as thou art accustomed to doe to those that loue thy name 133 Direct me that I set not one step out of the waie of thy words and that no affection striuing against thy wil doe rule ouer me 134 Defend and deliuer me from the crafts and false accusations of the wicked that I being deliuered from them may applie my selfe to keepe thy commandements 135 Command the light of that thy countenance to shine vnto thy seruant and teach mee thy statutes 136 Mine eies verelie did swim with teares when I beheld the contempt of thy doctrine THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XVIII 137 THou art iust ô Lord doubtles and whatsoeuer thou decreest is right 138 And thou hast commanded worthilie that those thinges which thou hast testified vnto vs should be knowen and obserued as most iust and as the most perfect rule of truth 139 Wherefore I am wholie consumed being inflamed with the loue of thee because I see thy words despised of mine aduersaries 140 For verelie there is nothing more pure than thy words wherefore I euen thy seruant doe embrace them with an incredible loue and desire 141 So that though I see my selfe to be counted vile and abiect of these men therefore yet wil I not cast awaie the studie of thy commandements 142 For that onlie rule of iustice taught by thee is euerlasting and the same is most true and most stable wheras other both decrees and lawes which mans wisedome doth set downe are subiect vnto change and at length euen do come to naught 143 And I haue tried this by experience getting not onelie great comfort but also delectation thereby when I was in most great miseries and anguish 144 That is the fountaine of euerlasting goodnes that it hath pleased thee to testifie vnto vs by thy voice but grant thou that I may vnderstand it more and more that I may so liue the true life THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XIX 145 O Lord heare me crieng vpon thee with my whole heart and that am bent to keepe thy statutes 146 Preserue me I saie calling for thy helpe and thinking on nothing more than of those things which thou hast testified vnto vs to be kept 147 Thou knowest that I am accustomed to preuent the verie twilight in the morning with my lowd praiers euen because I trusted to thy word 148 Neither do anie watchmen doubtles so carefullie keepe their watch as I am diligent in meditating thy words 149 Heare my words therefore ô Lord of thy singular mercie and as thou hast promised to do in thy lawes restore me that am without life 150 Thou seest how neere they assault me which are continuallie giuen to wickednes and are departed most far from thy doctrine 151 But I knowe wel that thou cleauest more nere vnto me for it must needes be that the verie truth remaine stable which thou hast ioined both to thy threatenings and to the promises in thy precepts 152 And I haue alreadie tried in deede that they are so ordeined by thee that they can neuer be ouerthrowne THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XX. 153 REgard I beseech thee how sore I am oppressed and deliuer me which doe not forget the doctrine that thou hast taught vs 154 Euen thou vnto whome I appeale from the most wicked iudgements of other men pleade my cause and be my iudge and as thou shalt determine of my right by the prescript rule of thy word deliuer me and preserue me 155 For they are in greater danger than I for saluation is further remooued from none more than from these wicked men which refuse thy statutes 156 Yet do not I trust in anie righteousnes of mine to desire thy helpe but whereas it is most euident that thou art most merciful ô Lord keepe thou me I beseech thee after thy woonted manner 157 For although they be verie manie and mightie of whom I am oppressed and driuen to extreme necessities yet haue not I declined frō those things which thou hast testified vnto vs. 158 Naie I neuer conceiued more griefe of anie thing than when I did perceiue these men to despise thy words so stubbornelie and impudentlie 159 Haue regard of me therefore vnto whom thy commandements haue alwaie bene most deere and of thy singular goodnes saue me that doe perish 160 This is the chiefe thing in thy word that it is infallible and it is the vnchangeable rule of thy iustice for euer THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XXI 161 AL the most mightie do persecute me though I haue deserued no such thing but I had rather to tremble at thy words than at their threatenings and to feare to offend thee rather than them 162 And though I might seeme to get great gaine by the denieng of thee yet the ioie that I receiue of thy words is better vnto me than anie praie how rich soeuer 163 I hate and abhorre deceits and I embrace thy doctrine 164 Yea I am so far off from folowing their example that contrariwise I beholding the excellent iudgements of thy iustice seuen times a daie do celebrate thy praises 165 Certainlie most great tranquillitie and true securitie safe from al casualtie do come vnto those men onelie which are occupied in the studie of thy doctrine 166 Therefore ô Lord I cherish within my selfe the hope of deliuerance which wil come vnto me from thee being in the meane season bent to keepe thy commandements 167 For I am determined to embrace with most great loue those things which thou hast testified vnto vs and to keepe them most diligentlie 168 And how sincerelie I doe this that is how without al hypocrisie I applie my selfe to thy commandements and to al things that thou hast testified vnto vs it is best knowne vnto thee who being my witnes and priuie to my doings I doe whatsoeuer I doe THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XXII 169 LET my cries come vnto thee ô Lord and graunt vnto me the vnderstanding of thy word 170 Let my praiers I saie come vnto thee and deliuer me as thou hast promised to doe by thy word 171 Then I being deliuered and being taught thy statutes wil powre foorth thy praises out of my mouth flowing as it were from a most abundant spring 172 And I sounding foorth thy words with my tongue wil publish far and neere that there is nothing more iust than thy precepts 173 But go to helpe thou me with thy hand who haue preferred thy commandements before al other things 174 For of thee alone ô Lord I wholie depend and I seeke comfort at thine onelie doctrine 175 Commaund therefore my life to be prolonged that I being receiued into thy defence that art a most iust deliuerer may sing euerlasting praises vnto thee 176 Ah alas as thou seest I doe run wandering to and fro like a sheepe going far astraie from the flocke lieng open to al dangers but thou ô most merciful pastor seeke vp thy poore seruant which doth not forget thy precepts and when thou hast found him restore him againe PSALME
make stir against him PSALME CXXVIII The Argument This Psalme pertaining to the same purpose with the former euen that the people of God being againe restored should vnderstand and haue set foorth as in certaine tables what was their dutie is wholie oeconomical that is for priuate families and it doth teach two chiefe and principal precepts of the right gouernement of the familie to wit the feare of God openlie testified and diligent labour of the bodie of the which twaine the one part doth bind al the godlie without exception but this later part is so to be taken not as though bodilie labour were commanded to euerie one but that we may knowe that idlenes and slouthfulnes is forbidden vnto al not that euerie one hath strength of bodie or wit particularlie attributed vnto him whereby he may get his liuing or may vse the thing rightlie that is alreadie gotten But this also is to be obserued that al men are here spoken vnto as though they were maried because this is the ordinarie vocation from the which how vnlawful it is for a man vnaduisedlie to depart much lesse to saie that the deuelish vowes are anie where approued of sole life either in the scriptures or in the example of anie the miserable condition of them doth declare which haue transformed the world into a Sodome and Gomorrha or euen into some worse thing THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THis is the right waie to leade a blessed life that a man knowe the true worship of God liue accordinglie 2 For whosoeuer thou art that dost thus although thou be in so poore estate that thou must liue vpon thy handie labour euerie daie yet God wil bring to passe that thou shalt haue a competent liuing therby and he wil grant vnto thee that thou shalt so liue wel and happilie 3 Yea he wil cause thy generation to spread also for thy wife shal be like a fruitful vine in thy house euen bringing foorth most pleasant fruit vnto thee whome thou shalt see placed in order at thy table like oliue branches 4 Behold therefore thus wil the Lord blesse al them that feare him 5 The Lord I saie wil blesse thee from the tower of Sion whosoeuer doest thus behaue thy selfe and he wil bring to passe that thou shalt see Ierusalem flourishing so long as thou doest liue 6 And thou shalt then behold both thine ofspring to be spread abroad at home and also publikelie Israël to enioie great peace and tranquillitie PSALME CXXIX The Argument The people of God being restored after so manie calamities giueth thanks vnto God for so great benefits as the onlie authour of them and promising themselues the same in time to come doth contrariwise foreshew that a certaine destruction doth hang ouer their enimies THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GO to let Israël now say by iust cause These haue vexed me oftentimes from my verie youth 2 They haue vexed me oftentimes from my youth yet could they not ouercome me as it is plaine by experience 3 For they verelie I grant haue wounded me as it were plowing ouer me and drawing long furrowes on euerie side 4 But that most true and iust aduenger of his euen the Lord hath cut in sunder at the length al the bands of the wicked 5 Thus certainlie al the enimies of Sion being filled with shame shal turne their backs their enterprises being frustrate 6 And they shal be proud in shew and flourishing for a little time but they shal be like the herbe that groweth on the top of the houses which withereth before it come to the highest 7 The which neither anie man doth sheare by handful neither doth he laie it in order by handfuls which heapeth vp the haruest 8 Neither for the cause thereof shal the passengers at anie time crie vnto the reapers The Lord blesse you from heauen with most plentiful haruest and by the power of the Lord let your labours haue good successe PSALME CXXX The Argument The people of God being careful to retaine the possession of their countrie and citie restored yet trusting to the promises of God and his mercie whereof they had experience doe comfort themselues in this Psalme which was counted aforetime amongest the penitentials that is amongest those Psalmes which they vsed to sing when the penitent persons were publikelie reconciled vnto the assemblie of the Church the which afterward the Romanists applied foolishlie to the praiers for the dead by no more probable pretence as I thinke than because it is said in the beginning De profundis clamaui that is Out of the depth haue I called so great was the power of the spirit of errour manie yeeres THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord I crie vnto thee from the deepe bottome of my heart and from the deepe gulfe wherein I am plunged 2 Heare me ô Lord that cal vpon thee and giue eare to my lowd sounding praiers 3 I grant ô God that I haue deserued al extreme punishment for what can I else saie but if thou ô Lord do marke our sinnes who is able at anie time to abide thy most iust wrath 4 But the matter standeth far otherwise for else could there be no worship of thee anie-where amongst men therefore doth thy mercie ouercome the sinnes of men For thou hast found out and deliuered vnto vs the meanes of attaining thy fauor that thou maist be acknowledged and reuerenced amongst men 5 Wherefore though I be most wicked yet wait I for the helpe of the Lord I wait assuredlie for the helpe of the Lord I saie for he hath testified by his word that he wil helpe me wherevnto I trust vndoubtedlie 6 Therefore there is no night watcher no man I saie that watcheth in the night that loketh for the dawning of the daie more desirouslie or more assuredlie than I doe looke for the comming of the Lord to helpe me 7 Go to then ô Israël wait vpon the Lord with assured hope vpon the Lord I saie most merciful and whom thou hast experienced so oft to be thy deliuerer and aduenger 8 This is he doubtles who wil deliuer Israël now also and forgiue him al his sinnes at once PSALME CXXXI The Argument This Psalme compared with the historie of Dauid wherevnto it is applied in the Hebrue title doth set foorthe plaine example of true modestie which they commonlie cal humilitie euen of that man which fearing God and despising no man doth remaine within the bounds of his calling and afterward this same Psalme is appointed to the people being returned that like as in the formeâ— Psalme they were admonished that they should not be discouraged in aduersitie so contrarâ—wise they shoâ—â—d take heed vnto themselues least they should waxe prâ—â—d in prosperitie THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Take thee to witnes ô Lord against the flanders of al men that I neither laboured that I should be brought vnto this dignitie nor thâ—â— I am now proud being promoted by thee therevnto nor that I haue bent mine eies to high
things nor that I haue entangled my selfe willinglie with great things whereby I might winne vnto me the opinion of excellencie or vnto such things as were aboue my capacitie 2 But contrarilie vnlesse I haue bin content wiâ—â— my state and haue staied my mind to depend wholie on thee as they teach the weaned infant to forget the nurse and to regard the mother alone vâ—lesse I saie I haue so behaued my selfe as the weaned infant let me in deed be refused of thee 3 So thou Israël also rest in the Lord alone boâ—â— now and afterward for euer PSALME CXXXII The Argument Salomon consecrating the temple vnto Gâ—d 2. Chron. 6. dâ—â— vse three verses of this Psalme in the last end of his praier euen in the same words whereby it is plaine that thâ—â— Psalmâ— was afterward verie notorious and famous the which Dauid their did write when he had found a plaâ— wherein he might build the temple of God and did set before him euen then that time when the Arke was to be brought into the temple it selfe being built Wherefore when the temple and seruice of God was restored after their returne it was worthilie vsed againe and sang as it is verie probable with the Psalmes of ascension both before it and after it in that solemnitie which is described Nehemiah 12. And it containeth a plaine rehearsal both of the promise of the kingdome of Dauid and of building the temple and of a most ful setting in order of the Leuitical priesthood both the which it is manifest to haue bene figures both of the kingdome and of the priesthood of Christ euen as Dauid himselfe was a shadowe of verie Christ for the which causes this pretious Psalme must alwaies be vsed in the Church by whose testimonie our faith also may be confirmed We learne further by this Psalme the visible notes of the truâ— Church that is to saie the worship of God chieflie in two points to wit to consist in the sincere preaching of the word of God and the lawful ministring of the sacraments and againe which is the true word of God and which be the verie true sacraments euen they wherein Christ the true and onelie sauiour is set foorth vnto vs euen so as he himselfe hath declared himselfe vnto his Church and al the wil of his father most fullie concerning our saluation both by himselfe and by his Prophets and Apostles Finallie we are taught by this Psalmâ— that the blâ—ssings both of this life and the other are ordeined for the godlie by God and that al the enterprises of the wicked shal come to naught and how carefullie we are bound to praie for the spreading of the kingdome of Christ and for the preseruation of those Commonwealthes wherein harbour is giuen vnto the Church THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O LORD let it be seene that thou art mindful of the promises wherewith it pleased thee to bind thy selfe vnto Dauid and out of what great miseries thou hast deliuered him not for this purpose verelie that thou shouldst destroie him afterward but that thou shouldst perfourme the promises made vnto him 2 For he againe hath bound himselfe to thee with an oth being the Lord and mightie God of Iacob and therefore a most seuere punisher of periurie euen in these plaine words 3 If I enter at anie time into my house if I shal at anie time go to my bed 4 If mine eies shal take anie sleepe or mine eie-lids winke 5 Before that I haue found out the seate of the Lord which the mightie God of Iacob may inhabite 6 Behold then hitherto this seate hath bin changed from time to time for it was sometime as we haue heard saie towards Ephrata euen in Silo which is now destroied and there was a time when we did find it in the field of Iaër 7 But now hauing found a place at the length where it may remaine we wil go thither and there wil we worship him at his seate where he sitteth euen falling downe before his holie Arke 8 Go to then ô Lord come vp into that place iâ— the which thou maist make no short abode as before but where thou maiest remaine as in a stable habitation euen the Arke which is a sure token oâ— thy power being there placed 9 Therefore let the priests which be consecrate vnto thee and are beautified both with pure doctrine and holie conuersation execute their office dulie and those that haue receiued benefits of theâ— sing here a triumph vnto thee 10 Thou being mindful of thy promise made vnto Dauid thy seruant preserue here the kingdome established by thee in his posteritie 11 For thou hast sworne vnto Dauid ô Lord by a sure and vnchangeable decree in these words I wil place one that shal be borne of thee in thy throne 12 And if thy posteritie shal keepe my couenant and the statutes which I shal teach them I wil set vpon thy throne their posteritie also as one shal succeed another for euer 13 For the Lord hath chosen Sion vnto himselfe and hath appointed it to be his seate because it so pleased him euen in these plaine words 14 This shal be mine euerlasting rest and here wil I dwel as in a place acceptable vnto me because it seemeth so good vnto me 15 I wil prouide for her victuals most diligentlie and if there shal be anie poore there I wil neuer suffer them to want foode necessarie for this life 16 I wil defend on euerie side my holie ministers chieflie vnto whome besides no possessions are giuen and I wil dailie giue occasion of new ioie to them that I haue taken in hand to defend 17 There wil I cause that the top of Dauids head shal be lifted vp to be seene more and more and if at anie time his strength be diminished yet shal it spring vp againe the brightnes of the kingdome that can not be extinguished which is there set vp by me shal shine like a firebrand and shal once lighten the whole world 18 And al his enimies verelie shal be filled with shame but his crowne shal flourish in the end with most great glorie PSALME CXXXIII The Argument Dauid vnto whom this Psalme is attributed by the Hebrue title did write it vndoubtedly when after the ciuil wars of eight yeeres space al the tribes came together to annoint him their king 2. Sam. 5. 1. Chron. 11. euen that he might exhort them to laie downe al discord and to maintaine mutual amitie with al duties both publike and priuate So then was it thought good afterward by the repeating of this same Psalme to beate into al the people the desire of peace as a thing most necessarie seeing they were yet weake and were assaulted on euerie side both by force and by traiterous practises by the gouernours of the nations neare vnto them which were most angrie against them as appeareth by the histories of Ezra and Nehemiah And it conteineth an excellent and maruellous elegant praise not simplie
THE PSALMES OF Dauid TRVLY OPENED AND explaned by Paraphrasis according to the right sense of euerie Psalme With large and ample Arguments before euerie Psalme declaring the true vse thereof TO THE WHICH IS ADDED A briefe Table shewing wherevnto euery Psalme is particularly to be applied according to the direction of M. BEZA and TREMELLIVS Set foorth in Latine by that excellent learned man THEODORE BEZA And faithfully translated into English by ANTHONIE GILBIE And by him newlie purged from sundrie faultes escaped in the first print and supplied with the principal pointes of euerie Psalme summarilie set downe in a Table at the end of the booke PSALME 22 5. Our father 's called vpon thee and were deliuered they trusted in thee and were not confounded Printed by Henrie Denham 1581 Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND VERTVOVS LADIE THE LADIE KAtherine Countesse of Huntingdon mine especial good Ladie Grace and peace in Iesus Christ our Sauiour al sufficient RIGHT honorable my singular good Ladie I can write no pleasant thinges the which the great states much desire neither anie eloquent termes which this world doth require but as your honour doth know my rude simplicitie yet through Gods great mercie alwaies grounded vpon his infallible veritie it pleaseth your honour to giue me leaue sometimes to write vnto you And now hauing gathered some profite my selfe by a booke of that excellent man Theodore Beza written in Latine and dedicate to my most honorable Lord so am I bold to put foorth some part of the same into English which I thought most expedient for you and to present it to your honour with this short preface The which though it be short and rude yet do I beseech your honour to consider it as a preparatiue to moue your godlie mind to the more diligent meditation of these Arguments of the Psalmes which are verie profitable and to this Paraphrasis which is a briefe and a plaine declaration of the meaning of the holie Ghost who did endite the Psalmes and set them foorth by his secretaries Dauid and others as shal appeare in their places First then I beseech your Honour to consider the state of our time and compare it with former times that we may see what is like to come vpon vs vnles we do watch and pray and bring foorth the fruites of vnfeigned repentance We do reade in the histories of the Kings of Iudah who were the deare people of God how that after the death of Manasses that idolatrous and cruel King who had brought in idolatrie againe after that his father Hezekias had reformed religion Amon reigned but two yeares when God in mercie stirred vp good Iosias who restored the religion and brought it againe to ful perfection and made a couenant betwixt the Lord and the people and al the people stoode to the couenant 2. Kings 23 3. the which true religion was continued 31. yeares euen al the time of Iosias yet is it written in the 2. Kings 23. verses 25 26 27. Like vnto Iosias was there no King before him that turned to the Lord with al his heart and with al his soule with al his might according to al the lawe of Moses neither after him arose there anie like him Notwithstanding the Lord turned not from the fearcenes of his great wrath wherewith he was angrie against Iudah because of al the prouocations wherewith Manasses had prouoked him Therfore the Lord said I wil put Iuda also out of my sight as I haue sent away Israël and wil cast off this Citie Ierusalem which I haue chosen and the house whereof I haue said My name shal be there Againe 2. Kings 24.3 Surelie by the commandement of the Lord came this vpon Iudah that he might put them out of his sight for the sinnes of Manasses according to al that he did and for the innocent bloud that he shedde for he filled Ierusalem with innocent bloud therefore the Lord would not pardon it The which terrible words and threatnings against Gods chosen people when I read them they cause me to tremble and feare for our state here in England And I do earnestlie request your honour and al that feare God diligentlie to meditate these and such like places of the holie histories which I omit for breuitie sake For besides that our religion is not yet brought to ful perfection in these 22. yeares the which thing I feare wil be laid to our charge the horrible sinnes of former times are not yet purged with true teares of repentance For manie do yet carie their idols in their hearts manie do waite for the occasion to shew the like crueltie that they did before few do feele how horriblie they did offend Gods sacred maiestie in erecting of idols contrarie to Gods holie commandement especialie in kneeling downe and worshipping that wafer cake the vilest and weakest idol that euer was imagined vpon the earth both for the smalnes of the substance and the huge heapes of errours therein maintained The most part make that their reuolting vnto Antichrist and renouncing of the Gospel of Christ in Q. Maries time but a laughing matter Two or three or none do worthily lament their fal with Peter Wherefore I can not but feare I saie least the like punishment wil come vpon vs for the like sinnes committed in the daies of Q. Marie for al our outward shew of religion as came vppon Iudah for their former sinnes committed in the time of Manasses Therefore haue we great cause to praie vnto the Lord our God to be merciful vnto vs to our Queene and Countrie that so by earnest praiers either we may turne awaie his fearce wrath from vs altogither or at the least with our Hezekias our gratious Queene I meane to obteine that it come not in our daies To this purpose is this Booke of the Psalmes most necessarie for euerie Christian not to reade them for fashion and custome onlie either in a knowne or vnknowne language which were to take the name of God in vaine but to meditate them in their hearts and so by earnest and continual inuocation and hartie praiers to moue the Lord our God to mercies as his holie seruants haue by the like meanes alwaies found mercie before vs. For whereas al other scriptures do teach vs what God saith vnto vs these praiers of the saints do teach vs what we shal saie vnto God and how we must prepare our selues to appeare before his maiestie both in prosperitie and aduersitie and therefore are they dailie to be vsed with great reuerence and humilitie And surelie these Arguments this Paraphrasis of the psalmes set forth of late by that great learned man Beza do so liuelie paint forth the zealous and feruent praiers which both the whole Church generalie and the saints of God particularlie haue vsed from time to time that we haue great cause to praise God that hath giuen vs such patternes and examples at this present
seeme desperate this Psalme doth teach vs notwithstanding to cal vpon God with assured confidence For seeing that both his wil and his promises are most certaine we must needes conclude that he doth heare the sighings of them that are his whome he wil comfort in due time and likewise that he wel knoweth the wickednes of the wicked which he wil auenge at his good time THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HElpe ô Lord our sauiour for there is not a godlie man left and the faithful are failed from among the children of men 2 They speake deceitfullie euerie one to another euen though he be his friend flattering with their wordes with double and deceitful hearts 3 Cut off ô Lord these flattering tongues boasting themselues so proudlie 4 They saie We can bring to passe what we wil with our tongues we may speake what we list who is Lord ouer vs 5 But the Lord now at the length saith I wil rise vp for these so pitifullie oppressed and for the mourning of the miserable and I wil set in safetie those that they haue snared 6 The words of the Lord are pure words euen as the siluer tried and fined seuen fold 7 Therefore ô Lord keepe them euerie one and preserue them for euer from this wicked kind of men 8 For the wicked do wander on euerie side when the worst men are exalted into the highest place of honour PSALME XIII The Argument The Prophet doth teach vs the more desperate that the state of the Church is in this world the more earnestlie must we praie vnto God and beleeue in him more stedfastlie for that the praiers of the Saints shal neuer be made in vaine THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HOw long ô Lord wilt thou forget me how long wilt thou turne thy face from me 2 How long shal I carefullie consult with my selfe and torment my soule how long shal mine enimie gape ouer my head 3 Behold me and heare me ô my God restore lightes vnto mine eies that I sleepe not in death 4 Least mine enimie saie that he hath ouercome me and they that oppresse me reioice that I am fallen 5 But I trust in thy mercie assured that this my heart at the length being deliuered by thee shal be replenished with ioie and I wil praise thee ô Lord of whose louing kindnes I haue had so good experience PSALME XIIII The Argument This Psalme setteth forth a most sorowful description of the natural man or of the man not regenerate as Paule himselfe doth interprete it Rom. 3.10 The which corruption both of the vnderstanding and of the wil doth chiefelie vtter it selfe in that deadlie hatered which hath bin from the beginning whereby the world doth persecute the Church Howbeit the Prophet biddeth the true Jsraël to be of good courage resting vpon the hope of the comming of the Messiah Wherefore we ought much more to be of good comfort seeing that Christ is come alreadie and hath fulfilled the whole mysterie of our saluation whose latter comming yet we do looke for with the old fathers when at the length we shal be brought home into our owne true vndoubted countrie THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THAT men are so doting mad to persuade themselues that there is no God it is manifest heereby that they are al so wicked al doe make themselues abhominable and not one of them doth leade his life aright 2 The Lord himselfe from whome nothing is hid beholding men from heauen to see if anie would knowe him or seeke after him 3 Doth find that al are turned away from him that they are altogither filthie and that there is not one at al which ordereth his life aright 4 Are not these mischieuous men altogither mad which deuoure the holie people of God as it were bread and neuer cal vpon God 5 But the time wil come when they shal be as feareful as they are now careles For God doth defend the generation of the iust 6 You make a mocke at the counsel of the poore whome you oppresse but the Lord is their refuge 7 Oh that now at the length that sauiour of Israël would come foorth out of Zion for then in deed Iacob should reioice then shal Israël be ful of ioie when the Lord shal bring againe his captiues PSALME XV. The Argument The Prophet hauing declared in the former Psalme the manifest and apparant enimies of the Church now he sheweth who those be that are iudged of God the true Citizens or inhabitants of the Church or of the eternal kingdome of heauen and such as shal neuer be cast out opposing them against hypocrites who though they be conuersant in the verie bosome of the Church and that sometime also they haue authoritie and gouernement in the same yet are they not of the Church howsoeuer they both deceiue themselues with a false opinion of godlinesse and other with a lieng shew of religion He teacheth therefore that the true worshippers of God are not discerned by those things that are common to good and euil men that is to saie by the obseruation of the outward worship but by those things that are onlie proper to good men that is to saie by an vpright mind to God and an vpright dealing towards men without al dissimulation both the which they must testifie with an holie and iust life Finalie he teacheth certaine precepts of an holie and iust life after this sort that a man must be farre from al theft and deceit that he may slander no man to abhorre from hurting anie man to hate false accusations to detest the wicked to ioine himselfe with those that feare GOD to set more by his oth than by al the world neuer to seeke gaine by the damage of an other to exercise iudgement incorruptlie finalie he addeth a sure and euident promise that they shal neuer be forsaken of God but shal haue euerlasting felicitie with him who so euer doe keepe this course of life THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Pray thee ô Lord which of so manie as beare a roome in thy tabernacle shal remaine for euer in thy holie hil 2 He that walketh with an vpright heart and worketh righteousnes without al deceit 3 Which slandereth not with his tongue which neither hurteth his neighbour by open violence nor by craft 4 Who abhorreth the wicked and maketh much of them that feare GOD who wil rather willinglie suffer damage than to breake his promise 5 Which doth not lend his monie to the hinderance of an other neither condemneth the innocent being corrupt by reward 6 Who so euer thus doth behaue himselfe he shal enioie most certaine and vnchangeable blisse and felicitie PSALME XVI The Argument Dauid in this Psalme being as it were rauished in spirit acknowledgeth the kingdome which he enioied to be giuen him of God without his deseruing by whose 〈◊〉 helpe he was able to rule and gouerne it orderlie and rightlie Furthermore whereas men for the most part are wont to abuse such dominion vnto riot he setteth
before him two farre other markes that is the true and earnest restoring of the worship of God by taking away al shew of idolworship secondlie a careful defence of the godlie Then he witnesseth that he is mindful of another euerlasting kingdome promised vnto him and that he wil euer turne his eies vnto it euen in verie death and so by this hope he wil go downe comfortablie into the verie graue For he trusting vpon the power of Messiah which must die in deede but shal liue againe before he feele anie corruption in the graue so also shal he himselfe rise againe and be made partaker of his eternal blessednes Therefore this Psalme amongst others is plainelie written by the spirit of prophâ—sie For it contriueth an excellent doctrine of the original of magistrates of their authoritie and office and doth manifestlie reproue the Pharisaical doctrine of the merite of workes euen folowing faith as also it describeth Christs resurrection and his power in raising vs againe from death as Peter doth interprete it Actes 2.25 and Paule Actes 13.34 not as a Prophet but as an Euangelist And where he calleth Messiah Chasid that is as I interprete it The man vpon whome the father hath powred foorth most abundantlie al his mercie and bountie which we draw out of him alone by faith he seemeth by one word to haue conteined the summe of the doctrine of the Gospel THE PARAPHRASIS 1 PReserue me ô Lord for thou art he in whom I do trust O my soule say thus vnto the Lord. 2 Thou verelie art my Lord yet am I able to do nothing that can profit thee 3 But I do most gladlie waite how I may comfort those saincts and excellent men which are with me vpon the earth 4 Doubtles they are most miserable that seeke to anie other God be it farre from me therefore that I should be partaker of their cruel and bloudie sacrifices the which I am afraide once to name with my mouth 5 Thou ô Lord art my portion thou art my wages thou alone art vnto me al sufficient 6 And surelie a most pleasant place and a most beautiful portion of inheritance is fallen vnto me 7 I doe thanke thee ô Lord and wil giue thankes vnto thee for that thou hast giuen me this counsel and because thou doest teach me inwardlie euerie night 8 I haue thee ô Lord and wil haue thee before mine eies for so long as thou standest by me I shal not be moued 9 Therefore my heart leapeth and my tongue reioiceth yea and this same my bodie being in securitie doth not feare verie death 10 For thou wilt not leaue me in the graue because thou wilt not suffer thy most deare beloued vpon whom thou hast powred foorth al thy bountiful mercie to feele corruption 11 Thou wilt open vnto me the way to that true life for the ioie wherewith the mind can rightlie be satiate is set in the sight of thy countenance and it belongeth onlie vnto thee to graunt euerlasting ioie PSALME XVII The Argument This Psalme doth teach vs when the tyrants do persecute either the religion it selfe or the godlie professors of the same that we should yet keepe a safe conscience and praie to God for deliuerance It teacheth also that thing which Christ declareth in the parable or historie of that glutton and poore Lazarus ful of sores that is that the wicked rich men are fed in this life but in the other they shal perish howbeit on the contrarie the Sainctes are here pressed with miseries that they may learne to hope for better things which hope shal neuer deceiue them THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HEare ô Lord that which is iust hearken vnto my crie bend thine eares vnto my praiers which I powre foorth of an vnfained heart 2 Let thy sentence be for me from thy iudgement seate and declare that thou alowest the things that are right 3 For thou thy selfe hast searched my heart in the night thou hast tried me and hast found no fault in me nor that I am otherwise minded towards them than my mouth doth testifie 4 Concerning these men I haue so behaued my selfe as thou commandest I haue carefullie auoided the path that the oppressors tread 5 Strengthen thou me therefore which walke in thy waies that in my walking I do not wander 6 I cal vpon thee heare me my God giue attentiue eare and hearken vnto my words 7 Shew foorth al that thy maruelous mercie thou that art the sauiour of them that trust in thee against such as stand vp against thy power 8 Keepe me as the apple of the eie and defend me vnder the shadowe of thy wings 9 Against those wicked men that would destroie me the enimies I saie that gape ouer me with such greedines round about 10 Fatnes couereth their eies and they speake cruellie 11 They watch our steps on euerie side hauing their eies onlie bent how they may cast vs downe to the ground 12 For he is like a Lion gaping for his praie and like a Lions whelpe lieng in waite in his den 13 But come thou foorth ô Lord that thou maist preuent him and cast him downe and preserue my life deliuered from this wicked man by thy sword 14 Deliuer me I saie by thy hand ô Lord from these mortal men these mortal men I saie that flourish so long which thinke of nothing but of this life whose life thou doest so fil euen as it were with delicates drawne out of thy store that they haue aboundance to leaue to their children and also to their posteritie 15 But I now being vniustlie oppressed of him shal once haue the ful fruition of thy countenance and when I shal awake and behold thee I shal be satisfied PSALME XVIII The Argument At what time this triumphant song was written by Dauid it appeareth by 2. Samuel 22. and by the plaine and euident title of the same when he declared after he had ouercome al his enimies and had not onlie established his kingdome in his owne countrie but farre abroade in other places that he was bent vpon this thing onlie to declare that he raigned not for his owne cause but for the glorie of God alone And we must needes graunt this that we haue no writing extant of anie Poet that flourished most in wit and eloquence to be compared with this Psalme if we do but onlie looke to the phrase But concerning the matter it selfe he so describeth those his so dangerous perils that he that readeth them shal thinke himselfe almost to behold the things with his eies And so doth he paint foorth the glorie of God in executing iudgement and his diuine Maiestie with such a high style that he that readeth it may thanke the heauens and the earth yet stil to shake And he doth so set forth his victories that we may thinke we see his triumphes before our eies And he doeth so attribute those things onlie vnto GOD that he taketh no praise at al to himselfe
And also being assured of his prophetical spâ—rit that this kingdome how florishing so euer was but onlie a figure and patterne of that eternal kingdome of Messiah who should be borne of him therefore doeth he extend his speach therevnto and prophesieth that al people of the earth shal receiue him for their King as the Apostle Paule doth interpret it Rom. 15.9 10 11 12. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord my strength I doe loue thee from the bottome of my heart 2 The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse my deliuerer my God my mount my refuge my shield the horne wherewith I driue away the enimie and my high tower of defence 3 I haue praised the Lord and called vpon him and he hath deliuered me from al mine enimies 4 The bands of death had compassed me round about and bound me most wicked men like most raging flouds made mee afraide enuironing me round about 5 I did lie as it were wrapped in my winding sheete euen snarled with the snares of death 6 I called vpon the Lord in these extremities I called vpon my God I saie and he heard my voice out of his high palace and receiued into his eares the crie that I made vnto him 7 Then began the earth to quake and tremble the verie foundations of the mountaines to shake and shudder 8 And he breathed out smoke from his nostrels spitting foorth fire out of his mouth yea casting foorth euen coles of fire 9 He bowed the heauens and came downe the darkenes beeing spred al abroade vnder his feete 10 He did ride vpon the wings of the Angels and was caried with the wings of the winde 11 Blacke darkenes enuironed his tabernacle round about and he was couered with most darke and thicke cloudes 12 Vntil his glistering brightnes did breake those cloudes and the flames of fire did flash on euerie side 13 At the length he thundered from heauen and filled al places with his mightie sounding voice and with hailestones and lightnings 14 He shot foorth his firie dartes and increasing his lightnings he terrified mine enimies and destroied them 15 Then the deepe bottomes of the waters appeared and the foundations of the world were discouered at thy rebuke ô Lord and at the blustering winde of thy wrath 16 So then hath he stretching his right hand downe from the heauen taken me and drawne me out of the bottome of the deepe waters 17 From that mightie enimie I saie and from the other enimies by whose power I was oppressed 18 For they verilie had almost cast mee downe and destroied me at the sudden but he was my staffe that staied me 19 And he hath drawne me out of these straights and placed me in an open and large place because it so pleased him without my deseruing to fauour me 20 For he had regard in deede of me that was oppressed of these men without cause and granted these things to me being guiltles 21 For I haue folowed the waie that the Lord hath appointed me howsoeuer these men vexed me neither could I be drawne by anie of their iniuries that I should faile from my God as the wicked vse 22 For I had al his lawes before mine eies neither did I put his statutes foorth of my sight 23 But I behaued my selfe without hypocrisie with him neither did I folowe mine affections which else would easilie haue carried me forth of the waie 24 Therefore had the Lord regard of me that was oppressed of them without anie cause and fauoured me the innocent partie 25 For thou ô Lord wilt shewe thy selfe good vnto the good and vpright to them that deale vprightlie 26 And as thou shewest thy selfe sincere with them that deale sincerelie so the craftie men shal perceiue thee to be more cunning 27 For although manie times thy seruants be sore vexed yet doest thou preserue them and doest cast downe those that behaue themselues so proudlie 28 Hence haue I my light whereby thou causest me to shine and driuest away my darkenes 29 Thou hast made me to ouercome these dangers easilie and to leape ouer the walles and lets that were in my waie 30 For the waie whereby God leadeth vs is plaine the word of God is most pure the Lord doth defend al that trust in him as with a shield 31 For who is God but the Lord and who is mightie but our God onlie 32 He hath girded mee with power and hath made my waie safe 33 He hath made me as swift as the Hindes and hath placed me in most high and safe places 34 He hath taught mine hands to fight and he hath giuen me so great strength that I am able to breake a bowe of brasse with these mine armes 35 Thou hast preserued me with the protection of thy shield and thou hast staied me with thy right hand when I was readie to fal through thy great mercie 36 Thou hast caused me to go safelie without danger and thou hast staied my sliding steps 37 Therefore haue I pursued mine enimies and taken them and I haue not turned backe til I haue destroied them 38 I haue so beaten them downe and troden them vnder foote that they were not able to raise themselues againe 39 For thou verelie hast giuen me such strength that they which haue risen against me haue fallen headlong at my feete 40 Thou hast giuen me power to strike off their heads and that I might destroie them that pursued me 41 Yet Lord I graunt they cried vnto thee but thou hast not deliuered them neither wouldest heare their crie 42 Therefore did I beate them smal like the dust that the winde scattereth abroad and I did tread them like the mire which is trampled vnder the feete of them that walke the streetes 43 Yea also thou hast deliuered me from domestical and inward troubles and thou hast giuen me dominion ouer the nations that I neuer knew before 44 Vnknowne people I say obey my commandement and strangers be compelled for feare to submit themselues vnto me 45 The hearts of the strangers haue failed so that they fal downe for feare in their strongest forts 46 Let the Lord liue and let him that is my defence be knowledged and worshipped of al as he worthilie deserueth let God my deliuerer be praised euerie-where 47 Euen God I say who is mine aduenger who hath subdued so manie people vnder me 48 Thou hast saued me from mine enimies thou hast deliuered me from them that rose vp against me especialie from that cruel man 49 Therefore wil I praise thee euen among the prophane nations and I wil sing vnto thy maiestie 50 For verelie thou hast maruelouslie preserued thy king and not onlie Dauid himselfe whom thou hast annointed king but also thou hast shewed singular fauour to his seed that shal remaine for euer PSALME XIX The Argument This Psalme doth teach vs the summe of al true diuinitie the end whereof is that we haue that knowledge both of God himselfe and of the worship
ô Lord and I do seeke thy face 9 Turne not away ô Lord neither reiect thy seruant in thine anger thou wilt yet helpe me leaue me not neither forsake me ô my sauiour 10 Though I be destitute of al mans helpe yea euen forsaken of my verie parents yet thou ô Lord wilt succour me 11 Teach me the waie that I should walke and make plaine the path-way vnto me against whom so manie enimies do lie in wait 12 Giue me not vp to the lust of mine enimies for they are risen vp against me which are not ashamed to lie or to commit anie wickednes 13 Yet I trust that I shal be safe and comfortablie enioie the Lords benefites 14 Go to Dauid waite vpon the Lord with a couragious and constant heart waite vpon the Lord I saie PSALME XXVIII The Argument Dauid in this Psalme susteining the person not of a priuate man but of a publike euen of a king appointed by God himselfe praieth for himselfe and for Gods people with such confidence although he could not liue safelie no not as a priuate person in the kingdome of Saul that he giueth thankes for his petition graunted alreadie And he addeth certaine praiers vndoutedlie by the spirit of prophesie against al such as persecute the Church not by ignorance or sudden affection but of set purpose and obstinate malice Wherevnto appertaine those things that are written 1. Sam. 23.17 and 24.21 THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Call vpon thee ô Lord my defence be not deafe at my crie for if thou keepe silence I shal differ nothing from them that die and are laied in the earth 2 Heare my praiers therefore whilest I may crie and regard me that stretch vp my hands to that thy most holie sanctuarie 3 Count not me ô Lord amongest these wicked men who reioice in wickednes who wil offer in words al duties of friendship and to be at commandement but in their hearts they haue most wicked deuises 4 Giue vnto them their worthie reward euen that which their wicked deedes deserue recompence them I saie according to their desert 5 For seeing they hinder the worke that thou hast determined to bring to passe both willinglie and wittinglie certainelie thou wilt destroie them ô Lord much lesse wilt thou increase them with thy blessings 6 I giue thankes therefore vnto the Lord which hath heard my praiers 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield this is he in whom my heart doth rest hauing experience of his support he for ful conclusion comforteth my heart him wil I praise 8 The Lord strengtheneth his seruants neither wil thine annointed trust to anie other 9 Deliuer thy people ô God and declare thy fauour towards them whom thou hast chosen peculiarlie to be thine feede them and extoll them vp for euer PSALME XXIX The Argument Whereas no men commonlie vse to be more proud and to shew themselues in the end despisers of the verie maiestie of God than they to whome God hath made others subiect to be gouerned by them so that they chalenge vnto themselues to be honoured as gods and suppose that they may do what they lust vnto others this Psalme teacheth Kings and Princes peculiarlie by the comparison of their power how great soeuer it be with that infinite power of GOD which doth vtter it selfe in the terrible thunders and other tempestes and their effects to remember rather how farre they are abased vnder his power and of whome and vpon what condition they haue receiued their authoritie rather than to be proud that they are aboue a few mortal men for a little season Againe seeing that the kings them-selues are oftentimes sotted and demented by the flatterie of the people he admonisheth them that be of God that they be content to obey their magistrates as Gods ministers yet that they learne to depend onlie of God and to wait for al good things from him THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Ye kings and al ye of power giue place vnto the Lord giue vnto the Lord I saie the honour of al glorie and power 2 Giue vnto the Lord the maiestie and glorie due vnto his name and fal downe and worship him in that his most beautiful temple 3 This is that Lord whose voice thundering foorth of the midst of the waters doth witnesse himselfe with such a lowd sounding voice to be the verie God of glorie euen by that voice I saie which breaketh foorth of the midst of the clouds driuen by tempests 4 The voice of the Lord is verie mightie the voice of the Lord is ful of maiestie 5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the most high Ceders of Libanus 6 And he plucketh them vp by the rootes and causeth them to skip like a wanton bullocke and he causeth those most mightie mountaines to tremble and to shake 7 The voice of the Lord doth cast foorth fire striken out of the verie clouds 8 The voice of the Lord doth shake the horrible wildernes and the high rockes of the Arabians 9 The voice of the Lord causeth the hindes to cast their calues and maketh the woods bare by casting downe their trees with terrible noise the godlie in the meane season praising him in his temple 10 By him commeth the horrible flouds of waters but â—o that he sitteth as gouernour ouer them for the Lord is King for euer 11 This is he that giueth power to his people euen the Lord that blesseth his people with continual benefites PSALME XXX The Argument Jt is verie probable that Dauid made this Psalme when Abshalom and Sheba were slaine and he returned into the citie as it is declared 2. Sam. 20. when he would purge his house and as it were consecrate it a new vnto God that was polluted by the incest of his sonne and other wickednes wherein there appeareth some ceremonie to haue bin vsed as appeareth by the historie of Nehemia in dedicating the walles of the citie and by dedicating the house Deut. 20 5. And he giueth great thankes therefore vnto God to whose onlie mercie he doth giue the praise of this his restoring to his kingdome so sudden euen done as it were in a moment And he doth also confesse that it came to passe by his owne foolish securitie that GOD did breake off the continuance of publike peace and other his benefites THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Wil magnifie thee ô Lord my deliuerer which hast not suffered mine enimies to triumph ouer me 2 I haue cried vnto thee ô Lord my God and thou hast saued me that was readie to die 3 Thou hast deliuered me ô Lord from the verie graue and hast restored life vnto me who should else haue gone downe into the pit 4 Sing with me vnto the Lord al ye that are receiued to his mercie and celebrate his memorie with perpetual praise 5 For in one moment doth his anger end but his fauour endureth to the end of our life so that if we go to bed in the euening with sorowe in the
morning commeth some cause of reioicing 6 Howbeit I sleeping in securitie when I was in prosperitie did fullie thinke that no change could come vnto me 7 For thou ô Lord assuredlie hadst fortified my hil wonderfullie of thy singular goodnes but as soone as thou wast offended with my foolish securitie thou turnedst awaie thy face from me and I was suddenlie stricken and fel downe 8 Then I called againe vpon thee ô Lord and praied with these words 9 I beseech thee ô Lord if I be slaine and go downe into the graue what good wil come thereof can this my bodie made dust sing praise vnto thee or can it declare that thy constancie in performing of thy promises 10 O Lord heare me haue mercie vpon me ô Lord help me 11 And lo thou hast turned this my mourning into most ful ioie so that suddenlie casting awaie sackcloth I came foorth most ioifullie 12 Therefore this tongue shal neuer cease to sing thy praise but shal be wholie consecrate to set forth thy glorie ô Lord my God I wil praise thee I saie for euer PSALME XXXI The Argument Euen as there be diuers and sundrie circumstances of the calamities and afflictions whereby God doth trie and chasten his seruants so is it necessarie in the reading of the Psalmes in the which are conteined praiers framed and set downe by the holie Ghost to consider what is common to them al and what is peculiar and proper to euerie one that we may vse them aptlie to our commoditie This Psalme then was written by Dauid as it is manifest in respect of that time when he being a little before in great authoritie and dignitie and was next vnto king Saul in the kingdome was suddenlie brought into extreame miserie by the vniust hatered of the king and the enuie of certaine that stirred vp the kings rage against him by the which and such like sudden alterations an infinite number of men in other things verie constant being suddenlie stricken haue taken most vile counsels and fallen most shamefullie as it appeareth by histories But Dauid on the contrarie part confessing his double fault both that he did forget this mutabilitie and vnstablenes of the woâ—â—â— when he was in his prosperitie and that he did almost despaire when this sudden storme of aduersitie came vpon him doth praie vnto God so much the more earnestlie trusting vpon the promises which he had learned of Samuel and of his owne vpright conscience Furthermore he doth set before him those most excellent promises of God confirmed by most manifold and plaine examples whereby God doth shew himselfe then to haue most care for his seruants when things seeme in deede most desperate Finallie he giueth thankes vnto God that he may teach al the godlie by his example that such maner of praiers are heard whether it were that he was by his faith assured that it should so come to passe as he praied wherein he was nothing deceiued either that he did write this Psalme after his deliuerance THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THou art he ô Lord to whome I flie for refuge deliuer me I beseech thee from this horrible shame euen for that thy righteousnes whereby thou alwaies performest thy promises deliuer me 2 Heare me and make haste to deliuer me for in thee alone is al my safetie and al my defence is set in thee 3 Thou art my fort and most strong rocke of defence I saie leade me therefore and guide me through the middes of these stormie tempests not for my deseruing but for thine owne glorie sake 4 Graunt that I may escape foorth of the net that they haue laied priuilie for to take me for I trust onlie in thy power 5 I commend my soule into thy hands whome I haue alwaie to be my sauiour and mindful of thy promise 6 Thou also canst testifie againe for me that I haue hated the craftie persons and the liers and haue depended onlie vpon thee 7 Therefore do I fullie trust of thy goodnes that I shal fullie reioice therein that thou hast acknowledged and regarded me so miserable and brought into such extremitie 8 Neither hast thou suffered me to be inclosed and intrapped of mine enimies but rather hast brought me foorth into a large place at libertie 9 Therefore Lord haue mercie vpon me so cruellie vexed that not onlie my face and my bowels within me but my verie soule is consumed 10 For certainlie I can scarselie drawe my breath for sorowe I waxe old with mourning so that the verie bones being weakened al my strength faileth 11 For the multitude and the authoritie of mine enimies causeth me to be abhorred of al euen of my verie neighbours so that they that knowe me wel if I do meete them abroade they flie foorth of my sight 12 Finallie I am forgotten of al as though I were dead and I am counted more vile than anie broken earthen poâ—sheard 13 I do heare the reproches and railings that al they of power do cast out against me which make me wholie to tremble whiles they take such craftie counsels against me 14 Howbeit ô Lord I trust in thee for I haue thus concluded within my selfe that thou art my God 15 And surelie the tearme of my life it is not in their hands but in thine deliuer me therefore from the hands of mine enimies and from al that persecute me 16 Refresh me thy seruant with the brightnes of thy countenance for thy mercie sake deliuer me 17 Graunt I beseech thee ô Lord that I be not put to shame that cal vpon thee but rather that death may stop their mouthes 18 That they may cease to make lies which slander me being innocent so bitterlie proudlie and disdainefullie 19 O how manifold is that thy mercie whereof al haue had experience that feare thee whome no feare of man can driue from the true profession of thy glorious name 20 For thou hast secret places ynow wherein thou canst hide and secretlie keepe them safe from the proud bragges of the wicked farre away from the poisoned and cursed speakers and wilt preserue them in safetie in thy tabernacle 21 Therefore I praise thee ô Lord hauing experience of that thy maruellous goodnes whereby I was defended as with the most mightie walles of a strong citie 22 Yet I confesse that I being cast downe headlong with such a sudden tempest did vnaduisedlie thinke in my heart that I was vtterlie cast off from thee howbeit thou notwithstanding hast heard my praiers when I cried vnto thee 23 Wherefore al ye that feele this goodnes of the Lord being admonished by mine example loue the Lord more and more for he most constantlie preserueth them that loue him and most abundantlie rewardeth the proud doer according to his deedes 24 Be strong I saie and encourage your selues more and more whosoeuer haue setled your hope and confidence in the Lord. PSALME XXXII The Argument This most pretious Psalme doth teach the chiefe and principal article of the
Christian faith as the Apostle doth testifie and interprete it Rom. 4.6 that is to saie that al our blessednes doth consist in the free forgiuenes of our sinnes For al other religions do deceiue men in this point chiefelie that they teach them to seeke saluation at their owne righteousnes which can no where be found But in the Gospel onlie Christ that our onlie mediator is declared vnto vs to be made righteousnes of God his Father The Prophet doth also teach in thâ—â— Psalme that this doctrine doth not bring in a foolish and careles securitie as the Papistes do falselie slaunder it as though the free imputation of the iustice of Christ should abolish the care and endeuour to do good workes For he contrariwise doth declare that the spirit of regeneration is alwaies annexed with the gift of righteousnes by imputation which is receiued by faith which doth kindle in the hearts of them that are iustified an earnest loathing of sinne hope true obedience and other vertues Whereof this followeth that the conscience being pacified doth enioie a true and perpetual ioie what stormes soeuer do arise Therfore this Psalme doth differ from the first because it sheweth the chiefe effectes whereby a man may be knowne to be blessed but thâ—â— doth declare the cause of that blessednes and also of the effects and by this consideration may Paule and Iames be reconciled THE PARAPHRASIS 1 BLessed is that man verilie whome being oppressed with the burthen of his sinne the Lord doth raise vp and whose offences are couered by Gods mercie 2 That man I saie verilie is blessed to whome the Lord doth not impute that which he hath done amisse and whose heart is free from falshood and hypocrisie 3 I do speake by experience for by dulling mine owne conscience and deceiuing my selfe at the length I came to this point that I did fal downe consuming whole daies in mourning in vaine and al my strength was wasted 4 For the weight of thy hand did oppresse me day and night more and more so that I being as it were burnt vp with the heate of the Sunne did lie parched and as it were without life 5 At the length therefore ô Lord I fullie determined with my selfe to confesse my selfe willinglie and plainlie guiltie before thee and to declare my sinnes and disclose al my wickednes without anie dissimulation the which thing so soone as I had done thou hast forgiuen me al mine offence 6 So must al they do whome thou receiuest to thy fauour euen to aske forgiuenes of thee taking the oportunitie of time when thou maiest be found for so shal it be that the flouds of great waters although they rage yet shal they neuer come neare them 7 Thou therefore art my refuge vnder the which I being hid do feare none euil that I being safe vnder thy defence may praise thee my Sauiour 8 Come hither therefore whosoeuer desirest to be blessed I wil teach thee what waie thou oughtest to walke and I wil direct thee faithfullie and neuer remoue mine eie from thee 9 Take heede ye be not like horses and mules beastes without reason striking with the heeles whose mouthes your selues do vse to bridle with bittes and snaffles least they rage against you 10 So are they in danger of infinite punishments whosoeuer go on in their sinnes contrariwise al they that turne to the Lord are compassed about with his goodnes on euerie side 11 Wherefore be glad and reioice in the Lord al ye righteous al ye I saie that loue righteousnes sing forth his praises PSALME XXXIII The Argument Nothing can be spoken more notablie than this Psalme wherein we are admonished to consecrate our whole life to the singing and setting forth the praises of God the which thing if men were persuaded to doe nothing were more happie vpon earth than mans life as by the contempt of the which doctrine it commeth to passe that nothing is more miserable than it But chieflie the order of this Psalme is maruelous for first it teacheth that sacrifices of praiers are not acceptable vnto God except the puritie of the heart do go before the word of the mouth to the which end also the lawes of outward purifiengs tended it addeth afterward that God is to be praised not for fashion sake but seriouslie and earnestlie then it bringeth most weightie reasons as wherwith almost the verie stones ought to be moued much lesse that men for whose sakes al this whole world was made should not do their dutie Wherefore it setteth forth in the beginning the wonderful wisedome and gratious goodnes of God which appeareth three manner of waies in the workemanship of the world namelie both in the creation thereof and also in the order of euerie part thereof and lastlie in such a maruelous gouerning of it so that al creatures especiallie man that is endued with reason and vnderstanding ought almost to tremble when he considereth these things Furthermore it goeth to a peculiar consideration of the prouidence and bountie of God in the presâ—ruation of mankind For although troublesome men do infinite waies seeke to destroie and ouerthrowe themselues yet God continueth to defend them hindering and bringing to naught the endeuours and practises of those that are seditious And the prophet doth ioine also some sentences against the madnes of those men which sticke in secondarie causes and against the doting follie of others who dreame that al things are carried about by fortune to the which things they binde the prouidence and mightie power of God But the third place is especialie to be noted wherein he speaketh of that peculiar loue wherewith he doth most mightilie pres rue through his mercie his Church most desperatelie assaulted by mightie and most cruel enimies against al calamities that do inuade them and againe he expresseth in few words which is the true Church that God wil neuer forsake that is to saie euen the assemblie of those which worship him truelie and boast of no merites of their owne but possessing their owne soules in hope and silence do looke to his mercie alone THE PARAPHRASIS 1 YOV that loue righteousnes magnifie the Lord for it is meete that he be praised altogither of them that loue iustice and goodnes 2 Praise ye the Lord therefore and sing vnto him with al kind of instruments 3 Sing hymnes I saie and psalmes one after another and testifie your ioie with most cheareful and lowd voices 4 For this most beautiful order of the whole world made and appointed by his word and ordinance whereof euerie part doth manifestlie testifie how great both his power and constancie is doth require the same of you 5 Againe I beseech you consider what iust and due order and moderation is manifestlie to be seene in his gouernement of the world so that the whole earth is ful and doth abound with his goodnes and bountie 6 Furthermore that al these things began to appeare and haue their being of nothing
God seeing thou art iust defend mine innocencie against them and cause that they do not reioice ouer me 25 Neither let them saie vnto themselues Oh! now at length we haue whereof to reioice and triumph together saieng Lo now at length we haue deuoured him 26 But rather let them be ashamed and confounded together who take the occasion to reioice by my miseries and let them be couered with shame and confusion which lift themselues vp against me so despitefullie 27 Of the contrarie part cause them comfortablie to reioice that fauour my iust cause and when they see me preserued by thine assistance that they may iudge in their hearts and testifie openlie that thou art worthie of most great praise who hast declared in deede that thou hast a great care for the preseruation of thine 28 And I wil sing foorth both daie and night this thy mercie in sauing thine and thy iustice in the aduenging of thy selfe vpon the enimies of thy name PSALME XXXVI The Argument There is nothing that greeueth good men and them that feare God so much and that worthilie as the life of prophane and wicked men who do openlie testifie that they neither feare God nor man But the Prophet doth admonish vs when we behold these things that we may not gather hereby that God careth not for such matters but rather to rise vp into a more high consideration of the infinite goodnes of the most merciful and mightie God thereby cum towards them to whome he is not bound anie waie for neither may we measure Gods iustice nor his counsels by our smal capacitie Afterward he teacheth that the prouidence of God doth most manifestlie shine foorth in these so great confusions both because he doth preserue notwithstanding this vniuersal world which would perish in a moment if the wicked had their whole swinge and also doth defend his Church continualie the which though it be maruelouslie oppressed yet doth it neuer want abundance of present comforts so much as is necessarie and is furthermore refreshed with a sure hope of a better thing euen the euerlasting felicitie Wherefore this one thing remaineth that we flie to Gods protection who continueth to defend vs assured that they al shal fal in the end which delight in wickednes THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THE whole life of the wicked doth tel me in my heart that they haue cast awaie al feare of God 2 For they are so farre from being touched in their conscience with anie griefe of sinne that contrariwise they flatter themselues inuenting new and new sinnes that at the length they make themselues abhominable vnto al. 3 For al their words tend to this end that they may hurt either with fraud or force neither can they be brought once to receiue into their hearts to leade their life so that they may profite others 4 They consume the whole nightes in inuenting wickednes they continue obstinatelie in euil doing no wickednes is so great that they abhorre 5 Wherefore seeing thou ô Lord doest suffer these things so patientlie we must confesse that thy goodnes is higher than the verie heauens and that thou art most true of thy word which doest not suffer the vnworthie yea euen the breakers of thy couenant to be without the experience of thy goodnes 6 Neither is there anie cause yet why thou shouldest be counted vniust therefore because thou doest also shew thy goodnes to such maner of men for the height of thy iustice is incomprehensible and thy iudgements are more profound than the deepest gulfes of the sea that no man is able throughlie to search them and to consider them and this thy vnsearchable moderation doth shine forth not onlie in the preseruing of mankind in such a troblesome state but also in other liuing creatures 7 Howbeit there is an other thing wherein chieflie thou declarest how great and pretious thy goodnes is to wit in the saluation of those men whome thou receiuest to thy special fauour and couerest as with the shadowe of thy wings being separate from the number of other men 8 For besides those transitorie good things which thou doest not hold backe from thy verie enimies thou doest feede them with the euerlasting deinties of thy house and giuest them of thy most sweete waters to drinke abundantlie 9 For with thee alone is the spring of true life and we do attribute it to the benefite of thine onlie light that we haue anie light 10 Continue therefore to shew thy goodnes vnto the true worshippers of thy Maiestie and graunt that those which loue righteousnes may perceiue thee their reuenger and deliuerer more and more 11 Suffer not the proud to treade mee vnder their feete neither let the wicked laie hand of me to cast me downe 12 Doubtles in the due time and place that thou hast appointed they that reioice in wickednes shal fal and me thinke euen now I see euerie one of them to be throwne downe by such violence that they can neuer rise vp againe PSALME XXXVII The Argument This Psalme conteineth the same Argument with the former but more largelie treated For there be two circumstances added to wit that prophane and wicked men do not onlie rage and oppresse others without punishment but also do abound with plentie of al things and contrariwise that good men seeme most miserable And it is euident both by other Psalmes and by other Prophets and by experience that this temptation is most greeuous wherevnto we are taught thus to answere in this Psalme first to thinke as it is most true that we are deceiued when we do account the prosperitie of the wicked to be good and the afflictions of the godlie to be euil seeing that not onlie the end of these things but also the course of this present life doth declare that they are most miserable euen then when they seeme most happie and of the contrarie that these are most blessed in their greatest miserie neither wil the verie nature of God suffer the matter to go anie otherwaies Wherefore this one thing remaineth that euerie one resting in that most iust prouidence of God in that state that God hath appointed him euer calling vpon God that neuer forsaketh his wait patientlie and constantlie whiles he verelie reach foorth his hand vnto his seruants and cal the wicked to account who haue abused his goodes the which thing he wil surelie do in due time though not at our pleasure or appointment THE PARAPHRASIS 1 WHen thou beholdest the prosperous state of the wicked be not offended with their prosperitie neither enuie them for it 2 For al their felicitie vanisheth away as suddenlie as the grasse cut downe by loosing his moisture doth streight waie wither 3 Rather hold thou fast thy confidence fixed vpon God alone and continue in the exercise of virtue so shalt thou passe ouer this life and safelie enioie the commodities thereof 4 Let thy pleasure be onelie in the Lord who wil neuer faile thee calling vpon
trust in him 4 O blessed is that man who putting al his confidence in the Lord turneth awaie from men that are puffed vp with most vaine and deceitful confidence 5 O Lord my God! how manie and maruellous are thy works who is able to comprehend in his mind or to declare and vtter thy thoughts towards vs seeing they are innumerable 6 Howbeit this doth chieflie set forth the greatnes of thy benefites that al this doth proceed freelie of thine vnspeakeable mercie For thou hast not required of me the oblations and sacrifices of the law as though I could satisfie thee by them which were a madnes for anie man to persuade himselfe but thou hast required this one thing for al maner of oblations and offering that I should heare thee the which thing also thou hast graunted vnto mee making me apt and readie to heare thee 7 Wherefore I trusting to this thy grace haue streightwaies againe answered within my selfe Lo I am here for in the verie beginning of the booke of thy lawe I doe heare my selfe thus called when thou saiest Heare ô Israël 8 Neither dost thou command vs ô my God to heare thee for anie other cause but that we should obeie thee when thou speakest Seeing thou hast graunted vnto me ô Lord this wil I haue testified my wil and that thy lawe is setled in the secret of my heart 9 Neither haue I done this dissemblinglie for I haue openlie declared thy righteousnes neither wil I euer cease to declare it for feare of anie peril of the which my wil thou art witnesse ô Lord vnto me 10 I haue not kept secret I saie thy righteousnes which I did knowe in my heart but I haue most plainlie professed how faithful thou art in thy promise and that al our saluation doth consist in this thine onlie goodnes I haue testified thy mercie truth also before al the assemblie of thy people 11 Now thou againe my God seeing that new enimies do arise continue as thou hast done hitherto to haue mercie vpon me and ioine neare vnto me those thy faithful keepers euen thy mercie and fidelitie in keeping thy promises 12 For innumerable troubles doe againe hang ouer my head and so manie and so great punishments due vnto my sinnes do presse me that I can scarselie behold them a farre off with mine eies for they are aboue the number of the haires of mine head and my verie heart faileth me 13 Let it please thee therefore ô Lord to deliuer me ô Lord I saie make haste to helpe me 14 Cause them to be confounded ashamed and frustrate of their expectation that seeke my death and let them be turned backe with shame voide of their purpose which bend themselues wholie to hurt me 15 Let them suffer the same blot of infamie for a reward of their wickednes wherewith they would haue spotted me which cried Ha ha in my miserie 16 But contrariwise let al that seeke thee being confirmed comforted by mine example reioice and they that haue set al their hope of saluation in thee let them exhort one another to praise thee I was miserable and destitute of al mens helpe but the Lord prouided for me and mine affaires Thou wast my helper thou wast my deliuerer and now ô my God I beseech thee make no delaie PSALME XLI The Argument This is a most greeuous temptation which was the occasion of the making of this Psalme treating the same matter with the booke of Job wherein this question is handled to wit whether seeing God is iust and al the miseries wherevnto men are subiect doe come for our sinnes we may determine of the wrath of God and of the condemnation of anie by the present miseries wherewith they are oppressed For it is the common iudgement of the world supposing of the contrarie that they are in Gods fauour which doe abound with the commodities of this life And both these are false as God himselfe doth decide the controuersie betweene Job and his friendes and Salomon also in his booke called Ecclesiastes Now this temptation is most greeuous for it openeth the doore to blasphemie and desperation and this euil iudgement is the more greeuous when it proceedeth from faithlesse and churlish persons of whom chiefly we looked for comfort Thus was Dauid maruellouslie vexed of them who liked not his sincere and vpright dealing and seueritie of discipline as it appeareth by the historie that the son was drawen away froÌ„ his father by the practise of wicked Achitophel and others and driuen to that horrible conspiracie Moreouer these faithles persons had an horrible disease in their hearts which increased the desire of alteration in them for they supposed when Dauid should be taken awaie that they could raise vp one who would satisfie their lustes and would set them at more libertie Dauid therefore greeued with so manie sorrowes acknowledgeth himselfe a sinner and both by faith resting vpon God and vpon an vpright conscience towardes these traitors flieth vnto God and wisheth wel vnto them that had a better opinion of him and powreth foorth most feruent praiers for the safetie of himselfe and his kingdome of the good issue whereof he is so sure as he might wel be hauing a particular promise of God that he giueth thanks for the performance of the same And heerein there is a maruellous figure both of Dauid compared with Christ and of Achitophel with Judas as the verse of this Psalme is cited Iohn 13 18. For like as Dauid being betraied chased awaie by his sonne dâ—d yet recouer the kingdome euen so Christ betraied of his disciple and nailed vpon the crosse by the malice of his owne people did then verelie begin his kingdome and both the traitors had the like and the same end THE PARAPHRASIS 1 BVT wel may it be vnto you that iudge more vprightlie of me being in most great miserie for surelie the Lord wil deliuer me forth of this calamitie 2 The Lord wil not faile to prouide for me and wil restore me to life againe yea whatsoeuer these do prattle God wil againe blesse me neither wil he suffer mine enimies to satisfie their lustes vpon me 3 The Lord rather wil strengthen me though I be throwen downe with the greatnes of my sorowes and he wil go about my verie bed 4 For I haue called vpon him with these words which cannot be frustrate I knowledge ô Lord that I haue sinned against thee and am therefore punished most iustlie but thou hauing compassion vpon me heale me being wounded much more in mind than in bodie 5 Behold these churlish and faithles persons doe not cease to cursse me wish nothing more than my destruction When saie they shal he once perish and his name be wholie extinguished 6 If anie man come vnto me vnder the colour of friendship he may wel testifie amitie in his words but he meaneth in his heart to hurt me casting manie subtile fetches in his mind and
when he goeth from me he vttereth al to the men of his faction that he hath found out of me 7 And then when they haue diligentlie commoned and consulted together they pronounce the sentence of death against me 8 For saie they He is found guiltie of a horrible and mischieuous wickednes that there is no hope that he can escape from these miseries 9 Yea that same my most familiar who being in safetie I hoped for al prosperitie and of whome I looked for al kind of friendship euen he whome I tooke to mine owne table hath lifted his heele against me 10 But thou Lord haue mercie vpon me make frustrate their desires and raise me againe that according to the office and authoritie that thou hast giuen me I may iustlie punish their infidelitie 11 But oh Wherefore should I vse manie words vnto thee doubtles I now knowe that thou doest not hate me euen by this that thou hast not suffered mine enimies to triumph ouer me as they verelie hoped and by mans iudgement it seemeth so in deede 12 Behold then I do yet stand safe sure through thy defence and I knowe that thou wilt alwaies care for me 13 O Lord the God of Israël euerlasting praise be giuen to thee euen so be it I saie so shal it be PSALME XLII The Argument This Psalme doth set forth a singular example of true faith together with a maruellous care of the exercise of religion For Dauid being now an exile and not onlie spoiled of al his honour but of al his goodes and also fought for vnto death by most cruel enimies on euerie side doth yet testifie that he doth not despaire Furthermore he saith that he doth nothing regard so great losse of al other things in comparison of this one thing that whereas before time he was wont to go before others that vsuallie came vp to the Tabernacle he was now compelled to want those helpes of faith appointed by God For this most holie man did vnderstand that although he had God present with him whither soeuer he went and had profited so greatlie in the knowledge of God and his dutie as no man like him yet did he knowe that there was profite to be taken of the holie publike assemblies and that there is not anie man that doth not neede the hearing of the word and the comforts of the sacraments Let them marke this chieflie who thinke themselues so wise that they wilfullie despise the holie assemblies and the sacraments and they much more who for the commoditie of the transitorie things of this world doe refuse the holie ministerie Finallie they also which had rather he stil in the dunghil of idolatrie than to be accounted of the Church of Christ. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 LIke as the Hart long and sore chased with the hunters panting and braieng doth most greedilie seeke the fountaines of waters euen so I miserable man whome these men neuer cease so manie yeeres to persecute doe crie vnto thee ô God with my whole heart 2 Neither doe I desire againe the honour that I haue lost or the riches or my wife or my kinsmen and friends but I am consumed wholie rather with thirst and desire of thy liuely and euerlasting fountaine ô God Ah then when shal it at the length be graunted vnto me most miserable man that I may behold thee in thy house 3 I feede my selfe with teares day and night hearing these wicked men vpbraiding me as though I were forsaken of thee asking dailie Where is my God 4 O how bitter vnto me is the remembrance of the former times when I consider how great a multitude I was wont aforetime to leade vnto thy house which caused the verie fields to sound forth thy praises with their songs and danses 5 Go to yet my poore soule Why art thou so amazed and troubled so greatlie wait thou whilest God that thy deliuerer doe come For he I knowe wel wil bring to passe that I shal appeare againe in his sanctuarie and shal giue thankes vnto him for my deliuerance 6 But oh my God! I doe lie downe ouerthrowne both in the strength of my bodie and mind thinking of thee so far absent being chased vnto Iordan and lieng hid in the tops of the mountaines Hermon and Mizar 7 One deepe followeth another and calleth me to destruction thy streames breaking out with horrible sounding and the conduits of the clouds rolling downe vpon my head and al the flouds powred foorth to destroie me at once 8 Be it far from me yet that I should despaire for surelie the Lord wil prouide for mee in the daie time through his goodnes and in the night time he wil giue me cause to sing foorth his praise Finalie I wil neuer cease to praie vnto God the onelie authour and preseruer of my life 9 I wil saie vnto God vnto whose onlie protection I trust Can it be that thou shouldest be vnmindful of me and suffer that I being oppressed of the enimie should lie for euer in sorowe and miserie 10 Wilt thou neuer regard me nothing mooued with the losse of those thinges whereof I am most vniustlie spoiled but wounded to the heart with those wicked words of mine enimies when I heare them oftentimes speake in derision asking Where that my God is 11 Go to then my seelie soule why art thou so amazed and why art thou so disquieted wait rather whilest the Lord come for he wil graunt me that I being againe deliuered shal giue him thanks Thus he deliuering me shal cheere my countenance he I saie is my God PSALME XLIII The Argument This Psalme is a portion of the former repeating the praiers whereby he praied to be restored to the Church THE PARAPHRASIS 1 MAinteine my right ô God and defend my iust cause deliuer me from this vnmerciful multitude and from the deceitful and wicked man 2 For I trust to thy power alone ô my God wherefore doest thou refuse me and sufferest me to go heauilie being oppressed of mine enimies 3 Graunt I beseech thee that thy mercie and truth may shine vnto me which may bring me vnto that holie mountaine euen to thy tabernacles 4 O God! I wil there witnesse my ioie with my voice comming foorth vnto thine altar and I wil praise thee ô God my God vpon the harpe also 5 Wherefore art thou cast downe my soule and so sore disquieted wait vpon God for it wil come to passe that I shal praise him againe For this is that my God who deliuering me wil againe comfort me PSALME XLIIII The Argument This is also a Psalme of praier but ful of most grieuous lamentations the authour whereof is supposed of manie not to be Dauid because these complaintes seeme not to belong to his time therefore other do refer it to some other time but I do thinke that that which is spoken in the 18. verse and afterward doth much lesse agree to anie time than to those times which came after Dauid
ioie wherwith they are indued who being deliuered by thee from the bonds of sinne and death are receiued againe into thy fauour and let thy holie spirit that true comforter graunt vnto me that I may willinglie giue my selfe henceforth wholie vnto thee 13 Then shal I teach other wicked men also by mine example that howsoeuer they haue bene turned frō thee they would returne againe vnto thee 14 O God the God of whome al my saluation dependeth deliuer me from this crime of so bloudie murther that my tong with ioie may praise thy iustice in performing thy promises with continual songs 15 Open my mouth ô Lord which my wickednes hath caused to be dumbe that I may set forth thy praise 16 For as concerning the offering of sacrifices I knowe they wil not be acceptable vnto thee offred of these vnpure hands neither that the taking awaie of sinne which I require is set in the bloud of beasts or else I would haue laden thine altar alreadie with burnt offerings 17 But behold I do offer sacrifice wherewith ô God I knowe thou art delighted euen a mind broken with the true feeling of sinne earnestlie repenting and abhorring himselfe and his sinnes the which offering I knowe wel thou wilt not despise 18 Finallie my God let not these my sinnes so much displease thee that they should hinder the course of that thy free mercie towards Sion but continue notwithstanding to build the walles of thy citie Ierusalem 19 Then surelie when I am fullie reconciled vnto thee thou wilt acceptable receiue al kind of sacrifice duelie offered vnto thee and then wil I lode thine altar with sacrifices PSALME LII The Argument That outragious crueltie which Saule did shew against the innocent priests by the counsel of Doëg the which historie is written 1. Kings 21 gaue occasion to the writing of this Psalme as the Hebrue title doth testifie For when Dauid had receiued this message it may easilie be coniectured in what sorowe he was both for his singular pietie and also because he might seeme after a sort to haue giuen the occasion to this murther therefore he comforteth himselfe with this Psalme written against that most cursed false accuser first of al threatening him with the iust iudgement of God then confirming himselfe and the whole assemblie of the godlie with the sure faith of Gods promises wherevpon the safetie of the Church resteth which then doubtles was sore striken with that slaughter of the priestes And in the end he giueth thankes vnto God because he had deliuered him from so great danger And this Psalme is now also verie profitable seeing there neuer want Princes who do persecute the godlie and speciallie the pastours of the Churches with al kind of crueltie and there hath bin alwaies a great number of flatterers which haue inflamed their rage with diuers false accusations a most heauie example of the which wickednes more cruel than that of old we haue seene of late in the kingdome of France THE PARAPHRASIS 1 BVT darest thou boast euen of this thy most cruel mischiefe a valiant man forsooth which hast slaine so manie vnarmed men not once resisting thee howbeit notwithstanding thou shalt neuer be able to destroie the assemblie of the godlie for whose safetie that most merciful and mightie God doth dailie watch 2 Thou art then wholie occupied in this ô mischieuous man that thou maist inuent false accusations and deuise new sleightes by the which like a sharpe rasour thou maist murther the godlie at a sudden 3 Al vprightnes is loathsome vnto thee in regard of wickednes and thou appliest thy selfe to deceit despising al iustice 4 Thou seekest out desirouslie false accusations whereby thou maist deuoure the innocent thou doest exercise thy tongue busilie to deceiue 5 And thinkest thou that thou shalt do these things vnpunished nay that most iust God wil destroie thee vtterlie he wil pul thee out I saie of this thy tabernacle in the which thou now so careleslie doest delight and he wil euen plucke thee out by the rootes 6 And then as thou hast delighted thy selfe in destroieng the innocent so they considering that God doth punish thee iustlie wil worship him in deede and feare him but they wil deride thee with these words 7 Behold this man who as though his life did not depend of the strength of God alone trusting vnto his great riches hath imagined himselfe to be safe free from al dangers by his own wickednes 8 But I whome thou chieflie couetest to destroie shal continue like a greene oliue tree in that same house of the Lord whose ministers thou hast murthered For that goodnes of God which standeth sure in al ages can not deceiue me vpon the stabilitie whereof I do rest 9 I wil praise thee vndoubtedlie ô God for euer who hast deliuered me maruelouslie from this danger and I wil waite for whatsoeuer shal come henceforth with a quiet mind whilest thou sendest helpe the which neuer wanted vnto them whome thou hast receiued into thy fauour PSALME LIII The Argument This is the same Psalme and written with the same words with the fourteenth Psalme except the last verse saue one There fetch the argument THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THat men are al so doting mad to persuade themselues that there is no God it is manifest heereby that they are also wicked al do make themselues abhominable and not one of them doth leade his life aright 2 The Lord himselfe from whome nothing is hid beholding men from heauen to see if anie would knowe him or seeke after him 3 Doth finde that al are turned awaie from him that they are altogether filthie and that there is not one at al which ordereth his life aright 4 Are not these mischieuous men altogether mad which deuoure the holie people of God as it were bread and neuer cal vpon God 5 But the time wil come when the same thing shal terrifie them which now they feare least of al. For God shal so destroie them which haue camped against his people that he wil euen breake their bones and thou shalt inwrap and folde them in shame because God wil make them vile and contemptible 6 Oh that now at the length that sauiour of Israël would come foorth but of Sion for then in deede Iacob shal reioice then shal Israël be ful of ioie when the Lord shal bring againe his captiues PSALME LIIII The Argument Dauid wrote this Psalme when his secret holdes were betraied to Saule by the Ziphims the which daunger beside the verie circumstance of the treacherie is to be seene how great it was by the 1. Sam. 23.19 And wheras he was twise betraied of the Ziphims J had rather refer this Psalme to the former betraieng And it is verie profitable to vnderstand that not onlie the Saints and such as are in chiefe fauour with God do fal into these extreame perils brought vpon them by such as should do nothing lesse but also how wonderfullie
present vnto Ephraim Beniamin and Manasseh and declare thy power in preseruing vs. 3 Restore vs and command the brightnes of thy countenance to shine vpon vs and forthwith we shal be saued 4 O Lord the God mightie in battel how long wilt thou forsake vs that praie breathing foorth anger at thy nostrels 5 Thou hast fed vs with teares as with bread and giuen vs teares to drinke with great measure 6 Thou hast brought to passe that the people that are our neighbours do now contend amongst themselues for the partition and diuiding of our ground and that we are become a mocking stocke to our enimies 7 Restore vs ô God mightie in battel command the brightnes of thy countenance to shine vnto vs and forth-with we shal be safe 8 For this is the vine which being translated euen from Aegypt thou hast planted hauing cast forth the inhabitants of these regions 9 Thou thy selfe hast dressed it and hast caused it to take roote that it springing vp suddenlie should couer the earth 10 It hath shadowed the verie mountaines the boughes thereof haue growne vp like the high Cedars 11 And this waie truelie it spread foorth branches vnto the sea and that waie vnto the riuer 12 Ah! why hast thou taken awaie the hedge why hast thou made it open to euerie one that iournieth 13 The boares breaking foorth of the forests do laie it waste the wilde beastes do eate it vp 14 Looke vpon vs I beseech thee ô GOD of hosts turne thine eies out from heauen regard vs and behold this thy vine 15 Behold I saie the vineyard that is planted by thine owne hand and the branches that are carefullie dressed by thy selfe for thine owne vse 16 It is burnt vp it is destroied al things haue perished at thy rebuke 17 But thou ô God defend with thy hand that man whose endeuour thou hast determined to vse to restore it that man I saie whome for thy purpose thou hast indued with power and constancie 18 And we hauing our life restored by thee wil neuer decline from thee but wil cal vpon thy name 19 O Lord God of hosts restore vs shew vs thy face and we shal streightwaie be saued PSALME LXXXI The Argument J do embrace their opinion which saie that this Psalme as the 8. and the 84. were applied vnto the feast of the vintage that was of the tabernacles the which is signified by the Hebrue title Gittith And me thinkes that in the third verse of this Psalme three feasts of the seuenth moneth are distinctlie and planelie noted It conteineth a solemne thankesgiuing for the which this feast was institute Notwithstanding there is a most graue admonition and verie conuenient for the time of this feast to wit that if the yeare be fruiteful the Israëlites should vnderstand that al that is to be giuen to Gods mercie if it be not so that they should not accuse God but their owne selues THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GO to stir vp your ioie with songs but voide of al wantonnesse so that your ioie maie tend to the glorie of God your onelie strength and celebrate your God I saie with trumpets 2 And ioine vnto your songs the timbrel the harpe and the viol 3 Proclaime the feast of the new moone with trumpets that daie which is institute for the couering and purging of our sinnes finallie declare these our feastful daies 4 For the God of Iacob hath commanded this vnto Israël and hath appointed this rite and solemnitie to his honour 5 He hath inioined I saie this signe of subiection vnto the posteritie of Ioseph when he did rise vp against the Aegyptians for their sake at the which time also he called vpon vs with such a terrible voice as was neuer heard before 6 I haue shaken off the yoke laid on thy shoulders and I haue remoued thy hands from making the brickes 7 Thou hast called vpon me in thy miserie when thou wast oppressed and againe I heard thee thundering a far off out of the darkenes of the clouds howbeit afterwards at the water of Meribah I had experience what thy disposition is 8 Then againe I did speake vnto thee in this sort Heare my people for I wil now cal vpon thee ô Israël if thou wilt heare me 9 There shal be no strange god with thee neither shalt thou bow downe before anie strange god 10 For I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of Aegypt go to prepare thy selfe to receiue my benefites and open thy mouth most wide that I may fil it 11 Howbeit though I did speake thus most mercifullie and promised al things most bountifullie my people did not obeie Israël did despise my words 12 Wherefore I gaue them vp to be gouerned by the wickednes of their owne hearts vtterlie forsaken of me whereof this thing folowed that they did liue according to their lustes 13 O that my people had rather obeied me and Israël had continued in the waie appointed by me 14 His enimies oppressours turning my hand against them would I suddenlie haue destroied 15 I would haue subdued vnto him his enimies and mine neither should his tranquillitie haue bin interrupted with anie maner of adueâ—sitie 16 I would haue fed him with most fine wheate and rather than they should haue wanted anie thing I would haue giuen him honie most abundantlie out of the hard rockes PSALME LXXXII The Argument The liuelie image of the diuine Maiestie amongst men is expressed in the magistrates vnto whome therefore God doth attrâ—bute that name not of his owne proper essence and substance but the name that signifieth the power which he hath ouer al things Howbeit in this thing as in others there be manie faultes committed both by them that haue the power of gouernement giuen vnto them and also by them that are their subiects And this Psalme doth treate of the faults of the magistrates themselues which are most great and dangerous For it can hardlie be but that where the magistrates do not their office the people also in that neither the wicked are brideled nor the godlie confirmed and comforted ful to vtter ruine Wherefore the Prophet in the beginning of the Psalme doth first open and then shut vp the fountaine whence al the most greeuous euils committed by the magistrates do spring forth bringing in the person of God himselfe to speake to wit that they onlie beholding them whom they count as subiects they forget him who standeth ouer their heads who hath placed them not in his owne place and throne but ouer certaine men onlie and that vpon this condition that they should not haue an infinite and absolute power to do what they lust but that their authoritie should be limited by certaine lawes bound to a certaine time Neither doth he vse them so as his deputies or vicepresidents that he onelie should be present but also that he should rule and direct their iudgements and when they haue finished their time and course whether
Asaph and others THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord mightie in battell how amiable are thy tabernacles 2 Wherefore for the desire of the visiting of thy courtes ô Lord which is vtterlie denied me I am wholie consumed coueting most earnestlie both in bodie and mind to come vnto thee ô God the authour of life 3 Oh alas is my condition worse than that of the sparowes and swalowes to whome it is permitted to finde some place where they may make their nests ô thine altars Lord of hosts my King and my God 4 O blessed are they that are permitted to dwel with thee and to set foorth thy praises continuallie 5 O blessed is that man to whome thou giuest grace to vse those thy sacraments appointed to strengthen their faith and who as he commeth in bodie vnto thy sanctuarie carrieth thy lawes grauen in his heart 6 Wherefore me thinkes I see the great multitudes of them that come vnto thee to go thorough the drie mores and wild figtrees affraid of no difficulties by the waie who rather than they should leaue off the iournie that they haue vndertaken do partlie dig pits with great diligence to receiue the running waters partlie do make cesternes with great labour to holde the raine-water 7 Neither do they ceasse but continue and increase in constancie whilest that one band and multitude meeting now and then with another they do come vnto thee ô high God into thy presence euen vnto Sion 8 O Lord of hosts heare my praiers giue eare vnto me poore miser ô God of Iacob 9 O God our defender behold me and regard the king whome thou hast annointed 10 For how far better is it to passe one daie in thy house than a thousand in anie place elsewhere therefore I wish rather my God to be the porter in thy house than to haue anie maner of condition amongst the prophane men polluted with sinne 11 For in other places there are continual and horrible darkenes but light is onelie with thee which art the verie true Sunne it selfe ô Lord and nothing is safe anie where else but in thee ô God the defender of thine there is most certaine safetie and the abundance of thy blessings which is appointed to them that trulie and sincerelie worship thee is infinite 12 O blessed is he Lord of hoasts which setteth al his confidence onlie in thee PSALME LXXXV The Argument This Psalme hauing the Korites for the authours thereof manie do refer to the time which folowed their returne from the captiuitie of Babylon when yet the building of the temple and the citie was letted by the Gentiles that dwelt about them But I leaue it to be considered whether it ought rather to be applied to the beginning of the kingdome of Dauid so that by the name of captiuitie not the carieng awaie of them from their habitation is to be vnderstood but the miserable seruitude of the people vnder the Palestines which had ouercome them after the death of Saule Howsoeuer it is we vnderstand by this Psalme that the Church is so pressed and vexed euen when God seemeth most iustlie to be angrie that yet it is not oppressed Furthermore this Psalme doth teach vs with what weapons chieflie the enimies being conquerours are repulsed euen by repentance and by praiers proceeding of faith whereof we haue heere a most excellent example Finallie there is added a verie cleare prophesie of the sending of Messiah in whom as Paule saith al the blessings are ratified that we may learne which are the proper and peculiar benefites of the Church and of the spiritual kingdome of Christ and to whome we must attribute the benefite of publike peace and tranquillitie when God doth grant it vnto vs. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord thou hast manie times shewed thy selfe merciful to the inhabitants of thy land thou hast restored the posteritie of Iacob from most miserable bondage vnto libertie 2 Thou hast taken awaie the iniquitie of thy people thou hast couered al their sinnes 3 Thou hast put awaie al thy wrath thou hast suppressed thy wrath I saie that it should not vtterlie flame foorth 4 Continue now therefore ô God our deliuerer to change our miserable condition and command thy wrath wholie to depart 5 I praie thee wilt thou be angrie for euer and wilt thou continue thy wrath vnto al ages 6 Wilt thou not rather restore vs to life againe and giue vs occasion againe to praise thee with great gladnes 7 Ah Lord graunt that thy mercie may appeare vnto vs and that we being deliuered may haue experience of thy great benignitie 8 But why should I vse manie words vnto God surelie it is better diligentlie to heare what God our Lord answereth vnto me For I nothing doubt but he wil answere most gentlie and promise al prosperitie to that his people towards whome it hath alwaie pleased him to vse so great liberalitie that they being admonished may be wise hereafter 9 For although al things seeme desperate deliuerance is not far off from them that worship him and that time is neere when our land now lieng in miserie shal recouer her former beautie 10 For the mercie of God shal shine vnto vs to whom also his truth shal ioine in societie Furthermore iustice and peace another noble match meeting together with mutual imbraceings shal receiue one another 11 Then the minds of men being changed againe from infidelitie vnto faithfulnes truth comming downe from heauen shal appeare in earth which the spirit of righteousnes shal make fruitful from aboue 12 So wil it come to passe that the Lord wil powre out al kind of good things vpon vs and the earth shal bring foorth her fruits abundantlie 13 Finallie al things shal be done in most due manner and order and euerie man shal frame his manners after the rule appointed of God PSALME LXXXVI The Argument This Psalme of Dauid doth also containe a verie notable example of most feruent praiers with most pretious sentences adioined partlie of the wil of God declared vnto vs and oftentimes experienced towards vs partlie drawne from his infinite power whereby wee may be comforted euen in the greatest miseries and most desperate Now the praier of Dauid is of two sorts one that he may be preserued in this life against his most cruel and most mightie enimies vnto this end that the name of God may be spread to the vttermost coasts of the earth namelie by the comming of Messiah which should be borne of him the which promise should come to naught vnlesse God did bridle the rage and madnes of the enimies another cause the chiefe is euen as the foundation of the former that God should not suffer him being broken with the greatnes of the dangers to fal awaie as it happeneth somtimes euen to them that are most strong vnlesse that God by the power of his spirit doe strengthen our wauering faith THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GIue eare vnto me ô Lord and heare mee that am oppressed
and poore 2 Preserue the life of him that is promoted by thy benefite preserue ô my God I saie thy seruant that flieth vnto thee 3 Haue mercie vpon me ô Lord crieng dailie vnto thee 4 Refresh the soule of thy seruant for vnto thee alone ô Lord my soule doth lift it selfe 5 For thou ô Lord art verelie good and merciful and vsest great clemencie and kindnes towards them that cal vpon thee 6 Giue eare vnto my praiers ô Lord and receiue the words of him that praieth vnto thee 7 Neither doe I crie without cause vnto thee but being in most extreame miserie therefore thou wilt heare me 8 For verelie amongst al those feined gods vnto whome the mad men doe attribute so much who is to be compared vnto thee ô Lord and who is able to doe like vnto thee 9 Wherefore al nations in the end shal cast awaie their false gods and shal knowledge thee their creator and reuerencing thee shal giue thee al praise 10 For thou verelie art great thou onelie art God the author and worker of maruellous works 11 Teach me ô Lord the waie that thou hast appointed that I may shew my selfe faithful and trulie obedient vnto thee and cleauing wholie vnto thee may set my mind to serue thee 12 O Lord my God I wil praise thee with my whole heart and magnifie thy name for euer 13 Seeing I haue the experience of thine infinite goodnes in my selfe and am deliuered from the lowest pit of the graue by thee 14 Thou seest doubtles how cruel and proud men do arise vp against me and how such as regard nothing lesse than thee doe labour with al power to take my life from me 15 But thou ô Lord God vpon whome onlie I do depend wholie art verelie merciful and pitiful and art not hastie vnto anger most merciful I saie and most ful of truth 16 Take care of me therefore for thine infinite mercie and helpe thy bond-seruant 17 Grant finallie that I may manifestlie knowe that thou louest me that mine enimies may be ashamed of themselues when they see that thou dost helpe and comfort me PSALME LXXXVII The Argument Manie do applie this Psalme to the time of the second temple but I had rather to attribute it to that time of the kingdome of Dauid when he set vp a tabernacle for the Arke of the Lord in that part of the citie that bare his name euen the mount Sion whilest that the temple was builded Howsoeuer it is besides the prophesie of spreading the Church of God thoughout the whole world this Psalme doth teach vs with a maruellous and diuine breuitie vnder the figure of that earthlie either temple or tabernacle either first or second that the worke of the building of the spiritual temple of God which is made of liuely stones euen the Church is altogither diuine and that the foundation thereof is onelie the good pleasure of God and that the Church is not bound to one place alone and that nothing is more stable and durable than the Church finallie that the true and euerlasting ioie doth onlie there remaine as hauing the promises both of this life and of the life to come THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THe Lord minding to build vnto himselfe a firme and stable habitation hath chosen these hils consecrated them to himselfe 2 And he hath preferred the gates of Sion aboue al the habitations of Iacob because it so pleased him 3 Wherfore excellent things are decreed of thee ô citie of God 4 For behold saith the Lord I wil account both Aegypt and Babylon amongst my people so that they shal be no more enimies vnto thee and the verie Philistins the Tyrians and Arabians shal be numbred amongst thy citizens 5 Finallie men of al nations shal not be as aliens and strangers but they shal be the natiue citizens of Sion the which God wil establish from aboue 6 For God accounting the people wil write them al in his booke 7 There shal al sound with singers and shawmes there saith the Lord al the fountaines of my benefits shal flowe foorth PSALME LXXXVIII The Argument The Hebrue title doth testifie that the writer of this Psalme was Heman by his countrie surnamed Esrait a kinsman and fellowe of Asaph of whome most honourable mention is made 1. Chron. 6 33. and 15 4. where it is said that he was a Prophet to the king and a singer and of singular wisedome 2. Kings 4.31 So that I thinke they are deceiued who refer this Psalme to the time of Joakim the last king of Iu l◠saue one who was captiue in Babylon And it conteineth such a lamentation as there is none more lamentable and pitiful in the whole Psalmes the which the whole Church and the families and also euerie priuate man may vse both in publike and priuate miseries Therefore was this Psalme afore-time named amongst the penitentials as they called them and was sung at the publike confession of the excommunicate persons the which Psalmes afterward we haue seene to be applied foolishlie and without reason to a daily and priuate babbling without respect either of time or person THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord GOD of whome I doe wait for my deliuerance I cal for thy helpe daie and night 2 Let my praiers I beseech thee come vnto thee and giue eare vnto my crie 3 My soule is ful of miserie neither is my life far from the graue 4 For I am more like to a dead than to a liuing man by the iudgement of al that doe behold me 5 And as though I had no part with the liuing I am now counted amongst the dead and amongst them that lie in graue of whose life there is none account as those whome thy hand hath cut off at once 6 And I am cast by thee as into the lowest darke and deepe pit 7 Thy wrath lieth vpon me and thou hast ouerwhelmed me with al thy flouds 8 Thou hast put al my familiars from mee vnto whome I am so loathsome not without thy knowledge so that I keepe my selfe within my house as it were in a prison and dare not go one foot forth 9 Mine eies are consumed through sorowe yet cal I vpon thee dailie ô Lord spreading foorth my hands 10 And wil there be time to exercise thy great power when men are dead wilt thou restore them to life againe that they may giue thee praise 11 Shal they that lie in graue set foorth thy mercie there and shal they that are dead set foorth thy truth againe here 12 Shal those that lie buried in the darknes of death knowe thy woonderful workes and they whose memorie death hath blotted out from the liuing acknowledge thy righteousnes 13 Wherfore I cease not to cal vpon thee ô Lord and I doe preuent the morning light in powring foorth my praiers 14 Why dost thou refuse mine oppressed soule ô Lord why doest thou turne awaie thy face from mee 15 Ah! I am miserable and readie to
by thy power and hast stilled the most deepe surges thereof that there might be a passage to thy people 10 And by the same thy mightie arme thou hast cast downe Aegypt euen thine enimies wounded to death 11 And how can it be but thou art able to doe it vnto whome the heauen and the earth as to their onlie Creator are subiect 12 And which hast defended with a certaine special power the land which thou hast chosen and giuen vnto thine For thou certainlie hast appointed the north and south borders thereof and hast set Tabor at the west and Hermon at the east 13 Wherefore seeing thou hast a power neither weake nor idle surelie thou wilt declare thy strength and wilt lift vp thy right hand 14 Finallie thou wilt declare thy selfe in deede to be the King whose throne that most moderate equitie whereby thou gouernest thine assemblie and that seueritie of iudgement whereby thou punishest thine enimies and the enimies of thy people doe hold vp as it were two pillers vnto whome also sitting vpon this throne mercie and truth are seene to stand before him 15 O blessed is the people who being stirred vp with the sound of thy trumpets ô Lord doth go foorth the light of thy countenance shewing them the waie 16 And praising thee dailie and trusting of thy iustice doth reioice 17 For thou art both the honour and also the strength both of them and vs and we lift vp our head trusting vpon thy most merciful goodnes 18 For our defender our king I saie vpon whom we set our eies who is ordeiâ—ed ouer vs by thee ô Lord which hast consecrated and separated thine Israël forth of al people vnto thee is stablished by thy power 19 For thou at what time it pleased thee to bestowe this so great benefite vpon vs didst appeare vnto men whome thou louedst most dearelie and didst speake vnto them in these words I haue raised vp this most valiant man chosen out of the whole people by whose power my people may be defended 20 Dauid I saiâ— hath it pleased me to take onlie out of al the rest whose endeuour I would vse in that busines and therefore haue I consecrated him with my holie oile to be the king 21 Therefore my hand shal establish him with mine arme I saie wil I strengthen him 22 No enimie shal ouercome him by subtiltie neither shal anie wicked man oppresse him by force 23 For I wil destroie al that would oppresse him before his face and I wil staie al his enimies 24 My mercie shal neuer faile him my truth shal neuer forsake him and he trusting to my fauour shal lift vp his head most high 25 I wil cause him to haue one hand vpon the sea and another vpon the flouds 26 And he shal name me his father his God and his safe tower 27 And I wil place him againe as my first begotten sonne in the whole familie of the kings of the whole world euen in a throne most high aboue others 28 I wil defend him with euerlasting mercie and my couenant made with him shal be stable for euer 29 I wil cause that his generation shal be eternal and his throne as stable and euerlasting as heauen it selfe 30 For though his posteritie shal saile from my lawe neither order themselues by the rules of the lawe prescribed vnto them 31 But violate the ordinances that I haue appointed and keepe not my commandements 32 I wil then take the rod and correct their faults and punish their wickednes 33 But I wil not suffer them to be without al sense of my mercie neither wil I therefore breake my promise 34 Nor wil violate my couenant or wil change anie thing of those things that I haue spoken 35 For I the holie one haue once sworne by mine owne selfe If I lie at anie time vnto Dauid 36 His generation shal stand for euer and his throne shal be as the sunne before me 37 And it shal continue euen as the moone in al ages they both being faithful witnesses of this my promise in the heauens 38 Thou hast euen promised these things of old ô Lord how shal I now saie then that it is come to passe that thou being angrie hast refused and cast awaie this thy king 39 Wherefore I praie thee hast thou abrogated thy league made with thy seruant wherefore hast thou laid open to the reproch of al men his crowne cast vpon the ground 40 Al his forts being ouerthrowne and al his fortresses destroied 41 Thou hast laid him open to be spoiled by al that passe by at their pleasure and to be derided of al his neighbours about him 42 Thou hast ministred power and cause of ioie to al his aduersaries 43 Thou hast made blunt the edge of his sword thou hast taken awaie al courage from him that he is not able to stand against the force of his enimie 44 And thou hast blotted out al his honour and hast cast downe his throne euen vnto the ground 45 In the verie flower of his youth thou hast cut off his strength hast couered him with al shame 46 Oh Lord wilt thou withdraw thy selfe from vs for euer shal thine anger thus like a most raging flame breake foorth against vs 47 Remember how short the space of mans life is although it should be the whole time continued And shal we thinke that thou hast made men for no purpose but to take them awaie suddenlie 48 What neede anie violence I praie you to destroie vs seeing there is no man who doth not perish of his owne selfe and no man is able to exempt him selfe from the graue 49 Where are now those thine old benefits ô Lord which thou hast sworne vnto Dauid that they should remaine for euer 50 But to what purpose do I make these complaints Thou knowest most certainelie the purpose of thy counsels and be it far from me that I should doubt of thy fidelitie Onlie I beseech thee ô Lord consider with thy selfe how thy seruants are rebuked especiallie how manie reproches so manie people do vomit into my bosome 51 Euen what these thine enimies rather than ours haue reprochfullie laide vnto thy charge ô Lord and with what ieasting taunts they aunswere those things which are rehearsed by vs of the king and kingdome that thou hast established 52 Howbeit ô Lord howsoeuer these men dote and which waie soeuer thou leadest vs to and fro al land and euerlasting glorie apperteineth vnto thee And so vndoubtedlie without al faile wil it come to passe PSALME XC The Argument Moses doth here preach of the miseries of mankind speciallie of death wherof the Philosophers do teach manie things but falselie and foolishlie For they vnderstoode nothing of the creation of man nor of his fal much lesse of the true comforts against al the miseries of this life Hereof did these wicked voices arise that It was the best either not to be borne at al or to die
do flourish which argument is treated in manie other places it admonisheth least the godlie should turne themselues to folowe the wicked that we may not esteeme the loue or hatred of God by prosperitie or aduersitie or that we should therefore denie the prouidence of God as though anie thing came by chance or yet be discouraged but rather to adore the wisedome of God and his power also who concerning the wicked wil recompence the delaie of the punishment with the greeuousnes thereof but wil defend his that is those that are grafted trulâ—e into the Church euen vnto the end THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HOw excellent a thing is it to praise the Lord and to sing vnto his most high name 2 And to rise in the morning earelie to praise thy goodnes ô God and to praise thy truth at the night as we are admonished both by the morning and euening sacrifices ordeined by thee 3 Vpon the instrument of ten strings vpon the viol and with song and with the harpe 4 For the workes that thou hast done minister an argument of most great ioie vnto me that I can not but with reioicing haue them in admiration 5 For how wonderful are thy workes ô Lord and how secret and hid are the reasons of thy counsels 6 Therefore the foolish and mad men who onlie seeme to themselues and to others to be wise do not perceiue what this thing meaneth 7 That the euil and most wicked men do growe vp and flourish therefore they wickedlie condemne that which they do not vnderstand as though either the state of men were gouerned by chance or that God did fauour wickednes euen because they do not vnderstand that these wicked men are like hearbes so greene and flourishing that streightwaies they die vp by the roots 8 For although these inferiour things be subiect to maruellous changes yet thou the most wise and most iust gouernour of al them sitting on high art not changed but art the same and doest remaine like thy selfe ô Lord. 9 What alteration then of things or time soeuer do fal yet must this end of necessitie folowe that thine enimies thine enimies I saie ô Lord must perish and that al which are obstinatelie bent vpon wickednes because those are thine enimies howsoeuer they flourish for a time in the end shal be scattered and vanish 10 But thou contrariwise wilt lift vp this mine head as it were of an vnicorne being annointed by thee with fresh oile and laden with new benefites continuallie 11 Wherefore there wil be a time when we shal see and heare that this is come vpon them which they deserue who rising out of their ambushments seeke to destroie vs by al meanes 12 But the iust men do not onlie not faint vnder the burthen of miseries but also they gather strength like the palme tree and like those high cedars of Libanus which cannot be consumed with rottennes or age but dailie growe vp more great 13 For they are planted in a most fat and wealthie place euen in the house of the Lord himselfe in the courts whereof let them flourish 14 And that with such power that they may be greene bud foorth and be ful of sap euen in their verie age 15 And this is the onelie end of these benefites and the marke that we may feele and professe the Lord to be our onlie towre and the most righteous gouernour in the world who departeth not one iot from that which is most iust PSALME XCIII The Argument This Psalme trulie is verie short but it conteineth al in one word that is necessarie to confirme our faith when he saith that God reigneth that is to saie that he is a King not in name alone but in verie deede the most mightie defender of his and the auenger of their enimies And seing that the father hath giuen al iudgment to his sonne euen as he is man Iohn 5.22 and the Church is therefore called the kingdome of heauen it is euident that this Psalme hath respect vnto Messiah whose verie true godhead is prooued heereby manifestlie that the name of Jehouah is attributed vnto him THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HOwsoeuer the wicked freat and disturbe al things as much as lieth in them yet reigneth the Lord ful of maiestie and power which thing the verie sight of the heauens do declare Neither doth he sit there idlelie but if we diligentlie consider with how great wisedome and also power he doth gouerne al things howsoeuer they be disordered by the wickednes of men he is alwaies armed with those weapons wherewith he both defendeth his and brideleth their enimies For how can he not do this thing who vpholdeth this huge masse of the verie earth by his onlie power so ballanced that it can neither wauer to the one part nor to the other 2 Therefore is his kingdome much more stable and vnmoueable as it hath alwaies bin and shal be 3 How great is the rage of the flowing waters how terrible is the roaring of the stormes that do rise vp and beate one against another 4 But al these how lowd sounding and raging tempestes soeuer are nothing verelie compared with the infinite power of Iehouah thundering forth of his high throne and repressing al this tumult by his onelie becke and how much more easilie can he calme selie men be they neuer so outragious 5 And the assemblie of the saints which continueth stable now from the beginning of the world declareth the matter to be thus For it is necessarie that the promises made by God should bee sure and altogether vnchangeable Therefore howsoeuer the world doe sreat and how great stormes soeuer it do stir vp against thy house ô Lord that holines ful of most excellent beautie wherewith thou doest adorne it shal be euerlasting PSALME XCIIII The Argument This most excellent Psalme is a displaieng of the tyrannie of Sathan by whose furies the most mightie princes of the world being stirred vp doe violate al the lawes of God and man especiallie when they rise vp against the godlie euen as though there were no God or that he had no prouidence at al of which horrible rage and wickednes the chiefe kingdomes of Europa giue vs an example at this daie But most effectual comforts are afterward annexed drawne forth of the vnchangable nature of God himselfe and of his prouidence and are described with great maiestie the godly are commanded to read and meditate diligentlie the holie scriptures that they may knowe these things whereby they shal vnderstand euen by innumerablâ— and most certaine testimonies that al these tempests and stormes shal turne to the commoditie of the godlie but to the destruction of the wicked the which thing euen the Prophet proueth by his own example and the Church verelie neuer triumphed but vnder the crosse THE PARAPHRASIS 1 SHine vnto vs in so great and horrible confused darknes ô Lord the auenger of wickednes and most iust iudge 2 Go vp vnto thy iudgement seat ô thou
iudge of the world and punish the proud as they deserue 3 For how long ô Lord shal the wicked how long shal the wicked reioice 4 If thou behold their words they powre out what they list tauntingly and the most wicked men do threaten cruelie and boast themselues proudlie 5 But in their deedes ô Lord they oppresse thy chosen people and waste the heritage consecrated vnto thee 6 It is so farre awaie that they should helpe the widowes straungers and fatherlesse as the verie lawes of nature do require and thy lawes do command that they euen kil them most cruellie 7 Yea and which is the greatest of al wickednes these are their words whereby they inflame themselues to al mischiefe God seeth none of these things the God of Iacob knoweth not these things 8 O ye most foolish and most mad of al men when wil ye once waxe wise 9 Is he deafe which hath ioined the eares vnto mans head framed so cunninglie is he blind who hath made the eies with such a maruellous workemanship 10 He that spared not whole nations wil not he reprooue you doth he vnderstand nothing which giueth the power of vnderstanding vnto men 11 Yes verelie he doth not onelie knowe what they saie and doe but also the Lord fullie knoweth what men doe thinke and is not ignorant how vaine and foolish their thoughts are 12 What then shal we doe in so great a disorder of al things surelie we must knowe this of thee O blessed is the man therefore ô Lord whome thou teachest by the doctrine that thou hast deliuered vnto vs 13 That he hauing receiued of thee a quiet and peaceable mind in the midst of these tumults waiteth whilest the wicked may be perceiued to haue digged a pit for themselues wherin they are fallen 14 For it cannot be possible by anie meanes that the Lord should cast awaie his people and that he should forsake them whome he hath chosen to be his peculiar heritage 15 Therefore it is of necessitie that this so disordered a state of the world which seemeth to be vtterlie void of iustice should be restored at the last into that ancient most right order that they may followe God with great cheerefulnes whosoeuer delight in righteousnes 16 And that al men may euen now knowe that the Lord doth not faile his and that the saints are established by his power alone Who amongst al mortal men hath holpen me being assaulted by these most wicked enimies who hath taken my part against the wicked 17 Verelie the Lord alone who vnles he had bene present with me verie death streightwaies would haue put me to silence 18 But when I thought with my selfe that I was now ouerthrowne thy goodnes ô Lord hath staied me that I did not fal 19 And when I was vtterlie amazed and my mind distracted into diuers parts thou hast comforted me with maruellous consolations 20 For what hath the tyrannical domination agreable with thee adioining authoritie to most wicked lawes 21 Conspiring against the godlie and abusing the colour of the lawe to condemne the innocent 22 But go to let these men rage as they list for a space and let them tread vnder foote al the lawes both of God and man the Lord shal be vnto me a most safe fortresse and I wil flie to the rocke of my God 23 For he wil repaie vnto the wicked that which their wickednes deserueth and their owne malice shal destroie shal destroie them I saie ô Lord our God PSALME XCV The Argument Jt may he that the Church of Israël whilest their temple did stand did begin their continual morning sacrifice with this Psalme by whose example the latine Church when they set in order in old time the holie Church seruice did begin the morning praiers and the memorie of those that departed godlie which were afterward most filthilie polluted with idolatrie and this Psalme was so vsed not vnworthilie for it containeth a doctrine amongst others most necessarie namely the knowledge of that last end for the which men are created and vnto the which as vnto a marke al the actions both of the bodie and of the mind must be bent and it hath a most sweet exhortation adioined Now this end is the glorie of God both because the infinite maiestie of the most mightie Creator of al things and most wise gouernour doth require it and also for the infinite and singular benefites bestowed by him vpon those men who being chosen out of the number of the residue he hath consecrated to himselfe But because many of those same which wil be counted in the Church either vse negligentlie to regard these things or else vtterlie to despise them there is added a rehearsal of a most famous storie wherein is set forth a notable example of the vnthankful mind of men and of the most seuere iudgement of God As for the meaning of the last verse how these things pertaine to the time of the new testament search in the Epistle to the Heb. 4. Chap. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 COme ye al that we may celebrate the praises of the Lord together and let vs sing altogether a song of triumph vnto him that is the onelie rocke of our saluation 2 Let vs make haste to praise him openlie and to sing Psalmes vnto him 3 For God is a great Lord doubtles and a King far aboue al emperours how great soeuer 4 For he hath in his power as the Lord of al both the lowe secret parts of the earth and the high tops of the mountaines 5 And also he hath ful authoritie ouer the whole sea as he that hath euen created it like as he hath made the masse of the earth also by his power 6 Come therefore that we may fal downe and worship him and kneele downe before the Lord our maker 7 For he is not onlie our God as he is of others but after a peculiar maner as he that hath chosen vs whome he wil feede as his sheepe and lead by the hand as his flocke 8 Therefore so oft as you shal heare his voice and so long as he speaketh vnto you take heede least you stubbornelie striue against his voice as it did fal out of old in those places which thereof had their name Meribah and Massah 9 Of the which matter heare the words of God himselfe rebuking you There saith he your fathers although they had so oft beholden with their eies what I was able to do yet ceased they not to tempt me and to trie my power 10 Wherefore I being greeued after so manie sorts fortie yeeres long by this kind of men haue in the end thus determined with my selfe Seeing that this people is wilfulie mad and wil not knowe me although it hath bene admonished so oft both with words and deedes 11 I sweare in my wrath if euer they shal set one foote to take possession of that rest which I had promised vnto them PSALME XCVI The Argument This
being for this cause replenished with ioie and comforted with thy iudgements ô Lord wil reioice 9 Go to then ô Lord sitting vpon thy most high throne rule thou the whole earth and exalt thy selfe aboue al that is aloft anie-where 10 And ye that loue the Lord continue to hate that which is euil and doubt nothing but that he which hath freelie embraced you with so great fauour wil defend you also most mightilie and wil deliuer you from the wicked 11 And though this light of the mercie of God doth not streightwaie shine vnto the godlie let them remember that like as the seedes which are sowen in the earth do not foorthwith spring vp naie though they lie longer hid in the bowels of the earth yet they come forth more plentifullie euen so the light of righteousnes is sowen for them that loue that light whereby it shal wholie come to passe that al they that leade an vpright life are replenished with incredible ioie 12 Reioice ye therefore in the Lord so great a King ô al ye iust and magnifie the holie remembrance of him continuallie PSALME XCVIII The Argument This Psalme is the same almost with the ninetie and sixe and it conteineth the prophesie of the spreading of the kingdome of the Messiah and repeateth it againe of the which prophesie Simeon Zacharie and Marie the mother of the Lord in those their most famous hymnes are most diuine interpreters vsing almost the selfe-same words But this Psalme doth teach three things of most great importance euen in three verses One verse 1. that Christ our mediatour in this worke of our redemption hath no coadiutor at al nor partener the which heauenlie doctrine doth confute that diuelish dotage of the merits of saints as they cal them with what painted colours soeuer it be intruded and it giueth to God alone his due glorie as wel in the redemption as in the creation of man The second verse 2. that al this redemption consisteth in the iustice of Christ himselfe which verelie can not be made ours but by imputation The third verse 3. that al this benefit doth flowe foorth from the onelie free promise and truth of God himselfe THE PARAPHRASIS 1 SIng vnto the Lord a new song for he hath now shewed foorth al that his maruellous power by ouercomming al his enimies by his owne right hand onelie and by his owne arme alone 2 And now in the end he setteth foorth to be seene before al nations this benefit of so great a deliuerance which was so long looked for of our fathers and now at the length is performed which did lie hid before as in a corner euen his owne iustice wherewith they being indued shal not onlie escape the damnation which their vnrighteousnes deserueth but also shal obteine the crowne of iustice promised 3 And if anie demand what hath mooued him at the length to so great bountifulnes let him knowe that al this proceedeth from hence that hee is mindful of the promise that he hath made and by the same mercie that he was moued to promise it by the same he is moued to perfourme it in deede that he might shew himselfe most bountiful in verie deede vnto al men to the vttermost borders of the earth 4 Go to then al ye inhabitants of the earth blowe vp the trumpets vnto God sound out the instruments sing a triumphant song vnto him sing praises vnto him 5 Sing vnto the Lord both with the harps and with voices by order and course 6 Go before the King Iehouah with sounding trumpets and shalmes 7 Let the sea how wide soeuer sound againe and also the whole world with the song of al the inhabitants of the earth 8 Let the verie flouds sound round about with their noise and the verie mountaines with triumphant songs 9 Before the Lord that shal vndertake the gouernement of the world and shal gouerne the people most iustlie and vprightlie PSALME XCIX The Argument This Psalme was set foorth that the people what storme soeuer should arise turning vnto God should learne to set foorth the promise of the Messiah against al terrours of whome he so plainlie speaketh as though he had bene now present at the same time commanding al men euen to behold him in the visible sacraments set before them because they were no vaine signes of his most present fauour being euen the same in signification that ours are seeing there is but one and the same Christ whether he be to be shewed or alreadie exhibited although their signes were differing from ours Furthermore he adioineth the testimonies of three most godlie men Moses Aaron and Samuel whose office was to praie vnto God for the people both that whilest that priesthood appointed of God should remaine in authoritie the people should surelie iudge that the same God should be present with them who was with them of old as also they which desired to be heard might followe the same waie of faith and godlines that they did vnto the which doctrine of the publike and ecclesiastical praiers that is to be applied which Paule writeth 1. Timoth. 2 1. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 NOw I beseech you why should we feare the force or threatenings of anie man seeing we haue the Lord himselfe to be our King let the people fret as much as they lust yea let the earth wauer the foundations being shaken it is enough that he is with vs that inhabiteth the Cherubims 2 Verelie the Lord hath declared abundantlie the greatnes of his power in Sion and al the people nil they wil they shal be subiect to his power 3 Let vs therefore neither feare nor yet doubt but rather trusting vpon the most assured protection of God magnifie that his mightie and terrible name to the enimies for it is holie and therefore al honour is due vnto it 4 For is not this our King as he is indued with most great power so also the louer of iustice wherefore we neede to seeke none other succour besides him neither neede we to doubt but that he wil punish most sharplie al them of whome we are vniustlie oppressed For it is not possible that he should suffer their wickednes vnaduenged who is the authour of equitie it selfe hath set downe the verie rule of iustice vnto the posteritie of Iacob 5 Go to then praise ye the Lord our God and falling downe before his footestoole worship him for he is holie 6 For this cause did he consecrate Moses and Aaron of old and set Samuel also amongst them who did exercise the office of the mediator for the people the which thing whilest they did carefullie praieng vnto God they were heard of the Lord. Why then should wee doubt seeing that same priesthoode is of force but that we folowing their example should now also be heard 7 And also he did speake to those our fathers of old out of the cloudie piller vnto whome because they should keepe his commandements he prescribed the rites of
his diuine worship 8 And thou ô Lord our God giuing eare vnto them hast suffered thy selfe oftentimes to be pacified by their praiers although thou diddest not leaue the sinnes of some of them vnpunished that were wicked 9 Wherefore take courage and extol the Lord our God with praises and worship at his holie hil for the Lord our God is holie PSALME C. The Argument The Hebrue title doth declare that this Psalme most short in deede but verie excellent both for the pleasantnesse of words and the grauitie of the matter was written for this cause that it should be sung in the sacrifices of thankesgiuing And it doth rehearse two most great benefites the one of the creation which is common vnto al men the other of the free adoption annexed with the perpetual protection the which vnspeakeable benefite is peculiar vnto the Church which for this cause is called the worke of God THE PARAPHRASIS 1 SOund out the trumpets vnto the Lord al ye inhabitants of the earth 2 Come hither with ioie to giue due worship vnto the Lord present your selues in his sight and offer praiers vnto him 3 Knowledge at the length this Iehouah to be the God This is he that hath euen made vs when we had no being of our selues and which is another peculiar benefite of him toward vs euen the far greatest of al This is he by whose mercie we are a people consecrate vnto him and the sheepe of his pastures 4 Come therfore I saie to the gates of his house to praise him enter into his courts to sing forth his praises praise ye him and publish his name 5 For the Lord is good of infinite mercie and mindful of his promises through al ages for euer PSALME CI. The Argument Dauid when he had receiued the promise of the kingdome not thinking so much of the great honour that was giuen him as of the greeuous burthen that should be laide vpon him and as it is probable beholding the faults of Saul and the disordered state of the whole kingdome he would bind both himselfe and his posteritie as it were with a solemne vow before God in this Psalme wherin al the office of a king with a maruelous breuitie is explaned though generallie yet verie exactlie First of al then he bindeth the whole office of a king to two principal vertues euen mercie and iudgement whereof the one causeth that kings be rather loued than feared and this other by the vse of scripture declareth the seueritie whereby the obstinate are brideled and kept in order and it is contrarie to that softnes which doth not onelie giue some release from the bonds of the lawe but doth vtterlie dissolue them Neither doth he treate of these vertues after the maner of the Philosophers but he wil haue them both consecrate vnto God and therefore to be applied vnto the lawes appointed by God himselfe Then comming to the vse of these vertues he doth testifie that he wil not arrogate vnto himselfe the gouernement of this kingdome promised but onelie receiue it of the hand of GOD himselfe deliuering it vnto him the which thing hee did most religiouslie afterward obserue Hee treateth first of the preparing of himselfe to performe this office secondlie of the right ordering of his owne priuate familie and thirdlie of the verie office charge and duetie of a king Wherefore in the second verse beginning the right order of gouernement at himselfe far vnlike vnto those which do nothing lesse than that they command to others he maketh a vowe that he wil giue great care to vnderstand which is the right waie beeing mindful doubtles of the words of the Lord vnto Joshua Ioshua 1. 7. and 8. and that he neuer declining from that waie declared by God he wil learne by the right gouernement of his owne familie to execute the office of a king as is conuenient Afterward treating of the verie publike charge and beginning againe at himselfe he promiseth that he wil neither take euil counsel willinglie of himselfe neither that he wil followe euil examples And whereas the Princes that haue power in their hands to satisfie their lustes do vse to inuent infinite such things either of themselues or take hold of the same most greedilie which they learne of others that are about them Dauid addeth that he wil most carefullie eschue men of corrupt manners Finallie whereas Princes are compelled of necessitie to vse the seruice of manie others by whose eies both they must see manie things and heare by their eares and stand in neede of their counsels he promiseth that he wil receiue no man whome he shal knowe to be of an euil conscience and that he wil punish euen with death the false accusers which are the poison of mankinde and that he wil by no meanes suffer the proude and the ambitious and that he wil vse the counsel and endeuour of men of fidelitie and vprightnes and wil diligentlie search for them and either neuer cal to counsel or chase far awaie the craftie and deceitful Finallie he promising that he wil be no lesse a seueare iudge against wicked men than a merciful dâ—fender and foster-father of his owne he declareth the last and chiefe end of the ciuil gouernement which was vnknowne of the Philosophers to wit that the Lord should be worshipped purelie and sincerelie in his Citie that is in his Church THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord I being appointed king by thee after such a manner of bountifulnes as neuer was heard do consecrate this song vnto thee both of mercie and iudgement wherevnto I do bind my selfe before thee to performe them in the gouernement of the kingdome 2 First of al then vnto that time that I be set ouer the kingdome by thee whome I determined neuer to preuent I wil giue al diligence that both I may throughlie knowe the right waie appointed by thee and may obserue the same purelie in my house 3 I wil neuer set before me to do anie wicked thing I wil forsake them that are of corrupt manners neither wil I take anie such to me 4 I wil put far from me the authours of euil counsels neither wil I embrace at anie time the thing that I knowe to be euil 5 I wil destroie the slanderers and false accusers I wil not suffer the proud and the ambitious 6 I searching out on euerie side men that loue the truth wil take them to be my familiar companions and I wil not vse in doing mine affaires anie but such as are trustie and faithful 7 The subtil man wil I thrust foorth of my house neither wil I suffer those that speake deceiptfullie 8 To conclude I wil painefullie and without anie delaie worthilie punish whomesoeuer I shal vnderstand to be wicked and I wil purge the holie citie of the Lord from al wicked persons PSALME CII The Argument The Hebrew title doth insinuate and the text it selfe especiallie verse 14. and 15. doth much more euidentlie declare that this
Psalme doth belong to those times that were most miserable of al other in the which that captiuitie of the seuentie yeares was finished so that it seemeth vnto me to answere on the contrarie vnto that excellent praier which is conteined in the 9. Chapter of Daniel And there be foure parts thereof one from the 1. verse vnto the 11. doth describe a most lamentable mourning of the Church more like to a dead carcase than to a liuing bodie euen as it is resembled in Ezechiel Chapter 37. adioining so liuelie and apt similitudes that in my iudgement there is no writing treating of the same argument comparable with it The second part from the 12. verse vnto the 15. setteth forth the arguments of most sure comforts partlie drawne from the most constant nature of God himselfe partlie of the oracle vttered by the mouth of Iâ—remie and other Prophets concerning the restoring of the Citie The third part from the 16. verse vnto the 23. is the amplifieng of the second part in the which the â—r nâ—tâ—o honour of the second temple that is to saiâ— of the spiritual and eternal whereof that stonie tâ—mple was a figure that is euen of the Church to be spread with most great maiestie throgh the whole world vnder Christ the head is described by the spirit of prophesie Finâ—llie the fourth part from the 24. verse vnto the end of the Psalme the Church as a conquerour singeth a song of triumph THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HEare my praiers ô Lord and let nothing hinder that my cries come not euen vnto thee 2 Turne not thy face from me in such miserable times but rather giue eare and answere speedilie to me that crie 3 For behold my life is consumed as the smoke and I am withered and without al moisture al my strength being consumed like the stone vnder the fire 4 My heart is withered like the hearbe cut downe with the syth and loatheth al meate 5 My bones consumed with sorowe sticke hard vnto my flesh 6 I am like the Pellicane or the Bitter dumping in the desert like the Owle mourning in the wildernesse 7 I passe the nightes like a bird vnder the house eaues bereaued of her mate or spoiled of her yong ones taken foorth of the nest 8 For mine enimies lie in wait for me poore miser and with intollerable pride they abuse the example of my calamitie if they wish euil or curse anie 9 Wherefore I being cast downe vpon the earth can not tel whether I do eate bread or dust and I mixe my drinke with teares 10 For how can I do otherwaies thou beeing so sore displeased with me in that thou maist seeme therefore to haue exalted me that I should fal with so much sorer ruine 11 Wherefore to conclude al in few words I vanish awaie like a shadowe when the sunne setteth and wither like the haie 12 But thou ô Lord vpon whose power notwithstanding and promises I do rest continuest stil the same and thy memorie which thou hast appointed to be with vs must needes be eternal 13 Therefore seeing thou hast so long bin as it were an idle beholder of the miseries of Sion so manie yeares thou wilt arise I knowe wel and haue compassion vpon it when the appointed time shal come 14 Neither shalt thou want seruants which shal beare good affection towards the rammel thereof and haue pitie thereon when it is beaten into dust 15 Yea it is so far off that it should alwaies lie prostrate that contrariwise ô Lord the Gentiles which in the former ages were alienate from thee shal now feare thy name and al the kings of the world shal magnifie thy Maiestie 16 Because thou ô Lord whose worke this is onlie hast built Sion againe and hast shewed thy selfe there much more glorious than at anie time before 17 Not despising the praiers of thy most miserable people but rather hearing them in verie deede 18 For thou shalt do a worke worthie to be set forth in writing to euerlasting memorie and a new people created by thee shal sing forth thy praises 19 Because that from thy most high and holie throne euen from the heauens thou hast looked downe vpon the earth 20 To heare the mourning of the prisoners and to loose them forth of their bonds of whose life it was despaired 21 That in Sion againe thy name ô Lord that thy praise I saie in Ierusalem may be published manie nations and kingdomes running together to worship thee 22 Howbeit thou in the meane season I grant whilest this so great goodnes is waited for doest greeuouslie afflict vs and doest as it were cut off the thred of our life 23 But in this extreame distresse ô God I did flie vnto thee and I praied thee with plaine words that thou wouldest not take me awaie hastilie before that I had run the race of my life 24 And why should not I trust that it wil certainelie come to passe that thou hast promised vnto vs for thou art not like vs who are changed by time but thou abidest stable throughout al worlds 25 And the verie earth was most firmelie established by thee long ago when thou madest it and this mightie compas of heauen standeth vnshaken vnto this daie which was framed by thine onelie hands 26 But their stabilitie is nothing to that thine vnchangable firmitie for they also by little little do faile but thou endurest al one Al these things I saie how stable so euer they seeme are worne by little little as the garment is by long vse whilest that at the length they be changed by thee from the forme that we now see as a garment cast off 27 Yet thou art the selfe-same altogether subiect to no tearme of yeares and time 28 Therefore that thy kingdome which thou hast raised for thy selfe amongst thy people shal also be for euer and that posteritie of thy seruants with whome thou hast made an euerlasting couenant howsoeuer it be tossed with manie and most sharpe tempests yet it being staide by thy wil and vnchangeable power shal remaine for euer PSALME CIII The Argument Dauid did write this Psalme being rauished as it were out of himselfe into heauen in the which he stirreth vp not himselfe onlie but the verie heauenlie spirits also to sing praises vnto God taking the chiefe occasion of that great and vnspeakeable benefite of God which he bestowed on his Church by reuealing both the right waie of righteousnes and the free forgiuenes of sinnes not forgetting his most abundant liberalitie in giuing vs those things most bountifullie which belong to this present life which benefits he setteth forth with most excellent similitudes most sincete sentences adioining herevnto a most magnificent description of the diuine Maiestie THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GO to my deare soule and mine inward bowels giue thankes vnto God with al your power 2 Praise the Lord my soule and declare thy selfe that thou art mindful of al his benefites
commeth vpon vs and then verelie the wild reuening beasts creepe foorth of their dens 21 Euen the young lions searching their praie with roring and requiring their meate as it were of God himselfe who hath kept them shut vp in the daie time for mans sake 22 But when the light returneth againe at the sun rising they get themselues into their dens againe as it were by a signe giuen from the heauen 23 So that man may returne vnto his labors which he had lest off and continue his trauel safelie vnto the euening 24 How maruellous therefore are thy works ô Lord how wiselie hast thou made al things with what and how great riches hast thou filled the earth 25 And this wide sea how large is it and how in numerable fishes are there how manie liuing creatures both of smal bodies and of monstrous greatnes doe swim therein 26 The ships also do run there through the seas and those huge beasts created of thee doe leape to and fro through the midst of the flouds as though they would plaie 27 And al these things as they haue receiued life of thee so also they wait for meate of thee wherewith they are nourished in their due time 28 Therefore thou giuest it vnto them and they receiue it and when thou openest thine hands they are satisfied 29 But if at anie time thou withdrawe thy selfe from them they stand euen astonished whilest that thou calling againe that liuelie strength which thou hadst giuen them they die at the length and returne to their dust 30 Yet for al this the kinds of things doe not decaie but whilest thou doest shew foorth that thy power which createth and preserueth al things thou causest that one of thy creatures comming into the place of another the verie face and furniture of the earth is renewed 31 Therefore euerlasting praise be giuen to the Lord and let the Lord continue to take his delight in his owne works 32 He is great I saie and verie mightie at whose angrie countenance the earth it selfe doth shake and tremble and by whome the mountaines being touched doe cast out smoke and flame 33 And as concerning me I wil consume al my life in praising him and so long as I shal remaine aliue I wil praise that my God 34 And would to God that my songs might be so acceptable vnto him as I with glad and cheereful mind doe celebrate his so manie and so great benefits 35 And contrariwise would to God that al the wicked that are stubborne against him might vtterlie be destroied But thou my soule praise thou the Lord and al ye others praise ye God PSALME CV The Argument Jt is euident by 1. Chron. 16. that the author of this Psalme was Dauid and that it was indited for Asaph to be sung when the Arke of the Lord was carried into the citie and there is the same vse of this as of the two former but the argument is diuers in this point that he doth celebrate two peculiar benefits of the Israëlites namelie the free adoption of that people and the bringing in of the same into the land promised Now seeing we haue a couenant more excellent than the former and our true Joshua is gone before into the verie heauen we may wel perceiue besides that now also the rehearsal of those old histories is most ioiful and most profitable so haue we so manie examples both of Gods mercie and truth whereby we may confirme our faith resting vpon the same foundations and are bound also much more than our fathers to celebrate these benefits and to continue in setting foorth the same THE PARAPHRASIS 1 PRaise the Lord cal vpon him and in the hearing of the people shew foorth his works 2 Sing vnto him praise him set foorth his maruellous acts 3 Glorie in his holie name you also that seeke the Lord reioice 4 Come ye vnto the Lord and diligentlie seeke this visible signe and pledge of his power and excellencie namelie this Arke 5 Cal to mind how manie and how great miracles and wonders he hath wrought for your sakes finallie what punishments he hath executed is iudgement of your enimies 6 For we are the children of Abraham his seruant and the ofspring of Iacob whome he hath choses to himselfe 7 And the Lord againe is the gouernour in deed and Lord ouer al the earth but he is our God by a peculiar right 8 Namelie for that he is mindful of that his couenant and word which shal be of force for euer by his commandement 9 Of that couenant I saie which he made first with Abraham and after with Isaac which was confirmed with a solemne oth 10 And further established with Iacob or Israël in these plaine words to stand for an vnchangeable and euerlasting decree 11 I wil giue you this land of Canaan as a possession by right of inheritance measured out by me 12 And that which he promised most freelie he hath perfourmed also most faithfullie For though they were verie few in number and of no strength and liued in that land as strangers 13 And changing their seates oftentimes wandering from nation to nation and remoued from one kingdome to another 14 Yet was it so farre off that he would suffer anie violence to be done vnto them by anie man that he also rebuked kings for their sakes 15 And hath written this decree as it were in these few words Let none touch mine annointed consecrate priests let no man hurt my prophets 16 But afterward he sent a famine vpon the earth as it were called by him and he did breake al the strength of bread that they might al seeme to be readie to perish streightwaies 17 But he sent a man before them when they should go into Aegypt long before by a most maruellous meane farre from al mans wisedome who should prepare them a place to soiourne in euen Ioseph who was first sold as a slaue in Aegypt 18 But afterward he was bound with iron fetters no lesse chained in mind than in bodie 19 Whilest at the last at the time appointed mention was made of him vnto the king and the wisedome which the Lord gaue vnto him did declare what maner of man and how excellent he was 20 Then therefore the king and lord of the Aegyptians did not onelie send messengers and loose him from his bonds 21 But also made him the steward of his court and so appointed the gouernement of al his affaires vnto him 22 Also an absolute authoritie was giuen vnto him ouer al the great princes of Aegypt that he should gouerne the verie magistrates of Aegypt by his wisedome and counsel 23 Therefore came Israël at length into Aegypt and Iacob did soiourne in the countrie of Cham. 24 And the Lord increased his familie there maruellouslie so that they became feareful for this cause vnto the Aegyptians that hated them 25 For God did change their minds against his people that they began to hate
them whome they loued so greatlie before and they now laboured by subtiltie to circumuent them 26 Yet did he neuer forsake them but when their case seemed vtterlie desperate he sent Moses his seruant and Aaron whom he had chosen to succour them 27 And they as they were commanded of God when they were sent did worke those great signes and wonders in the land of Cham. 28 Wherefore the Lord did send darknes vpon the Aegyptians which came so soone as the Lord commanded 29 He turned their waters into bloud and killed their fishes in the verie waters 30 Swarmes of frogs came streightwaie foorth of the earth at his commandement and went into the verie chambers of their king 31 At the voice of his commandement swarmes of flies and lice came foorth in al the coasts of Aegypt 32 He rained downe stones from heauen and horrible flames of lightnings did run through al Aegypt 33 With these darts he beat downe their vines and figtrees and he did breake downe al the trees that were set in those borders 34 By his commandement grashoppers and caterpillers being stirred vp came foorth without number and deuoured euerie herbe and consumed al the fruits of the earth 35 Moreouer he did slaie their first borne that is euen the chiefe of al their families 36 Finallie when al this was done he brought foorth his people loden with gold and siluer al healthful and indued with strength 37 Aegypt was glad at their departure which before was greatlie afraid of them 38 He couered them as they went foorth in the daie time with a cloud against the heat of the sun and in the night least they should wander to and fro he went before them and lead them with the brightnes of a shining firie piller 39 They desired quailes which were giuen at their desire and they were satiate with bread sent downe from heauen 40 God brake the rocks for them whence water did flowe yea euen riuers did run foorth 41 And this did he euen mindful of those things which he the holie one in times past had couenanted with his seruant Abraham 42 Thus then he brought foorth his people to wit his elect glad and ioiful 43 Vnto whom he gaue those countries that were possessed of sundrie people hauing obteined with great ease whatsoeuer the inhabitants thereof had gotten with great trauel and paines 44 Namelie that they being placed there because that the former inhabitants had prophaned the land with filthie superstitions and vile lusts they should obserue the statutes and lawes giuen them of the Lord. Praise ye the Lord therefore PSALME CVI. The Argument J suppose that this Psalme euen as the 126. is to be referred vnto those times when they which were brought from Babylon with Zorobabel or else with Ezra and Nehemiah praied for the residue who notwithstanding were either detained by cowardise or were afraid by the difficultie of the iournie either staied there stil for other causes And the Prophet beginneth at a thankesgiuing for the returne granted vnto that people streight after he descendeth to a plaine confession of the sinnes of the whole nation euen from the deliuerance out of Aegypt expressing also the circumstances euen of the times and places and fullie answering vnto that which we reade in the 9. of Nehemiah where also is repeated oftentimes that which is here set downe in the 4. verse the which would God in this our most miserable age in the which we almost see the patience of the most merciful and mightie God as it were ouercome with such like stubbornnes would God I saie that manie had rather followe this example both publikelie and priuatelie than to be so readie to teare one another in peeces THE PARAPHRASIS 1 PRaise yee the Lord and celebrate his name for he is of most excellent and euerlasting goodnes 2 Who is able to set foorth in words the wonderous works which he hath done for vs who is able sufficientlie to set foorth his praise 3 O blessed is that man who at al times and in what estate soeuer he is neuer declineth from vprightnes and iustice 4 But thou ô Lord be mindful of me of thine vnmeasurable mercie which thou hast alwaies shewed to thy people and regard me to make me partaker of thy saluation 5 That I being a witnes of thy bountie towards thine elect may ioie and reioice together with that thy people which thou hast chosen for thy peculiar heritage 6 We verelie I grant euen as our elders also haue erred haue sinned and haue done wickedlie 7 For to begin the matter from the first original those our fathers neither had anie regard of so manie miracles wrought in Aegypt neither were they mindful of the multitude of thy benefits for they did striue with thee at the red sea 8 Yet God ô the incredible goodnes that he might prouide for his owne glorie and testifie his owne power hath preserued them though most rebellious 9 For he rebuked the sea which incontinentlie dried vp and he led his by the surges of the waters euen as by the drie ground 10 So did they escape safe out of the enimies hands God deliuering them 11 But their oppressors being swallowed vp with the waters did perish so that not one of them remained aliue 12 And the Israëlites being ouercome by this fact began then verelie to beleeue in the Lord and did sing foorth his praises 13 But lo when this was scarse finished when they suddenlie forgetting al these things would not suffer themselues to be gouerned by the wil of God and his counsels 14 But with immoderate lust desired flesh in the wildernes and began to tempt and trie the power of the mightie God 15 Therefore he granted vnto them that thing which they so greedilie desired but to their great hurt for these delicates brought them leanenes and consumption 16 Yea and they went about through enuie to displace Moses himselfe and Aaron that holie priest of the Lord. 17 Therefore the earth gaped and swallowed vp Dathan and couered Abiram with the verie tabernacles 18 But the fire also beginning in the assemblie of the rebellious the flame did burne them vp together suddenlie 19 The same men made a calfe in the mount Horeb and worshipped when they had molten it 20 Changing that their honour and ornament euen the euerliuing God ô miserable men into a dead image of a bullocke that eateth haie 21 And casting awaie the memorie of God the sauiour which had shewed so manie wonders in Aegypt 22 Who had declared so manie miracles vnto them in the land of Cham and had done so horrible things at the red sea 23 Wherefore he was about to destroie them at once but that Moses deerlie beloued of him aboue other setting himselfe before God in the midst of the slaughter restrained his wrath that it should not be fierce to vtter destruction 24 What more when he was about to bring them into the countrie promised they not beleeuing
his words at al did refuse the land which ought to haue bene most deere vnto them 25 And therfore disdaining to heare God speake they stirred vp a tumult in their tents 26 Therefore he stretched out his hand worthilie against them to destroie them in the desert 27 And did scatter their posteritie amongest the nations and cast them so into diuers regions 28 For also they ioined themselues with Baal Peor that abhominable idol and did eate the sacrifices that were offered to things that had no life 29 Against the which wickednes God being most iustlie angrie did fal vpon them and strike them with a most greeuous plague 30 But Phinees rising vp with great courage did auenge that horrible fact and the Lord ceased streightwaie to strike them 31 And Phinees was counted to haue done that thing iustlie and therby did obteine the praise that should remaine to al posteritie 32 But they notwithstanding prouoked God vnto wrath at the waters which were therefore called the waters of strife to the great damage of Moses 33 For they so stirred his mind that he also spake something vnaduisedlie 34 And Moses verelie therefore died in that wildernes but they that were brought into that land of Canaan were nothing more obedient to Gods commandements than their fathers for they spared the people whome God had streightlie commanded to be slaine 35 And they mixing themselues amongest them did streightwaie learne their manners 36 And serued their idols to their most certaine destruction 37 Euen comming to this madnes that they did slaie their sonnes and their daughters vnto diuels 38 That they offered I saie the bloud of their sonnes and innocent daughters powred it foorth willinglie to the grauen images of the Canaanites and defiled the whole countrie with most cruel slaughters 39 Behold therefore their most horrible facts behold the abhominable whooredomes wherewith they of set purpose polluted themselues 40 Wherewith God being most iustlie greeued did so burne foorth in anger against this people in the end that though he had chosen them vnto himselfe before he now abhorred them 41 He deliuered them into the hands of the Gentiles and laied them open to the lust and pleasure of their enimies 42 Wherefore they were after sundrie sorts vexed by them afterward and oppressed at their pleasure 43 Notwithstanding he did deliuer them againe ofter than once by the which benefits yet it was so farre off that they did recouer anie better mind that contrariwise they following their owne lusts ceased not to prouoke him to anger whilest that they being forsaken of him consumed in that their owne wickednes 44 And who would not here haue in admiration the infinite goodnes of God For lo though he had profited nothing with them so manie ages neither by benefits nor by chastisements yet heard he their cries in their distresse 45 And remembring his couenant and of his infinite mercie suddenlie changing his mind 46 He caused that euen they which had carried them into captiuitie should haue compassion vpon them 47 Go to then ô Lord our God finish the worke that thou hast begun and gather vs at the length home vnto thee foorth of the Gentiles that we may praise thy name and set foorth thy praises for euer 48 Let euerlasting glorie be vnto thee ô Lord God of Israël O al ye people agree vnto me and saie with one mouth Amen Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CVII The Argument This Psalme than the which nothing can be spoken more truelie nor more eloquentlie neither yet more diuinelie doth affirme the prouidence of God both general and particular to be most iust and also most merciful bringing foorth and most elegantlie describing most goodlie examples of those things which come to passe both by sea and by land that of necessitie we must grant their causes and effects wholie to be gouerned by God either against the wicked which denie God vtterlie or remoue him from the gouernement of the world as doe the Epicures or do thinke that he doth regard the things that he hath made onlie generalie as do the Peripatetians or doe bind him to second causes as doe the Stoikes as also against the superstitious persons confessing the truth in deed but attributing to their feined gods that which belongeth to the most mightie and merciful God alone Al the which lies being worthilie condemned the Prophet doth admonish the godlie and them that are trulie wise that they should learne rather to haue the works of God in admiration and to praise both his most excellent wisedome and moderation in them than to cal them into doubtful question and to dote with the wicked THE PARAPHRASIS 1 PRaise the Lord for his infinite goodnes and euerlasting mercie deserueth the same 2 O you the innumerable multitude whom God hath deliuered out of manifold dangers and forth of the hands of your enimies acknowledge this thing with me 3 For how manie hath he gathered from the beginning of the world which were scattered from the east and the west from the north and south Ocean sea 4 How manie wandering in the waste wildernes and seeking a citie commodious to dwel in 5 Halfe dead and killed with famine and thirst 6 Crieng vnto him in their extreame miseries hath he heard and being drawne foorth of their distresse 7 Hath he brought into the right waie and led them into commodious cities 8 Let these men therefore set foorth this his great mercie before the Lord himselfe and shew foorth his maruelous workes to other men 9 Who hath refreshed them panting for thirst and fed them so mercifullie being hungrie 10 How manie also being shut vp in darke prisons and euen as it were in the darkenes of death being chained in their mind with sorrowe and in their bodie most streightlie with iron fetters 11 And that worthilie because they did not obeie the commandements of God which are ingrauen in the minds of al men but rather folowed their owne lustes than the counsels of God 12 Notwithstanding when the Lord had tamed their fiercenes so and had brought them to this point that they could finde no helpe in anie 13 He heard them crieng vnto him in this their distresse and deliuered them from their miserie 14 And bringeth them from the dungeons of the prisons and darkenes of death breaking their fetters of iron 15 Praise ye therefore this so great mercie of the Lord before him and declare his wonderful actes to other mortal men 16 Who hath broken the brasen gates and hath broken in pieces their iron barres 17 What shal I speake furthermore of them who by their owne foolishnes going in the waie of wickednes and being oppressed by manifold diseases do suffer the reward of their madnes 18 And loathing al maner of meate are at deaths dore 19 Whome notwithstanding the Lord did heare crieng vnto him in this miserie and he deliuered them out of their distresse 20 And he speaking but one word did take
the things that he hath iustlie gotten doe continue 4 That meeke merciful and iust God commandeth the light to arise vnto them that walke vprightlie in the midst of the darknes of calamities 5 A good man is also liberal he lendeth and gouerneth his things vprightlie and iustlie 6 Wherefore he shal neuer fai and his memorie shal be for euer 7 He shal be shaken with no slanders neither with anie euil tidings but setling his hope vpon the Lord shal constantlie confirme himselfe 8 By this meanes his heart being staied he wil couragiouslie wait whilest that he see his aduersaries suffer the iust reward of their wickednes 9 In what state soeuer he is he continueth to be liberal vnto the poore and remaineth iust wherefore he is increased dailie more and more with glorie and honour 10 The wicked seeing this his felicitie wil be greatlie greeued and wil gnash with their teeth but they shal consume awaie al their enterprises being brought to naught PSALME CXIII The Argument The Leuites which were appointed to sing do exhort themselues mutuallie in this Psalme to praise the loue of God towards man testified by manie benefits chieflie toward the miserable and poore such as were Ioseph Moses Dauid and Daniel vnto the which examples doubtles this Psalme hath respect like as that which treateth of the barren women verelie is to be referred to Sara Rebeccah Anna. But in the verie beginning streightwaies we are admonished that these praises are then onlie accepted when they proceed from the seruants of God and are giuen to that true God as he openeth himselfe in his word for this is meant by the name of Iehouah And seeing that the Leuitical priesthood is taken awaie and al we Christians are now consecrate to offer this sacrifice of praise before the throne of God it appeareth that this exhortation doth apperteine to al Christs Church THE PARAPHRASIS 1 PRaise ye praise ye I saie ô ye seruants of Iehouah the name of Iehouah 2 Let the blessed name of Iehouah be praised now and for euer 3 For most iust causes of praising and giuing vnto it al laud do declare themselues from the rising of the sun euerie-where vnto the setting of the same 4 The Lord doubtles hath a more high dominion than al the Gentiles and also he exalteth his glorie aboue the verie heauens 5 Is there anie like vnto the Lord our God which sitteth most gloriouslie in a most high place 6 And yet doth abase himselfe so lowe of his infinite goodnes that he beholdeth gouerneth both the things that are done in heauen and in earth 7 Wherefore this is he that raiseth vp the abiects and exalteth the miserable lieng in the dunghils 8 Whome he placeth among the princes among the princes I saie of his people 9 Finallie he causeth that they that were barren before and without comfort suddenlie being made mothers of manie children were filled with ioie Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CXIIII The Argument Jt probable that this elegant and excellent Psalme was sung especiallie in the feast of the passeouer which was appointed peculiarlie to celebrate the deliuerance out of Aegypt and the bringing in of them into the land of promise the which things seeing they were the figures of that true and euerlasting deliuerance by Christ from the most miserable bondage of Sathan sinne and death and of the bringing of vs into the verie heauen it iâ— plainlie perceiued how much more we than the old people are bound to celebrate so great mercie of God especiallie in our holie feast of thankesgiuing THE PARAPHRASIS 1 WHen Israël came out of Aegypt euen the posteritie of Iacob from that cruel people 2 The Lord did consecrate Iudah to himselfe and Israël for a people ouer whom he would chieflie rule 3 The sea did flie at his sight comming foorth of Aegypt least it should hinder his passage Iordan driuing her waters backward made it selfe passeable that he might come ouer 4 The verie mountaines the tops of the rocks as it were the hornes of rams beating together and the hils like lambes did leape 5 And wherefore ô sea diddest thou flie wherefore ô Iordan diddest thou driue back the waters 6 Wherefore ye mountaines like rams and why did ye hils like lambes so leape 7 Verelie it was meete that thou ô earth shouldâ— tremble at the sight of the Lord going before his people at the sight I saie of the God of Iacob 8 Who turned the rocke into pooles euen the head rocke into flowing waters PSALME CXV The Argument This Psalme doth containe an example of publike praiers conceiued with great boldnes for the preseruation of the Commonwealth against prophane nations though it is not euident what battel this was and to what times this Psalme is to be referred I do applie it to the historie of Iehosaphat 2. Chron. 20. or else suppose that it was indited for the Chuâ—ch generallie to some such vse Now besides manie excellent sentences it conteineth a notable comparison of the true God with the false and it teacheth furthermore verie plainlie that the last and chiefe end of our praiers ought to be not anie commodities of our owne but the onlie glorie of the true God THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THat we desire deliuerance out of this peril of thee ô Lord be it far from vs that we should aske it as due vnto anie righteousnes of ours neither that anie glorie or dignitie should arise thereof to vs but that rather thou shouldest prouide for thine owne name that is to saie that it may appeare plainlie thereby how liberal thou art in promising and how true in perfourming thy promises 2 For I beseech thee why doest thou suffer these men anie longer to aske in derision Where is their God 3 Our God ô cursed men of whome ye demand where he is is in the heauens indued with far greater maiestie than anie earthlie prince by whose power and also most free wil al things were created in the beginning and are euen now gouerned 4 But your idols if the matter be considered are gold and siluer and therefore dead things without al sense but if regard be had of the workmanship they are made by the hands of men 5 They haue a mouth and are dumbe what can they then answere you they haue eies and are blind what can they then see what is done here 6 They haue eares and are deafe wherefore then do ye powre out praiers vnto them they haue noses and smel nothing wherevnto then serueth the perfume and smel of sacrifices 7 They haue hands but touch nothing what can they then giue you they haue feet and can not go how then can they make haste to helpe you 8 And to speake al at one word what letteth it but that you your selues that worship them be as witlesse and senselesse as the verie stocks stones in whome ye trust 9 But thou Israël trust in the Lord the sure shield and defender of al them
that put their trust in him 10 Thou chieflie the ofspring of Aaron which ought to go before others both in doctrine and example trust in the Lord the sure shield and defender of al that put their trust in him 11 Finallie how manie soeuer do professe to worship Iehouah trust you in the Lord who is the shield and defender of them that fixe their hope in him 12 The Lord doubt ye not careth for vs he wil blesse he wil blesse the posteritie of Israël he wil blesse the kindred of Aaron 13 The Lord is bountiful toward his true worshippers both toward the noble and also the most abiect 14 He wil heape you euen you I saie and your posteritie with new benefits more and more 15 For the Lord which hath made the heauen and the earth hath receiued you into his fauour 16 And he inhabiting those most high heauens from whence he ruleth al things hath granted the vse of the earth and of infinite good creatures wherewith he hath adorned it vnto men of his singular liberalitie 17 Euen for this purpose that they should publish his glorie in the earth the which thing verelie the dead can not perfourme vnto whome death it selfe taking awaie the vse of the tongue hath inioined silence 18 Deliuer vs therefore ô God that we may sing foorth thy glorie both now being aliue and for euer Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CXVI The Argument Whether we refer this Psalme vnto Dauid whom we certainlie knowe to haue bene maruellouslie deliuered oftentimes by the Lord from most present death and also froÌ„ most great anguish of mind or to anie other it conteineth an example of a singular thankesgiuing whereby we may vnderstand how far sometime the best and most vpright men vse to be cast downe and vnto whom in such case we must flie finallie how happie an end there shal be of al temptations so that we refraine our impatience by the bridle of faith THE PARAPHRASIS 1 AL my loue is in the Lord hearing the voice of my praier 2 And giuing attentiue eares vnto mee wherefore also I wil cal vpon him so long as I liue 3 Behold I was bound in the chaines of death the verie anguish of the graue held me being ouercome with the sorrowes of my heart 4 Then I called vpon the name of the Lord I beseech thee ô Lord said I deliuer my most miserable soule 5 And what else should I say here than that which I streightwaies prooued in deed verelie that God is verie mild toward his and verie iust in perfourming his promises and that our God is most merciful 6 And that the Lord finallie doth defend those that walk plainlie vprightlie because he did help me so readilie when I was brought to extremitie 7 Go to therefore ô my seelie soule returne now vnto thy selfe and take rest seeing that so notable a change of thy state is wrought by the Lord. 8 For thou ô Lord hast deliuered my life from death thou hast staied the teares of mine eies thou hast established my feete that I did not fal 9 So that I may walke now safe and sound before thee among the liuing 10 For I beleeued the promises of the Lord and therefore did I speake euen my faith ministring voice and words to me being most sore oppressed with sorrowe 11 For I grant that I was so far cast downe that I knewe not whither to turne me and finding no staie anie-where did decline vnto this that I iudged with my selfe that both the very men and whatsoeuer they do is nothing 12 But ô Lord this most dangerous temptation being ouercome by thy power for how can that thing be vaine which is taken in hand by thine appointment or how can they be nothing with thee vpon whome thou hast bestowed thy grace what shal I giue againe vnto thee for al thy benefites which thou hast bestowed vpon me 13 Verelie I wil take in my hands the cup of thankful sacrifice and calling vpon thee by name ô Lord I wil testifie openlie that I knowledge this deliuerance to be of thee 14 And those things which I vowed vnto thee ô Lord when I was in danger wil I now paie in the presence of al the people 15 I acknowledge therefore and professe as the truth is that thou doest not despise those to whom thou hast once bin beneficial but louest them most deerelie and that thou wilt in no wise vnaduisedlie destroie them 16 Verelie therefore I am thy seruant thy seruant I saie euen thy bond seruant and therfore hast thou broken the bonds wherewith I was bound 17 And I againe as is meete doe render vnto thee this sacrifice of praise and cal vpon thy name 18 I paie the vowes vnto thee which I haue promised before the whole assemblie of the people 19 And that in the courts of thy house ô Lord and in the middest of the citie Ierusalem Praise ye the Lord. PSALME CXVII The Argument The vocation of the Gentiles is prophesied in this most short but verie excellent Psalme as Paule interpreteth it Rom. 15 11. And also the summe of the Gospel is declared namelie the giuing of the grace and truth as Iohn doth expound it Iohn 1 17. and the end also namelie the worshipping of God in spirit and truth that we may knowe that the kingdome of Messiah is spiritual Finallie we are here taught what is the office of the subiects of this kingdome and what good things they ought to waite for THE PARAPHRASIS 1 PRaise ye now the Lord ô al ye Gentiles casting awaie al your fained Gods and al ye people set forth his praise 2 For now at the length that his great mercie hath ouercome and is powred downe vpon vs and the truth of that eternal saluation promised of the Lord is now perfourmed Praise the Lord. PSALME CXVIII The Argument J do agree vnto them that attribute this excellent Psalme vnto Dauid and do suppose that it was written at the first beginning of his kingdome when the nations about him were readie to inuade him either in the feast of passeouer or in the feâ—st of the Tabernacles both that he might giue thanks to God after he had ouercome so manie difficulties and also that they which had so long resisted him might knowe that they resisted God and again that the whole people might so much the more willingly receiue the king that was giuen them froÌ„ heauen And it appeareth that Dauid so wrote these things of himselfe and of things that were past that they did chieflie appertaine to the Messias of whome he was a figure Esaie 8 14. and 28 16. Math. 21 42. Acts. 4 11. Rom. 9.33 Ephes 2 20. 1. Pet. 2 7. And Ierome witnesseth that this Psalme was thus expounded in the synagogues by the ancient Iewes the which thing is manifestlie confirmed by those ioiful acclamations of the people taken out of this Psalme when as they receiued him at his last entrance into the
themselues to vnrighteousnes which folowe the waie that he sheweth 4 For neither hast thou ô Lord commanded anie thing vnaduisedlie either as things that we should onlie vnderstand or idlie consider but thou hast commanded that they should be obserued and kept with al diligence 5 And would to God that my manners might so be ordered by thy gouernement that I might most constantlie perseuere in keeping most carefullie thy statutes 6 For then shal al things go wel with me when I shal turne the eies of my mind vnto al thy commandements 7 For then verelie shal I onlie worship thee rightlie and purelie when I do not folowe this or that manner of worship but shal learne thy most iust lawes 8 Therefore am I fullie purposed to keepe thy statutes and thou neuer forsake me when I am in distresse THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. II. 9 I Praie you by what meanes can the youth which of it selfe is headie to al kinde of vice purelie and holilie direct his manners euen if he obserue diligentlie those things which thou hast spoken vnto vs. 10 I certainelie do seeke thee with my whole heart and thou which hast wrought this wil in me staie me furthermore least I being drawne awaie with anie euil affection do wander from thy precepts 11 I do beare thy word that is laide vp in my heart like a pretious treasure least I offend thee in anie matter 12 But except thou thy selfe ô Lord that art greater than al praise hadst bin my maister and instructer trulie I should nothing haue preuailed therefore teach thou me thy statutes 13 Then euen I speaking openlie wil shew forth the lawes that are set downe by thy most holie mouth 14 I take much more pleasure of this one thing that I may keepe that waie which thou hast testified to please thee than if I had attained al the treasures of al men 15 Therefore wil I meditate thy commaundements continuallie and wil applie my whole mind to obserue thy waies 16 I wil delight my mind I saie in thy statutes neither wil I at anie time forget thy words THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. III. 17 BVT thou ô Lord continue to embrace me againe thy most bound seruant with the same fauour that I ouercomming al difficulties may remaine to obserue those things which thou hast spoken vnto vs. 18 Roll awaie that vaile which taketh awaie from the eies of my mind al the vse of the true light that I may behold those vndoubted wonderful secrets which do shine foorth of that thy heauenlie doctrine 19 For I am a stranger in the earth striuing to go to another place euen to that better heauenlie life wherefore I beseech thee hide not from mee thy precepts which verelie leade vs thither 20 For I am so inflamed wholie with great desire of knowing and keeping thy lawes both in prosperitie and aduersitie that this zeale consumeth me 21 Thou vsest to rebuke to destroie the haughtie persons and such as stubbornlie striue against thee and they are worthilie appointed to destruction whosoeuer refuse thy precepts 22 But these notwithstanding vse to reproch me with al kind of contumelie but thou remoue these things far from me because I do folowe thy wil that thou hast testified vnto vs. 23 For euen the princes and the great men also assembling themselues together do take counsel against me and slander me but I giue my selfe wholie to meditate thy statutes whilest they thus deale with me 24 These are my delightes these are the men whose counsel I vse THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. IIII. 25 YEt I confesse that I can not be but tormented most greeuouslie with so manie vndeserued iniuries so that I may seeme now without life and fastened to the graue but restore thou life vnto me like as thou doest promise this thing by thy word whereof onlie I aske counsel and comfort 26 For I do vse to open al mine affaires vnto thee and thou didst neuer faile me asking counsel of thee therefore teach me thy statutes more and more 27 Grant I saie that I may dailie knowe in these difficulties what waie is agreeable to thy commandements and that I may rest in the consideration of that maruelous wisedome which shineth foorth in them 28 For it is necessarie so to do for I wholie melt awaie for sorowe raise me now vp therfore that am fallen downe as thou hast promised by thy word 29 Remoue thou far from me whatsoeuer things may drawe me awaie from truth and right and rather graunt thou me that I may hold the waie prescribed by thy doctrine 30 For I haue chosen this as the true waie and I do prefer this before al other things 31 O Lord I endeuour my selfe I saie to cleaue fast vnto those things which are approoued by thy testimonie of the which my purpose grant I beseech thee that I do neuer repent 32 And I being drawne foorth of these streightes by thee as it were into a most broade place wil finish the whole course of my life by the direction of thy precepts THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. V. 33 TEach me ô Lord the order of life set foorth in thy decrees of the which I was not able of my selfe once to thinke that I may keepe it to the ende 34 Graunt that I may thoroughlie knowe thy doctrine the which I may obserue and keepe with al my heart 35 Direct me also that am entred into the waie of these thy precepts for there is nothing wherein I more delight 36 I beseech thee to turne my minde from filthie lucre which of it selfe would run a contrarie waie and incline it to embrace those things which thou testifiest to please thee 37 Keepe backe mine eies also that they be not deceiued by the enticing shew of most vaine things but rather bring me into the true life following thee my guide 38 And establish vnto thy seruant in deede that which thou hast promised in word to them that feare thee 39 Turne awaie that reproch which I do not feare without cause for thy lawes are good and therefore it were wickednes to condemne the loue of them in me 40 Behold I desire nothing more than thy commandements and keepe thou mee safe against al dangers for the mercie that thou hast promised THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. VI. 41 GRaunt ô Lord that I may proue by experience also that thy manifold mercie and deliuer me as thou hast spoken 42 That I may haue what to answere them who do therefore reproch me because I do depend vpon thy word 43 Suffer not I beseech thee that I being ouercome with their iniuries or with impatience should speake anie other thing but that thy word neither suffer that I being destitute thereof should vtterlie be dumbe For I do waite whilest thou execute such punishment vpon these wicked men as thy lawes do threaten 44 And whatsoeuer they do deuise against me I wil keepe the doctrine which thou hast giuen vs alwaie and for euer 45 Wherefore I going
as it were in a most large waie wil liue at hearts ease with a quiet minde being addicted wholie to thy commandements 46 Furthermore I wil boldlie dispute of those things which thou hast testified vnto vs euen before kings 47 And I wil delight my selfe with thy commaundements a thing that is most deare vnto me 48 I wil hold with both mine hands thy commaundements which are most ioiful vnto mee I saie and wil neuer cease to meditate thy statutes THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. VII 49 GRaunt that I may by experience perceiue that thou art mindful of those things which thou hast spoken vnto me thy seruant and hast commanded me to trust in 50 For in al my miseries this is mine onlie comfort euen thy word by the helpe whereof I being almost dead am restored to life 51 For although these arrogant men do deride me therefore yet notwithstanding I decline not from thy doctrine one iot 52 And I calling to memorie how thou hast punished such kinde of men do take great comfort thereof 53 Yet do I greatlie feare when I behold these despisers of thy doctrine which haue the same punishments hanging ouer their heads 54 Furthermore it is so far from me that I being an exile should despaire that contrariwise I am occupied in singing thy praises taking the occasion of thy statutes 55 Yea euen at midnight also setting aside al other cares beeing mindful of thy name I do watchfullie thinke how I may keepe thy doctrine 56 And this do I attribute to this cause that I labour to keepe thy commandements THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. VIII 57 LET other men gape after what things they lust I do account al my riches to be set in this ô Lord that I may obeie those things which thou hast spoken vnto vs. 58 I do powre foorth praiers before thee without anie dissimulation and as thou hast promised with thy mouth haue mercie vpon me 59 I am not of their number who haue no regard whether they walke in the right or wrong waie before thee but I haue searched carefullie what way I should keepe and I haue fastened my steps in those pathes the which thou hast testified to please thee 60 Neither haue I staied when I did knowe the matter so to be but haue streightwaies bent my selfe to obserue thy commandements 61 And although the wicked haue conspired against me and spoiled al my goodes yet do I not forget thy doctrine 62 No I do arise vp at midnight when others do soundlie sleepe and I do cal to memorie the examples of punishment which thou hast executed vpon such wicked men 63 But if I do knowe anie that feareth thee and that keepeth thy statutes I ioine him to my felowship 64 O Lord who leauest no inhabitants of the earth voide of thy benefites I desire this one thing of thee that I may learne thy statutes by thine instruction THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. IX 65 THou hast dealt faithfullie I grant with thy seruant as thou hast promised by thy word 66 Yet is there a further thing that I must desire of thee euen that thou wouldest teach me that true knowledge ioined with such a iudgement whereby I may discerne al things aright as it were by tasting a sauourie thing because I depend of thy commandements 67 Before I was tamed by thy rod I was wanton wandering to and fro but now haue I learned to obeie thy commandements 68 But againe I beseech thee which art most merciful and liberal that thou wilt teach me these same statutes 69 Surelie there is no kind of slaunder nor anie manner of deceit which these men of desperate boldnes haue not practised against me who could neuer yet bring to passe but that I endeuoured my selfe to keepe thy commandements with my whole heart 70 And they thus abusing their prosperitie and thy liberalitie became foolish and witlesse euen their senses as it were dulled with fatnes but I delight my selfe in the meditation of thy doctrine 71 I grant therefore that it was to my great commoditie that I being tamed by these miseries shuld prooue more meete to vnderstand thy statutes 72 For the doctrine which thou hast deliuered by thy mouth vnto vs is far aboue al heapes of gold and siluer THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. X. 73 THou who once hast made man and formed him with thy hands and therefore canst onlie restore him againe being vtterlie destroied of himselfe grant me vnderstanding that I may learne al thy precepts 74 For so shal it come to passe that al which feare thee shal mightilie reioice when they shal see me resting vpon thy word to haue attained this benefit of thee 75 For I haue learned by experience ô Lord that thou doest nothing vniustlie and in that thou hast dealt with me so hardlie thou hast done nothing repugnant to thy truth 76 But I beseech thee that thy mercie may be readie to comfort me the which thou hast promised to thy seruant 77 Let thine vnspeakeable mercie I saie be present that I may reuiue seeing thine onelie doctrine delighteth me 78 Let these cruel men be ashamed and frustrate of their purposes who haue dealt so frowardlie with me and that without my deseruing and I wil with so much more willing mind wholie applie my selfe to meditate thy commandements 79 So shal it come to passe that they which feare thee and which vnderstand thy testimonies wil ioine themselues to me 80 Wherefore graunt this vnto me that I may knowe and keepe thy commandements with a pure heart that I be not ashamed THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XI 81 AL my courage faileth me whilest I wait for the deliuerance promised by thy word which is deferred 82 My verie eies doe faile me whilest I lift them vp to behold those things which thou hast spoken vnto me and oftentimes I breake foorth into this voice Ah alas when wilt thou once comfort me 83 Wherefore I became like a bottle dried in the smoke through sorrowe and mourning notwithstanding yet I haue not therefore forgotten thy statutes 84 Ah! how long shal these things endure and when wilt thou once decree iust punishments against them that persecute me 85 For they haue euen digged pits to catch me the which thing thou hast plainlie forbidden in the doctrine that thou hast giuen vs. 86 But whatsoeuer they enterprise whether by force or craft the thing it selfe shal declare that it must needs be stable and true whatsoeuer thou hast commanded Onelie helpe thou me that am most vnworthilie oppressed 87 For although those men haue cast me downe to the ground and almost brought me to nought yet haue I not forsaken thy commandements 88 Restore me to life therefore for thy singular bountie that I may most carefullie obserue those things that thou hast testified by thy mouth THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XII 89 ANd why should I doubt oh Lord of the certaintie of thy promises whereas I see in that thing in the which though it be a most mightie
worke yet is it of far lesse importance than the saluation of thy people in the frame of the heauen I meane that there is as it were ingrauen a sure stabilitie of that thing which thou hast once spoken Wherefore though the companie of the godlie be tossed with infinit tempests vpon the earth yet shal it be firme and stable the which thing thou hast opened by thy word to be determined by thee of the euerlasting rest thereof in the heauens 90 Surelie thy truth shal faile in no age for euen that bodie of the earth doth so remaine as it was established by thee vpon her foundations 91 And al these things doe so continue as they were ordeined and appointed by thee from the beginning obeieng thee doubtles as their Lord. 92 But if I had not learned these things of the doctrine that thou hast deliuered vnto vs whereof doubtles I did take a maruellous pleasure verelie I had perished alreadie being ouerwhelmed with calamities 93 Therefore be it far away from me that I should forget thy commandements at anie time vnto whome I confesse that I doe owe my life 94 Saue me therefore seeing I am thine and a diligent obseruer of thy statutes 95 For the wicked do labour for this with al their power that they may destroie me but I giue my selfe wholie to consider those things which thou hast testified vnto vs. 96 For I see al the most absolute perfect works to come to an end onelie thy precepts are prolonged without measure and without anie end THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XIII 97 O How do I loue thy doctrine surelie I consume whole daies in meditating of the same 98 And I doe find by experience that I haue not done this in vaine for I haue prooued to be much wiser by thy precepts than al mine aduersaries of how great dignitie or authoritie soeuer for I haue obteined a wisedome that wil neuer forsake me 99 Yea thou hast made me better learned than my verie teachers and maisters euen because I haue giuen my selfe wholie not to mans inuentions but to meditate those things onlie which thou hast giuen vnto vs for sound learning 100 Finalie I was more skilful than anie of the ancient euen because I was bent not onlie to knowe thy cōmandements but also to keepe them indeed 101 For I held backe my feete that I should not go the way that leadeth vnto euil but that I should alwaies rather hold the waie which thou hast taught vs by thy mouth 102 Neither did I turne from thy lawes but rested vpon thee my teacher and admonisher 103 And surelie I felt thy words more pleasant and sweet to my mouth than if I had tasted honie 104 Finallie thy precepts haue taught me true wisedome and therefore I abhor the other rules of the order of life as wicked and false THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XIIII 105 WHerefore that thy word hath bene and shal be like a torch shining before me as I go and as a light shewing my path vnto me 106 For so haue I sworne euen by an oth that I would doe and that I would keepe thy most iust lawes the which thing I wil perfourme in deede 107 And thou againe ô Lord keepe me safe which am maruellouslie vexed as thy word promiseth 108 O Lord let the vowes and free promises of my mouth be accepted of thee and teach me thy lawes more and more 109 Behold my life is exposed to al casualties as though I did carrie it in my hand yet haue not I forgotten thy lawe 110 The wicked haue laid snares for me yet haue not I wandered from thy precepts 111 Those things that thou hast testified vnto vs are in the stead of an euerlasting inheritance that can neuer be alienate neither doe I take anie pleasure anie-where but of them onelie 112 Finalie I haue bound my whole hart for euer euen to my last gaspe to obserue thy statutes THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XV. 113 I Abhorre the wauering and wanderers to and fro in religion and I account thy doctrine most deere 114 Thou art my refuge where I may hide my selfe thou art my shield whilest I rest vpon those things that thou hast said vnto me 115 Hence from me ye wicked that I may keepe the precepts of my God so much more purelie 116 Vphold thou me ô Lord as thou hast promised to doe otherwise I perish and doe not shame me by making my hope frustrate 117 But rather strengthen thou me that I safelie escaping may applie my selfe continuallie to thy statutes with great ioie 118 For verelie thou doest tread vnder foote prostrate vpon the earth al them that go astraie from thy statutes and their craft doth vanish 119 Thou doest cast awaie I saie al the wicked whereof this world is ful like drosse therefore is nothing more pleasant vnto me than the testimonie of thy wil. 120 Yet doe I wholie tremble for feare of thee and for that thy seueritie against the wicked THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XVI 121 LEt them shameleslie imagine what they lust I haue so behaued my selfe that no man can worthilie complaine of me that I haue committed anie thing against him contrarie to right and equitie doe not deliuer me therefore I beseech thee to the lust of the slanderers 122 But rather laieng a pawne for my sake regard that I be not oppressed by these proud men 123 For my verie eies do faile me waiting for the deliuerance alreadie promised vnto me and for the perfourmance of thy most iust word 124 Neither when I desire this doe I desire anie thing that I haue deserued but this one thing rather that thou wouldest haue mercie vpon me thy poore seruant and teach me thy statutes 125 Go to I beseech thee seeing I am thy bond-seruant grant this vnto me that I may vnderstand and embrace those things that thou hast testified vnto vs so as it is conuenient 126 For the time it selfe requireth ô Lord that thou laie thy hand to the worke seeing that these men haue vtterlie ouerthrowne thy doctrine 127 But contrariwise thy precepts are more pretious vnto me than anie gold how much soeuer 128 For I doe affirme that al thy commandements are a most certaine rule of equitie and I abhor as a thing appointed to deceiue vs whatsoeuer leadeth vs from them THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XVII 129 OH the maruellous things that are comprehended in those words that thou testifiest vnto vs so that I haue most iustlie giuen my selfe wholie to consider them most attentiuelie 130 For vnto them that enter within the threshold onelie to heare thee a certaine vnspeakeable light doth offer it selfe to be seene not so much dazeling the minds with glittering as lightening them with a ioiful brightnes and instructing them that knowledge their owne ignorance with true wisedome 131 Wherefore I haue greedilie swallowed thy precepts as thirstie men vse desiring them most earnestlie 132 Looke vpon me therefore and haue compassion on me that pant for breath
should set foorth thy holie name to be derided of them and vnlesse so long as we shal be banished awaie from thee we do mourne so long and againe that then we begin our ioie when we shal be restored vnto thee 7 But thou ô Lord do not forget these our vnkinde kinsmen and with what exhortations they haue kindled the crueltie of the Chaldees when they cried in the day of the cruel destruction of the citie Rase it rase it euen to the verie foundations 8 But the time shal be also when euen thou ô Babylon shalt be destroied and this thy prosperitie shal be giuen vnto him which shal deale with thee againe as thou hast dealt with vs. 9 And blessed shal he be that shal take thy yong infants also and dash them against the stones PSALME CXXXVIII The Argument When Dauid had atteined to the kingdome and brought the Arke into the citie thinking also of the building of the temple euen prophesieng that it would come to passe that al the kings of the world should acknowledge and celebrate this so great a benefite which was fulfilled in the end in Christ the eternal sonne of Dauid But because the instruments of Sathan vse commonlie to lie in waite for none more than for them that are the chiefe in the Church of God he adioineth also praiers as it becommeth vs to do in prosperitie to consider the battel against Sathan and the world neuer more carefullie than in the time of truce And he doth praie resting vpon that certaine foundation of our hope which is threefold euen that God beholdeth al things that he cherisheth the oppressed that he is the enimie of the proud howsoeuer he seeme to winke for a time that we are the worke of God without repentance and therefore of necessitie to be made perfect in due time THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Wil praise thee with my whole heart neither wil I be ashamed to sing foorth thy praises also in songs before the assemblie of the mightie and before the verie Angels that stand about thine Arke 2 I wil praise thee in the palace consecrate to thy Maiestie and I wil sing of thy mercie truth because thou hast gotten vnto thee now at the length most great honour for that thou hast so maruelouslie performed vnto me that which thou diddest promise in thy word 3 For thou hast deferred for a space my deliuerance notwithstanding so oft as I called vpon thee thou ministring vnto mee an inuincible strength of mind hast streightwaies heard me when I cried 4 And surelie it wil come to passe ô Lord that al the kings of the world when they shal knowe what thou hast promised vnto me and how assuredlie thou hast performed thy promise made vnto me they wil giue thee praise 5 Hauing in admiration chieflie this thing that thou hast fulfilled thy promises after such a maruelous maner aboue expectation confessing therein thy power and glorie chieflie to appeare 6 In that thou hast declared in deede that though thou sit in a most high throne yet doest thou behold al the base and most lowe things that thou knowest a far off those that proudlie lift vp themselues although thou maiest seeme to winke at both twaine for a time 7 Doubtles although I be inwrapped in the middest of most rough tempests thou wilt preserue me safe and laieng thine hand vpon mine enimies how cruel soeuer thou wilt deliuer me with thy right hand 8 For thou ô Lord thine owne selfe wilt fullie performe the work that I haue enterprised by thine authoritie for this is thine euerlasting mercie testified by thy word neither wilt thou leaue the worke vnperfect which thou hast once begun PSALME CXXXIX The Argument This Psalme doth teach vs when we are oppressed against right and equitie by men of power and chieflie for religion we must alwaies keepe a good conscience and appeale to the iudgement seate of God who beholdeth the verie hearts whose infinite power is described in this Psalme by Dauid with great maiestie THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord vnto whome I appeale and whome I can not deceiue though I would I am throughlie knowne manifest vnto thee 2 For no part of my life is vnknowne vnto thee whether I sit or I rise yea thou doest euen vnderstand al my thoughts a far off 3 And thou obseruest narrowlie my walking and my lieng downe neither is anie of those things hidden from thee which I go about 4 For thou knowest euen my words ô Lord before my tongue pronounce them 5 Thou holdest me inclosed before and behinde and as it were compassed by thy hand laide vpon me 6 Thy knowledge is so high that no man can comprehend it it doth astonish me assuredlie with the admiration thereof 7 Wherefore if peraduenture I be so mad that I go about to flee awaie from thee whither I praie thee can I go that thou shouldest be ignorant where I lie hid and whither shal I flie from thy fight 8 If I shal euen go vp and flie vp into the verie heauens verelie there shal I find thee contrariwise if I lie downe in the close places of the graue behold againe there shal I perceiue thee 9 If the sunne it selfe arising vp should lend me his most swift wings whereby I might flee euen into the farthest part of the west 10 That same shal be euen as though thou thy selfe diddest leade me thither and thy right hand wil there find me out and take me 11 And if I were so mad that I should persuade my selfe that the darkenes at least should hide me the night it selfe shal be like a light compassing me about that I shal be open vnto thy sight 12 For the verie darkenes doth not so couer anie thing but that thou seest it fullie yea the night doth shine vnto thee none otherwise than light it selfe so that there is no difference of light and darkenes with thee 13 And no maruel for euen the verie bowels within me are thine owne by right and authoritie because thou hast made me and couered me in my mothers wombe 14 And this worke surelie which I behold in my selfe is so wonderful that I am vtterlie most senseles and vnthankeful vnlesse I praise thee for this cause and professe that thy workes are exceeding maruelous seeing I do perceiue that thing manifest so to be 15 Euen then the ioining of my bones was knowne vnto thee when I was formed in so secret a place and was fashioned in the darke caue as it were with needle worke 16 Euen then I saie thou diddest behold mee when I was yet an vnfashioned lumpe without shape and al this my fashioning and also the verie time appointed therevnto was set downe in thy booke before that anie part of that workemanship was made 17 Therefore ô God how do I prefer the consideration of these things before al others which are so great verelie that no man is able once to account the summe of them 18
greeuous lamentation with great consolation in the end 90 An excellent praier of Moses 91 An assurance vnto him that putteth his trust in God 92 An exhortation to praise God with a comparison betwixt the wicked and the iust 93 The power of God and his promises 94 Against tyrants with a comfort to the afflicted 95 The praise of God and a terror to the vnthankeful 96 An exhortation to praise God chieflie for Christs comming 97 Christ dreadful to the rebels but ioiful to the iust 98 An exhortation to praise God for his power mercie and truth and for saluation in Christ 99 To the same purpose 100 To praise the Lord for his creation redemption and perpetual protection 101 How a king should gouerne 102 A lamentation a consolation a prophesie of the dignitie of the Church a song of triumph 103 An excellent thankesgiuing both for corporal and spiritual blessings 104 105 To the same purpose 106 A thankesgiuing for Gods mercies with a declaration of the stubbornesse of the people and a praier for ful deliuerance 107 To praise God for his maruelous and woonderful prouidence in al maner of things 108 Dauid praiseth God with great confidence 109 A most terrible imprecation against the enimies 110 An epitome of the Gospel 111 A thankesgiuing and declaration what is true wisedome 112 They that feare God are blessed al other shal perish 113 God worketh aboue nature in his Church 114 Of the deliuerance from Aegypt a figure of our spiritual deliuerance 115 A praier for deliuerance for the onlie honor of the true God who is compared with their fained Gods 116 Dauid protesteth that he wil giue thankes and acknowledgeth that he can render nothing else for Gods great benefites 117 118 To praise the Lord for his mercies in Christ 119 A long and most feruent praier for the true meditation and exercise in Gods holie word 120 A praier against slanders and a lamentation for his long abode amongst the wicked 121 The Lord must onlie be looked to in troubles 122 Dauid reioiceth and praieth for the prosperitie of the Church 123 Like the 121. 124 The power of God onelie deliuereth from dangers 125 The assurance of the godlie in their afflictions 126 The people that were so wonderfullie deliuered praie for them that remained in captiuitie so should we doe 127 The whole state of the world both in publike and priuate dependeth vpon Gods onlie prouidence 128 They are onelie blessed that feare the Lord. 129 The Church oft afflicted but by the Lord deliuered 130 The faithful crie vnto the Lord in their miseries they confesse their sins and are deliuered 131 Man may not exalt himselfe but wait vpon the Lord. 132 The people praie for the posteritie of Dauid and for the building of the temple that is both for their spiritual King the Messiah and for religion 133 A commendation of brotherlie loue and concord 134 135 136 A thankesgiuing to the Lord for the benefites bestowed vpon his Church 137 There is a time of silence vnder the crosse so that neither faith nor zeale decaie 138 Dauid praiseth God for things past and assureth himselfe against troubles to come 139 A most excellent Psalme dailie to be meditated 140 The state of the godlie in this world and the staie of their faith 141 Dauid praieth for the brideling of his tongue and that he ioine not with the wicked but that iust men may admonish him 142 An earnest praier with great confidence 143 An earnest praier for remission of sinnes the cause of miserie 144 He praiseth God with great humilitie 145 He praiseth God for his wisedome mercie power and iustice and for his benefites toward his Church The other foure Psalms are exhortations also to praise God chieflie for his mercies toward his Church And whereas musical instruments are named they were agreeable to that ceremonial time but now al ceremonies being ceased we must worship in spirit and truth and so sing Psalmes with the voice as our heart may be most stirred vp to praise and magnifie the Lord our GOD. FINIS 1581 SVBLIME DEDIT OS HOMINI Imprinted at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater Noster Rowe at the signe of the Starre Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis