of the Divine Majesty who was then bringing his people to the rest He had promised to give them And let the whole earth be afraid and tremble before that great Lord who hath honoured us so far as peculiarly to be our God 8. Which turned the tock into a standing water the flint into a fountain of waters 8. And was so kind as to supply the necessities of our Forefathers even when they murmured against Him by a new Miracle bringing out of hard rocks as hard as flint such plenty of water as if they had been dissolved into lakes or rivers XVII Exod. 8. XX. Numb 11. PSALM CXV ARGUMENT There is great reason to think that this Psalm was made in some time of sore distress when their Pagan Enemies began to boast and brag as if their gods were too hard for the God of Israel But by whom it was made or on what particular occasion there are so many conjectures that it will be no presumption to interpose mine which is this That when Jehoshaphat saw that vast Army which we reade of 2 Chron. XX. 2. composed of several Nations coming against him and after his prayer to God for deliverance was incouraged by a Prophet to hope for it Ver. 14 15. and had by the Levites given Him thanks for this hope he or that Prophet composed this Hymn to quicken and confirm their faith in God unto which you reade he exhorted them Ver. 20. And it is likely that this was the Hymn which by common consent the Singers were appointed to use when they went out to encounter those Enemies saying not onely those words which we reade there Ver. 21. Praise the Lord for his mercy endureth for ever but these Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truths sake c. 1. NOT unto us O LORD not unto us but unto thy name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truths sake 1. PRosper our arms O Lord and give us the victory over these
both by my Birth and by my Education and by this marvellous Deliverance whereby Thou hast rescued me from the power of death which had in a manner taken hold of me 17. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the LORD 17. I can never sure prove ungratefull to Thee unto whom I am tied by so many bonds But will always be making Thee my most thankfull solemn acknowledgments for the benefits I have received And together with those praises and thanksgivings wait upon thy Goodness for the like mercies in time to come 18. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people 18. I resolve again religiously to make good these and all other my vows wherein I stand ingaged to the Lord and that not onely in private but here at this solemnity in the face of all his people 19. In the courts of the LORD's house in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise ye the LORD 19. When they are gathered together at his House in the midst of the holy City of our God where they meet to worship Him and to doe Him honour There let them all join with me to bless and praise the great Creatour and Preserver of all things PSALM CXVII ARGUMENT This Psalm like the CX seems to be altogether Prophetical of the joy that all the world should conceive at the coming of the Messiah to give Salvation first to the Jews and then to all other Nations according to his faithfull promise Saint Paul applies the first words of it to this business Rom. XV. 11. and some of the Hebrews justifie his application confessing that this Psalm belongs to that matter The brevity of it makes it the more remarkable and easier to be remembred both by Jews and Gentiles 1. O Praise the LORD all ye nations praise him all ye people 1. LET not the praises which are due to the great Lord of all be confined to our Nation but let all people upon the face of the earth praise Him Let all mankind sing thankfull hymns unto Him 2. For his mercifull kindness is great towards us and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever Praise ye the LORD 2. For they are all concerned in his transcendent kindness which hath done mighty things for us and the Lord who changes not will never fail to perform his faithfull promises to the worlds end Therefore let us all join our praises to our common Benefactour PSALM CXVIII ARGUMENT There is nothing more probable then that David composed this Psalm after God had settled him upon the Throne of Israel as well as Judah and also subdued the Philistines who hoped to have crusht him before he grew too powerfull 2 Sam. V. 17. together with other enemies round about him who though they are not mentioned yet in all likelihood joyned with them as we may gather from Ver. 10 11. of this Psalm compared with 2 Sam. VII 1. For that it was written after he had brought the Ark to Jerusalem mentioned there Chap. VI. and placed it in the House he had prepared for it seems very plain from Ver. 19. of this Psalm Where he begins to praise God in such words as had not their compleat fulfilling till the Lord 's Christ whom the Jews rejected and said He shall not reign over us was made King of the World For to Him R. Solomon himself acknowledges those words The stone which the builders refused c. are to be applied And as the latter part of the Psalm is a Prophecy of Christ in David his Type so the former part may be accommodated to all Christians who being persecuted as Theodoret speaks and tormented and disgracefully treated by many Princes and their people by Kings and Governours got a glorious Victory over them all after they had indured a thousand deaths It seems also to have been pronounced at first in some solemn assembly of all the people met together to praise the Lord for his benefits And it is the common opinion of most Interpreters that they all had a part in this Psalm The greatest part of which was spoken by David who begins with a declaration how much he was indebted to God desiring all to assist him in his praises And then coming in a solemn procession I suppose to the Gates of the Tabernacle calls upon the Porters Verse 19. to open them to him that he might praise God in his Sanctuary which he doth in the very entrance Ver. 20 and then in the Courts of his House Ver. 21. After which all the people shout and magnifie the Divine Goodness in making him who was banished from his Country their King Ver. 22 c. And then the Priests come forth and bless both the King and people in the Name of the Lord Ver. 26 and exhort them to be thankfull Ver. 27 And then David seems to take the words out of their mouth and to declare that he will never be unmindfull of God's benefits desiring all the people also to remember them Ver. 28 29. According to which account of the Psalm I have ordered the Paraphrase 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD for he is good because his mercy endureth for ever 1. O Make your thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of all the world who as He is the Authour of all good and hath been exceeding bountifull unto us so will continue his kindness to all succeeding generations 2. Let Israel now say that his mercy endureth for ever 2. Let the Children of Israel who have had such long experience of his love and now see his promises fulfilled let them confess and thankfully acknowledge that his kindness continues to all generations 3. Let the house of Aaron now say that his mercy endureth for ever 3. Let the Priests and the Levites whose business it is to attend upon His service confess now and thankfully acknowledge that his kindness extends unto all ages 4. Let them now that fear the LORD say that his mercy endureth for ever 4. And let all the devout Worshippers of the Lord of whatsoever Nation they be join together with us for there is one Lord of all who dispenses various benefits to every one of us and confess now most thankfully that there is no end of his kindness 5. I called upon the LORD in distress the LORD answered me and set me in a large place 5. You may see an example of it in me who was in grievous straits and dangers 1 Sam. XXIII 26. XXVII 1. but then imploring the Divine Protection the Lord not onely delivered me but placed me in a secure estate free from all such molestation 2 Sam. V. 3. VII 1. 6. The LORD is on my side I will not fear what can man doe unto me 6. For the Lord it is evident takes my part and therefore though I have many enemies I am not afraid of them for when He is for me what disturbance can men be they
Goodness first for promising me out of thy mere grace and favour the royal Dignity and then for performing thy promise most faithfully For Thou hast manifested thy most excellent power and goodness to me in nothing so much as in punctually fulfilling thy promise 1 Sam. XVI 13. nowithstanding all the opposition which was made to it nay in raising me higher then I expected 3. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul 3. I had long ago faln short of this honour to which I am advanced hadst not Thou during all the time of Saul's persecution as readily relieved me as I cried to Thee and mightily supported my spirit by a couragious faith and hope in Thee 4. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee O LORD when they hear the words of thy mouth 4. Which will move sure all our neighbouring Kings who have any knowledge of my affairs 2 Sam. V. 11 12. VIII 10. to join with me in praising Thee O Lord when they shall hear by how many strange providences Thou hast brought to pass that which Thou promisedst to me by thy Prophet 5. Yea they shall sing in the ways of the LORD for great is the glory of the LORD 5. The wonderfull ways whereby the Lord brings things about shall be the subject of their Songs and they shall think it their greatest happiness to be guided and governed by Him for they shall confess that none can doe such glorious things as the Lord hath wrought 6. Though the LORD be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly but the proud he knoweth afar off 6. Whose sublime greatness doth not make Him neglect as they see in me the meanest persons especially when their minds are as humble as their conditions but will not let Him stoop to the loftiest Princes as they may see in Saul whom He despises when they are forgetfull of Him and ungratefull to Him for his benefits 7. Though I walk in the mids of trouble thou wilt revive me thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me 7. Which have been so great to me that should I fall again into the same straits wherein I was before and be incompassed with them I should hope that Thou wouldst preserve me and bring me safe out of them all Thy power I am confident will repress the violent assaults of my enemies and by thy almighty Goodness I shall be delivered from their wrath and fury 2 Sam. V. 17 c. VIII 1 c. 8. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me thy mercy O LORD endureth for ever forsake not the works of thine own hands 8. The Lord who hath begun will go on to finish his gracious intentions towards me not for my merits I know they are none at all but for thy own mercy sake O Lord which as it was the sole motive to what Thou hast done for me so will I hope for it is still the same and ever will be incline Thee to preserve and settle me in that dignity to which not my ambition but thy own good will and pleasure hath promoted me PSALM CXXXIX To the chief Musician A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The two last Verses of this Psalm seem to me a sufficient indication that David to whom the Title ascribes it composed it when he lay under the imputation of having evil designs upon Saul 1. Sam. XXIV 9. which as he protests against in several parts of other Psalms and calls God often to witness his integrity so here he appeals unto Him in a set and solemn meditation composed on purposed to represent before Him the clearness of his intentions which never suffered such designs to enter into his thoughts And who could believe that a man who seriously acknowledged it was impossible to conceal any thing from God's all-seeing eye who formes us in the womb should be so impudent as to make this appeal unto Him if he were conscious to himself of any such guilt And which is more how could he be confident as he declares he was Ver. 19. that God would make his innocence evidently appear by destroying his opposers if he did not know they were calumniatours whose vile aspersions when God had effectually confuted he delivered this Psalm to the Master of the Musick as a lasting testimony of his sincerity all along before he came to the Kingdom and a constant admonishment to himself and others never to promote any designs for the future by sinister arts though managed so secretly that they lay hid from the eyes of all the world since God cannot but be privy to them who loves righteousness and hates all iniquity 1. O LORD thou hast searched me and known me 1. I Am accused O Lord of grievous crimes but my comfort is Thou seest I am not guilty of them For the exactest survey cannot make any thing so well known to us as I am to Thee who art thoroughly acquainted with me 2. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising thou understandest my thought afar off 2. Thou knowest what designs I have when I sit musing at home and what I go about when I stir abroad nay my inclinations are so perfectly understood by Thee that before I have conceived any design it is visible unto Thee 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways 3. Nothing can be so narrowly sifted as all the motions of my body and mind both by day and by night are scanned by thy all-penetrating eye which comprehends and is intimately privy to all the ends which I pursue 4. For there is not a word in my tongue but lo O LORD thou knowest it altogether 4. When I am about to speak Thou O Lord such is thy most admirable wisedom needest not to be informed what it is but knowest before I open my mouth every thing I intend to utter 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me 5. Whatsoever I have done long ago is as well known to Thee as that which is lately past or which I am about to doe For I am so invironed by Thee and so absolutely in thy power that I cannot possibly escape thy notice nor so much as stir without thy leave 6. Such knowledge is too wonderfull for me it is high I cannot attain unto it 6. O amazing height of understanding It is in vain to think I can hide any thing from it which so far surpasses all I can say or conceive that it excells even my admiration 7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence 7. Into what world shall I go where Thou art not as present as Thou art in this It is impossible for me should I make never so much haste to get out of thy sight 8. If I ascend up into heaven thou art there if I make my bed in hell behold