open his mouth boldly Ephes 6.19 and if we read as it is in the English text vtterly it declareth that hee had not such a great boldenesse to speake as were to bee wished for I wayte vz. with diligence and patience for thy iudgments vz. to bee executed vppon the wicked in iustice and vppon thy children in mercy the worde iudgementes being vsed here for the promises which God hath made conteining either the punishments of the vngodly or his mercies to his children Sée verse 39. of this Psalme Verse 44. So vz. by this meanes when thou shalt continue with mée the woorde of trueth shall I alway keepe vz. through thy goodnes and strength thy lawe vz. which thou hast prescribed for mee to walke in for euer and euer the Prophet meaneth that through Gods strength hée shall continue in the knowledge and practise of Gods woorde all the dayes of his life Verse 45. And I vz. thy poore and vnworthy seruaunt will walke vz. through thy mercy and goodnesse meaning by walking that hee woulde liue and bée conuersaunt amongest men at libertye i. in playne and easie wayes or in great and broade wayes or as a man woulde say in the kinges high way which Saint Iames chapter 2.8 calleth the royall lawe meaning also that he would walke without feare of daunger as they doe most commonly which are in a kingly or broad way for I séeke vz. with an vnfeigned heart and continually thy preceptes i. the vnderstanding of them and obedience to them Ver. 46. I will speake also vz. fréely boldly and plainely of thy testimonies i. of thy lawe and the pointes and matters therein propounded before kinges i. mighty men of the earth and magistrates q.d. I will doe it in deede and that not only before inferiour persons and in their sight and hearing but euen before them who for their greatnes are wont to stoppe vp other mens mouthes and command thē silence Surely it is a good token that men haue well profited in Gods word when men are armed against all terrors of men and will not bee ashamed vz. to speake of it fréely and boldly Verse 47. And my delight shal be vz. continually and all the daies of my life in thy commandements i. in thy lawe by which thou hast commanded mee what I should do and what I should leaue vndone which I haue loued vz. not in words onely but in déede and trueth and with an vnfeigned loue Ver. 48. Mine hands also will I lift vp vnto thy commandements q.d. I will stretch out my handes that I may readily receiue turne ouer and search out thy commaundements and this similitude declareth the earnestnes of his desire because that looke whatsoeuer we desire to haue we do straine our selues to take it and lay holde of it by stretching out our hands which I haue loued sée ver 47. and I will meditate in thy statutes sée ver 23.27 of this Psalme Do. Ver. 41. Teacheth vs that Gods promise is a sure grounde vnto vs of his loue and our saluation Ver. 42. Teacheth vs that grounded perswasion out of the word maketh vs bold to speake euen in the face of our aduersaries Ver. 43. Teacheth vs that there can no greater punishment be laid vpon vs in this life then to lacke Gods word also that we should in all cases with patience tary the Lords leasure Ver. 44. Teacheth vs to indeuour what in vs lyeth continually to keepe Gods lawe Verse 45. Teacheth vs that he walketh simply and surely that walketh according to the prescript rule of Gods worde Ver. 46. Teacheth vs that no feare of men nor shame of our selues should cause vs to conceale or kéepe backe anye part of Gods trueth Ver. 47. Teacheth vs vnfeignedly to loue and continually to delight in the lawe and word of GOD. Ver. 48. Teacheth vs with earnestnes and readines to labour to apprehende Gods trueth and to holde it fast when wée haue obteyned it also to vse not only hearing and reading of Gods word but dayly meditation therein Zain Di. THe Prophet in this vii part doth first pray vnto God that hee might in himselfe effectually féele the accomplishment of Gods promises and this conteyned ver 49. Secondly he sheweth what great comfort and consolation he had in the word of God and by the keeping thereof and this is ver 50.52.54.55.56 Lastly hee shewed that no scornes of the wicked woulde turne him away from God and his truth and that he recompensed that euil of theirs with this good fearing greatly the great iudgements which for the contempt of God and his trueth should fal vpon them ver 51.53 Se. Ver. 49. Remember i. declare by effect that thou doest remember Sée Gen. 8.1 the promise made i. the promise which thou hast made to thy seruaunt i. to me thy seruant he speaketh of himselfe in the third person wherein i. in which promise thou hast caused mee to trust vz. not onely because thou hast made and giuen me the same promise but also hast commaunded mee to take sure hold thereof The Prophet here desireth God in déede to perfourme that which he had promised him whereby hee sheweth that though God séemed to be farre off yet he would stay himselfe vpon his worde Ver. 50. It i. thy promise made vnto me is my comfort i. doth greatly comfort me in my trouble i. when I am in any trouble whatsoeuer when I thinke of it this is as it were the speach of his heart receiuing singular comfort by meditations in Gods promises for thy promise vz. made vnto me in thy word hath quickened me i. hath not onely strengthened and confirmed mee at all times but euen then when I séemed to be nigh vnto death or as it were dead already it did after a sort restore me to life Ver. 51. The proude vz. men of the worlde meaning thereby the wicked and vngodly whome hee calleth proude because they did despise God himselfe and treade vnder foote as it were all his holy doctrine haue had me excéedingly in derision i. haue scoffed and ieared at me not onely very much but also continually for that word excéedingly noteth also that day by day and one day after an other they did assault him with newe and fresh combats of scoffes and taunts yet q.d. for all that they haue done I haue not declined i. gone aside or astray from thy law vz. which thou hast prescribed for me to walke in q.d. no floutes or taunts of men could pull mee from the obedience of thy trueth Ver. 52. I remēbred i. I called to mynd in my meditations and déepely thought vpon thy iudgements i. such examples as wherby thou shewedst thy selfe to be iudge of the world of old i. which thou diddest and madest manifest in former ages hee meaneth that he thought vppon such iudgements as God in former times had declared vnto the worlde for iudgements read ver 43. of this Psalme vnderstanding thereby Gods punishments vppon the wicked and his mercy towards
and he testifyeth by this worde so often vsed in this Psalme that euen in the middest of life we are dead vnlesse we be quickened and vpholden by the power of God according to thy iudgement vz. pronounced in thy word or we may take iudgement to be put for the word it selfe which declareth vnto vs Gods goodnesse he alludeth no doubt to the office of an earthly iudge whose duty cōsisteth in these ij points to absolue and lose some and to pronounce the sentēce of condēnation vpon other some in which sence also we say in the cōmon cōfession of our fayth that Christ our sauiour shal come from heauen to iudge the quick and the dead Ver. 150. They draw neare vz. to me euen to persecute hurte and destroy me that follow after malice i. that pursue the mischieuous and wicked attempts which they themselues in their own malice had maliciouslye and wickedly deuised against me and are far from thy law i. they care not either for the sight hearing or knowledge of it thus he giueth two properties to know the wicked by the first is that they are malicious the second which indéed is the welspring of al mischiefe they despise Gods law Ver. 151. Thou arte neare O Lord vz. to al thine euen to aid succour them in their distresses for al thy commaundements are true that word for would better be turned and and he meaneth that not only the words wherwith gods commandements are expressed but euen the very things commanded therein are iust true holy Verse 152. I vz. my selfe haue knowne vz. euen by mine own practise and experience long time i. not only of late but sundry times heretofore whiche I will neuer forget by thy testimonies i. by thy word that thou hast established them for euer i. that thou hast ordained that it should abide firm and stable for euer and euer sée ver 89 of this Psalm and verse 144. Verse 145 teacheth vs that in all our supplications praiers to the Lord Do. our hart and our words should concur consent together Verse 146 teacheth vs that the former experience of Gods goodnesse in hearing our praiers shoulde imbolden vs both to pray and to hope to receaue the like Verse 147 teacheth vs euen to breake our sléepes to giue our selues to prayer and calling vppon the name of GOD. Verse 148 teacheth vs to be continually diligente and carefull in the meditation and studye of Gods worde Verse 149 teacheth vs that Gods frée mercy is the first cause of the graunting of al our requests Ver. 150 doth liuely paynt out the nature and disposition of the wicked and vngodly Verse 151 teacheth vs that the Lord is neuer absent from those that loue and feare him Verse 152 teacheth vs that to know the assurednesse of Gods worde and to haue felt by proofe the certainty thereof are two notable proppes of our fayth and hope Resch Di. IN this part as in the former the Prophet continueth his prayers to almighty God vsing certaine arguments to induce the Lord to graunt him his requests as first his own misery affliction and gréefe verse 153 154 158. secondlye the desperate estate of the wicked and the greate heape of his enemies 155 157. Thirdlye the great loue mercy and truth of the Lord verse 156 159 160. Se. Verse 153. Behold mine affliction i. how great the affliction is which I presently indure not that the Prophet thought the Lord did not beholde it but because he would haue him by effect to declare that he did regard and consider it and deliuer me vz. out of the same for I haue not forgotten vz. as the wicked men doe verse 139 but I haue thought vpon it to doe it thy lawe i. thy worde as sundrye times before Ver. 154. Pleade my cause vz. against mine aduersaries that would oppresse me sée Psalme 35. verse 1. and verse 122 of this Psalme It is as much as if he should desire the Lord to defende him and his case and deliuer mée vz. from them that would oppresse me as ver 134 sée also for this phrase ver 153. quickē me according vnto thy word sée verse 25 of this Psal Verse 155. Saluation i. helpe and deliueraunce out of daunger as Psalm 3 8 is farre from the wicked i. they shall haue no parte or portion of it and this he speaketh specially of his aduersaries who defended an vniust cause against him because they séeke not vz. vnfeignedlye and from a good harte thy statutes i. thy worde and that to know and to do them Ver. 156. Great are thy tender mercyes O Lord vz. towards thy sonnes and seruaunts Sée Psalme 86 5 13 15. quicken me according to thy iudgements sée verse 149 of this Psalme Verse 157. My persecutors and mine oppressors i. those that persecute and oppresse me are manye vz. in number and great in power yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies q.d. for all that I leaue not the loue and obedience of thy truth sée verse 110. of this Psalm Ver. 158. I saw vz. euen with mine eyes meaning that he did certainly know the naughtinesse of the wicked men the transgressors vz. of thy law for sinne is the transgression and breache of Gods lawe 1. Iohn 3 4 and was gréeued vz. with them and at them for their sinnes sake sée before verse 53 136 139. because they kepte not thy worde i. because they had no care eyther to know it or doe it Sée verse 136. Verse 159. Consider O Lorde the Prophet speaketh this not as though he doubted whether god knew it yea or no but to intreat the Lord by effects to declare the care that he had of him how I loue thy precepts i. how much I loue them sée ver 97 113 127 and sundry other places of this Psalm quicken me according to thy louing kindnesse this may stand vs in stéed of an exposition of that which was sayd before 149 156 if that bée not plaine ynough as that he should vnderstand by iudgements Gods promises and mercies in which sence also the word is vsed in sundry places of scripture Ver. 160. The beginning of thy word is truth i. thy worde hath bin true euen since the beginning and al the iudgements of thy righteousnesse i. all thy iust and righteous iudgements indure for euer the Prophets purpose is in this verse to note that Gods word is most certain faithful stedfast and durable Ver. 153 teacheth vs Do. that euen our very affections are good matters to moue the Lord to haue mercy vpon vs. Verse 154 teacheth vs whether we haue mās ayd or no yet we should continually hang vpon the Lord and pray vnto him for our iust defence euery maner of way Ver. 155 teacheth vs that a very cōtempt of Gods word which the wicked vse is a seale vnto Gods children that no parte or péece of Gods fauour belongeth vnto them Ver. 156 doth notably set out the aboūdant riches infinit treasure
a straunger another reason brought to moue God to mercy taken from his miserable estate sée 1. Chron. 29.5 Psal 119.19 where you shall haue almost the same wordes as all my Fathers he meaneth of the faythfull and godly The sence of this verse is q.d. Hearken O Lord vnto my prayers by which I pray thée that I may be deliuered from this great gréefe wherein I am I aske this at thy hands not that I am very desirous of this life but because I féele my selfe vnable of my selfe to abide such torments for I am with thée or before thée or thou being witnesse of the matter a straunger on the earth neither doe I acknowledge my countrie to be here wherein I follow my Fathers Abraham Isaac Iaakob c. who because they tended towards thée were not taken with this Worlde wherein they were conuersant but vsed themselues as straungers in another countrie hauing alwayes a minde to their home Ver. 13. From me i. from plaguing me so gréeuously my strength vz. decayed and as it were consumed thorow gréefe and vexation before I go hence vz. out of this world meaning before I dye and be not vz. aliue here on the earth amongst men Do. Ver. 1. It is good to striue to the brideling of our spéech speciallye in the presence of the wicked who will insult ouer vs if we slippe in our wordes Ver. 2. It is a hard matter to abstaine from extremities for if we are not too muche giuen to babling we be ouerflow tongued to good thinges Ver. 3. Impaciencye must be fought vgainst ver 4. Curiositie striuing to know that which doth not appertain to vs must be brideled ver 5.6 Describe the vanity shortnes of mans life and the vncertainty of his actions ver 7. God only is to be trusted vnto Ver. 8. Prayer for deliueraunce from sinne punishments due thereto would be often made Ver. 9. We should be well content with whatsoeuer God doeth Ver. 10. We are not able to indure the least of Gods punishments ver 11. Setteth out two things Gods iustice in correcting and mans sinne that pulleth correction and punishment from God Ver. 12. God in tyme of greatest affliction must be most earnestly and hartily called vpon Ver 13. If God with-holde not his wrath we shall all be consumed for our sinnes Psalme 40. THis Psalme may be deuided into thrée parts Di. In the first the Prophet declareth what great mercies the Lord had shewed to him and what he will doe for them that trust in him from verse 1. to the end of the fourth In the second he sheweth the infinitenesse of Gods workes and his owne readinesse to serue the Lorde shewing howe he had published Gods goodnes and mercy from ver 5. to the end of the tenth In the third part he prayeth for his owne deliueraunce wishing also as the ouerthrow of the vngodly so the prosperity of the good and faithful ones from ver 11. to the end of the Chapter The title is expounded before ver 1. For the Lord i. for him Se. and for help frō him inclined to me i. shewed himself fauourable as they do that bow towards one Ver. 2. Horrible pit i. pit full of feare and horror meaning by that spéech most fearefull and great daungers mirie clay by these wordes he noteth both the greatnesse of his daunger and the continuance therein by the name claye which is both weighty and also wil cleaue fast to sée Psalme 69.2 Set my féete vpon the Rock i. hath placed me where I may be safe from al iniurie meaning a most safe place ordered my goings vz. in such sorte that I am sure from stumbling or falling Verse 3. Hath put into my mouth i. hath giuen mee an occasion a new song of praise i. newly to sing a song of praise vnto him or take new song for a singular and exquisite song sée Psalme 33.3 Many shall sée it i. many shall know the benefites that God hath bestowed on me and feare vz. God the giuer thereof Ver. 4. Maketh the Lord his trust i. that trusteth in him regardeth not i. maketh little or no account of sée Psalme 15.4 as thorow their force to be brought to feare them more then God the proude vz. those that boast themselues of the things they haue turne aside vz. from the truth to lies i. lying imaginations as before Psalme 4.2 Verse 5. He ascrybeth to Gods workes not only wonderfulnes but innumerablenesse in respecte of man count in order no nor yet out of order because they are incomprehensible and infinit to thée vz. or before thée that art the only dealer therein thy thoughts this the Prophet attributeth to God that thereby he might the more easily set out Gods wonderfull affection and loue towardes vs and ouer vs. Ver. 6. Sacrifice and offring betwéene these two words I make this difference that Sacrifice respecteth sinne offrings and the other voluntarye and fréewill offrings meaning by these two all other kinds whatsoeuer thou diddest not desire vz. in respect of obedience as 1. Samuel 15.22 for otherwise God regardeth them as parts and péeces of his seruice which he himselfe prescribed but when hipocrites by cold ceremonies would thinke to appease god without true godlinesse then doth the Lord reiect them as Psalme 50.8.9 c. for mine eares hast thou prepared or as Immanuel readeth hast thou boare◠through If you take the Geneua Text there the note is good if you followe Immanuel then he meaneth acceptation and taking of him to be his faithfull seruaunt this is applyed to Christ Heb. 10.5 Verse 7. Then sayde I lo I come vz. readilye and willingly when I vnderstoode thy will in the roales of thy booke i. in the law and this he speaketh according to the Iewes both in time heretofore and at this day who writ in parchment or paper and afterwardes role them vp because they will longer last roaled then folded written of mee i. concerning mée Verse 8. Thy Lawe is within my harte i. I doe earnestlye and from the bottome of my hart reuerence imbrace and loue thy lawe sée Philip. 1.8 Verse 9. Thy righteousnesse i. howe iust and good thou art in the performaunce of thy promises Refrayne my lippes vz. from declaring that O Lord thou knowest vz. that this is true that I speake and that I vtter it from my hart Verse 10. Is verye well expounded in the Geneua note Verse 11. He beséecheth the Lord to shewe his mercye and truth towards him and to make him by effects to féele the same Verse 12. Conteyneth a reason why the Lord should shew him mercy because hee is in suche great affliction haue compassed mée vz. on euery side within and without my sinnes i. both my sinnes and the punishmentes that lye vppon mée for the same sée Psalme 32.4 Psalme 38.2.3.4 and hée meaneth by that whiche followeth that they pressed him so downe that hée was not able to lift vp his heade or as a man
seruaunts that whiche thou haste graciously promised are the stablishment of thy throne i. are such as vphold and magnifye thy kingdome vsing throne as verse 4. of this Psalme I suppose he speaketh of God according to mens manners who haue certayne supporters as it were of their armes or of their kinglye Charrets sée 1. Kings 10 18 19 20 mercy and truth i. grace and faythfull performaunce of thy promises which procéedeth from grace goe before thy face i. are continually with thée and in thy presence Ver. 15. Blessed is the people q.d. O indéede howsoeuer they are condemned of the worlde yet they are in best case that can reioyce in thée i. that finde such tast in thy blessinges and benefites bestowed vpon them that they are thereby prouoked to prayse and thanke thée they shal walke vz. the dayes of their pilgrimage here and that with peace and quietnesse of conscience in the light of thy countenaunce i. in thy fauour and goodnesse hanging continuallye vppon thy prouidence Verse 16. They i. such people shall reioyce i. both in word and déede shewe themselues thankefull continually this worde importeth firme and stedfast perseueraunce in thanksgiuing in thy name i. for thy great maiestye goodnesse might and power as Psalme 20.10 and in thy righteousnesse vz. practised and performed partly towards them and partly toward their enemies shall they exalt themselues i. lift vp themselues and that with praise vnto thée not as any thing reioycing in themselues but as giuing al the honor vnto thée to whome alone it belongeth Verse 17. For thou art the glory i. thou art hee alone that adornest with glory and beautifyest their strength q d. if thou with draw thy hand in stéede of glory they shal haue weakenesse and confusion and by thy fauour i. of thy frée goodnesse and not by our desertes our horns i. our estate kingdome authoritie gouernmente force power might c. as 1. Sam. 2.1 sée verse 24. of this Psalme shall be exalted vz. aboue our enemies and we shall preuayle agaynst them Verse 18. For our shielde i. our defence and safegard from euill as it were by a shield to kéepe back our enemies dartes some referre it and that not improperly to the King who was appointed to defend and gouerne them But I rather allow of the former exposition appertayneth to the Lord vz. only q.d. the helpe and defence that we haue is from him alone and our King vz. Dauid whom the Lord hath appointed to be our King and by whose hand and power as by a meane wee must be defended to the holy one of Israell vz. belongeth q.d. he and all the kingly authoritie hee hath is from the Lorde or else it would not auayle him or profite vs. Ver. 19. Then vz. O God for here he speaketh eyther of God or to God speakest thou vz. when Dauid was appoynted King in a vision this was then one of the ordinary meanes whereby God in old time appeared and manifested his will to the fathers see numb 12.6 vnto thine holy one i. Samuel the Prophet sée 1. Samuel 16. and Samuel is here called Gods holy one not onely because hée was sanctifyed by the spirite as others his children are but also because hée was appointed to an holy office vz. of Priest and Prophet sée 1. Samuel 3.20 and saydest vz. then at that time I haue layde helpe vpon one that is mighty i. I haue appointed Dauid to whom also I haue giuen force and strength to be an helpe and ayde to deliuer my people from their opressors and haue giuen him graces méete for the gouernmente and kingdome I haue exalted vz. to the height of the kingdome and gouernment one chosen out of the people i. one of meane state and condition as Psalme 78 70 71 and yet notwithstanding thorow my goodnesse apted and aduanced to that high calling Ver. 20. I haue found vz. out from amongst the rest or else thus I haue founde i. I haue prouided for me and my people as 1. Samuel 16.1 Dauid my Seruaunt i. Dauid whom I haue chosen to serue me and my people in the gouernment of the kingdome with my holy oyle i. with the oyle which I haue appoynted to such holy vses in which respect also it is called holye oyle haue I annoynted him i. appoynted him to be King ouer my people sée Psalm 45.7 Verse 21. Therefore i. because I haue thus chosen him my hand shall be established with him i. he shall haue my power and might as a sure foundation to stay himselfe vpon and mine arme i. my force and strength shall strengthen him vz. agaynst all his enemies so that I will kéepe and preserue him from all dangers and marke that vnder hand and arme which are seueral termes he meaneth nothing but prouidence pâ—otection might c. Verse 22. The enemie i. whatsoeuer enemye he hath shall not oppresse vz. for any long time and that eyther by fraude or by force him vz. whom I haue appointed neyther shall the wicked i. he that is giuen ouer to wickednesse howe desperate and bold soeuer he be in his vngodly attempts hurt him vz. any manner of way or any long time as before in the word oppresse Verse 23. But I will destroy vz. by my might and power and that in iustice and iudgemente his foes i. all his foes whether they be open or secret before his face i. openlye he seing and beholding the same and being mine instrumente to performe that great worke and plague them vz. with death and destruction that hate him vz. any maner of way eyther inwardly or testifie their hatred outwardely Ver. 24. My truth also i. my faithfulnesse in performance of promises and my mercy i. great goodnesse he noteth the cause of his promises and the performance thereof shal be vz. present and in effect with him vz. continuallye q.d. I will alwayes shewe my selfe faythfull and mercifull towardes him and in my name i. thorow my goodnesse strength and power as Psalme 20.1 shall his horne i. his maiestie glory power and might as before ver 17. of this Psalme shall be exalted i. lifted vp and aduanced to great heighte and reuerence Verse 25. I will set his hand also in the sea some expound it thus I wil make subiect vnto his power the very sea and riuers muche more the lande which is weaker then they I would rather expounde it thus I vz. the almighty Lord will set i. stretche out his hand i. his might power gouernement and kingdome in the sea i. euen vnto the red sea and the sea mediterraneum and this was promised Exodus 23 31. and was accomplished 2. Samuel chapter 8. and 10 and his right hand in the flouds vz. of Euphrates Nylus Iordan and others Ver. 26. He vz. Dauid my seruant shal crie vnto me i. earnestly call vpon me and say thou art my Father i. one that hath a most louing tender and prouident care ouer me my God i. my
that wee should not séeke for the assurednes of gods word in the estate of earthly things which are subiect to many changes but in heauen i. in God himselfe who is not subiect to any alteration but methinketh the other is the more playne sense Ver. 90. Thy trueth i. the trueth of thy woorde but specially that part of thy woord which conteineth promises is i. lasteth from generation to generation i. perpetually and for euer so that al ages haue and shall confesse the same by their owne experience to be true thou hast laid vz. in the beginning or afore time as Psalme 102.25 the foundation of the earth hee meaneth that God had strongly made the earth so that it could not bee moued euen as though it were set vpon a most sure foundation and it abideth vz. in that estate and condition wherein thou hast placed it Immanuel readeth the latter part of the verse thus when thou vz. O Lord diddest establish i. make and create and that also to continue the same time that thou haddest set it the earth i. the world and al things therin conteined it was i. thy truth and word was then q.d. thy stedfastnes in kéeping thy promises shal continue throughout all generations as the earth indureth which thou established by thy word onely Ver. 91. They i. the world and all things therein conteined continue vz. safe sound and sure euen vnto this day vz. wherein we liue and so shall doe vnto the worldes end by thine ordinances i. by thy word and appointment q.d. as all thinges were created by thy worde so by the same worde they subsist and are preserued in their estate and continually multiplied vppon the earth for mans vse for all vz. thy creatures are thy seruants i. serue thee and at thy commandements do thy will euen as seruants obey their masters Ver. 92. Except thy lawe i. thy word he putteth a part of Gods word which consisteth of commandements for the whole had béen my delight i. had béene a continual delight and comfort vnto me which I take he meaneth by vsing the word in the plurall number though it bee not so here turned vnderstanding likewise thereby that it was his whole delight also in this life I should now haue perished in mine affliction i. it could not haue béen auoyded but both long agoe and euen at this present I should haue sunke downe and dispaired vnder my miseries Ver. 93. I vz. thy poore seruaunt will neuer forget vz. through thine assistance and grace for otherwise it is a very easie matter for flesh and blood to forget them thy precepts i. thy word a part for the whole for by thē i. by the ministery and light of that thy holy word thou hast quickned mee i. brought me out of darknes into light and out of death into life Verse 94. I am thine i. I belong vnto thée through thy goodnes euen as thy sonne seruant saue me i. deliuer me therfore from the dangers and distresses wherin I am or else am likely to fall for I haue sought vz. with a good and an vpright heart thy precepts i. thy worde as before ver 93. meaning by séeking an earnest study and affection which hee had not onely to knowe but also to performe the will and word of God Ver. 95. The wicked i. the vngodly and mighty men of the world haue waited vz. very narrowly and subtilly for me i. for my life and wayes to destroy mee vz. if they coulde finde any manner of euill by mée but I will consider vz. with care and conscience and attention of heart thy testimonies i. thy worde hee meaneth that hee woulde not be turned backe from the study and meditation of Gods lawe for any thing the wicked could do against him Verse 96. I vz. my selfe haue séene vz. both with my outwarde eyes and the eyes of my fayth and mynde an end of all perfection i. that there was nothing coulde bee so perfect in this lyfe but it had or shoulde haue an ende but thy commaundement i. thy worde is excéeding large i. so large as neither I nor any other can beholde no not with the eyes of our vnderstanding an ende thereof because it shall continue and indure for euer and euer and this serueth wonderfully for the commendation of the word Ver. 89.90 Declare for the comfort of our consciences Do. the certaintie and assurednes of Gods word Ver. 91. Teacheth vs that it is Gods word only which heretofore created and at this present vpholdeth all things Ver. 92. Teacheth vs that we should take singular delight and pleasure in Gods word Secondly that it alone is it that can comfort vs and kéepe vs from perishing in distresse Ver. 93. Teacheth vs to haue continuall meditation and study in Gods lawe Ver. 94. Teacheth vs to ground our prayer vpon Gods fauor towards vs and his election of vs. Ver. 95. Sheweth that the wicked leaue no stone vnrolled to hurt and to doe mischiefe to the faithfull and godly people also it teacheth vs that no violence should turne vs backe from the care and study of gods word Ver. 96. Teacheth vs that when all other things shal come to an end yet Gods word shal abide most firme and sure Mem. Di. THis is the xiii part of the Psalm wherin the prophet sheweth first what great delight and pleasure he had in Gods word ver 97.103 Secondly what profit he receiued by gods word ver 98.99.100.104 thirdly howe he conformed himselfe in obedience to the same ver 101.102 Se. Ver. 97. Oh how loue I thy lawe i. how much do I estéeme of it that exclamation sheweth that his affection was more then he could wel expresse meaning that he had so great a loue to gods word which hee vnderstandeth by the terme law that all his senses were as a man would say seased therwith the gate shut against the corruptions of his owne nature it is my meditatiō continually q.d. I do not speake almost or thinke of any thing else at any time Ver. 98. By thy cōmandements i. by the light and knowledge which thou hast giuen me out of thy word thou had made me wiser vz. by many degrées and that in al my actions and affaires then mine enemies i. then those which hate me wish me euil for they i. thy cōmandements wordes are euer with me i. I haue them alwaies in my thought and vnderstanding meaning that hee did thinke meditate of them continually Ver. 99. I haue had vz. through thy goodnes the light of thy word bestowed vppon mee more vnderstanding vz. in truth godlines then al my teachers i. then al they that taught me this the Prophet speaketh not as boasting of it in him-selfe but to sette foorth gods gret liberality to cōmend the excellency of the word for thy testimonies are my meditation i. I do carefully continually think vpon thy word Ver. 100. I vnderstoode vz. by the light of thy
bée séene and glorious in beholding as these places palaces that are builde on high hilles and mountaines like the earth which he stablished for euer vnderstande and like the earth for this is an other similitude expressing the firmitie and continuance of the Church which shal indure vppon the earth vnto the comming of Christ and afterwardes for euer and euer in heauen Verse 70. Hée chose Dauid also his seruant after that he had spoken of the Arke religion and seruice of God hee commeth to speake of the kingdome and politique gouernement for these two things were principal signes of Gods goodnes and grace and tooke him from the shéepefoldes i. from a poore and meane estate for hee was no better then a shéephearde as it were Ver. 71. Euen from behind the ewes with young i. as hee followed the ewes either ready to eane or hauing eaned all ready for the worde I take it may be referred to both to féede his people in Iaakob i. to rule and gouerne his people Iaakob vz. those that came of Iaakob his inheritaunce in Israel i. the Israelits which were his inheritance I knowe these words in Iaakob and in Israel may haue an other sense as though hee put the names of the father of the people inhabiting the place for the place it selfe but mee thinketh the other is more simple Verse 72. So hée fed them i. ruled and gouerned them according to the simplicity of his heart i. as he was of a single mind so hée gouerned iustly and holyly and guided them i. went in and out before them exercising holy and lawfull gouernement ouer them by the discretion of his hands i. by most iust rule and gouernement for the worde hande is in many places of Scripture by metonimia put for worke rule and gouernement because kinges in their handes did vse to beare their Scepter a signe and seale of their gouernement All this serueth to shewe that Dauid did not vnaduisedly handle the thinges that hee was to passe through but did that which apperteined to his office through wisedome aduisedly also and with iudgement Verse 1. Teacheth vs to bring attentiue eares with vs Do. to the exercises of the worde Ver. 2. That the more darke and high the thinges are that are propounded the more diligent should we be in hearing and meditating thereof and not discouraged as many men are with the hardnesse Ver. 3. Teacheth that the workes and worde of GOD which either wee our selues haue tryed or other in trueth haue tolde vs of should bée great grounds of strength to our consciences and perswasions Ver. 4. Teacheth vs to haue a care for posterity that the worde and works of God may in trueth and sinceritie continue with vs and our séede for euer Ver. 5. Sheweth that Gods word bestowed vpon any people is no small signe or token of his fauour or loue towardes them Ver. 6. Sheweth that God giueth his word to the end that the people present and they that should come after might be instructed in sound knowledge of his truth Ver. 7. Teacheth that Gods word is ordeined to two especiall purposes the one is to increase hope in the heartes of his children and the other is to worke obedience Verse 8. Teacheth that fathers are not alwayes to bee followed and therefore that they say nothing that say they will treade in the steppes of their fathers Verse 9. Teacheth that weapon and armour are nothing where GOD his strength and fauour is not ioyned with them Verse 10. Teacheth that disobedience and rebellion against GOD is a grieuous sinne Verse 11. Teacheth vs howe fowle a sinne forgetfulnes of Gods goodnes is Verse 12.13.14.15.16 Setteth out Gods great loue towardes his people who maketh thinges against nature to prouide for them rather then they shoulde bee hurt or want any thing that were good and all this hée doeth to the ende that they might haue their fayth stedfastly stayed vppon him and his goodnes Verse 17. Teacheth that sinne against GOD after benefites receiued is very horrible and monstrous Verse 18. Teacheth vs that euill motions of the heart are sinne Verse 19. Teacheth that there can no greater dishonour bee offered to God then to call his power and will into question Verse 20. Sheweth howe the wicked peruert those things that God doth for them so the increase of their distrust and infidelitie Ver. 21. Teacheth two thinges first that the Lorde séeth the thoughts of the hearts heareth the words of mens mouthes conceiued or spoken against him secondly that sinne shall neuer bee vnpunished Verse 22. Teacheth that distrust in God is a most heinous and grieuous offence Verse 23.24.25.26.27.28.29 Expresse Gods great loue in giuing the people whatsoeuer they desired and that in wonderfull plenty and abundaunce to the ende that by that meanes he might bring them to amendment Ver. 30. Teacheth that the wicked are not drawne to repentance by Gods benefites but rather goe on forward more and more in their sinne Ver. 31. Teacheth that the abuse of Gods goodnes and mercy shall neuer bee left vnpunished also that God respecteth no persons in the execution of his iustice but hee that hath offended of what countenance soeuer he be shall smart for it Ver. 32. Teacheth that there are a sort of people so setled in their sinnes that no graces of God will pul thē out of them Ver. 33. Teacheth that hasty and sodaine destruction oftentimes ouertaketh the wicked Ver. 34. Liuely painteth out the nature of hypocrites their counterfeite repentance so doth verse 35.36.37 Ver. 36. Teacheth that the abuse of mens mouthes and tongues must be answered to the Lorde Verse 37. Sheweth that God specially regardeth an vpright heart Ver. 38. Doeth wonderfully commend the riches of Gods grace and goodnes Ver. 39. Doth marueilously set out the vanity and frailtie of man in all his glory Ver. 40. Teacheth howe the vngodly cease not sinning but procéede from one iniquitie to another Ver. 41. Teacheth that to set god his bounds is a grieuous transgression Ver. 42. Teacheth that the forgetfulnes of gods benefits towardes his children or of his iustice vpon his and their enemies is a grieuous transgression In that description of gods wrath executed vpon the wicked Egiptians and comprehended Ver. 43.44.45.46.47.48.49.50.51 Wee may learne many thinges first that the enemies of gods people shall neuer escape vnpunished which also expresseth gods iustice against persecutours Secondly wee sée the mightie power of the Lorde who wil arme the least of his creatures with such might as all the Monarchies in the worlde shall not bee able to resist Thirdly in that there are so diuers and sundry punishments reckoned vp we learn that the Lord hath all his creatures at commandement to vse them for the manifesting of his glory either in the maintenance of his seruants or for the punishing of the wicked Ver. 52.53 Do not only expresse gods great loue towards his children but also they teach howe that in
to him Ver. 7. teacheth that no mans honor or office can preuent or put away death Verse 8 instructeth vs in the middest of all confusions disorders amongst men earnestly to pray to the Lord for the redresse of them for he alone is he that can and will in good time reforme the same Psalme 83. IT appeareth that this Psalme was made in some time that the enemies of the Churche conspired the ouerthrow of it Di. I suppose that a man may well referre it to the dayes of Hezekiah wherein Saneherib came vp agaynst Ierusalem and vttered outragious blasphemies against God and his people sée 2. Kings 18. and 19. chapiters The Psalm as I take it may be deuided into two parts In the first the faythfull pray to God for ayd and succour shewing the causes that lead them so to doe from verse 1 to the end of the eyght In the second part they pray earnestly for the ouerthrow of their enemies that so they might be brought downe in their pride and confesse God to be their only God from verse 9 to the ende of the Psalme Sée the Title of this Psalme expounded in the title of Psalme 48. Verse 1. Kéepe not thou silence O God vz. at our prayers Se. and considering the rage of thine and our enemies q.d. Make no longer shew as though thou caredst not for vs but by graunting our petitions and punishing our enemies shewe thy selfe to haue care ouer vs be not still they repeat the same matter in other words to note the earnestnesse of their prayers and cease not vz. to helpe vs in our distresses Verse 2. For loe thine enemies i. they that in vs professing thy truth set themselues agaynst thée make a tumult vz. not onely in gathering great multitudes together but also in lowde and loftie speeches as verse 4. of this Psalme making a great noyse they that hate thee i. they that testifie their hatred against thy maiestie by pursuing and persecuting vs haue lifted vp the head vz. against thy maiestie vs thy poore seruaunts and by lifting vp the head hee meaneth that they had not onely set all feare aside but that with bold and proude mindes they prepared themselues staying vppon their owne strength to accomplish their mischiefs agaynst God and his people Ver. 3. They haue taken craftie counsel i. they haue both diuised with themselues and consulted with others agaynst thy people vz. how they mighte hurte and destroy them and haue consulted vz. with themselues and others agaynst thy secret ones i. thy faythfull people and he calleth them Gods secret ones not only because they were Gods chéefe treasure Exodus 19.5 whiche hee woulde kéepe closely for himselfe but because he would and did vnder the shadowe of his wings as it were kéepe them safe and sound from all iniurie and oppression Psalme 17.8 Psalme 27.5 Verse 4. They haue sayde i. the enemies amongst themselues as it were to exhort and incourage one another haue vttered these spéeches Come and let vs cut them from being a Nation i. let vs vtterly destroy them that they may no more remaine a people vppon the earth and that word them is spoken contemptuouslye of the Iewes or Israelites as though they would not vouchsafe to name the persons they were so base and for the expounding of this spéech from being a Nation sée Esai 7 verse 8. where he vttereth a prophecy against the tenne tribes and let the name of Israel be no more in remembraunce i. let this people so vtterly perrish that neither person name or remembrance therof may be thought vpon By Israell he meaneth that part of the Israelites which remained vnder the gouernment of the kingdome of Iudah to whome hee giueth this name because they came of Iaakob or Israel as well as the others Verse 5. For they haue consulted i. they haue not onely taken counsell how to performe euil things but haue conspired and consented to the same together in hart i. not only closely secretly as before ver 3. but also couragiously boldly as it were and they séeme to bée al of one mind as it were to our destruction haue made a league vz. amōgst themselues and that by solemne oth and ceremonie as it were that they might be the more straightly bound to worke their mischiefe against thée he sayth agaynst God because that the quarrell which the enemies had agaynst this people was for religions cause which was the very cause of God himself Ver. 6 The Tabernacles of Edom that is the Edomites or Arabians whose manner was to dwell in Tents or Tabernacles or else hee meaneth their souldiers abiding in Tentes or Pauilions after the manner of warre this people came of Esau Genesis 36.9 and the Ismaelites adde and of the Ismaelites meaning that their troupes Tabernacles or Tents came who caried also a hatefull mind towards Gods people and it shoulde séeme that these came of Ismaell the sonne of Agar by Abraham sée Genesis 25.12 Moab i. the Moabites putting the name of the Father for all the people that came of him he was the eldest Sonne of Lot borne by incest sée Genesis 19.37 and the Agarims I woulde rather reade it Hagarims with an H or aspiration fyrste it shoulde be read as appeareth by the Hebrew Texte the Prophet mynding to note them that came of Hagar the mother of Ismaell of this people sée 1. Chronic. 5. verse 19.20 Verse 7. Geball from whome this people should come the scripture so farre as I remember sheweth not some suppose he meaneth the Gibbians who were borderers vpon Sidon of whiche sée 1. Kinges 5.18 and Ammon this was the other sonne of Lot conceaued and borne in Incest of whiche sée Genesis 19.38 putting in all these the name of the fyrste Father of them for all the people thee came of them and Amelech these came of Eliphaz Esaus sonne as appeareth Gene. 36.12 the Philistines these came of Ham the Sonne of Noah as appeareth Genesis 10.14 with the inhabitants of Tyrus this is the name of a Citie situate vpon the Sea as appeareth Isaiah 23. thorowout Verse 8. Ashur i. the people of Assyria who came also of Ham Noahs Sonne as it shoulde séeme Genesis 10.11 is ioyned with them vz. in this conspiracie and mischiefe that they minde to doe for in these verses hee doeth nothing but note out the multitudes of the enemies which Gods Churche hath they haue bin an arme i. they haue ministred courage ayde and strength by the league that they haue made to the children of Lot i. to the Moabites and Ammonites that came of Lot of whome before Verse 9. Doe thou to them as to the Midianites i. destroy them vtterly and ouerthrow them for all their force and multitude this story is written Iudges 7. Chapter as to Sisera i. confound and ouerthrow them Sée Iudges 4. Chapter and as to Iabin who was the King of Canaan and Sisera was his chéefe Captayne in whose discomfiture and
trueth Verse 8. Among the Gods vz. of the Gentiles and which they worship as Gods but yet are not so there is none like thée O Lorde vz. in any respect hee sheweth that the Gentiles gods are false and counterfeit because they haue no testimony of their might and power Sée Psalm 115.2.3.4 c. Sée also against the vanity of them Isaiah 44. almost throughout and there is none vz. amongest either them or amongst all the creatures in the worlde no all the creatures set together that can doe like thy workes i. can do such workes as thou hast done and dayly doest for all that they doe they do by thee as in whom they liue moue and haue their being whereas thou doest that of thy selfe only whatsoeuer pleaseth thée both in heauen in earth Ver. 9. All nations vz. of the earth whom thou hast made vz. by thy mighty power for without thée they were not neither can be shal come vz. either willingly or by constraint and worship i. either truely or hipocritically serue thée before thée i. in thy presence at thy presence and in the assembly of thy Saints and shal glorifie thy name i. shall either soundly or else for fashion sake acknowledge thy might maiesty and power for so is name taken here as Psal 20.1 Some vnderstande this of the calling of the Gentiles I wil not greatly contend but methinketh it were better to bée vnderstood of a constremed and counterfeit confession such as you shal sée in Abimilech Gene. 20. throughout and in Pharaohs Exod. 9.27 and in some other chapiters of that booke Ver. 10. For thou art great vz. aboue all and declarest that greatnes and excellency of thine by many thinges but specially by thy works and doest vz. dayly and continually wonderous things i. matter farre beyond the reach and compasse of mans wit and reason and therefore very wonderful thou art God alone q.d. though many haue the name of God yet in déede both the thing and the name doth only belong to thée Verse 11. Teach me q.d. I am blind and ignoraunt and therefore humbly craue thy instruction thy way O Lord i. the way that thou thy selfe hast prescribed and is the onely way and manner to liue well and vprightly and I will vz. through thy goodnes assistaunce and strength for otherwise I can doe nothing of my selfe walke i. frame and fashion my conuersation in thy trueth i. according to that rule of trueth and righteousnes which thou thy selfe hast prescribed in thy worde knit vz. fast and sure mine heart i. the affection and perswasion of my heart vnto thée vz. and the trueth of thy promises q.d. bring to passe that my heart being fréed from all feare and care of my enemies it may rest wholly in thy feare This manner of speach declareth that mans heart is distracted and as it were diuided into sundry partes till God haue driuen it to himselfe and helde it fast in his obedience wherefore by this worde hee meaneth that euen they that are wel affected are yet notwithstanding subiect to so many stūblings that they should quickly vanish and bee spilt as water were it not that god strēgtened them with constancy that I may fear thy name i. beare a louing reuerence to thy maiesty and trueth Ver. 12. I wil praise thée O Lord my god vz. when thou shalt haue taught me thy trueth and deliuered mee from mine enemies with al my heart i. vnfeignedly and not outwardly in wordes onely but also inwardly in deed and trueth yea I wil glorifie thy name i. set foorth the praise of thy maiesty might and power for euer i. both in this life and in the world to come or else it may be taken for continually Verse 13. For great is thy mercy towardes me i. thou hast and doest by effect declare the riches of thy goodnes towardes mee and thou hast deliuered my soule i. thou hast set my life or whole man frée for otherwise nothing can touch the soule from the lowest graue i. from most great deepe and extreme dangers it is a metaphor as they that are buried séeme in mans iudgement past hope of life and yet God notwithstanding will rayse them vp againe so when Dauid seemed to be past all recouery by reason of his distresses then did the Lorde most mightily deliuer him Ver. 14. O God the proude vz. persons of the worlde who are not prouoked by any wrong I haue done them but only by their owne pride for so much I suppose the Hebrewe word importeth are risen against mee vz. with great force multitude and counsel thinking to destroy me and the assemblies i. great troupes and multitudes of violent men the Hebrewe worde in déede importeth them that trust in their owne strength who are sayd to bée mighty or violent because with a certaine violent outrage they trouble all and labour to destroy euery thing experience teacheth the trueth of this for we sée that there is no measure kept where pride and violence or outrage preuaileth haue sought vz. very diligently my soule i. my life to wit that they might take it from me sée Matth. 2.20 and haue not set thée vz. who séest and knowest all wickednes and wilt in good time punish the same before them hee meaneth that they had no feare or regarde of God at all but supposed that God did not behold them which is a manifest token of extreme licenciousnes and impiety Ver. 15. But thou O Lorde art a pitiful God and merciful vz. to them that turne to thée and cal vpon thee in truth slowe to anger vz. against any though neuer so wicked looking by long suffering for their amendment and great in kindnes i. of wonderfull great kindnes and loue specially to thy seruants and trueth he meaneth by trueth the faithful accomplishment of all Gods promises and this verse is a certaine description of the nature of God and séemeth to be taken out of Exod. 34.6 Ver. 16. Turne vz. thy fauourable and louing countenance vnto me vz. which am distressed on euery side hee prayeth that hee may in this his misery féele Gods goodnes and mercy and haue mercy vpon me i. make thy mercy appeare towardes me in deliuering mee from the power of these violent men giue thy strength by this spéech he meaneth not to craue all the strength and power of God but to intreate the Lord to giue him strength and ability to passe through al the brunts hee should indure vnto thy seruaunt i. vnto him whome thou hast chosen to be thy seruant true it is the worde importeth slaue or bond seruant which word the Prophet also vseth to moue the Lorde to mercy and saue i. deliuer from daunger and distresse the sonne of thy handmayd i. such a one as hath béene begotten of faithful parents and brought vp in the couenaunt and is as it were a houshold seruant of the Church Sée Psalm 116.16 Verse 17. Shew a token of thy goodnes towards mee
oppresse mee and ouerwhelme me as waters do the drowned body and thy feare i. the feares that haue béene wrought in mee by the troubles and afflictions which thou hast layd vpon mee haue cut me of vz. from liuing in this worlde or from being amongst men he meaneth that they had euen vtterly as it were destroyed him Ver. 17. They i. the assured testimonies and tokens of thy wrath came roūd about me i. cōpassed me in on euery side so that there was no way to escape or get out yea they take hold of me both inwardly outwardly dayly i. continually and without ceasing as it were like water i. in great abundance and with great force as surges or waues that would swallowe mee vp sée ver 7. of this Psalm and compassed mee together i. euen at one time as it were and with al their violence they set vpon me Ver. 18. This is the same both in sense and almost in worlds with ver 8. of this Psalme hee meaneth that none of those which were linked to him either by nature or kinred would come out for to helpe him Ver. 1. Teacheth vs to be earnest and continual in prayer vnto our God Do. Ver. 2. Teacheth vs to pray to the Lord to make vs féele vs the effects and force of our praiers Ver. 3. Teacheth two things first that very great heapes of afflictions are the ordinary portion of Gods children in this life secondly that the more miseries we haue the more spéed we should make to God by prayer for the redresse of them Ver. 4. Sheweth in what regarde the wicked of the world haue Gods children in the time of their affliction Ver. 5.6.7 Teach that Gods hand lyeth very sore many times vpon his dearest children and yet for all that hee loueth them neuer a whit the worse Ver. 8. Teacheth vs that euen the losse of our friends falleth out according to Gods appointment which rightly considered should minister no smal comfort to Gods children Ver. 9. Teacheth vs that as our miseries increase or continue so our prayers to God should increase or continue Ver. 10.11.12 Shew how sharply the faith of gods children is in their afflictions assaulted so that many times there séemeth to be little difference betwéene hope and dispaire Ver. 13. Teacheth that howsoeuer the godlines fayth be expressed for a time yet it is not vtterly ouercome but bursteth foorth into victory at the length and to earnest praier Ver. 14. Sheweth that nothing gréeueth Gods children so much as to féele a separation betwéene God and them selues Ver. 15. Teacheth that the afflictions of Gods children are continuall euen from youth to old age and from the day of our life vnto the houre of our death Ver. 16.17 Declare that Gods children are not slenderly tryed with some meane crosse but that stil the latter end of one trouble with them is the beginning of an other and as one flood or waue commeth thicke and thréefold in an others necke so do afflictions assault them Ver. 18. Deliuereth the same doctrine that ver 8. doeth also it teacheth vs that we should not be much dismaid when wee sée our friendes and acquaintaunce forsake vs in our miseries for as much as Dauid and many other of Gods Saints haue felt the same Psalme 89 Di. THis being a very long Psalme and handling sundry matters may yet notwithstanding be diuided into three partes In the first part Ethan the Ezraite setteth out and prayseth Gods goodnes which he manifesteth by many thinges but especially by the description of his workes and power and of his mercy and loue towardes his owne people and this reacheth from ver 1. to the ende of the 7. In the seconde part hee maketh expresse mention of Gods couenaunt made in Dauid and his séed a singular testimony no doubt of his vnspeakeable mercy shewing that hee will establish it for euer and yet notwithstanding conuert them if they goe astray from verse 18. to the ende of the 37. In the thirde parte hee séemeth to bewayle the want of performance of that mercy promised praying the Lorde to looke and that in time vppon the great desolations of the Lande concluding in hope of deliuerye with a thankesgiuing vnto the Lorde and this reacheth from verse 38. to the ende of the Psalme Se. For the title of this Psalme sée the title of Psalme 88. Ver. 1. I will sing i. I will by song set foorth the mercies of the Lorde i. his manifold and sundry mercies q.d. wee haue tasted of more then of one of his mercies yea wée haue felt all his mercyes and therefore I will prayse the same for euer i. all the dayes of my life Sée Psalme 146.1 with my mouth will I declare i. I will openly speake of in my wordes and with my voyce for hee putteth the worde mouth which is an instrument to frame the voyce by for the voyce and woordes themselues thy trueth i. the faithfulnesse and constancy that thou hast in all thinges and namely in keeping thy promises from generation to generation i. to al posterities meaning that by leauing it in writing behind him hee woulde bée an instrument as it were to conuay it from hand to hand to all posterity Verse 2. For I sayde i. I beleeued it in my heart and spake it with my tongue as Psalme 116.10 by which he sheweth the assurance of faith that he had in his heart out of the abundaunce whereof the mouth did speake Matth. 12.34 mercy vz. of God shal bee set vppe i. shal bee exalted builded and continue as a very faire strong and artificiall house thy trueth i. the stedfastnesse and stay of thy promises shalt thou vz. O God establish i. ratifie and confirme in the very heauens i. euen the place appointed for the elect sée for this sense Luke 10.20 Others expound the whole verse thus the promise of God shal be as certaine as the state of heauen vnderstanding thereby not the visible firmament but the place of eternal ioy which is exempt from all chaunge Ver. 3. I haue made a couenant a sodaine change of the person from his owne to Gods for this and the next verse are spoken in the person of God with my chosen i. with Dauid whom I haue chosen preferred before al others euen his owne brethren to be king ouer the people of Israel I haue sworne not as though there were any distrust to bee had in Gods worde but for the more strengthening of the couenant in Dauids heart sée ver 49. of this Psalme also Psalm 132.11 and this is to be vnderstood that God by an oth had promised the performance of those things that follow vz. that his séede should continue to Dauid my seruant i. to him whom I haue appointed and chosen to bee my seruant and to serue me my people in the gouernment of the kingdom Ver. 4. Thy séed i. those that shall come of thée as thy posterity and successors wil I stablish vz. in
the kingdome for euer i. for a long time if you referre it to the outward gouernement but if you referre it to Christ it signifieth perpetuity and euerlastingnes of time and set vppe vz. to continue and abyde thy throne i. thy kingdome putting a part of the kingdom for the whole from generation to generation sée ver 1. of this Psalme there are two partes of this promise the one is heires and successours the other is the kingdome Sée Genesis 15.3.4.5 where the like order is obserued in promising two things Ver. 5. O Lorde euen the heauens i. either the firmament it selfe the thinges therein contained as the Sunne Moone starres c. or else the Angels or rather in déede both together Sée Psalm 148.1.2.3 c. shall praise thy wonderous woorkes i. they shall magnifie that great power of thine by which thou doest as it were miraculously vpholde thy Church yea vz. they shall prayse and set out thy trueth i. thy faythfulnes in kéeping and perfourming promises made in the congregation of the Saintes i. in the society fellowship and assembly of the children of God in the Church meaning that the Angels and heauenly spirites should bee Gods instruments to publish the same vnto men and to shewe them also matter of praysing God Ver. 6. For who is equal vz. in name maiesty power c. to the Lorde vz. the onely God in the heauens i. amongest all that glorious company of Angels and blessed spirites which are in the heauens putting the thing conteining for the thinges conteined q.d. not one of them no not all of them together are in any respect equall to him and who is like to the Lorde vz. in power maiesty might c among the sonnes of the Gods some vnderstande this Angels who in déed may be so named because they haue not their beginning from the earth neither clothed with a corruptible body but are heauenly spirits beautified with diuine glorye for mine owne part I woulde rather turne it thus amongest the sonnes of the mighty i. amongest the most mightiest of the earth of what state or condition soeuer they bee and so haue you the worde vsed before Psalm 29.1 also Ezech. 17 13. and chapter 32.21 and then it may bee the same in sense with that which is Psalme 73.25 Verse 7. GOD is very terrible i. hée sheweth manifest tokens of his maiestye and might which strike terrour into all in the assemblye of the Sayntes it skilleth not much whether wee take it for the company of Angels or for that which verse 5. of this Psalme is called the congregation of the Sayntes but I woulde take it rather in the latter sense because of that which followeth in this verse the Prophet meaning in my mynde that GOD is terrible both to men and angels and to be reuerenced aboue all i. more to be feared then all Angels or whatsoeuer else that are about him i. Angels or heauenly creatures whatsoeuer who are sayd after the manner of men to bée about as those that are alwaies ready to execute his commaundement Neither doeth the holy ghost meane in saying that God is to be reuerenced aboue all that therefore the Angels and dead Saints may haue a seruice and reuerence dedicated vnto them for if they will referre it to them why then should not the Sunne and Moone which the gentiles also worshipped as well as the Papists do Angels and dead Saintes be worshipped séeing that they are about God and attend vppon him to execute his will Verse 8. O Lorde God of hostes i. thou God who hast all thy creatures euen as it were so many armies to execute thy will and commaundement who is like vnto thée q.d. surely none for the Hebrews vse by such interrogations strongly to deny which art a mighty Lorde vz. a most mighty Lorde and an eternall being for hee vseth the name of God Iah in this place and thy trueth i. thy faithfulnes and constancy in all thinges and namely in perfourmaunce of thy promises is about thée i. compasseth thee in on euery side q.d. thou art full of all faithfulnes and trueth Verse 9. Thou rulest i. thou stillest makest calme as appeareth by that which followeth in this ver the raging of the Sea i. the mighty waues thereof which rage and roare and make a feareful noyse when the waues thereof arise vz. by some great wind or tempest thou stillest them i. thou makest them calme and still Verse 10. Thou hast beaten downe vz. to the ground and that by thy might and power Rahab i. Egipt as before Psalm 87.4 and here he toucheth the deliuerance of the people out of Egipt of which sée Exod. 14.15 c. as a man slayne vz. with the sword hee meaneth that God by the waues of the Sea destroyed the Egiptians as one man doeth an other by the edge of the swoorde thou hast scattered thine enemies i. thou hast discomfited them as men put to flight in a battaile runne some hither and some thither and so being out of aray lye open to be wounded and slayne of their enemies with thy mighty arme i. with thy great force power and strength so wée haue had armie vsed sundry tymes before Verse 11. The heauens i. the thinges themselues and all other things whatsoeuer therein conteined are thine i. at thy commaundement to be vsed when where and howsoeuer it shall please thée the earth also vz. with al things therein conteined is thine i. is at thy commaundement as before he meaneth that all thinges both in heauen and earth are at his commaundement which séemeth wonderfully to expresse the great maiesty and power of God thou hast layde vz. by thy almighty power the foundations of the worlde vz. in such sort that it shall not bee mooued and all that therein is vz. thou hast created and established Verse 12 Thou hast created the North and the South i. the whole worlde putting these two partes of it for the whole Tabor it is the name of a mountain towards the West of this mention is made Iosh 19.22 and Hermon this is the name of a mountaine towardes the East of which mention is made Deut. 3.8.9 and they are two high mountaines in Iudea by which no doubt he meaneth the whole land of Canaan shal reioyce in thy name i. shall prayse thy great power and maiestie Vere 13. Thou hast a mightye arme i. thou art of great power might and force strong is thy hande vz. thy left hande vnderstanding thereby the smallest manifestation of Gods power meaning that euen there is such strength as none is able to resist and high vz. in greatnesse and might is thy right hand i. thy mighty power and the full manifestation thereof Verse 14. Righteousnesse and equitie q.d. although thou art mightie in all manner of power yet thou gouernest not by power or strength only but in all vprightnesse iustly rendring vnto thine enemies that they haue deserued and faythfully perfourming to thy
strength and power and the Rock i. the assured staye that I haue sée Psalme 18.2 of my saluation i. that I shall be deliuered from all the daungers and distresses wherein I am sée Psal 3.8 al that is here spoken of Dauid ought in truth also to be referred to Christ Verse 27. I will make him i. I will haue him in that regard and account my first borne vz. that firste borne children are wont to bee had in whome the scripture sheweth to haue had great priuiledges and honor and estimation q.d. I wil greatly aduance and honour him higher i. I wil aduāce him higher then al the Kings of the earth i. he shal be the most excellēt among them al by the fauor that I wil shew him and the graces that I will giue him And marke that this cannot appertain to Dauid but only so farre forth as he was a figure of Christ and this we must further marke that when Dauid Solomon and others are set out as figures of Christ sometimes that whiche is spoken agréeth to the figure only sometimes to Christ onlye who is figured by them and sometimes to both vz. the fygure and the thing fygured so that it behoueth the Reader to haue a diligent regard thereto of this somewhat hath ben sayd before Psalme 2 and also Psalme 45. Ver. 28. My mercy will I kéep for him for euer i. I will neuer vtterly destitute him of my louing kindnesse mercy howsoeuer I séeme for a time to withdraw it and my couenaunt i. the couenant that I haue made with him shal stand fast vz. for euer q.d. I wil faithfullye performe whatsoeuer I haue promised with him i. betwéene him and me Verse 29. His séede also i. his posterity wil I make to indure vz. in the gouernment of the kingdome for euer i. for a very long time if you referre it to Dauid But if to Christ and those children that thorow him are brought and begotten to God by the sanctification of the spirite of whiche sée Heb. 2.10 then it signifyeth euerlastingnesse of time and his throne i. his kingdome and state sée verse 4. of this Psalme here must bee repeated I will make as the dayes of Heauen i. perpetuall and continuall Heauen is here put for that state of eternall glorye preserued for the faythfull whiche shal neuer decay Verse 30. If his children i. if his séede and posteritie forsake my lawe i. departe awaye from it and that rule of righteousnesse which it prescribeth them to walke in in their conuersation and walke not i. frame not their life as Psal 1.1 Ephes 4.17 in my iudgements i. according to those rules of iustice and iudgement which I haue prescribed he meaneth nothing by all this but if they shall sinne against him and his word Verse 31. Is the same altogether in sence though it differ somewhat in wordes with verse 30. If they breake vz. eyther thorow ignoraunce or knowledge my statutes i. the thinges that I haue ordeyned them to walke in kéepe not vz. in thought word and déede my commaundementes i. the thinges that I haue commaunded them Verse 32. Then i. when they shal haue dealt thus wickedly with me will I visite i. correct and punish sée Psalme 59.5 Isaiah 26.21 their transgressyons vz. which they haue committed agaynst me with the rod and their iniquity with strokes i. I wil punish them for their sinnes committed against me meant by transgressions as before and against men vnderstood by the worde iniquity with the rod and with strokes i. with sundry kinds of punishmentes and all to bring them home to my selfe by repentance and amendment Ver. 33. Yet q.d. for all my threats and punishments my louing kindnesse i. my riche and vnspeakeable mercy will I not take from him vz. continuallye or for euer q.d. I will not vtterly or altogether reiect him neyther will I falsifie my truth vz. promised and sworne vnto him q.d. I will not faile or breake in the accomplishment of the promises which I haue made him Verse 34 My couenaunt i. the couenaunt which I of mercy haue made with him will I not breake but stand stedfastly to the performaunce of it and euery part thereof nor alter the thing i. chaunge the sentence or matter that is gone oute of my lippes i. which I haue vttered and spoken q.d. I will not be inconstant for I will neyther chaunge my purpose nor vnsay that which I haue sayde Ver. 35 I haue sworne this is spoken in the person of God and the Lordes oth is added not for any insufficiency that is in him but to ratifye the matter more sufficiently in the mind of Dauid and his posteritie Gods oth is to promise by an othe sée Heb. 6. from verse 13. to the end of the 18. once and therefore will not goe backe from it This word importeth that Gods oth was irreuocable by mine holinesse i. by my selfe because he had no greater to sweare by as Heb. 6 13. and not as some expound it by the sanctuary wherein Gods Maiestie did visibly appeare that I wil not fayle Dauid i. disappoint him vz. in any thing that I haue promised him Ver. 36. His séede shall indure for euer i. his posteritie shall haue a long and continuall roote sée verse 29. of this Psalme and his throne i. his kingdome putting the signe of a kingdome for a kingdome sée ver 4.29 of this Psalme shal be as the Sunne i. shall continue as long as the Sunne and he alleageth the Sunne and verse 37. the Moone as a witnesse of the continuaunce of Dauids kingdome not because these creatures are eternall but because they haue more stedfastnesse then the earth the ayre c. whiche are subiect to many things before me i. in my presence and sight Ver. 37 He vz. in his own person and the person of his séede shal be established vz. in the seate of the kingdome for euermore how this is to be vnderstoode of Dauid and Christ sée before verse 29. of this Psalme as the Moone sée verse 36. of this Psalme as the Moone sée verse 36. of this Psalme and as a faithfull witnesse i. as the faythful witnesses meaning the starres Planets c. putting also the singular for the plural number in the Heauen i. in the Firmament for the Lord hath there placed the Sunne Moone and Starres c. as witnesses faythfully to distinguish betwéene time and time sée Genesis 1. verse 14. c. hée meaneth nothing else but that Dauids kingdome and posteritye shall haue a long continuaunce as the Sunne Moone and Starres c. haue Verse 38. But thou hast reiected i. cast away and that from thy fauour as it should séeme q.d. thou that hast promised to be so gracious to Dauid and his séede séemest now to haue no care of eyther of them And this he speaketh not as accusing God eyther of inconstancye or lying but eyther vsing the wordes and expressing the mind of the enimies of God
thou hast shewed in former time vnto our Fathers which vz. also thou swarest vnto Dauid in thy truth i. which faythfully and truely thou promisedst and that by an oth adioyned to thy promise to performe to him and his séede see verse 35 of this Psalme In the other two verses vz. verse 47.48 he tooke argumentes from the vanitie of men and their life to moue the Lorde to pittie them In this verse he taketh an argument from the faythfulnesse which GOD vseth towards his seruaunts to induce him therto and in the two nexte verses vz. 50 51. he taketh an argument from the person of their enemies Verse 50. Remember O Lord i. earnestly thinke vpon that thou mayst also redresse it the rebuke of thy seruaunts i. the tauntes and rebukes wherewith thy seruaunts are laded by their enimies sée Psalm 123.4 which I beare in my bosome i. which I suffer most quietly patiently louing them as it were and making so much of them as though I fostred them in my bosome because I know they come from thée of al the mightie people i. which al the mighty people cast vpon me so the Prophet sheweth who were his enemies vz. not only the meaner sort but the most mighty of all Ver. 51. Thyne enemies vz. and ours for thy sake haue reproched thée O Lord vz. because thou hast not holpen vs saying where is now their god Psal 79.10 because they haue reproched i. blasphemed and spoken euil of with taunts rebukes the footesteps of thine annointed i. the good conuersation and behauiour of him whom thou hast appointed to be King if you referre it to Dauid If to Christe then it hath this sence that they speake euill of the doctrine and profession of Christ vpbraiding them also that wayted for his comming Vnderstanding by footesteps the féete themselues because with our féete we make our steps and by féete comming as Isaiah 52.7 Ver. 52. Praysed be the Lord for euermore this is a conclusion with thanksgiuing which in all places and in prosperitye and aduersitie the faythfull vse to giue to the Lord as Iob 1 21. So be it euen so bee it this is a consent yeelded to the same thankes giuing and the doubling maketh both for the earnestnesse and certaintie of it Sée Psalme 72.19 Ver. 1 teacheth that it behoueth Gods saints continually to praise god for his Do. mercy also that their thanksgiuing must not be inward in the hart onlye but outward also in the mouth Verse 2. teacheth that the true taste and féeling of Gods mercy and truth are two principall proppes to our consciences Verse 3 teacheth Gods goodnesse and mercy who for the further strengthening of our fayth and not for any inconstancy in him maketh an oth for the performaunce of his promises Verse 4. teacheth that Kinges and their posterity can not indure without the Lord vphold them and blesse them Verse 5. teacheth men euen by the example of heauenly creatures to prayse the Lord. Verse 6 teacheth that none neither in heauen nor earth is any way matchable with God Ver. 7 is a notable place against inuocation or prayer to Saynts Verse 8 sheweth that it is no small comfort to the consciences of Gods children rightly to consider his great power Verse 9. teacheth that Gods power and prouidence beareth a sway in the stilling of the sea and waues thereof which otherwise séeme to goe by naturall course Verse 10 teacheth vs that the ouerthrow of Gods enemies is not from man but from the Lorde himselfe and his mightye power Verse 11 sheweth that God is Lord ouer all things and that the firmity or stayednesse which the world hath it hath it not of it selfe but from the Lorde who in his power and prouidence vpholdeth the same Verse 12 proueth that God created the earth and that therefore it is not eternall as Philosophie affirmeth also although all the earth belong to the Lord as ouer which he hath a generall care yet specially that part which the faythfull inhabite Verse 13 setteth out Gods mightie strength and power which is so great as none is able to resist Verse 14 setteth out Gods iustice mercy and truth as matters not only of great comfort to his seruaunts but of great instruction also to teache them to striue to the lyke in their behauiour and dealings Verse 15 teacheth first that only Gods people are indéede blessed secondly that there is no matter of mirth or ioy but in the Lord only thirdly that Gods frée fauour and mercy is the onely vpholder of our bodily and spirituall life Verse 16 teacheth that the faythfull neuer reioyce in themselues but in the Lord and in his strength and in the faythfull accomplishment of his promises Ver. 17. teacheth that all the glory strength and power that the godly haue is from the Lord only Ver. 18. teacheth that neyther King nor people nor weapons c. are any thing without the Lord. Verse 19 teacheth that Gods word in the mouth of his ministers is a good both warrante and comforte to those that are his also that it is the Lorde that rayseth vp one and pulleth downe an other Verse 20 teacheth vs that he is in déede approued whom the Lord approueth howe much soeuer otherwise he be reiected of men Verse 21 teacheth that all the strength and power that Princes haue they haue it from the Lorde alone Verse 22 sheweth Gods care ouer his children and how mightily he will defend them it teacheth also that the wicked cannot doe what they list Ver. 23 teacheth that the ouerthrow of the vngodly is from the Lord whatsoeuer instruments he vseth to the performance thereof Verse 24. teacheth that Gods truth mercy and power are the proppes of all common wealths and kingdomes Ver. 25. teacheth that it is the Lord alone who inlargeth kingdoms Ver. 26 teacheth not only how earnest Gods children should be in their prayers but also with what a particular apprehension féeling of his mercy and power they ought to repaire vnto him Ver. 27. teacheth that meane men and high men are so much as God accounteth of them indéede and no more Ver. 28 teacheth that Gods mercy the stedfastnesse of his couenaunt be singular comforts to the consciences of his seruaunts Ver. 29. teacheth that God will be the God of the faythfull and of their séede after them Ver. 30.31 doe euidently declare what sinne is vz. the breache of the law and not obseruing Gods commaundements Ver. 32. teacheth that God wil chastice his for their sins to the end that therby they may come to amendment Verse 33 teacheth that God in the middest of his punishmentes remembreth his mercy toward his secondly that God will neuer vtterly forsake those that are his howsoeuer it pleaseth him to afflict them for a time Verse 34. sheweth that God is frée from all chaunge or shadow of turning Iames 1.17 which is a singular comfort to the afflicted foule Verse 35 expresseth Gods loue towardes vs
should as it were set his féete sée 1. Chronicles 28.2 for he vz. alone is holy and therefore méete to bee worshipped Verse 6. Moses and Aaron were vz. as chéefe and principall among his Priestes i. among them whom he hath appointed to offer sacrifices and to expounde the Law and Samuel vz. the Prophet was as chéefe and principall among such as call i. called vpon his name i. professed his religion and made prayers vnto him sée 1. Samuell 7. almost thorow out these vz. before rehearsed and manye other such like called vppon the Lorde i. prayed vnto him with earnestnesse and continuaunce and hee hearde them i. graciouslye graunted them their requestes as hee doeth all them that call vppon him in trueth The Prophet alleageth these men that by their example he might prouoke the people to the worship and seruice of God and hee nameth rather these thrée then other because to their fayth and custodie speciallye was committed the kéeping of the couenaunt that God had made with his people For the truth of this verse sée Exodus 32.31 c. to the end of the Chapter 1 Samuel 12 20 c. Verse 7. He vz. God whome they serued spake vz. plainlye and audiblie vnto them vz. Moses and Aaron in the cloudye piller i. in or out of the Cloude which séemed to haue the forme of an vpright piller sée Exodus 14 19. sée also Num. 17.5 they kept vz. themselues and caused others what in them lay to kéepe his testimonies i. his commaundementes which God gaue his people as a testimonie that he was their God sée Psalme 19.7 and the lawe that he vz. the Lorde himselfe gaue them vz. as a rule of their life and to be a light vnto their féete and a Lanthorne vnto their steps Verse 8. Thou heardest them vz. quickly when they prayd vnto thée for the Lordes hearing sée verse 6. of this Psalme O Lord our God a sodain but yet an emphatical turning of his spéech vnto God by which the Prophet sheweth that the Lord toke pitie vpon that people in respect of the trueth of his Couenaunt and of his grace only without any other cause thou wast a fauourable God vnto them vz. not only when they prayed vnto thée but continually specially when thou pardonest their sinnes though thou diddest take vengeaunce i. though thou diddest fatherlye punishe and correct them for their inuentions i. for deuyses of their owne by whiche they procured thée to wrath agaynste them I knowe others expounde it otherwise but yet me thinketh that this is a moste simple and playne fence Verse 9. Exalte the Lorde our GOD and fall downe sée before verse 5. of this Psalme before his holye Mountayne hee meaneth no doubte the Mountaine of Moriah vppon whiche the Temple was builded sée Genesis 22 2. meaning by this manner of spéeche that he woulde haue the people to worship the Lorde in his Temple al the rest of this verse is expounded before verse 5 of this present Psalme Do. Verse 1. Teacheth vs that euen to know the God ruleth and gouerneth in his Church is sufficiente to strike terror into all the enemyes of all Gods people Verse 2 teacheth vs that though Gods glory appeare euery where yet in no place more plainly thē in his church Ver. 3 teacheth that it becommeth the righteous to praise Gods great power might Ver. 4 teacheth vs not only what great vprightnes is in the Lord in al his iudgemēts but also how iust faithful he is to his people Ver. 5 teacheth vs that it is not only our duety in respects of benefits receaued to praise god but that we are bound therto also in respect of the holines of his maiesty person also that it is a good thing to do it publikely with the rest of the Church Ver. 6 teacheth vs that the prayers of Gods faythfull people are neuer frustrate Verse 7 teacheth vs that familiaritye with the Lorde and knowledge of his maiestye requireth at our handes obedience to his truth and performaunce of it Verse 8 Is full of great comforte teaching vs these points firste that the Lorde chastiseth and correcteth those whome he loueth most tenderlye secondly that though hee doe correct them yet those punishments do no whit at al lessen his fauour and good will towards them Verse 9 is the same with verse 5 and deliuereth the same doctrines Psalme 100 THis Psalme may be diuided into two parts In the one parte Di. the Prophet exhorteth the faythfull to prayse the Lorde hartilye and with ioyfulnesse verse 1 2 3. In the second he vseth the causes wherefore they shoulde prayse him vz. for his frée election and the continuaunce of his mercye verse 3 5. The Title Se. a Psalme of prayse i. a Psalme penned and appointed to stir vp the people to praise the Lord and not so much for that the Psal it selfe doeth comprehend the prayses of God sing ye loude vnto the Lord for the meaning of these wordes sée Psalme 98 4. all the earth i. all the people of God inhabiting the promised lande for I suppose that he putteth the worde earth here for that part of the earth Verse 2. Serue vz. according to the rule of his worde and not after your owne inuentions the Lord vz. only for vnto him all honour is due with gladnes i. readily and ioyfully because in suche kinde of worships the Lord taketh great delight and pleasure come before him i. appeare before the arke which was the place of his worshippe and seruice with ioyfulnesse vz. both inwarde and outwarde of the hearte and of the body meaning thereby greate and singuler reioysing Verse 3. Knowe yée i. professe this muche and yéelde him this honour for hée speaketh not here of inwarde knowledge onely to disreaue him from all false Gods and such as mans fantasie hath forged that euen the Lorde vz. whiche wée serue and that no other but hée is GOD i. our GOD and the only author of that couenaunt which is betwéene him and vs hée hath made vs marke that hée speaketh not here of the common creation of men onely for in that respecte the godlye haue no greater priuiledge than the wicked haue but of spirituall regeneration wherein by the ministerye of his worde and the working of his spirite he begetteth men agayne to his owne image to the ende that they maye serue him in newnesse of life and not we our selues i. we haue not neyther in respecte of the bodye nor of the soule and spirituall regeneration framed and fashioned our selues no no righteousnesse of our owne hath aduaunced vs to this dignitye but we are made his sonnes and seruauntes by his onely frée goodnesse sée Deutronomie 7 7 8. also Deutronomie 9 4. we are his people i. the people whome he of mercye hath chosen to serue him and to bring forth much fruite and the shéepe of his pasture sée Psalme 95 verse 7. meaning by this manner of spéeche that GOD of his frée
goodnesse chuseth men to be a peculiar inheritaunce to himselfe to the end he may alwayes mayntayne them vnder the shaddow of his winges Verse 4. Enter q.d. Because hée hath adopted you therefore striue to serue him into his Gates i. into the Gates of his Temple or Tabernacle he putteth a parte for the whole and the beginning of Gods seruice vz. repayring to the publique place for the execution of that seruice and Worshippe with prayse vz. vnto his name for that and many other his great goodnesses and mercye and into his Courtes hee speaketh according to the number of Courtes in the Tabernacle meaning as before the places of publike assemblies and Gods seruice sée Psalme 94.2.10 with reioycing vz. for the blessinges and benefites which he hath bestowed vpon you prayse him vz. for his great goodnesse and kindnesse towards you and blesse his name i. thanke his maiestye and power for those his mercies sée the word blessing so vsed Mat. 14.19 Verse 5. For the Lorde is good vz. towardes all but speciallye to his owne people meaning by the worde good fauourable louing and gracious his mercye vz. towardes his sonnes and seruauntes is euerlasting i. indureth and lasteth for euer and is neuer subiect to alteration nor chaunge sée Psalme 136. thorowe out and his truth i. the truth and stedfastnesse of his promises made vnto his seruauntes for so doeth the Hebrew worde vsed in this place alwayes signifye is from generation to generation i. is continuall and neuer decayeth euen as one generation succéedeth an other not meaning but that Gods mercy shall indure when all carnall generations of men shall fayle Do. Verse 1 teacheth vs that it becommeth Gods people neuer to be ashamed to prayse the Lord. Verse 2 teacheth vs to yéelde that seruice which we performe to God chearefully and with a good hart Verse 3 teacheth vs that we haue neyther our bodily creation nor our spirituall regeneration of our selues but all from the Lord only Verse 4 teacheth vs that Gods children should shew them selues in publike assemblies publikely thankfull for publike benefits receaued at his mercifull hands Verse 5. Teacheth vs that howsoeuer man be variable in his loue and promise yet God in goodnesse and truth abideth alwayes faithfull to his Psalme 101 THis Psalme as I take it may be deuided into two parts Di. In the first the Kingly Prophet Dauid declareth what hee will performe in respecte of his owne particular person from verse 1 to the end of the 4 In the second he sheweth what hée will doe concerning other vz. punish the wicked and foster the good from verse 5 to the end of the Psalme The Title a Psalme of Dauid i. a Psalme that Dauid made Se. whether before he came to his kingdome or at the beginning of his raigne is vncertain but I suppose rather when he first entred into his kingdome Ver. 1. I wil sing i. I will both speake of and practise sée Isaiah 5.1 mercy i. fauor maintainance towards my good subiects and iudgement i. execution of punishmente vpon the wicked in which 2 parts consisteth the Magistrates dutie as appeareth Rom. 13. sée for the performaunce of this promise 2. Sam. 9.1 vnto thée O Lord will I sing the Prophet meaneth not only that he will prayse God for aduauncing him to the kingdome but that euen for his sake in repect of his own office he wil performe these matters Ver. 2 I will doe wisely i. I wil behaue my selfe vprightly and circumspectlye according to the rule of thy word which is only true wisedome in the perfit way i. in the gouernmente of my kingdome the execution of my office which he calleth a perfit way because there is prescribed in Gods word a perfit rule therof til thou commest to mée vz. to take me out of this life and to cal me to an account for the discharge of my dutie I wil walke in the vprightnes of my hart i. I wil behaue my self vprightly and soundly so that mine own hart conscience shal witnes vnto me my good dealing and holy cōuersation in the middest of mine house i. priuatly and within mine owne walles as it were yea in the eyes and sight of my whole family the Prophet in this verse promiseth two thinges as I take it in the first part of a faythfull executing of his publike charge in the second a godly conuersation priuatly Verse 3. I wil set no wicked thing before mine eyes vz. to performe or doe it yea he meaneth that he wil not only kéepe himselfe from doing wickednesse but that he will so turne himself away from it that his eyes shall not behold it I hate vz. earnestly and from the bottome of my hart the worke of them that fall away vz. from thy truth and from that righte waye that thou hast prescribed meaning by the word worke not only that defection of theirs wch is the principal but al other transgressions whatsoeuer putting one for the whole it i. such maner of dealing shal not cleaue vnto me i. either raign or dwel in me this the Prophet speaketh as assuring himselfe of gods strength to continue the profession of his truth Verse 4. A froward hart i. a peruerse rebellious mind noting in these words the séed or foūtain of sin shal vz. thorow Gods goodnes and strength depart from me vz. farre off he meaneth by this spéeche that he wil indeuour to put of the old man with the lusts therof Ephe. 4 22 I will know none euil q. d. as I wil be far from performing wickednes in acte so I will not allow or like of the same in my iudgement or vnderstanding for so is the word knowing vsed in this place as in sundrye other places before Ver. 5. Him that priuily slaundereth he meaneth not that he wil spare them that shal do it openly for if he punish the lesse offence thus he will not spare the greater which is open slaunder his neighbour i. any whether hée dwell nigh or farre from him for so generally and largely doe I take this worde sée Psalme 15.3 will I destroy i. most sharply punish and that euen by death if the hainousnes of the offence require it him that hath a proud looke i. he that is lofty proud for pride appeareth many times euen in the very eye brées and eyes themselues whē they be lifted vp and high harte or as it is in the Hebrew text large in harte meaning by that maner of spéech one that hath a mind to aspire to great matters therefore is puffed vp with ouerwéening of himself I cannot suffer vz. or indure at any hand he meaneth by these spéeches that he cannot abide pride nor the tokens nor signes thereof nor the persons giuen thereto Ver. 6. Mine eyes shal be i. I wil carefully looke vnto and haue special regard of vnto the faithful of the land i. vnto the good and godlye peo-people that dwell in the lande wheresouer
godly magistrates and ministers which the Lord giueth vs. Ver. 17.18 Teach vs that God doth fearefully punish rebels and contentious persons of what state or calling soeuer they be Ver. 19.20 See out the dotage and blockishnes of idolaters who suppose the Godhead can be fashioned or resembled by any outward thing Ver. 21.22 Teacheth that the forgetfulnes of God his benefites and workes is the high way to all manner of sinne and iniquitie Ver. 23. Teacheth two things first that our sinnes do pul destruction from the Lord vppon vs Secondly how forcible the prayers of Gods children are both for themselues and others Ver. 24. Teacheth that contempt of Gods graces offred and giuen and distrust in the trueth of his promises are two horrible grieuous iniquities Ver. 25. Setteth out what great sinnes murmuring and rebellion against the Lorde are Ver. 26.27 Declare that neither these nor any other sinnes shall escape vnpunished in the parties that do them whether they be fathers or sonnes Ver. 28. Sheweth mans readines and earnest affection to commit idolatry Ver. 29. Sheweth that mans inuentions specially in the worship and seruice of God prouoke Gods angers and bring a plague vppon them Ver. 30. Teacheth vs in the example of Phinehas to lothe and abhorre sinne Ver. 31. Teacheth vs that God graciously accepteth the déedes words of his seruants though many wayes fraught with great defectes Ver. 32. Teacheth vs how peruerse and frowarde mans nature is though the Lorde deale neuer so plentifully and mercifully with him it teacheth also that God spareth no man for his person sake in that hée punished Moses Ver. 33. Teacheth thrée things first that other mens peruersnes shoulde not make vs sinne against God secondly though it doe yet wee shall not escape vnpunished thirdly that rash and vnaduised speaches are sinne against the Lord. Ver. 34. Teacheth vs to strike and not to spare where the Lord will haue vs to destroy for then we must not be lead by our owne fonde affections Verse 35. Teacheth vs that ill company is a shrewde meane to peruerte men from goodnes Ver. 36. Teacheth vs that to serue any besides the Lorde is the next way to come to destruction both in this life and in the life to come Ver. 37. Setteth out the rage of idolaters who spare nothing no not the dearest thinges they haue Verse 38. Teacheth vs that the shedding of innocent blood slayeth the whole lande and that therefore murther shoulde not onely not bée pardoned but sharpely punished Verse 39. Teacheth vs that there is nothing that hurteth man more then in ouerwening of his owne deuises Verse 40. Teacheth vs that our sinnes turne Gods loue and fauour into hatred and displeasure Ver. 41.42 Teach vs that sinne doeth drawe euen all temporall punishmentes vppon vs as forraine gouernement oppression captiuity c. Verse 43. Teacheth vs that God doeth not once onely but sundry times deliuer his people Secondlye that many the more graces they haue from God the more they are puffed vp in their owne deuises Thirdly that sinne against God is not onely a cause to humble vs but doeth in déede humble vs though perhaps wicked men will not sée it or féele it Verse 44. Teacheth vs first that GOD hath a tender eye ouer the afflicted ones Secondly that hée neuer forsaketh them if they call earnestly vppon him Verse 45. Teacheth vs that Gods frée couenaunt and eternall mercy without any thing of ours at all are sufficient inough to mooue him to take pity vppon vs in our afflictions Ver. 46. Teacheth that GOD onely hath the touching of mens heartes to bowe them hither or thither according to his good pleasure Verse 47. Teacheth vs to pray for other and euen Gods dispersed members as for our selues also that our owne ease and prosperity or preferment shoulde not so farre preuayle with vs as to make vs to forget them Verse 48. Teacheth all men continually to prayse the Lorde and to prouoke others thereto what in them lyeth Psalme 107 I Woulde diuide this Psalme into two partes Di In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faythfull to prayse the Lord for his mercy goodnes prouidence and power towardes them from verse 1. to the ende of the 10. In the seconde hée prouoketh them to praise the Lorde for his general power prouidence and goodnes towards others from ver 21. to the end of the Psalme Se. This Psalme hath no title or inscription at all Ver. 1. Is the same both in worde and sense that verse 1. of this Psalme 106. is and therfore sée that Ver. 2. Let them which haue béene redéemed of the Lord vz. out of bondage captiuity and dispersion q.d. let them that haue receiued this benefite at the Lords handes to bée set at liberty when they were in bondage prayse him shew vz. openly and to others howe vz. graciously and mightily hée vz. alone and none but hée hath deliuered them i. fréed them being sore oppressed through the cruelty and tyrannie of them that held them vnder from the hand i. from the power and might of the oppressor i. of them that oppressed them hée putteth in this place the singular for the plurall Verse 3. And gathered them vz. againe and together and that by his mighty power out of the landes vz. rounde about them into which they were dispersed for their transgressions sake from the East and from the West from the North and from the South i. from all quarters whereunto they were dispersed that word that we turne South signifieth also Sea and so shall you finde it translated in sundry textes but the meaning is because the red Sea lay southwarde from the land of promise Verse 4. When they wandered vz. a long tyme vp and downe in the desert and wildernesse out of the way hée meaneth out of the right way which did leade them whither they woulde haue come for GOD for their disobedience made them to wander fourty yéeres in the wildernes that so they might die and not come into the lande of Canaan and found no Citie vz. all that while of their wandering to dwell in i. to stay and refresh them selues in Verse 5. Both hungry and thirsty hée meaneth that whylest they were in the wildernesse they suffered many times great want of bread and drinke yea so much that their soule faynted in them i. their life was ready to decay and there séemed to bée but little difference betwéene death and them Verse 6. Then they vz. being in this great distresse and affliction cryed vnto the Lord in their trouble i. prayed earnestly vnto him and hée deliuered them i. set them frée from their distresse i. from the distresse that they were in Verse 7. And ledde them foorth vz. of the wildernesse and that safe and sounde by the right way vz. into the promised lande that they might goe vz. through his good direction to a Citie of habitation i. not onely to a citie inhabited but to a Citie whose
this restoring of him to a better estate and refreshing him ouer all his miseries according to thy worde sée verse 25 of this Psalme Verse 29. Take vz. thorowe thy goodnesse and mercye from mée vz. which am so much inclyned thereto the way of lying i. the order trade and course of lying vnderstanding thereby all manner of corruption whatsoeuer agaynst GOD or man and graunt me graciously i. of thy great grace and goodnesse giue to mee thy Lawe i. the knowledge and practise of it that according to the same I maye leade my lyfe for it is not to bée doubted but that he had the Law q.d. Kéepe mée from all lying vanitie and sinne from the whiche that hée mighte bée the better preserued hée desireth to bee instructed in the doctrine of GOD his law Verse 30. I haue chosen vz. thorow the light that thou hast reuealed vnto me by the worke of thy spirite the waye of truth i. that path that leadeth into truth and well doing and thy iudgementes i. thy Lawe and commaundementes whiche hee calleth iudgementes because according to the same will he pronounce sentence haue I layde before mee vz. not onlye to looke vpon them but also as the rule of my life and behauioure Immanuell readeth this verse thus The way of truth which I chose and of thy iudgementes which I set before me making it as it were an exposition of the latter part of the other verse q.d. Graunt me graciously thy lawe which I acknowledge and take to be the way of truth c. Ver. 31. I haue cleaued vz. vnfaignedly and with a good hart meaning by this Metaphor of cleauing continuing and perseuering in GOD his Lawe sticking so fast vnto it as nothing coulde remooue him from it sée Romanes 12 9. to thy testimonies O Lord i. to thy law confounde me not i. let me not bee confounded and ashamed q.d. suffer me not to slide or fall into suche infirmitie eyther of woorde or déede that my life shoulde be shamefull vnto mée and I skorned of the enemies of thy law Ver. 32. I will runne vz. chearefullye and swiftlye the waye of thy commaundementes i. that waye order and course of life whiche thy commaundementes shewe me he meaneth that he will bee prompte and ready to kéepe Gods lawe when thou shalt inlarge mine hart some expounde it thus when thou shalt haue set mée out of daunger and giuen me thereby an occasion of great reioycing I rather would expounde it thus when thou shalt haue made my vnderstanding and spirite which of it selfe is narrow and straight not able to contain or conceaue any good things capable by inlarging and opening of it to containe and conceaue thy gifts and graces sée 1. King 4 29 concerning the inlarging of Salomons hart which in my iudgemente serueth very wel to open this place Do. Verse 25 teacheth vs in distresse and affliction to call vppon GOD by earnest prayers also that one good grounde of our prayers is Gods promises made vnto vs in his word Verse 26 teacheth vs that God is nigh to the faythfull prayers of his poore seruaunts also that we are ignoraunt of Gods law till it please him in mercye to vouchsafe to teache vs. Verse 27 teacheth vs carefullye and continuallye to meditate in Gods worde Verse 28 sheweth that Gods children are many times broughte verye lowe but yet the hope that they haue in GOD his promises doeth raise them vp agayne Verse 29 teacheth vs to abhorre as all sinne generally so particularlye lying and falshood also that Gods worde rightly vsed is a great mean to vanquishe sinne by Verse 30 teacheth vs that GOD his word shoulde be sette before vs in all the particular actions of this life Verse 31 teacheth vs to perseuer and continue in the profession of Gods truth all the dayes of our lyfe Verse 32 teacheth vs to go on forward in the race that is set before vs and neuer to be weary of wel doing He. Di. IN this whole part which consisteth of earnest prayer vnto God the Prophet first beséecheth the Lord to giue him good things as amongst others the knowledge and obedience of his law Ver. 33 34 35 38 40 secondly he praieth him to giue strength to auoyd euil things Ver. 36 37 39. Se. Verse 33 Teach me vz. which of my selfe am so blind ignorant and vnapte to euery good thing O Lord vz. whom alone I feare and worship the way of thy statutes i. that order of life which thy law setteth out ver 32. he called it the way of his commaundements and I will kéepe it vz. thorow thine assistance and goodnesse for otherwise no man can do any thing that good is vnto the end vz. of my life meaning that he would obserue Gods law al his life long sée verse 112 of this Psalme afterwards Ver. 34. Giue me vnderstanding vz. of thy will reuealed in thy word and I will kéepe thy law vz. thorow thy goodnesse and assistaunce as before not onlye in my hart but in my conuersation outwardlye yea I will kéepe it with my whole hart i. soundly sincerelye and with an vnfeigned affection Meaning that in the obseruation and obedyence of Gods lawe he would auoyde all hipocrisie Verse 35. Directe mée vz. which thorow mine owne corruption am readye to runne out of the way in the path of thy commaundements i. in the waye and order of life which thy commaundements would haue me to tread for therein i. both in thy Lawe and in a conuersation according to the same is my delighte i. I take singular ioye and pleasure Verse 36. Inclyne vz. thorowe the exercises of thy worde and the working of thy spirite mine hearte i. the affections and desires of my harte vnto thy Testimonyes i. to imbrace the knowledge and practise of thy worde and not to couetousnesse i. gréedye affecting and desyring of that whiche appertayneth to an other man hee putteth one kinde of sinne which is in déede the roote of all euill for al other transgressions and vices whatsoeuer as he did before the word lying ver 29. of this Psalme Ver. 37. Turne away mine eyes by the eyes he meaneth all other senses because they are the messengers which conuey or bring things to our other senses and the windowes or gates as it were by which euil entereth into vs from regarding i. from beholding or looking vpon he prayeth against the beginning of euill which being once ouercome processe and procéeding in it néed not to be feared vanity i. vaine things with the loue whereof men may easily bee ouertaken q.d. remooue the affections of my mind from these things which men do greatly desire and delight in lest otherwise I being caryed away from thy word I imbrace vayne things with other men quicken mee i. make me not only liuely to do thy will but giue me grace to liue in it all the dayes of my life in thy way i. in thy lawe see ver 15. of this Psalme Verse 38. Stablish
i. performe and accomplish for though Gods worde bee alwayes sure both in respect of his maiesty from whome it cōmeth and of it selfe and the things propounded in it and of vs also in respect of assured faith yet it is then most liuely confirmed vnto vs when it is performed and it declared to bee true and certaine by effect as it were thy promise vz. made to me he putteth one promise for many vsing also promises for the word it selfe conteining promises as ver 11. of this Psalm to thy seruant i. to me for he speaketh of himselfe in the thirde person q.d. make the effect of thy promises to come vnto me who serue thée with a good heart for though it be true that Gods promises perfourmed to others may comfort men yet nothing so much can they comfort vs as this which we féele perfourmed to our particular persons because he feareth thée it woulde rather be turned thus who feareth thée for our feare of God is not a cause why God shoulde performe his promises to vs and the Prophet meaneth by the word feare not onely a reuerent perswasion which he had in his heart of God but the effects and fruits of that reuerence that is the worship and seruing of him according to his word Ver. 39. Take away vz. of thy mercy and goodnes my rebuke i. the euil which I might commit against thy good lawe and so it might tend to my shame as though hée prayed to be kept from notorious transgressions as ver 31. of this Psalm or else thus for as much as by some sinnes and namely the sinne of adultery with Bathsheba and murther of her husband Vriah hee had purchased rebuke and shame amongst men hée beséecheth the Lord euen to remoue that that I feare vz. will not onely fall but increase vppon mee vnlesse in mercy thou cure and couer it for thy iudgements vz. which thou hast pronounced in thy word are good vz. to them that rightly vnderstand them vnderstanding by iudgements not onely the threates of the lawe but also euen those comforts which God hath pronounced in the same Ver. 40. Beholde I desire vz. earnestly and with a very good affection thy commandements i. both the knowledge and obedience of thy commandements quicken mee Sée ver 25.37 of this Psalme in thy righteousnes i. in thy woorde and lawe which is called righteousnes because it is the onely rule of that righteousnes which we ought to performe to God or man Do. Ver. 33. Teacheth vs to pray to the Lord onely for light and instruction out of his holy worde also to cary with vs a holy purpose of perseuerance and continuance in the obedience of God all the dayes of our life Verse 34. Teacheth vs that the vnderstanding kéeping of gods law is a singular gift of his own bestowed vpon his children also that our obedience to god should be vnfeigned and without hipocrisie Ver. 35 Teacheth vs that vnlesse God kéepe vs in obedience wée shall continually wander out of the way also that our continual delight and pleasure should be in Gods word Ver. 36. Teacheth vs what a foule fault the sinne of couetousnes is also that there is no better meane to subdue it in our selues then care and conscience to walke in the obedience of Gods worde Ver. 37. Teacheth vs first to nippe off sinne in the beginning thereof secondly to labour the mortification of our earthly members and the partes of our bodyes inclined to euill and thirdly to pray for liuelines continuance in the obedience of Gods trueth Ver. 38. Teacheth vs that if wee haue by experience either in our selues or others but specially in our selues felt the trueth of gods promises perfourmed to vs wee haue not onely a notable testimony of Gods goodnes but a seale set vpon our fayth for the greater strengthning of it in the same Ver. 39. Teacheth vs to pray the remouing of shame amongst men specially if our shame shal bring with it some dishonour to God also it teacheth vs not to be shameles as many men are who are without blushing and haue gotten to thēselues harlots faces Ver. 40. Teacheth vs to haue an earnest desire both to knowe and walke in the obedience of Gods lawe This part in summe declareth what great weaknes there is in man to vnderstande loue and followe Gods lawe vnlesse he be taught and renued by the power of his spirit Vau. Di. THis is the sixt letter and noteth out the sixt part In which the Prophet specially propoundeth two thinges first he maketh prayer vnto God for the continuaunce of his mercies specially for manifesting his word vnto him with the fruites and effectes which shall follow thereof ver 41.42.43.44 Secondly hée promiseth and voweth as it were a thankefull heart to the Lord for his benefits which he wil declare openly before all men yea euen kings magistrates Ver. 45.46 By a holy and religious life towards God himselfe ver 47.48 Se. Ver. 41. And let thy louing kindnes i. thy most tender and infinite mercy come vnto mée O Lorde vz. from thée q.d. let me haue it plentifully powred forth vpon mée and make mee to féele it effectually and thy saluation i. ayde helpe yea and eternall life it selfe hée setteth louing kindnes or mercy before saluation as the cause before the effect according to thy promise vz. graciously made vnto me q.d. make mee to féele that louing kindnesse and saluation of thine which thou hast promised and I pray for Ver. 42. So i. by that meanes onely and no other shall I make answere i. bee inabled sufficiently to answere vnto my blasphemies i. vnto them that reuile and speake euill of mee q.d. I will not then dissemble any whit at all but speake euen as the thing it selfe shall require for I trust in thy worde vz. which thou hast giuen mee q.d. I perswade my selfe in the trueth of thy woorde that when I shall once sensibly féele thy mercy and goodnes I shal be wel able to answere all my gainsayers Sée Luke 21.14.15 Verse 43. And take not vz. though for my sinnes in iustice thou mightest the worde of trueth i. thy worde which only conteyneth trueth in it vtterly i. altogether or for euer Immanuel readeth this part of the verse thus But take not out of my mouth the very true word i. the word which is most true referring the word which is here translated vtterly not to the word take away as our English text doeth but to the worde of God which in déede is most true out of my mouth in this speach hee doeth not exclude the heart by which we must beginne but it is q.d. vpholde not only my heart in faith lest I bee ouerthrowne through temptations but bring to passe also that my tongue may haue full liberty so that I may praise thee amongst men without any feare so also Saint Paul prayeth the Church to pray for him that vtterance might bée giuen vnto him that he might
which we haue in our hands we haue them in readines for any vse as it were yet q.d. for all these dangers doe I not forget vz. continually or vtterly thy law i. thy word putting a part of it for the whole Ver. 110. The wicked vz. men of the world haue laid vz. secretly and priuily a snare for me vz. to catch me in it He meaneth that the vngodly hath secretly conspired and practised his destruction but vz. for all that I swarued not vz. to the one side or to the other meaning that neither the feare of his aduersaries nor fauour towards himselfe had drawne him away from the obedience of God from thy precepts i. from doing the things which thou commaundest and requirest at my hands Ver. 111. Thy testimonies i. thy worde haue I taken i. estéemed had in as great regard as an heritage for euer i. as a perpetuall inheritance He meaneth that he did more estéeme the doctrine of God thē al possessions though they had bin neuer so durable for they are the ioy of my hart i. my hart meaning by hart himself putting the principall parte of him for the whole man taketh ioy and delight in nothing else so much as in them Verse 112. I haue applied mine hart i. I haue not only carried a purpose with me but I haue set my whole affection vpon this and he speaketh not this as a vayne bragge of his own vertue but as a simple protestation of the vprighte affection of his own hart to fulfil thy statutes i. to obserue and do the thinges which thou hast or dained in thy law to be performed alway i. continually and for euer euen vnto the end vz. of my life meaning by that maner of spéech all his life long sée verse 33 of this Psalme Verse 105 teacheth vs that without the light of Gods word we cannot walke rightly Ver. 106 teacheth vs to vse al the means we can Do. yea euen to binde our selues with vowes and promises to obserue gods law Ver. 107 teacheth vs that Gods children in this world are many times brought to a low case that we haue no liuelinesse in vs to good things till God bestow it vpon vs. Ver. 108. teacheth vs that we can do nothing which can please God except it please him in mercy to accept of the same Ver. 109 teacheth vs that many are the afflictions of the righteous but yet that for their comforte they shoulde continuallye thinke vpon Gods word Verse 110 setteth out the malicious mindes of the vngodly agaynst the good also it teacheth vs for no persecution to go astray from God and his truth Verse 111 teacheth vs in what price and estimation we should haue Gods word it teacheth vs also that there is no true ioy to be found but in that Ver. 112 teacheth vs to carry with vs a continuall care and conscience to walke in the obedience of Gods law Samech IN this xv part the Prophet specially propoundeth thrée things Di. in the firste he setteth out his loue to Gods worde and his hatred of all wickednesse and wicked men Verse 113.114.115 In the second he maketh his prayers vnto god for strength and continuance in goodnes and truth Ver. 116 117. In the thirde he expresseth Gods feareful iudgements agaynst the vngodly and what profite the godly reape thereby Ver. 118.119 120. Verse 113 I hate vz. with an vnfeined hatred as Psalm 139 22. Se. meaning by this earnest spéech the great dislike he had vayne inuentions i. all the deuises of any mans hart or head whatsoeuer The hebrew worde whiche hee vseth in this place properly signifieth boughes or braunches and by a Metaphor are put here for inuentions deuises or thoughts whiche comming from the harte as it were from the trunke or body of a Trée spread themselues hither and thither and that causeth Immanuel to turne it thoughts Whatsoeuer it be he meaneth doubtles the crooked inuentions deuises of mans hart but thy law i. thy word sée ver 109 of this Psalm doe I loue vz. vnfeignedly and with a good hart Ver. 114. Thou vz. alone no other but thou alone art my refuge i. the place that I flie vnto in distresse meaning that God was he alone vnder whose protection and sauegard he did withdraw himselfe sée Psalme 18.2 and shield vz. to defend me from deadly darts and daungers sée agayne Psalme 18 2 where you shall finde both these wordes expounded and Psalme 3 verse 3. and I trust vz. stedfastly and patiently in thy worde i. in the promises that thou hast made in thy word he meaneth that hee did assuredly beléeue that Gods promises made in his word should bee performed and though they were delayed for a while yet he woulde patiently tarrye the accomplishment thereof Ver. 115. Away from me ye wicked q.d. Departe from me for ye labour in vayne to draw me to commit wickednesse with you sée this spéech expounded Psalme 6.8 for I will kéepe i. I haue a purpose to kéepe and thorow the strength and assistaunce of my God will performe it the commaundements of my God i. those things which my God hath commaunded and will at no hand doe these wickednesses which ye prouoke me vnto Ver. 116. Stablish me i. confirme and strengthen me in thy truth and in al goodnesse according to thy promise vz. made vnto me in thy word that I maye liue vz. euen here in this life before men to thy glory and disappointe me not of my hope i. of the things that I hope for He maketh this prayer not as though God did at any time fayle his children but to the end he himself might more and more féele his fayth strengthened in the truth of the word Ver. 117 Stay thou me vz. from faynting sliding or falling and I shall be safe vz. from daungers and distresses meaning that vnlesse God kept him he coulde not stand one minute of an houre and I wil delight continually in thy statutes vz. not only to know them but also to doe them sée verse 112. Ver. 118. Thou hast troden down vz. vnder thy féete euen as a mighty King or conqueror sée for this phrase Psalm 110.1 al them vz. of what state or condition soeuer they be that depart from thy statutes i. that swerue and go astray from the things that thou hast appointed them to walke in for their deceit i. the mischieuous practises which deceitfully they haue deuised against others is vayne i. is voyde and to no purpose vnlesse it be to their owne hurt Verse 119. Thou hast taken away vz. from amongst thy children and that in thy heauie iudgement al the wicked of the earth i. all the vngodlye inhabiting the earth of what state or condition soeuer they were sée verse 118 for this word all like drosse i. as a thing or matter of no account for indéede the wicked are not regarded before God neither are they to be estéemed of his children sée the wicked compared to drosse
our causes when the ordinarye course of a iust defence is stopped against vs. Verse 123 teacheth vs neuer to leaue off hanging vppon the Lorde though the Lorde a long while deferre his ayde Verse 124 teacheth vs in all our supplications and prayers to flie to Gods mercy Verse 125 teacheth vs that till GOD giue vs vnderstanding we are vtterly blind Verse 126 teacheth vs that the heaping vp of wickednesse will doubtlesse procure the Lorde to come with swifte and sharpe iudgement Verse 127 teacheth vs to preferre Gods worde before all pleasures and profites of this life whatsoeuer Verse 128 teacheth vs vnfaignedlye and from the bottome of our hartes to abhorre all subtill and deceitfull wayes Pe. THe Prophet in this seuentéenth part Di. painteth out both the excellency of gods law and his great desire loue to the same ver 129 130 131. Secondlye hée prayeth the Lord to be mercifull vnto him to order his conuersation to saue him from the wicked to instruct him in his law ver 132 133 134 135. Thirdlye he expresseth how much he was gréeued when he saw the law of his God traÌ„sgressed and broken ver 136. Verse 129. Thy Testimonies i. thy law and word sée verse 111 Se. 125 are wonderfull i. comprehend wonderfull things because it containeth misteries which are high and hidden from mens reason and vnderstanding and hereby he was moued to reuerence estéeme Gods word therefore i. because they are so excellent doth my soule i. I my selfe both in the outward and inwarde man kéep them i. striue and labour to kéepe theÌ„ and thorow thy goodnes many times performe them Ver. 130. The enterance into thy word i. the beginning to be acquainted and familiar with it q.d. the word of God is so cleare that euen at the first sight of it it lighteneth mens eyes The hebrew word which is here turned entraunce signifieth dore gate or opening q.d. Euen the verye first rudiments or instruments of thy word sheweth light vz. to such as resort and repayre to it he meaneth that it lighteneth their mindes and chaseth away the naturall darkenesse which is in them giueth vnderstanding i. abundance of vnderstanding and knowledge to the simple i. to theÌ„ that be rude or ignoraunt and specially to such as being voyde from presumption and pride doe willingly submit themselues to GOD that they maye bée instructed in and by his worde Verse 131. I opened my mouth i. I very earnestlye desired as they doe that eyther are hungrye or thirstye verye muche whiche they declare by opening their mouth or gaping euen as though they woulde swallowe vp the ayre and panted vz. for an earnest desire which I had sée Psalme 42 12. I take these same to bée metaphors borrowed from thirstye and wearie wayfaring men q. d. I doe so earnestlye hunger and thyrste after thy lawe as the hungrye and thirstye doe after meaâ—e and drinke yea I doe by all the meanes I can striue to attayne it because I loued vz. earnestlye and vnfeignedlye sée Verse 113.127 thy commaundementes i. thy whole word a part for the whole Verse 132. Looke vppon mée vz. continuallye and at all times speciallye in the dayes of myne affliction and bée mercifull vnto mee though there be nothing in me to mooue thée vnto it as thou vsest to doe vnto those i. euen as thou arte accustomed to shew mercy and loue to such that loue thy name i. that loue thée and that vnfeignedly and from a good hart The name of God put for God himselfe as may appeare by Rom. 8. â—8 where this phrase loue God is vsed Verse 133. Direct my steppes i. order my conuersation and course of life some turne it thus direct my feete but the sence commeth all to one in thy worde i. according to that truth which thou hast sanctifyed and set forth in thy word and in that he prayeth God to direct him he sheweth what great weakenesse is in maÌ„ by nature and let no iniquitie i. sinne either against thy maiestie or men my brethren haue dominion ouer me vz. to carry me from the wayes of thy coÌ„maundements for though we haue a will sometimes to doe good yet euill is present and sinne dwelleth though it raigneth not in this our flesh sée Rom. 7. thorowout Verse 134. Deliuer me i. set me frée and that thorow thy goodnesse and mercy from the oppression of men i. from men that would oppresse me and doe mee wrong or else from the oppression and wrong whiche they purpose against me sée verse 121 of this Psalme and I wil kéepe thy precepts sée verse 115. of this Psalme Verse 135. Shew the light of thy countenaunce i. be mercifull and fauourable you haue such a phrase before Psalme 67 1. vpon thy seruaunt i. vpon me thy seruaunt or vnto me thy seruaunt speaking of himselfe in the third person and teach me thy statutes sée verse 64 68. Verse 136. Mine eyes gush out with riuers of waters i. I wéepe and sheade abundance of teares yea I am altogether in teares q.d. I wéepe continuallye not only for mine own cause but euen for the wicked mens sakes whome I pitye and specially for the law of God which it gréeueth me to the harte to bée violated and broken because they i. the men of the worlde and wicked ones kept not thy law i. haue neither care nor conscience to kéepe it Do. Verse 129 Verse 129 teacheth vs that the excellency of Gods word should drawe vs to a loue liking and obedience thereof Ver. 130 is an excellent place to aunswere the Papistes who accuse Gods word of darkenesse and hardnesse Verse 131. teacheth vs earnestly to hunger and thirst after the foode of our soules whiche is the word of God Verse 132 teacheth vs that God vseth continually to shew mercy and loue to those that loue and feare him Verse 134 teacheth vs that the more God doth set vs frée from daunger the greater care wee should haue to walke in obedience Verse 135 teacheth vs that Gods fauour is the Fountaine of all goodnesse to his children also that til he teach vs we are but blind and ignoraunt Verse 136 teacheth vs to be gréeued not only for our own sins but for other mens transgressions also Tsaddi Di. IN this part the Prophet speciallye propoundeth two thinges the firste is a singular commendation of God and his law Verse 137 138 140 142 and 144. The second is a description of his own misery trouble and gréefe and this is put down in verse 130 141 and 143. Verse 137. Righteous art thou O Lord vz. euen thou alone Se. and none other but thou q.d. if a man should séeke for righteousnesse without him hee shall not find a drop thereof and iust are thy iudgements vz. which thou exercisest towards men meaning also by this spéech that all of them and euery one of them are iust Ver. 138. Thou hast commanded and therefore good cause thou shouldest be obeyed iustice i.
mutual performance of duties one of vs towards another so is the word vsed Mica 6 8. by thy testimonies i. by and in thy worde and truth i. not only sound and sincere dealing but doing of it with an vpright affection specially for though a man do the thing and do it not with the same mind that God requireth it is sinne to him For in the obedience of Gods commaundements we must carefully take héede that we tread in these thrée steps to doe the same thing that he appointeth and none other to do it with the same mind that he demaundeth it to be done and to refer it to the same end Ver. 139. My zeale i. the gréefe of my hart as before ver 136 and the anger which I did conceaue hath euen consumed me i. almost wasted me worn me away so that there is little or no hope of my life he meaneth not that he was thus cōsumed by reason of the sorrow which he conceaued for priuate iniuries but because the law of his God was trāsgressed because mine enemies who the particulars were as whether it were Saul or others it is not certain but he speaketh of thē al generally haue forgotten thy words i. wil not acknowledge it but cōtemtuously tread it vnder their féete Ver. 140. Thy word is proued most pure i. is by experience of thy seruaunts found to be most excellent as the gold and siluer is best which hath bin most fined sée Psa 12.6 thy seruant i. I thy seruaunt speaking still of himself in the third person and that same worde and may wel be turned therefore loueth it sée ver 97 113 127. Ver. 141. I am smal i. of small account and little estimation and despised vz. of all men specially of the great ones yet q.d. for all that I do not forget thy preceptes vz. but think vpon them both to know and do them sée ver 109. Ver. 142. Thy righteousnesse i. not only the righteousnesse which is in God but that which God himself requireth of men in his word is an euerlasting righteousnes vz. both because it indureth for euer and bringeth the doers of it to eternal blessednes and thy law i. thy word as sundry times before verse 109 is truth i. not only true but very truth it self which is more significant noting that there is no truth without or beside that word Ver. 143. Trouble and anguish i. abundance and great store of troubles for so much I think the two words together import are come vpon me i. haue seased and taken hold of me yet q.d. for all my gréefes are thy commandements my delight i. thy word doth not only delight and pleasure me but much comfort me Ver. 144. The righteousnesse of thy testimonies i. that righteousnesse which thou prescribest in thy word is euerlasting i. indureth and abideth for euer as before verse 142. graunt mée vnderstanding vz. thereof and I shall liue vz. a blessed certayne and assured life hereby he sheweth that to speake properlye men liue not when they are destituted of the light of God and heauenly wisedome and therefore that note in the Geneua Bible is good for the doctrin that the life of a man without the knowledge of God is nothing else but death Do. Verse 137 teacheth vs alwaies to confesse Gods iudgemēts to be righteous though perhaps it appear not so to our own reasō Ver. 138 setteth out before vs the excellency of Gods word by the things which it commandeth Ver. 139 teacheth vs to be greatly gréeued when other men transgresse gods law Ver. 140 teacheth vs that the excellency of Gods word should drawe from it loue and liking of it on our parts Ver. 141 teacheth vs that no aduersity should cause vs to forget God and his truth Verse 142 teacheth vs that Gods word is the only rule of righteousnesse and truth so that whatsoeuer is not according to it is to be condemned for falshood Ver. 143 teacheth vs that only Gods word can delight and comfort vs in the dayes of our trouble and anguish Ver. 144 teacheth vs that howsoeuer men liue in this life yet they liue not in déede the life of God without the knowledge of his maiesty by his word Koph Di. THis xix part standeth especially of prayer wherein the Prophet first promiseth obedience and propoundeth his earnest desire and patience verse 145 146 147 148 as arguments to moue the Lord to graunt his request Secondly he vseth reasons for that purpose taken firste from the person of God who is most merciful ver 149 ready to helpe ver 151. and most constant in his word verse 152. Secondly from the person of his aduersaries who pressed vpon him to doe him mischiefe ver 150. Thirdly from the experience whiche hée himself had had of Gods goodnesse ver 152. Se. Ver. 145. I haue cried i. earnestly and vehementlye prayed vnto the Lorde for that word crying declareth that he directed all the affections of his harte to GOD alone and that with vehemency and ardencye with my whole harte q.d. My mouth hath not onely bene nigh thée but euen my very harte and all the powers and partes thereof haue consented to the good thinges which I vttered with my wordes heare me O Lord i. graunt me my requests and petitions for otherwise it is not to be doubted but that the Prophet knew that the Lord heard him and I will kéepe thy statutes sée verse 115 and 134 of this Psal Ver. 146. I called vpon thée vz. heretofore speciallye when I was in trouble as Psal 120 1 and thou heardest me Psal 3 4. q.d. I hope thou wilt doe so now saue me i. deliuer me from daungers and distresses and I will kéepe thy testimonies this is the very same but yet in other wordes which hée spake before verse 145. Ver. 147. I preuented vz. with my prayers the morning light i. the dawning of the day or the light whiche commeth before the morning and cried i. prayed earnestly vnto thée The Prophet meaneth that he vsed to pray vnto the Lord euen before the day dawning sée before verse 55 62 for I wayted on thy word i. I stedfastly stayed my hope vpon thy promise and did patiently abide the performaunce thereof Verse 148. Mine eyes preuent the night watches i. I my selfe am more attentiue to meditate thinke vpon thy law than the night watches to kéepe their watche and ward Or else thus Euen before the night watches beginne to sette their watche doe I beginne to medytate on thy word and as they continue in the same so doe I. For the better vnderstanding of this place sée Psalme 1 2. also Psalme 130 5 6. Verse 149. Heare my voyce i. graunt the prayer which from my hart I vtter with my voyce according to thy louing kindnesse vz. shewed heretofore to others of thy Seruantes and to me as verse 132 specially when they call vpon thée O Lorde quicken me vz. in the knowledge and obedience of thy truth
and heauie hearted expressing that griefe of theirs by teares and caryed vz. with them into that straunge countrey precious séede i. hope and fayth in the trueth of Gods promises which none coulde take from them but they shall returne vz. from thence into their owne Countrey with ioy i. with great store of outwarde and inwarde comfort and bring vz. with them after that they haue gathered in their haruest as it were their sheaues or after some their handfuls whatsoeuer it is hee meaneth that they shall returne againe with greater abundance of féeling then they caryed with them thus doeth GOD make his children to thriue vnder the crosse Verse 1. Do. Teacheth vs that whatsoeuer instruments or meanes GOD vseth in the performaunce of his counsels yet all the glory of the fact must be adscribed to him alone Verse 2. Teacheth vs to bée glad and to reioyce specially in the Lorde and his goodnesse when it pleaseth him to offer vs occasion and to giue vs matter of mirth also it sheweth that Gods works for his children are so playne and sensible that euen the wicked are inforced to confesse them Verse 3. Teacheth vs plainely and with thankefulnesse to acknowledge Gods graces bestowed vppon vs. Verse 4. Teacheth vs that when GOD hath deliuered vs from misery yet wée shoulde not forget our brethren that lye plagued in the same wherein wée were but that wee shoulde remember them in our earnest prayers to the Lord. Ver. 5. and 6. Teach vs that howsoeuer wee bee afflicted and made sorrowfull for a tyme yet a day will come wherein we shall reioyce and haue our heades lifted vp which time we ought to attend in all patience Psalme 127. THis Psalme consisteth wholly of instruction and doctrine Di. and may bée diuided into two partes In the first the holy Ghost sheweth that both publike administration and rule must bee blessed by GOD or else they will bee to no effect Verse 1.2 Secondlye hee declareth particularly that children are a speciall blessing giuen to men from the Lorde and this reacheth from verse 3. to the ende of the Psalme The title A song of degrees this is expounded before Psalme 120. Se. or Psalme of Salomon i. which Salomon made some read or for Salomon as though Dauid his father had made it as an instruction for him Sée somewhat of this matter Psalme 72. in the title thereof whether Salomon made it or Dauid for his vse it is not much materiall this is to bee marked that here the Prophet woulde giue vs to vnderstande that all thinges whatsoeuer must bee directed and gouerned by God or else they can not come to any good successe or ende Verse 1. Except the Lorde builde the house by house hée meaneth not onely the frame of an house wherein men dwell but the persons commonly called the housholde or familie yea and the very order and manner of gouernement thereof and by building hee meaneth blesse it and further it yea do all in all in it and about it they labour in vayne i. they take paines to no end or purpose but lose their trauaile that builde it i. that indeuour or toyle about it to builde it set it vp and bring it to good order except the Lorde keepe the Citie vz. from the rage and spoyle of the enemie vnderstanding by Citie not onely the houses and wals but the people and the whole common wealth yea the very fourme and order of their politike gouernement the kéeper i. he that is appointed by office to keepe it meaning hereby not onely the watch which order is obserued in al townes of warre and those that suspect the enemy but euen the iudges and maiestrates who also in the Scriptures are called watchmen watcheth in vayne i. to no ende or purpose hée meaneth that all the industrie of men either in maintaining or gouerning a familie or in vpholding a good pollicie and gouernment in a Citie shalbée vayne and vnprofitable vnlesse GOD guyde all and giue good successe thereto Verse 2. It is in vayne vz. vnlesse Gods speciall blessing bee present with you for you vz. of what state or condition so euer you bee to ryse earely vz. to your labour and worke and to lye downe late i. to goe to bed from your worke and eat the bread of sorrowe i. sustenaunce gotten with great payne and trauayle of the bodie and great griefe of mynde so that they can not eate quietlye with a mind free from labour care and feare but q.d. notwithstanding the vngodly haue these griefes and cares hée i. the Lorde will surely i. without fayle giue vz. of his méere liberalitie and mercie rest i. both norishment and all good thinges whatsoeuer and yet not yéelding vnto them an idle life or forbidding them labour because the faythfull doe willingly subiect themselues thereto through the obedience of fayth to his beloued vz. people putting one for all for hee speaketh here in the singular loued by beloued ones hee meaneth them whome the Lorde loueth and such also as being confirmed in his loue towardes them doe wholy commit themselues vnto him Verse 3. Beholde q.d. consider it as a thing most certayne and profitable children i. posteritie and issue which it pleaseth GOD to giue in this life are the inheritance of the Lorde i. are a portion that as it were for an inheritance the Lord giueth vnto vs and the fruit of the wombe i. children sée Micah 6.7 his reward i. a reward that he giueth to men in this life and mark that in these thrée last verses he maketh thrée degrées as it were of gods blessing in this ver he mentioneth the blessing of posterity or generatiō in ver 4. hee speaketh of their good liberall and obediēt education and verse 5 he sheweth what fruits come by them that are well brought vp The hebrew word whiche we turne here reward signifieth euery good thing whatsoeuer that God giueth vnto men Ver. 4. As are the arrowes i. the cleane and well kept arrowes in the hand of the strong man or at the hand of the strong man that is to say alwayes in a readinesse so are the children of youth i. so are the children that are begotten in the flower of their parents age meaning it of those children whiche are well brought vp that they are in a readinesse alwayes to goe and come and to doe all good things enioyned them I know there is another sence of these wordes as to the end he might the more commend this benefite of God he should commend them for their naturall force because their fathers might strengthen and defend themselues by them as it were by archers and good men But me thinketh the other is a more fit sence for this place Verse 5. Blessed is he vz. from the Lord and euen in the sight and presence of men that hath his quiuer full of them i. that is replenished and hath his house garnished with such good children for he continueth in the similitude
thée meaning that he would prouide that one of his children posterity should cōtinually succéed him in the kingdom Ver. 12. If thy sons i. thy posterity these are gods words to Dauid establishing the couenāt with him his séed kéepe vz. vnfaignedly and with all their hart my couenaunt i. the couenante which I haue made with them and is passed betwéene them me and my testimonies i. my law word and that euery particular péece of it for so muche do I think doth the plural number in this place signifie that I shall teach them vz. by the ministery of my seruaunts the Priests and Prophets their sonnes also i. their posterity euen to many generations shall sit vpon thy Throne i. shall succéede thée and them in the Kingdome putting throne a part of the kingdome for the whole and it is called Dauids throne or kingdome because he was the first man of al his race that God aduanced to that high honor for euer i. for a lōg season referred to Dauid his natural séede but for all eternitie referred to Christ sée these words expounded 1 King 2 4 also 1 King 8 25 also 2. Chron. 6 16. Verse 13. For the Lord vz. himselfe hath chosen vz. of his great mercy Sion i. his Church or Ierusalem vz. to be the place where his arke should abide he himselfe be serued and loued vz. of his own good pleasure and not for any excellency or worthines that was in it to dwell in it i. to remayne and to abide there as in the next verse Ver. 14. This vz. place is my rest i. is the place wherein I will haue mine arke to staye for euer i. for a long tyme if we referre it to the Materiall Ierusalem but continuallye euen to all eternitye if wée referre it to the Churche here will I dwell i. in this place I will giue of my presence power and continuall aboade for I haue a delight therein i. I haue delighted and loued to dwell there as in the nexte verse before going sée Psalme 78 68. Verse 15. I vz. who am able to do it wil surely i. without all fayle blesse vz. plentifully and abundantly hir vitailes i. all thinges that I shal giue her necessarye for the maintaynaunce of this present life q.d. I will not only giue them abundaunce of vitailes but I will make their meate and drinke profitable vnto them and will satisfye vz. with abundaunce and plentye her poore i. the poore which shal be in Sion or in the Churche with breade i. with thinges necessarye for the nourishmente of this life He ioyneth here spirituall graces to the temporall blessinges declaring that hée will so prouide euen for the poorest of them that they shall not onelye not want their ordinarye vittayles at anye tyme but haue them in greate plentye Verse 16. And vz. I my selfe who am the only Lorde will clothe sée before verse 9. of this Psalme hir Priestes i. those that attende vppon holy exercises and seruices in hir with saluation i. with deliueraunce from daungers and distresses he meaneth that hee will defende and kéepe vnder his sauegarde the ministers of his Church and his saynts i. the people of Sion or of the Church sée before verse 9 shall shout for ioy vz. of that goodnesse and grace whiche GOD shall shewe to the whole Churche and euerye particular member of it and this phrase shouting for ioye or as it is in the hebrew in singing shall sing doth not only note the great ioy which they shall haue But the certaintie and assurednesse of it also Ver. 17. There i. in Sion Ierusalem or in the Churche will I make i. cause thorowe my power goodnes the horn of Dauid i. the power might kingdome c of Dauid my seruant to hud i. to prosper and increase it is a metaphor taken from beasts who haue snags in their heads as deare haue which are vnto thē in stéed of bowes as it were by which he noteth their flourishing and prospering for I haue ordeined vz. in mine eternal counsel a light vz. euen in that place meaning by light the regall dignity glory and the godly person that should execute the same as 2 Sam. 21.17 1 King 11 36. for mine annointed i. for Dauid my seruaunt whom I haue appointed to be King some expound it thus q.d. I wil bring to passe that the kingly dignity shal not so be quenched but that it shall always shew forth some light the other sence is better in my minde Ver. 18. His enemies i. Dauids enemies and the enemies of his godly posteritie will I clothe with shame i. compas them about with confusion of face so that they shall not dare to lift vp their heads meaning further that he would euen confound and destroy them but on him i. him himselfe his posterity shall his crown florish i. his kingdom shal continue florishing and not wither away but be preserued alwayes in his force and beauty and this was fully accomplished in Christ Verse 1 teacheth vs to beséech the Lord to declare by effect that he thinketh vpō vs. Do. Ver. 2 teacheth vs to bind our selues by all lawful means we can to the obedience seruice of our God Ver. 3 teacheth vs that we shoulde little estéeme all the pleasures of this life in respect of God and his glory Ver. 4 teacheth vs that we should make but little account of profitable necessary thinges in respecte therof Ver. 5 teacheth vs to ioyn our selues to the exercises assemblies of gods congregation Ver. 6 doth cōmend vnto vs the care of Gods Church religion seruice Ver. 7 teacheth vs not only to heare of Gods Church but when wee haue heard of it to labour the finding of it Ver. 8 teacheth vs to pray the Lord to be continually present with vs to beséech him to giue vs al the signes testimonies of his fauour Ver. 9 teacheth all but specially Kings to pray for the ministers and officers of Gods Church for the whole congregation Ver. 10 teacheth vs to offer vp all our prayers in the name meditation of Christ Iesus only Ver. 11 sheweth how that God for the strengthening of our fayth in the truth of his word doth euen bind himselfe vnto vs by an oth Ver. 12 teacheth vs that albeit the couenant that God hath made with vs be of it selfe and as it procéedeth from God frée yet it is deliuered vnder certaine conditions whiche he would haue to be obserued that we in some measure performing the same might be more and more confirmed in the truth of it Ver. 13 sheweth vs that gods frée loue is the chéefe cause of al his graces towards the Church Ver. 14 teach vs that Gods grace towards his Church is vnchangeable and abideth for euer Ver. 15 setteth forth Gods great liberality towards the Church and his singular fauour who will not destitute no not the meanest or poorest Ver. 16 teacheth vs euen in
the creation of heauen and earth the waters c. but also in that hee gouerneth euery thing according to his will and disposeth of them in a most wyse order Ver. 7. Hée vz. God alone bringeth vp vz. into the aire and skye and that by his almighty power the clouds i. vapors and exhalations which afterwardes in the middle region of the aire are turned into cloudes as we sée them from the endes of the earth i. from al the quarters of the worlde and maketh vz. by his almighty power the lightnings with the raine i. both lightning and rayne which are seldome sundered but come together as our dayly experience teacheth vs for wee haue seldome any lightning without rayne and thunder hee draweth foorth the wynds vz. by his almightie power stil to which euery thing euen the dumbe and insensible creatures must obey out of his treasures i. out of holes dens hidden and secret places in which as it were in treasure houses god keepeth the windes of which our sauiour Christ sayth Iohn 3.8 That the wind bloweth where it listeth and men heare the sound thereof but whence it commeth or whither it goeth no man can tell And thus wée sée that though by reason wee can giue a naturall cause of these meteors as that the cloudes are congealed of moist and watery vapours drawen out of the Sea and from the earth from which cloudes the rayne commeth as Ecclest 11.3 and that lightning is made of hote drye and firie exhalations drawen by the power of the sunne into the regions of the aire and so foorth of the rest yet we may perceiue by the playne woords of this text that nothing is done in the order of nature without the counsell and will of our GOD Sée Iob. 36. verse 27.28 c. also Iob. 37. throughout for this purpose Verse 8. Hée smote vz in his iustice and iudgement and that by his almighty power the first borne of Egipt i. all the first borne in the lande of Egypt both of man and beast i. of all men and beastes whatsoeuer Sée Exod. 12.29 Psalme 105.36 meaning by smiting destroying them with death And note that here he reckoneth vp a fourth cause wherefore the faythfull shoulde prayse God to wit for his speciall graces and benefites bestowed vppon his Church in their preseruation and deliuerance and his singular iudgements and punishments brought vpon their enemies wherein the principal prayse of his vertue and power is manifested Verse 9. Hée i. God himselfe hath sent vz. by his eternal power in the ministery of Moses and Aaron his seruants tokens vz. of his wrath and iudgement and wonders i. feareful and straunge thinges into the middest of thée O Egypt vz. so that thou canst not either pleade ignoraunce or alledge excuse for my iudgements were euen vppon Pharaoh vz. thy king and vppon all his seruauntes i. not onely them that attended vppon him but vppon all his people and subiectes the trueth and accomplishment of this Sée in Exod. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. chapters Verse 10. Hée i. God smote vz. in his iudgement and that by the dint of the sworde and death many nations vz. greater and mightier then the people of the Iewes Sée Deutronom 2. 3. chapt throughout for this matter and flewe vz. by the sworde of his seruantes and people many kinges whereof some hee reckoneth vp in the next verse and others are mentioned Numb 21.1 and in other places Verse 11. As Sihon king of the Ammorites and Og the king of Bashan sée the historie of these Numb 21. Deut. 3. Ioshua 12. and all the kingdomes of Canaan which was diuided into sundry kingdomes and wherein dwelt seuen nations greater and mightier then the Iewes Ver. 12. And gaue vz. of his frée goodnes their lande i. the land of the Canaanites or that land which they inhabited for an inheritance euen an inheritance to Israel his people i. for a place for them as safely and as lawfully for them to dwell in as if it had descended to them by inheritance Ver. 13. Thy name i. thy maiesty power and goodnes indureth for euer vz. towardes all but specially towards thine owne people O Lorde thy remembraunce i. the continual instructions which thou giuest to thy people to remember thée is from generation to generation i. lasteth comtinually and goeth on from age to age so that there is no age but they haue euident examples thereof Ver. 14. For the Lorde vz himselfe will iudge i. guide gouerne and defend as Psalme 96.13 and Psalme 98.9 and bee pacified towardes his seruauntes i. hee will as it were chaunge his purpose and not execute with heauy iudgement that which he had determined against them and this is spoken of God according to the manner of men Ver. 15.16 17.18 Sée expounded before Psalm 115. ver 4.5.6.7.8 where you shall finde both the very same woordes and matters And hee here inueigheth so sharply agaynst idoles because that the prayse which belongeth vnto GOD is many tymes falsly giuen vnto them and therefore hee declareth that neither the matter it selfe whereof they are made nor the workeman can giue them the title of GOD or God heade Ver. 19. Prayse the Lorde sée ver 1.3 of this Psalme yee house of Israell i. yee that descende of Israell or Iaakob meaning by this speach all the people generally prayse the Lorde yée house of Aaron i. ye Priests who descend and come from Aaron to whose race familie and stocke the priesthood was by Gods ordinaunce onely appoynted and tyed Ver. 20. Prayse the Lorde yee house of Leui i. all ye Leuites who were inferiour vnto the Priestes though they came all from one father to wit Leui Iaakobs third sonne and by this place wee sée that euen by the very institution and ordinaunce of God there were two distinct orders amongest the people of the Iewes to wit priests and Leuites according to which also he speaketh here ye that feare the Lorde vz. with a reuerent child like feare meaning also by this speach such as did worshippe and serue him sée Psalme 128.1 prayse the Lorde vz. with a good heart sée before ver 1.3 of this Psalme Ver. 41. Praysed be the Lord vz. for his infinite mercies towards vs out of Sion i. in Sion which was the place appoynted for his worshippe for this phrase sée Psalm 128.5 also 134.3 which vz. Lord and God dwelleth in Ierusalem i. giueth most plaine testimonies of his presence and abode there and not that God is tied to any place The Prophet meaneth that in Sion and Ierusalem the place of his worshippe he gaue euident signes of his presence and power and not that hee was inclosed or tied to that place only praise ye the Lord this Psalme beginneth and endeth with like woordes for which sée Psal 105. and Psal 106. in the beginning and ending Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs to exhort and prouoke al gods people to thankefulnes to God for his benefites Ver.
obey the wicked no though they haue the mastery of vs in euery thing that they demaunde specially when God and his glory shal be prophaned thereby Ver. 5. Teacheth vs continually to thinke vppon Gods Church and the misteries thereof that thereby we may be prouoked to powre forth earnest prayers to God for it Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that we should rather forget our selues then Gods Church it teacheth vs also that nothing in this life shoulde bee so ioyfull vnto vs as the restitution and florishing therof Verse 7. Teacheth vs that wee may safely pray against the wicked and vngodly Verse 8.9 Teach vs that God many times punisheth one sinne with an other as cruelty with crueltie not that he delighteth in sinne but to shewe that sinne shall not escape vnpunished and that to this ende and purpose hee rayseth vp one wicked man and people against an other Psalme 138 THe Psalme may bée deuided into thrée partes Di. In the first the Prophet promiseth humble and hearty thankesgiuing to the Lorde for his mercies towardes him verse 1.2.3 In the seconde hee doeth by the spirite of prophecie as it were foretell that other kings and people shall doe it as well as hée shewing the cause wherefore they shoulde so doe ver 4.5.6 In the thirde hee setteth out the assured perswasion that hee had of God and his goodnes towardes him praying for the continuaunce therof ver 7.8 The title A Psalme of Dauid i. a Psalme that Dauid made Se. to set foorth his thankefulnesse to God-warde Sée Psalme 4. in the title Ver. 1. I will prayse thée vz. O Lorde and that for thy mercies and benefites and this Psalme shoulde séeme to bee a publike confession that Dauid made vnto GOD for the blessinges which hee had receiued at his handes with my whole heart i. in sinceritie of heart with a sounde and not an hypocriticall heart and this is opposed against a double heart q.d. no parte of my heart nor of the affections thereof but they shall bée all wholly occupied in praysing of thee euen before the Gods i. openlye and before the Kinges and Magistrates of the worlde for so haue you the woorde Gods vsed Psalme 82.1 which thing also Dauid him-selfe promiseth Psalme 119.46 and in other places will I prayse thee vz. continually and vnfeignedly Verse 2. I will worshippe towardes thy temple i. I will call vppon thee bending my presence towardes the place where thou art serued Sée Psalme 5.7 and prayse thy name i. thy maiestye power goodnesse c. as sundry tymes before because of thy louing kindnes vz. towardes mee and for thy trueth vz. in accomplishing thy promises so here hee putteth downe the causes of his thankesgiuing Sée Psalme 115.1 for thou hast magnified thy name aboue all thinges i. thou hast made thy maiesty and power appeare more excellent and great then all thinges whatsoeuer by thy word i. by faithful accomplishment of those thinges which thou hast promised in thy word It may also receiue this sense q.d. the things which thou speakest and performest in thy woorde are more great and large then that men can either name them or thou bee sufficiently praysed for them Sée Psalme 71.15 Ver. 3. When I called vz. vpon thée by prayer then thou heardest mee i. grauntest mée my requestes and petitions Sée Psalm 120.1 and thou vz. alone for none could do it but thou hast increased strength in my soule i. hast made my soule and inward man very mightie and strong with patience to suffer all calamities whatsoeuer it may be also vnderstoode thus that God had more and more strengthened himselfe putting a part for the whole Ver. 4. All the kinges of the earth This séemeth to bee a prophecie of the calling of the Gentiles he meaneth that many kings their people shal bee conuerted to the Lorde shall prayse thee O Lorde vz. by myne example for they haue hearde the woordes of thy mouth i. they haue not onely with their eares heard but with their eyes séene and with their heartes consented vnto the trueth of thy word generally and particularly this that thou hast by wonderfull meanes brought mée to the kingdome and this hee speaketh specially of Hiram king of Tyrus and others néere vnto him Verse 5. And they shall sing vz. openly and in the hearing of others of the wayes of the Lorde i. of the thinges which the Lorde doeth and of the order and course which he obserueth therein he meaneth that they shal both acknowledge gods workes and prayse him for the same specially for the course which hee hath kept in preseruing Dauid from his enemies and exalting him to the kingdome because the glory of the Lorde is great i. because the thinges that he hath done gloriously and openly as it were a conquerour are very high and excellent Verse 6. For the Lorde is high i. mightie and passing the very heauens them-selues and so it may bée a reason of the great glorye of the Lorde whereof hée spake before yet q.d. notwithstanding the great distaunce betwéene him and vs hee beholdeth vz. with a fauourable and louing countenaunce and that not idlely but effectually and as one that hath altogether care ouer such the lowly i. such as are humbled despised and contemned amongest men but the proude vz. men of the earth hee knoweth vz. thorowly both within and without a farre off vz. howe farre off so euer they bée from him and it may bée that hee meaneth that as the proude doeth scornefully and as it were a farre off beholde others so dealeth the Lorde with them Immanuel readeth the whole verse thus though the Lorde bee lifted vppe vz. in great and exceeding glorie yet hee beholdeth the lowly i. such as are depressed and beaten downe of men and though hee him-selfe bee high i. lifted vppe euen aboue the heauens hee knoweth a farre off q.d. GOD hath both sight and certaine knowledge both of the good and of the bad the senses in my iudgements differ not much Verse 7. Though I walke i. though I bee much conuersaunt in the middest of trouble i. in very great daunger so that I am compassed about with both before and behind on the right hande and on the left Sée Psalme 23.3.4 yet wilt thou reuiue mee q.d. though my dangers were so great that I shoulde séeme to be dead yet thou wilt quicken me and preserue me from death Thou wilt stretch forth thine hande vpon the wrath of mine enemies i. thou wilt not onely set thy power betwéene mee and their rage to the end that they doe me not any hurt but thou wilt also oppose and set thy selfe against them Immanuel readeth it thus thou stretchedst out thy hande agaynst the face of mine enemies i. thou wilt strike them and that openly as it were with thy left hande and wilt defende mée with thy right as followeth in this verse and thy right hande i. thy gracious and mighty power shall saue me i. deliuer me out of
side from the hand of strangers sée for the vnderstanding of this and all that followeth in this verse the 7. and 8. verse of this Psalme where you shall sée the very same wordes Ver. 12. That our sonnes i. the posteritie that we shal leaue behind vs through thy fauour towardes vs and thy iudgements vpon thine and our enemies may be as the plants i. tender faire gréene and florishing growing vp in their youth this may be referred either to the childrē or to the plants but I rather refer it to the plantes q.d. euen as plantes set in good grounde grow vp a pace so by this thy blessing the séede that we shall leaue behinde vs shall increase in all comelines beautie and good thinges and our daughters i. our seede and posteritie for vnder these two sonnes and daughters hee meaneth all posteritie either male or female which they coulde leaue behinde them as the corner stones vz. of the house builded or in the foundation of the house which were not onely profitable to vpholde the whole building as Psalme 118.22 but also was finely hewen cunningly wrought grauen i. curiously wrought and cut after the similitude of a pallace i. after the forme of most costly stones wherewith most costly buildinges as palaces are built But I like better Immnuel who readeth it thus that our sonnes being as the plantes growing vp in their youth our daughters being as the corner stones al this agréeth with the sense before giuen may bee the building of the temple i. may be such stones as may be vsed to the building and polishing of Gods church that we may altogether grow vp to an holy temple in the Lord Ephe 2.21 also Ephe. 4.12.13 Ver. 13. That our corners i. not onely the barnes and store houses which we haue but euery corner of our dwelling house maye bee full vz. through thy blessing and abounding vz. in great measure and plenty with diuers sortes vz. not onely of graine and corne but of all maner of prouision and that our shéepe may bring forth vz. through thy especial blessing thousandes and ten thousandes i. may increase infinitely and as it were without number for he putteth a number certaine for an vncertaine in our stréetes i. openly so that not only we our selues to our great ioy but our aduersaries to their great griefe may beholde the same Verse 14. That our oxen vz. also through this thy blessing may be strong to labour i. méete and fit for all that labour whereunto thou hast appointed them and we shal according to thy will vse them he meaneth by this that the people may bee rich and abounde with al maner of worldly blessings that there bee none inuasion vz. of the enemie against vs that is that the enemy runne not in vppon our lande and vs neither make breaches in our wals nor enter into our cities nor going out vz. to battle and warre which can not be if none come to assault them nor no crying in our stréetes i. neither noyse or sodaine tumult as commeth to passe in the taking of townes nor no mourning by any occasion either when the enemies slay vs or otherwise q.d. that no euill thing at all may come vpon vs that no good thing may passe from vs and that we haue no heauines nor cause therof within vs our Cities but al things ioyful and pleasant Ver. 15. Blessed are the people that be so i. in so good a cause d.q. most happy surely are they yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lorde i. they in déede are blessed who howsoeuer they haue or inioy the outward blessings before rehearsed or haue them not yet so do tast and féele the grace of God that they are still perswaded of his fatherly loue towards them and in the apprehension thereof goe on forward towards the obtaining of the heauenly inheritance Ver. 1. Teacheth vs that we can do nothing no not outwarde things well Do. vnlesse the Lorde teach and instruct vs. Ver. 2. Teacheth vs first that God alone is the whole aide and defence of his children secondly that it is not kings powers and pollicies that kéepe the people in good order and subiection but hee alone who boweth their heartes thereto Verse 3. Teacheth vs that there is nothing in man as of man that can commend him to God Ver. 4. Setteth out the vanity brittlenes and shortnes of mans life Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that God néedeth not to vse any great power for the ouerthrowe of his enemies Verse 6. Teacheth vs that wee may safely pray agaynst the malicious and obstinate enemies of his trueth Verse 7. Teacheth vs that vnlesse GOD deliuer vs out of our great daungers there is no way or meanes for vs to escape out of them Verse 8. Teacheth vs that there is nothing but vanitie lying and falshoode to bée looked for at the handes of the wicked Verse 9. teacheth vs to bee alwayes thankefull to the Lorde for his mercies and because wee are very dull thereto to stirre vp our selues by all the meanes wee can Verse 10 teacheth vs that Kinges victories and their deliuerances from daungers procéed from God as well as the poore mans doeth Ver. 11. teacheth vs that because we can not helpe our selues wee shoulde pray the Lorde to deliuer vs from distresses Verse 12. teacheth vs that it is a singular blessing to haue a posteritie grafted into Gods Church Verse 13 teacheth vs that abundance of al things come from the Lorde onely Verse 14. Teacheth vs that neither our cattell nor any thing else can stand vs in steede without Gods especial blessing and al these three verses layde together doe teach vs further what great commodities insue to Gods people by the ouerthrow of their enemies also that euen these outward blessinges are to Gods seruants sure seales and testimonies of a better hope Ver. 15. Teacheth vs that they in déed are in some measure blessed that haue these outwarde benefites bestowed vpon them but yet they are in better case which though they wante them féele with assuraunce of perswasion the eternal fauour of God towards them in the hope and certaintie of a better life Psalme 145 Di. THis Psalm propounding specially the matter of thanksgiuing and praise vnto the Lord may bée diuided into foure partes In the first hee himselfe promiseth to praise the Lorde shewing a cause wherefore Ver. 1.2.3 In the second he doeth as it were prophecie that all Gods creatures and workes shal serue to set forth his praise from ver 4. vnto to the end of the 12. In the third he sheweth reasons and causes why men should praise the Lorde to wit for his gouernement his mercy his prouidence c. from verse 13. to the 20. And lastly hee shutteth vp the Psalme with promise of thankesgiuing as he began it ver 21. Se. The title A Psalme of Dauid i. which hee made of prayse vz. vnto the Lord i. of such prayse and thankesgiuing as