Whither the tribes go up the tribes of the LORD unto the testimony of Israel to give thanks unto the Name of the LORD 5. For there are set the thrones of judgement the thrones of the house of David He commendeth Ierusalem the figure of the Church of God and of the corporation of his people First as a City for a community Secondly as the place of Gods publick Assemblies for religious worship Thirdly as the place of publick judicatories for governing the Lords people under David the type of Christ. Whence learn 1. The Church of God is not without cause compared to a City and especially to Ierusalem because of the union concord community of lawes mutual commodities and conjunction of strength which should be among Gods people Ierusalem is builded as a city that is compact together 2. That which commendeth a place most of any thing is the erecting of the Lords banner of love in it and making it a place for his people to meet together for his worship Ierusalem is a city whither the tribes go up 3. Whatsoever civil distinction Gods children have among themselves and howsoever they dwell scattered in several places of the earth yet as they are the Lords people they should entertain a communion and conjunction among themselves as members of one universal Church as the signification of the peoples meeting thrice in the year at Ierusalem did teach Whither the tribes did go up the tribes of the Lord 4. As the tribes so all particular Churches how farre soever scattered have one Lord one Covenant one Law and Scripture signified by the tribes going up to the testimony of Israel or to the Ark of the Covenant or testimony where the whole ordinances of God were to be exercised 5. The end of the ordinances of God of holy covenanting and communion and joyning in publick worship is to acknowledge the grace and goodnesse of God and to glorifie him for the tribes did go up to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord. 6. The Church of God wanteth not the one Government and Governours Courts and Judicatories belonging to Christ and his Church as the erecting of Ecclesiastick Judicatories in Ierusalem did signifie and teach for there are set thrones of judgement 7. The civil Governours in their civil power should contribute what their power can to the furtherance of the Church-Government and the Courts thereof as the thrones of the house of David joyning their assistance in Ierusalem unto the Ecclesiastick Courts did signifie and teach There are set the thrones of the house of David Vers. 6. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem they shall prosper that love thee 7. Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces 8. For my brethren and companions sake I will now say Peace be within thee 9. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good In the last place he exhorteth all to pray for the peace of Ierusalem or of the Church signified by it and joyneth four motives unto it One because as it was a proof of love to the Church so it had a promise of a blessing v. 6. Another motive is from his own example praying for it v. 7. A third because so did love to the brethren require v. 8. A fourth motive because so did respect and love to the Church or house of God require v. 9. Whence learn 1. The Universal Church militant should be dear to every member thereof and prayed for that it may prosper Pray for the peace of Ierusalem 2. As none can pray for the welfare of the Church heartily except they love her so none shall love her and seek her welfare but shall fare the better for it for it is promised here They shall prosper that love thee 3. The Church is a warre-town and a walled town which is situated among enemies and may not trust them who are without but must be upon its keeping as the type thereof Ieruâ—alem with her walls and towers did shadow forth Peace be within thy walls 4. Peace within the Church is no lesse needfull then prosperity within it and if peace be within the Church it matters the lesse what enemies she have without Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces doth import or insinuate so much 5. All the members of the Church militant should be affected one to another as brethren as fellow-partners in losse and gaine for the relation which they have to one Father the Lord and one Mother the Universal Church For my brethren and companions sake I will now say Peace be within thee 6. Seeing the Church is the Lords dwelling house in this world whosoever loveth the Lord must not onely inwardly affect but also effectually by all means endeavour to promote the good of the Church that is to say every true member of the Church must do what in him lieth and as his calling will suffer to have Religion established Gods ordinances obeyed publick worship erected the Word truly preached Sacraments rightly administred and Church-Government according to the Word of God exercised for so teacheth this example Because of the house of the Lord my God I will seek thy good PSALME CXXIII THe scope of this Psalm is to teach the Lords people how to carry themselvs when they are oppressed by the tyranny of their proud adversaries and are destitute of all help under heaven wherein the Psalmist maketh his addresse to God in patience humility and hope v. 1 2. And prayeth for comfort under and relief from the contempt of the proud adversaries v. 3 4. Ver. 1. UNto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the heavens 2. Behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her Mistresse so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God until that he hath mercy on us From the Psalmists addresse unto God by this short prayer under the oppression of the Church Learn 1. The force of prayer doth not consist in multitude of words but in faith and fervent laying forth of desires before the Lord as here we see 2. It is not strange to see Gods children oppressed and despised and destitute of all relief except of what may be expected from heaven as this case here set down sheweth 3. Albeit the Lord seem to hide himselfe from all manifestation of his kinde respects unto his people on earth yet he will be found in heaven and there must we betake our selves in hardest straites Unto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the heavens 4. The very lifting up of the bodily eye of the believer towards God in his trouble hath its own use and force with God Unto thee lift I up mine eyes 5. As servants of old were in their condition slaves deprived of the common comfort of liberty might wear no weapons were exposed to all injuries and had no help or comfort except the
favour of their Master or Mistresse so fares it oft-times with the believer for his outward condition as the similitude and present case of the Church here teacheth Behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their Masters 6. It is fitting that the persecuted believer have a low estimation of himself before God be patient under his hand submissive to his dispensation and hopefull of help in his addresse unto God for so much the similitude from servants behaviour toward their master and mistresse doth teach As the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistresse so our eyes wait upon the Lord. 7. The interest which the believer hath in God under any relation hath comfort sufficient included in it as here the Lords being Master is sufficient to sweeten bondage of servant and handmaid but Covenant-interest sweeteneth it much more Our eyes are upon the Lord our God 8. As masters and mistresses are taught to shew pitty mercy bounty and protection unto their servants on the one hand and servants are here taught on the other hand by their good behaviour not to marre their favour so the believer is taught to behave himselfe before God as a servant indeed by endeavouring indeed to obey God 9. The terme of the Saints patience and waiting is till God shew mercy Behold as the eyes of the servants c. so our eyes wait on the Lord our God until that he have mercy on us Vers. 3. Have mercy upon us O LORD have mercy upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt 4. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud From his prayer for comfort and relief Learn 1. Whatsoever aileth the Church the Lords mercy is the remedy Have mercy 2. Each member of the Church should be sensible of the trouble of the whole body and deal for it as for himself Have mercy upon us O Lord. 3. As misery is more pressing so should petitions be doubled and poured forth in the Lords bosome Have mercy have mercy upon us 4. Contempt disdain and derision of Gods suffering servants is the heaviest and most grievous part of their affliction Have mercy upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt 5. They that prosper in wickednesse are ready instruments to afflict the godly and to persecute them for righteousnesse and to mock the godly in their misery when they have wrongfully troubled them Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of them that are at ease 6. So long as persecutors and oppressors of Gods Church do prosper and finde successe in their wayes they will not cease to please themselves in their wicked course and despise both the persons and the cause of Gods people whatsoever be said against them Our soul is filled with the contempt of the proud PSALME CXXIV THe scope of this Psalme is first to acknowledge the delivery of the Church to be evidently the Lords own work the danger being so great out of which they were lately delivered v. 1 2 3 4 5. and next to blesse the Lord for their preservation v. 6 7 8. Vers. 1. IF it had not been the LORD who was on our side now may Israel say 2. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side when â—en rose up against us 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us 4. Then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over our soul. 5. Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. In the acknowledgment of their wonderful delivery the Psalmist doth shew that their adversaries on the one hand were so strong so many so crafty so cruel malicious and the Lords people on the other hand were so weak and so destitute of all counsell and help that their deliverance could be ascribed to no cause save to Gods strong power assisting his own Whence learn 1. Albeit the Lord do suffer his Church sundry times to be brought near to destruction yet alwayes doth he prove himselfe the Churches friend and helper against their enemies If it had not been the Lord who was on our side 2. The Lord so doth help his people as he draweth forth the acknowledgement of their weaknesse to help themselves and of utter impossibility to be safe without his assistance If the Lord had not been on our side may Israel now say 3. After we are delivered out of a danger we should study to apprehend it no lesse livelily then when we are in the danger and that so much the more as we are naturally disposed to the contrary as the repeating and new representing of the danger they were in doth import and teach 4. Men in the state of nature are ready to be party adversaries unto the Church If the Lord had not been on our side when men rose up against us 5. The wicked have an appetite after the blood of Gods people as wilde beasts have after their prey Then they had swallowed us up quick 6. If God should not bridle the fury of the wicked against his people the worldly strength of the godly to defend themselves is nothing Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us 7. If the wickednesse of the world were let loose against Gods people it should runne as violently against the Church as floods of water against those that are within the channell Then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over our soul. 8. The more the matter of the Churches delivery is looked upon the danger is the better seen and the greatnesse of their delivery also as the insisting in the similitude doth teach Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Vers. 6. Blessed be the LORD who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth 7. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers the snare is broken and we are escaped 8. Our help is in the Name of the LORD who made heaven and earth In the Churches thanksgiving for their delivery they make a threefold use of their experience First they praise and blesse Gods goodnesse v. 6. Secondly they make much of the benefit and rejoyce therein v. 7. And thirdly they strengthen their faith in God for time to come v. 8. Whence learn 1. It is our duty after delivery from dangers to acknowledge not only Gods power for us but his goodnesse also toward us and to acknowledge him the fountaine of all blessednesse upon that occasion Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us as a prâ—y to their teeth 2. As the Churches enemies are superiour to her in worldly strength so also in policy craftinesse and wordly wit as the fowler is craftier then the bird Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers 3. According as the danger is fearful so is the delivery sweet and joyful The snare is broken
have I cried unto thee O LORD 2. Lord heare my voice let thine eares be attentive to the voice of my supplications In the first two verses we have his distresse and prayer for relief in general termes Whence learn 1. The dearest Saints of God have been hardly exercised by trouble in their spirits and brought into danger of desperation sometime while they seemed to themselves to be in a lost condition like a man ready to drown in deep waters Out of the depths did I cry unto thee O Lord. 2. How desperate soever our condition or case of our soul seem unto us to be yet should we not cease from prayer unto God Out of the depths have I cried vnto thee O Lord. 3 Albeit our prayers seem to us sometime to be misregarded of God and neglected yet should we not give way to such thoughts as those but should double our petitions so much the more as tentations do disswade us to pray as the Psalmist did Lord hear my voice let thine eares be attentive to the voice of my supplications Ver. 3. If thou LORD shouldest mark iniquities O LORD who shall stâ—an 4. But there is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared In these two verses we have the objection made against his prayer from the conscience of his sins according to the law and his answer unto the objection from the mercy of God according to the grounds of the Gospel Whence learn 1. Sin furnisheth ground to all our vexations and tentations and objections made against our prayers our comfort and our faith as the experience of the Psalmist doth teach us against whom his iniquities here stood up to hinder his answer from God 2. In the case of conscience wherein sin is justly charged upon us there is no shift for us to deny or excuse sin it must be confessed and laid open before God as the Psalmist doth here 3. If the Lord should deal with Supplicants in the way of strict justice according to the tenour of the Law or Covenant of works no man could escape condemnation and the curse If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand that is no man should stand 4. He who is fled for refuge unto Gods mercy according to the Covenant of grace in Christ Jesus may decline judgement according to the Covenant of works and betake him unto the way of Justification by faith according to the Covenant of grace whereby remission of sin is promised to the beleever If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand but there is forgiveness with thee 5. The belief of Gods mercifulnesse doth open our mouth in prayer and encourageth us unto the hearty worship service and obedience of God whereunto otherwise we could never have heart nor hand But forgivenesse is with thee that thou mayest be feared 6. Then is grace and mercy in God rightly made use of when we feare to offend God so much the more as we believe him to be gracious to forgive the penitent Supplicant Forgivenesse is with thee that thou mayest be feared Ver. 5. I wait for the LORD my soul doth wait and in his Word do I hope 6. My soule waiteth for the LORD more then they that watch for the morning I say more then they that watch for the morning Having prayed and wrastled by faith against the terrour of Gods justice he waiteth for a good answer and for consolation Whence learn 1. Albeit the Lord doth not at first heal the conscience of sin and the smart of it yet the believer may surely expect comfort from him I wait for the Lord. 2. Then doth faith its own part when it frameth the heart to patient waiting on God and hope in him My soule doth wait 3. He that waiteth for a good answer from the Lord must have the Word of Promise made in the Gospel to such as seek mercy from God for the warrant of his hope My soul doth wait and in his Word do I hope 4. He that waiteth on God for comfort should perswade himself of his speeding and must not slack his hope for a delay but grow in desire after the Lord more then the Watchman waiteth for the morning My soule waiteth for the Lord more then they that watch for the morning I say more then they that watch for the morning Ver. 7. Let Israel hope in the LORD for with the LORD there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities In the latter part of the Psalme it is presupposed he hath goâ—ten comfort and here he exhorteth all the Lords people to follow his example in the day of their outward trouble and perplexity of conscience assuring them of grace to be found in God to their full satisfaction Whence learn 1. When God hath delivered us out of straits it is our duty to extend the fruit of that mercy as far as we may and to exhort others according to our place to follow the way of faith in God Let Israel hope in the Lord. 2. Mercy according to the Covenant of grace giveth the same ground of hope unto every one within the Church which it giveth to the Psalmist or to a Writer of the Scripture Let Israel hopâ— in â—e Lord for with the Lord there is mercy saith the Psalmist from his own experience 3. So many straits as the Lords people can fall into so many escapes and deliveries hath the Lord in store for them With him is plenteous Redemption 4. As sin is the root of all trouble and the chief evil of Gods people so the remission of sin is the chief cure of all their trouble and this the believer may be sure of He shall redeem Israel from iniquities 5. When the Lord forgiveth sin to his own he forgiveth all sin lesse and more whereof his believing childe is guilty He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities 6. The delivery of Gods people from sin and trouble floweâ—h all from the Covenant of Redemption and every delivery of them is a part of the execution of that Covenant With him is plenteous Redemption and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities PSALME CXXXI Ver. 1. LORD my heart is not haughtie nor mine eyes loftie neither do I exercise my self in great matters or in things too high for me 2. Surely I have behaved my selfe as a childe that is weaned of his mother my soule is even as a weaned childe 3. Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever IN this Psalme the Prophet minding to teach the godly to be humble before God however matters go with them doth propound his own example v. 1 2. that so the believer may persevere in hope v. 3. He proveth his humility by the lowlinesse of his heart sobriety of carriage and keeping himself within his vocation v. 1. and by the submission of his will unto Gods dispensation v. 2. the use and profit whereof as
the midst of it for his mercy endureth for ever 10 God can make that meanes which proveth effectual for the safety of his people to prove a snare to the wicked for their destruction as the Red sea was a snare to the Egyptians But he overthrew Pharaoh and his hoste in the Red-sea 11. The constancy of Gods mercy toward his people is a pledge of the constant course of his justice against their enemies For his mercy endureth for ever 12. As thankfulnesse maketh search of many mercies in the bosome of one so the innumerable multitude of Gods mercies doth force the thankful man to summe up many mercies in one as here all the mercies in the fourty yeares journeying in the wildernesse are drawn up in a word To hâ—m that led his people thorough the wildernesse 13. It is the constancy of Gods mercy which maketh him continue the conduct of his people and bear with their manners till he put an end to their journey He led his people through the wildernesse for his mercy endureth for ever 14. The people of God may meet with no lesse difficulties in their way to heaven then they have found hinderances of their Conversion as the typical example of Israels meeting with opposition before they entred Canaan doth shew 15. Albeit Kings and potent Powers should oppose the setling of Gods Church in any place where he pleaseth to plant it yet they shall not be able to hinder his work for his mercy is forth-coming in one age as well as in another that praise and thanks may alwayes be given unto him Who smote great Kings for his mercy endureth for ever 16. Men of renown lose their credit when they meddle with the Lords Church and readily they lose their lives also and this should be a document to all mighty men and a matter of comfort to Gods people He slew famous Kings for his mercy endureth for ever 17. The Lord will have the first opposers of the setling of his people exemplarily punished and their punishment made no lesse famous then their sin hath been He slew Sihon King of the Amorites and the like will the Lord do in all ages against the chief adversaries of his people For his mercy endureth for ever 18. When judgement upon one enemie doth not terrifie others of them from opposing Gods people the like destruction shall fall upon those that make head against the Church And he slew Og King of Bashan 19. The slaughter of the enemies of Gods people is the work of the Lord whosoever be the instruments for it is not here said that the Israelites slew Sihon and Og but the Lord slew them and the like mercy may the Church look for in all ages For his mercy endureth for ever 20. It is the Lord who giveth heritages at his pleasure and who can dispossesse such men of their lands who will not suffer the Lords people to inherit that land which the Lord hath given them He slew Sihon and Og and gave their land for an heritage and the like mercy may the Church look for in all ages as it shall be found good for her For his mercy endureth for ever 21. When the Lord puts down the enemies and puts his servants in their place it is a double mercy As He gave the lands of Sihon and Og to be an heritage unto Israel his servants 22. There can no cause be found in Gods people why God should do good to them or why he hath done good unto them but the constancy of his own mercie only For his mercy endureth for ever Vers. 23. Who remembred us in our low estate for his mercy endureth for ever 24. And hath redeemed us from our enemies for his mercy endureth for ever In the reasons of Gods praise taken from the late experience of the Church in the dayes of the Psalmist Learn 1. Unto whatsoever praise we can give to God for what he hath done before our time we should adde praises also for what the Lord hath done for us in our time as here the Church in the Pâ—almists dayes doth unto all the former adde this Who remembered us in our low estate 2. The season and ordinary time of the Lords manifesting himself for his people is when they are brought low and emptied of their own strength and of all hope of worldly assistance Who remembered us in our low estate 3. The Lords presence help and assistance good-will and respect to us is better observed by afflicted people then by prosperous for troubles necessities and straits are meanes to open mens eyes and waken up their senses to take up the worth of the Lords working He remembred us in our low estate 4. The mercy of the Lord is set on work for his people both when they are in adversity to sustain them and to raise them out of it and in prosperity to maintain them in it and to teach them the good use of it in looking wisely on Gods dealing with them in both conditions He remembred us in our low estate for his mercy endureth for ever 5. Albeit the proud enemies of the Church may prevaile and bring the Church into bondage for a time yet the Lord will not suffer the enemie to oppresse nor his people to be oppressed alwayes but will deliver his own in due time as here He hath redeemed us from our enemies 6. The same reason and cause is to be found of the delivery of Israel out of Egypt and of the delivery of the Church at any time from their enemies and that is mercy only For his mercy endureth for ever Ver. 25. Who giveth food to all flesh for his mercy endureth for ever In the reason of Gods praise taken from his goodnesse to all living creatures Learn 1. The Lords goodnesse and fatherly care of all living creatures is worthy to be marked and made use of for his praise in special the giving of every living creature their owâ— food convenienâ— for them and that in due season every day Who giveth food to all flesh 2. The mercy of the Lord toward his children is the cause of â—his care and respect unto such other creatures as man hath need of For his mercy endureth for ever 3. The care which God hath of all flesh to give them their food is a ground of assurance to his people of his far greater care of them For his mercy endureth for ever to them Ver. 26. O give thanks unto the God of Heaven for his mercy endureth for ever From the close of the Psalme Learne 1. Heaven and heavenly gifts are the height of all the felicity of the Saints and the flower of all Gods benefits unto his children for which above all other favours he is to be thanked and praised by his people O give thanks unto the God of Heaven 2 God is the strong God of heaven not only because he made the heaven and sheweth his glory most there but especially because he hath promised to
when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth This is a third reason not only of the fourth petition but also and mainly of the whole prayer for comfort and delivery from persecution wherein many of the Lords Priests were slaine and many others of Davids friends were undone and no more regard had of their lives and bones then the hewer of wood hath regard to the chips which fall off in hewing wherein David and his followers were a type of Christ and of his followers whose persecution is here represented and Prophesied of Whence learn 1. Albeit the death of the Lords servants be dear unto him yet their lives and the burial of their bones are no more regarded by the wicked then so many chips of wood which the hewer of wood heweth off with his axe Our bones are scattered at the graves mouth as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth 2. When Christs subjects are so entertained as here is set forth their case being presented unto God hath no small force to draw down delivery and to bring a change of the affaires of their foes as the force of the reason annexed unto the prayer doth teach Vers. 8. But mine eyes are unto thee O GOD the Lord in thee is my trust leave not my soul destitute The fourth reason of the petition relating mainly to the prayer for delivery after which is subjoyned the fifth petition including the substance of all his prayer Whence learn 1. How great soever the darknesse of his calamities may be and how thick soever the cloudes of present trouble are to hide from us the Lords care of us and his loving kindnesse unto us yet faith must look and pierce through them all unto God and to his power and constancy of truth and love But mine eyes are unto thee 2. Whensoever faith turneth it selfe toward the Lord it seeth sufficiency in God to help as the man hath need Mine eyes are toward thee O God the Lord. 3. As it is good to believe in God in time of greatest straites so it is good to avow our beliefe before God and to observe this for our further strengthening that we have obtained mercy to believe as here David doth Mine eyes are toward thee in thee is my trust 4. A soul which hath God for a covering of protection and comfort hath also every condition it can be in well seasoned but the soul that lacketh this governing is bare and naked and destitute without guard against any evil which may fall upon it against this evil we have great need to pray Leave not my soul destitute And this is the fifth petition in this prayer Vers. 9. Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me and the grinnes of the workers of iniquity The sixth petition is to be saved from the privie plots which his enemies had laid against him Whence learn 1. The adversaries of Gods people or persecutors of the righteous for righteousnesse are workers of iniquity let them pretend unto godlinesse lawes or justice as they please for so are they here described 2. Persecutors of the righteous use not to go so openly to work as to persecute them directly for righteousnesse but do make plausible lawes and statutes which may seem reasonable to the world and yet such lawes as the godly cannot without sinne obey and so their commands do insnare the godly as here they are called snares and grinnes 3. From the plots of persecutors and in special from iniquity established by a law none can deliver the godly so as they shall neither sinne nor suffer the penalty except God alone Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me and the grinnes of the workers of iniquity Vers. 10. Let the wicked fall into their own nets whilest that I withal escape The seventh petition is as for his own delivery so also for the overthrow of obstinate enemies who cannot be reclaimed Whence learn 1. The prayers against persecutors which are dited to the penmen of the Scripture are prophecies of their punishment and decrees whereunto the Church may subscribe in the general and this prayer is one among the rest 2. When the persecutors do lay plots and snares against the righteous they lay plots against themselves and there is no need of another plot for their ruine save that which is of their own devising Let the wicked fall into their own net 3. It is not unusual to see the overthrow of persecutors and the delivery of the righteous wrought by one and the self-same meanes and brought about at one time Let the wicked fall into their own net whilest that I withall escape PSALME CXLII Maschil of David c. THis Psalme doth shew what was Davids exercise when he was in the cave of one of the mountaines of Engedi 1 Sam. 24. flying from Saul wherein he first setteth down his betaking of himselfe to prayer in general v. 1 2. Secondly the straits wherein he was for the time v. 3 4. Thirdly what was the special petitions of his prayer with the reasons thereof v. 5 6 7. From the inscription Learn 1. That when the Lord doth put any of his children in straites and difficulties he is providing instruction and wise direction unto them and to others by the meanes for this danger bringeth forth a Psalme of instruction Maschil of David 2. The profit which followeth upon sharp exercises is able to recompence all the paines whereunto they are put in trouble as this particular instance doth shew 3. It is wisdome for us to mark the special dangers wherein we fall and how we have behaved our selves therein and to see what use we should make thereof as this example of Davids calling to minde of the danger he was in in the cave doth teach us Vers. 1. I Cried unto the LORD with my voice With my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication 2. I poured out my complaint before him I shewed before him my trouble In the setting down of his exercise in this danger and how he made God his refuge by prayer Learn 1. The grace of God can so calme a mans mind in the deepest danger of present death as he may confidently put up his desire for delivery and no danger can be so desperate but a man may by prayer be delivered out of it one way or other as Davids experience teacheth I cried unto the Lord saith David being in the cave halfe buried as in a grave Saul and his host being at the mouth of it 2. He that is acquainted with God and haunteth his presence by prayer ordinarily will finde a ready way to go to God in an extraordinary danger whereof David in this difficulty sheweth his experience 3. The uttering of right words with the voice in prayer in the time of perplexity is a work of faith presuppose there were so much inward confusion and multitude of thoughts in the minde as might call in question whether the supplication
thing to see a godly person 〈◊〉 be in fear of death bodily and spirituall temporal and everlasting at one time The sorrows of death compassed me and the paines of hell got hold upon me 2. The trouble of minde and conscience also whereunto Gods children are subject as they are found in their several degrees cannot easily be expressed therefore here are divers words used Sorrowes of death paines of hell trouble and felt sorrow 3. The greatnesse of the trouble danger misery and straits whereinto the Lord doth cast his own doth lay a greater obligation on them who are delivered from those evils and maketh Gods glory to be the more manifested in their bringing out of them as the scope of the Psalmists laying forth of his troubles here doth teach us Vers. 4. Then called I upon the Name of the LORD O LORD I beseech thee deliver my soul. From his course taken to have relief by calling on God Learn 1. The only true remedy of a grieved soul is God being called upon by prayer for he is a strong refuge whereunto the humble soul may flee and be exalted I called upon the Name of the Lord. 2. There is place and time for prayer even when the danger seemeth greatest and the condition of the party supplicant appeareth desperate as here we see When the paines of hell caught hold upon me then called I on the Name of the Lord. 3. Whether our desires be laid open before God in many words or few it is not material before God such a hearty speech as this will passe before God for prayer O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul. Vers. 5. Gracious is the LORD and righteous yea our God is merciful 6. The LORD preserveth the simple I was brought low and he helped me From the fountaine of grace and mercy whence he was helped Learn 1. Gods gracious and merciful actions do give evidence of his gracious nature and readinesse to shew favour to all men who according to the tenor of the Covenant of grace do â—all on him as here the Psalmist to shew the cause of his receiving actually a good answer saith Gracious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is mercifull 2. There is nothing wanting in Gods attributes which may give assurance to the believing supplicant to have his request granted he is gracious and standeth not for the persons unworthinesse he is just and righteous and will not faile to keep Covenant and performe all promises he is mercifull and doth not stand to pardon sinne iniquity and transgressions Gracious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful 3. The Lords children commonly are not the worldly-wisest people but for the most part are of mean worldly wit and whosoever of them hath any measure of prudence they are for the course which they keep in trials and troubles accounted foolish yea and in their own estimation they are very witlesse and dare not leane 〈◊〉 their own understanding but do seek to be directed of God therefore they are here and elsewhere called simple 4. Such as are emptied of conceit of their own wisdome and seek their direction protection and preservation from God do lie nearest unto the fountain of Gods mercy and help in every difficulty For the Lord preserveth the simple 5. Any one example of Gods grace and mercy to any believer is sufficienr to prove Gods nature inclination readinesse and good will to every believer that calleth on him so reasoneth the Psalmist I was brought low and he helped me Vers. 7. Returne unto thy rest O my soul for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee 8. For thou hast delivered 〈◊〉 soul from death mine eyes from teares and my feet from falling Here is a twofold use of this experience one to settle his confidence on God another to praise God for the experience of so great a delivery Whence learn 1. The general use of all the experiences of Gods favour which we finde is the strengthening of our faith in God as here we are taught 2. 〈◊〉 trouble and tentations do not overcome our faith yet the 〈…〉 usually do peâ—â—urbe if not the peace of 〈◊〉 conscienâ—◠〈…〉 least the peâ—â—â— of our minde and sometâ—â—â—â— the peace of both for O 〈◊〉 returne to thy rest imports a disquieting of him from his rest 3. As we should study not only to lay hold on God by faith but also to rest and acquiesce in his love and truth confidently so should we take advantage of every fresh experience of Gods favour whereby we encourage our selves to relie upon Gods grace and mercy as here the Psalmist doth Returne unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee 4. Meditation of Gods goodnesse to us and speaking of iâ— in the third person is a ready way to bring us unto nearer accesse unto God and to speak unto his Majesty in the second person as here we see For thou hast delivered my soul from death saith he directing his speech to God 5. When outward trouble and inward tentations do set upon a soul at one time when men do shew their wrath and God hideth his face it is a sad condition able to draw teares from the stoutest heart and to put him in hazard of sinning and in peril to perish Thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from teares and my feet from falling 6. As an humble and sensible soul will pack up many troubles joyned together in one so a thankfull soul will branch one mercy out in sundry particular branches as here the Psalmist distinguisheth the delivery of his soul from death of his eyes from teares and of his feet from falling Vers. 9. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living The second engagement by way of thankfulnesse is unto a more holy way of walking with God whereunto as his faith made him confident that he should attain v. 10. so his recovery from desperation made him a debtor to pursue the duty v. 11. and a debtor in so high a measure as he knew not how to be thankfull v. 1â— Fâ—om his hopefull engagement to a holy carriage before God and his Church Learn 1. It is a good use of experiences of Gods goodnesse unto us to engage and oblige our selves to a more sure and holy ordering of our wayes as the Psalmist did I will walk before the Lord. 2. As the time of our life is the proper opportunity of shewing our thankfulnesse to God so the visible 〈…〉 is the fittest society we can live in for expressing our thankfulnesse for while we are living and living among the godly beside whose society the rest of the world is as a company of dead corpses we have time and place oâ— maâ—â—â—esting our obedience unto God I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living 3. As a sincere conversation hath God and men to be witnesses unto it so should the upright servant of God study to
sense of the terror of God yea it is needfull they be now and then exercised therewith that so they may be kept in awe and their joy may be tempered with fear and trembling and their prayer may be sharpened and they may be kept watchfull and so their obedience may be furthered My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy judgements AIN Ver. 121. I have done judgement and justice leave me not to mine oppressors In this section he prayeth to be directed comforted and helped against his oppressors for six reasons The first whereof is because his carriage and cause was righteous Whence learn 1. It is no strange thing to see godly innocent men troubled persecuted and oppressed for here is one oppressed who saith truly I have done judgement and justice 2. A believer put in the power of oppressors for a good cause may call for and look for Gods assistance and presence and not to be given over to the will of the persecutors Leave me not to mine oppressors Vers. 122. Be surety for thy servant for good let not the proud oppresse me Another reason of his petition is because he hath ground by the Covenant of grace to request God to engage for him that he shall not be oppressed utterly Whence learn 1. Seeing the Lord is obliged to his people by Covenant to defend his servants against their enemies and that all things shall turn to their good the believer hath warrant to imploy God in his need to interpose himselfe for the relief of his servant that he be not distressed Be surety for thy servant for good and let not the proud oppresse me 2. Before men do turne persecutors of the godly they forget both God and their own condition and become proud Let not the proud oppresse me Vers. 123. Mine eyes faile for thy salvation and for the word of thy righteousnesse A third reason because he is like to faint and to lose hope by the Lords long delaying of delivery Whence learn 1. As men have received a greater measure of faith so use they to get a greater measure of trial as here this Champion is suffered to lie in trouble till he be like to sink in it Mine eyes faile for thy salvation 2. Albeit the words of promise be neither performed nor like to be performed yet faith should justifie the promise for true and faithfull Mine eyes faile for the word of thy righteousnesse Vers. 124. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy and teach me thy statutes 125. I am thy servant give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies The fourth reason of his petition for delivery and help and for direction how to carry himselfe in trouble in the mean time 〈◊〉 delivery come is because the Lord useth to deal with his servants not in justice but in mercy Whence learn 1. The course of Gods dealing with his children is not the rule of strict justice or the Covenant of works but the way of mercy Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy 2. It should satisfie the request of the child of God under persecution if God shall direct him to walk holily and righteously till the delivery come and to profit in sanctification Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy and teach me thy statutes 3. When tentation unto mis-beliefe doth oppose our petition or the reasons thereof it is wisdome to resist it and to assert our interest in the promise whatsoever be opposed and to pursue our petition I am thy servant give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies Vers. 126. It is time for thee LORD to work for they have made void thy Law The fifth reason of his petition is because the persecutors were come to the height of sinne and did stand in no awe of God or his Word but rejected it as a thing of nought VVhence learn 1. As sinners grow in sinne till they trample Gods law under their feet so according as they grow in their sinne the time of Gods manifesting his justice draweth near It is time for thee Lord to work 2. What persecutors do intend yea and what their work of persecution driveth at and intendeth is put upon the persecutors score for they have made void thy Law is charged upon them for their controvening of it so grosly as if they had intended to abolish it Vers. 127. Therefore I love thy Commandments above gold yea above fine gold 128. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way The sixth reason of his petition is because the more the persecutors do go about to make Gods law void the Psalmist was the more zealous for it loved it esteemed of it justified it and hated whatsoever was contrary to it so much the more VVhence learn The hatred of holinesse and of Gods truth perceived in the persecutors should stirre up the love of the godly to the truth so much the more Therefore I love thy commandments The more that the wicked despise Gods Word we should esteem the more of it I love thy commands above gold yea above fine gold The more they wrangle and wrest it in any point the more should we defend and justifie it in every point Therefore I esteem thy precepts concerning all things to be right And the more the wicked love wickednesse we should the more hate it and all the branches of it I hate every false way PE. In this section he professeth his high estimation of and affection to the Word of God v. 129 130 131 and prayeth for the benefits which are offered and may be had in it in the rest of the section Vers. 129. Thy testimonies are wonderfull therefore doth my soul keep them 130. The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple 131. I opened my mouth and panted for I longed for thy commandments He falleth here in a new admiration of the excellency of the Word of God and in a vehement passion of love toward it Whence learn 1. As the Word of God in Scripture is wonderfull in it selfe and wonderfull in the operations thereof so when it is best seen it is most admired and every new looking upon it raiseth new admiration of it Thy testimonies are wonderfull 2. The more the Word is admired the more is it loved and submitted unto and more earnest desires are kindled to make use thereof in practice Therefore doth my soul keep them 3. The innermost cabinet of a mans soul is the proper case wherein to keep the knowledge of faith love and purpose of obedience of Gods testimonies My soul doth keep them 4. Albeit the Word of God in Scripture be full of high mysteries yet which is indeed wonderfull it may be read with profit by simple people or any who desire knowledge and it is so plaine to every one who will be Gods disciple as it giveth light and direction presently to the
blessed condition of the true Church of God and rejoyce therein all his dayes Thou shalt see the good of Ierusalem all the dayes of thy life thou shalt see peace upon Israel PSALME CXXIX THe scope of this Psalme is to confirme the faith of Gods people against persecution The parts thereof are two The former is praise to God for delivering many times his Church from the oppression of persecutors v. 1 2 3 4. The other hath a prophetical curse against the enemies of the Church v. 5 6 7 8. Vers. 1. MAny a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me In praising God for the Churches delivery lately granted to her he calleth to minde many by past persecutions wherein the Lord had preserved his Church from overthrow Whence learn 1. The visible Church from the beginning of the world is one body and as it were one man growing up from infancie to riper age for so speaketh the Church here Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth 2. The wicked enemies of the Church they also are one body one adverse armie from the beginning of the world continuing war against the Church Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth 3. As the former injuries done to the Church are owned by the Church in after-ages as done against the same body so also the persecution of former enemies is imputed and put upon the score of present persecutors Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say 4. New experiences of persecution when they call to minde the exercises of the Church in former ages serve much for encouragement and consolation in troubles Many a time have they afflicted me may Israel now say 5. Albeit this hath been the endeavour of the wicked in all ages to destroy the Church yet God hath still preserved her from age to age Yet they have not prevailed Vers. 3. The Plowers plowed upon my back they made long their â—â—rrowes 4. The LORD is righteous he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked He repeateth the same praise of God in delivering his Church from oppression of the enemie under the similitude of cutting the cords of the plough which tilleth up another mans field Whence learn 1. The enemies of the Church do no more regard her then they do the earth under their feet and do seek to make their own advantage of her as usurpers use to do in possessing and labouring of another mans field The Plowers plowed upon my back 2. The Lord useth to suffer his enemies to break up the fallow ground of his peoples proud and stiffe hearts with the plough of persecution and to draw deep and long furrows on them They made long their furrowes 3. What the enemies do against the Church the Lord maketh use of it for manuring the Church which is his field albeit they intend no good to Gods Church yet they serve in Gods wisdom to prepare the Lords people for receiving the seed of Gods Word for the similitude speaketh of their tilling of the Church but nothing of their sowing for that is reserved for the Lord himself who is Owner of the field 4. When the wicked have plowed so much of Gods husbandry as he thinketh good to suffer them then he stoppeth their designe and looseth their plough He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked 5. In all the exercise of the Church and in all Gods patience towards the persecutors thereof and in his delivering of the Church and punishing of the wicked the Lord is upon a laudable work of chastising humbling trying and training his people to better service and shewing of his mercy on his people when they are humbled and of his justice against the wicked The Lord is righteous he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked Vers. 5. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion 6. Let them be as the grasse upon the house tops which withereth afore it groweth up 7. Wherwith the mower filleth not his hand nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosome 8. Neither do they which go by say The blessing of the LORD be upon you we blesse you in the Name of the LORD In the latterpart of the Psalme he prayeth against all the enemies of the Church and curseth them Whence learn 1. All those are the enemies of the Church who love her not who seek not her welfare who are glad when it goeth ill with her and do envie her prosperity They hate Zion 2. Confusion of face and destruction shall be their portion who are enemies to Gods people and the Church may lawfully pray for it in the general Let them all be confounded and turned back who hate Zion 3. Albeit the trouble of the Church which she sustaineth by persecution seem long yet the time of the persecutors is but short like the time of grasse on the house top which withereth ere it grow up their glory is but a vain shew like the greennesse of grasse on the house top their high place is their ruine as the house top exposeth the grasse on it to the greater heat of the Sun their strength wanteth root like the grasse on the house top which withereth before it grow up wherewith the mower filleth not his hand nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosome 4. To salute the reapers of the field or any within the visible Church whom we finde about their lawful labour or employment and to pray God to speed them and blesse them is not unlawful nor a taking of Gods Name in vain when done honestly for in the Psalmists dayes it was the laudable custome of Gods people as they went by the reapers of the field to say The blessing of the Lord be upon you we blesse you in the Name of the Lord 5. It is no small losse which the wicked persecutors of the Church sustaine by this that their work is not blessed unto them of the Lord and that they shall want the benefit of the prayers of the Church for they shall be as the grasse which cometh to no ripeness nor good fruit whereupon any man can crave a blessing from God unto them they who go by them at this their work shall not say The blessing of the Lord be upon you we blesse you in the Name of the Lord. PSALME CXXX THis Psalme containeth the exercise of the Psalmist wrastling under the sense of sin with fearful tentations which were like to overcome him wherein he prayeth for relief v. 1 2. opposeth Gods mercy to his justice v. 3 4. and waiteth for comfort v. 5 6. then he bringeth forth the use which he maketh of the relief and comfort which God gave unto him by encouraging the Church to trust in Gods mercy because he will deliver his people from all trouble and sin v. 7 8. Ver. 1. OVt of the depths