presence and helpe in calamities Also his mitigation and deliuerance from the same And it is a speciall deliuerance whereas by Iordan that is by the miseries of this life the sonne of God leadeth vs into the land of Canaan that is into the life euerlasting But the whole doctrine touching causes and remedies of humane miseries is elsewhere plentifullie expounded He that will may from thence borrow more matter For we do not now write of places but we interpret Psalms and least this Commentarie appeare too much in matter we are contented with the direction of those places which are extant in all mens hands God shal wound the head of his enemies and the hairy scalpe of such a one as goeth on still in his wickednes The Lord hath said I will bring my people againe as I did from Basan mine owne will I bring againe as I did from the deepe of the sea That thy foote may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies and that the tongue of thy dogges may be red through the same He addeth vnto the description of the triumphant pompe a prophecie touching the destruction of the Iewish nation for their blinde obstinacie striuing setting themselues against the Gospel And this prophecie agréeth with the saying of Christ Luke 19. 44. All those things shall come vpon thee because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation Nowe indéed it is sufficientlie apparant that the Iewes for their contempt of Christ hauing lost their kingdome and priesthoode do wander in perpetuall banishment and are the most miserable persons of all others vppon whome the sunne shineth And although the greatest multitude of the Iewes be with tragicall punishments oppressed yet notwithstanding out of this skum of mankinde God hath culled or picked out some remnantes as in the 2. cap. Actes When Peters preaching was heard 3000. Iewes were conuerted vnto Christ and in the next yeare after the resurrection of Christ Paule the apostle was conuerted And there is extant in the 11. cap. of S. Paule to the Rom. 27. a prophecie touching the downefall of the Chruch of the Gentiles and of the conuersion of the Iewes It is well seene O God how thou goest howe thou my God and King goest in thy sanctuary The singers go before the minstrels follow after in the midst are the Damsels playing with the timbrels He returneth vnto the triumphant pompe whose ornament was musicke For the greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath his name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is by the description of a figs leafe and the foote Iambus in verse For nothing is more swéete then victorie and the foote Iambus is most speciallie applied vnto the following of enemies which are led captiues in the triumph And what maner of song the people both going before and also following the chariot ought to sing S. Paul in the 5. Ephes v. 19. and 4. Coloss verse 2. there prescribing the rule of spirituall musicke teacheth vs at large Giue thankes O Israell vnto God the Lorde in the congregations from the ground of thy hart This little verse is short but it admonisheth the Reader touching the greatest matters God will not haue vs to serue him with the sacrifice to Ceres shut vp in close place of vs. For as Christ saith Matth. 5. 15. No man lighteth a candle and afterwards putteth it vnder a bushell But he will haue the church to bee a visible congregation and to haue honest meetinges publikelie wherein the preaching of the Gospell maie sound and hee heard touching the sonne of God And therfore doth he with a meruailous power saue yea and shall preserue his church in honest congregations and he wil haue euerie man to helpe and maintaine the preseruation of these publique méetings that the ministery of teaching maie bee preserued There will God haue a common praier and thankesgiuing to be made there will hee haue confession to be shewed which kind of doctrine euerie man may embrace And he biddeth vs to take the doctrine of the church not out of the cesterns of mans traditions nor out of Aristotles Ethickes but out of the holie and sacred fountaines of Israell that is from the Prophets and Apostles for all other sectes without the true church do onelie teach a particle of the law touching externall and ciuill duties and some of them do bring with them other worshippings of Idols But they are altogether ignorant of the sonne of God and of his gospell that is the promise of the free remission of sinnes also of our reconciliation and of our inheritance of life euerlasting to be giuen vs by faith in the sonne our Mediator But the Church draweth out of the welspring of Israel the sound perfect and vncorrupt doctrine of the law and the gospell and the pure knowledge of the sonne of God for vs crucified and raised from death to life There is little Beniamin their ruler and the Princes of Iuda their Counsaile The princes of Zabulon and the princes of Nephthaly Although the world do iudge the Apostles to be miserable wandring persons and hateth and curseth them as gasing stocks the ofscourings of the world 1. Cor. 49. 13. yet the holie ghost adorneth these ministers with the most praise worthy title of princes For the Apostles haue the testimonie of the holie ghost that they do not erre in doctrine These Captaines do other teachers and preachers in the church followe vnto whom no credit must bee giuen except their confession do agrée with the foundation of the Apostles as S. Paule saith 2. Ephes 20. And are built vpon the foundation of the Prophets Apostles Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone But why doth he here saie There is little Beniamin their ruler Certes it may signifie that only of all the Apostles Paul being borne of the tribe of Beniamin a great and good part of the Church should be gathered out of Europe and Asia I stand not to be precise touching the speciall dignitie of anie apostle but I reuerence them al as the instruments of God sounding forth the preaching of the gospell throughout all the world And yet cannot this bee denied that Paule himselfe with a liuelie voice witnesseth of himselfe and letting passe most vpright testimonies of others He did greater thinges then the other Apostles like as he himselfe not vntruly glorieth Let vs therefore giue thankes to God for this excellent Organ or instrument and like little hounds let vs licke vp the crums falling from Paules table which are full of excellent words and sentences Thy God hath sent forth strength for thee Stablish the thing O God that thou hast wrought in vs. First in this verse let the misterie of the Trinitie be well marked For like as in 45. Psal the persons of the godhead are discerned where he saith in the 8. ver of the psal Therefore God euen thy God hath anointed thee with oyle of gladnes aboue thy fellowes So in
tumults in the mindes of manie men at this day But let the godlie ones fully beleeue wee must so esteeme of God euen as hee himselfe instructeth vs in his testimonies These do affirme that there is not onely in Christ humaine nature but also the verie diuine essence of the sonne of God which Saint Iohn calleth cap. 1. vers 1. The worde which is the image of the eternall father And that for breuitie sake I may omit other testimonies certainlie this Psalme discerneth Christ from Moses and other great personages when he saith that the Sauiour shall liue for euer and bee alwayes prayed vnto and worshipped as in the 17. verse His name shall remaine vnder the Sunne among the posterities which shall bee blessed through him Againe verse 5. They shall feare thee as long as the Sun and the Moone endureth from one generation to another Last of all verse 12. All kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall do him seruice for euer In these words is his eternitie most euidently described Before the Sunne that is before the shining Sunne in the heauens was created hee was the Sonne of God For the Hebrew Text vseth in this place a notable worde signifying doubtlesse that the Sonne of God was borne before anie Sunne shined in the worlde Againe also it affirmeth manifestlie that this Sauiour must alwayes bee called vpon yea when he is not seene with our eyes He speaketh not here then of the gestures of the bodies which with reuerence is vsed towards them but by them towardes Christ and hee speaketh generallie of all good mindes which do craue of the same our Sauiour Christ that he would haue mercie vpon vs and bee our Mediator vnto his father that he would forgiue vs our sinnes giue vs his holie spirit and life euerlasting and bee our defender and helper in the daungers of this life against the furies of the Diuels and the wicked ones in this worlde Such a kind of prayer yeeldeth rightlie omnipotencie vnto the Sauiour and witnesseth that he is God But y â— indeed his kingdom is not a worldlie policie but spirituall and eternall These Arguments do confirme the same The benefite of the Sauiour pertaineth vnto the vniuersall Church from the beginning of the world vnto the end of the same Now if the kingdome of Christ had bin politike it should not haue brought anie profit or vtilitie vnto the Fathers and Prophets which haue departed out of this life before the coÌ„ming of the Sauiour Therefore nothing shoulde their prayers and hope differ in this case from the dreame of the golden fish wherof the fisher reioyced as Theocritus reporteth Adde herevnto a most ample promise of the calling of the Gentiles which should be vaine and ridiculous if the Iewes onely should carrie all the stately port and beare rule and the Gentiles bee brought into bondage as their slaues But of all others chieflie the sayings of the Prophets confirme this opinion which wee would attaine vnto because they preach of the death and resurrection of the Sauiour Dâ—niel sayeth plainlie cap. 9. vers 26. Christ shall bee slaine And Isayas sayeth cap. 35. 10. He shall lay downe his sâ—ule for sinne Ergo he shall not haue anie corporall rule or gouernment in this life These and manie other such like when we read may we doubt any thing but that the Iewes and others dreaming of the kingdome of Christ to be politicall are wrapped in the greatest error and blinded in the ignoraunce of the greatest matters Also manie were woont to aske of vs what were the benefites of Christs kingdom Touching this question the Psalme maketh answere That the Sauiour of the worlde shall not giue riches and Countries but Righteousnesse and Peace But Righteousnesse signifieth in this place Forgiuenes of sinnes and reconciliation with God or imputation vnto righteousnes or acceptation vnto life euerlasting wherewith after our resurrection shall be ioyned full and perfect newnesse inflamed with spirituall motions such as the lawe of God requireth This true righteousnes differeth infinitelie from discipline which is onely a shadow of outward workes and a miserable and vncleane hypocrisie Peace in this place may not bee vnderstoode of a politike peace which is nothing but a vaine name as Plato saith but it must be vnderstood touching the true consolation and tranquilitie of mindes which is the ouercommer of death For true it is which Christ our Sauiour said Iohn 16. In the world you shal haue affliction but by me Peace 33. Be ye of good courage I have ouercome the worlde ibidem Last of all let the sayinges touching the calling of the Gentiles the worshippings of the newe Testament and Crosse of the Church bee considered in this Psalme For it interpreteth the promise deliuered vnto Abraham Gene. 22. 17. In thy seede shall all nations bee blessed And it witnesseth that the worshipping of God in the new Testament shall not be circumcision or Leuiticall sacrifices but praiers and thankesgiuings As here in the 12. verse They shall praise him for euer He also addeth a particle wherein not obscurely he signifieth the Church shall bee subiect vnto the Crosse As in verse 14. Precious saith he is the bloud of them in the Lords sight Let these seeme to be sufficiently spoken touching the Argument of this 72. Psalme Now let vs heare the Prophet Dauid excellently prophecying and preaching of Christ Iesus the Sauior that was and is to com◠⧠The Psalme and Exposition thereof Giue the king thy iudgements O God and thy righteousnes vnto the kings sonne WHat maner of speaker Thucidides was in his Drations such a one is the Prophet Dauid in his Psalms so plentifull hee is in copie of matters that the multitude of his wordes almost are supplied with as manie sentences Furthermore so apt and strict he is in wordes that a man cannot tell whether the things are with spéech or the wordes with sentences more beautified For I pray you consider how many great matters are included in one litle verse For first he teacheth what a one God is namelie a iust iudge that is allowing things well done and disallowing and destroying the contrarie And surely such a God he is according to the law but indéede according to the Gospell he is not onelie iust in accusing of sin but also he maketh vngodlie ones become iust which are just by faith in Christ as it is said Rom. â— Secondlie he aduertiseth the Reader touching the mysterie of the Trinitie For it is the euerlasting Father which deliuereth out of his power into the hands of his Son both iudgemeent iustice The son receiueth the power deliuered vnto him from â—is faâ—her according to that saying Ioh. 5. 22. The Father iudgeth no man but hath giuen all iudgement vnto his Sonne which wee must so vnderstand touching the first comming of Christ that the father iudgeth not alone but by his sonne hee iudgeth and maketh his iudgement knowne For by his
scatter abroad the congregation of Gods Church And although some dispute whether the kingdome at Christ be euerlasting seeing Paule saith 1. Cor. 15. 24. Then shall the sonne deliuer the kingdome vnto the father Yet the kingdome of the sonne without all doubting is euerlasting because in all eternitie hée raigneth together with the father and the holie ghost and remaineth the heade of the church And whereas Paule saith 1. Cor. 15. 24. That the sonne in the last day of the worlde shall deliuer the kingdome vnto the father let that be vnderstoode thus The sonne shall bring vnto the Father the Church gathered throughout all mankinde and then all the whole godhead shall be seene in presence and shall raigne not by the ministerie of the gospel but immediatly or without anie meane With this simple vnderstanding let vs be contented least we séeme to seeke to be more wise then it behooueth vs. He shal come down like the raine into fleece of wool euen as the drops that water the earth There is no doubt but the prophet doth allude in this verse vnto the historie of Gedeon which is recited in lib. Iudicum 6. and 7. chapters But other interpreters do applie this figure taken out of the history of Gedeon another waie For some doe refer it vnto the birth of the son of God borne of the virgne as the meaning might thus be Christ like vnto the deaw of heauen was conceiued by the holy ghost in the wombe of the virgin Mary without all spot of sinne This interpretation though I reiect not séeing it agréeth with the analogy or rule of faith yet I do more allowe the application thereof vnto the kingdome of Christ For like as grasse reuiueth and refresheth his colour when the deawe falleth vpon it so our hearts when we heare the preaching of the gospell conceiue new comfort which is the beginning and taste of life euerlasting Againe also that similitude maie well bee considered herein which in the same historie is set downe Before Christ was borne the sinagogue was a fleece of wool wet with heauenlie dewe Now the drie lande that is the Gentiles are watered with this dewe What shall I saie of the wonderfull and almost incredible victorie of Gedeon vnto whom Esayas in the 9. chapter compareth the triumph of Christ For as Gedeon leaueth forth a slender hoast against the huge multitude of his enemies and yet by God obtained the victorie so wee wretched and weake soules following the gouernement and good guide of the sonne of God our Captaine Christ in the onelie preaching of the gospell which we professe and with the sparke of faith shining in miseries doc ouercome most mightie enemies viz. sinne death and the deuill But this figure verie well and excellentlie doth Doct. Martin Luther set forth in his exposition vppon the ninth chapter of Esay Hee therefore that will may read thereof in that place In his time shall the righteous flourish yea and abundance of peace so long as the moone endureth He repeateth a sermon as it were of the effects of Christs kingdome namelie righteousnesse and peace In the Church shall both righteousnesses flourish the one of Faith whereby the person is accepted and pleasing vnto God fréely for the Mediators sake The other of a good conscience touching which let vs hold fast that most swéete saying of Nazianzen Nihil exhilarat nos ita vt conscientia pura spes bona Nothing so much reioyceth vs as a pure conscience and a good hope And where hee saith abundance of peace c. that is tranquilitie of the heart rising from faith hope and a good conscience Nowe consider what a thing it is not to be pluckt away from God and to be able to haue accesse vnto God to call vpon him craue and looke for helpe of him as in the 1. Epist 3. cap. and 20. vers of saint Iohn it is said If our heart condemne vs not then haue we boldness towardes God But the particle touching the eternitie of peace must not be at a blush as wee say but throughlie looked vpon For it containeth most sweet consolation which Isayas expresseth cap. 54 ver 10. in these wordes The hilles shall be mooued and the little hilles shall tremble but my mercie shall not depart from thee neither shall the couenant of my peace fall away saith thy mercifull Lorde That is though down-falles of kingdomes shall shake and terrifie the Church verie sore yet my couenant that I haue made with my Church shall be firme for euer ratified and vnmooueable Let vs be quietlie contented with this league or couenant yea though the whole world frushed togither fall downe about vs. His dominion also shall bee from the one sea to the other and from the flood vnto the worlds end The kings of Babylon and Persia held in their power verie rich kingdoms but these kingdoms were included within the limits of Asia Alexander the great ioined some part of Europe vnto the Empire of Asia The Romane Empire greatest of all others was extended no further then Euphrate Finally no gouernment in y e whole world was contained in the proper iurisdiction wherefore seeing Christes kingdome is comprehended within the same boundes wherein the whole world is comprehended doubtles we must confesse that this kingdome is not a worldlie Empire like as the Iewes do dream But peraduenture some man would ask what maner of kingdom the kingdom of Christ is There is nothing that we may so easily expresse The kingdome of the Christ in this life is to kéepe and restore the ministerie of the Gospell also to gather and reuiue the Church with his worde and holie spirit giuen and to protect her wonderfullie against the diuels and tyrants after this life to raise her members vp from death to life and bring them to his eternall Father Out of this description maie be taken the difference of Christes kingdome and a politike kingdome Also they differ in obiects in benefites in forme of gouernment glorie defences and stabilitie for first the politike power gouerneth the part which is moueable and brideleth the externall members that they may remaine within their duties but the kingdome of Christ not onelie gouerneth externall manners but reprehendeth and healeth the hearts as in Isay 61. ver 1. To binde vp the broken hearted Secondlie the chiefe benefits of politike power are discipline and peace of bodies but the spirituall and eternall benefits of this kingdome are righteousnesse and peace of conscience before God Thirdlie they differ in forme gouernment for other kings and princes chuse fit ministers to beare authoritie in the Common-wealth endued with wisedome and eloquence but Christ chooseth the foolish things of this world to confound the wisedome of the wise or as the 8 Psalme ver 2. saieth Out of the mouth of verie babes and sucklings he hath made perfect his kingdome Moreouer they differ in forme of execution as in defence and punishments
beginning of impracation or cursing and of gratulation or reioycing For hee curseth the enemies of Christ but he reioyceth at the welfare of the godly ones The declaration of the Psalme comprehendeth the description of the pompe The Lord commeth and bringeth with him his hoast of them which preach the Gospell Out of these are described the Apostles and Bishops as it were Princes of prouinces or countries which do comfort and refresh these countries afflicted and persecuted The Lord ascendeth vpon high hee leadeth in his triumph the captiues hee distributeth his gifts vnto his soldiours and people and threatneth punishment vnto his enemies The people go before and one commeth after which singeth the song of triumph This is almost the scope of this Psalme which let the godly ones reade not so much for the wonderfull and delectable diuine excellencie of eloquence wherewith it aboundeth ⧠The Psalme and Exposition thereof Let God arise and let his enemies bee scattered Let them also that hate him flee before him Like as the smoake vanisheth so shalt thou driue them away and like as the waxe melteth at the fire so let the vngodly perish at the presence of God LIKE as the next Psalme following describeth Christ humbled upon the Crosse and by reason of our sinnes sirtuing with most bitter sorrowes in this Psalme setteth forth Christ risen from death to life and gloriously sitting at the right hande of his Father He beginneth then with the effects of the most ioyfull resurrection of Christ namelie by the destruction and scattering abroad of his enemies and by the reuiuing or restoring of his church as if he said when Christ was dead and buried not onlie the blind and raging Iewes leaped for ioy but also the Deuill and his companions namelie sinne and death triumphed at full as if Christ shoulde so for euer remaine in the graue But this graund guide of life the third daie rising againe had a glorious triumph ouer the Iewes and the whole kingdome of the Deuill often times repeating that saying of the Prophet Osea cap. 13. 14. O death I will be thy death O graue I will be thy destruction For although the stubborne and vncurable Iewes carried stately mindes as then and resisted the Apostles with a malignant countenance yet in the xl yeare after Christes resurrection they suffered grieuous and iust punishmentes for their outrages And the kingdome of the deuill sinne and death is so broken and crushed in peeces by Christ that it can bring no danger vnto the godlie ones Let vs therefore with S. Paule sing this triumph song 1. Cor. 15. 55. O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law But thankes be to God which hath giuen vs victory through our Lorde Iesus Christ verse 56. 57. And what is more elegant then the describing of these enemies which he here vseth comparing them unto smoke and ware Great is the pride of smoke when it bursteth out of the top of the chimney and his spreading heat couereth the ayre So an Image of waxe maketh both a terrible shew of grauitie ◠of hardnes but as the smoke which séemeth to pearce the verie firmament is scattered by the wind here and there and as the image of ware laide to the fire melteth quite awaie So the enemies of the Gospell and of the Church by the breath of Christes mouth which is both winde and flame are either healed or taken vtterlie awaie and destroied altogether So in like maner Athanasius compared Iulian the Apostat vnto a little cloud whome the Sunne within a while after should so driue away and vanquish that no man should sée anie trace therof more With these debasings and downfalles of the enemies of the gospell and of the church agreeth that sentence of Isay ca. 51. 7. Feare ye not the reproch of men neither be yee afraide of their rebukes verse 8. For the moath shall eate them vp like a garment and the worme shall eat them like wooll But let the righteous be glad and reioyce before God Let them also be merry and ioyfull An other effect of Christs resurrection is the reuiuing or restoring of his Church for as Saint Paule saith Rom. 14. 17. The kingdome of God is not meate and drinke but righteousnesse peace and ioy in the holie Ghost It is indéed Righteousnesse as thus frée remission of sinnes reconciliation with God and free acceptation vnto life euerlasting It is Peace thus Tranquillitie of heart rising from faith hope a good conscience Finallie it is Ioy thus Consolation which is the vanquisher of all feares and doubtings All these benefites are the effects of Christs passion and resurrection which saint Paule acknowledgeth Phil. 3. 12. He hath not yet attained vnto but he tooke he saide the right course whereby he might attaine vnto this reach of wisdome The same thing let vs also confesse and craue of God that hee would illumine and increase in our hearts this light acknowledging the benefites of Christ O sing vnto God and sing praises vnto his name magnifie him that rideth vpon the heauens as it were vpon an horse praise him in his name yea and reioyce before him Not only in the heart saith Dauid let true knowledge of Christ shine whereto is ioyned spirituall ioy but let the toong also magnifie this Lord risen from death to life and raigning for euer who though he be the sonne of Dauid after the Sencalogie yet is hee declared the Sonne of God by his rising from death to life and by sending his holie spirit as in Rom. cap. 1. ver 3. 4 it is said This Lords diuinitie vnited to his humanitie and his victorie triumphes and benefits see that ye honor saith Dauid and in them rest and sweetlie repose your selues For he doth not thumpe nor thunder it out but is carried faire and softlie and suffereth suters to haue easie accesse vnto him Let no man therefore be driuen from him but let all and euerie one come vnto this Lord trusting in his most swéete promise who saith Matth. 11 28. Come vnto me all ye that labour and are laden and I will refresh you And where he saith Magnifie him that rideth vpon the heauens that maie be vnderstoode Make your way before him and is spoken as touching our true repentance not fained with amendment of life for the first step vnto health is To know the disease and seeke a Phisition But contrariwise it is a heauie signe if the minde being sicke know neither the disease nor looketh for phisicke Let vs therefore acknowledge our maladies namely sin and death and let vs craue to haue right medicine laide to these miseries by the phisition and sheepheard of our soules euen the sonne of God who came therefore into the world to saue sinners He is a father of the fatherlesse and defendeth the cause of the widowes euen God in his holy habitation
Although the Church is doubtlesse in the world a widowe and an Orphane for she is both of enemies cruellie persecuted and of false friends forsaken yet the sonne of God leaueth her not without defence and succour but partly nourisheth her with inward consolation which is called here His holie habitation and partly he prouideth for her some resting place for succor and giueth her Halcion daies that she may happily naurish and bring up her birds Hither to pertaineth that notable saying of the sonne of God Ioh. 14. ver 16 18 I will not leaue you comfortlesse but I will come vnto you I will aske my father and he shall giue you another comforter euen the spirit of truth which shal abide with you for euer And whatsoeuer is true touching the whole bodie the same may in like maner bee applied of all the members thereof For to let passe the examples of other Orphnaes and speak of my selfe surely euen me who haue beene left an Orphane euen from the verie thirde yeare of my age hath Christ the sonne of God succoured and helped not onely with things necessarie for my bodie as meate and drinke defence from harme good health and honest residence or dwelling place among men c. but also vnto these adding greater benefites as for example bringing me out of the kingdome of darkenesse and translating me into the kingdome of this sonne of God wherein wee haue by his blood full remission of our sinnes To the end therefore a publique testimonie of my thankfulnesse may appeare I giue vnto this father of Orphans Iudge of widowes causes so great thanks as my mind is able to conceiue for his cherishing and mainteining of mee so manie yeares and for his benefits necessarilie bestowed vpon me both for my bodie and soule which in the life to come euerlasting I shall more feruently commemorate and magnifie his name therefore He is the God that maketh men to bee of one mind in an house and bringeth the prisoners out of captiuity but letteth the runnagates continue in scarcenesse Christ in the 9. cap. of Isay vers 6. is called not without cause The euerlasting father because in all ages by the ministerie of his worde and sacraments hee regenerateth many vnto life euerlasting whom the Church fostereth and bringeth vp and so is shee made of a barren or solitarie woman a mother of manie children according to the prophesie of Isay Cap. 54. verse 1. Reioyce O barren that diddest not beare breake foorth into ioy and ' reioyce thou that diddest not trauell with childe for the desolate hath mo children then the married wife hath Of this consolation the godlie ones haue néede least they take offence at the small number of true beleeuers and the great number of other sectes Also this Lord in time conuenient setteth Captiues at libertie that is not in such sort as we thinke but in his meruailous prouidence as in the 4 Psalme it is saide The Lord knoweth how to deliuer his holy one verse 3. And the prison out of which we are deliuered as S. Paule saith 2 Cor. 7. 5. Are inward feares c. outwarde fightings For the godlie ones for most part are tossed with inwarde and outwarde stormes of calamities and at length getting out of the great stormes of trouble do see their wished hauen But the vngodlie ones and disobedient persons hee despiseth as the base gotten children of this worlde neither chasteningnor comforting them till they come to vtter destruction O God when thou wentest forth before the people when thou wentest through the wildernes The earth shooke and the heauens dropped at the presence of God euen as Syna also was moued at the presence of God which is the God of Israell Thou O God sentest a gratious raigne vppon thine inheritance and refreshed it when it was weary Hitherto hath hee made the hearer or learner attentiue and docible as in beginnings it is a thing vsuall nowe goeth he to the height of the cause namelie into the place mentioning of Christ and the Gospell and compareth the publishing of the lawe with the propagation of the gospell where he saith When thou publishedst the lawe the earth was in one place moued and the heauens dropped at thy presence But now that the gospell by preaching is spread abroad of the Apostles all the whole earth is moued as in Haggias the Prophet it is said cap. 2. verse 7. Yet a little while I wil shake the heauens the earth the sea and the drie land c. and a gracious raine is powred vpon all parts of the world where by the Church is gathered both from among the Iewes and Gentiles and is watered as it were the inheritance of God And what is there more sweete then that the preaching of the Gospel is not onely compared vnto thunder but vnto raine also For like as the earth bringeth forth fruit partlie made warme with the heate of the sunne and partly watered with raine and waters So the Church is refreshed and recreated of the holie Ghost by the ministerie of the Gospell Let no man therefore kéepe backe this raine from his Orchardes but let euen all our furrowes and glebe landes receyue the same with great desire That is let our hearts without loathing and surfetting heare the doctrine of the Gospel that they may take thereby most ample fruit and profite Touching which saint Paule speaketh Rom. 1. 16. The Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation for al that beleeue Further more Christ is here called the God of Sinay of Israel by reason of the testimonies of his manifestations or appearings made in mount Sinay and in this people For the pollicie or gouernment of Moyses was no other thing but a storehouse of diuine appearences and witnesses Vers 10 Thy congregation shall dwell therein for thou O God of thy goodnes hast prouided for the poore Christ is our sheepheard because hee teacheth vs comforteth gouerneth and defendeth vs healeth vp our woundes and finallie carieth vs lying as it were vpon his shoulders not pretermitting anie kinde of dutie which a faithfull shéep heard might vse or is able to bestowe upon sillie and weake shéepe Let vs therefore remember in our dailie prayer that we are the shéepe of this shéepheard and let vs run for succour vnto him and let vs craue helpe gouernement and defence of and from him But touching this purpose I haue spoken sufficiently inough in the xxiii Psalme The Lord gaue the word great was the company of the Preachers S. Paule in the 3. Gal. 19. and Heb. 2. verse 2. saith The lawe was giuen by the ministry of Angels but the preaching of the Gospel was immediatly published by the sonne of God and commended to his Apostles as an excellent gift and treasure of great price For although the world outraglouslie despise the preachers and teachers of the Gospell and iudgeth them as S Paule saith 1. Cor. 49. as gasing
elsewhere I haue often spoken touching the punishments for tyrants and the sufferings of Martyrs nowe I willinglie omit the recitall of them in this place He shal liue and vnto him shall be giuen of the golde of Arabia prayers shall be euermade vnto him and daylie shall he be praised We do remember that D. Martin Luther oftentimes said In the olde Testament there is a notable witnes of the Godhead of the Sauiour promised which affirmeth that he was called vpon by this propertie the same sauiour is there discerned from other Prophets That most graue witnes was by some complained to be obscured weakned by translating the same inuocation vnto other men And for that one cause saide he the custome of praying vnto others was to bee disallowed But where the Prophet Dauid affirmeth here that this Sauiour shall liue c. Let that be vnderstoode in that meaning touching which Christ saith Iohn 14. 19. I liue and you shall liue That is like as I of mine owne power do liue séeing that I am consubstantiall with the father and second person in deitie so by my merit and through my effectuall working you shall liue also for I in dying haue destroied death and in rising againe haue restored life as in the old godly verse the Church so singeth Yea I will raise vp againe your bodies from death and these euen counited with your soules I will adorne with gifts agréeable vnto the state of life euerlasting There shall bee an heape of corne vpon the earth high vpon the hilles his fruit shall shake like Libanus and shal be greene in the citie like grasse vpon the earth He compareth the fruitfulnesse of the Church or kingdome of Christ vnto the most lightsom flourishing corne which is answerable to the husbandmans praier and expectation For as the thicke growing corne delighteth the beholders so there is no sight more pleasant then to see the flourishing Churches wherein vnto the puritie of doctrine preached the concorde of the teachers is adioined or annexed There is a great force in the Nowne Bar which signifieth most pure wheate as if hee should say In the Church of Christ shall not beare sway anie vaine chaffe of humne traditions which haue no iuice in them but wheat shall flourish which with the body of man hath great affinitie for euē as of liuely wheat the best blood is increased so the Gospel deliuered without corruption bringeth to the godly ones firme consolation His name shall endure for euer his name shall remaine vnder the Sun among the posterities which shal be blessed through him and all the heathen shall praise him This verse glistereth most clearelie like a notable precious stone throughout the whole Psalme for it teacheth the reader touching the divine nature and benefits of the sauior and touching the calling of the Gentils It cleerelie affirmeth that this lord hath alwaies bin as he himselfe saith Iohn 8. 5. 8. Before Abraham was I am And he vseth the word Linnon the generation of the son from the father eternall And therefore Micheas saith 1 Mic. 3. This our deliuerer went forth before the daies of the world That is hee was the sonne of God before he tooke vpon him nature of man Let vs beleeue therefore being confirmed with these like testimonies that the Sauiour is God indeed and by nature the son of God light of light as in the Creed it is said But although there be manie descriptions which teach why and for what cause the son was sent yet the effect of the matter is brieflie in the worde Blessed signified And for that by the wanting of any thing the same may bee better estéemed which we haue as by darknes light let vs see what the curse is All mankind after our first fall was ouerthrowne with the curse of the law that is of gods wrath of euerlasting death by reason of sin as Paule saith Ephes 2 ver 3. We were by nature the children of wrath euen as others were This curse when no creature could take away or blot out the sonne of God tooke vpon himselfe both the wrath of God and our punishments that his father might be at peace with vs. So Paule Gal. 3. 8. interpreteth the promise giuen to Abraham In thy seed shal al the Gentiles be blessed Christ became accursed for vs and redeemed vs from the curse that we might obtaine the blessing of Abraham Last of all let the particle be considered touching the calling of the Gentiles in this verse The posterities shall be blessed in him and all the heathen shall praise him For the calling of Gentiles is a notable testimonie of Paules affirmattion wherein it is saide Rō 5. 15. Grace oueraboundeth aboue sin for no man can without some humbling of his mind read the examples of mischief striuing with the first and second table wherein the Ethnickes wickedlie and filthily with great rashnes and impudencie are defiled Let vs therefore giue God thankes that hee receiueth such castawayes into sauour and coopteth them into the societie of Christs kingdome Blessed be the Lord God euen the God of Israel which onely doth wonderous things And blessed be the name of his maiestie for euer and al the earth shall be filled with his maiestie Amen Amen It liketh me well in this place to set downe the words of D. Luther expounding the 7. ca. of the prophet Mic Like as the deliuerance in the new testament is by many waies greater and more excellēt then that which was out of Egypt so are the new miracles by infinite meanes farre greater then the olde for what might be more wonderfully said then that son of God take upon him nature of man and was borne of a virgin What is more to be amazed at then when the son of god wrastling with death and Sathan suffered himselfe to be ouercome laieth downe his life before these enemies and while he is ouercome conquereth So a speciall miracle it is that Christ dying like a man vpon the crosse did the third day rise againe from death and out of the graue closed vp after this with immortall flesh ascended vnto heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God what may be like notablie said yea or thought of any other miracles in respect of these Therefore belssed be God who onelie doth these and other myracles So be it FINIS Here end the prayers of Dauid the sonne of Ishai Iohn 14. 6 Matth. 5. 13 14 Sopho. 1. 12 The glorious effectes of Christs resurrection The ioy of the faithfull in the triumph of Christ The Church is as a widow and orphane in the world yet comforted and defended by Christ The Lord is carefull for the deliuerāce of his seruants But altogether neglecteth the vngodly ones A sweet Allegorie of the preaching of the Gospel how it is cōpared vnto thunder and raine Christ the shepheard of our soules The publishing of the law and preaching of the Gospell The