Creator without dark speech without parable He it is of whom the Law testifieth APPARANTLY AND NOT IN DARKE SPEECHES Num. 12. 8. for hee prophesied not by darke speech but apparantly for he saw the thing concerning his Creator All the Prophets were afraid and troubled and fainted but Moses was not so for the Scripture saith As a man speaketh unto his friend Exod. 33. 11. as if he should say as a man is not troubled to heare the words of his friend so there was strength in the mind of Moses to understand the words of prophesie and he stood on his place safe and well None of the Prophets prophesied at all times when they would but Moses was otherwise for at any time when he would the holy Ghost clothed him and prophesie came upon him and he needed not to prepare his minde and make himselfe readie for it for he was prepared and readie and stood as the Angels of ministerie therefore he prophesied at all times as it is said Stand still and I will heare what the LORD will command concerning you Num. 9. 8. And this God caused him to trust upon as it is said But as for thee Stand thou here with me c Deut. 5. 31. whereby thou maist learne that all the Prophets when prophesie was taken up from them returned to their tents which was for things necessary to the body of them all as the rest of the people therefore they were not separated from their wives but Moses our master returned not to his first tent therefore hee was separated from his wife for ever and his minde was fast bound unto God the Rocke everlasting and his glory was never taken up from upon him but the skinne of his face shined and he was sanctified as the Angels Maimony in Misn. tom 1 in Iesude hattorah chap 7 sect 1. 6. Now as the Apostle compareth Christ with Moses and preferreth him before Moses Heb. 3. so in this gift of prophesie hee did excel him for the Lord God gave him the tongue of the learned that he knew how to speake a word in season Esai 50. 4. and this he learned not by dreams or visions nor by Angels nor by speech communicated mouth to mouth but by cleare seeing of God which no man ever did at any time and being in the bosome of the Father Ioh. 1. 18. and having the Spirit not by measure he testified what hee had seene and heard with his Father Iohn 3. 34. 32. and 8. 38. and in him all fulnesse dwelt even the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Coloss. 1. 19. and 2. 9. will I speake that is I usually speake the time to come is used to signifie a continued action in vision or by sight or appearance that is apparantly the Greeke translateth in an appearance or sight which word is opposed in 2 Cor. 5. 7. to faith which is of things not seene Hebr. 11. 1. and here the Lord opposeth it to darke speeches so it meaneth an apparant or cleare revelation Aben Ezra explaineth it thus I will show him the thing as it is as the forme of the Tabernacle Exod. 25. 40 and not in a darke speech or riddle like that in Ezek. 17. 2. a great Eagle with great wings c. darke speeches or hidden speeches riddles a 〈…〉 speech is called in Hebrew Chidah of sharpnes because it requireth sharpnesse of wit both to propound expound the same as we have example 〈◊〉 Sampsons riddle Iudg. 14. 13 14 c. it is of the nature of a parable as in Eze. 17. 2. 3. Son of man put forth a riddle speak a parable to the house of Israel A great Eagle with great wings long winged fullâ— feathers which had divers colors came unto Lebanan c. And all close and hidden doctrine is called a riddle Psal. 49. 5. And the holy Ghost translateth it in Greeke sometime Ainigma a riddle 1 Cor. 13. 12. as the common Greeke version hee hath sometime hidden things Mat. 13. 35. from Psal. 78. 2. and so the Chaldee of Ionathan expoundeth it here The Apostle sheweth the meaning of this word when he saith Now we see thorow a glasses a riddle that is darkly but then we shall see face to face 1 Corinth 13. 12. the similitude or the likenesse image which the Greeke interpreteth the glory of the Lord Sol. IIrchi saith This was the sight of Gods back-parts mentioned in Exod. 33. 23. And this prerogative Moses hâ—â— above all Israel which saw no similitude of God Deut. 4. 12. 15. and above all Prophets who saw no vision of God so cleare as hee did For even Moses himselfe could not see the face of God Exâ—â— 33 20. No man hath seene God at any time Iohn 1. 18. neither can see 1 Tim. 6. 16. against my servant against Moses a manner of speech both earnest and elegant like that in Gen. 21. 10. with my sonne with Isaack and that in 2 Sam. 7. 23. like thy people like Israel Sol. Iarchi noteth Hee saith not against my servant Moses but against my servent against Moses against my servant though he were not Moses against Moses for though he were not my servant it were meet yee should feare before him 〈◊〉 much more seeing he is my servant According to this the Apostle speaketh in 2 Pet. 2. 10. they are not afraid to speake evill of dignities Vers. 9. he went away withdrew the signe of his glorious presence not vouchsafing to locate their answer which was a token of his great dâ—pleasure Vers. 10. the cloud departed the cloud of the glory of the divine presence of the Lord saith Targum Ionathan leprous as snow that is leprous white as snow and this was the sorest leprosie and most incurable see Exod. 4. 6. 2 King 5. 27. and they that had this disease were put out of the Lords campe as uncleane Levit. 13. and therefore God departed now away for as Chazkuni here saith It is not the way of the earth that holinesse should stay in an unclean place This punishment was very memorable both for the suddennes and sorenesse of it wherefore it is after said Remember what Iehovah thy God did unto Marie by the way 〈…〉 ter that ye were come forth out of Egypt Deut. 24. 9 And if God did thus unto so great a woman for Moses sake what will he doe to such as rebell against Christ who is counted worthy of more glory than Moses Heb. 3. 3. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not 〈◊〉 escape if we turne away from him that speakth from heaven Hebr. 12. 25. For Christ is not the servant but the Sonne even the Lord from heaven 1 Cor. 15. 47. Verse 11. Alas my lord or Oh my lord Hebr. unto me to wit have respect the Chaldee explaineth it We pray thee my lord see this phrase in Gen. 43. 20. Aaron as unworthy of accesse himselfe unto God now departed maketh request unto Moses
here commendeth the graces of Christ which he had being full of the Holy Ghost for his God had anointed him with the oyle of gladnesse above his fellowes Heb. 1. 9. and of him it is said The Spirit of the Lord is upon mee because hee hath anointed mee to preach the Gospell c. Luke 4. 18. Esay 61. 1. And the odour of these graces is smelt when the Gospell preached is by sense or judgement perceived Phil. 1. 9. Luke 9. 45. Heb. 5. 14. thy name is an ointment powred-forth As Messias and Christ is by interpretation Anointed and he is called the Oile or Ointment in Esay 10. 27. so by his Name is meant his Law the doctrine of grace or Law of faith Rom. 3. 27. as it is written The Iles shall wait for his Law Esay 42. 4. which is expounded The Gentiles shall trust in his name Matth. 12. 21. and the preaching of that grace is called the bearing of Christs Name before the Gentilis Acts 9. 15. and as a good Name is better then a good ointment Eccles. 7. 1. so the name and doctrine of Christ excelleth all other that at the name of Iesus every knee should bow Phil. 2. 10. This name is as a precious ointment powred forth by the preaching of the Gospell and by the miracles confirming the same accomplished not onely by Christ himselfe a man approved of God among the Israelites by miracles wonders and signes which God did by him Act. 2. 22. so that there went out a fame of him through all the region round about and he taught in their synagogues being glorified of all Luke 4. 14. 15. but also by his Apostles who were to preach on the house tops that which they heard in the eare Matth. 10. 27. which also they performed Rom. 15. 19. and 16. 25. 26. and therein rejoyced and said Now thankes be unto God which alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place For we are unto God a sweet-savour in Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish to the one the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life 2 Cor. 2. 2. 14. 15. 16. And as the boxe of ointment when it was broken and powred forth on Christs head the house was filled with the savour of it Marke 14. 3. Iohn 12. 3. so when his Name and Gospell is preached abroad it giveth the odour thereof into all Christian hearts so that by the preaching of faith they also receive the Spirit Gal. 3. 2. 5. and are anointed of God 2 Cor. 1. 21. and have an unction from the Holy-one and know all things 1 Iohn 2. 20. that whereas before they mourned for their sinnes and miseries they now are comforced and have the oile of joy given unto them Esay 61. 3. the Uirgins love thee These are the fellow friends of the Spouse Ps. 45. 15. By Uirgins are meant all such as are chosen and called of God and faithfull whether whole Churches as 2 Cor. 11. 2. or particular persons who with chaste and pure minds serve the Lord onely and worship him in spirit and truth and stand with Christ on the mount Sion having his Fathers name written in their foreheads of whom it is said These are they which were not defiled with women for they are virgins these are they which follow the Lambe whither soever he goeth these were bought from among men being the first fruits unto God and to the Lambe and in their mouth was found no guile for they are without fault before the throne of God Rev. 14. 1 4. 5. And these love the Lord for the odour of his good ointments which they perceive by his word and Spirit though they see him not 1 Pet. 1. 8. they love him because he first loved them 1 Iohn 4. 19. and hath shed abroad his love in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto them Rom. 5. 5. and this is love that they walke after his commandements and keepe them 2 Ioh. v. 6. Iohn 14. 15. Vers. 4. Draw me A second request of the Spouse unto Christ that he would not onely call her outwardly by the voice of his Gospell but forasmuch as the word preached profiteth not if it bee not mixed with faith in them that heare it Heb. 4. 2. and faith is not of our selves it is the gift of God Eph. 2. 8. who worketh in us both to will and to doe of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. that he would also open her heart Acts 16. 14. effectually worke in her by his Spirit and continue and increase his grace towards her For drawing implyeth power in him that draweth as Hee draweth the mighty with his power Iob 24. 22. and when it is unto good it argueth grace and good will as I drew them with cords of a man with bands of love Hos. 11. 4. and continuance of grace as O draw that is continue thy loving kindnesse to them that know thee Psal. 26. 10. and in them that are drawne it is a signe of infirmity as No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him Iohn 6. 44. And this is a fruit and effect of Christs death as himselfe saith And I if I bee lifted up or taken away from the earth will draw all men unto mee Iohn 12. 32. This drawing is by being effectually taught of God as againe he saith It is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father commeth to me Iohn 6. 45. and is a signe of Gods everlasting love towards such as it was said unto Israel Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawne thee Ier. 31. 3. we will runne I and the Virgins fore-mentioned will runne after thee for they follow the Lambe whithersoever he goeth Rev. 14. 4. Christ is our Fore runner gone before us into heaven Heb. 6. 20. Our Christian conversation is called a running Gal. 2. 2. and 5. 7. and our life is likened to a course or race which is runne as Iohn fulfilled his course or race Acts 13. 25. and Paul saith I have finished my course 2 Tim. 4. 7. Running signifieth readinesse of affection and speedy performance in action Hag. 1. 9. 1 King 19. 19. 20. Psal. 147. 15. it argueth also strength in the runner Dan. 8. 6. all which are here implyed as an effect of Christs grace drawing her according to the Prophesie Behold thou shalt call a nation that thou knewest not and nations that knew not thee shall runne unto thee c. Esay 55. 5. And againe They that wait on the Lord shall renew strength c. they shall runne and not be weary they shall walke and not faint Esay 40. 31. Now the way which we are to runne is his commandements of which David saith I
18. For shame or confusion is the fruit of sin Rom. 6. 21. the opposite of joy Esay 65. 13. and companion of destruction Ier. 48. 20. CHAP. III. 1 The Serpent deceiveth Eve 6 Man falleth 9 God arraigneth them 14 The Serpent is cursed 15 A seed promised that should bruise his head 16 Mankind is chastised 21 God clotheth them 22 and drives them out of Paradise NOw the Serpent was subtill more than any beast of the field which Iehovah God had made and hee said unto the woman yea because God hath said ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden And the woman said unto the serpent of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eate But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God hath said ye shall not eat of it neither shall yee touch it lest ye dye And the serpent said unto the woman yee shall not dying dye For God doth know that in the day that ye eate thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evill And the woman saw that the tree was good for meat and that it was a desire to the eyes and a tree to be coveted to make one wise and she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and she gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed-together fig leaves and made themselves aprons And they heard the voice of Iehovah God walking in the garden in the wind of the day and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of Iehovah God amongst the trees of the garden And Iehovah God called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou And he said I heard thy voice in the garden and I feared because I am naked and I hid my selfe And he said who told thee that thou art naked Hast thou eaten of the tree which I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat of it And Adam said the woman whom thou gavest to be with mee she gave me of the tree and I did eat And Iehovah God said unto the woman what is this that thou hast done And the woman said the Serpent beguiled me and I did eate And Iehovah God said unto the serpent Because thou hast done this cursed art thou above all cattell and above every beast of the field upon thy belly shalt thou goe and dust shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy life And I will put enmity betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seed and her seed Hee shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heele Vnto the woman hee said multiplying I will multiply thy sorrow and thy conception in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children and thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee And unto Adam hee said Because thou hast hearkned unto the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree which I commanded thee saying thou shalt not eat of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the dayes of thy life And thornes and thistles shall it bring-forth to thee and thou shalt eat the herbe of the field In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread till thou returne unto the ground for out of it wast thou taken for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou returne And Adam called his wives name Eve because she was the mother of all living And Iehovah God made to Adam and to his wife coats of skin and clothed them And Iehovah God said Behold the man is become as one of us to know good and evill And now left he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live for ever And Iehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken And he drove out the man and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims and the flame of a sword which turned-it-selfe to keepe the way of the tree of life Annotations Vers. SEâ—â—int named in English of creeping on the earth but in Hebrew nachash of subtill observation searching finding out by experience Gen. 30. 27. and 44. 5. The greater serpents are called dragons and nachash is sometimes turned in Greeke a dragon Iob 26. 13. Amos 9. 3. and for it in Hebrew is put Tannin a dragon Exod. 7. 10. with 4. 3. And in the new Testament the same thing is called both a dragon and a serpent Rev. 20. 2. subtill that is prudent and crafty prudent to save and helpe it selfe whereupon it is said be prudent as serpents Mat. 10. 16. crafty to deceive others as Paul saith the serpent by his craftinesse beguiled Eve 2 Cor. 11. 3. by which two words the Scriptures doe expresse the Hebrew here used which often is taken in the good part opposed to simplicity and folly Prov. 1. 4. and 8. 5. and 14. 15. 18. and 22. 3. more than the word more is usually omitted in the Hebrew as easie to be understood yet sometimes is expressed as in Est. 6. 6. And the holy Ghost setteth it downe in Greeke when it wanteth in Hebrew as in Gal. 4. 27. from Esay 54. 1. many are the children of the desolate more than of the maried in Esay 54. 1. the word more is not written So the Greeke version in this place addeth it though sometime the Greeke also wanteth it as Gen. 38. 26. Luke 18. 14. He sayd Whereas beasts are knowne in nature to be speechlesse and the Scripture confirmeth it 2 Pet. 2. 16 because they want reason or understanding Psal. 32. 9. Iud. v. 10. Moses under the name of the serpents speaking closely meaneth Satan who opened the serpents mouth and caused it to speake with mans voice as the Lord by an Angell opened the mouth of Balaams Asse Num. 22. 22. 28. 2 Peter 2. 16. And so the Hebrew Doctors write that the uncleane spirit Sammael the devill was united with the serpent R. Menachem on Gen. 3. And as a man possessed with an evill spirit all the workes that he doth and all the words that he speaketh are not but by the reason of the evill spirit that is in him so the serpent all the workes that he did and all the words that he spake he spake not neither did but by the reason of the Devill Pirke R. Eliezer chap. 13. The Angels of whose creation we spake before on Gen. 2. 1. being spirits and a flaming fire Psal. 104. 4. excellent in wisedome and mighty in strength 2 Sam. 14. 20 Psal. 103. 20. they many of them having one for principall did sinne against God Mar. 5. 9. Mat. 25. 41. 2 Pet. 2. 4. by not abiding in the truth nor keeping their first estate but leaving their owne habitation Iohn 8. 44. Iude 6. and are now still called of their cunning and
Iehovah said unto her multiplying I will multiply thy seed and it shall not bee numbred for multitude And the Angell of Iehovah said unto her Behold thou art-withchilde and shalt beare a sonne and thou shalt call his name Ismael because Iehovah hath heard thy affliction And hee will be a man like a wild asse his hand will be against all and the hand of all against him and he shall dwell before the faces of all his brethren And she called the name of Iehovah that spake unto her Thou the God that seest me for she said haue I also here seene after him that seeth me Therefore the well was called Beer-lachai-roï behold it is betweene Kadesh and Bered And Hagar bare unto Abram a son and Abram called the name of his son which Hagar bare Ismael And Abram was fourescore yeeres and sixe yeeres old when Hagar bare Ismael to Abram Annotations H 〈…〉 or bond-maid seruant opposed to a free woman Ier. 34. 10 11. Gal. 4. 22. The Holy Ghost translateth it in Greek sometime Doulee a woman seruant Act. 2. 18. sometime Paidiskee a bondmaid Gal. 4. 22. This bond woman was of Egypt or Mizraim of the posteritie of Cham Gen. 10. 6. which Egypt is after called the house of seruants Exod. 10. 2. for holding Abrams seed in bondage Hagar in Greeke Agar by interpretation a Fugitive or repulsed stranger in the Arabian tongue And the Apostle saith that this Agar allegorically is mount Sinai in Arabia and is in bondage with her childre Ga. 4. 24. 25. where he maketh her a figure of the old Testament or covenant of the Law given on mount Sinai and of the earthly Ierusalem as Sarai the freewoman figured the Ierusalem which is above and the new Testament or covenant of the Gospell in Christ. Hagars posterity are called Hagarens or Hagarites in 1 Chro. 5. 10. where the Greeke translateth them Pariokous strangers Vers. 2. restrained the Greeke interpreteth closed me up according to that phrase of closing up the wombe Gen. 20. 18. contrary to which is the opening of the wombe Gen. 30. 22. God had promised a seed unto Abram Gen. 15. 4. but not expresly as yet unto Sarai wherefore doubting whether she should be the mother she motioneth another course which was not according to God for it violated the law of mariage Gen. 2. 24. but after the flesh Gal. 4. 23. goe in that is accompany with see Gen. 6. 4. it may be or peraduenture a speech not of faith but of uncertaine hope and likelihood after the flesh but Sarai her selfe had afterward a son by promise Gal. 4. 23. and the word of promise was In this same time will I come and Sarah shall have a son Rom. 9. 9. wherefore shee had a son by Agar but hee was no heyre Gen. 21. 10. so the Church hath had children by the Law but they were not heires of the Kingdome of God for the Law is not of faith neither are the heires or inheritance otherwise then by promise of grace in Christ Gal. 3. 12 14 18 22 29. bee builded that is shall have a son So the Greeke explaineth it and Moses in Deut. 25. 9. And in Hebrew ben a sonne is named of banah he builded So Rachel and Leah are said to build the house of Israel by bearing children Ruth 4. 11. and God promised a seed to David under the similitude of building him an house 2 Sam. 7. 11 12 27. Sarai reckoneth her maids children as her owne so by the Law bond servants children were their masters Exod. 21. 4. Rachel likewise counted her maids children as given to her selfe Gen. 30. 3 6 8. And among the heathens Plutarch sheweth how Stratonice the wife of King Deiotarus being barren gave secretly her mayd Electra unto her husband by whom shee had an heyre to the Crowne Vers. 3. end of ten yeres that is after hee had dwelt there ten yeres So Abram was now 85. yeres old and Sarai 75. Gen. 12. 4. and 17. 17. In the yeere of the world 2093. a wife to weet a secondary and not a full wife but a concubine Gen. 25. 6. So Ketura called a wife Gen. 25. 1. was but a concubine 1 Chron. 1. 32. what they differ is noted on Gen. 22. 23. despised or lightly set by the Greeke saith dishonoured This pride of Agar figured the like affection in the heart of those that put confidence in the works of the Law as was in the Pharisee Luk. 18. 10. 11. Rom. 10. 3. And it greatly disquieted Sarai for it is one of the foure things which the earth cannot beare that an handmaid should be heire to her mistresse Prou. 30. 21 23. Vers. 5. my wrong or my injurie which I suffer is upon thee that is thou art the cause of it So the Greeke expounds it I am injured of thee and the Chaldee I have a plea against thee as if Abraham faulted in suffring such misdemeanor Or my wrong be upon thee that is either right thou my wrong or beare the punishment thereof from God Thus it accordeth with the words following and so Thargum Ierusalemy explaineth it my judgment and my abuse are delivered into thy hand judge or will judge if thou looke not to redresse it But the Greeke translates it prayer-wise the Lord judge The speech argueth her great passion as the like in Exod. 5. 21. Iudg. 11. 27. 1 Sam. 24. 13 16. Vers. 6. is in or be in thy hand that is in thy own power to correct her good that is pleasing as the Greeke translateth use her as pleaseth thee So in Gen. 45. 16. and often on the contrary evill in thy eyes is displeasing Gen. 28. 8. afflicted to humble her and abate her pride This seemeth to be by rough handling or stripes for a seruant will not be corrected by words Prov. 29. 19. shee fled as impatient of correction whereby she added sinne unto sinne for she should not have left her place Eccles. 10. 4. nor bereaved Abram of his child in her body therefore the Angell sendeth her home againe vers 9. But hereby the difference betweene the two mothers the Law and the Gospel was also figured Vers. 7. Angel so named of the Greeke Aggelos in Hebrew Maleac by interpretation a Messenger or Legate one sent and imployed in any worke whether of God or men And those sent of God were sometimes men as Haggai is called the Lords Angel or Messenger Hag. 1. 13. and Iohn the Baptist Mal. 3. 1. Mat. 11. 10. and generally the Lords Priests under the law Mal. 2. 7. and ministers under the gospel Rev. 1. 20. But in speciall Angels are those heauenly spirits and fierie flames that are wise 2 Sam. 14. 20. and excell in strength Psal. 103. 20. which are all ministring spirits sent forth in ministerie for them who shall bee heires of saluation Heb. 1. 7. 14. And here this Angel was sent for the good of Abrams family The Hebrew Doctors opinion of Angels is that
the Philistines in the southern parts of the Land of Canaan Gen. 10. 19. Hither Isaak came afterward to so journe for famine Gen. 26. 1. Vers. 2. of Sarah the Hebrew el which properly signifieth unto is used for of or concerning and is so translated by the Greeke here and Ier. 27. 19. and so the Greeke pros in like manner Heb. 1. 7. and 4. 13. Or if we reade it unto Sarah the meaning is that together with her both he and she said it as after in vers 5. is manifested See the like done before in Gen. 12. 11. 12. 13. Vers. 2. Abimelech by interpretation Father-King a common title of the Kings of Palestina as Phar 〈…〉 was of the Kings of Aegypt see Gen. 26. 1. Psal 34. 1. For Kings should beo Fathers to their countries so rulers are casled fathers 2 King 5. 13. Iob 〈◊〉 16. and 1 Sam. 1â— 15. where your fathers is translated in Greeke your King see Gen. 4. 20. Vers. 3 God came the Chaldee saith word came from the face of God This serteth forth Gods care for his he suffered â—o man to doe them wrong but reproved Kings for then sakes Psal. 165. 14. a dream which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—on that the mind of man conce 〈…〉 〈◊〉 isle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 natural arising from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the body or affections of the mind are many and have their vanities and deceits Eccles. 5. 7. Esay 29. 7. 8. But dreames supernaturall sent of God as here or by his Angels as Mat. 2. 13. are to bee regarded for God by them signifieth what he would or what men should doe Gen. 41. 25. Iob 33. 14. 15. 16. c. Dreames also are sometimes by the lying spirit of Satan which are not to bee beleeved or regarded Zach. 10. 2. Deut. 13. 1. 2. 3. See also Gen. 37. 5. a dead man that is shalt surely dye But under such threats conditions often are implyed as here if thou deliver not the woman See Ezek. 33. 14. 15. Vers. 4. come-neere that is lyen with her being stayed by sicknesse as it seemeth by verse 17. the Greeke saith touched her not the Hebrew also in verse 6. So Paul useth the phrase of touching a woman 1 Cor. 7. 1. and Solomon Prov. 6. 29. just nation fearing as it seemeth wrath upon his people also vers 9. as often commeth to passe for the Princes sinnes So for Davids sinne a plague came on his people 1 Chron. 21. 14. 17. Or hee calleth his family a nation which was now visited of God vers 17. 18. Vers. 5. perfection or integrity simplicy sincerity The Chaldee interprets it truth the Greeke a pure heart It is opposed to hypocrisie innocence of my hands or cleannesse of my palmes the palmes of the hands are named as wherein filthinesse might be hidden so purging himselfe even from secret crime Vers. 6. with-held the Greeke translateth spared thee It seemeth Gods chastisement restiained him vers 17. and so hee was not able to doe the evill which otherwise naturally hee could and was proneunto from sinning the Greeke saith that thou shouldst not sinne As God for Abrahams sake with held Abimelech from the fact so respecting the integrity of the Kings hearr hee kept him also from the sinne gave thee not that is let or suffered thee not as the Greeke translateth Giving is often used for suffering as Gen. 31. 7. Exod. 3. 19. Psal. 16. 10. but it is more then bare sufferance as implying an action also on Gods part who giveth meanes to stay from evill or sendeth delusions when so it pleaseth him as 2 Thess. 2. 7. Vers. 7. a Prophet therefore doe him no harme Psal. 105. 15. A Prophet in Hebrew Nabi in Greek Prophetes from which we have the word Prophet so named of speaking interpreting or uttering words and oracles that come from God Deut. 18. 15. 16. 18. as of seeing or receiving them by visions such were named Seers 1 Sam. 9. 9. So Moses interpreter is called his Prophet Exod. 7. 1. and all interpreters of the Scriptures 1 Cor. 14. 29. In speciall a Prophet was one indued with the Spirit of God and could foretell things to come Deut. 18. 22. Psalm 74. 9. Ier. 29. 15. Such are called holy men of God which spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 20. The Hebrew Doctors say It is one of the foundations of the Law to know that God maketh the sonnes of men to prophesie and prophesie resideth not but in a man that is great in wisedome mighty in his vertuous qualities so that his affections overcome him not in any worldly thing but by his knowledge he overcommeth his affections continually and he is a man expert in knowledge and of a very large vnderstanding c. On such a man the holy spirit commeth downe and when the spirit resteth upon him his soule is associated unto the Angels and he is changed to another man and perceiveth in his owne knowledge that hee is not so as he was but that hee is advanced above the degrees of other wise men even as it is said of Saul in 1 Sam. 10. 6. and thou shalt prophesie with them and shalt be turned into another man Maimony in Iesudei hatorah ch 7. S. 1. shall pray This was a speciall worke of the Prophets to pray for the people Ier. 14. 11. and 15. 1. whereupon it is said If they bee Prophets and if the word of the Lord be with them let them intreat the Lord c. Ier. 27. 18. Praying or interpellation hath the first signification of judging and so meaneth the presenting of the person and cause of any unto God as the judge and the judging of ones selfe live thou that is thou shalt live but it is a powerfull manner of speech wherupon God is said to command his mercy and the salvation and blessing of his people Psal. 42. 9. and 44. 5. and 133. 3. The like is often used as Amos 5. 4. seeke me and live that is yee shall live and dwell for ever Psal. 37. 27. dying that is shalt surely die see Gen. 2. 17. Vers. 9. that should not the Chaldee translateth that are not meet to be done the Greeke saith which none should doe Vers. 11. Surely or Onely The Greeke translateth Lest there be not the feare of God so making it an unperfect speech implying doubt as in Mat. 25. 9. By the feare of the Lord men depart from evill Prov. 16. 6. Vers. 12. of my father The Iewes opinion from hence is that Sarah was the same that Iseah mentioned in Gen. 11. 29. and had two names and that she being the grandchild of Thara by another woman then Abrahams mother is so spoken of here became Hebr. was to me for a wife Vers. 13. they euen God Aelohim the name of God in forme plurall is usually joyned with a word singular as hee created Gen. 1. 1. here and in some few other places it is coupled with a word plurall â—no without
mankind and good education of children that leaving childrens children after them parents may alwayes have some as in their owne stead to serve God and to worship him according to the Law As Isaak was a type of Christ so in this procuring of him a holy wife by his servant may bee typed the Church gathered of Saints by the employment of his ministers to bee the Spouse of Christ. For he is compared to a bridegroome Ioh. 3. 29. and the Church is the bride the Lambes wife Rev. 21. 9. 10. and the Apostles prepared the Churches for one husband to present them a pure virgin to Christ 2 Cor. 11. 2. which was not to be of the Canaanites that figured the unholy shut out of the Lords house Zach. 14. 21. but from Christs owne land and kinred that is from heaven borne of God from above Rev. 21. 2. 1 Per. 1. 23. 1 Iohn 3. 9. 10. Vers. 4. my land which after is named Mesopotamia vers 10. where though Idolatry too much prevailed Ios. 24. 2. Gen. 31. 19. 53. yet not so much as among the Canaanites Deut. 12. 31. Vers. 5. If so be or Peradventure so vers 39. see Gen. 18. 24. goe after that is follow or come with me so in ver 8. c. That which in Mar. 1. 20. is went after him in Mat. 4. 22. is written followed him Againe where one writeth he followeth not us Mar. 9. 38. another saith hee followeth not with us Luke 9. 49. that is he accompanieth us not Vers. 6. lest thou or that thou returne not As Abraham by faith abode in the land of promise so would he have his sonne Heb. 11. 9. Vers. 7. thy seed the Chaldee explaineth it thy sonne the Greeke to thee and to thy seed See Gen. 12. 7. before thee and with thee as in the repetition vers 40. is expressed both to lead and to protect As a prudent wife is of the Lord Prov. 19. 14. so Abraham beleeved that the Angels who are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heyres of salvation Heb. 1. 14. should bee sent for assistance in this businesse which unto many seemeth worldly and base but is indeed honourable Heb. 13. 4. Verse 8. cleare or innocent and so discharged of the oath Vers. 9. his Lord or master the pillar and sustainer of the family see Gen. 15. 2. As the Hebrew signifieth Lord and Master so the Scripture useth them indifferently as where one Evangelist saith Lord Matth. 17. 4. another saith Master Mar. 9. 5. Vers. 10. and all the goods the Greeke translateth and of all the goods of his Lord with him This by comparing ver 53. seemeth to bee the true meaning Mesopotamia in Hebrew called Aram Naharajim that is to say Aram or Syria of the two rivers it being a country that lay betweene the rivers Euphrates and Tigris or Chiddekel whereof see Gen. 2. 14. The Chaldee calleth it Aram that is by Euphrates As Mizraim is in Greek and other tongues called Aegypt Gen. 12. 10. so Aram Naharajim is in Greeke Mesopotamia so called of lying amidst the rivers which name the New Testament also keepeth in Act. 7. 2. Afterwards it is called Padam Aram in Gen. 25. 20. Aram the New Testament usually calleth Syria Mat. 4. 14. Act. 15. 23. 41. See Gen. 10. 22. of Nachor where Nachor dwelt that was Charran Gen. 28. 2. 10. By which it appeareth that Nachor accompanied Abraham and Tharah from Vr to Charran but no further Gen. 11. 31. So that is called Christs City wherein he dwelt Mat. 9. 1. Vers. 11. to kneele downe and consequently to rest them as the Greeke interpreteth it Vers. 12. bring it to passe or cause it to happen that is give good successe or send me good lucke The same word is in Gen. 27. 20. and is spoken of occurrences and events that do fall out and offer themselves unto men beyond their skill and counsell through Gods providence but to us by hap or chance as the Scripture also speaketh in Luke 10. 31. This being repeated by the servant ver 42. is expounded prospering and the Greeke there and here so translateth it by one and the same word Vers. 14. the damsell or yong-woman maid in Hebrew Naarah which five times in this chapter and often otherwhere is written by the letters Naar in the forme masculine but by the vowels Naara evidently-appointed or prepared as by certaine argument and demonstration or nurtured that is prepared and brought up by nurture and chastisement The originall word signifieth properly to argue chastise or nurture Here it signifieth appointing or preparing as the Greek and Chaldee doe translate it but with evident demonstration to another So Paul useth the Greeke word Elench answerable to the Hebrew here for an Evidence or Demonstration Heb. 11. 1. Vers. 15. it was c. this may also be read thus And the same was or came to passe before hee had made an end of speaking for loe Rebekah c. So God promiseth his people before they call I will answer and whiles they speake I will heare Esay 65. 24. And in the 45 verse following it is said that this speaking was in his heart and her pitcher the Greek translateth it having her pitcher or waterpot The Scripture often setteth downe the base and homely workes wherein the Saints men and women were in old time employed from their youth as here of Isaaks wife the mother of the Patriarches likewise of Rachel Iaakobs wife Gen. 29. 9. and of the daughters of Moses father in law Exod. 2. 16. and sundry the like Vers. 16. good countenance or good of visage that is fayre to looke upon So Gen. 26. 7. and Exod. 2. 2. translated fayre or goodly by the Apostles authority knowne that is lyen with her see Gen. 4. 1. These properties of humilitie kindnesse beauty and chastity are mentioned by the Holy Ghost as the most excellent so Christs Spouse is spiritually described by such Song 1. 8. 15. c. Vers. 17. let me drinke or slake my thirst The word here used is strange and seemeth to be Syriacke which they spake in that country and to have the significatiō of great thirst which he desireth to be slaked and after in repeating this ver 45. hee useth the common Hebrew hashkini that is let me drinke Ver. 21. wondering that is wondred and as the Greeke translateth considered her and held his peace Ver. 22. tooke and gave unto her as taking Psal. 68. 19. is expounded giving Eph. 4. 8. eare-ring or abillement jewell ouch which was hanged sometime on the care Genesis 35. 4. sometime on the nose face or forehead Ezek. 16. 12. and so this here was as the 47. ver sheweth The Greek turneth it as of many ear-rings In narration of this story which yet seemeth to be of light and triviall matters the Spirit of God is very exact and large whereas other things wherein great mysteries are infolded as the history
Tell mee I pray thee thy name and hee said wherefore is it that thou askest for my name And hee blessed him there And Iakob called the name of the place Peniel for I have seene God face to face and my soule is delivered And the Sunne arose unto him as hee passed over Penuel and hee halted upon his thigh Therefore the sonnes of Israel eate not of the sinew that shranke which is upon the hollow of the thigh unto this day because hee touched the hollow of Iakobs thigh in the sinew that shranke Annotations ANgels by interpretation Messengers and so the word is used in the 3. vers but these were heauenly spirits of whom see the notes on Gen. 16. 7. By this vision God confirmed Iakobs faith in him who commanded his Angels to keepe his people in all their waies Psal. 91. 11. host or campe armie as in warres for Angels are heavenly souldiers Luk. 2. 13. horses and charrets of fire 2 King 9. 17. fighting for Gods people against their enemies Dan. 10. 20. Of them there are thousand thousands and tenne thousand times ten thousand Dan. 7 10. and they are all sent forth to minister for them who shal be heyrs of salvation Heb. 1. 14. and they pitch a campe about them that feare God Psal. 34. 8. The heathens retained the knowledge hereof though corruptly for the Greeke Poet saith there be thrise ten thousands of the immortall Angels of God here upon the earth keepers of mortall men and observers of their workes both just and unjust they are clad with the ayre and goe abroad all over the earth Hesiod Oper. Dies l. 1. Machanaim that is two hosts or campes either because the Angels appeared in two companies for Iakob to goe betweene them or because there was one campe of Angels and one of Iakobs family About this place there was a citie afterwards called Machanaim inhabited by the Priests of God Ios. 21. 38. This also hath a spirituall application to the Church of God in Song 6. 13. Vers. 3. AND IAKOB Here beginneth the eight section or lecture of the law called of the first word Vajishlak that is And he sent But it it not distinguished with great letters as usually they are See Gen. 6. 9. messengers the same word which before was translated Angels verse 1. Seir a mountainy land possessed before by the Chorims Gen. 14. 6. but Esau with his children destroyed them and dwelt in their stead Deut. 2. 22. Thither was Esau gone from the face of his brother Iakob See Gen. 36. 6. 7. field that is as the Greeke translateth it country of Edom that is Esau. See Gen. 14. 7. 25. 30. Vers. 4. my Lord by this title Iakob honoured and submitted to him as to his elder brother Gen. 4. 7. 1 Pet. 3. 6. For Iakobs superiority foregiven in Gen. 27. 29. the time was not yet come that it should be fulfilled So David caried himselfe to Saulâ— 1 Sam. 24. 7. 9. c. Vers. 5. Oxen Hebr. Oxe and Asse c. singular for plurall see Gen. 3. 2. to finde that is that I may finde as Gen. 6. 19. The Greeke translateth that thy servant may finde grace before thee Vers. 6. and 400. men armed for warre as seemeth by vers 8. Here the ancient quarrell 20. years before Gen. 27. 41. was remembred and Iakobs danger and trouble renewed In Pirkei R. Eliezer c. 37. it is said Iakobs case was As if a man did flee from a Lion and a Beare met him Amos 5. 19. The Lion was Laban that pursued after Iakob to teare his soule the Beare was Esau which stood by the way as a Beare robbed of her whelpes and came to slay the mother with the children And the Lion hath shamefastnesse but the Beare hath no shamefastnesse Vers. 7. companies or camps the word used before in verse 2. Vers. 8. smite that is slay or kill it as Gen. 14. 17. So after vers 11. shall escape Hebr. shall bee to escaping or shall have evasion the Greeke saith shall be saved Vers. 9. will doe thee good or will deale well with thee thus Iakob understood the promise I will bee with thee Gen. 31. 3. So after in vers 12. Vers. 10. lesse to weet in worth that is am unworthy all or any of the mercies So the Chaldee translateth Lesse are my deserts then all the mercies and all the benefits which thou hast done to thy servant with my staffe that is having nothing else the Chaldee expounds it my selfe alone Vers. 11. mother with the sonnes in Greeke and the mother with the children or upon them It meaneth great cruelty in sparing none as Hos. 10. 14. For smite the Chaldee translateth kill me Vers. 12. doing good c. that is I will surely doe thee good put that is make thy seed see this promise Gen. 28. 14. Vers. 13. came into his hand that is such as he had and could send for the present And it was a rich gift of five hundred and fiftie beasts of sundry sorts for store A mans gift maketh roome for him and bringeth him before great men Prov. 18. 16. Vers. 15. yong-ones or colts in Hebrew sonnes see Gen. 18. 7. Verse 16. every herd or drove Hebr. herdherd see the like phrase in Gen. 14. 10. and herd Hebr. and betweene herd This was done that by distant spaces the heat of Esaus rage might bee abated verse 20. Vers. 20. is behinde or as the Chaldee explains it commeth after us appease his face or cover and pacifie his face that is his anger as the Chaldee interpreteth it for anger as favour appeareth in the face See the like in Lev. 20. 6. Psal. 21. 10. And appeasing is the word so often used in the law for covering or taking-away offences and so pacifying the anger by gifts and making atonement Exod 19. 36. Levit. 1. 4. and 4. 20. 26. and 5. 6. 10. 13. c. the present for a gift in secret pacifieth anger Prov. 21. 14. my face that is favour me and grant my request see Gen. 19. 21. Vers. 22. handmaids or bondwomen the Chaldee translateth them concubines See Gen. 35. 22. the foord or the passage so the Greeke saith the passage of Iaboch A river mentioned also in Deut. 2. 37. and 3. 16. Vers. 24. wrastled or combated by taking hold one of another A peculiar word not used but in this historie It figureth the spirituall wrastling strife and conflict of the children of God Phil. 1. 27. Ephes. 6. 12. Rom. 15. 30. Heb. 10. 32. a man called after and by the Prophet Hosee God and an Angell verse 28. 30. Hos. 12. 3. 4. It was therefore Christ appearing in the forme of a man as before to Abraham Gen. 18. 2. 22. the Angel that redeemed Iakob from al evil Gen. 48. 16. God wrastleth with men by tentations and wee with him by prayers and teares as Iakob now also did for he wept and made supplications unto him Hos. 12. 4. Rom. 15.
from the Israelites which survived that as it is written of the pestilence in Davids time the LORD repented him of the evill and said to the Angell that destroyed the people It is enough stay now thine hand 2 Sam. 24. 16. so in this case Some footsteps of the understanding of this mystery may be seene in the Hebrews though superstitiously depraved as when they say that all hurtfull and destroying spirits slee away at the odour of the incense of sweet spices Targum on Song 4. 6. Vers. 49. about the matter or as the Greeke explaineth it for the cause of Kore which the Chaldee calleth the division of Korah Vers. 50. unto the doore of the Tent into the court-yard of the Sanctuarie where Moses remained both to signifie unto Moses the effect and fruit of his action through the mercifulnesse of God and to give thanks unto the Lord who had so graciously accepted the worke of his hands As David offered Burnt-offering and Peace-offerings after that the Lord was intreated for the land and the plague was stayed from Israel 2 Sam. 24. 25. 1 Chron. 21. 26 27. CHAP. XVII 1 Twelve rods of the tribes of Israel being laid in the Tabernacle on the morrow Aarons rod among them all onely flourisheth and beareth almonds 10 It is left in the Tabernacle for a monument against the rebels 12 The people shew Moses their feare of death ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses saying speake unto the sonnes of Israel and take of them a rod for every fathers house of all their Princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods every mans name thou shalt write upon his rod. And Aarons name thou shalt write upon the rod of Levi for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers And thou shalt lay them up in the Tent of the Congregation before the Testimony where I will meet with you And it shall be that the man whom I shall cause his rod shall bud and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the sonnes of Israel wherewith they murmure against you And Moses spake unto the sons of Israel and all their Princes gave unto him a rod for one Prince a rod for one Prince according to the house of their fathers twelve rods the rod of Aaron was among their rods And Moses laid up the rods before Iehovah in the Tent of the Testimony And it was on the morrow that Moses went into the Tent of the Testimonie and behold the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had budded and brought forth buds and bloomed blossomes and yeelded almonds And Moses brought out all the rods from before Iehovah unto all the sons of Israel and they saw and tooke every man his rod. And Iehovah said unto Moses Bring Aarons rod againe before the Testimony to be kept for a signe against the sons of rebellion and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me that they die not And Moses did as Iehovah coÌ„manded him so did he And the sonnes of Israel said unto Moses saying Behold we give up the ghost we perish we all of us perish Every one that commeth neare that commeth neare unto the Tabernacle of Iehovah shall die Shall we be consumed in giving up the ghost Annotations SPeake unto When God saw the coÌ„tinuall murmurings of the people how they ceased not he commandeth this that followeth to bee done that so by miracle the Priesthood of Aaron might be confirmed and a full end put to all strise thereabout as vers 10. a rod for every fathers house Hebr. a rod a rod for or according to the house of a father which the Greeke explaineth thus Take of them a rod a rod of all their Princes according to their fathers houses A rod or staffe was such as men used to carrie in their hands Gen. 38. 18. Exod. 4. 2. the same word called in Hebrew Matteh is often used for a Tribe as in Num. 1. 4. 16. 21. c. either because of this writing of their names upon rods or because the twelve tribes grew out of the stocke of Israel as rods or branches out of a tree The Princes also caried staves in their hands as appeareth by Num. 21. 18. And with this may be compared that in Ezek. 37. 16 17. c. where the Prophet wrote the names of tribes upon sticks which were joyned together as one in his hand to signifie the uniting of the divided tribes the house that is as the Greeke expoundeth it the houses see the notes on Num. 1. 2. Vers. 3. for one rod shall be The Greeke explaineth it thus for it is one rod according to the 〈◊〉 of their fathers house shall they give The tribe of Levi though they were distinguished into Priests and Levites yet as all came by one father Levi so one rod was for them all So Iarchi here expoundeth it Although I have divided them into two families the familie of the Priests and the familie of the Levites notwithstanding it is one tribe Of this their division see Num. 3. and 18. 1. 7. Vers. 4. lay them up or leave them or as the Greeke translateth put them Tent of the congregation or Tent of meeting the Testimonie that is the Aâ—ke wherein the Tables of the Law called the Testimonie were kept See the notes on Exod. 25. 16. where I will meet that is where I use to meet with you according to the promise in Exod. 25 22. and 30 36 And this is the reason why the Tabernacle was called the Tent of meeting or of congregation Vers. 5. I shall chuse that iâ— shall like of and approve to administer the priesthood as in Targum Ionathan this is added to minister before me rod shall bud or shall flourish see vers 8. will make to cease from me in Greeke will take away from thee This word is spoken of the ceasing or asswaging of waters Gen. 8. 1. and of wrath Esth. 2. 1. and is here applied to the murmurings of the people which were like raging waters foâ—ing out their owneshame Vers. 8. blessomes or flowers yeelded or ripened as the word is Englished in Esai 18. 5. that is brought forth ripe almonds almonds 〈◊〉 Greeke in Targum Ionathan Nuts An almond in Hebrew Shaked is named Shaked which signifieth with care haste watchfulnesse to looke unto and performe a thing And because the almond tree blossometh and beareth fruit sooner than other trees therefore hath it this name And Solomon for the same cause likeneth the white haires which soone grow upon us in age to the flourishing of the Almond tree Eccles. 12. 5. By this miracle God did confirme the Priesthood unto Aaron as by the vision of the vine-branches budding blossâ—ming bringing forth ripe grapes c. hee signified the confirmation of office unto Pharaohs butler Gen. 40. 10. 13. He signified further by the buds the continuance and propagation of the Priesthood to his posteritie who should sprout
hurt the very swine without leave from the Lord Mat. 8. 31 32. Vers. 21. in the morning as Abraham being spoken to of God to sacrifice his sonne rase early in the morning and sadled his Asse and tooke two of his young men with him c. Gen. 22. 3. shewing his readinesse to obey the will of the Lord though with the losse of his onely sonne whom he loved so Balaam here riseth in the morning sadleth his Asse and taketh two of his young men with him vers 22. shewing his greedinesse to get preferment and the wages of iniquitie which he loved though with the losse of the favour of God and in the end of his owne life Gods children runne not so fast in the way of his commandements when hee enlargeth their heart Psalm 119. 32. but the children of Satan runne as fast to evill and make haste to shed innocent bloud Esay 59. 7. They runne and prepare themselves without iniquitie in Gods people Psal. 59. 4 5. So are the wayes of every one that is greedy of gaine which taketh away the life of the owners thereof Prov. 1. 16 19. Vers. 22. Gods anger was kindled in Greeke God was angry in wrath The judgements of God are a great depth Psalm 36. 7. hee is often offended and that justly when men doe that which he saith Doe because they doe it not with that minde and to that end which hee requireth Esay 10. 6 7. and his word or leave is in displeasure against sinners that have no love to the truth The young Prophets of Iericho would have leave to send fiftie men to seeke Elijahs bodie but Elisha forbade them after by their importunacie hee said Send They sent and sought but found him not then Elisha gave them this reproofe Did not I say unto you Goe not 2. King 2. 16 17 18. As they ought to have rested in the Prophets first word so should Balaam have done fiere in the first answer of God and for not doing it wrath from the Lord was upon him the Angell of Iebovah this Angell speaketh as the Lord him-selfe onely the word that I shall speake unto thee that shalt thou speake v. 35. Wherfore this seemeth to be Christ the Angell which redeemed Iakob from all evill Gen. 48. 16. and now commeth to redeeme Iakobs children from the curse intended against them the Angell that was sent before Israel to keepe them in their way in whom Iehovahs name was Exo. 23. 20 21. even Michael the great prince which standeth for his people Dan. 10. 21. and 12. 1. an adversary in Hebr. Satan which name when it is used for an adversary to Gods people usually meaneth the Deuill Iob 1. 6. Mat. 4. 10. Rev. 12 9. and 20. 2. but here being spoken of an adversarie to the wicked defender of the church is applied to an holy Angell or to the Prince of Angels and men And here the love of God unto Israel appeareth that when he giveth a wicked man leave to goe out against them forthwith hee sendeth his Angell to resist him and to stand for the helpe of his chosen as all the Angels are ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heires of salvation Heb. 1. 14. two of his young men that is of his servants see the notes on Exo. 33. 11. So Abraham went with two of his young men Gen. 22. 3. Vers. 23. the Asse saw the Angell It pleaseth God to confound the wisedome of the wise and arrogant by base and contemptible meanes for the foolishnes of God is wiser than the wisdome of men 1 Cor. 1. 25. Balaam was a great Prophet accustomed to visions and revelations yet saw not with his eies neither knew with all his skill v. 34. that the Angell stood against him whom his Asse a rude and silly beast did see and avoid to the safety of his master and he that could advertise others of things that should befall them Num. 24. 14. could not advertise himselfe of the danger of death w ch was before him So God destroyeth the wisedome of the wise and bringeth to nought the understanding of the prudent 1 Cor. 1. 19. When visions appeared the Prophets were wont to see them and others in their company saw them not as in Dan. 10. 7. Act. 9. 7. here the Prophet seeth nothing but the beast under him hath the eyes opened to see the apparition his sword drawne a signe of wrath and vengeance so David saw the Angell that plagued Israel with a drawne sword in his hand 1 Chron. 21. 16. and Iosua the like in that Angels hand who as captaine of the Lords host was to destroy the Canaanites Ios. 5. 13. 14. Balaam went with a purpose to curse Israel and after to have them killed with the sword his curses would have been like the piercings of a sword Prov. 12. 18. he had whetted his tongue as a sword and bent his arrow even a bitter word Ps. 64. 4. the Lord to reward him according to his works sendeth out a sword against him the Asse turned aside The beasts and fowles and other brutish creatures are often taken to teach convince men Iob 12. 7 8. Esay 1. 3. Ier. 8. 7. Balaams folly was reproved here by the action of this dumbe beast as after it was by words Nū 22. 28 30. 2 Pet. 2. 16. Balaams way was perverse before the Lord v. 32. he had forsaken the right way went astray 2 Pet. 2. 15. the asse turning aside out of the way might have taught him to have desisted from his evill course The Asse avoideth the danger evill before his eyes the master being blinded with ambition and covetousnes seeth it not but would goe on to destruction v. 33. smote the asse the Greek here addeth with his rod or staffe which is taken from v. 27. As he that judgeth another condemneth himselfe doing the same things Rom. 2. 1. so the Prophet in smiting his beast sheweth himselfe to bee worthy of moe stripes doing much worse than it A whip for the horse a bridle for the asse and a rod for the fooles backe Prov. 26. 3. V. 24. and a wall in Chaldee and another wall The Angell needed not have chosen such places but these things hapned unto Balaam for ensamples and are written for our admonition for when men goe on in a way not good if they escape one perill they fall into another greater and at last into inevitable danger as the Prophet signifieth by feare and pit and snare Hee that fleeth from the feare shall fall into the pit and hee that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare Ier. 48. 43 44. Vers. 25. and thrust Balaams foot or pressed crushed his foot This word is used in 2 Kings 6. 32. where the Kings messenger who was sent to take away Elishaes head was pressed or crusht in the doore God by this second signe came neerer unto Balaam who went on in
signifieth From is sometime put for unto by the interpretation of the Holy Ghost himselfe as from Baale of Iudah 2 Sam. 6. 2. is by another Prophet explained to Baalah 1 Chron. 13. 6. So the Deliverer shall come from or out of Sion Rom. 11. 26. is the same that hee shall come unto Sion Esay 59. 20. Min hashamajim from heaven 2 Chron. 6. 21. is El hashamajim unto or in heaven 1 King 8. 30. Thus Mikkedem is to the East or Eastward Gen. 13. 11. Mitstsâ—phon is Northward 1 Sam. 14. 5. and sundrie the like Sinai is a mountaine in Arabia Gal. 4. 25. where God gave his Law Exod. 19. from or out of that mountaine God came unto Israel and as the Chaldee interpreteth was revealed there unto them and from thence came with his people to conduct them towards Canaan Or came unto Sinai and to his people there And this is the first chiefe blessing unto Israel Gods Law Tabernacle Statutes and Iudgments given them at Sinai after which hee called them to journey towards the Land of promise Deut. 2. 6 7. rose up as the Sunne ariseth for of that rising the Hebrew word is properly used The Chaldee translateth it the brightnesse of his glory from Seir appeared unto us So Esaias prophesying grace to the Church saith The glory of Iehovah is risen as the Sunne upon thee And of the heavenly Ierusalem which Christ hath built it is said The Citie hath no need of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glory of God doth lighten it and the Lambe is the light thereof Rev. 21. 23. from Seir the mountaine of the Edomites Deut. 2. 4. 5. As Israel compassed Edoms land they were stung with fiery serpents for their murmuring then God appointed the Brazen serpent a figure of Christ to be set up to heale them Num. 21 4. 9. And here was a second degree of grace whereby God shined unto them as he doth unto us by his Gospell after wee have beene under the Schoolemaster of his Law Rom. 7. 4 25. Gal. 3. 23 24 26. unto them or unto him meaning Israel therefore the Chaldee expoundeth it unto us shined forth or shined bright and cleare as the Sunne shineth in his strength This word is used for the cleare manifestation of Gods power in saving his people or punishing their enemies Psal. 82. and 94. 1. and 50. 2. The Greeke here translateth hee hastened from mount Pharan the Chaldee hee was revealed in his might upon mount Paran Pharan or Paran the name of a mount and of the wildernesse of the Ismaelites Gen. 21. 21. thorow which Israel travelled Num. 10. 12. Neere it Moses by the Spirit of God explained the law more cleerly repeated this booke of Deuteron Deut. 1. 1 c. So the Prophet after speaketh the Holy one came from mount Pharan Selah Habak 3. 3. Some of the Hebrewes understand these things otherwise thus Hee rose up from Seir unto them that is to the sonnes of Esan that they might receive the Law but they would not From thence hee went to the sonnes of Ismael that they might receive it but they would not And then he came unto Israel R. Sol. Iarchi on Deut. 33. So Ionathan in his Thargum on this place and R. Eliezer in Pirkei chap. 41. But unto us it sheweth the third degree of Gods grace who after wee are come unto Christ by faith doth sanctifie us by his Spirit informing us in his truth and waies and so prepareth us to enter into his heavenly rest as by Moses he prepared Israel to enter into the Land of Canaan Rom. 8. 2 3 11. Gal. 3. 2 14. and 4. 6. and 5. 16 18 of Saints Hebr. of sanctitie meaning spirits of sanctity which Ionathan in his Thargum expoundeth holy Angels So Stephen saith that Israel received the Law by thy disposition of Angels Act. 7. 53. and Paul calleth the Law the word spoken by Angels Heb. 2. 2. So wee by grace in Christ are come to ten thousands of Angels Heb. 12. 22. which are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall bee heires of salvation Heb. 1. 14. Compare Psal. 68. 18. Or by Saints wee may understand the Israelites as in v. 3. with whom or for whom God came from Sinai from his right hand to wit went or at his right hand was the fire of the Law or of the ordinance Hebr. Esh dath of which word Dath the Greekes borrowed their word Tatto to order or ordaine the Legall fire or the fiery Law and it is so called because the Lord spake those words out of the midst of the fine Deut. 5. 22. and to shew the nature and effect of the Law which is like fire Ier. 23. 29. The Greeke translateth it Angels Angels with him the Chaldee thus his right hand wrote out of the midst of fire the Law he gave unto us Answerable to this Legall fire is that fire of the Law of the Spirit which was given with cloven tongues like fire Act. 2. 3 4. The Hebrewes say by tradition that the Law appeared written with blacke fire upon white fire before the Lord. R. Moses Gerundens and Sol. Iarchi on Deut. 33. which seemeth to be either mysticall or fabulous Vnto us the fire of the Law is the Spirit of God whiles wee being baptized with the holy Spirit and with fire Matth. 3. 11. are by the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus made free from the Law of sinne and death Rom. 8. 2. Vers. 3. Yea the lover of the peoples that is yea or certainly hee loveth or thou O God lovest the peoples or protectest them The Hebrew Chobeb signifieth a loving embracing or hiding as in the bosome and so implyeth Love and Protection And the peoples are meant of the tribes of Israel as in Iudg. 5. 14. after thee Benjamin among thy peoples and in Act. 4. 27. the peoples of Israel The Greeke translateth And he spared his people the Chaldee yea he loved them for tribes that is of his love chose and disposed them to be tribes It may imply also the strangers converted unto God And now in Christ there is neither Iew nor Greeke neither bond nor free for we are all one in him Gal. 3. 28. all his Saints that is the Saints of Israel as the Chaldee expoundeth all the Saints of the house of Israel Or the Saints of God as in Psal. 34. 10. Feare Iehovah yee his Saints So his Saints may be used for thy Saints as his commandements Dan. 9. 4. for thy commandements see the notes on Deut. 5. 10. in thine hand in thy power and custody under thy guidance care and protection Hand is often for power so the Chaldee here translateth with power hee brought them out of Egypt and in the hand is under the guidance and direction Num. 4. 28 33. so the Greeke here translateth and all the sanctified ones are under thine hand It noteth the safety of Gods
by Gittith here may be meant either such instruments as were used by the posteritie of Obed-Edom the Gittite or that these Psalmes were made upon occasion of transporting Gods arke from the house of that Obed-Edom the history whereof is in 2 SaÌ„ 6. 6. 10. 11 12 c. or that these Psalmes were to be sung for praise of God at the Vintage when grapes were pressed And according to this the Greeke translateth it the wine-presses Or it may be the name of some musicall instrument and so the Chaldee Paraphrast translateth it To sing upon the harpe that came from Gath. Vers. 2. our Lord or our sustainers See the note on Psal. 2. 4 wondrous excellent or wondrous ample illustrious and magnificent The originall word signifieth ample or large and excellent withall cleare and splendent in glory The Greek turneth it wonderfull the Chaldee high and landable So in v. 10. name this word is often used for renowne or glory Gen. 6 4 Eccle. 7. 3. Phil. 2. 9. as on the contrary vile persons are called men without name Iob 30 8. Gods name is also used for his kingdome and Gospell Mat. 19. 29. compared with Luk. 18. 29. Mar. 10. 29. And this Psalme treateth of the spreading of Christs Kingdome and Gospell as after is manifested hast given that is put or set as I have given Isa. 42. 1. is by the Evangelist in Greeke I will put Mat. 12. 18. and in the Hebrew text as he hath given thee over them for king 2 Chr. 9. 8. for which is written in 1 Kings 10 9. he hath set or put It may also import a setting sure or stablishing as thou hast given thy people 1 Chr. 17. 22. that is thou hast stablished thy people 2 Sam. 7. 24. Here also is a grammatical change in the Hebrew to give for thou hast given glorious majestie venerable or praise-worthy glory The word Hodh is generall for any laudable grace or vertue for which one is celebrated reverenced and commended above or over or upon the heavens This phrase is used of God Num. 27. 20. where he willeth Moses to give of his glorious majestie upon Iosua and may have use in the mysticall applying of this Psalm to Christs kingdom as Mat. 21. 26. teacheth us heaven being also often used in Scripture for the Church of Christ Isa. 65. 17. and 66. 22. Rev. 21. 1. Vers. 3. hast founded that is firmely decreed appointed and consequently fitted and perfected as the Greeke katertiso which the Apostle useth signifieth Mat. 21. 16. So in Esth. 1. 8. the king had founded that is decreed appointed See also before Psal. 2. 2. strength that is strong praise for so this word seemeth often to be used as Ps. 29. 1. and 96. 7. and 118. 14. therefore the Greeke which the Apostle followeth Mat. 21. 16. translateth it praise This word strength or firmnesse may be taken for kingdome firmly strengthened as in this place so in Ps. 110. 2. and 86. 16. and 89. 11. to make cease that is put to silence or doe away abolish and destroy So after in Psal. 119. 119. and 89. 45. and 46. 10. selfe-avenger or him that avengeth himselfe the proud and mighty which will not suffer his honour or gaine to be diminished So Ps. 44. 17. This was fuâ—filled when children crying Hosanna to welcome Christ the chiefe Priests and Scribes disdained sought to destroy him but he stopped their mouthes by alleaging this Scripture Mat. 21. 15 16. Mark 11. 18. Gods people are taught though they suffer wrong not to avenge themselves but to give place unto wrath Rom. 12. 19. Vers. 5. what is sorry man to wit thus thinke I with my selfe what is man c. Here man is called Aenosh the name of Adams nephew Gen. 4. 26. which signifieth dolefull sorry sorrowfull wretched and sick incurably And this name is given to all men to put them in mind of their misery and mortality as Ps. 9. 21. let the heathens know that they be Aenosh son of Adam or of earthly man As before men are called Aenosh for their dolefull estate by sin so are they called Adam and sons of Adam that is earthly to put them in mind of their originall and end which were made of Adamah the earth even of the dust and to dust shall again return Gen. 27. and 3. â—9 Adam was the name both of man and woman Gen. 5. 2. and is also the name of all their children Ps. 22. 7. and 36. 7. and 39. 6. and in many other places See the note on Psal. 49 3. visitest him that is hast care of providest for and lookest to him The originall word thus largely signifieth and is used indifferently for visiting with favour as Ps. 65. 10. or with displeasure as Psal. 59. 6. Here it is meant for good for Gods providence is singular towards man and his visitation preserveth our spirit Iob 10. 12. Compare also herewith Psal. 144. 3. Iob 7. 17 18. Vers. 6. For thou madest him lesser or And thou madest him lack or Though thou madest him to want a little of the Gods a little The originall word signifieth either a little while Psal. 37. 10. or a little deale Ps. 37. â—6 1 Sam. 14. 29. The Greeke brachuti which the Apostle useth also signifieth both Act. 5. 34. Ioh. 6. 7. howbeit by his applying this to Christ he seemeth to meane a little or short time Heb. 2. 7. 9. than the Gods or than God but by Gods here is meant the Angels as the Apostle expoundeth it according both to the Greeke version Chaldee paraphrase And those heavenly spirits are for their office and service called Angels that is messengers but for their honorable dignity they are called Gods here in Ps 97. 7. the sons of God Iob 1. 6. 38. 7. The Princes of the earth are named Gods Psal. 82. 6. how much more may the Angels be called so that are Chiefe Princes Dan. 10. 13. and crownedst him This may be understood of man as he was first made in Gods image and Lord of the world Gen. 1. 26. but since the transgression it is peculiar to Christ and to Christian men that have their dignity restored by Christ. Vnto him the Apostle applieth this Psalme thus We see Iesus crowned with glory and honour which was a little made lesser than the Angels through the suffering of death that by the grace of God he might taste death for all Hebr. 2. 9. Glory seemeth to respect inward vertues as wisdome holinesse c. and Honour for his outward good estate in ruling over the creatures as vers 7 8 9. comely honour The Hebrew hadar denoteth all honourable comelinesse honest grave adorned decencie Vers. 7. all didst thou set in the first creation God gave man rule over fishes fowles beasts and all that moveth on the earth Gen. 1. 26. but after for his sake and sinne the earth was cursed and he enjoyed it with sorrow Gen. 3. 17. But the Son
our shield For in him our heart shall rejoyce for in the name of his holinesse doe we trust Let thy mercie Iehovah be upon us even as we hopefully wait for thee Annotations BEcommeth the word denoteth a faire and comely grace for which a thing is to be liked and desired So Psal. 93. 5. and 147. 1. The Apostle expresseth it in Greeke by faire or beautifull Rom. 10. 15. from Esa. 52. 7. Vers. 2. with harpe or with sitterne in Hebrew Kinnor a musicall instrument invented by Iubal Gen. 4. 21. used for mirth and joy Psal. 137. 1 2. Esa. 24. 8. Gen. 31. 27. and therefore is called the pleasant harpe Psal. 81. 3. opposed unto mourning Iob 30. 31. in skill on this instrument David excelled 1 Sam. 16. 16. 23. and with this and other they used in Israel to celebrate the Lord with gladnesse 1 Chron. 13. 8. and 15. 16. 28. and 25. 1. Nehem. 12. 27. So spiritually in the New Testament Rev. 14. 2. with Psalterie or Lute or Uioll In Hebrew Nebel an instrument so called of the forme which as seemeth was with a round hollow bulke much like a bottle fo◠Nebel is also a bottle or pitcher 1 Sam. 10. 3. Lam. 4. 2. and of this the Greeks and Latines had their instruments named Nablé Naulon Nablium The Greeke here calleth it Psaltérion ten stringed instrument this differed from the Psalterie Psal. 92. 4. therefore the word with is here supplied Vers. 3. a new song A thing is said to be new which is alwayes fresh renewed upon new occasions and so permanent as Iob saith my glorie was new with me So Love is both an old and a new commandement 1 Ioh. 2. 7 8. Or these new songs mentioned here and Psal. 40. 4. and 96. 1. and 98. 1. and 144. 9. Esai 42. 10. may have reference to the state of things under the Gospell where there is a new covenant Heb. 8. 8. 13. new heavens and new earth Rev. 21. 1. a new man Ephes. 2. 15. and 4. 24. a new Ierusalem Revel 21. 2. and all things new 2 Cor. 5. 17. Rev. 21. 5. See also Rev. 5. 9. and 14. 3. doe well playing c. that is make good musicke or melodie So 1 Sam. 16. 17. 18. Esa. 23. 16. And this melodie we are now willed to make to the Lord in our hearts Ephes. 5. 19. The Hebrew Nagan whereof commeth Neginoth Psal. 4. 1. properly is to play with the hand upon an instrument 1 Sam. 19. 9. Vers. 4. in faith that is faithfull true and constant for so this word is often used as Exod. 17. 12. Moses hands were with faith that is steddy firme constant Vers. 5. the earth is full the like is said Ps. 119. 64. For God doth good unto all both just and unjust Matth. 5. 45. and saveth man and beast Psal. 36. 7. V. 6. the host of them that is the many creatures in them as Angels Suune Moone Starres c. Ps. 148. 1 2 3 5. Gen. 2. 1. So mention is made of the powers or hosts of heaven Matt. 24. 29. Spirit or breath thus Iehovah his Word and his Spirit are noted to be the maker of the world as in Gen. 1. Vers. 7. giveth the deepes that is putteth or disposeth the deepe waters into treasuries or in cellars secret store-houses hidden from the eye of man called elsewhere the secret roome of the deepe Iob 38. 16. So God is said to have treasuries or store-houses of winde Psal. 135. 7. of snow and haile Iob 38. 22. of darkenesse Isa. 45. 3. and the like The Chaldee translateth he putteth the waters into the treasuries of the deeps Vers. 9. it stood that is existed firme and stable and so continued So Psalm 119. 91. Vers. 10. dissipateth or maketh frustrate undoeth abrogateth a word opposed to ratifying confirming stablishing Isa. 8. 10. and 19. 3. bringeth to nought annihilateth and breaketh Vers. 11. shall stand that is continue and have effect whatsoever men purpose to the contrary See Isa. 14. 24. 27. and 46. 10. Prov. 19. 21. Vers. 12. is God to wit by speciall covenant and favour though all the earth be his Gen. 17. 7. Exod. 19. 5. and this is by the new Covenant Heb. 8. 10. So Psal. 144. 15. Vers. 15. altogether or alone The Hebrew jachad sometime signifieth alone without others Iob 34. 29. Ezra 4. 3. and so the Greeke Interpreters tooke it here translating it kata monas alone or by himselfe sometime it signifieth wholly or every whit Iob 10. 8. sometime together or in one Ps. 2. 2. All these agree well here for God onely and wholly formeth every mans heart and spirit Zach. 12. 1. whereupon he is called the Father of spirits Hebr. 12. 9. and the God of the spirits of all flesh Num. 16. 22. Vers. 16. Of a power that is of an armie so called because there are strong valiant and active men Psal. 136. 15. Vers. 17. A horse is falshood that is a false and deceitfull helpe cannot save a man but faileth those that trust in him Zach. 10. 5. Ps. 76. 6. The horse is here used for all warlike furniture this being above other creatures strong fierce and couragious Iob 39. 22 28. and therefore is prepared for the day of battell but salvation is of the Lord Pro. 21. 31. Vers. 18. The eye of Iehovah that is his care and providence for good as the next verse sheweth and as Ps 32. 8. Zach. 12 4. 1 Pet. 3. 12. Sometime the Lords eye is on men for evill Amos 9. 4. 8. Vers. 20. for Iehovah in Chaldee for the redemption of the Lord. Vers. 21. in him Chaldee in his word PSAL. XXXIV David praiseth God for his deliverance and exhorteth others thereto by his experience 9 They are blessed that trust in God 12 Hee exhorteth to the feare of God 16 The priviledges of the righteous and miseries of the wicked 1. A Psalme of David when he had changed his behaviour before Abimelech and he had driven him away and he was gone 2. I Will blesse Iehovah in all time continually his praise shall be in my mouth 3. In Iehovah my soule shall glory the meeke shall heare and shall rejoyce 4. Magnifie ye Iehovah with me and let us extoll his name together 5. I sought Iehovah and he answered me and rid me free from all my feares 6. They looked to him and flowed and their faces be not ashamed 7. This poore afflicted man called and Iehovah heard and saved him out of all his distresses 8. The Angell of Iehovah pitcheth a campe about them that feare him and releaseth them 9. Taste ye and see that Iehovah is good O blessed is the man that hopeth for safety in him 10. Feare Iehovah ye his Saints for there is no want to them that feare him 11. The Lions are impoverished and an hungred but they that seeke Iehovah shall not want any good 12. Come sonnes hearken to me I will learne you the feare of
world to come Vers. 17. Feare thou not that is be not dismayed or overcome with feare The Hebrew phrase usually when it counselleth or prayeth against a thing meaneth the height full measure of it So feare not Gen. 50. 19. and grieve not Gen. 45. 5. that is be not overcome with griefe So lead us not into temptation Mat. 6. 13. that is let us not be overcome with temptation 1 Cor. 10. 13. Therefore that which one Evangelist writeth Feare not Mat. 28. 5. another writeth be not astonied Mark 16. 6. nothing the excesse of feare Vers. 18. take any thing Hebr. take of all that is ought of all that he hath For we brought nothing into the world and it is certaine that we can carry nothing out 1 Tim. 6. 7. Iob 1. 21. Vers. 19. Though in his life that is whiles he liveth So Psal. 63. 5. and 104. 33. and 146. 2. he blesseth his soule that is himselfe as it is written Soule thou hast much goods laid up for many yeares live at ease eat drinke and take thy pastime Luke 12. 19. will confesse thee will commend laud and celebrate thee doest good to thy selfe that is makest much of cherishest pamperest thy selfe So good is used for worldly pleasure and emoluments Psal. 4. 7. Vers. 20. It shall come to wit the soule forespoken of or the person or Thou shalt come to the generation of his fathers that is to his wicked predecessors that are dead and gone as the godly also at their death are gathered to their fathers and people Iudg. 2. 10. Deut. 32. 50. Or to the habitation of his fathers their house or lodge for so Dor is used for an habitation Esa. 38. 12. The Chaldee applieth this first branch to the just the latter to the wicked The memorie of the just shall come to the generation of the fathers but the wicked for ever and ever shall not see the light to continuall aye they shall not see or which for ever shall not see the light to wit the light of the living here on earth as Psal. 56. 14. Iob 33. 28 30. nor the light of joy in the world to come being cast out into the utter darkenesse Matth. 8. 12. Vers. 21. understandeth not or discerneth not wanting prudence A repetition of the 13. verse with a little change of jalin lodgeth into jabin understandeth which the Chaldee openeth thus A man a sinner when he is in honour and understandeth not when his honour is taken away he is like a beast and brought to nothing PSAL. L. The Majestie of God in the Church 5 His order to gather Saints 7. The pleasure of God is not in in legall sacrifices 14 but in sinceritie of obedience 16 The wicked are shut out from Gods Covenant 21 They abuse Gods patience to their destruction 23 but the godly shall see his salvation A Psalme of Asaph THe God of gods Iehovah speaketh and calleth the earth from the rising up of the Sun unto the going downe thereof Out of Sion the whole perfection of beauty God shineth clearely Our God come and not keepe silence a fire shall eat before him and round about him shall a storme be moved vehemently He will call to the heavens from above and to the earth to judge his people Gather yee to me my gracious Saints that have stricken my covenant with sacrifice And the heavens shall openly shew his justice for God he is judge Selah Heare O my people and I will speake O Israel and I will testifie to thee I am God thy God I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices for thy burnt offerings are before me continually I will not take a bullocke out of thine house goat buckes out of thy folds For every wilde beast of the wood is mine the beasts that bee on a thousand mountaines I know all the fowle of the mountaines and the store of beasts of the field is with me If I were hungry I would not tell it thee for mine is the world and the plenty thereof Will I eat the flesh of mightie buls and drinke the bloud of goat-bucks Sacrifice thou to God a confession and pay thy vowes to the most high And call on me in day of distresse I will release thee and thou shalt glorifie mee But to the wicked saith God what hast thou to doe to tell my statutes and that thou shouldest take up my covenant on thy mouth And thou hatest nurture and castest my words behind thee If thou seest a theefe then thou runnest with him and thy part is with the adulterers Thy mouth thou sendest out in evill and thy tongue joyneth together deceit Thou sittest thou speakest against thy brother against thy mothers sonne thou givest ill report These things thou hast done and I kept silence thou didst thinke that I was surely like thee I will reprove thee and set in order to thine eies O now consider this ye that forget God lest I teare and there be no reskewer Hee that sacrificeth confession honoureth me and hee that disposeth his way I will cause him to see the salvation of God Annotations A Psalme of Asaph that is made by him as the Chaldee saith An hymne by the hand of Asaph or to Asaph that is committed vnto him to sing For Asaph was a Seer or Prophet which made Psalms as did David 2 Chron. 29. 30. Also he and his sons were singers in Israel 1 Chron. 25. 2. The God of Gods that is God of all Angels Iudges and Rulers of the world or as the Chaldee saith The mighty God the God of Iehovah Three titles of God here used together Ael Aelohim Iehovah So in Iosh. 22. 22. the going downe that is the West where the Sunne setteth or after the Hebrew phrase goeth in as at the rising it is said to goe out or come forth Gen. 19. 23. Vers. 2. Out of Sion the state of the Church under the Gospell Heb. 12. 18. 22. Psal. 2. 6. therefore in this Psalme the legall sacrifices appointed at mount Sinai are reproved and the worship of God in spirit and truth commended the whole perfection or the Vniversality of beautie that is which is wholly and perfectly beautifull See the like praise of Sion Psal. 48. 3. Lam. 2. 15. shineth clearly as the Sunne shineth in his strength that is appeareth in glorious majestie This also is a signe of favour Iob 10. 3. Psal. 80. 2. So God shined from mount Paran Deut. 33. 3. Vers. 3. Our God come a praier to hasten his comming as in Rev. 22. 20. or as the former our God will come So the Chaldee paraphraseth The just shall say In the day of the great judgement our God will come and not silent to execute the vengeance of his people fire shall eat that is consume devoure So God is called an eating fire Deut. 4. 24. that is as the Apostle expoundeth it a consuming fire Heb. 12. 29. and the sight of his glory on mount Sinai was like eating
of thy salvation and firmly sustain me with a free spirit I wil teach trespassers thy wayes and sinners shall convert unto thee Deliver me from blouds O God the God of my salvation my tongue shall shout thy justice Lord thou shalt open my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise For thou delightest not sacrifice else would I give it burnt offering thou wilt not contentedly accept The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a heart broken and contrite O God thou wilt not despise Doe well in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou the wals of Ierusalem Then shalt thou delightfully accept the sacrifices of justice the burnt offering and the whole oblation then shall they offer up bullocks upon thine Altar Annotations HE had gone in to wit into the chamber as Iudg. 15. 1. that is had lien with as the phrase importeth Gen. 6. 4. and is expressed 2 Sam. 11. 4. Bathsheba the daughter of Eliam 2 Sam. 11. 3. called also Bathshua daughter of Ammiel 1 Chron. 3. 5. She was wife to Captaine Urijah the Hittite and whiles her husband was at the leager of Rabbah David lay with her and she being with child he first sought to cover his fault by sending for Vrijah home that he might be esteemed the father which not succeeding he sent him backe with privie letters to Ioab the Generall for to procure his death Which being done David married his wife Bathshebah so thinking to cloake his sinne But God was displeased and sent Nathan to reprove David whereupon he repented and made this Psalme for an example unto and comfort of sinners See the historie at large 2 Sam. 11. and 12. Vers. 4. much wash mee or multiply wash mee that is thorowly wash me againe and againe He applieth the washings used in the Law Lev. 11. 25. 32. Exod. 19. 10. Num. 19. 19. to the spirituall washing from sinne in the bloud of Christ Rev. 7. 14. 1 Ioh. 1. 7. So after in verse 9. and Ier. 4. 14. The Hebrew Hereb or Harbeh multiply is used for much as 2 King 10. 18. where it is opposed to little And that which in one place is written harboh multiply in another is la-rob and rabbah much as 1 King 10. 10. with 2 Chron. 9. 9. 2 Sam. 8. 8. with 1 Chron. 18. 8. Vers. 5. I know or acknowledge So Isa. 59. 12. Ier. 3. 13. Vers. 6. Against thee or Vnto thee onely This is either because he concealed his sinne from men but could not from God 2 Sam. 12. 12. or that onely God could remit the punishment of his sin Isa. 43. 25. So Psal. 41. 5. I have sinned and so am deprived of the glory of God as Rom. 3. 23. that which is evill c. which displeaseth thee This hath reference to 2 Sam. 11. 9. and 11. 27. that thou maiest be just that is thou hast suffered me to fall into sinne that thou maiest be just or justified in whatsoever thou hast spoken for the salvation of thy servant or punishment of my sinne 2 Sam. 12. 10. For the injustice of man commendeth the justice of God Rom. 3. 4 5. or it may have reference to the former words I know and acknowledge my sinne that thou maist be just when thou speakest or in thy speaking that is in thy words as Rom. 3. 4. so after in thy judging maist be pure or cleare sincere unreproveable and consequently maist win the victorin in judgement whereupon the Apostle according to the Greeke version saith maist overcome Rom. 3. 4. The Hebrew Zacah also in the Syriak tongue is used for overcomming Vers. 7. in iniquitie the perversenesse or vitiosity of nature commonly called originall by the Apostle inhabiting sinne Rom. 7. 17. whereby all men are carnall sold under sinne Ioh. 3. 6. Rom. 7. 14. The Chaldee calleth it the sinne of evill concupiscence This David maketh the fountaine of all his actuall sinnes painfully brought forth borne with sorrow The Hebrew signifieth the painfull travell of child-birth Isa. 26. 17 18. and 51. 2. Psal. 29. 9. conceived or was warme in heat as Gen. 30. 38. 39 41. Vers. 8. the inward parts or the covered parts the heart roots where wisdome is seated of God Iob 38. 36. named in Hebrew of covering plaistering or pargetting the secret or the closed place which being referred to the person meaneth the heart which God reneweth Ezek. 36. 26. and wherein he writeth his lawes Heb. 8. 10. And thus the Chaldee expoundeth it the close place of the heart which the Apostle calleth the hid man of the heart 1 Pet. 3. 4. or if it be referred to the thing it meaneth the secrets of wisedome Iob 11. 6. the wisedome of God in a mysterie the hid wisdome manifested by the Gospell 1 Cor. 2. 7. And thus the Greeke applieth it saying the unmanifest and hid things of wisdome thou hast manifested to me hast made or wilt make me know thus he riseth by faith out of his sin being taught wisdome of God Vers. 9. Thou wilt purge me from sinne or prayer-wise Purge thou me from sinne or make me sinlesse expiate or purifie my sinne Prayers are often made in this manner as with assurance that they shall be performed See the note on Psal. 17. 8. Eizop or hyssop of the Hebrew Ezob and Greek hyssopos an herbe or tree growing out of the wall 1 King 4. 33. appointed in the law for to sprinkle and cleanse with Exod. 12. 22. Num. 19. 6. 18. Lev. 14. 4. 6. 49. Heb. 9. 19. and the sprinkling with it was the last part of the purification of the uncleane here used to signifie the ful cleansing from sinne by the bloud of Christ Heb. 9. 13 14. whether it were that herb which we now call eizop or no is uncertaine The Childee paraphraseth Thou wilt sprinkle me like a Priest which sprinkleth the uncleane with the purifying waters with hyssop with the asbes of a heifer and I shall be cleane wash me another legall rite for purifying the uncleane Lev. 14. 8. and 15. 5. 8. 13. 22. figuring our sanctification Heb. 10. 22. Tit. 3. 5. Isa. 4. 4. Vers. 10. to heare joy the joyfull tidings of the forgivenesse of my sins bones that thou hast crushed or brayed nothing hereby the greatnesse of his griefe and affliction Iob 2. 2. 5. and 30. 17. and 33. 19. 21. Psal. 38. 4. Vers. 11. Hide thy face that is regard not my finhes to visit them on me See the contrary Psal. 90. 5. and 109. 14 15. Ier. 16. 17. Vers. 12. firme spirit a spirit ready prepared stedfast and certaine The like is applied to the heart Psal. 11 2. 7. and 57. 8. Vers. 13. from thy face or from thy presence This was an effect of Gods utmost anger against sinners 2 Kings 24. 20. Ier. 7. 15. and 52. 3. Gen. 4. 16. thy spirit of holinesse thy holy Ghost which the Chaldee expoundeth thy holy spirit of Prophesie Vers. 14. the joy of thy salvation the joy
the stinging plague the murreine or pest that suddenly pricketh and destroyeth Deut. 32. 24. The Apostle in Greeke calleth it a sting or pricke 1 Cor. 15. 55. from Hos. 13. 14. as there the Lxx. turned it The Chaldee here expounds it the company of Devils at noone-day that is openly So Ier. 15. 8. Vers. 8. shalt thou behold or regard consider as the Greeke turneth it Vers. 9. Because thou Iehovah an unperfect speech as in vers 2. understand Because thou sayest thou Iehovah art c. or because thou hast put Jehovah who is my covert even the most high hast thou put for thy mansion or dwelling place Vers. 10. befall unto thee or occasionally be sent be thrust upon thee or caused to come unto thee so Prov. 12. 21. Vers. 12. upon their hands or their palmes which the Chaldee expoundeth their strength This Scripture the Devill alleaged when he tempted Christ to throw downe himselfe head-long Matt. 4. 6. Luke 4. 10 11. but some of these words are there omitted lest thou dash or that thou dash or hurt not The Angels are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for their sakes which shall be heires of salvation Heb. 1. 14. See also Psal. 34. 8. a stone the Chaldee interprets it evill concupiscence which is like unto a stone Vers. 13. the fierce Lion or Libbard in Hebrew Shachal Of Lions there be divers kinds see Psal. 7. 3. aspe or Cockatrice Basiliske as the Greeke Here turneth it See Psal. 58. 5. under these names are meant all other things dangerous or adverse to the life of man which by faith are overcome as Mark. 16. 17 18. Heb. 11. 33 34. Vers. 14. He cleaveth to me or is fastned that is affected to me in faith hope love delight c. The Chaldee expounds it to my word God cleaveth in love to his people Deut. 7. 7. so they also unto him The Greeke here turneth it he hoped in me Else-where it is commonly used for fast-love and pleasure Gen. 34. 8. Esay 38. 17. Deut. 21. 11. seâ— him on high to wit in a safe defenced place as the word importeth therefore the Greeke saith I will protect him See the notes on Psal. 20. 2. Vers. 15. honour him give him honour or glory Else-where his people are said to honour or glorifie him Psal. 50. 15. See 1 Sam. 2. 30. Vers. 16. satisfie or give him his fill So Abraham Isâ—ak David Iob c. are said to be full or sa 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 Gen. 25. 8. and 35. 29. 1 Chron. â—3 〈◊〉 Iob 42. 17. make him to see that is to enjoy or shew him See Psal. 50. 23. PSAL. XCII The Prophet teacheth how good it is to praise God 5. for his great workes 7 for his judgements on the wicked 11 and for his goodnesse to the godly A Psalme a song for the day of Sabbath IT is good to confesse to Iehovah and to sing Psalme to thy Name O most high To shew forth thy mercy in the morning and thy faithfulnesse in the nights Vpon the ten-stringed instrument and upon the Psaltery with meditation upon the Harp For thou hast rejoyced me O Iehovah with thy worke in the acts of thy hands will I shout How great are thine acts Iehovah very deepe are thy thoughts A brutish man knoweth not and an unconstant foole understandeth not this When wicked men spring up as the grasse and all that worke iniquitie doe flourish that they shall be abolished unto perpetuitie But thou art high for ever Iehovah For loe thine enemies Iehovah for loe thine enemies shall perish they shall be scattered all that worke iniquitie And my horne shall be exalted as the Vnicornes mine old age shall be anointed with fresh oile And mine eye shall behold on mine enviers of evill doers that rise up against me mine eares shall heare The just he shall spring up as a Palme-tree as a Cedar in Lebanon shall he grow They that are planted in the house of Iehovah in the courts of our God shall they flourish Yet shall they sprout in grainesse they shall be fat and greene To shew that Iehovah is righteous my Rocke and no injurious evill is in him Annotations OF Sabbath that is of Cessation or Resting to wit from our owne workes wills waies and words Exod. 20. 10. Esay 58. 13. Heb. 4. 10. which day was the seventh from the creation wherein God rested from all his worke and blessed and sanctified it and commanded it to be kept holy unto him Gen. 2. 2 3. Exod. 20. 8. which was a token of his mercy unto and sanctification of his people Nehem. 9. 14. Exod. 31. 13 14. This day was sanctified by an holy convocation or assembly of the people Levit. 23. 3. offering of sacrifices Numb 28. 9 10. singing of Psalmes as this title sheweth with 2 Chron. 29. 26 27. reading and expounding the Scriptures Act. 13. 15. and 15. 21. praying Act. 16. 13. disputing conferring meditating of Gods word and workes Act. 17. 2. and 18. 4. and doing workes oâ— mercy to them that were in need Matth. 12. 2 7 8 11 12. The Chaldee paraphraseth thus An hymne a song which the first man Adam said for the Sabbath day Vers. 3. in the nights see Psal. 134. 1. Vers. 4. with meditation or meditated song or upon Higgajon with the harpe The word signifieth meditation as Psal. 9. 17. Here some thinke it to be the name of an instrument or a solemne sound the Greeke turneth it a song Vers. 5. with thy worke which is all done well and perfectly Gen. 1. 31. and 2. 2 3. Deut. 32. 4. Vers. 10. shall be scattered or shall dispart themselves The Chaldee Paraphrast saith shall be separated from the congregation of the just in the world to come Vers. 11. shall be exalted or thou wilt exalt as the Vnicornes therewith to smite mine enemies as Deut. 33. 17. The horne signifieth kingdome and strength and glory and the Chaldee here translateth it strength See Psal. 75. 5 11. Psal. 22. 22. mine old age so also the Greeke translateth it or when I am old After which seemeth to be understood shall be anointed or as before shall be exalted with oile Oftentimes words are not expressed which are understood as is observed on Psal. 69. 11. and 18. 7 29. Others for mine old age doe turne it I shall be anointed fresh or greene oile Vers. 12. mine eye shall view to wit evill or destruction as the Chaldee explaineth or the reward of my foes See Psal. 54. 9. and 91. 8. shall heare the Chaldee addeth the voice of their breakings Vers. 13. palme-tree or date-tree which groweth not in these cold parts it is a tree of tall and upright stature whereto the Scripture hath reference Song 7. 7. the branches faire and greene wherwith they made boothes at their solemne feasts Levit. 23. 40. the fruit pleasant to eat Song 7. 8. Exod. 15. 27. This tree though loaden and pressed yet endureth and prospereth therefore the
condition our matter and forme the originall word properly is a formed vessell of earth applied to our fraile estate Rom. 9. 20 21. sometime this is spoken of our fictions and sinfull imaginations Gen. 6. 5. Deut. 31. 21. and so the Chaldee interpreteth it here our evill concupiscence which carrieth us into error Vers. 15. as the grasse c. that is few and transitorie though making a faire shew Compare Psal. 90. 5 6. Iob 14. 1 2. Iam. 1. 10 11. 1 Pet. 1. 24. Vers. 16. not know it or know him that is hee shall have no more place here So Iob 7. 10. Vers. 18. to doe them this noteth the outward practise and operation of the Law whereas keeping or observing is with the heart and spirit of man Prov. 3. 1 3. and 4. 4 21. Psal. 78. 8. Vers. 19. prepared his throneâ— or stabâ—â—â—he it a signe of dominion and gover 〈…〉 be administred in heaven whereby the Church is figured Rev. 4. 1. 2. See also Psal. 9. 5 8 9. and 11. 4. Vers. 20. hearkning or to hearken to obey and this noteth a willing and ready minde in the Angels and our Lord teacheth vs to pray for the like Mat. 6. 10. The Hebrew phrase to obey may be Englished obeying as the like in Psal. 104. 15 21. and 105. 11. See also Psal. 49. 15. and 65. 11. Vers. 21. his hosts or armies the thrones principalities powers c. that are in the heavenly places Eph. 3. 10. Col. 1. 16. for they are his hosts 1 King 22. 19. Gen. 32. 2. and generally all creatures are his hosts see Psal. 24. 10. ministers the Angels which minister unto him Psal. 104. 4. Dan. 7. 10. the same title is given also to men Esa. 61. 6. PSAL. CIV A meditation upon Gods powerfull workes and wonderfull providence in creating and governing the world and creatures therein 31 Gods glory is eternall 33 The Prophet voweth perpetually to praise him MY soule blesse thou Iehovah Iehovah my God thou art vehemently great thou araiest thy selfe with Majesty and comely honour Deeking him-selfe with light as with a garment stretching out the heavens as a curtaine Planchering his lofts in the waters making the clouds his Chariot walking vpon the wings of the wind Making his Angels spirits his Ministers a flaming fire He hath founded the earth upon her bases it shall not bee moved for ever and aye Thou coveredst it with the deepe as with a raiment the waters stood above the mountaines At thy rebuke they fled at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away The mountaines they went up the vallies they went downe to the place which thou foundest for them Thou didst set a bound they shall not passe they shall not returne to cover the earth That sendeth wel-springs in the vallies they walke betweene the mountaines They give drinke to all the wilde beasts of the field the wilde asses breake their thirst By them the fowle of the Heaven dwelleth from betweene the branches they give the voice That watreth the mountaines from his lofts the earth is filled with the fruit of thy workes That maketh grasse to grow for cattle and the herbe for the use of man bringing forth bread out of the earth And wine that rejoyceth the heart of sorry man making the face chearefull with osle and bread that upholdeth the heart of sorry man Tilled are the trees of Iehovah the Cedars of Lebanon which he planted That there the birds may make their nest the Storke the Fir trees are her house The high mountaines for the wilde goats the rocks a shelter for the conies He made the Moone for appointed times the Sunne knoweth his going downe Thou puttest darknesse and it is night in it doe creep forth all wilde beasts of the wood The lurking Lions roaring for the prey and seeking their meat of God The Sunne riseth they gather them away and couch downe in their dens Out goeth man unto his worke and to his labour till evening How many are thy workes Iehovah all of them hast thou done in wisdome the earth is full of thy riches This Sea great and wide of spaces there are creeping things even innumerable small wilde beasts with great There goe the ships Levjathan whom thou hast formed to play therein They all looke attentively unto thee to give them their food in his time Thou givest it to them they gather it thou openest thine hand they are filâ—ed with good Thou hidest thy face they are suddenly troubled thou gatherest their spirit they breath out the ghost and returne unto their dust Thou sendest forth thy spirit they are created and thou renewest the face of the earth The glory of Iehovah be for ever rejoyce let Iehovah in his deeds He looketh upon the earth and it trembleth he toucheth the mountaines and they smoke I will sing to Iehovah in my life I will sing Psalmes to my God while I am Sweet shall my meditation be of him I will rejoyce in Iehovah Consumed be sinners out of the earth and wicked men be they no more my soule blesse thou Iehovah Halelujah Annotations ANd comely honour that is shewest thy selfe by all thy works to be God over all to whom glory and honour is due Therefore God challengeth Iob and so all men to doe thus if they can and they shall be celebrated of him Iob 40 4 5. 9. Of these words see Psal. 8. 2 6. Vers. 2. Decking or clothing or He clotheth to wit himselfe with light dwelling in the light that none can attaine unto 1 Tim. 6. 16. and at first commanding the light to shine out of darknesse wherewith he decked the world Gen. 1. 3. 2 Cor. 4. 6. as a curtaine that is as a canopie or tent Song 1. 5. Ier. 49. 29. when he spred out the firmament by himselfe alone Gen. 1. 6. Esa. 44. 24. and 51. 13. Iob 37. 18. Vers. 3. Planchering He plancketh or planchereth his lofts or upper chambers that is the clouds aloft or upper regions of the aire as after in vers 13. in the waters among them or with waters which are above in the firmament Gen. 1. 7. where God bindeth the waters in the clouds and the cloud is not broken under them Iob 26. 8. making or putting that is disposing them his Chariot to sit and ride on as Esa. 19. 1. Rev. 14. 14. Compare Psal. 18. 11. Vers. 4. spirits that is spirituall substances so differing from Christ who is no made or created spirit but the maker of all things Psal. 102. 26. and from men made of flesh and bloud Luk. 24. 39. The originall word also signifieth winds and Angels by interpretation are messengers whereupon some translate he maketh the winds his messengers but the Holy Ghost in Heb. 1. 7. sheweth this to be spoken of Angels properly who are named also ministring spirits Heb. 1. 14. flaming fire effectuall in their administration the Angels therefore have appeared like horses and Chariots of fire 2 King 6. 17. and 2.
thus wast thou decked with gold and silver Ezek. 16. 11. 12. 13. The spirituall signification according to either similitude is one and the same as after shall bee shewed rowes in Hebr. Torim which being of the singular Tor signifieth a disposition row or orderly course of things and hath affinity with Torah which hath the name of the Law in Hebrew and the one is put as an examplanation of the other as David said Is this the Law of man ô Lord God 2 Samuel 7. 19. which another Prophet relateth thus thou hast regarded me according to the order disposition or estate of a man of high degree ô Lord God 1 Chron. 17. 17. And indeed the Law of God is his ordinance or orderly disposition of his precepts the rules and canons of our life The same word Tor is also used for a Turtle-dove and Torim are Turtles as in the law of sacrifices Lev. 12. which some therefore take here to be jewels or ornaments that had the figures of Turtle doves And so the Greeke version here translateth How beautifull are thy cheekes as of a turtle dove But in the verse following where the same word is againe used the Greeke translateth We will make for thee similitudes of gold chaine 's in Heb. Charuzim a word not found but in this one place translated in Gr. collars or chaines and is interpreted by the Hebrew Doctors chaines or jewels hanged on a string like chaines to put about the necke These rowes and chaines signifie the Lawes and ordinances of God wherewith he adorneth the face and necke of his Church that in her profession practice and obedience she may bee comely and gracious in the sight of God and his people and being guided by them may vanquish her enemies Thus Solomon elsewhere saith there is gold and a multitude of rubies but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel Proverb 20. 15. And againe My sonne heare the instruction of thy father and forsake not the law of thy mother for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thine head and chains about thy necke Proverb 1. 8. 9. They meane also the gracious effects which the Law and doctrine of God worketh in his people of humility reverence and other vertues as on the contrary pride and other like vices are said to compasse evill men about as a chaine and violence to cover them as a garment Psalme 73. 6. Likewise holy persons that teach instruct reprove and such as receive doctrine and reproofe Proverb 25. 12. and reproofes themselves are pearles Matth. 7. Thus also the Hebrewes understood this Scripture as the Chaldee paraphrase here saith When the Israelites went forth into the Wildernesse the Lord said unto Moses How fayre is this people that the words of the Law should bee given unto them that they may be as bridles in their jawes that they depart not out of the good way as an horse goeth not aside that hath a bridle in his jawes and how faire is their necke to beare the yoake of my precepts that they may bee upon them as a yoake on thenecke of a bullocke that ploweth in the field and feedeth both it selfe and the master thereof Vers. 11. We will make for thee A promise of encrease of graces to the Church by We is understood the mystery of the Trinity as in Genesis 1. 26. Let us make man So in Rev. 1. 4. 5. Grace and peace is wished from the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost and in 1 Corinth 12. 4. 5. 6. the diversities of gifts are noted to be of the Spirit the diversities of ministeries whereby those gifts are administred to be of the Lord Christ and the diversities of operations effected by the gifts and ministeries to bee of God the Father The Hebrewes also as Sol. larchi here interpret it I and my judgement hall by which phrase the Trinity of old was implyed though now the faithlesse deny the same for a judgement hall in Israel consisted of three at the least which in their close manner of speech they applyed unto GOD but their posterity understood it not Christ here teacheth his Church that every grace and good gift is from GOD as also the increase thereof Iames 1. 17. Ephes. 3. 16. that the spirituall ornaments are of his making who worketh in us both to will and to doe of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Also that to him that hath shall be given and he shall have more abundance Matth. 13. 12. As in our bodies wee come naked into this world without clothes or ornaments so is the estate of our soules by nature naked and bare Ezek. 16. 4. 7. till Christ of his grace by his Spirit clotheth and adorneth us Revelation 3. 18. rowes of gold he spake before of rowes simply now he addeth of gold either to signifie more excellent ordinances and graces under the Gospell then under the Law as hee promiseth For brasse I will bring gold and for â—ron I will bring silver c. Esay 60. 17. that should proceed from faith and love and not from feare as when shee was under the bridle of the Law for wee should not bee like horse and mule whose jaw must bee bound with bit and bridle Psalme 32. 9. and yeeld obedience by constraint or it meaneth a new supply of graces so that we are changed into the image of God from glory to glory even as by the spirit of the Lord 2 Corinth 3. 18. These promises may respect both the rules ordinances gifts and graces bestowed on his people Proverbes 20. 15. and the persons themselves that are furnished with those graces as the precious sonnes of Zion are said to bee comparable to fine gold Lament 4. 1. speckes of silver in Greeke markes of silver which word markes Stigmata Paul useth in Galatians 6. 17. speaking of the markes of the Lord Iesus by suffering for his Gospell Here it meaneth variety of graces in the communion of the Saints for their mutuall helpe comfort and delight as is opened in Proverb 25. 11. 12. A word fitly spoken is like Apples of gold with pictures of silver As an eare-ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold so is a wise reprover upon an obedient eare Where we are taught that both instructions and reproofes are the ornaments of the Saints when they are prudently uttered and obediently received Neither of which can bee without the speciall grace of God who both maketh these ornaments for us and maketh us fit to receive and put them on for The hearing eare and the seeing eye the Lord hath made even both of them Proverbs 20. 12. The Chaldee paraphrast expoundeth this verse of the Law which God gave unto Israel on the two tables by the hand of Moses But though the ordinances of the Law were likened to gold and silver wherewith the Church then was decked as God telleth them in Ezekiel 16. 13. and the law of his mouth was better to his people then thousands of gold and
of the Spirit which they that beleeve on him should receive Ioh. 7. 38. 39. streaming running flowing or streames from Lebanon It hath reference to the streames of Iordan which river began at the foot of mount Lebanon and ran along through the holy land watering the same This similitude is amplified in Ezek. 47. 6. 10. where waters issuing out of the Sanctuarie which was built of the Cedars of Lebanon ran along Galilee and to the plaine and into the sea c. and every living thing that moveth whithersoever the rivers come shall live c. and every thing shall live whither the river commeth So in Revel 22. 1. out of the throne of God and of the Lambe Christ a pure river of water of life proceedeth Vers. 16. Stirre-up or Raise up thy selfe thou North winde A fourth blessing upon the garden of Christs Church that it is blowne upon by the windes to refresh it to cleanse the aire of it and to make it more fruitfull And though the North and South windes be of contrary qualities as cold and hot moyst and dry yet are they both fitting for her estate which sometime needeth sharp reproof and sometime calme and gentle consolation But he mentioneth not the East winde because that is often used in signe of wrath to blast burne and destroy the fruits as Ezek. 17. 10. and 19. 12. Hos. 13. 15. Gen. 41. 6. blow upon my garden The garden being Christs as the words following manifest the Lord who bringeth forth the winde out of his treasuries Psal. 135. 7. speaketh unto it to blow signifying hereby the ministration of his word and spirit bestowed on his people for their further good that they have not onely the waters of holy Scripture but the lively graces also of Gods Spirit to quicken them So in Ezek. 37. 9. the Prophet was willed to prophesie unto the winde and say thereunto Come from the foure windes O winde and blow upon these slaine that they may live And the efficacie of the Spirit of God is resembled by the winde in Ioh. 3. 8. and doctrines are windes in Ephes 4. 14. and the restraint of Gods graces by wholesome doctrine is signfied by foure Angels holding the foure windes of the earth that the wind should not blow on the earth nor on the sea nor on any tree Rev. 7. 1. spices thereof may flow that is the fruits may ripen and be abundant for by the gracious gifts of the Spirit breathing upon the Church corruption is purged away the soules are refreshed quickened comforted and all graces doe increase 1 Cor. 2. come into his garden and eat The faithfull acknowledging both themselves and theirs to be Christs doe desire that hee would come and accept the fruits and graces of his owne Spirit with which and for which hee is to be honoured So the offrings unto God are called his bread Num. 28. 2. the good workes of Christians are called fruits Ioh. 15. his acceptation of those fruits and communication of further grace is signified by mutuall supping together Rev. 3. 20. and thus the Lord rejoyceth in his workes Psal. 104. 31. fruit of his precious things that is the fruit of his precious graces or his precious fruits so that now the Church is not like Israel of old an empty vine which brought forth fruit unto himselfe Hos. 10. 1. or bare wilde grapes even grapes of gall and bitter clusters Esa. 5. 2. Deut. 32. 32. but is filled with the fruits of righteousnesse Phil. 1. 11. and walketh worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good worke Col. 1. 10. and hath her fruit unto holinesse and the end everlasting life Rom 6. 22. The Chaldee paraphrast applieth this to the service of God under the Law saying Let the beloved God come into the house of the Sanctuarie and accept with favour the oblations of his people CHAPTER V. IAm come to my garden my sister my spouse I have gathered my myrrh with my spice I have eaten my honey-combe with my honey I have drunke my wine with my milke eate O friends drink and drinke-abundantly O beloved I sleepe and my heart waketh it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh Open to mee my sister my love my dove my perfect-one for my head is filled with dew my locks with the drops of the night I have put-off my coat how shall I put it on I have washed my feet how shall I defile them My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the doore and my bowels made a troubled-noise for him I rose-up to open to my beloved and my hands dropped myrrh and my fingers passing myrrh upon the handles of the locke I opened to my beloved and my beloved had withdrawne himselfe was passed away my soule went-forâ—h because of his speech I sought him and I found him not I called him and hee answered me not The Watchmen that went about the citie found mee they smote mee they wounded mee the watchmen of the walles tooke my veile from on me I adjure you O daughters of Ierusalem if yee finde my beloved what shall ye tell him that I am sicke of love What is thy beloved more then another beloved O thou fairest among women What is thy beloved more then another beloved that thou dost so adjure us My beloved is white and ruddie having-the-banner above ten-thousand His head the fine-gold the solid-gold his lockes curled blacke as a Raven His eyes as doves by the streames of water washing in milke sitting in fulnesse His cheekes as a bed of spice flowers of sweet-odours his lippes Lilies dropping passing myrrh His hands rings of gold filled with the Chrysolite his bowels bright yvorie overlaid with Saphires His legges pillars of marble founded upon sockets of solid-gold his countenance as Lebanon choice as the Cedars His palate sweetnesse and hee is altogether desires This is my beloved and this is my friend O daughters of Ierusalem CHAPTER V. My sister O my Spouse I am entred Into my garden I have gathered My Myrrh together with my spices-sweet My honey-combe did with my honey eat I drunke my wine with my milke friends eate yee Drinke O beloved and drinke-plenteously I am asleepe and yet my heart waketh The voice of my Beloved that knocketh Open thou unto me my sister deere My love my dove my perfect-one sincere For my head is with dew replenished My locks with drops that from the night proceed I dofft my coat how shall it on againe I washt my feete how shall I them distaine Put in his hand by 'th hole did my beloved And for him were my bowels troublous-moved To open to my Loved I rose-up And my hands myrrh my fingers eke did drop Passing-sweet myrrh the locke handles upon Open I did to my beloved-one And my beloved had himselfe drawn-backe Was past my soule went-forth for that he spake I did him seeke and yet I found him not I called him yet I no answere-got The