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
against the Iewes and prophesies of their rejection as the Apostle sheweth and by their table we are to understand all meanes of comfort and refreshing both of body and soule which turne to the ruine of the wicked even an odour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2. 15 16. Vers. 24. that they see not so the Apostle explaineth the Hebrew phrase from seeing Rom. 11. 10. The like is in Esa. 44. 28. And hereby is meant the eyes of their understanding that seeing they see and perceive not because a veile is over their hearts Ioh. 12. 39 40. Act. 28. 26 27. 2 Cor. 3. 14 15. make their loines to shaâ—e bow downe their backs saith the Apostle Rom. 11. 10. and this meaneth bondage and miserie as appeareth by the contrary blessing of going upright which God once vouched safe unto that people Lev. 26. 13. Vers. 26. their castle or their tower palace habitation faire and orderly builded Gen. 2â— 16. Numb 31. 10. Song 8. 9. This which David speaketh of all Christs enemies Peter applieth to Iudas that betraied him Let his habitation be desart Act. 1. 20. but Christ threatneth the like to them all Mat. 23. 38. Castle here is for Castles or Palaces as Chariot for Chariots Psal. 68. 18. Vers. 27. whom thou hast smitten Christ the shepherd who was smitten of God and wounded for our sinnes Esa. 53. 4 5. Mat. 26. 31. they tell of the sorrow that is tell one another vauntingly of the sorrow smart or paine of thy wounded thy servants who are wounded for thy sake or they preach hereof see the like phrase Psal. 2. 7. or they tell to the sorrow that is adde unto and increase it as the Greeke turneth it Vers. 28. Give thou iniquity c. that is Adde sinne unto their sinne give them over to a reprobate minde which was Gods heavie judgement first on the Gentiles Rom. 1. 24 28. afterward on the Iewes who fulfilled their sins when wrath came on them to the utmost 1 Thes. 2. 16. Rom. 11. 8. Mat. 23. 32. Or by iniquitie may be understood punishment for it as Psal. 31. 11. not come into thy justice that is not beleeve thy Gospell and so come to the justice of God which is by faith as the Scriptures shew Rom. 10. 3 c. Phil. 3. 9. Ioh. 12. 39 40. The Chaldee expounds it let them not enter into the Church of thy just ones Vers. 29. booke of the living or Booke of life wherein the just that live by saith are written that is let them be cut off from being any longer counted thy people or registred in the writing of the house of Israel as Ezek. 13. 9. Rom. 11. 20. Phil. 3. 2 3. Psal. 87. 6. Vers. 30. lift me up or set me on a high place that is safely defend me Vers. 32. better to that is more pleasing and acceptable a young bull so the Greeke explaineth the Hebrew phrase a bull a bullocke that is a bull which is but young or a bullock So Iudg. 6. 25. where the order is changed take the bullock of the bull that is the young bull or bullock Some understand it here of two better than bull or bullock that hath hornes Hebr. horneth that is brings forth or beareth hornes and parteth the hoofe for such were fittest for sacrifice but confession and thankes are more pleasing to God specially Christs obedience see Psal. 50. 13 14 15. and 40. 7. Vers. 33. the seekers or ye seekers of God to wit shall see it and your heart shall live yee shall have inward life joy and consolation See Psalme 22. 27. Vers. 34. his prisoners such as are persecuted and bound in prisons for his truth Thus Paul calleth himselfe the prisoner of Christ Ephes. 3. 1. Vers. 35. heavens the Chaldee saith Angels of Heaven and the inhabitants of the earth Vers. 36. save Sion that is his Church figured out by Sion and Iudah see Psal. 2. 6. and this building of Iudahs cities is by preaching of the Gospell 1 Cor. 3. 9 10. a figure of this worke was done by Iehoshaphat 2 Chron. 17. 9. 12 13. and Isaiah prophesieth the like Isa. 44. 26. PSAL. LXX David prayeth for speedy helpe to the shame of the wicked and joy of the godly To the Master of the Musicke a Psalme of David for to record O God for to deliver me Iehovah to mine helpe make haste Let them be abashed and ashamed that seeke my soule let them be turned backward and blush that delight mine evill Let them turne backe for a reward of their shame that say aha aha Let all that seeke thee be joyfull and rejoyce in thee and let them say continually magnified bee God they that love thy salvation And I poore afflicted and needy O God make haste to me thou art mine helpe and my deliverer Iehovah delay not Annotations TO record or to cause remembrance see Psal. 38. 1. Vers. 2. to deliver or to rid me free understand make haste or vouchsafe as is expressed in Psal. 40. 14. for this Psalme is the same in substance and almost in words with the end of that Psalme see the annotations there Vers. 3. that seeke my soule to make an end of it as Psal. 40. 15. Vers. 4. turne backe desolate or wasted as Psal. 40. 16. Vers. 5. be God in Psal. 40. 17. it is written be Iehovah Vers. 6. O God make haste to me for this in Psalm 40. 18. is the Lord thinketh on me Iehovah in Psal. 40. 18. my God PSAL. LXXI The Psalmist in confidence of faith and experience of Gods favour prayeth both for himselfe and against the enemies of his soule 14 He promiseth constancie 17 Prayeth for perseverance 19 Praiseth God and promiseth to doe it cheerefully IN thee Iehovah doe I hope for safety let me not be abashed for ever In thy justice rid thou me and deliver me incline thine eare unto me and save me Be thou to me for a rocke of habitation to enter continually thou hast commanded to save me for thou art my rocke and my munition My God deliver me out of the hand of the wicked out of the palme of the evill doer and the levened For thou art mine expectation Lord Iehovih my confidence from my child-hood By thee have I beene holden up from the wombe from my mothers bowels thou tookest me of thee is my praise continually As a wonder I am unto many but thou art my strong hope Let my mouth bee filled with thy praise all the day with thy glory Cast me not away at the time of old age when mine able strength faileth forsake not thou me For mine enemies speake of mee and they that observe my soule consult together Saying God hath forsaken him pursue and take him for there is none to reskue O God be not thou farre away from me my God make haste to mine helpe Let them bee abashed and consumed that are adversaries of my soule let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that
his bosome his armes as Esai 49. 22. or lap Vers. 8. we blesse you the Chaldee addeth and they answer them not we blesse you c. taking this latter branch to be the harvest mens answer as in Ruth 2. 4. PSAL. CXXX The Psalmist praying out of deepe afflictions professeth his hope and patience and exhorteth Israel to the like A Song of degrees OVt of the deepes doe I call unto thee Iehovah Lord heare my voyce let thine eares be attentive to the voyce of my supplications for grace If thou shouldest observe iniquities O Iah Lord who shall stand But with thee is forgivenesse that thou maist be feared I earnestly expect Iehovah my soule earnestly expecteth and for his word doe I hopefully wait My soule for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning watchmen for the morning Let Israel hopefully wait for Iehovah for with Iehovah there is mercy and with him is much redemption And he will redeeme Israel from all his iniquities Annotations DEeps or low places that is great calamities Psal. 69. 3. 15. with hearty deepe affections and lowlinesse of minde Vers. 3. shall stand or can subsist meaning no man can Vers. 6. watchmen or warders keepers Which the Chaldee explaineth thus more than they which observe the morning watch which they observe that they may offer the morning sacrifice for or to the morning Vers. 8. his or their iniquities see the note on Psal. 25. 22. PSAL. CXXXI David professeth his humilitie and exhorteth Israel to hope in God A Song of degrees of David IEhovah mine heart is not haughty neither are mine eyes lofty neither walke I in great matters and too marvellous for me If I have not composed and stilled my soule as a weaned child with his mother as a weaned child with me is my soule Let Israel hopefully wait for Iehovah from this time and for ever Annotations HAughty or lifted up with pride see Deut. 17. 20. Prov. 16. 5. 2 Chron. 32. 25 26. Psal. 101. 5. marvellous that is too hard for me high and above my reach as Psal. 139. 6. Vers. 2. If I have not that is Surely I have an oath whereof part is concealed see Psal. 95. 11. Ier. 49. 20. composed or put fit and in order The Chaldee expoundeth it If I have not put my hand on my mouth and silenced my soule till it might heare the words of the Law as a weaned child on his mothers brests c. stilled or made silent refraining it from noisome lusts as a weaned child that is meeke modest humble submissive simple c. See Mat. 18. 1 2 3 4. PSAL. CXXXII Davids care to bring home the Arke of God 8 His prayer at the removing thereof 11 The Lords oath and promises to David to the Church A Song of degrees IEhovah remember unto David all his affliction How he sware unto Iehovah vowed unto the Mightie one of Iakob If I enter into the tent of mine house If I goe up on the pallet of my beds If I give sleepe to mine eyes slumber to mine eie-lids Vntill I find a place for Iehovah dwelling places for the Mighty one of Iakob Loe we heard it was in Ephrathah we found it in the fields of the wood We will goe into his dwelling places we will bow downe our selves at the footstoole of his feet Arise Iehovah to thy rest thou and the Arke of thy strength Let thy Priests be cloathed with justice and let thy gracious Saints joyfully shout For thy servant Davids sake turne not away the face of thine Anointed Iehovah sware unto David truth he will not turne from it of the fruit of thy wombe will I set upon thy throne If thy sonnes keepe my Covenant and my Testimony that I shall teach them also their sonnes even to perpetuitie shall sit upon thy throne For Iehovah hath chosen Sion hath desired it for his seat This is my rest even to perpetuitie here will I sit for I have desired it Her victuals I wil blessing blesse her poore I wil satisfie with bread And her Priests I will cloath with salvation and her gracious Saints shall shouting shout joyfully There will I make the horne of David to bud I have ordained a lampe for mine Anointed His enemies will I cloath with shame and on him his crowne shall flourish Annotations VNto David or for him that is for good unto him or David with all his affliction So Psal. 137. 7. affliction or humiliation afflecting care for to have the Arke brought home unto him 1 Chron. 13. 1 2 3 12. and 15. 1 2. c. or to build God an house 2 Sam. 7. 1 2. Vers. 2. the Mightie one in Greeke the God of Iakob so called first by Iakob himselfe Gen. 49. 24. This title is also given to other things as Psal. 78. 25. and 22. 13. Vers. 3. If I enter that is surely I will not enter see Psal. 95. 11. and 89. 36. Compare this care of David with the contrary negligence of the people Hag. 1. 4. 2 Sam. 7. 1 2. mine house mentioned 1 Chron. 15. 1. Vers. 5. finde that is prepare or build so Act. 7. 46. Also in Psal. 36. 3. finding is accomplishing for Iehovah that is for his Arke to rest in which the Chaldee explaineth a place for the house of the Lords Sanctuarie dwelling places or habitacles see Psal. 43. 3. Vers. 6. it Gods Arke vers 8. Ephraâ—hah the country of Ephraim the citie Shilo where Gods house and Arke had long continued Iudg. 18. 31. and 21. 19. 1 Sam. 1. 3. therefore an Ephraimite is called an Ephrathite Iudg. 12. 5. the fields of the wood in the citie of Kirjath-jearim that is the Citie of the woods where the Arke was twentie yeares after it came home from the Philistines 1 Sam. 6. 21. and 7. 1 2. It was also called Balle the plaines of Iudah 2 Sam. 6. 2. Vers. 7. at the foot stoole or towards it meaning the Sanctuarie see Psal. 99. 5. Vers. 8. thy rest the Sanctuary builded for thy name as 1 Chr. 28. 2. 2 Chr. 6. 41. Arke or Chist Coffer w ch was made of Shittim or Cedar wood overlaid with plates of gold whose cover called the Mercie-seat was also of pure gold on which were two glorious Cherubs of gold from whence God gave his Oracle Exod. 37. 1 2 6 7. Num. 7. 89. In this Arke were the two Tables of the Law or Testimonie written with the finger of God Deut. 10. 3 4 5. This Arke is called Gods strength and glorie Psal. 78. 61. For Arke of thy strength the Chaldee saith the Arke wherein thy Law is Vers. 9. cloathed with justice that is let them justly and holily administer their Priests office So Iob speaking of his just administration saith I put on justice and it cloathed me my judgement was as a robe and crowne Iob 29. 14. Therefore the Priests had holy garments to administer in Exod. 28. 2 3. In 2 Chron. 6. 41. and after here in
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
shalt lye unto mee that is that thou wilt not lye and in Marke 8. 12. if a signe be given which is explained in Matt. 16. 4. a signe shall not be given Stirring is opposed unto quietnesse or sitting still and unto sleepe and rest Psal. 80. 3. and 35. 23. Dan. 11. 25. Zach. 2. 13. 4. 1. and the Lord is said then to stir up or awake when he delivereth his Church out of troubles Psalme 78. 65. 66. and the Church then stirreth up the Lord when it earnestly prayeth for such deliverance Psal. 44. 24. 25. The Chaldee Paraphrast and other Hebrewes understand it so here but apply it to the deliverance of Israel out of Aegypt which might not bee untill the time appointed of God and if we take it in this sense the daughters of Ierusalem are charged to suffer affliction for and with Christ in faith and patience unto the comming of the Lord Iam. 5. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 6. 7. and not to provoke him by murmuring or otherwise through feare and unbeleefe a figure wherof may be seene in Christs sleeping in the storme and the disciples waking him Marke 4. 37. 40. But it may be applyed unto the stirring and provoking of Christ by sinne for which he often departeth from his people and chasteneth their transgressions Exod. 23. 20. 21. Esay 59. 2. and 63. 10. that they should by no meanes grieve the holy Spirit of God Ephes. 4. 30. the Love understand my Love meaning Christ her beloved who is called Love for excellency sake as in Song 1. 4. righteousnesses were righteous persons because God is Love 1 Iohn 4. 8. most worthy to be loved and loving his most dearly So loves for lovers in Hos. 8. 9. Afterward the Spouse her selfe is called by this name Love in Song 7. 6. untill it please or untill he please speaking of Christ and being understood of stirring or provoking him by sinne it meaneth never for so the word untill often signifieth as Michal had no child untill the day of her death 2 Sam. 6. 23. that is she never had any and this iniquity shall not be purged from you till yee dye Esay 22. 14. and I will not leave thee untill I have done that which I have spoken unto thee Gen. 28. 15. and sundry the like Vers. 8. The voice Here the Spouse breaketh out and rejoyceth to heare the Bridegroomes voice and signifieth to her friends the comforts that she had thereby as it was her soules sicknesse and griefe when he withdrew himselfe and kept silence By the voice is meant the word of his grace the preaching of the Gospell which she knoweth to be his and receiveth with joy as Christs sheep are said to heare and to know the voice of the shepheard and not a strangers Iohn 10. 3. 4. c. In this sense he said before Pilate Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice Ioh. 18. 37. and they knew not the voices of the Prophets Acts 13. 27. that is their doctrines and to day if yee shall heare his voice harden not your hearts c. Heb. 3. 7. This voice is heard before his comming to prepare the hearers to receive him as Iohn the Baptist who prepared the way before Christ is called the Voice of a cryer c. Marke 1. 2. 3. behold he commeth A further degree of grace from him and comfort in her that she not onely heareth his voice but seeth him comming to save her as is promised in Esay 35. 4. By the preaching of the Gospell received with faith Christ himselfe commeth and is present with his people Ioh. 13. 20. Gal. 3. 1. And as the Church was sicke of love vers 5. so Christ here answereth to her desire fulfilling that which he promised If a man love me hee will keepe my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him Iohn 14. 23. leaping a similitude taken from the Roes and Harts whereunto Christ is likened in vers 9. which are swift in running and skip upon mounts hills and rockes as in Esay 35. 6. the lame man shall leape as an Hart. Hereby therefore Christs speed and readinesse to helpe is signified upon the mountaines that is openly and apparently to the eye of faith as in Nahum 1. 15. Behold upon the mountaines the feet of him that bringeth good tidings c. Spiritually by the mountaines and hils may be meant the Kingdomes and Nations of the world subdued unto Christ by the preaching of the Gospell Rev. 11. 15. Or it may be translated over the mountaines and over the hills passing over all impediments which might seeme to hinder him as the sinnes of his people the opposition of the world and the like So the adversaries of the Church are likened to a mountaine in Zach. 4. 7. Who art thou ô great mountaine before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plaine And by the preaching of the Gospell every mountaine and hill shall be made low Esay 40. 4. See also Esay 41. 15. and 42. 15. Habak 3. 6. Vers. 9. Like a Roe for swiftnesse 2 Sam. 2. 18. and for pleasantnesse Prov. 5. 19. The same is meant by the next similitude of the Fawn or yong Hart 2 Sam. 22. 34. Prov. 5. 19. fawne of the Hindes or of the Harts for the originall word implyeth both males and females and shee speaketh in the plurall number either because the Fawne is ingendred of both male and female which delight each in other or for excellency as Sol. Iarchi expoundeth it the Fawne of a choice Hinde or Hart. Here the Church sheweth the readinesse of Christ to helpe her as in verse 8. she saw him come leaping and skipping so by these two creatures most swift of â—cot she signifieth the speed hee maketh as in Chap. 8. 14. and the mutuall love and delight betweene them according to Prov. 5. 19. behind our wall This signifieth a more neere communion with Christ then when he was farther off leaping on the mountaines and yet not so neere but there was still a wall betweene her and him which parted them so the degrees of graces are here meant whereby Christ manifesteth his love to his Church not wholly at once but as he seeth good for us that by beholding and delighting in his goodnesse we may bee drawne to follow him calling us after him vers 10. His standing behind our wall if it bee referred to Christ himselfe may be understood of his incarnation when he dwelt in our house of clay as it is called in Iob 4. 19. and in our flesh appeared preached suffered c. to draw us after him into the kingdome of his Father as Iohn 1. â—4 the word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us and wee beheld his glory the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth If it be referred to the wall which God hath made for his Church it may meane his holy ordinances which in the time
which I For thee my Loved layd-up warily Annotations HOw beautifull are The Shulammitesse or Spouse of Christ is here admired and praysed for her graces wherewith God had furnished her and adorned her whole body the particulars whereof are described in other order then before in Chap. 4. and 6. for here her feet are first mentioned and then other parts upward unto her head This description seemeth to bee made by her friends that called upon her to returne Song 6. 13. For Solomon or Christ is spoken of as another or third person after in v. 5. and 9. feet with shoes or steps goings in shoes hereby is meant her obedient walking in the faith and Gospell of Christ whereby she being freed from the misery and bondage of sin made free by the truth as Ioh. 8. 32. stood fast and walked stedily in the liberty and grace of Christ Gal. 5. 1. not going barefooted as was the manner of captives and others in miserie Esay 20. 4. 2 Sam. 15. 30. but as God rehearsing his blessings upon his Church saith I shod thee with Tachash skin Ezek. 16. 10. so here the feet of his Spouse are shod with the preparation or stability of the Gospell of Peace Ephes. 6. 15. with the knowledge profession and obedience whereof she being firmely setled and defensed her feet and steps were now beautifull as the feet also of them that preach the Gospel of peace are said to bee beautifull Rom. 10. 15. bounteous princes daughter Hebrewes bath nadib that is daughter of the bountifull or of the Prince the Noble for Princes were stiled Bountifull or Benefactors Luke 22. 25. as being free liberall and willing to doe good unto others hereby is signified that shee was of noble race and ingenuous disposition ready and willing to serve the Lord and propagate the grace of his Gospell unto others as before Christ calleth them his willing or noble people Song 6. 12. And as a sonne or daughter of Belial meaneth one of wicked disposition Deuteronomie 13. 13. 1 Samuel 1. 16. and for a King to be the sonne of Nobles Eccles. 10. 17. is to bee of an ingenuous and noble disposition so to be a daughter of Nadib is to bee nobly and bounteously affected This title belongeth to such onely as beleeve in Christ which are borne not of bloods nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Iohn 1. 13. Wherefore when Christ was promised to reigne in justice it was sayd that then Nabal the foole or vile person should no more be called Nadib Liberall Noble or Bountifull Esay 32. 1. 5. joynts The originall word used onely in this place hath the signification of turning or going about and seemeth to meane the bones that turne and move in the hollow of the thighes these are likened to jewels or ornaments signifying the firme upright goodly and glorious stature gesture walking and conversation of this Princes daughter well beseeming the Gospell which she professeth being in fit orderly and due proportion as the Greeke version also implyeth artificer or faithfull craftsman in Hebrew A man of fidelity and skilfulnesse in his workmanship meaning here God or Christ for hee is the Artificer in heavenly things Hebrewes 11 10. and the Church with her gracious blessings is the worke of his hands Esay 60. 21. Verse 2. around goblet or a goblet or cup of roundnesse The Spouse being pâ—a sed before for her ready receiving of and holy stedfast walking in the Gospell of Christ is now further commended for her propagating the truth unto others likened to a mother conceiving and nourishing her children For Sion or Ierusalem named here the Shulammitesse Song 6. 13. is likened to a woman with childe travelling bringing forth children or a man childe and after noursing them with the breasts of her consolation Esay 66. 7. .11 So here first the navel by which the childe is nourished in the wombe is commended for the forme round as a goblet and for the nourishment which is as mixed liquor without scarcity wherewith the goblet is full and after her breasts with which the childe is nourished after it is brought forth are praised in verse 3. Thus Paul preaching the Gospell to the Churches is likened sometime to a father that begetteth sometime to a mother travelling in childbirth sometime to a nurse cherishing her children 1 Corinth 4. 15. Galat. 4. 19. 1 Thessalonians 2. 7. let there not want or there wanteth not or shall not want but the former is more patheticall as wishing a continuall supply of grace for nourishment of the children of Christ though a promise also is herewith implyed mixture that is liquor mixed and tempered and so made fit to refresh and nourish For they used to temper and mixe their wine either with water or milke to allay the heat or with spices to make it more comfortable So the wisedome of God is said to have mingled her wine Proverbes 9. 2. Christ dranke his wine with his milke Song 5. 1. and after here is mentioned spiced wine Song 8. 2. and mixture or mixed wine was sought for of drunkards Proverbes 23. 29. 30. Esay 5. 22. The navel therefore not wanting mixture signifieth the juice of grace abundantly supplyed of God for the nourishing and cherishing of his yong children in the body of his Church so that both mother and infant are in health and good plight not destitute or any good even as to them that remember and keep Gods Law it is promised that health shall bee to their navel and marrow or moystning to their bones Proverbes 4. 18. an heape of wheat The supply and growth of grace â—s here further commended by likening her bâ—â—ly to an heape of wheat for in their harvest they gathered their come into floores where it was stacked up on heapes and after threshed Ruth 3. 7. Hag. 2. 16. To such a stacke or heape is her belly resembled signifying that her spirituall harvest being come she was ready to bring forth store of good yssue as wheat fit for the Lords Granary set about with lilies As the corne-floores in Israel being in the open fields were hedged about for safe defence so the belly of Christs Spouse bigge and ready to bring forth fruit unto him is beset as with an hedge of Lilies for her further comfort and glory So that her way was not hedged up with thornes as was the Harlots Hosea 2. 5. 6. but set about with Lilies denoting the graces wherewith the Spouse her selfe and those about her are invironed The Iewes applying these things to their Church estate in their Chaldee paraphrase understand by the Navel the Chiefe of their Synedrion or high Councill governing all as the childe is nourished by the navell in the mothers wombe the round goblet to signifie his cleare doctrine of the Law as the round moone so that the words of the Law are not wanting from his mouth as the waters of the great River running out
mindes of his people are inflamed is such as cannot be quenched with any calamities And thus it is said Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword as it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as sheepe of slaughter nay in all these things wee 〈◊〉 more then conquerours through him that loved us 〈◊〉 I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor 〈…〉 nor Principalities nor powers nor things present 〈◊〉 things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to separate us from the love of 〈◊〉 which is in Christ Iesus our Lord Rom. 8. 〈…〉 all the substance or all the riches wealth 〈…〉 ver gold c. that is in his house 〈◊〉 they would contemne it that is it would utterly or altogether be contemned or he would wholly be contemned As the love betweene Christ and his Church cannot be separated being united by the Holy Ghost so neither can love nor other grace of God be bought for money but is the free gift of God bestowed on whom he pleaseth Act. 8. 18. 19. 20. Rom. 9. 11. 16. So wisedome cannot be go 〈…〉 for gold neither shall silver bee weighed for the price thereof c. Ioh. 28. 15. 19. Prov. 8. 11. 19. Vers. 8. Wee have a little sister The godly here consult about a new Church arising whom they call a sister in respect of the unitie of faith little or small as being yong newly converted and nothing populous without breasts as having yet no stablished ministerie for such is the state of the Churches in their beginning as appeareth by Act. 14. 23. Tit. 1. 5. so that her children could not sucke out the sincere milke of the word and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations 1 Pet. 2. 2. Esa. 66. 11. for she was not yet come to the estate of Israel whose breasts were fashioned and the Lord entred into covenant with her and shee became his Ezek. 16. 7. 8. when she shall be spoken of or wherein speech shal be of her when the fame of her calling and conversion shal come abroad what furtherance shall we yeeld to increase settle stablish her in the truth This sheweth the duty of love from one Church to another in communicating their graces each to other and praying one for another See an example in Act. 11. 19. 22. 23. This Hebrew phrase of speech to be had of her or in her may be understood two waies for or against her for her when treatie shall be of her espousals unto Christ thus David sent and spake of or with Abigail to take her to him to wife 1 Sam. 25. 39. against her as the people spake against God and against Moses Numb 21. 5. and Princes speake against me Psal. 119. 23. For no sooner doe a people turne to the Lord but the wicked doe oppose in word and worke And thus the Hebrewes in their Chaldee Paraphrase expound it here What shall wee doe for our sister in the day when the nations shall speake to goe up against her unto warre Vers. 9. If she be is wall The answere to the thing proponed made as some thinke by Christ to which the Chaldee paraphrast agreeth saying Michael the Prince of Israel will say or by other her sister churches desirous to procure her good a wall that is strong and well grounded in the truth and so become a citie which is often described by walles gates barres c. 2 Chron 8. 5. and 14. 7. Revel 21. 12. Spiritually it meaneth her faith and hope of salvation in Christ grounded on the doctrine of the twelve tribes of Israel and twelve Apostles of Christ Rev. 21. 14. 19. as Thou shalt call thy walles salvation Esa. 66. 18. and we have a strong city salvation will God appoint for walles and bulworkes Esa. 26. 1. Moreover when God signified the strength and courage of his Prophet against their enemies he faith I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall and they shall fight against thee shall not prevaile â—er 15. 20. wee will b 〈…〉 d Here by we may be implied the Trinitie in the Godhead as Gen. 1. 26. Song 〈◊〉 11. or we may meane Christ inwardly effectually by his grace and his people her sisters outwardly and ministerially by the word of the Gospell a pallace or 〈…〉 le a tower a faire and orderly building such as were wont est times to bee set on strong walles of cities and this being of silver noteth the puritie excellencie and durablenesse of this pallace adorned with the graces of Gods word and Spirit that so she might be builded for an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2. 22. and bee able to resist the forces of her enemies and if she be a doore if shee goe forward in the faith and practise of the Gospell that she be not onely built up as a wall but as a gate and doore fully edified as at the repairing of Ierusalem when they sanctified the gates and set up the doores of it Nehem. 3. which gates doores barres c. were for the safeguard of the inhabitants and shewed their care to resist and keepe out the enemies as appeareth by the contrary in Ier. 49. 31. as also to open that the righteous nation which keepeth the truths may enter in Esa. 26. 2. Psal. 118. 20. Therefore Angels are at the gates of the heavenly Citie to conduct Gods people into it Revel 21. 12. 27. and 22. 14. wee will inclose her or we will fence her about with board of Cedar which is faire strong and durable and of sweet savour of such the Temple was builded 1 King 6. 15. 18. V. 10. I am a wall or I became a wall that is I grew up and waxed strong in the faith love of Christ. The little sister sheweth her readinesse to receive and increase in the doctrine of the Gospell my breasts as towers my breasts are fashioned Ezek. 16. 7. the ministerie of the word established in mee to nourish up children unto Christ. The similitude of towers noteth also the strength power and glory of the administration of the Gospell and the open preaching of it out of pulpits of high places that all may heare For Migdal a towre is used for a pulpit in Neh. 8. 4. in his eyes in Christs sight findeth peace We all in our naturall corruption are enemies to God Rom. 5. 10. but being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ Rom. 5. 1. for the worke of righteousnesse is peace and the effect of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever Esa. 32. 17. and this peace is injoyed by the Holy Ghost Rom. 8. 6. 9. and it is opposed to all the troubles tentations persecutions and afflictions in this life and world Ioh. 16. 33. and is that which guardeth our hearts and mindes
both against many countries and against great kingdomes of warre and of evill and of pestilence The Prophet which prophesieth of peace when the word of the Prophet shall come to passe then shall the Prophet be knowne that the Lord hath truly sent him Ier. 28. 8 9. Of this matter the Hebrewes say Every Prophet that riseth up among us and saith that the Lord hath sent him it is not necessarie that he doe a signe like one of the signes of Moses our master or like the signes of Elias and Elisaeus that there should be in them a change of the custome of the world But his signe shall be that he foretell things that are to come in the world and so confirme his words Deut. 18. 21 22. Therefore when there commeth a man fit for prophesie with the ambassage of the Lord and he commeth not to adde unto or to diminish from the Law but to serve the Lord by the commandement of the Law they must not say to him divide the sea for us or raise up the dead or the like and afterward we will beleeve in thee but they must say unto him If thou be a Prophet foretell us of things that are to come and when â—e telleth wee must wait to see whether the things come to passe or no and if there faile but even a little thing it is evident that he is a false Prophet But if all his words doe come to passe he is to be esteemed of us faithfull And they trie him many times if his words be all of them found faithfull loe this is a true Prophet as it is said of Samuel And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was faithfull to be a Prophet of the Lord 1 Sam. 3. 20. But doe not the observers of times and the diviners foretell â—â—ings that doe come to passe What difference then is there betweene the Prophet and them Diviners and such like persons some of their words are confirmed and some are not according to that which is writteÌ„ in Esay 47. 13. Let them stand up now and save thee which view the heavens which gaze on the starres which make knowne by the moneths of the things which shall come upon thee Hee saith of the things and not all the things And it may be that nothing at all of that which they speake is confirmed but they erre in all as it is written in Esay 44. 25. That frustrateth the signes of the Liers and maketh Diviners fooles But the Prophet all his words are confirmed as it is written in 2 King 10. 10. There shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the Lord. Also he saith in Ier. 23. 28. The Prophet that hath a dreame let him tell the dreame and he that hath my word let him speake my word faithfully what is the chaffe to the wheat saith the Lord As if he should say the words of the diviners and their dreames are as chaffe wherewith a little wheat is mixed but the word of the Lord is as wheat wherewith there is no chaffe at all And of this thing the Scripture assureth us and saith that the words which diviners make knowne to the heathens they doe lye the Prophet maketh knowne unto you the words of truth that you have no need of soothsayers diviners and such like Deut. 18. 10. 15. Loe thou art taught that a Prophet riseth not up unto us but to make knowne unto us things which shall come to passe in the world as plentie or famine warres or peace and such like Tea even the needs of a particular person doth he make knowne unto him as Saul when he had lost a losse went to the Prophet to tell him where it was 1 Sam. 9. Such things as these doth the Prophet tell but maketh no other Law neither addeth to the commandement or taketh ought from it Threatnings of vengeance which a Prophet denounceth as when he saith such a man shall die or such a yeare there shall be famine or warres or the like if his words stand not we may not for this deny his prophesie nor say behold hee spake and it came not to passe for the holy blessed God is long suffering and much in mercie and reponteth of the evill and it may be that they have repented and be spareth them like the men of Niniveh or tha thee defeâ—reth it as hee did Ezekiahs death 2 King 20. But if he promise them good and say it shall be 〈◊〉 or thus and the good thing come not which hee â—â—ath spoken it is certaine that he is a false prophet for every good thing which God decreeth though upon condition he changeth not c. Loe thou art taught that in words of good things onely is a Prophet tried As Ieremie said in his answer to Ananias when Ieremie prophesied of evill and Ananias of good 〈◊〉 said unto Ananias if my words stand not it shall not appeare by this that I am a false prophet but if thy words stand not it shall be knowne that thou art a falseâ—rophet as it is written The Prophet which speaketh peace when the word of the Prophet shall come to passe the Prophet shall bee knowne that the Lord hath sent him in truth Ier. 28. 9. A Prophet unto whom another Prophet beareth witnesse that hee is a Prophet loe he is a Prophet out of doubt and needeth no further triall For behold Moses bare witnesse unto Ioshua and all Israel beleeved in him before he shewed any signe And so throughout all generations the Prophet whose prophesie is knowne and they have found his words faithfull time after time or that a Prophet hath testified of him and he hath walked in the wayes of prophesie it is unlawfull to make question afterward and to suspect his prophesie lest it be untrue It is unlawfull also to tempt him more than is meet c. for it is written Yee shall not tempt the Lord your God as yee tempted him in Massah where they said Is the Lord amongst us or not Deut. 6. 16. Exod. 17. 7. But after it be knowne that he is a Prophet they must beleeve and know that the Lord is among them and not suspect or make further question as it is written And they shall know that there hath beene a Prophet amongst them Ezek. 2. 5. Maimony in Iesude hatorah chap. 10. By this testimony of the Iewes wee have enough to answer them concerning our Lord Iesus that he was a true Prophet sent of God though they did put him death For as he came not to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to fulfil Mat. 5. 17. so had he the witnesse of Moses and of all the Prophets Act. 3. 22. 24. Ioh. 1. 45. and Moses and Elias appeared talking with him Mat. 17. 2 3. so that if they had beleeved Moses they would have beleeved him Ioh. 5. 46. And Iohn Baptist whom all men held to be a Prophet Mat. 21. 26. hee bare witnesse unto the
truth concerning Christ Ioh. 1. 15. and 5. 33. Hee was also approved of God among them by miracles wonders and signes Act. 2. 22. so that the workes which the Father gave him to finish which also he did they bare witnesse of him and the Father himselfe bare witnesse of him Ioh. 5. 36 37. yet they like an evill and adulterous generation condemned by these their owne canons beleeved not in him but tempted God and sought after a signe Mat. 12. 38 39. and though the men which saw his miracles said This is of a truth that Prophet which should come into the world Ioh. 6. 14. yet that faithlesse generation beleeved not but said What signe shewest thou that wee may see and beleeve thee Ioh. 6. 30. But though he had done so many miracles before them yet they beleeved not neither could they beleeve because that Esaias said Hee hath blinded their eyes and hardned their heart c. Ioh. 12. 37. 39 40. in presumption that is presumptuously the Greeke translateth in ungodlinesse the Chaldee in wickednesse not be afraid either for his threatning words or for his signes nor afraid to put him to death And thus the Hebrewes explaine it saying Whosoever with draweth himselfe from killing a false Prophet because of his dignitie for that he walketh in the wayes of prophesie behold he transgresseth against this prohibition THOV SHALT NOT BE AFRAID OF HIM And so he that withdraweth himselfe frō teaching cōcerning him what he is guilty of or that dreadeth and feareth for his words c. And they judge not a false prophet but in the judgment hall of 71. Magistrates Maim treat of Idolatrie ch 5. s. 9. CHAP. XIX 1 The cities of refuge 4 The privilege of them for the manslayer 11 The wilfull murtherer must die 14 The land-mark may not be removed 15 Two witnesses at the least must stablish every matter 16 A false witnesse must be diligently inquired into and done unto as he had thought to doe unto his brother WHen Iehovah thy God hath cut off the nations whose land Iehovah thy God giveth unto thee and thou possessest them and dwellest in their cities and in their houses Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land which Iehovah thy God giveth unto thee to possesse it Thou shalt prepare for thee the way and shalt divide into three parts the coast of thy land which Iehovah thy God shall give thee to inherit and it shall be that every man-slayer may flee thither And this is the case of the man-slayer which shall flee thither and live who so smiteth his neighbour unwittingly and he hated him not in time past As when he commeth with his neighbour into a wood to hew trees and his hand fetcheth a stroke with an axe to cut downe a tree and the iron slippeth from the wood and findeth his neighbour and hee die he shall flee unto one of these cities and live Lest the avenger of the bloud pursue after the man-slayer while his heart is hot and overtake him because the way is long and smite him in soule and he had not the judgement of death because he hated him not in time past Therefore I command thee saying Thou shalt separate for thee three cities And if Iehovah thy God enlarge thy coast as he hath sworne unto thy fathers and give unto thee all the land which he hath spoken to give unto thy fathers If thou shalt keepe all this commandement to do it which I command thee this day to love Iehovah thy God and to walke in his wayes all dayes then thou shalt adde three cities moe for thee beside these three That innocent bloud be not shed within thy land which Iehovah thy God giveth unto thee for an inheritance and so blouds be upon thee But if a man be a hater of his neighbour and lie in wait for him and rise up against him and smite him in soule that he die and fleeth unto one of these cities Then the Elders of his citie shall send and take him thence and shall give him into the hand of the avenger of the bloud and he shall die Thine eye shall not spare him and thou shalt put away innocent bloud from Israel and it shall goe well with thee Thou shalt not remove thy neighbours limit which the first fathers have limited in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit in the land which Iehovah thy God giveth unto thee to possesse it One witnesse shall not rise up against a man for any iniquitie or for any sinne in any sinne that he sinneth at the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses shall a word be stablished When an unrighteous witnesse shall rise up against a man to testifie revolt against him Then both the men betweene whom the controversie is shall stand before Iehovah before the Priests and the Iudges which shall be in those dayes And the Iudges shall make diligent inquisition and behold if the witnesse be a false witnesse and hath testified a falshood against his brother Then shall yee doe unto him as hee had thought to have done unto his brother and thou shalt put away the evill from the midst of thee And the residue shall heare and feare and shall not adde to doe any more such an evill thing as this in the midst of thee And thine eye shall not spare soule for soule eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot Annotations THou shalt separate in Ios. 20. 7. he useth the word sanctified in Num. 35. 11. shall appoint Here Moses explaineth the sixt commandement for some speciall lawes concerning it three cities besides those three which Moses had separated without the river Deut. 4. 41 43. These three cities were Kedesh Shechem and Hebron Ios. 20. 7. They were all cities of the Levites see Num. 35. 6. in the midst that is within thy land as in the midst of the citie Ier. 52. 25. is the same that within the citie 2 King 25. 19. See also the notes on Gen. 2. 9. This is spoken because there were no cities of refuge but in the land which Israel possessed See Num. 35. 2. Vers. 3. shalt prepare Of this it is said The senate or Magistrates in Israel were bound to prepare the wayes to the cities of refuge to make them fit and broad and to remove out of them all stumbling blocks and offences and they suffered not any hill or dale to bee in the way nor waters streame but they made a bridge over it that nothing might binder him that fled thither And the bredth of the way to the cities of refuge was no lesse than 32. cubits And at the partitions of wayes they set up in writing REFVGE REFVGE that the man-stayer might know and turne thitherward On the 15. of the moneth Adar or Februarie every yeare the Magistrates sent out messengers to prepare the wayes c. Maimony treat of Murder chap. 8. sect 5 6.