after the imagination of their own heart and make their own conceits their Oracle their fancie their faith and their lusts their God or will by opposing one or other of the Persons of the Godhead deny and separate the indivisible Essence of one God in three Persons or by receiving the doctrine of some of those many lesser antichrists which are in the world will incorporate themselves in the great mystical body of that one Antichrist spoken of in Scripture or in a word will by rejecting the truth and not receiving of it in love when it is offered bring in upon themselves strong delusions and give a powerful possession of themselves to the devil whereby he may so rule in them as to make them vent whatsoever hell can devise to the dishonour of God and Christian Religion that all such may be damned as for their not receiving the truth in love so also for their taking pleasure in unrighteousnesse according as the Apostle did prophecie should come to passe 2 Thess. 2.11 12. In such a time therefore as this is wherein the Lord is manifesting who are of God and who not who do know God and who not who do follow the Spirit of truth and who are led by the spirit of errour and is deciphering them by this infallible mark which the Apostle giveth 1 John 4.6 that the one giveth a beleeving and obediential eare to the Penmen of holy Scripture the other doth not so what a mercie yea what an honour and happinesse is it for the Lords children to make such use of a setled Ministry which is the great gift of Christ bestowed upon his Church as not to be carried about with every winde of doctrine Eph. 4.11 12 13 14. not to be led away with the errour of the wicked nor fall from their own stedfastnesse but to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.17 18. Which grace and honour and happinesse that it may not only continue with your Lordship but also be granted to all those that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity is the prayer of Your Lordships ready Servant in the Gospel DAVID DICKSON THE EPISTLE TO THE Reader CHRISTIAN READER IN the two former parts of this work I have spoken my minde to thee in relation to this brief Explication of the Psalmes I will not here keep thee up in the entry of this last part nor say any more unto thee save this It is our bound duty to bless him that inhabiteth the praises of Israel who will have all the Mourners in Sion to be comforted and who as he hath prepared in this mountain unto all people Isa. 25.6 a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined by bestowing Christ and the unsearchable riches of his grace upon every Penitent who fleeth to him for delivery from sin and wrath so hath he also prepared to every such soul the excellent songs of Sion to encrease their festival gladness and for evidencing of his purpose to give unto them everlasting joy after this life is ended hath put in their hands for their comfort in every condition wherein they can be in this present life and valley of tears this sweet-smelled bundle of Psalmes wherein he hath made his works of mercy and of judgement the pawnes of his promises for compleat happiness unto them and also of the utter overthrow and perdition of all their enemies and hath appointed both mercy and judgement to be the matter as of their joy so of his owne glory in the Church to be lifted up as a sacrifice upon the Altar Christ Iesus by the voice of his people singing with grace to him both alone and in company and making melody in their hearts therefore as in the changes of our own particular private condition we have liberty to choose for our use such parts of the Psalmes as do speak most near to our present case So let us be bound in publick meetings of the Church to joyne with the Congregation in singing every truth uttered by Gods Spirit in the Psalmes as we are directed by the Minister and mouth of the meeting for glorifying of him who hath done promised threatened and taught whatsoever is therin expressed Remembring that his Praises are the pillars of our faith and that his joy is our strength and that those calves of our lips are acceptable sacrifices to God through Iesus Christ in and for whom I am thy Servant in the Work of the Gospel DAVID DICKSON A BRIEF EXPLICATION Upon the last Fifty Psalmes PSALM CI. DAvid not being as yet entered in possession of his Kingdome doth by direction of the holy Spirit fall upon a consideration of the duties of a righteous Prince which he setteth down as a rule to be followed by himself and all Magistrates obliging himself to endeavour to conforme his Government thereto wherein he is but a type and shadow of Christ in whom alone the perfect performance of the duties here promised are to be found The principal duties which David undertaketh to discharge may be for orders sake reduced to the number of eight according to the number of the verses Ver. 1. I Will sing of mercy and judgement unto thee O LORD will I sing The first duty which he undertaketh is to delight himself in all royal vertues required for the Government of good or bad subjects and to make those duties his Song and to approve himself to God for the sincerity of his intention in this undertaking Whence learn 1. All the duties of righteous Government may be comprehended under these two heads mercy and judgement for mercy taketh in the care of the poor needy oppressed or injured and judgement taketh in the care of equity and righteous dealing among the subjects with the rewarding of the good and punishing of evil doers mercy provideth for all good things which the subject needeth and judgement provideth for their security and for removing whatsoever evill may trouble them I will sing saith he of mercy and judgement 2. Such as are designed unto any calling especially any publick charge should prepare themselves for it partly by laying before themselves the duties belonging to the right discharge of such a calling and partly by bending of their hearts and laying engagements on their spirits for the faithful discharge thereof for so much doth Davids example here teach us 3 Duties of a mans calling should both be studied unto and discharged with some chearfulnesse and readinesse of minde for I will sing of mercy and judgement importeth so much 4. As it is expedient for the peoples better acceptance of a man to a publike charge that his purpose to discharge his duty therein be published so also it is expedient for the mans stirring up and fastening to his duty that he engage his heart unto God for so doth Davids example teach us Unto thee
A BRIEF EXPLICATION Of the last Fifty Psalmes From Ps. 100. to the end BY DAVID DICKSON Professor of DIVINITY in the COLLEDGE of EDENBURGH COL 3.16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalmes and Hymnes and spiritual Songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Imprimatur EDMUND CALAMY LONDON Printed by T.R. and E. M for Tho. Iohnson at the golden Key in S. Pauls Church-yard An. Dom. 1654. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARLE OF Cassills Grace and Peace through Christ Iesus My Right Noble Lord ONe of the speciall motives of my resolution to follow this work in parcells was the apparent hazard that if in this time of trouble and of my old age I should have delayed to put forth some part of it till all had been ready the whole might have been miscarried or marred by some passage of providence which might have befallen me But seeing it hath pleased the Lord to spare my life and my health and my liberty in his service as I wanted not the example of grave Authors before me to divide the whole Book of the Psalmes into three fifties and to dedicate every part to severall persons So I judged it good thrift to take occasion thereby to testifie my bound duty and respect to so many of the Noble friends of Sion as I could overtake and that with a minde to honour all the rest who have put their shoulder to the work of setling Religion and the Kingdome of Christ among us whose labours albeit they should have no other fruit in our time then the right stateing of the question between us and all adversaries of the true doctrine worship and discipline of Christs house as it is set down in the Confession of faith in the directory for publick worship and in the Rules of Government of Christs Church drawn forth from Scripture warrant yet even that much is worth all the expense of whatsoever is bestowed by any or all the Lords worthies upon Religion And howsoever the Lord doth claime and call for the whole glory of this work to himselfe alone by staining the pride of the glory of all instruments whereof he hath made use about it as now appeareth lest the glory due to himselfe in all and every one of the passages of promoting the same should be ecclipsed yet will he never utterly reject this service nor disallow the upright endeavours of his servants therein but will in his own time and way both advance it and bear witnesse to his faithfull servants in and about it wheresoever he hath a minde to keep house or to Reigne as King in Sion Yea he will also make it known to the world that as on the one hand he will not want a visible Kingdome in the world though not of this world so on the other hand that his Kingdome shall be so farre from hindring the civill Government of Magistrates where it hath place that by the contrary it shall be a chiefe prop and pillar of every Kingdome where it is received In this number of upright promoters of the Kingdome of Christ Your Lordship hath been alwayes looked upon all the time of our late troubles as one very eminent and I since my first admission into your Lordships acquaintance have observed your constant care and endeavour as to know what was the right indifficile questions so also to hold it fast according to your power after you had discovered it Which as it may be your Lordships comfort so is it your commendation and all mens duty to do the like especially in this dangerous time wherein sinnes practised and not repented of are so severely and justly punished by Gods giving over the impenitent to the open professing and defending of their unrepented faults for God in justice and wisdom has suffered the hedges of his Vineyard to be broken down and the holy discipline of his house to be so set at nought by all sorts of persons that every spirit of errour having open way to come in at the breach he might thereby try and exercise all his people who stand in Covenant with him by Profession and reclaim or punish such as live in errour And no wonder that he so should do for when there is so little use made of the holy Ordinances of Religion when the Scriptures are either not read or not esteemed of when the forme of godlinesse is separated from upright endeavour to feel and shew forth the life and power of it when the grace of the Gospel is turned into wantonnesse and men are become so much the more bold to sin as they do heare much of the mercifulnesse of God when every divine truth is either not beleeved at all or received only with humane and temporary faith when Christ is looked upon by many only as a man and not as God manifested in the flesh not as the eternal Son of God who from everlasting was with God and was God Co-worker in the Creation with the Father and the Spirit when Christ is confessed to be Christ but not employed as Mediatour or as if men had need of him not made use of in his Offices when many do cast open their soules unto and seek after another spirit then the Spirit of truth the Comforter the Holy Ghost who according to the Scriptures both wounds and heales the consciences of beleevers and sanctifieth the heart and conversation of all them that come to God through Christ. In this time I say when these and many other ungodly practices of men walking after the imagination of their own heart do so abound what wonder ir it that the Lord hath let loose so many unclean spirits as no history can shew more in so short a time in any age or in any place of the world by whose ranging up and down among us God is about to make manifest the stability and sincerity of the faith of them who are approved and to take trial of others in whom such damnable practices as by the doctrine of devils are now openly defended will be found unrepented whether after they shall hear their ungodly pranks maintained and patronized by some Sect-master Heretick or Schismatick they will abhor such abominable doctrine and repent their owne former mis-deeds which have spoken the language of some of those vile errours Or whether they will justifie their own faults according as their Sect-masters do teach them to do either by despising all the Ordinances and lifting themselves above the same or by rejecting the commands and cords of the moral Law will loose themselves from the obedience thereof as if Christ had freed the believer from the command and authority of the Law no lesse then from the Covenant and curse thereof or by blaspheming the Scripture will cry down the truth and the use and power of it or by calling every truth in question will exempt themselves from the bonds of all Religion or will walk
O LORD will I sing Ver. 2. I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way O when wilt thou come unto me I will walk within my house with a perfect heart The second duty which he undertaketh when God shall come unto him to performe his promise and put him in possession of the Kingdome is that he will cast a copie to all the subjects of godly and wise behaviour in his own person and family according to the rule of Gods Word Whence learn 1. He that purposeth to carry a publick charge well must discharge the duty of a private man well in his own person and make his own personal carriage exemplary to all who shall hear of him for so doth Davids undertaking here teach us 2. It is necessary for our personal carriage and conversing with others that we make the Lords commands our Rule for that is a perfect way and that we studie to make application of general rules prudently according to the circumstances of time place and person for this is wisdome as Davids example doth teach I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way 3. Such as beleeve Gods promises do long to have the performance of them as we see in David who had a promise of the Kingdome and looked long for it O when wilt thou come unto me 4. In the performance of promises the Lord maketh his approaches nearer and nearer unto the beleever and then shall be the nearest communion when God shal perform all that he hath promised unto us for David calleth the giving unto him the possession of the promised Kingdome Gods coming unto him O when wilt thou come unto me 5. A mans holinesse righteousnesse and wisdome is put to proof by his behaviour to his domesticks with whom he doth most frequently and intirely converse for herein doth David promise to give evidence of his walking wisely in a perfect way I will walk within my house with a perfect heart 6. To compleat a mans sincerity it is necessary not only that he have a perfect way and a prudent carriage in it but also that he be upright in his heart intentions ends and motives therefore David addeth I will walk with a perfect heart Ver. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside it shall not cleave to me The third duty undertaken is that he will be far from plotting of any wicked thing and far from communion with any persons in an evil course which is a proof of the uprightnesse of his heart undertaken in the former verses Whence learn 1. A wicked designe is inconsistent with uprightnesse of heart which hath an aime at pleasing of God and at nothing else but what he will allow I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes 2 A man can hardly be free of an evil course if he shal be tempted unto it except he hate and abhor such courses in other mens practices for he who is resolved to be upright should say truly I hate the work of them that turn aside 3. Albeit an upright heart may be at unawares intangled in a sinful course yet so soon as he doth perceive it to be such he will quit it therefore after David hath said He hateth the work of them that turn aside he addeth It shall not cleave to me Ver. 3. A froward heart shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person The fourth duty undertaken is in relation to the Court and places of trust he will not have in his company nor will countenance a perverse or wicked person Whence learn 2. Among the vices of the heart frowardnesse perversenesse and wickednesse are most of all to be eschewed and abhorred because those evils do harden the heart against admonition and do make it incorrigible in an evil course albeit a better course be shewen therefore David denounceth war against such a disposition A froward heart shall depart from me 2. It is good for a King and for his Court and for his subjects and for the standing of the Kingdome that wicked perverse and impious men be out of credit in the Court and not admitted to places or power of trust for nothing can be more acceptable to God in the point of Government nor more amiable to the subjects then this for which cause David promiseth to the subjects beforehand I will not know a wicked person much more will Christ not know but disclaim such a person Ver. 5. Who so privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer The fifth duty undertaken is the curbing of out-breaking wickednesse especially of that which most hindereth the peace and welfare of the subjects such as is privie slander and open insolencie Whence learn 1. There is no sort of persons more pernicious to a King or to his subjects then is a privie slanderer having credit in Court for he is able to murther any subject and ruine his State by secret and false reports of him while the innocent is ignorant of it and wanteth all place to defend himself and therefore this evil is to be severely punished by the Magistrate Who so privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off 2 A Kingdom is not well ruled except proud and insolent spirits whose behaviour speaketh prodigality strife emulation and oppression be taken order with and born down Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer And such if they escape mens judgements will not be winked at by Christ in whom the truth of types is accomplished Ver. 6. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me The sixth duty undertaken is countenancing and encouraging of the godly in the land Whence learn 1. The Magistrate should have a special care to countenance upright men and such as fear God Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful in the land 2. It is good policy for Kings to have in their Court and Councel such as are faithful Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me 3. He is to be held in our estimation for a faithful man who walketh after the rule of Gods Commandments for such as he called faithful before he expoundeth here to be such as walk in a perfect way whether his heart be uprighr or not doth belong to God to judge 4. As it is good policy in a State to have about the King or supreme Magistrate such as are Professors of true Religion and of an honest conversation so it is good thrift and husbandrie for every man to choose such for their servants in the family He that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me Ver. 7. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight The seventh duty
curse He gave them their request but sent leannesse into their soul. Ver. 16. They envied Moses also in the campe and Aaron the Saint of the LORD 17. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram 18. And a fire was kindled in their company the flame burnt up the wicked The third sin confessed is sedition which brake forth in Kâ—rah and his complices was fearfully punished Num. 16.1 2 3 c. Whence learn 1. The manner of the Lords governing his people how gentle soever it be is notwithstanding unto wicked men a thing insupportable as doth appear in the people 's not enduring the Lords meek governing of them by Moses and Aaron 2. Rebellion against Gods manner of governing howsoever it be indeed against God yet pretendeth to be only against men They envied Moses in the Camp 3. Ministers are to be looked unto as men consecrated unto God and injuries done to them are against the Lord They envied Aaron the Saint of the Lord. 4. Whatsoever open wicked course is set on foot by ring-leaders to any mischief and is not disclaimed by the body of the people may justly be charged upon all albeit not in the same degree of guiltinesse as here Korah and his Complices fault is charged upon the people They envied Moses in the Campe. 5. Authors of sedition in the State and of Schisme in the Church do highly provoke God to punish them exemplarily as appeareth here The earth opened and swallowed Dathan and covered the company of Abiram 6 Such as will not be warned to eschew sin by judgements poured forth upon others do provoke God to make themselves spectacles of wrath in the sight of others A fire was kindled in their company the fire burnt up the wicked Ver. 19. They made a calfe in Horeb and worshipped the molten image 20. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an Oxe that eateth grass 21. They forgat God their Saviour which had done great things in Egypt 22. Wonderous works in the land of Ham and terrible things by the red-sea 23. Therefore he said that he would destroy them had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach to turne away his wrath lest he should destroy them The fourth sin confessed is the idolatry of the golden calf which sin is aggravated and the danger of their destruction for it till Moâ—es interceded for them is briefly set down here but more largely expressed Exod 32. and Deut. 9. Whence learn 1. They that are ready to change the Government of the Church which God hath appointed will be ready also to change the worship of God as experience in the Israelites doth teach who are charged with the one fault v. 16. and with the other here They made a Calfe in Horeb and worshipped the molten image 2. Idolaters are so bewitched with the opinion of the lawfulnesse of idolatry as they dare both devise and practise it in Gods presence They made a Calfe in Mount Horeb the mountaine where the Lord did shew himself terrible 3. Albeit image-making in the matter of Religion and image-worshipping be an old sin yet this relative worship offered unto God before an image is alwayes rejected of God as no worship done to him but only to the image for God doth not expound communication of worship to an image or relative worship before an image according to the intention of the worshipper but according to the nature of the action which is discharged in the second command of the moral law Israel in ended to offer the holy day to the Lord and appointed the worship toward the golden image for him as the history sheweth Exod. 32.4 5. To morrow is a feast of the Lord yet here the Lords Spirit declareth this to be a worship not of God but of the image They worshipped the molten image 4. Making of images to represent God or any of the persons of the holy Trinity is but a vilifying of the glory of God and giving it to the image of a creature yea the making of an image to represent God is the changing of the glory of God into a vile image of some base creature and the placing of the one in the others stead and room for so God judgeth saying Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an Oxe that eateth grasse 5. To have God for our God and to have him alone for our God and the only object of our worship without any mixture of humane devices is our glory and to do otherwise is the shame of the worshipper They changed their glory into the image of an Oxe 6. To devise images or pictures to put us in minde of God is a very forgetting both of Gods nature and of his authority discharging such dyvices for so doth the Lord expound it They forgot God their Saviour 7. Whatsoever works God hath wrought for making people know him are all forgotten as well as God is forgotten whensoever men may make devices of their own for memorials of God They forgot God their Saviour which had done great things in Egypt wondrous things in the land of Ham and terrible things by the red-sea 8. Idolatry openly committed in a land is a cause sufficient to destroy the Nation which is guilty of that sin for Therefore the Lord said he would destroy them 9. As they who feare God in a land should deprecate Gods wrath that it fall not on it and should stand in the gap to divert the Lords wrath so is their intercession acceptable to God and a hopeful means to divert wrath as is to be seen in Moses who stood up before him to turn away his wrath lest he should destroy them 10. When God is glorified in a peoples obedience unto him he is a wall about them to save them from harme but when he is provoked by open idolatry or avowed sin then is a gap made in the wall of his protection that mischief may enter now in upon them at the breach He said he would destroy them had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach 24. Yea they despised the pleasant land they beleeved not his word 25. But murmured in their tents and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD 26. Therefore he lifted up his hand against them to overthrow them in the wildernesse 27. To overthrow their seed also among the Nations and to scatter them in the lands The fifth sin confessed is the contempt of Gods most precious promises figured out in the despising of the promise of Canaan unto them which as it did flow from misbelief of Gods Word so it brought forth murmuring against his dispensation which did put them in hazard of dissipation and destruction as is set down more largely Numb 13. and 14. Whence learn 1. When the promised inheritance of heaven which was figured by the pleasant land of promise is not counted worthy of all the paines and difficulties which can
forth v. 12. and comfortably closed with assurance of the Churches victoâ—y by the assistance of God v. 13. Ver. 1. O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise even with my glory 2. Awake Psaltery and Harpe I my self will awake early In the thanksgiving of faith and promise of praise he composeth himself in the best frame of spirit unto the work and fitteeh himself by all meanes unto it Whence learn 1. It is our duty especially when we are about any piece of immediate spiritual worship to take heed what we are doing what the work is about which we are going who the Lord is with whom we have to do and how our heart is disposed that so we may approve our selves to God with the more comfort for this doth the Psalmists example teach us O God my heart is fixed I will sing 2. In Gods worship it is very needful we should have our mindes present without diversion and our affections composed and set rightly toward the Lord and the work in hand as here My heart is fixed 3. As a man first tuneth his instrument and then playeth on it so should the holy servant of God first labour to bring his spirit heart and affections into a solid and setled frame for worship and then go to work My heart is fixed or prepared firmely I will sing and give praise 4. As the glory of man above the brute creatures is that from a reasonable minde he can expresse what is his will by his tongue so the glory of the Saints above other men is to have a tongue directed by the heart for expressing of Gods praise I will sing and give praise even with my glory 5. That only is our glory wherein and whereby we do most glorifie God for this cause the tongue directed by a holy heart is here called Davids glory I will sing and give praise even with my glory 6. Under typical termes we are taught to make use of all sanctified meanes for stirring of us up unto Gods service for this the Psalmist intendeth when he saith Awake Psaltery and Harp 7. We our selves must first be stirred up to make right use of the meanes before the meanes can be fiâ— to stir us up therefore saith he I my self will awake early Ver. 3. I will praise thee O LORD among the people and I will sing praise unto thee among the Nations 4. For thy mercy is great above the Heavens and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds 5. Be thou exalted O GOD above the Heavens and thy glory above all the earth Here is the praise of God and the reasons thereof Whence learn 1. It is no small help unto the discharge of a duty to engage the heart unto God for the doing of it for in effect that is the most we can attain unto in this life but in the next life we shall have full vent for our will to praise God and shall follow our purpose with perpetual perseverance I will praise thee O Lord among the people 2. Sincerity hath confidence to professe its purpose before the Lord I will praise thee O Lord. 3. As it is the duty and desire also of a true worshipper that all the world should be stirred up to praise the Lord so it was the comfort of the Church of the Jewes to foresee the joyning of the Gentiles in the song and to see the Gentiles stirred up by the songs of the Jewish Church I will praise thee O Lord among the people and will sing praises unto thee among the Nations 4. The matter and reasons of Gods praise are higher then the worshipper can reach and larger then he can fathom and in special the mercy of the Lord toward his people is larger then the wide circle of Heaven Thy mercy is great above the Heavens 5. There is more stuffe and substance of good in the Lords promises then the sharpest-sighâ—ed Saint ever did or can perceive for when we have followed the promise to finde out all the truth which is in it we meet with a cloud of unsearchable riches and are forced to leave it there for so much is included in this Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds 6. The height of our praising of God is to put the work of praising God upon himself and to point him out unto others as going about the magnifying of his own Name and to be glad for it as here Be thou exalted O God above the Heavens and thy glory above all the earth Ver. 6. That thy beloved may be delivered save with thy right hand and answer me After the praise of God from faith followeth the prayer of faith Wherein learn 1. The Church is the Lords beloved or the incorporation more loved then any thing else in the world therefore here called Thy beloved 2. Because the Church is Gods beloved the care of it should be most in our minde and the love of the preservation of it should draw forth our prayeâ— most in favour of it That thy beloved may be delivered save 3. Whosoever is entrusted with any publick charge Civil or Ecclesiastick in a special manner should make the preservation and welfare of Gods people their chief aime and the chief matter of their prayer and the greatest saâ—â—â—faction of their desires as here is done That thy beloved may be delivered save and answer me 4 As it is presupposed that the Church shall be frequently in danger so it is certain that her deliveâ—y and preservation must be brought about by God in his way and by his power and God must be trusted with this work therefore saith he That thy beloved may be delivered save with thy right hand Ver. God hath spoken in his holinesse I will rejoyce I will divide Shechem and mete out the valley of Succoth 8. Gilead is mine Manasseh is mine Ephraim also is the strength of mine head Iudah is my Law-giver Here the Psalmist looketh unto the word of promise for his answer Whence learn 1. Supplicants must take the answer of their prayers from the Word of promise for he who findeth his warrant to pray hath his answer before he begin to pray for he prayeth according to the Will of God and so he hath his petition so doth David teach God hath spoken in his holinesse 2. Faith closing with a promise will furnish joy to the beleever before he enjoy the performance of it God hath spoken saith he I will rejoyce 3. The believer of a general promise may branch out the particulars in it which are not performed no lesse clearly then if they had been particularly expressed for so doth the Psalmist teach saying I will divide Sechem and mete out the valley of Succoth which thing came to passe as he believed and the whole Kingdome under him was now setled for his particular interest when this Psalm was composed but as it typified the reducing of the distracted parts of Christs Kingdom into the unity of Reformation and joynt
on according to Gods decree which as it is a matter of Gods praise so also of mans comfort who shall have the use and benefit thereof from generation to generation He hath also established them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which they shall not passe Vers. 7. Praise the LORD from the earth ye dragons and all deeps 8. Fire and haile snow and vapour stormy winde fulfilling his Word 9. Mountaines and all hilles fruitful trees and all Cedars 10. Beasts and all cattel creeping things and flying fowle In the exhortation made in the second place unto the creatures under heaven Learn 1. As the heavens so also the earth and the deep sea are filled with the matter of Gods praise Praise the Lord from the earth ye dragons and all deeps 2. The most terrible creatures serve to set forth Gods glory as well as the most useful and comfortable Ye dragons and all deeps 3. The changes which are made in the clouds or in the aire by stormes or tempests or whatsoever way come not by chance but are all directed forth by God for some intent of his and in what work he doth employ them they faile not to execute his will Fire and haile snow and vapour stormie winde fulfilling his Word and out of those changes praises do arise unto God 4. The diversifying of the face of the earth with higher and lower parts with mountains hills and valleyes and the adorning of the face thereof with trees some taller some lower and smaller some barren some fruitful contributeth much to the praise of God Mountaines and all hills fruitful trees and all Cedars 5. Beside all that is said in the variety of things living on the earth each of them do contend with other which of them shall shew forth more of Gods wisdom power and goodnesse Beasts and all cattel creeping things and flying fowle all those creatures do offer matter of praise unto God that men may take the song of their hand and directly formally and properly praise God for his glorious properties evidenced in them Ver. 11. Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the earth 12. Both young men and maidens old men and children 13. Let them praise the Name of the LORD for his Name alone is excellent his glory is above the earth and heaven Having gone thorough other creatures he cometh to man who is the chief both matter and instrument of Gods praise Whence learn 1. The Lord is glorious in his workmanship and government of all the creatures but most of all in men whom he calleth to be Factors Collectors and Chamberlains as it were to gather unto him the rent of praise and glory from all other creaâ—ures and then to pay praises for their own part also Kings of the earth and all people let them praise c. 2. God is no leveller of mens estates and outward condition in the world or allower of levelling but for his own praise and mens good he hath ordained distinction of men in Kings and subject people Princes and Judges and people to be judged in all parts of the earth Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the earth 3. As Civil government is appointed of God so they who are advanced to this dignity are first in the obligement unto the duty of setting forâ—h Gods praise and yet subjects here also must contribute according to their place and ability Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Iudges of the earth 4. It should qualifie the mindes of men who are in honour that their preferment is but on earth and their time no longer then while they are on the earth and that they are under a King and Judge whose dominion is heavenly and everlasting therefore doth he joyne this addition Kings of the earth Princes and Iudges of the earth 5. As distinguishing of men in regard oâ— estate so distinguishing of sex and age offereth much matter of praise when particulars are considered and for the very distinction in sex and age God is to be praised Both young men and maidens old men and children let them praise 6. There is much matter of Gods glory in the earth and more in the heavens but the glory of himselfe and of his properties is more then all that either is or can be seen or found or expressed in or by the creature Let them praise the Name of the Lord for his Name alone is excellent his glory is above the earth and the heavens Vers. 14. He alone exalteth the horne of his people the praise of all his Saints even of the children of Israel a people near unto him Praise ye the LORD In the last place he pointeth at the glory of God manifested to the Church for which all Gods people are bound to praise him Whence learn 1 The praise of God for what he doth to and for his Church 〈◊〉 â—bove all the rest of his praises from the rest of his works as farre as the work of redemption grace and salvation to sinners is above the works of creation and worthy to put the capestone upon the rest of the work of his praises as here it is placed 2. Beside all the use and benefit which the Lords people have of the whole works of Gods hands he lifteth them up in strength victory and glory over all their enemies and over all other incorporations in the world who are but slaves to sinne and Satan in comparison of them He also exalteth the horne of his people 3 The exalting of the strength victory and glory of the Church standeth mainly in the exalting of the Messiah or of the Kingdome of the Messiah represented by the exalting of David for Christ is the horne of his people in whom their victory and glory is obtained and maintained unto them and therefore the horne of his people is expounded here to be The praise of all the Saints 4. Those are the true children of Israel who glory in Christ as their strength their victory and glory and do study to be in effect Saints for his people and his Saints are here expounded to be even the children of Israel 5. Students of holinesse who glory and rejoyce in Jesus as their strength victory righteousnesse and salvation and who are wrestlers for the blessing as true Israelites are the Lords people in a more straite union with God then any other people in the world A people near unto him and that in regard of their Covenant with God their incorporation in Christ and the inhabitation of the holy Spirit in them and the mutual love between God and them 6. Of all people in the earth the people of God have most reason to praise their Lord Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CXLIX THis Psalme is a ninefold exhortation of the true members of the Church who are believers and Saints in effect to praise God for saving grace bestowed on 〈…〉 for speciall priviledges granted
in God and to teach what stirring up should be of the affections and powers of our soul and one of another unto Gods worship what harmonie should be among worshippers of God what melodie each should make in himself singing to God with grace in his heart and to shew the excellency of Gods praise which no meanes nor instrument nor any expression of the body joyned thereto could sufficiently set forth and thus much is figured forth in these exhortations to praise God with Trumpet Psaltery Harp Timbrel Dance stringed instruments and Organs loud and high sounding Cymbals Ver. 6. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD Praise ye the LORD In the twelfth exhortation pointing at the party called upon to praise God Learn 1. Living creatures which draw breath and give unto and take from God their life afresh every moment in their breathing do above all visible creatures speak most to the praise of Gods wisdom power in framing and preserving of them Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. 2. Of all living creatures men are most bound to praise God as they in whom God in the Creation and in their several generations from age to age did and doth breath the Spirit of life and of all men those are most bound to praise God on whom he hath bestowed his holy Spirit and howsoever the Lords works in all men shall speak to his praise how wicked soever men shall be yet only renewed souls in whom God hath breathed his Spirit as the word breath in the Original may bear shall voluntarily and sincerely praise God Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. 3. The Spirit of the Lord when he gave the Psalmes to the Church of the Jewes had an eye toward the rest of the world of whom he was in his appointed time to exact this Song of praise and so we who are Gentiles brought unto the society of the Church are bound to joyne in the work with them and when we are joyned and when all who are to be converted are joyned yet are we all too few to bear up this Song of Gods praise and therefore to shew this it is said Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. 4. When we have said all we are able to say for Gods praise we are but to begin again anew for this are we taught by the renewing of the exhortation in the close of sundry Psalmes and here also at the end of all the Psalms Praise ye the Lord. And after us must all the creatures come in their own kinde and order to offer up praise also as we are taught Rev. 5. v. 12. where after that elect Angels and Saints whose number was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands had sung their Song saying With a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slaine to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing Then it followeth v. 13. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them heard I saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lambe for ever and ever FINIS BOOKS newly printed by RALPH SMITH Master HVTCHESONS Exposition of Obadiah Ionah Micah Nahum Habakkuk and Zephaniah A Practical Discourse of Prayer shewing the Duty Necessity and the several sorts of Prayer by Mr. THOMAS COBBET The CHRISTIANS CHARTER shewing the Priviledge of Believers the third Edition very much inlarged by Mr. WATSON Minister of Stephens Walbrook Also Mr. WATSONS Treatise of CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT the second Edition