the abstract and in the plural number see Psal. 68. 10. as if the holy Ghost could not speak enough how willing they are to note exceeding great willingness to submit to every Commandment of the Lord or it may signifie free-will offerings voluntary oblations In the day of thy power That is on the Sabbath day when his people are assembled before him as an Army before the Generall or in that day when thou sendest forth thy Army that is the Apostles and other Preachers of the Gospel into the world In the beauties of holiness In with or by the beauties of holiness The Temple say some Ezek. 7. 20. That is thy people shall be willing when they come to publick Ordinances glorious and beautifull Others interpret it when God discovers holiness in its beauty From the womb of the morning The Greeks translated divinely From the womb before the morning starre have I begotten thee Thou hast the dew of thy youth The holiness and righteousness of Christ is called the dew of the morning not in regard of its fading nature as ours Hos. 6. 4. but in regard of its multitude because it maketh dewy Vers. 6. He shall wound the heads over many Countries Satan the head of all the ungodly as Conquerours use to do Gen. 3. 15. In the head of the Serpent lies both virus dolus Vers. 7. He shall drink of the brook in the way therefore shall he lift up the head An allusion to the brook Kedron wherein they were wont to throw all the carnages of the Temple By the way is meant the whole course of Christs life every man is resembled to a traveller or wayfaring man Psal. 119. 1. The whole course of a godly mans life is called a narrow way Matth. 7. 14. by brook a Land-flood Waters in Scripture note afflictions miseries Psal. 18. 5. 69. 1. Great miseries are called many waters The expression implies 1. A great measure of afflictions therefore they are not called a Cup but a Brook Psal. 36 8. 2. A confluence of all manner of misery To drink of this river is to suffer and sustain all these evils Psal. 60. 3. Jer. 25. 15 16. Matth. 20. 22. or it may mean a short refreshing of himself and then a hot pursuit of his enemies without delay till he hath got a full conquest of them See Judg. 7. 4 5 6. Lift up the head An allusion to the release of Pharaohs Butler He shall lift up thy head Gen. 40. 13. so Christ as one that saw an end of his troubles and enjoyed a better state Luke 21. 28. PSAL. CXI Verse 2. THe works of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein The word signifies serious and diligent enquiry The Jews called their School Domus inquisitionis because there they diligently sought after truth PSAL. CXII Verse 3. WEalth and riches shall be in his house That is things sufficient and competent Psal. 37. 16. 2. If by riches be understood abundance the words must be taken with this condition if they be for their good for all temporall promises must be understood with exception Vers. 10. And melt away By degrees so the Hebrew word signifies PSAL. CXIII Verse 6. WHo humbleth himself The word notes a great degree of humiliation Vers. 7. He raiseth the poor out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill From the dust That is from base estate as 1 King 16. 2. This speech is taken from 1 Sam. 2. 8. The last words signifie a most abject condition PSAL. CXIV Verse 2. FRom a people of strange language This word is here only used and meaneth all speech that was not understood of Gods people which he that speaketh is called of the Apostle a Barbarian that is a stranger 1 Cor. 14. 11. even as here also the Chaldee turneth it R. Salomon and Kimchi expound it a people speaking any other language besides the Hebrew such they called Lognazim as the Greeks and Romans called all besides themselves Barbaros PSAL. CXV Verse 1. NOt unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truths sake It is redoubled for the greater emphasis the Prophet â—eacheth us to pray twice against our own praise we are so apt to praise our selves so ready to glory in our prosperity Repetitio ardorem indicat Muis. Some Divines think it is repeated as a rebuke of a temptation because they had thick thoughts of revenge they say it is not a Doxology but a prayer when the people of God went out against Pagan adversaries they did not desire revenge or deliverance but prosperity and successe that Gods mercy and truth might be magnified These two Attributes are mentioned 1. Because they are the chief part of the divine glory 2. They yeeld most consolation to the creature 3. For the better strengthning of their abnegation 4. Because these are the two federal Attributes and fit for the Church to mention Psal. 25. 10. The Covenant was made in mercy and kept in truth Micah 7. 20. Vers. 4. Their Idols are silver and gold the work of mens hands 5. They have mouths but they speak not Eyes have they but they see not The Psalmist even as if he should set forth the vanity of babes and children about their puppets so doth he describe the Heathen Idols Inanitatem idolorum deridet potius quam deseribit Bucerus They cannot be beneficial to men which have their whole existence from them He derides their madnesse who worship mute and empty Images and adore the work of their own fingers Vers. 8. They that make them are like unto them That is they have even as little wit and reason as they Vers. 16. The Heaven even the Heavens are the Lords Made for the manifestation of his own glory and the habitation of Angels But the earth hath he given to the children of men q. d. The Lord hath challenged the Heavens to himself in which he lives a blessed life he hath given this earth to men in which they should live and glorifie him PSAL. CXVI Verse 1. I Love the Lord. There is but one word in the Hebrew I love but he sheweth not whom he loveth it s a broken word because as Ambrosâ— faith he loved the most desirable thing Vers. 7. Return unto thy rest O my soul. Rests in the plural number all manner of rests because it hath attained its chief good Vers. 11. I said in my haste All men are liars That is when I remembred not the word of God but forgat my own duty and was carried away with the stream of my own affections against faith then I failed and was foiled Id est quum pracops raperer in perturbationes carnis ut accipitur Psal. 31. 23. Juniuâ— Vers. 16. Oh Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant Repetâ—tio valet ad
what to do with or for us so rather here waited not the time when his counsell was to be fulfilled concerning them Vers. 15. But sent leanness into their soul. That is the Lord did not bless their meat to their nourishment but it proved to their destruction so it is commonly expounded but both a spirituall and temporall judgement went together See Psal. 36. 8. 63. 23. Vers. 20. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an Oxe that eateth grass That is whereas God had shewed himself unto them gloriously in the Pillar and Cloud otherwise they could not be satisfied with these glorious signes of his presence but they must needs set up the Image of an Oxe a most beneficiall creature whose labour did yield them through Gods blessing the best means of maintenance They did like the Heathens Rom. 1. 23. Vers. 23. Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach In the gap which their sinne had opened for God as an enemy to enter and destroy them A similitude taken from War when by a breach in the wall the enemy entreth the City so Eze. 13. 5. 22. 30. But Moses earnest prayer stopped this breach Ex. 32. 11 14. Vers. 28. They joyned themselves unto Baal-peor and ate the sacrifices of the dead The Fathers make him to be the beastly God Priapus See Athanasius Kirchers Oâ—dipus AEgyptiacus Tom. 1. Syntag. 4. c. 5. Sacrifices of the dead Meat offerings to the Idoll a liveless dull dead and inanimate thing therefore God in opposition thereto is above thirty times styled the living God See Jer. 10. 5 10. 1 Thess. 1. 9. Vers. 30. Then stood up Phinehas and executed judgement and so the plague was stayed Vajephallel and he prayed saith one translation and he executed judgement saith another The Originall word bears both to note that Religion doth marvellously fit a man for works of justice Vers. 31. And that was counted unto him for righteousness Not to justifie him God approved the work and imputed it to him as an eminent service and rewarded him accordingly Though he was a Priest and not a publick Magistrate and the thing was done without ordinary authority Vers. 33. Because they provoked his spirit Imbittered or exasperated it being in Hiphil some take it transitively that the people caused Moses to rebell quod mihi non displicet saith Calvin Vers. 37. Yea they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils God never required this but of Abraham and would not let him do it they would not be behind Abraham PSAL. CVII HEre are four instances of Gods providence in this Psalm 1. To pilgrims or strangers vers 3. which he concludes with Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderfull works to the children of men v. 8. 2. To the captives and imprisoned ver 10. and concludes likewise as formerly vers 15. 3. To such as were sick and diseased ver 17 18. and concludes so v. 21. 4. To those that go to sea ver 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30. and concludes so ver 31. Vers. 20. He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions The Serpent lifted up by Moses in it self and by its own vertue was a bare sign and no remedy to cure distressed Israelites but they were cured by their faith in the word of Gods promise annexed unto the sign The cure saith Austin came not from the Serpent but from Gods Commandment obeyed and his promise beleeved Vers. 23. They that go down to the Sea in Ships that do business in great waters Here in another kinde the Prophet shews what great care God hath of mankinde while he brings those that suffer shipwrack into the haven as if he should raise them up out of the grave Vers. 26. They mount up to the heaven they go down again into the depths their soul is melted because of trouble Vers. 42. And all iniquity shall stop her mouth Will be forced to be silent the same kinde of speech there is Job 5. 16. Vers. 43. Who is wise and will observe those things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. The loving kindness of God may not so clearly appear in every action one had need to be wise to discern that PSAL. CVIII THis Psalm is composed of the 57 Psalm from the 8 v. to the end and of the 60 Psalm from the 7 v. to the end Vers. 1. O God my heart is fixed Fixed as a throne See Psal. 57. 7. that is I will go to duty I have got a heart fit for it Heb. a heart established and setled there is a fixed heart in regard of Gods providences and various dispensations Psal 112. 2. in reference to the word of God so here Vers. 2. I my self will awake early In the Originall it is more emphaticall Hagnira shahber I will awaken the morning As if David should say the morning never took me napping but I wakened it still Vers. 9. Moab is my washpot over Edom will I cast out my shoe or washing pot PSAL. CIX Verse 4. BUt I give my self unto prayer A broken spâ—ech But I prayer or I was all prayer So I peace Psal. 120. 7. Vers 6. And let Satan stand at his right hand To hinder him in action or let him in his accusation overcome him Zach. 3. 1. An allusion to the custom of ancient times in which the adversary stood at the right hand of him that was condemned and at the left hand of him that was acquitted PSAL. CX CHrist applies the first verse of this Psalm to himself Rabbi Saadia Gaon upon Daniel interprets this Psalm of the Messiah Vers. 1. Jehovah That is God the Father Assuredly said See Psal. 36. 2. To my Lord. That is to Christ. Sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy footstool Sitting notes reigning with continuance 1 Cor. 15. 25. Heb. 10. 12 13. This implies 1. Victory a perfect conquest over them conquerours used to make their enemies their footstool 2. Ignominy the lowest subjection Sapores King of Persia overcoming Valerian the Emperour in battel used his back after for a stirrup when he got upon his horse so Tamberlane served Bajazet The footstool is a piece of State and both raiseth and easeth him that sits on the Throne so Christs enemies raise and ease him Vers. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion Or Scepter Hoc est insigne regiae potestatis Hieron The Gospel Vers. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power The people of God are Christs five waies 1. By way of gift Psal. 2. John 17. 6. 2. By purchase and redemption Gal. 3. 13. 3. By way of conquest 4. By way of Covenant Luk 1. 57. Servus a servando 5. By way of communion 1 Cor. 3. ult Willing Willingnesses
extent and latitude of it that he be not overtaken with it unawares There is a metaphor in the Hebrew word drawn from the naked which turn themselves here and there Vers. 6. Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Hhanoch lanagnar gual pi instrâ—â— vel intra puâ—rum ad â—s teach the childe even as we feed children with such meat as they are able to digest In his way That is according to his capacity And when he is old he will not depart from it He will be the better for it while he liveth That of Horace is known Quo semel est imbuta recens servabiÌ„t odorem Testa diâ— Vers. 9. He that hath a bountifull eye shall be blessed The LXX reade it He that hath compassion on the poor in the Originall and Paraphrase it is He that hath a good eye and again an envious and malignant is said to have an evil eye From the eye are discovered effectuall signes of goodness mercy clemency anger hatred sorrow joy and such like affections From this reason in nature did our Saviour derive that his saying in the Parable Is thine eye evil because I am good Vers. 12. The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge The eyes of the Lord signifie his peculiar presence and providence the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous Knowledge The abstract for the concrete as Job 5. 16. Psal. 12. 2. Rom. 11. 17. men of knowledge Vers. 13. The slothfull man saith there is a Lion in the way I shall be slain in the streets No sluggard neglects any duty but he hath a pretence 2. The pretence which he hath shall be enough to him to shift off a duty Lions are in their dens in the day time Psal. 104 22 21. Vers. 18. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within theâ— they shall withall be fitted in thy lips As if he had said when thou hast been a learner and hast gained a stock of knowledge they shall be fitted to thy lips that is thy lips shall bring forth shape and form those notions of truth into profitable and savoury discourses Within thee In thy belly that is take place in thy heart because written there as the Law was written in the midst of Christs bowels Vers. 20. Have not I written to thee excellent things in connsels and knowledge Vers. 22. Rob not the poor because he is poor These words are capable of a double construction That is let not his poverty and inability to withstand thee encourage thee the rather to rob him which construction agreeth well with the reason given in the next verse or thus let the consideration of his poverty keep thee off from medling with him Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate That is either by bringing him before the Judge or by wronging him thy self being Judge Judges sate in the Gate Vers. 27. If thou hast nothing to pay why should he take away thy bed from under thee No Law requires that a man should lie in the streets to let another lie in his bed Vers. 29. Seest thou a man diligent in his business he shall stand before Kings he shall not stand before mean meâ— Liphne hhashim coram obscuris that is before the mean and baser sort who were cloathed in soyled black CHAP. XXIII Verse 2. ANd put thy knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite Or in thy throat That is be very carefull and circumspect in taking thy food bridle thine appetite take heed thou dost not exceed measure Vers. 5. Wilt thou set thine eyes That is thine affections Heb. involare facies Wilt thou cause thine eyes to fly the inward disposition of the heart shews it self much by the eyes therefore the Scripture speaks of the delight and desire of the eyes and saith thine eyes shall not pity it implies aviditatem celeritatem 1 Sam. 15. 19. the whole intention of the Spirit Upon that which is not That thing which thou apprehendest it to be that which hath no reality or stability For riches certainly make themselves wings they fly away as an Eagle towards heaven Not like a tame house bird which a man may follow and catch again nor like a Hauk that will shew where she is by her bels and be called again with a lure but like an Eagle which mounts aloft past sight and is carried away with so much haste that nothing can recall her Vers. 7. Eat and drink saith he to thee but his heart is not with thee That is he courts thee but loves thee not Vers. 17. But be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long He doth not say Do thou fear the Lord all the day long but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long under the power and authority of it as to be in the flesh in malice in drink Vers. 23. Buy the truth and sell it not It is exprest both affirmatively and negatively Buy it That is use all means which possibly ye can for attaining and possessing of it This advice concerneth two sorts of men 1. Such as have it not they must labour to get it 2. Such as have it they must hold it fast Vers. 26. My sonne give me thine heart Not lend me thy ear or afford me thy tongue Vers. 27. For an where is a deep ditch and a strange woman is a narrow pit There is no getting out of a deep ditch if the mouth be narrow CHAP. XXIV Verse 4. ANd by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all preciâ—us and pleasant riches Some expound it of the hidden parts of the soul prosperity is intailed to piety Vers. 13 14. My son eat thou honey because it is good and the honey-comb which is sweet unto thy taste As honey is pleasant in the taste so the knowledge of spirituall things Vers. 16. For a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again but the wicked shall fall into mischief The common addition and which is frequent in the ancient Fathers of seven times a day is more than is found in the Originall That is often into trouble Psal. 34. 19. so Junius in notis Tarnov Exercit. Bibl. Drusius Mercer Piscator Deodate the Genevah and others But the wicked falleth and never riseth again Vers. 20. The candle of the wicked shall be put out The life of the wicked is compared to a candle because it is maintained by base stinking matter and will go out in snuff Vers. 21. Them that are given to change viz. Leges statum regni Pagn Vers. 25. But to them that rebuke him shall be delight That is much comfort and matter of rejoycing so as they shall not need to repent what they have done And a good blessing shall come upon them That is either a blessing of good men who will bless praise and commend them or a