12. Myne enemy i. mine open enemy or one that I had giuen any good cause vnto to bee mine enemy for otherwise no doubt hee or they whosoeuer they were that put this in practise against Dauid were his foes and here note that though hee seeme to speake but of one yet no doubt hee meaneth more or else vnder one most singular in that craft of dissimulation hee vnderstandeth others for hee meaneth here that by secret deuises which hee coulde not preuent hee was vnder the pretence of friendshippe almost cast away did not diffame mee sée verse 3. of this Psalme for I could haue borne it vz. better then I doe nowe because I looke for nothing from mine enemie but enemy like dealing Exalt himselfe against mee i. set himselfe against mee by worde or deede All this the Prophet speaketh by the way of comparison not denying but that his foes did defame him and oppose themselues against him but if that were compared with the hypocriticall dealings of his counterfeit friends it would appeare to bee nothing as a man would say and this wee call a denyall by the way of comparison I would haue hid me from him i. I woulde haue kept my selfe close and safe from him and his cruelties Verse 13. Hee sheweth who it was that wrought him this iniurie my companion i. my equall and of the selfesame state and condition that I my selfe was of by which wee see that this Psalme was made before hée came to the kingdome for when hee was exalted thither once none was equall vnto him my guyde vz. in matters of counsell and affaires that I had to doe and my familiar i. my deare and tender friend He meaneth no doubt some whom hee had in great regarde and estimation Ver. 14. Which delighted in consulting together q.d. with whom I tooke wonderfull pleasure to conferre of many matters and namely of the exercises of Gods religion which I suppose the Prophet meaneth by going into the house of God as companions consulting as it were together howe they might prepare themselues to his seruice behaue themselues therein Ver. 15. Let death sease vpon them vz. not onely sodainely and or euer they beware for so much the Hebrewe worde in a metaphor séemeth to import but let it take such holde of them that it may neuer leaue till it haue taken them away from amongest men Let them goe downe quicke into the graue as Korah Dathan and Abiram did Numb 16.31 Hee meaneth that hee woulde haue them dye of some sodaine death no disease or sickenesse going before it for wickednes i. all manner of vngodlinesse sée before Psalm 36.1 In their dwellinges i. in their congregations assemblies and fellowshippes putting the places where such wicked persons did méete for their méetings euen in the middest of them i. they norish it within them and haue it alwayes in their company Ver. 16. I will call vnto God i. earnestly pray vnto him will saue mee i. deliuer mee from these cruelties and daungers as Psalm 54.1 Verse 17. Euening and morning and at noone will I pray i. I will bee importunate and neuer cease till I haue obteined from hence and out of Daniel 6.10 wee may gather that in those dayes the faythfull set themselues certaine houres to pray in thereby the better to awake their sluggishnes And make a noyse i. I will bee feruent and earnest in it for many haue prayed long and yet haue wanted feruency and hee will heare my voyce i. graunt the petitions and prayers that I shall powre foorth before him wherein wee see howe hee assureth him selfe of Gods goodwill and mercy Verse 18. My soule i. my life as sundry times before in peace i. safely and soundly and with great quietnes from the battaile that was against mee i. from the great conflictes and daungers wherein I shoulde haue béene snared because they were layde and prepared against mee for many were with mee q.d. though to sée too wee were but fewe yet wee had Gods Angels with vs to dismay our enemies and to comfort vs as 2. Kinges 6.16 Ver. 19. God shall heare vz. mee and my prayers and afflict them i. whereas hee shewed mercy to mee hee shall afflict them and punish them euen hee that reigneth of olde i. hee which in nature counsell and iudgement is eternall and alwayes like to himselfe which thing the Prophet expresseth to giue the wicked to vnderstande that there is no starting holes to hyde them in from GOD because they haue no chaunges vz. from wealth honour and credit to pouerty disgrace and misery but alwayes they goe forwarde in abundance of these outwarde blessinges therefore they feare not GOD i. they neither reuerence him nor his iudgements but abusing his mercye runne riot to all wickednes and so in this verse hee putteth them out for their harde hartednes in vngodlynes Ver. 20. Hee layeth his hand first marke the sodaine chaunge of the number before he spake of them in the plurall nowe of them in the singular next note that by laying of handes vppon others hee meaneth exercising of violence towardes others yea and this outragious discurtesie is aggrauated by howe much it was practised towards them that were at peace with him i. not only such as liued quietly with him but also loued him and so by that meanes hee brake his couenaunt vz. which he had made with him all this Dauid speaketh principally of Saul and himselfe and of the couenant that passed betweene them Sée 1. Samuel 24. from verse 17. to the ende of the Chapter Verse 21. The woordes of his mouth were softer then butter i. hee made shewe in his woordes of nothing but gentlenesse and mildenesse yet warre was in his heart i. inwardly hee imagineth nothing but mischiefe and destruction for so is the woorde warre vsed here vz. put for thinges that commonly followe warres his woordes were more gentle then Oyle this I take to be but the same thing repeated in an other metaphor in summe the Prophet toucheth him here for his peruerse hipocrisie and wooluish mind as it were against him Verse 22. Cast thy burden vppon the Lorde q.d. if there bee any thing that troubleth thee or that thou thy selfe standest in neede for so much I thinke hée meaneth by the worde burden commit all the care thereof into Gods hands and power staying thy self altogether vpon his prouidence and he shall nourish thée i. vndoubtedly thou shalt not want for God wil play the part of a good Father whereunto in deede the Prophet in this place resembleth him giuing vnto euery one of his in measure and as hee shall sée to bee necessary for them for so much doeth the worde import hee will not suffer the righteous to fall for euer vz. into the wicked mans power that he should vse him as hée himselfe lusteth Verse 23. Shalt bring them downe vz. from the wealth credit and authority that nowe they are in and this hee speaketh of the vngodly and
Prophet desireth God to shew by effect that he doth vtterly disallow that wicked dealing of the vngodly as Psalme 28 ver 1. He prayeth the Lorde that he woulde not be deafe O God of my prayse i. thou O God that art the argumente and matter of my praises or else thus thou O God in whom all my prayse consisteth because thou mayntainest and vpholdest me in my iust cause whereas all the rest besides as it were do oppresse me by false slaunders and euery one accoūteth me for a wicked man but I doe better like of the former sence Ver. 2. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth full of deceyte i. wicked and deceitfull men with their wicked and deceitfull words are opened vpon me vz. readie to deuoure and ouerwhelme me with the great waters of vniust reports wch they cast out against me sée 1. Sam. 24.10 1. Sam. 26.18 Psal 12.2 they haue spoken to me with a lying tongue i. they haue spoken me fayre in words when they caried swords in their harts Ver. 3. They compassed me about also with words of hatred i. they did not only dissemble with me one while but an other while they vttred hatefull spéeches agaynst me and fought agaynst me vz. both by words and déedes without a cause i. when I gaue them no cause eyther of the one or other Verse 4. For my friendship vz. shewed towards the they were mine aduersaries i. they wrought me much euill and hurt but I vz. in these afflictions and distresses gaue my selfe vz. readily earnestly and diligently to prayer vz. not only for my selfe that I might patiently beare al these calamities but euen for my enemies also sée Psal 35.13 Ver. 5. And they vz. in the vnkindnes frowardnes of their own harts haue rewarded me euill for good i. haue don me much mischéef for the good that I haue performed towards them and hatred for my friendship i. for my good will the Prophet meaneth that both in action and affection they had dealt wickedly with him Ver. 6. Set thou the wicked i. a more vngodly wicked man then he himself is ouer him i. to beare rule ouer him It is likely that vnder one wicked man he meaneth many but whatsoeuer it be the prophet meaneth that he would haue the Lord to cast him down vnder most hard tirānous gouernment let the aduersary i. his aduersary or aduersaries some refer it to the deuil and his angels stand at his right hand i. be continually present with him to vex pursue and gréeue him sée ver 31 of this Psalme Ver. 7. Whē he shal be iudged i. when he shall come before a Iudge to haue causes of his heard or else his own person to stande in iudgement let him be condemned vz. as a wicked and vngodly man and punished without pity compassion let his prayer i. the suit supplication wch he maketh to the iudge for fauour be turned into sin i. serue to increase aggrauate his offēce rather thē to lessē it any ways the prophet meaneth that looke whatsoeuer the vngodly should vse in his own defēce either as to clear himselfe or to moue others to pity him that al that should stand in stéed more more to burthē charge him Ver. 8. Let his dayes i. the days of the life that he hath to liue be few vz. in nūber in respect of thē that liue long and not as though mens dayes could be shortned in regard of that time which the Lord hath alotted them and let another man take vz. to execute performe it his charge i. the charge office which he had S. Peter Act. 1.10 applieth this to Iudah Ver. 9. Let his children i. the children he hath and shal leaue behind him in the world be fatherles his wife a widdow i. let him die let the punishment of his death light not only vpon him but vpon his wife and children as a thing most gréeuous vnto them Ver. 10. Let his children i. his posteritie be vagabondes vz. vppon the earth and without dwelling place sée Gen. 4.14 and begge vz. of other men hauing nothing of their own neither any man in pitie to giue them anye thing as followeth afterwards verse 12. and séeke vz. gréedily and that at other mens hands who shal not pitty thē bread i. al maner of maintainance for their life cōming out of their places destroid by places he meaneth both their dwelling houses whole stock q.d. after that they and al that belongeth vnto thē haue ben destroyed let thē run vp down a begging c. and in this and the other verse vz. 9. hee prayeth agaynst the wickeds race and posteritye as verse 6 7 8 he prayed agaynst the vngodly man himself Ver. 11. Let the extortioner i. the couetous and cruel man or vsurer into whose debt he is falne catche all that he hath vz. remayning of his substance yet vnspent or vnwasted The Metaphor of catching would be marked for it is taken from nets or snares out of which birds or any thing caught in them cannot only not escape but also be in continual daunger of death and let the straungers vz. which are wont to shew no pitty and compassion for one naturall countreiman wil shew affection to another whereas Foreiners are giuen altogether to rapine and spoyling spoyle vz. without pitty or compassion or giuing him any thing back agayn his labour i. the thinges that he hath trauailed for how good or how bad soeuer they be The straunger when he commeth once to rifling refuseth almoste nothing Ver. 12. Let there be none vz. found amongst mē to extend mercy vnto him vz. in the time of his distres and affliction neither let there bee any to shew mercy vpon his fatherles children whose case is pittiful as hath bin sundry times shewed before whom we ought to tender because God commēdeth them the widdowes the stranger vnto vs. Ver. 13. Let his posterity i. those that shall come after him or which he shall leaue behind him be destroyd vz. from amongst men meaning the cutting of thē of or the rasing or rooting of thē out of remēbrance in the generatiō following i. in the very next age let their name i. the glory renowne both of the wicked fathers their children be put out vz. of mans remēbrance q.d. let there be no more any remembraunce of him or his séede Ver. 14. Let the iniquities of his fathers be had in remēbrāce with the Lord i. let him be punished for the sinnes of his father his mother whose vngodlines he hath followed and so must both this place and the threat conteyned in the second commaundement be vnderstood and when he sayth be had in remēbrance with the Lorde he meaneth not that God forgetteth any sinne cōmitted against him but that he would haue the Lord by effect i. by punishmēts to shew that he thinketh vpō the wicked mās
here ver 5. The sorrowes of the graue i. such extreme sorrowes as in a maner kil men and bring them to the graue the snares of death i. deadly snares in which if I had bene taken I had died for it ouertake me i. almost seased vpon me being in a most extreme danger for almost being catched therein q.d. there was but a little betwéene me and death ver 6. Out of his temple i. either out of heauen or else from betwéen the Cherubins for the temple materiall was not builded in Dauids time but in his sonne Solomons sée 1. Samuel 1.9 and my cry vz. which I made or poured forth ver 7. Then i. after that the Lord had heard my praiers the earth trembled and quaked i. there was a great earthquake which that he might the better expresse he vseth two words signifying almost one thing q.d. God shewed by wonders and signes that my prayer came vp to him the foundations also of the mountains q.d. this earthquake was not only vpon the vpper parts of the earth but euen the rootes as it were of the mountains wch lie déepe within the ground were shaken also by which he meaneth nothing else but a most vehement earthquake because he was angry vz. agaynst my enemies and that for the iniury they offered me Ver. 8. Is vttered by the way of a similitude q.d. God was so greatly angry that it séemed that smoke c. sée such a maner of spéech attributed to Leuiathā Iob. 41.11.12 Ver. 9. he bowed the heauens i. he made them séeme so low as though they had touched mens heads which is then done when the cloudes are thick and darke and came down this also is spoken after the maner of men Now God is sayd to come downe when by euident tokens he sheweth his wrath in confounding the wicked as Gen. 9.7 and darkenes i. darke cloudes whiche are called darkenes because they séeme to bring darkenes with them hee meaneth nothing else by these maner of spéeches but that God by a very great tempest declared himselfe to be present to defend his seruaunt and to strike his enemies Ver. 10. vpon Cherub the singular for the plurall Cherubines of whiche you may read Gen. 3.24 they are certayne Angels which readilye execute Gods will whereby and by his riding vpon them the Prophet noteth nothing else but Gods swiftnes in comming to succour him which also he noteth by wings of the winde Ver. 11. Darkenesse put for thick cloudes as before ver 9. and his pauilion round about him vnderstand was euen darkenes of waters i. cloudes full of rayne or water which are called darkenes of waters because they haue a certayne darkish colour as the waters also haue and cloudes of the aire i. more bright and shining cloudes q.d. God putteth both the one kind of clouds the other betwéene himselfe and the wicked as a testimony of his wrath ver 12. at the brightnes of his presence q.d. when God beginneth to shew his maiestie his cloudes passed i. were as a man would say made more light or else did cleaue as it were in sunder and they are called his cloudes because they are gouerned and directed at his appoyntment sée Iob. 37.15 Haylestones and coales of fyre vz. came from the Lord after that the cloudes were broken for coales of fire sée ver 8. ver 13 In the heauen i. in the firmament or in that region of the aire where the thunder is as Philosophers déeme and the highest gaue his voyce i. thundered sée Psalme 29.3 c. so that it is nothing but a repetition of that whiche went before haylestones and coales of fyre vnderstand he gaue q.d. he sent forth also or gaue hailestones c. Ver. 14. Then i. after al this he sent out his arrowes i. after some his lightning but I rather take it for all the afflictions that God layd vppon the vngodly sée Psal 38.2 and scattered thē i. destroyed them for then an armye is wont to perish when the order thereof decaieth ver 15. and the chanels of waters were séene i. the depths wher the waters run or as you would say the bottom of the sea the foundations of the world he alludeth to the miracle shewed at the red sea for then were the springs of the waters which he calleth the foundations of the earth by reason of their wonderfull depth discouered so that a man mighte as it were sée from whence so many sloudes had their beginning at thy rebuking i. when thou séemedst to rebuke them turning their courses contrary to those which they had before at the blasting of the breath of thy nostrels this is spoken according to man q.d. there was no néede that thou shouldest commaund them when thou diddest but breath vpon thē it was ynough to make the drie lande appeare ver 16. He hath sent down vz. his power or his Angels for God did vse to deliuer his children by Angels frō aboue from heauen and taken me i. deliuered me vz. out of many daungers hee hath drawne me q.d. euen by violence maugre the heads and harts of mine enimies out of many waters i. not only many but very great daungers sée Psa 69.1.2 Psal 124.4 Ver. 17. from my strong enimie he meaneth enemies one number being put for an other or else by one he vnderstandeth al that one being the ringleader of the rest ver 18. They preuented me vz. by their subtiltie and had almost taken me in the snare they layd for me in the day of my calamity i. when I was in calamity and affliction was my stay i. not only on whom I did leane vpon and trust to but my helper deliuering me from them ver 19. into a large place he meaneth by this his liberty and deliuerance for his calamities were as a prison or narrow roome vnto him because he fauoured me i. preuented me with his holy fauour and that with out any merit or desert of mine at all ver 20. Righteousnesse put for righteous cause as before Psal 41. purenesse of my hands i. integrity soundnes of my déeds hands put for déedes and workes by which the workes and déeds are performed note that Dauid in this verse setteth out his good cause agaynst them that slaundered him not speaking of his whole life giuing thē to vnderstand that he attempted nothing but right and well and that according to Gods commaundements Verse 21. The wayes of the Lorde 1. Lawes and commaundements as verse 22. of this Psalme and by kéeping he meaneth a carefull minde and a certaine abilitie also that GOD hath giuen him to performe the same and did not wickedly he meaneth not of some simple fal for we read of diuers before he came to the kingdom and after but of reuolting falling away that doth quite and clean alienate turn away frō God ver 22. before me i. in my sight vz. that I might not commit any thing against thē and I did not cast away vz. as though I
hée will perfourme it Ver. â— So precious i. so deare yea so harde a matter as in deede it can not bee perfourmed of men to Godwarde of their soule i. of their liues hee meaneth that they shoulde liue longer vppon the earth and the continuaunce thereof for euer amend thus yea it ceaseth i. purchase of a longer life ceaseth for euer so that it is a deare thing nay I affirme it to bée an impossible thing which shall neuer bee perfourmed and all this 8. verse must bée read by a Parenthisis Verse 9. That hee may liue still vz. amongst men vppon the earth for euer i. a very long time and so haue his dayes prolonged and not sée not come vnto or try or féele sée Psalm 16.10 The graue i. death hee putteth that which insueth death vz. buriall in the graue for death it selfe wée may well turne the worde corruption the graue being so called in the Hebrewe tongue because it corrupteth that which is put into it Ver. 10. For this word for read although and so ioyne this 10. and 11. verse together hee séeth i. euery man may and doeth sée for the Prophet vseth the word hée for the whole state of men though it séeme to note but some particular person that wise men dye c. i. that all without difference and respect of persons yéelde to death yea though their state and condition haue béene neuer so farre differing from others and leaue their riches vz. behind them on the earth for others vz. to possesse Ver. 11. Yet they thinke q.d. all this notwithstanding they are of this perswasioÌ„ their houses and their habitations betwéene these two words I make this difference that vnder houses the Prophet mindeth to comprehend that couerture that kéepeth theÌ„ from heate cold storme raine c. Whether they be castles towres mansioÌ„ houses or such like vnder habitations not only these houses themselues but the demeanes reuenues or liuing belonging thereto which afterward in this verse hee calleth lands saying that they cal them by their own names to the ende that both they may make famous and continue their name Ver. 12. Shall not continue vz. long howsoeuer he think to make his name sure he is like beasts sée Ecclesi 3.19 that die by this speach he meaneth not only that they die as beasts but also be vnprofitable and serue to no vse but to be cast forth as beastes that dye not being killed no man regardeth to any purpose but it goeth to carrion Ver. 13. This their way i. this their maner of dealing and behauiour vttereth their foolishnes i. bewrayeth that they haue no heauenly wisdome at al how wise soeuer they be taken among men yet their posterity q.d. notwithstanding their folly appeare they that succéed them as heires for generally I take the word posterity delite in their talke or rather approue and allowe it vnderstanding also by talke not onely the wordes that procéeded from them but the actes also they did for many times mens déeds doe speake The Prophet meaneth that these men doe both allowe of and with delight followe the words and déedes of their predecessors touching hauing abundance of riches building houses c. Ver. 14. Like shéepe they lie in graue the Prophet meaneth by this speach not only that they die but that they die in great numbers and troupes as it were euen like flockes of shéepe in the fields so are these men laide in graues vsing one graue for many as one number for an other death deuoureth them q.d. howe braue and glorious so euer they bee yet death shall take hold of theÌ„ as of a pray ready to be consumed and they shal not escape the righteous i. good and godly people who are so accounted not that they are so of theÌ„selues shal haue domination ouer theÌ„ I take the mind of the Prophet to be thus the wicked the vngodly during the time of their life did exercise a tyrannie ouer the good but when it commeth to passe that the vngodly are once dead then they shal not onely bee deliuered from their crueltie but then it appeareth that they haue as a man woulde say gotten the victory against them and be as it were Lordes ouer them and whereas hee addeth in the morning I take his meaning to be thus q.d. very sodainely the godly shal preuaile when neither he himselfe nor the wicked thinketh of it so that he that ouernight as a man would say was Lorde ouer the righteous shall in the morning become as it were his vassal and he that was a seruaunt ouernight shall in the morning bee a Lorde or ruler their beauty i. their glory brauery force and whatsoeuer was excellent in them shall come to nothing from their house sée Ver. 11. of this Psalme to graue i. the house appointed for all the liuing Iob. 30.23 Ver. 15. But God in the other verse hee shewed what was the end of the wicked nowe he sheweth what their end shal be that trust in god confessing in deed that hee was subiect to bodyly death as others were but for all that that God would preserue him in a better life my soule i. my whole man from the power of the graue the body entring into it til the generall resurrection at what time it shal be yéelded vp againe and the soule comming into it and in this place the Prophet taketh vpon him the person of all the faithfull for hee will receiue me vz. to himselfe as Eccle. 12.7 And as appeareth also in the person of one of the theeues that was crucified with our Sauiour Luke 23.42.43 Ver. 16. Bee not thou afraid vz. either of thine owne poore estate or of the other mans florishing as though that thereby hee should ouercome thée or that thou therby shouldest be drawn from God or godlines the glory of his house i. the renowne of that rase and stocke from whence he came together with the beauty of his building great rents and reuenues c. are increased for so large I take the word to signifie Ver. 17. Hée shall take nothing away common experience sheweth the truth of this Iob hath well well declared it chap. 1.21 Neither shal his pompe i. glory riches wealth or whatsoeuer else as may appeare by two examples Luk. 12.16.17 c. also Luk. 16.19.20 c. Descend after him vz. in to the graue Ver. 18. He reioyced himselfe i. gaue himself to al maner of pleasures neglecting or forgetting God for so much doe the Hebrewes vnderstand by this phrase of blessing their own soules which is here turned reioycing them selues sée Deut. â—9 19 And men besides that the wicked deceiue themselues the world vpholdeth them in their folly praysing and approuing their wicked life as though it were good such kind of people the holy ghost reproueth Rom. 1.32 Praise thée a sodame chaunge of the person from the 3. to the 2. when thou makest much of thy selfe i. so feedest thy selfe in al
own Ver. 6. teacheth that God alone is he that deliuereth his people from all dangers and distresses Ver. 7 teacheth that the Lord is nigh to earnest supplicatiōs requests of his poore afflicted ones Ver. 8.9 teacheth that our obediēce to God is no better manifested by any meanes then by remouing al idolatry al the occasions therof whatsoeuer Ver. 10. setteth out Gods large liberalitie towards his people who many times giueth more then they do aske Ver. 11. describeth the malice corruption stubbornesse of mans hart Verse 12. sheweth how God iustlye punisheth sinne by sinne and that there are no ways so hurtful to man as those which he himselfe deuiseth Verse 13 expresseth Gods singuler care loue that he hath to man and his saluation Ver. 14.15 teach that obedience faithfully performed to the Lord not only draweth from him iudgements against all the enemies of his people but continual fauour and flourishing to themselues Ver. 16. teacheth that those that feare and serue the Lord shall want nothing that is good and that rather then Gods children shal want the Lord wil extraordinarily nourish and maintaine them with abundaunce of al things both profitable and pleasaunt Psalme 82. Di. I Take it that this Psalme maye bee deuided into two partes In the firste the Prophet reproueth vngodly Magistrates for their partialityes exhorting them to the faythfull execution of their office from verse 1. to the end of the fourth In the seconde he setteth out their carelesnesse and pronounceth iudgement agaynst them for the same beséeching the Lord to execute iustice and iudgement seing they were negligent from verse 5. to the ende of the Psalme Se. The Title hath bene expounded sundry times before and namelye Psalme 50. in the Title thereof Verse 1. GOD standeth vz. as the théefe and principall to sée what matters passe and howe they passe in the assemblye of Gods i. in euery Session or sitting of Princes Magistrates or Iudges whom he calleth Gods because in them appeareth some speciall part of Gods Maiestie now when God is present with them it is not as an inferior but as the Lorde of Magistrates and the Author of all iust iudgementes sée Deutron 1. ver 17. also 2. Chronic. 19. verse 6. he iudgeth among Gods i. hée kéepeth his authoritye and preheminence aboue all the Iudges and Gouernors of this worlde Verse 2. How long will ye iudge vniustly q.d. Will ye go still on forward in corruption and naughtinesse shall not Gods forbearing of you bring you to amendment and accepted the persons of the wicked i. peruert iustice and iudgement for their sakes and causes Verse 3. Doe right nowe he teacheth them what they shoulde doe indéede to the poore and fatherlesse i. to those that are in misery distresse and not able by any mean of man to helpe themselues or their causes sée Hosea 14 3. doe iustice i. performe that with iustice and equitie requireth at your handes and this is the same matter expressed in other wordes Verse 4. Deliuer the poore and néedy vz. from the outrage and iniurie that the mightye men offer them saue them i. set them frée safe and sounde from the hande i. from the mighte and power of the vngodly Ver. 5. They i. these wicked vngodly iudges or Magistrates know not i. approue not neither allow or performe good things for otherwise it is not to be doubted but they had knowledge sufficient sée Matth. 7.23 vnderstand nothing vz. of right and iudgement to put the same in execution practise for it must not be vnderstood as though that they were sencelesse they walke in darkenesse i. they take euen delight and pleasure as it were to bleare their own iudgements and light and then how great is that darkenesse Mat. 6.23 albeit al the foundations of the earth be moued q.d. al the troubles confusions of the land procéede from this iniquitye of theirs and yet they though all things be out of order sit stil and take their ease neuer séeking redresse Dauid was of another mind as appeareth Psal 75.3 vpon which looke for the better vnderstanding of these wordes foundations of the earth Ver. 6. I haue saide we may refer these words either to God or the Prophet but I rather referre them to the Prophet q.d. I haue before vz. verse 1. confessed you to be Gods yeare Gods i. not only excellent great personages but such as exercise the very iudgements of God when you doe your office rightly 2. Chron. 19.6 and such as to whome God hath giuen his word Iohn 10.34 35. such as to whom God hath communicated part of his power Rom. 13.1.2 c. and ye are all children of the most high vz not in name only because he hath communicated vnto you some of his Titles but because you doe by his appointment succéede into some part of his iudicial authoritie which he hath cōmitted to you as princely parents doe to their children Ver. 7. But q.d. for al your glorious titles and great renoune by which you might séeme to promise vnto your selues lōg life and immortality as it were ye shall die as a man i. a cōmon ordinary death q.d. death shal no more feare you then other men sée Psal 49. almost thorowout and ye Princes vz. of the people for al your great state and pompe shal fal vz. by death like others vz. of the common sort of people some expounde it thus like others vz. Princes and mighty men which haue gone before you I would not greatly cōtend but me thinketh the other sence is plaine ynough Verse 8. O God the Prophet seing iustice to bee perished from the earth praieth the Lord to take the matter into his own hands rise vp vz. to iudge iustly séeing men are so negligent and carelesse iudge vz. with iustice and equitye the earth i. the people inhabiting the earth He prayeth that God would bring things which amongst men were confused into good order for thou shalte inherite al nations q.d. Thou whether they wil yea or no shalt haue power and gouernment ouer al people and therfore seing that office belongeth vnto thée take into thine own hand séeing men neglect the duties and charges that thou hast committed vnto them The first verse teacheth two things Do. first that Magistrates should deale with good consciences seing God beholdeth them secondly that people should reuerence Magistrates seing some part of Gods glory shineth forth in them Ver. 2. teacheth how wicked men abuse good things to their own condemnation and other mens hurt Ver. 3. 4. set out very liuely the Magistrates duety whiche consisteth of two parts in maintaining the good and punishing the euill Rom. 13.3 Ver. 5. Simple ignorance or malitious ignorance or both in Magistrates be the very nurses of all confusions in cōmon wealths kingdoms Ver. 6 teacheth vs to giue iust titles and honors euen to vniust magistrates alwayes reseruing that which belongeth to God sound and safe
and his people or else speaking it according to the present affection and féeling of the flesh resting notwithstanding resolued howsoeuer his fayth were shaken for a time yet that god wil graciously performe his promises These words also which is to be marked are verified in Dauid and Christ in Christ because God for a season forsooke him as may appeare when he cried My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Matth. 27.46 and in Dauid when it séemed vnto him that Gods promise shoulde take no place and that God had as it were vnsayd the same and when he was driuen out of his kingdome by Abshalon his sonne sée Psalme 3. thorowe out and abhorred i. loathed and despised him as it were thou hast bene angrye which thing also thou hast declared by effects as appeareth in the verses following with thine annoynted i. with the King whome thou thy selfe hast annoynted and chosen to that roome sée Psalme 18 5 Verse 39. Thou hast broken i. it séemeth vnto vs so in the eye of flesh and to our enimies the couenant of thy seruaunt i. the couenaunt which thou haste made with thy seruaunt and it is called his couenaunt not because he made it or was the chéefe in it but because he was one to whome and with whome it was made and profaned his crowne i. brought it to great dishonour and contempt specially among the prophane people as the Gentiles c. and by crowne he meaneth his kingly dignitie casting it on the ground i. ouerthrowing it taking it as it were from his head setting it vpon the ground whether he spake it of Dauids abiection by the hand of his sonne Abshalon or of the renting of the kingdome in the dayes of Rehoboan or of their captiuity vnder Salmanazder and Nebuchadnezar it is not certayne I suppose that without any iniury to Gods spirite a man may well apply it to them all Verse 40. Thou hast broken downe vz. and that vnto the ground all his walles i. al the walles of his kingdome meaning by walls not onely all the strong places thereof but all the instrumentes and meanes that he had eyther for his owne defence or for the annoyaunce of his enemies for to those two endes doe walles serue thou hast layd his fortresses in ruine i. thou hast vtterly ruinated and destroyed and as a man would saye made euen with the ground all his strong holds Verse 41. All that go by the way q.d. he and his kingdome is so weakened that euen way faring men can easily spoyle them there néedes no souldiers or men ofwarre to doe it spoile him vz. and his people meaning that they take away from them euen what they list sée Psal 80.12 he i. he his people kingdome and all is a rebuke i. is such a one as his neighbours that is those that are round about him rebuke contemne and despise sée Psalme 79. verse 4. Verse 42. Thou hast set vp the right hand of his enemies i. thou hast aduanced their power and strength so that they are not onely become more mightie then he and his but in that mighte haue also preuayled agaynste them and made all his aduersaries to reioyce vz. because of the victorye they haue atchieued and the ouerthrowe that is layde vppon the others Verse 43. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sworde i. thou haste blunted it in such sorte that it could not wound and hurte his aduersaries meaning by this manner of spéeche that euen the verye meanes they had of weapons as swordes speares c. to defende themselues and to annoy their enemies were vtterly vnprofitable vnto them and haste not made him i. him and his people to stand vz. stedfastly and in the face of the enemies and agaynst them but to flée and fall before them in the battaile i. at what time the enemies and they came to ioyne battail together Ver. 44 Thou hast caused his dignity i. the great honour and aduauncement that thou hast layde vpon him to decay vz. in the presence of men and in the sight of his aduersaries and cast his throne i. his maiesty and Kingly gouernmente sée verse 36 of this Psalme to the ground i. rased it and layde it flatte with the earth as it were sée verse 39 of this Psalm Verse 45. The dayes of his youth hast thou shortned this the Prophet speaketh of the king and the state of the kingdome both together meaning that the Lord hath broughte both the king and the kingdome to a very poore and weake estate before eyther of them came to their perfection as it were as if a man shoulde before he came to the flowre of his age or his ripe yeares and couered him with shame i. hast altogether made him a reproche and shame for the worde couering and what it importeth sée Psalme 44.19 Verse 46. Lorde the Prophet ioyning this prayer with his complaynts sheweth that howsoeuer his fayth was shaken yet he did not despayre of the truth of Gods promises how long wilte thou hide thy selfe vz. from vs meaning by hyding of himselfe shewing them no signe of fauour and grace for euer q.d. Wilt thou doe this for euer shall thy wrath vz. agaynste vs our King Lande and people burne like fyre vz. to consume vs quite and cleane who are as it were but stubble before fire in respecte of thée and thy wrath Verse 47. Remember of what time I am i. thinke how shorte the time of my life is and this is an argumente taken from his owne estate to moue the Lord to pittie him and his Wherefore shouldest thou create in vayne i. to little or no purpose at all all the children of men i. all men and their posteritie In these wordes hee vseth an other Argumente to mooue GOD to compassion taken euen from the ende of his creation And this hee speaketh because that if in this life wée féele not some taste of Gods goodnesse it should séeme that he had in vayne created vs séeing that this is one end of our creation euen in this lyfe to féele and fynde his liberalitie towardes vs. Verse 48. What man liueth vz. at this presence or shall liue hereafter that shall not see death i. taste of Death or dye q.d. There is no man but hee must passe that waye sée Hebrues 9.27 shall he deliuer his soule i. his bodye and lyfe soule put for body as Psalme 16.10 from the hand of the graue i. from the power of Death putting the graue whiche followeth death for Death it selfe q.d. Both the one vz. to liue and not to die and the other vz. to bee fréede from the force of death is vtterlye impossible sée Psalme 49. almoste thorow ouâ—e and all this is q.d. Séeing mans lyfe is so shorte if thou doe not in good time shewe thy selfe a Father towardes them thou shalte haue no more occasion to make them féele thy fauoure in this lyfe Verse 49. Lorde where are thy former mercies vz. whiche
inhabitauntes being cast out of it they themselues might possesse enioy and dwell in the Prophet meaneth not that they that were dead coulde amongest men prayse the Lorde for these thinges but in as much as the benefite thereof did reach vnto their posterity hée exhorteth their séede being aliue to acknowledge Gods mercyes in that behalfe and to prayse him for the same Verse 8. Let them i. their posterity after them therefore i. for the benefites and blessinges before rehearsed confesse i. prayse and magnifie God before the Lorde i. in his presence and from a good heart whether it bee secretly in their owne selues or openly before the Arke according to the custome of those dayes his louing kindnes vz. fréely and plentifully bestowed vppon them and his wonderfull workes i. the wonderfull workes that hee hath done for his people before the sonnes of men i. openly in mens sight and to them and their posterity Ver. 9. For hee satisfied vz. with abundaunce of all good thinges the thirsty soule i. him that stoode in néede of any good thing putting the word soule a principall part of man for the whole person and filled the hungry soule i. the hungry man with goodnesse i. with abundance of good thinges Ver. 10. They that dwell in darkenesse i. such as were kept prisoners in darke places and in the shadowe of death i. in great extremitie of death and daunger Sée Psalme 23.4 Isaiah 9.1.2 being bounde in misery and yron i. being kept in miserable and harde bondage hée beginneth here to recite how many sortes of people afflicted with diuers afflictions haue alwayes founde the Lorde mercifull and fauourable specially when they came vnto him Verse 11. Because they rebelled vz. both in thought woorde and deede agaynst the woordes of the Lorde vz. manifested and put downe in his Lawe and despised i. regarded not and set nought by the counsell of the most high i. the purpose ready inclination and power that the Lorde had to doe them good if they had yéelded obedience vnto him hée sheweth in this verse the cause of mens correction that hee might thereby deliuer Gods iustice from mens slaunders and reprehension And withall he teacheth that the onely rule of good life is to followe Gods commandement Verse 12. When hee i. God humbled vz. though not rightly and truely not that God was not able to doe it but because hée woulde not vouchsafe them that grace by humbling hée meaneth casting downe Sée 2. Kings 21.29 their heart with heauinesse i. hée made them heauy sorrowfull and sadde there they fell downe vz. before their enemies and there was no helper i. there was none that woulde helpe them This is the Prophetes meaning when they were wounded with a worldly sorrowe in their heartes and by meanes thereof their courages and stomackes were decayed then they laye as an open pray to their aduersaries and none pitied their cases or were able to helpe them Verse 13. Then vz. when they were thus destituted of mans ayde they cryed vnto the Lorde i. they called earnestly vppon him this and all that followeth in the verse is the same both in woordes and sense with verse 6. of this Psalme Verse 14. Hee i. GOD brought them vz. by his almightie power out of darkenesse and out of the shaddowe of death i. out of affliction oppression anguish c. Sée before verse 10. of this Psalme And brake their bandes i. the bandes wherewith they were bounde whether they were the bandes of affliction captiuity c. a sunder i. in pieces and so set them at libertie For the better vnderstanding of this speach Sée Sampsons story Iudges 15.13.14 also Iudges 16.11.12 Verse 15. Is the same both in woordes and sense with verse 8. before going Ver. 16. For hée vz. the Lorde hath broken vz. by his almightie power the gates of brasse and brast the barres of yron a sunder vz. for his peoples sake vnderstanding by brasen gates and barres of yron either most straite bandes and prisons Sée Acts 12.10 or else the bandes of cruell and perpetuall bondage In which respect also Egipt is called in the Scripture a house of bondage Verse 17. Fooles i. wicked and vngodly men as may appeare throughout all the booke of the Prouerbes and Psalm 53.1 by reason of their transgression vz. committed against GOD and because of their iniquities vz. against men are afflicted vz. by the Lord and that with sundry sortes of his iudgements And hée calleth them fooles because they haue no feare of God before them which is the beginning of wisedome Prouerbs 1.7 So that wée may perceiue that he meaneth not that wicked men who are here called fooles fall through ignoraunce or error onely but that their affections being blinded doe take away from them all right iudgement Ver. 18. Their soule abhorreth all meate i. they themselues putting one part of man for an other and not as though the soule were fed with bodyly foode hée meaneth that they are withoute all appetite and lothe euen the verye sighte of meate a punishment wherewithall GOD many times plagueth the gluttonous persons and they are brought to deathes dore i. they are euen ready to dye hée speaketh in this place of vncurable diseases and of which seldome fewe or none at all escape for deathes doore Sée Psalm 9.13 where he speaketh of the gates of death Verse 19. Is the same with verse 6.13 of this Psalme both in wordes and meaning and there is no difference sauing that the former speake it in the tyme past and this in the tyme present Verse 20. Hée sendeth his woorde i. hée commaundeth or speaketh but the word onely Matth. 8.8 and healeth them vz. of all their infirmities and diseases and deliuereth them vz. through his great goodnesse and almightie power from their graues i. from present death and the graue made ready as it were for them by their sicknesses and maladyes Verse 21. Is the same with verse 8. and 15. of this Psalme Verse 22. And let them offer vz. vnto GOD for these his graces the sacrifices of prayse i. not only of praysing but also of thankesgiuing Sée Hebrewes 13.15 and declare his woorkes vz. which hée hath graciously done for them with reioycing vz. both to himwarde and chearefully and gladly in respect of themselues for God requireth chearefulnes in our actions Verse 23. They that doe come into the Sea by shippes i. the mariners for I take it to be a special periphrasis of them and occupy vz. into diuers quarters and countreyes by the great waters vz. of the Sea This I doe especially referre to marchauntes q.d. whether they bée mariners or marchauntes trading by Sea or the armes thereof and that woorde of going downe into the Sea woulde bée marked because the waters séeme to bée belowe the earth Verse 24. They sée vz. sensibly and playnely and that with bodyly eyes if they haue any grace to beholde it the woorkes of the Lorde i. the great workes that
also that our tongues are not our owne to vse as we list but to Gods glory and our neighboures profite ver 5. Expresseth Gods readinesse to helpe his and how forcible in his sight the earnest prayers of his children are ver 6. Teacheth vs to make Gods promises alwayes the assured grounds of our prayers ver 7. Teacheth Gods prouidence and protection ouer his children if we reade it as in the Geneua text or els that we ought to pray for gods fauour toward them if we read it as Immanuel doth ver 8. setteth out both the diligence and the rage that the wicked vse in performing their mischiefe Psalme 13. Di. THis Psalme hath two partes in the firste the Prophet séemeth to complayne as it were that God was so long absent from him in his so gréeuous afflictions and this is comprehended in the two first verses In the seconde hee maketh his earnest prayer to God assuring himselfe in the truth of Gods goodnesse that he should ouercom yea euen the horrors of death from ver 3. to the end of the Psalme Se. The Title is expounded before ver 1. he speaketh as men many times doe who if they be not succoured when they themselues would they thinke they are forgotten for euer q.d. What wilt thou neuer thinke vpon mée So hardly was his fayth assaulted to yéeld to distrust in God hide thy face which thing angry persons are wont to doe q.d. How long wilt thou shew thy selfe angry towards me Sée Psalme 10.1 Psa 4.6 or else face maye be taken for fauour and mercy ver 2. Take councell within my selfe i. how long shall I be tossed and tumbled with diuersitie of councels and purposes sometimes in my mind thinking this sometimes that ver 3. Heare mée i. my prayers lighten my eyes whiche are waxed dimme with trouble Psal 6.7 he meaneth that he would gladlye haue the Lord to driue afflictions from him that I sléepe not in death i. that I doe not certainly die for it is vsuall in scripture by sléepe to vnderstand death as 1. Corinth 11.30 1. Thessa 4.14.15 and by doubling as it were the word to note the certaintie of the thing Gen. 2.17 Ver. 4. He sheweth a double reason to induce god as it were to yéelde to his petition q.d. least otherwise mine enemies should not only euery day more than other wax proude but also haue an occasion to blaspheme thée as though thou wert weake and not able to helpe Ver. 5. In thy saluation i. in that deliuerance which thou shalte worke for mee Psalme 3.8 I will sing to the Lord i. I will declare my selfe thankefull for his benefites and goodnesse Ver. 1. Let vs learne that how sharpe soeuer our conflicts be Do. wee doe not vtterly despayre in God ver 3. Let vs learne by prayer to draw nigh vnto him desiring him euen for his owne glory to take our defence vppon him ver 4. Noteth the nature of the wicked two maner of wayes vz. the more they preuaile the more insolent they are the other that they will wonderfully insult ouer those that are afflicted ver 5. Teacheth vs to make Gods mercye alone the onely ground of our hope also that we should be glad for particular deliuerance and shew our selues thankfull vnto him for benefits receaued Psalme 14. THis Psalm hath thrée parts In the first Di. the Prophet describeth the peruerse nature of the vngodlye both towardes God and towards men and this parte is contayned in verse 1.3.6 In the seconde he declareth that God sitteth not idle in heauen as they did imagine but beholdeth the wicked to punish them and the good to deliuer them verse 2.4 In the third he sheweth Gods iudgement vpon the vngodly and his fauour toward his own seruants verse 5.7 The title of this Psalme is expounded before Psal 4. Ver. 1. Se. The Foole i. the wicked man how wise soeuer he be in naturall wit hath sayd in his hart i. is of this perswasion in his minde see for this 1. Mark 2.6.7.8 there is no God vz. that careth for mens matters here on earth sée Psalm 10.4 they i. the vngodly chaunging the number from the singular to the plurall haue corrupted vz. their own wayes turning the light of knowledge which they had into darkenesse Ver. 2. would vnderstande i. indeuoured to know God aright and as he is reuealed by his word and séeke God i. serue him and take delight and pleasure in his seruice and religiō Ver. 3. All i. the greatest number here but in Paul Romans 3. it is put for all generally considering man in his naturall corruption are gone out of the way vz. of right and goodnesse which God had prescribed them to walk in they are all corrupt i. full of filth and stinch it is a metaphor taken from stinking meat which all men are wont to loath ver 4. doe not all c. knowe q.d. their owne conscience doth sometimes though they quench it agayne tell them of their crueltie as they eate bread i. any kinde of foode or nourishment noting thereby not only their rauening and deuouring but the pleasure that the vngodly take in it they call not vpon the Lord i. They neglect all Gods religion and seruice calling vpon the Lord or prayer being a part thereof and put for the whole Gen. 4.26 2. Timoth. 2.19 ver 5. in the generation of the iust i. amongst iust men fauouring their causes and graciously deliuering them ver 6. the Lord is his trust i. because hee hath his whole trust and confidence in God only and he vseth counsell for al goodnes in the poore as holy purposes and carefull pursuings therof faith hope c. ver 7. giue saluation i. deliueraunce from all greefes in this life as Psal 13.5 Psalme 3.8 eternall glory after this life is once ended vnto Israel i. vnto the faythfull people out of Sion i. out of heauen the place of Gods presence earthly put for the Heauens sée Psalme 2.6 Psalme 9.11 turneth the captiuitye of his people i. when the Lord chaungeth their bondage for fréedome then Iacob shall reioyce and Israell shall be glad by these two names of the Patriarche who was faythfull attributed vnto the rest of the people he vnderstandeth all the faythful and true Israelites indéede Do. Ver. 1. Not only noteth the fountaine of sinne but sheweth how farre the diuel and sinne preuaile in mans hart that they make men vtterly to forget God good men ver 2. declareth that God hath an eye to mens doings vpon the earth Ver. 4. sheweth that the wicked sin many times against knowledge and the light of their own conscience Ver. 5. containeth a iudgement against the wicked ver 6. noteth a vile sinne of the vngodlye deryding and scoffing at the iust Ver. 7. that we should pray for the whole church and reioyce for the benefits that God bestoweth vpon it Psalme 15 Di. THis Psalme expoundeth specially one matter and therefore will hardlye admitte a
by benefites past hee assureth himselfe of deliuerance from dangers present and in time to come diddest draw me out of the wombe he meaneth that by Gods speciall power and goodnes he was borne thou gauest me hope vz. that thou wouldest nourish and defend me at my mothers breasts i. when I did sucke and could not defend or helpe my selfe ver 10. I was cast vppon thée i. committed vnto thy prouidence and protection from the wombe i. so soone as I was borne came into the world not denying also but that by his goones hee was preserued continually before thou art my God vz. that doest defend nourish succour me ver 11. Be not farre c. q.d. séeing I haue heretofore receiued so many benefites from thée do not now depart from mee yea I so much the more earnestly craue thy helpe and presence nowe first because affliction is nigh secondly because there is none that can help me but thou ver 12. Many this word noteth the multitude of his enemies yong this word noteth their lustines courage bulles this word is wel expounded in the Geneua note i. are before and behind and on euery side by which we may sée that his troubles were great and almost impossible for him to escape out of them mightie this woorde noteth their force and power bulles of Bashan This is the name of the countrie which did apperteine to the people of the Iewes and was full of pastures whereof mention is made at large Deut. 3.1.2 c. And by bulles of Bashan hee meaneth very fat and mighty ones such as Bashan did féede sée Deut. 32.14 ver 13. They gape vpon me c. q.d. they come vpon me with open mouth to deuoure me euen as a deuouring roaring Lion doth for his pray sée Amos. 3.4 1. Pet. 5.8 ver 14. Amend thus I am powred out like water he meaneth by this maner of speach that he is as it were almost past al recouery as of whom no more account is to be made then of water spilt vpon the ground my bones are out of ioynt in this verse hee doeth by large maner of speaches declare the greatnes of the feare griefe he was in as he did before Psa 6.6 Mine heart is like waxe i. soft and tender it is molten in the middest of my bowels hee now sheweth in what respect his hart is like wax by these words he describeth his fainthartednes ver 15. My strength i. my naturall moisture whereby life strength is maintained is dried vp like a potsheard i. is woÌ„derfully decaied and there is almost no more moysture left in mee then in a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my iawes i. I am brought very lowe and weake so that I can not wagge my tongue in my mouth as it were into the dust of death by these wordes he meaneth the graue the earth of it which is so called because none are there laid but dead folkes His purpose is to declare that through the vehemency of his afflictions all hope of his life in a maner was taken away ver 16. For dogges before ver 12.13 He compared his enemies to bulles and Lions now he resembleth them to dogs for their snarling at him and biting of him and the assembly i. great troupes multitudes they pearced my hands and my féete this is spoken of Dauid in respect of the daungers his enemies kept him in as though he had had no féet to flée away nor hands to defend him selfe but in Christ it was most truly performed indéed as appeareth Ioh. 20.25 Where mention is made of nailes ver 17. I may tel al my bones i. I am so fallen away with griefe and anguish that I haue nothing left but skinne and bone Yet they behold me and looke vpon me vz. with great pleasure ioy whereas if they had any compassion they should pity my case ver 18. They part my garments among them If we referre it to Dauid then he meaneth by garments other things that he possessed noting that they dealt with him his goods as they that in some victory had goteen a pray but if we referre it to Christ then is it to be vnderstood of his ordinary apparell and garments in déed as appeareth Ioh. 19.23.24 And cast lottes both to auoide contention that euery one might know his share and portion ver 19. Farre off vz. from me lest I be swallowed vp and drowned ver 20. My soule i. my life as wee haue often times had it before from the sword i. from peril of violent cruel death vnderstanding by the instrument that the wicked vseth to execute his rage and wrath by the thing it selfe From the power of the dogge i. of mine enemies and wicked men sée ver 16. Of this Psalme the singular number put for the plural ver 21. Lions mouth sée ver 13. of this Psalme and answere me i. graciously here me and graunt my request from the hornes of the Vnicornes i. from the present and perilous daungers of mine aduersaries It is Dauids maner as sufficiently appeareth in this Psalme to resemble his enemies to beasts Vnicornes are very wild beasts and as some write of them wil hardly or not at al be tamed ver 22. Thy name i. thy vertue power grace as Psal 20.1.5.7 Vnto my brethren i. to the Israelites that are of the same nation and religion with me sée Rom. 9.3 In the middest of the congregation i. openly before thy people assembled to praise thée ver 23. Séed of Iaakob put for posterity and when hee saith séed of Israel hee meaneth the same thing for Iaakob was called Iaakob and Israel If you referre it to Dauids time then it belongeth to the Iewes If to Christ and his time then to all the faithfull ver 24. The affliction of the poore i. the trouble and anguish that he was in the prophet meaneth that God did not lesse regard the good people for their pouertie and affliction as commonly men do but rather made the greater account of them hid his face vz. as men are wont to do who for lothsomnes as they say but in nisenes in déed can not behold those that are in affliction he called i. praied he heard i. accepted him and his prayers ver â—5 My praise shal be of thée i. thou art and shalt be the cause of my foundation of my praises by reason of the wonderful mercies that I haue receiued from thee In the great congregation i. when the greatest multitude shal méet to prayse thee he noteth that he wil do it publikely as before ver 22. My vowes they were wont when they were in any danger to vowe a peace offring to the Lord to be performed after their deliuerance out of it so did Iephte which was done to testifie their thankfull mindes for the benefites receiued before them i. in their sight that feare him i. worship and serue him meaning God of whom he speaketh now in the
cruelly to deuoure consume me after the maner of wild beasts They stumbled euen for weakenes and faynthartednesse fell vz. so that they could not rise vp again to molest me mening that they were destroid ver 3. though an host sée Psa 3.6 it argueth a notable stedfast perswasion in the Prophet he meaneth by these words hoste and warre euery thing that may be terrible and fearefull in this worlde in this i. that the Lord is my light and my saluation as verse 1. of this Psalme ver 4. Haue I desired vz. by earnest prayer that I will require vz. agayne and agayne q.d. I will neuer leaue off till I haue obtayned it dwel in the house of the Lord he vseth the word dwelling for continuall presence and the house of the Lord for the sanctuary or tabernacle sée psal 23.6 the beautye of the Lord i. the wonderful works he doth and the famous gifts he giueth by which he is made beautifull and excellent or his beautie is declared to the sonnes of men and to visit i. to be often present in his teÌ„ple i. the place where the ark was as Psal 5.7 Ver. 5. He shall hide me i. kéepe me safe and sound in his Tabernacle it is not here to be taken for the sanctuarie or arke but for the place of Gods abode and visible presence whereby the Prophet meaneth safetye for where the Lorde is with his there is safety and assurance from dangers which the Prophet meaneth also by the wordes following in the secret place of his pauilion containing vnder these spéeches the assurance he had being shrouded vnder Gods protection set me vp vpon a rock i. such a place as my enimies can not come too to hurt me meaning still his safety ver 6. Lifte vp mine heade i. exalt me sée Psalme 3.9 sacrifices of ioy i. sacrifices to testifie my ioifulnesse for my deliueraunce ver 7. crie i. pray earnestly heare me i. graunt my requests for otherwise it cannot be but that God heareth Ver. 8. Séeke yée my face i. in distresse come to me for fauour and grace so that he maketh Gods commaundement in the which also is closely comprehended a promise as Deut 4.26 the ground of his praier mine hart aunswered i. yéelded to that truth and alwayes thought vpon it vnto thée i. thy sayinges and wordes verse 9. Therefore q.d. séeing I come and that according to thy worde and promise hyde not thy face â— withdraw not thy fauour but make me sensibly to féele thy vertue and goodnesse in my deliueraunce nor cast thy seruaunt away vz. without helpe and succour in displeasure vz. agaynst him God of my saluation sée Psal 18.46 Ver. 10. My father and my mother i. not only my parentes but all other whatsoeuer yea all mans ayde and comfort forsake me i. destitute and fayle me gather me vp i. graciously receiue me into his protection and defence see Math. 23.37 Ver. 11. Teach me sée Psal 25 4.5 right path i. righteous conuersation and vpright dealing because of mine enimies sée Psal 5.8 He meaneth such enemies as did looke into his life to sée whether they could finde any thing blame worthy therein Ver. 12. Mende thus for false witnesses would stande vp against me vz. if thou shouldest so deale with me and so I might easily be cast away speake cruellye i. cruell and vniust things that so by their spéeches I might perish ver 13. to sée i. to féele and tast as it were to haue experience of the goodnes of the Lord i. such good things as he hath promised me in the land of the liuing i. here in the world where men liue and I my selfe haue a portion of that life with them sée Psal 1â—6 9 Isaiah 38.11 Ver. 14. He exhorteth himselfe specially but yet also others wholy to depend vpon the Lord. Do. Ver. 1. Assured fayth in the Lord expelleth all feare of men ver 2. God confoundeth the cruell purposes of the vngodle ver 4. It is a notable thing to bée present at the publike assemblies and exercises of Gods Church Earnestnes also and continuance in prayer for good things is commended vnto vs. ver 5. God is an assured place of refuge for all his Ver. 6. God graciously rayseth his after they haue bene cast downe for the which it is their duty to yéeld him hartye prayse Ver. 8. Gods commaundement and promise are two principall spurres to prayer yea the very ground thereof Ver. 9. the godly many times haue such earnest affections in prayer that they can hardly content themselues with any wordes to expresse their mind withal Ver. 10. God is more sure and fast to his children then all naturall parents and friends whatsoeuer Verse 11. Prayer for vpright conuersation according to Gods word should bee muche vsed ver 12. We may pray to be deliuered from the rage and lust of our aduersaries ver 13. If Gods promises were not we should many times sink downe vnder the burthen of our calamities ver 14. It is good for vs to stirre vp our selues and others to a liuely trust and an assured hope in the almighty for we are all dull and weake Psalme 28. Di. I His Psalme hath two especiall parts In the first the Prophet beséecheth the Lord to heare his prayer for himselfe and agaynst the vngodly whose naughtinesse also he doth in part set out from verse 1. to the end of the fift In the seconde hée prayseth the Lorde for his mercies and declareth also the assured perswasion he had in Gods mercy concluding with a prayer for the Church from verse 6. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title hath bin already spoken of ver 1. Doe I crie i. pray earnestly O my strength i. thou from whom all the strength that I haue commeth bée not deafe i. doe not cast away and neglect my prayers eyther as though thou heardst not at all or wouldst not heare for as the deafe cannot heare so there are some that though they can yet will not if thou answere me not i. graunt not my petition I be like theÌ„ that goe downe into the pit i. like dead meÌ„ that are buried for he putteth the word Pit here for the graue meaning that hee and his glory should vtterly perish from among men Ver. 2. When I holde vp my handes the signe of prayer vsed for prayer see Psal 141.2 Exod. 17.11 toward thine holy oracle i. towards the place where thy arke was froÌ„ whence thou hast promised helpe to them that call vpon thée it may be also taken for heauen ver 3. Draw me not away c. vz. to death in the time that thou executest vengeance against the vngodly sée Psal 26.9 Psal 27.12 speake friendlye i. words that pretend friendship goodwill when malice is in their harts i. they imagine mischiefe though they speake fayre sée Psalm 12.2 ver 4. He meaneth that seing they had multiplied iniquitie the Lord would in his iustice repay them home for
the Lord and the great deliueraunces that hee hath wrought for him Psalm 18.50 Ver. 11. Cruell witnesses i. such as exercised al crueltie did rise vp vz. against mee they asked of mee vz. by the way of demaund and questioning hee meaneth that they did as it were examine and worlde haue had him to haue confessed such thinges as he neuer knewe much lesse did ver 12. For good vz. which I did to them to haue spoyled my soule q.d. so farre their euill towardes me extended that they went about to take away my life ver 13. Yet I vz. behaued my selfe otherwise when they were sicke i. in some grieuous calamitie one kind vz. of sicknes put for many clothed with sacke vz. in token of heauines and mourning for them sée Psalm 30.11 Gen. 37.34 I humbled my soule i. I afflicted my life by abstinence from meates c. Now fasting is called humbling not because that euery one that fasted was humbled but because it was an outward testimony of that that either was or shoulde haue beene within and my prayer was turned c. amen◠it thus and my prayer returned into my bosome q.d. I did wish so well to them that I would gladly haue my prayer to come to my selfe so that if I wished them any euill I did as it were pray that the same might fal vppon mine owne head ver 14. As to my friend or as to my brother i. I did al dueties of curtesie to them in their aduersity so that my dearest friend or brother coulde not well haue looked for any more I humbled my selfe i. afflicted my felf with mourning yea mourning as one that bewayleth his mother i. my mourning was so earnest and vehement as his is that is wont to bewaile the death of his mother which we know by natural experience to be very much ver 15. The abiects i. the ofscouring of the common people sée Iob. 30.1.2.9 I knew not i. I did not so much as thinke of it til it was performed and ceased not i. without ceasing ver 16. With the false scoffers vnderstand the worde that goeth before vz. they gathered themselues together or assembled themselues with the false scoffers c. gnashing their téeth against mee i. raging against mee through most vehement anger shewing that their anger by gnashing their téeth for he putteth the signe of great heat and anger for anger it selfe ver 17. Behold this vz. and lettest thou this their wickednes alone vnpunished my soule i. mee my selfe or my whole man from their tumult vz. which they raise vp against me vnderstanding by tumult such things as fal out commonly in tumults as bloodshead murther c. my desolate soule sée Psa 22.20 From the Lions i. from cruell and rauenous men Psal 34.10 Psal 22.21 Ver. 18. Great congregation sée Psal 22.25 Ver. 19. Vniustly vz. in respect of any thing that I haue done against them winke with the eye as men sometimes do when they reioyce in some thing Hee meaneth that hee woulde not haue them made glad by any euil that should come vnto him without a cause sée ver 7. of this Psal ver 20. Imagine vz. first in their hearts afterwards expresse them with their mouthes deceitful words i. words to cloake and color their deceite quiet of the land Dauid speaketh this of himselfe and those that tooke his part who were charged to be rebels disturbers of the peace but he sheweth that they were otherwise and by quiet he vnderstandeth quiet people that would haue bin glad to haue liued peaceably quietly ver 21. They gaped on mee with their mouthes i. they did not onely speake against mee with an open mouth that all men might heare them but also made mockes at me with their gapings and mowings sée Iob. 16.10 Psal 22.7 Isaiah 57.4 Aha Aha these are wordes of reioycing for the hauing of that they desired One eye eye put for eyes vnlesse we would say that al the wicked are so ioyned together that they séeme to haue but one eye heart head c. hath séene vz. his ruine and destruction and the euils which wee hoped and wished shoulde come vpon him such supplies you shall sée made though in an other sense psal 54.7 Psal 59.10 Psal 118.7 And in sundry others ver 22. Séene it vz. their iniury and outragious malice against mee keepe not silence q.d. séeing thou art a iudge sit not still but prepare thy selfe to exercise iudgement against them This and that that followeth ver 23.24 Are spoken of God according to man ver 24. Reioyce ouer me vz. by reason of some calamities and afflictions that thou shalt lay vppon mee sée Psal 30.1 Ver. 25. O our soule reioyce vz. because we haue that wee desired Ver. 27. Loue my righteousnesse i. fauour and beare good will to my righteous cause sée Psalm 4.1 Which loueth i. liketh of and furthereth by wonderfull meanes the prosperitie i. the prosperous estate in all respectes Ver. 28. Shall vtter i. speake of thy righteousnes vz. which thou shewest to thine in defending them and to the vngodly in plaguing them for their wickednes euery day i. continually and without ceasing as it were Ver. 1. When men deale vniustly it is good to go to the Lord for our defence Do. who is the God of all righteousnes ver 2.3 If God be on our side wee neede not care who be against vs. ver 4.5.6 Teacheth that we may pray against the enemies of Gods church as also ver 19. Ver. 7. Sheweth that such is the corruption of the godlies nature that though they haue no cause to work mischief yet they must do it Ver. 9. We may reioyce in the ouerthrow of Gods enemies and in the deliuerance of his people Ver. 10. Gods power onely worketh deliuerance and that then when things séeme to bee most desperate Ver. 11. Cruell and false witnesses are neuer wanting to accuse Gods saintes Ver. 12. It is the nature of the wicked to requite good with euill Ver. 13.14 Gods children spare not to do good to al yea to the vngodly ver 15.16 Shew that it is no new thing that the wicked of all sortes consent and agree together against the good Ver. 17. God sometimes deferreth the punishment of the vngodly that he may in the end pay them to the full Ver. 18. Gods benefites require at our hands thankfulnes Ver. 20. The hypocrisie of the vngodly is set out Ver. 22. God séeth all things euery where Ver. 23.24 Deliuereth the same doctrin that ver 1. of this Psal doth Ver. 25. The enemies of God will reioyce in the destruction of the good when they haue performed it Ver. 26. Is the same almost word for word with ver 4. Ver. 27. The godly should reioyce in one anothers prosperity and praise the Lord for it Ver. 28. And that not in heart but in mouth also and that not once only but continually as it were Psalme 36 THis Psalme may bee deuided into
thrée partes Di. In the first the Prophet describeth the maliciousnes dissēbling cursed speach and other great wickednes of the vngodly from Ver. 1. to the ende of the 4. In the second he setteth out Gods great mercy and goodnes towards all but chiefely towards his children that from ver 5. to the end of the 9. In the third hee prayeth for the continuance of Gods goodnes towards his children and the ouerthrow of the wicked foretelling their destruction from Ver. 10. to the end of the Psalm The title is expounded before Psal 4. and Psal 18. Ver. 1. Se. Wickednes i. that heape of wickednes which the vngodly man committeth saith to the wicked man i. telleth him and others as wel as him euen in my heart i. my hart and confidence also bearing me record of this and this would be read by a parenthisis that there is no feare of God before his eies i. that hee feareth not the Lord in any thing he doth q.d. by the wickednesses which the vngodly cōmit I iudge verely that hee hath not any feare of God at all and that though sometimes he labour to come and disguise his vngodlines yet I sée it so plainly that me thinketh I heare it speake Ver. 2. For he flattereth himselfe i. alloweth and liketh yea praiseth himselfe in his own eies i. in his owne iudgement or else in the things that he doth vsing the eies which serue as directors in the performance of thinges for thinges performed in both these senses you haue the word eies vsed sundry times in scripture While i. whereas in the meane season worthy to be hated vz. for the greatnes and notoriousnes therof Ver. 3. Are iniquity and deceit i. instruments and meanes to performe iniquity and deceite hee hath left off to vnderstand i. hee burieth that light of knowledge and iudgment that he hath and to do good i. he ceaseth from doing of such good things as before in hypocrisie he performed Ver. 4. He imagineth mischiefe vpon his bed i. he is so sharp set vppon wickednes that hee spareth not to breake his sléepe to deuise of it He setteth himselfe vz. both in his counsel and practise q.d. he indeuoureth by all the meanes he can to do euil yea though it be neuer so notorious Vpon a way i. vpon a course of life and practises in the same Ver. 5. He hursteth forth into the commendation of gods goodnes faithfulnes righteousnes and iudgments which he commendeth for the excellency depth infinitnes and vprightnes thereof that notwithstanding all thinges were so disordered amongst the wicked as hee had before reiected yet still God remained alwaies like to himselfe Thy mercy i. the goodnes kindnes that thou shewest to all reacheth vnto the heauens i. is as high as the heauens so that if the vngodly would think they could stop it from others it is no more possible for them then to reach to the heauens and thy faithfulnes vz. which thou vsest in performing thy promises vnto the cloudes expound this vnto the heauens as in the first part of this verse Ver. 6. Thy righteousnes vz. which thou exercisest towards al both good and bad giuing vnto euery man that which is due vnto them is like the mighty mountaines i. stable firme cannot be altered or else thus is excellent and praise worthy as all things that come from thée are Thy iudgements vz. which thou executest vpon all the earth and namely vppon the vngodly route is like a great déepe i. are vnsearchable and beyond the reach and compas of mans wit as a depth without bottome can not be found sée Rom. 11.33 Doest saue i. thou stretchest out thy prouidence not onely ouer men but ouer beasts and doest deliuer them al in dangers distresses sée 1. Tim. 4.10 Ver. 7. Children of men i. men and their race or posterity Trust vnder the shadow of thy wings vz. to find comfort ease and reliefe by shadow of Gods wings he vnderstandeth Gods protection and defence alluding as it shoulde séeme to yong chickens that when the kyte houereth ouer them commit themselues to the defence of the hens wings by shrowding themselues vnder them sée Psal 17.8 Ver. 8. They i. the godly with the fatnesse i. the plentye and abundaunce of thine house i. of thy tabernacle he putteth one benefite which was a most euident signe of Gods fauor for all his blessings meaning that they should be filled with the abundance of al good things that were reserued did appertaine to gods children that did hang wholy vpon him out of the riuer of thy pleasures i. out of those pleasures which come most plentifully from thée as from a riuer that neuer will be dry all this verse is allegorical vnderstanding by satisfiyng fatnes drinking pleasures and such like abundance of al graces both bodily and spiritual Ver. 9. With thée i. in thy power so that also thou doest cōmunicate it vnto others and yet hast not the lesse thy sefe The well of life i. ful and perfection of life so that wee sée that without him there is nothing but death and he speaketh not here only of naturall life but also of a spiritual life and eternal life else where in thy light vz. which thou bestowest vppon vs of knowledge and vnderstanding shal we sée light men then are altogether blind if they be not lightned by this light Ver. 10. Know thée vz. by the light of thy word and the assured testimony of thy spirit vpright in heart sée Psal 32.11 Ver. 11. Féete of pride i. the power and force of proude men who are wont to tread al vnder their féete in contempt putting a part of a man for the whole and pride it selfe being a quality for a proud person come against me i. preuaile ouer me the hand i. the power force moue me vz. from that stayednes and stedfastnes that I haue in thée Ver. 12. Shal not be able to rise vz. for al their force and power by which speach also he noteth that their fall shall be without al hope of recouery Ver. 1. Do. Wickednes performed thrusteth men forwarde from one wickednes to another euen to shake off al feare of God it is therefore good to withstand the beginnings of euil Ver. 2. Vngodly mē flatter themselues in their sin and the things that they do calling good euil euil good also it teacheth that we should hate sinne in our selues and others Ver. 9. The vngodly are full of hipocrisie they darken the light of knowledge that they haue and are straungers from weldoings Ver. 4. The vngodly spare no paine to performe wickednes Ver. 5.6.7 Teach that it shal be good for vs often to meditate vppon his mercy to keepe vs from dispaire vpon his faithfulnes to strengthen our hope and faith in him vpō his righteousnes to prouoke vs to weldoing vpō his iudgemēts to discourage vs from euil Ver. 6. Teacheth vs to bridle our curiosity séeing Gods iudgments are
woulde saye to beholde the Heauens then the heares of myne heade i. they are innumerable my harte i. my courage witte counsell c. hath fayled me i. hath hene as it were consumed vz. by earnest thinking vppon them Verse 13. Let it please thée Hée flieth to Gods good will sée Psalme 38.21.22 Ver. 14. Let them bée c. Sée Psalme 35. 4. and 26. where you haue almost the same words Verse 15. For a rewarde i. as a méete and iust punishmente of their shame i. of their filthye and shamefull life sée Psalme 28.4 Aha Aha sée Psalme 35.21 Verse 16. That séeke thée vz. with a sincere and vprighte harte and that to serue thée in thee i. for thée and for the gracious deliueraunces that thou bestowest vppon them that loue thy saluation i. like and reioyce in thy sauing health and deliueraunces saye alwayes i. haue alwayes an occasion to say the Lorde be praysed vz. for the continuall mercy and goodnes which hée hath shewed vnto vs. Ver. 17. Though I be poore and néedy i. destitute of all mans ayde thinketh on me vz. to doe me good or else prouideth for me my matters thou art my helper and my deliuerer q.d. I néed not be proud when I doe any thing well for I doe it by thy helpe who art wont to deliuer me from troubles Do. Ver. 1. Patient abiding the Lords leasure is neuer vnrecompenced Ver. 2. God sheweth himself then most nigh to his children when they are in the greatest daunger Verse 3. By graces bestowed vppon his children GOD deliuereth two doctrines the one that those that haue receiued them shoulde prayse him the other that those that haue not receiued them should learne thereby to reuerence him and put their trust in the truth of his promises Verse 4. GOD onely must be trusted vnto as for proude and deceitfull persons they are to be abhorred Verse 5. Gods workes are past our reache Verse 6. God preferreth obedience speciallye in the harte before outwarde Ceremonies Verse 7. Teacheth vs chearefully when wée knowe Gods worde to obaye the same Verse 8. Teacheth vs to reuerence the law and worde of God aboue all Verse 9.10 To set forth Gods goodnesse righteousnesse truth to the vttermost of our powers Ver. 11. Continually to pray for the féeling of Gods mercy and truth Verse 12. Describeth the gréeuousnesse of sinne and the horrible effectes of the same Verse 13.14.15.16 We learne to make prayer as for our selues so for others and yet withall to pray against the malicious and obstinate enimies of Gods truth Verse 17. God reiecteth none for his pouerty or néede but the more he is in distresse the readier is the Lord to helpe him if hée be his Psalme 41. THis Psalme may be deuided into thrée parts Di. Firste Dauid declareth what good estate they are in that pitie the afflicted and néedye in their calamities and distresse from verse 1. to the end of the fourth In the seconde hee describeth the mischieuous mindes of his enimies agaynst him and the practises of his counterfeyted friends from verse 5. to the ende of the ninth In the third he prayeth vnto the Lord for deliueraunce and assuring as it were himselfe thereof he concludeth with thankesgiuing from verse 10. to the end of the Psalme The Title is expounded before Verse 2. Se. Kéepe him vz. from the violēce and rage of his enemies preserue him aliue vz. euen here vppon the earth from many daungers hee shall bee blessed vppon the earth i. hée shall haue abundaunce of blessinges powred forth vpon him in this life and thou vz. O God a sodayne chaunge of the person vnto the will vz. that they shoulde doe with him what they list sée Psalme 27.12 Ver. 3. Vpon the bed of sorrowe i. when being sorrowful and gréeued hee doth for verye weakenesse kéepe his bedde putting the place wherevpon the heauy harted partye lyeth for the partie himselfe and his wonderfull gréefe thou hast turned a chaunge of the person as before ver 2. of the time by turning he meaneth changed all his bedde i. all the gréefe hee had vppon his bedde in his sicknesse i. in the time of his sicknesse The Prophet meaneth that God either had or would for the Prophets vse to speake sundry times of things that are to come as though they were alredy done restore him from sicknes to health from gréefe of mynde and body to soūdnes both of body soule ver 4. Therfore I sayd vz. because I saw thy goodnes towards others my soule i. me my self both in body soule a part for the whole Verse 5. Speake euill of mee i. Wish euill to me as may appeare by that which followeth in this verse They desired his death and his name i. not only his glory but his remembraunce perish vz. from amongst men Verse 6. He come a sodain chaunge of the number putting one eyther for some excellent one amongest them or for many to sée me vz. when I am sicke he speaketh lyes because he hath one thing in his mouth and another thing in his hart see Psalme 35.15 his hart heapeth iniquitie within him i. he carrieth an innumerable number of mischiefs in his hart againste mée which he declareth to his mates so soone as he is departed from me and laboreth to put the same in execution commeth forth vz. from the place where he had bin with me he telleth it vz. to his companions Verse 7. Whisper together i. hold their secret counsels and conspire against me for by whispering he meaneth their secret spéeches and practises myne hurt i. the hurt they will doe me Ver. 8. A mischiefe i. some great affliction punishment or disease sent from God which his enemies called a mischiefe prophanelye as prophane men sometimes call it vengeaunce Acts 28.4 hath light vpon him and taken such hold that he that lieth vz. gréeuously sicke vpon his bed and in it shall no more rise vz. out of his bed because they supposed hee shoulde dye of that disease Ver. 9. My familiar friend this may be vnderstood eyther of Absolon or Achitophel as 2. Sam. 15. or some other trustye one which did eate of my bread i. that came to my table and did eate of the best vittails I had there hath lifted vp the héele agaynst me by héele we vnderstande the whole man a part being put for the whole The meaning of the Prophet is that not onelye he whosoeuer he was did set himselfe against him but that also hee did it despightfully and contemptuously for to lift vp the héele or foote to the ende to trample vnder féete or to spurne argueth contempt despight and crueltye This by our Sauiour is applyed to Iudas Iohn 13.18 Verse 10. Rayse me vp vz. to my former strength and glory so shal I reward them vz. according to my kingly calling and office rendring vnto them that they haue deserued Ver. 11. He vseth the present tense for the future which is vsuall
thy countenaunce i. thy moste mercifull fauour and presence in whiche thou wentest before them and shewest thy selfe fauourable vnto them Sée for the proofe of this Exodus 15.13 Ieoshu 24.12.13 c. Verse 4. Thou art my King these are the wordes of the people that thorow Gods goodnesse inhabited the Lande of promise and they saye My King because all the faythfull were but as one man vnto Iaakob i. vnto the Israelites that came of Iaakob the Father of the Nation for the Nation it selfe sée Psalme 14.7 Verse 5. Thorow thée i. the might and strength that thou hast giuen vs haue wée thrust backe vz. as Beastes doe with their hornes for suche a worde hée vseth in this place sée Deutronom 33.17 they meane that they had beaten backe and ouerthrowne those that assaulted them by thy name i. by thy vertue power and grace as Psalm 20.1 haue we troden down vz. vnder our féet noting by this spéech both the weakenesse of their aduersaries the ouerthrow that they gaue them despising them also as dust vnder their féete Verse 6. By Bowe and Sworde he meaneth all maner Weapons and warlike Instrumentes whatsoeuer and by sauing he meaneth deliuering from daungers speaking vnder the person of one because all the faythfull are but one body in the name of all the rest Verse 7. Saued vs i. set vs frée and deliuered vs marke the sodayne chaunging of the number from our Aduersaries i. from all their force and subtile practises and haste put them to confusion vz. in defending vs and in ouerthrowing them Verse 8. will confesse i. thanke as often in these Psalmes and Luke 10.21 thy name sée verse seuen of this Psalme Verse 9. Farre off vz. from helping vs puttest vs to confusion i. makest vs ashamed and that before thyne and our enemyes because thou doest not helpe vs and goest not foorth vz to battayle fighting for vs as thou was wonte to doe and giuing vs victorie ouer all our enemies Verse 10. To turne backe i. thorow faynt hartednesse to flée before him spoyle vz. vs and oure substaunce Verse 11. Thou giuest vs vz. ouer to the rage and crueltye of oure enimyes as Shéepe to bee eaten i. whiche shoulde bee presentlye killed and presentlye deuoured vnder whiche similitude they set out the greate daunger and extreamitye they were in and doest scatter vs among the Heathen this was an other punishmente and that verye gréeuous to bee amongest a people among whome GOD was blasphemed and they themselues to wante the exercises of Gods Religion Verse 12. Thou sellest thy people by this manner of spéeche they mynde to declare that GOD had them not in that estimation and regarde that hée had their forefathers q.d. We are vile and despised in thyne eyes because wee are solde to the enemyes on euerye side of vs for a little or nothing neither yet arte thou thy selfe inriched by the sale of vs. Verse 13. They meane that GOD had giuen them ouer to their neighbours to bee mocked and scorned by all the meanes the vngodlye coulde deuyse as by ieasling spéeches laughing countenaunces and gestures that fauoured of scoffing Verse 14. A Prouerbe i. a common by-worde meaning that they and their name were in greate reproche amonge the Gentiles and they had them continuallye in their mouthes so that their common sentences and spéeches were not more rife in their mouthes than the calamitye and myserie of the Iewes and a nodding of the heade i. a continuall skoffe and mocking stocke as it were sée Psalme 22 7. 2. Kings 19 21. Verse 1. My confusion marke the sodayne chaunging of the number sée for this purpose also Verse 6. of this Psalme is daylye before mee i. I euery day or continuallye beholde and therefore can hardlye forget the confusion and shame that lyeth vppon vs the shame of my face i. the shame wherewith my face is as it were ouercouered hath wroughte this effecte that I am ashamed or for shame I dare not looke vp Verse 16. This verse hangeth vppon the former thus q.d. I am altogether ashamed by reason of the opprobrious spéeches of the enemyes for the voyce i. for the wordes whiche they that slaunder vs and rebuke vs vtter agaynste GOD and vs and auenger vz. of themselues and their owne causes meaning thereby the crueltye and bloodinesse of these men and this is to bee noted that they speake of all their enimies vnder the name of one and in the singular number meaning notwithstanding all whatsoeuer Verse 17. They declare that by no troubles they coulde bee drawne awaye from trust in GOD and from that trueth of his Religion whiche they had imbraced yet doe wée not forget thée vz. as those that make little accounte of thée and thy Religion neyther deale wée falslye concerning thy couenaunt vz. made with vs they meane that they had indeauoured to the vttermost of their powers to abstayne from the breache thereof Verse 18. They declare what it is to breake Gods couenaunt vz. in affection of minde to turne away from him for that they meane by hart or in action or conuersation openlye to violate vnderstanding by steppes outwarde behauiour and by Gods pathes the wayes wordes and law which hee hath appoynted them to walke in euen as it were a path beaten way Verse 19. Thou hast smitten vs downe i. cast vs downe as it were with a blowe Marke howe hée ascribeth this to GOD because the Chaldeans or other their enimyes whosoeuer they were coulde doe nothing withoute him into the place of Dragons i. into desolate and solitarie places for they delight to dwel there or else into countries the inhabitantes whereof are no lesse cruell then Dragons or as Immanuel readeth into the place of Whales i. into the moste déepe Sea whatsoeuer it is they meane that they were caste into moste horrible and gréeuous daungers and couered vs i. ouerwhelmed vs with the shadowe of death i. with moste manifest daungers which séeme to bring nothing but death with them sée Psalme 23.4 Verse 20. If wee haue forgotten i. made little account of or nothing at all regarded as verse seuentéene of this Psalme the name of our GOD i. his glorye honour worship and Religion and holden vp our handes i. by prayer and supplication soughte helpe of anye other than of the true GOD whom we worship they vse the signe of one that worshippeth and séeketh helpe for the thing it selfe to a straunge God i. to an Idoll eyther one or manye nowe this verse is ended in the nexte verse Verse 21. Searche this out q.d. It could not be but he would and addeth a reason as a proofe thereof because hée seeth knoweth and vnderstandeth euen the very secrete thoughtes and imaginations of our heartes Verse 22. For thy sake i. for thy causes as the vse of thy worde the exercise of thy religion c. are wée slayne vz. thorowe the crueltie of the enemyes wée yet notwithstanding willingly and chearefully bearing the same as shéepe
to set out her glory and these handmaydes are called her companions not because they were her equals but because they were continually in her company as it were Ver. 15. He sheweth after what sort this glorious troupe shal come vz. with ioy gladnes i. with al mirth that possible may be see Psal 43.4 Ver. 16. In stéed of thy fathers i. thy auncesters q.d. there is no cause why thou shouldest think vpon them for thou shalt haue multitudes of children and thy posterity shal be wonderfully inlarged yea aduanced to great and wonderfull honour for that meaneth hée by making them Princes throughout all the earth meaning by earth the land of Iudah which promise was not fulfilled in Salomon and his séede not because God was not able but because the couenants and conditions on his part and his wiues were not performed Ver. 17. Are the words of the Prophet conteined wherein he promiseth to publish and that for a long season the glory and renowne of Salomon and his kingdome and that the people shal for a great while yeeld him prayse for his peaceable and quiet gouernement For so must the word Many generations world without ende bee vnderstood as referred to Salomon And thus wee sée howe it agréeth to him nowe let vs gather the doctrines out of it and sée howe in trueth it agréeth to our Sauiour and his time Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs first to take héed that we vtter nothing but good things and secondly to do that willingly and readily lest wee bee preuented by death or some other occasion and thirdly to dispose our selues with all the power we haue to set foorth holy marriage specially that which is betwéene Christ and his Church of which sée Hoshea 2.19.20 Ver. 2. Is fulfilled in Christ not in mans iudgement as appeareth Isaiah 53.2.3 But is to bee séene by the eye of faith only whose glorious beauty and gift of perswasion may appeare that hee in the ministery of his Apostles conuerted of all nations vnder the heauen some to imbrace the Gospel and when it is said that God hath blessed him it must bee vnderstoode in respect of his humanitie for otherwise in respect of his deity he is God equal with his father Ver. 3. Christs sword is spiritual is in déede Gods word of which sée Isaiah 11.4 Heb. 4.12 Reue. 1.16 Wherein also standeth his glory and worshippe when he is serued according to that and not as man deuiseth and in this verse Christ is called most mighty because he hath all power both in heauen and in earth Math. 28.18 And doeth whatsoeuer pleaseth him Ver. 4. Christ is admonished in respect of his humanitie to talke vppon him and to execute his gouernement séeing hée is so replenished with giftes and is described like a triumphant conquerour amiable and comfortable to his owne people but terrible and fearefull to rebels as 2. Corinth 2.15.16 Ver. 5. Hée describeth Christes weapons and the munition of his kingdome which are not carnall but mighty through God to cast downe holdes and imaginations and euery high thing c. sée 2. Corinth 10.4.5.6 Ver. 6. Setteth out the euerlastingnes and equity of Christes kingdom of which sée Heb. 1.8 Ver. 7. First marke one manner of speach which in the sense I haue omitted louing one thing and hating another which kind of rehearsing by the contraries the Iewes often vse and hath in it great force vz. to note the earnestnes and soundnes of loue toward righteousnes and well doing and the sincere hatred of all sinne and corruption Howe this was verified in Christ wée néede not to stand vppon God is called Christes God in respect of his manhood and Christ in that respect also is said to be annoynted with the oyle of gladnes because hee had the fulnes of the spirite so that of his fulnes haue we al receiued euen grace for grace i. abundance of grace as Ioh 1.16 And by oile of gladnes is ment the fulnes and anointing of the spirit through whom it commeth to passe that the kingdome of God is righteousnes peace ioy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 And by fellowes he meaneth not equals but generally all Christians who yet notwithstanding through faith are partakers of his dignitie Ver. 8. Doth allegorically set out the swéetnes and pleasure that is to bee found in our Sauiour and when hee speaketh of some that haue made him glad hee meaneth Christians who are called the friendes of the bridegrome because they stand and heare him and reioyce greatly by reason of his voyce Iohn 3.29 Ver. 9. Is described the glory of the church which is but one wife if wee respect it generally or else many if wee respect either the seuerall congregations or the particular members of the seueral congregations as wee say that euery part of a bone broken is a bone and euery part of earth is earth and yet there is but one bone and one earth Ver. 10. Christ requireth of the Church faythfulnes in him and denyall of her selfe Ver. 11. Hee sheweth what profit shall come to the Church by obedience to Christ Ver. 12. Setteth out the inlarging of Christes kingdom by the calling of the Gentiles Ver. 13. Sheweth that the glory of the Church standeth not in outward shewe and brauery Ver. 14. Setteth out the glory of the Church generally which is amplified by this circumstance that particular Churches which the holy ghost resembleth to handmaydes wayting vpon her shall adorne and beautifie her Ver. 15. Sheweth the manner howe the faithfull shoulde appeare in the presence of God in his assemblies Ver. 16. Expresseth the wonderfull inlargment of Christes kingdome which wee haue séene performed and the great glory that his children shall haue though not here yet eternall in the heauens Ver. 17. Teacheth that the prayses of our Sauiour who is the onely head of the Church shall continue for euer and that there shal bee no end of his kingdome as Luke 1.33 Other good Lessons may here and there be gathered as ver 2. that beauty and eloquence are good gifts in a Prince Ver. 3. That it becommeth a magistrate to be couragious Ver. 4. That he should professe and practise truth meekenes and righteousnes Ver. 8. That sumptuousnes in apparell for Princes is not altogether to bee condemned of Salomons apparell fée what our Sauiour sayth Matth. 6.29 Ver. 10. That marriage requireth forsaking of all that the wife may cleaue to the husbande and the husbande to the wife Gene. 2.24 Ver. 17. That the faithfull generally and euery one of them particularly shoulde carefully indeuour to aduance and set foorth the great glory of GOD and of our Sauiour Christ Psalme 46 THis Psalme may bee diuided into two partes Di. In the first the Prophet declareth howe that nothwithstanding the great trouble they were in they were sure they shoulde bee deliuered through Gods goodnes from ver 1. to the ende of the 7. In the second hee exhorteth others for their comfort
maner of delights pleasures excessiuely for otherwise to make much of our selues is not only not condemned but allowed that thereby wee may bee the better inabled to serue God and to profit our brethrē ver 19. Amend thus though he may come to the age of his fathers i. though he should liue neuer so long yea euen as long as the oldest fathers were wont to doe yet they shall not inioy light for euer i. yet their life must haue an ende in this life and they shall not inioy the light of eternall life The Geneua translation also may haue a good sense thus hee shall not enter into the generation of his fathers i. hee shall die as his fathers haue doone before him for that is the way of all flesh notwithstanding his great pampering of himselfe and they he sodainly chaungeth the number from the singular to the plurall meaning that though they be neuer so many or neuer so wealthy yet they shal not escape death nor inioy life for euer i. a long season vpon the earth Verse 20. Amend thus A man that is in honour and vnderstandeth not is like to beasts that perish i. one yea euery one that God highly aduaunceth and yet vnderstandeth not vz. how to vse the good things he hath or that they all come from God alone is like to brute beasts i. voide of true féeling light and iudgement and in respecte of Gods matters may be sayde to be as voyde of goodnes as bruite beasts are of reason and vnderstanding Verse 1. Gods worde must be diligently hearkened vnto also it is generall Do. appertayning to all people Verse 2. Yea to all sortes of people Verse 3. Wée shoulde learne alwayes to speake the wordes of edification Verse 4. They that wil teach others to hearken diligently must be examples themselues of the same thinges also they must vse all lawfull meanes to make the doctrine acceptable and gracious to the hearers Verse 5. Assured fayth surmounteth all difficulties whatsoeuer Verse 6. There is a double iniquitie in the vngodly riche the one is they make their goods their God and so commit idolatrie the other they wax proude thorow the abundaunce of their riches and so sundrye times oppresse their bretheren Ver. 7. Setteth out the insufficiency of riches and that and verse 8. teach that all mony which hath bin giuen for Masses Diriges Trentals c. hath bene cast away séeing Christ is the onely Redéemer Ver. 9. Mony can not preuent or put away death neither can wit wisedome or policy Verse 11. sheweth how vayne and deceitfull mens mindes and cogitations are and howe that all the meanes that they can deuise for the continuaunce of their name shall come to nought Ver. 12. Nothing that man hath is certayne Verse 13. There is no wickednesse so playne and manifest but some eyther for pleasure or profite will delight in it and approue it Verse 14. Nothing can deliuer from the power of death Verse 15. The faithfull hanging assuredly vpon God shall escape eternall iudgement Verse 16. Other mens prosperity or our owne aduersity should not dismay vs. Verse 17. We brought nothing into this world neyther shall we carry any thing out 1. Timoth. 6.7 Ver. 18. Epicures alwayes pamper their bellies besides the riche are neuer without their flatterers Verse 19. Death is the end of all flesh Verse 20. The more that a man hath of worldly blessings and the lesse he hath of spiritual and heauenly vnderstanding the greater is his blockishnesse and misery Psalme 50. THis Psalme may be diuided into thrée parts Di. In the first is contained an excellent description of the Maiestie power greatnesse and glory of almighty God from verse 1. to the end of the 6. In the second the Prophet taking vpon him the person of God sheweth that no outward meanes no though he himselfe prescribed them can be acceptable before God but that it is a spirituall seruice that pleaseth him from verse 7. to the end of the 15. In the third he reproueth the wicked and vngodly shewing what fruites true worshippers should yield from ver 16. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title a Psalme of Asaph I take it to be called Asaphs Psalme not because he was the Author of it but because it was committed to him and his to bee the singers thereof sée 2. Chron. 25.2 Verse 1. The God of Gods i. hee that is God to all the Rulers in the worlde who are called Gods and to all the counterfeit idols of the Gentiles who are also so named 1. Corinth 8.5 euen the Lord he sheweth more playnly whome hee meaneth hath spoken vz. by his seruauntes as Moses and the rest touching his true worship and seruice and called vz. to himselfe and his seruice the earth i. the people and inhabitants of the earth this was verifyed in the Gentils by the workes of creation as Romanes 1. and in the Iewes by the Creatures and by the worde also from the rysing vp of the Sunne vnto the going downe thereof i. all the Worlde ouer and thorow out the same sée Malach. 1.11 Verse 2. Out of Syon sée Psalme 48.2 whiche is the perfection of beautye i. whiche is the most beautifull and fayre place that canne be and seemeth to be so glorious that nothing can bee added thereto hath GOD shyned i. made manifest himselfe by his workes and by his worde in the exercises of his religion Verse 3. Our GOD These bee the words of the faithfull people assuring themselues of gracious deliueraunce from the crueltye of the wicked by the mighty power of that God whome they feare shall come i. certainlye and assuredlye shall come though hee séeme for a while to deferre put off his cōming shal not kéepe silence as he hath séemed to do heretofore eyther in not hearing the praiers of his people or in not punishing the wicked and vngodly sée verse 21 of this Psalme A fyre shal deuoure before him he compareth Gods iudgements agaynst the wicked to a consuming fyre which shall so eate them vp that nothing shall remayne and a mightye tempest this is another similitude to expresse Gods power iudgmēts by against the vngodly round about him these wordes are added to take awaye hope of escape from the wicked for if iudgement should be but before him they would thinke to créepe behinde him but the Prophet sheweth that whether they bée before him or behinde him all is one for consumed they shall bee if not with the fyre yet with the tempest or whirlewind before which they shoulde bée but as chaffe Psalme 1.4 Such yea a more large description of Gods wrath agaynst his enemies is before Psalme 18.7.8 c. Ver. 4. The Heauen aboue Heauen is here put for heauen and all the heauenly powers which the Lorde will call forth not only as witnesses agaynst the vngodlye but as aydes and helpes also for the defence of his and the earth i. not onely the
earth it selfe but all the powers therein to iudge i. to punish the wicked and to defende the good and maintayne them his people i. all both good and bad nowe the bad are called his people not because he loueth them with the loue of his people but because they are at his commaundement to vse them as pleaseth him Verse 5. Gather my Saynts he commaundeth the heauen the earth to bring Gods people before him whom he calleth saynts because his elect were truelye sanctifyed all were admitted to outward sanctification those that make a couenaunt with me vz. that they will serue me and none but mee with Sacrifice hee meaneth that the sacrifice slayne was a signe and testimonie of the couenaunt betwéene GOD and his people sée Exodus 24.6.7.8 Hee speaketh this according to the common custome for in olde times couenants were made sealed as it were betwéene parties with the death slaughter of some beasts Ver. 6. He sheweth how ready the heauēs shal be to accōplish perform that which was enioined them before ver 4. by righteousnesse he vnderstādeth fauour toward Gods children iudgement vppon the wicked sée 2. Thess 1.6 7. for god is Iudge himselfe q.d. hee that will not bee corrupted or iudge vniustlye is iudge Ver. 7. Heare O my people he requireth attētion declaring that he hath good occasion to deale with them because they had broken the couenant some by standing only vpon the outward seruice these he dealeth with till you come to the ende of the 15 verse and othersome for their lewde life and these he reproueth from verse 16 to the ende of the Psalme testify vnto thée vz. in a solemne sort and as it were vsing witnesses for I am God euen thy God this is a reason why they should hearken vnto him not only for that hee hath power in himselfe to punishe the contempte of his Worde but also because hee hath manifested that power for their good Verse 8. I will not reproue thee vz. so much for the neglect of sacrifices as for not referring thē to their right end and vse for otherwise euen the verye neglecte of them was for that tyme a breache of Gods lawe and therefore iustlye deserued a reproofe thy Sacrifices or burnt offringes I take betwéene these two wordes this difference that by Sacrifices he meaneth all maner of offringes excepte those that were offered for sinne and by burnte offringes hée meaneth those that were offered for sinne which are called burnt offrings because they were wholy burned wherof some were dayly offred as two lambs morning euening euery day Ver. 9. I will take q.d. I haue no néede to take out of thine house i. out of thy stall where thou diddest vse to kéepe them as in a house nor Goats he speaketh here of two sortes whiche were vsuall in the Sacrifices appointed by the law Ver. 10. For all the beasts this is a reason why the Lord néede not require any of their beastes for all the beastes and Foules of the world are at his commaundement thousand mountains a nūber certaine for an vncertain meaning by forrests mountains al the world the beasts therof Ver. 11. I know vz. in such order that I can count them and call thē whē I lust are mine vz. to do with them whatsoeuer I think good Ver. 12. If I be hūgry he speaketh this by supposal q.d. if it were possible that I could be hūgry I wil not tell it thée q.d. I haue no neede so to do for séeing al things are mine I can satisfye my selfe when I lust Ver. 13. Wil I eate q.d. no at anye hand I am a spirite Iohn 4. and néede no such grosse nourishment Ver. 14. Offer vnto God prayse q.d. This is it that God requireth that he be praysed for his goodnesse and this is indeede his spirituall seruice thy vowes i. the thinges which thou hast vowed and promised as testimonies of prayses and thankes giuing Verse 15. Call vpon me i. pray vnto me in the day of trouble i. whē thou shalt be in any kinde of calamitie or affliction and it is called the daye of trouble because in that day or at that time trouble doth sease vpon vs glorifie me i. prayse and thanke me Verse 16. What hast thou to doe q.d. Doth it belong to thée No no With what face then darest thou to speake of my lawes or of that couenaunt that is betwéene me and my people séeing thy life vtterly disagréeeth from the same Verse 17. To be reformed vz. by the rule of righteousnesse which is Gods word and hast cast my words behind thée i. contemned them or little regarded them sée Phillip 3.13 Ver. 18. Thou runnest with him i. thou both takest delight and makest great hast to commit theft as he doth thou art partaker i. thou doest not only enter into fellowship but committest the same villany with them Verse 19. To euill i. to speake ill wordes and to vtter euill thinges and with thy tongue thou forgest deceite i. thou deceauest others with thy spéeche putting the tongue which is an instrument of our spéeche for spéeche it selfe Ver. 20. Thou sittest vz. with some other in open places as markets iudgement places and suche like against thy brother i. thy friendes and kinsfolke vnder one comprehending the rest thy mothers sonne i. euen thine owne brother by birth and nature q.d. Suche is thy naughtinesse that thou regardest not friend kinsman or him that toucheth thée so nigh as thy owne brother is Verse 21. And I held my tongue i. I did not by my iudgements punish thée for the same for then God is sayde to holde his tongue when he executeth not his wrath but did in long sufferaunce looke for thy repentaunce sée Rom. 2.3.4 c. was like thée i. one that tooke pleasure in wickednesse as thou doest but I will reproue thée i. but thou shalt finde and féele the contrarie by the punishments that I will powre forth vpon thée and amongst the rest by this I will set them in order before thée i. I will in such order and so particularly lay them out to thy face that thou shalte sée them and confesse them Ver. 22. Consider this vz. that I beholde all thinges that men doe q.d. at the length know it mark it and be perswaded of the truth of it forget God i. himselfe and his iudgementes against you for sinne least I teare you in péeces he vseth a metaphor taken from wild beasts that cruelly rent in péeces the prayes that they haue gotten noting thereby the greatnesse of the punishment that shall come vpon the wicked and there be none c. He taketh away all hope of deliueraunce from the vngodly Verse 23. He that offereth prayse i. he that in stéede of sacrifices prayseth me vnderstanding by thanks giuing and prayse whiche is a part of Gods seruice and worship his whole religion shall glorifie me he meaneth that he that from the
crafty crueltie of the wicked which may teach the godly two things specially first in all holy wisedome to labour the preuenting of these mischiefes that are meant against them secondly to striue to liue a holy and an vpright life because the eies of the wicked are continually vpon them Ver. 7. Sheweth vs howe the wicked flatter themselues in their sinne Ver. 8. Expresseth the great care that God hath ouer his children and how dearely he accompteth euery thing that is done to them or commeth from them Ver. 9. Setteth out the force and effect of feruent prayer Ver. 10.11 Are the same with ver 4. of this Psalme Ver. 12. Teacheth vs in care and conscience to performe the holy promises we haue made vnto God specially those that concerne praise and thanksgiuing Ver. 13. Teacheth two things first that it is God alone that vpholdeth his children and deliuereth them from all dangers and distresses secondly that he doeth this to this end that by holy life and godly conuersation we should glorifie him before men Psalme 57 Di. THis Psalme may bee diuided into thrée partes In the first the Prophet calleth vppon the Lord assuring himselfe that God will graciously heare his prayers and deliuer him from ver 1. to the end of the third In the second hee declareth the dangerous and pitifull estate wherein he was and the craft and cruelty of his enemies praying deliuerance therfrom from ver 4. to the end of the 6. In the third part he sheweth his readines and inforceth himselfe to yéeld thankes to the Lord for his mercy goodnes towards him from ver 7. to the end of the Psalme The title to him that excelleth sée Psal 4. Destroy not In these words is declared the summe of those petitions which are conteined in Psalmes that haue such titles as this is as Psal 58. also Psal 59. It should appeare that Dauid was in some wonderfull feare of death and destruction and therfore praieth the Lord not to destroy him i. not onely not to suffer the wicked to destroy him but also because he alone had al power in his hands not to lay hands vpon him himself A Psal of Dauid on Michtam sée Psal 56 in the title whē he fled from Saul the history hereof is put down at large 1. Sam. 22.1 1. Sam. 24.1.2.3 c. In the caue or rather into the caue He meaneth either Adullam or else an other caue in En-gedi for which sée the places before noted so that in this title wee may sée the occasion of the writing and making of this Psalme vz. Dauids great daunger and affliction Ver. 1. Haue mercy vppon mee O God haue mercy vpon mee this is a most vehement request which also may appeare by the doubling of the words by the which also he sheweth that he was in very great danger for my soule trusteth in thée this word soule importeth that he trusted in God with all his heart which is the part that God especially regardeth and in the shadowe of thy winges i. thy sauegarde prouidence and protection it is a metaphor borrowed from chickens who lye close vnder the hennes wings till the kyte be passed ouer sée Psal 17.8 Wil I trust vz. because I haue heretofore found it good the Prophet meaneth that he had trusted did and would continually trust in Gods almighty protection onely till these afflictions ouerpasse It appeareth that Dauid had more troubles then one yea that hee had as it were flouds of them which maketh him here to resēble his afflictions to a storme or tēpest not meaning by the word til that when the tempest was appeased hee woulde then cease to trust in God but that hee would both then and for euer hang vppon him so haue you the word till vsed Psal 110. ver 1. Ver. 2. I will call i. I will pray vnto the most high God the Prophet addeth this to strengthen his fayth because he whom he would inuocate had all power in his hand and hée strengtheneth himselfe also by that which followeth vz. that god doth faithfully performe his promises made him for God neuer vseth to leaue a worke vnperfite that hee hath begunne but alwaies continueth his benefits and goodnes towards those that are his Ver. 3. Hee will sende from heauen vz. either one or many Angels rather thē I shoulde want helpe and succour and saue mée i. deliuer mee from the reproofe hee meaneth by this worde all that either closely or openly coulde be done or sayd against him of him i. not onely of Saul though he be the chiefe but of those that take part with him against mee that woulde swallow mee sée Psalm 56.1 God will sende his mercy and his trueth this may serue to expound by the way of addition these wordes hee wil send from heauen in the beginning of this verse or else wee may expound them thus hee wil sende vz. vnto mee making mee féele by experience that which I haue had heretofore but in perswasion his mercy and his trueth by mercy hee meaneth the manifestation of his goodwill and grace towardes him and by trueth hee meaneth the faithfulnes and true performance that God obserueth in keeping his promises Verse 4. My soule i. my whole life and body is amonge Lions i. greedy and cruell persons sée Psalm 35.17 Hée meaneth his enemies whome hee resembleth to Lions because they were full of rage and cruelty meaning also by this manner of speach and those that followe in this verse that hee was in wonderfull daunger I lye among the children of men i. such as haue nothing more then that corruption which they haue brought from their fathers which is nothing else but al maner of naughtines and cruelty that are set on fire vz. against mee and that through the malice and mischiefe of their owne heartes without any cause on my part giuen whose téeth are speares and arrowes and their tongue a sharpe sword by téeth and tongue which are the instruments wherby men speake he vnderstandeth the false and hateful accusations that Sauls flatterers made against him and in that he resembleth them to speares arrowes and swordes hee meaneth that they were sharpe kéene and persing euen to the wounding of him sée Psal 120.4 also Psalm 55.21 also Psal 59.7 Ver. 5. Exalt thy selfe O God aboue the heauen hee prouoketh the Lorde as it were by prayer to declare his power q.d. shewe thy might and power which is farre aboue the heauens here vppon the earth in ouerthrowing and confounding mine enemies and let thy glory bee vz. made manifest and appeare vpon all the earth i. all the earth ouer to the ende that thy glory may bee extolled and magnified amongst men which can hardly be if I be oppressed for that should be with the dishonour of thy name Ver. 6. They vz. the wicked and vngodly my deadly enemies haue layd a net for my steppes i. haue either narowly watched me in my conuersation as before Psal 56.6 or else
vz. from thine enemies not that they did willingly giue them but that the Lord would haue them whether they would yea or no and they are called gifts not because they gaue them but that the Lorde taking them as spoyles from the enemies gaue them to his people which hee meaneth by these termes following for men i. that thine owne people might inioy and haue the same yea euen the rebellious hast thou lead q.d. Thou hast inforced them to yéeld themselues as tributaries and that not onely those that willingly yéelded but also those that coulde not otherwise bee brought downe but by force that the Lorde God might dwell there i. amongst his people in the sanctuary and by dwelling he meaneth both the manifestation of his power and presence for their good also his continual aboade amonst them as ver 16. of this Psalme S. Paul Ephes 4. ascribeth all this to Christ who is God manifested in the flesh i. meaning that our Sauiour was taken vp into heauen when hee had subdued and ouercome the world the flesh sinne death and the deuill sée Coloss 2.12.13 c. Ver. 19. Euen the God of our saluation i. that worketh gracious deliuerances for vs as sundry times before which ladeth vs dayly i. which filleth vs continually the metaphor expresseth the abundance of Gods benefites with benefites i. with graces and blessings new and old q.d. he neuer ceaseth to doe vs good so that we haue more benefits then we are able to beare as it were Ver. 20. Euen the God that saueth vs i. that worketh wonderful deliueraunces for vs the issues of death i. both meanes and waies to escape death if we referre it to his children and many wayes also to destroy the wicked if we referre it to them as wee may without any iniury to the text referre it to both Ver. 21. Surely i. without all doubt God will wounde vz. vnto death the heade of his enemies hée maketh mention of the head because it is the principall part of the body as wherein life is and from which it is deriued to the other members of the body so that it is as much as if he had sayde that the Lorde woulde take away their life and the heary pate hee meaneth by this the stoute enemies of God because they that woulde bee fearefull to others did foster their heare q.d. their stoute countinance and courage shall nothing preuaile them against God that walketh in his sinnes i. continueth in the same without repentance Ver. 22. The Lord hath sayd therefore it shal be performed I will bring my people vz. safe and sound againe from Bashan i. from dangerous places and distresses such as they were in before that Og king of Bashan was ouerthrowne sée Numb 21.33 and Deutron 3.1.2 c. I wil bring them againe from the depths of the Sea i. from wonderfull perils wherewith they should haue beene as it were ouerwhelmed altogether is q.d. I will worke as excellent a work for this people as I did for those whom I deliuered from the hāds of Og king of Bashan and as I did for them that passed through the red Sea as on drie land as Exod. 14.16 Ver. 23. That thy foote vz. O Israel or my people may bee dipped in blood vz. of the enemies slaine and the tongue of thy dogges in the blood of the enemies by these woordes hée noteth what a great slaughter there shalbée of the enemies of GOD in so much that not onely the faithfull shal haue their féete died in their blood but their very dogs shoulde haue their tongues made red and coloured with the very licking therof euen in it this repetition noteth also the certainetie of the great slaughter Ver. 24. They i. thine enemies to their great discouragement and ouerthrowe and thine owne people to their wonderful comfort thy goings vz. before thy people and thy guiding of them in the day of warre guiding them as a captaine and getting the victory for them and when hee sayth that they had séene all this hée meaneth that they had had the certaine triall and experience thereof which art in the sanctuary i. which giuest manifest signes and tokens of thy power and presēce of thy people there Ver. 25. The singers went before i. euery one in their order did publikely prayse God and pray vnto him sée Exod. 15.1.2 c. Numb 21.17.1 for the maides and women praysing God after the victory sée ver 11. of this Psalme Ver. 26. Prayse yee God in the assemblies i. openly yee that are of the fountaine of Israel i. that come from Iaakob as from a fountaine meaning thereby al the Israelites for he would haue none excepted as it may appeare by the next verse Verse 27. There i. in the publike assemblies to prayse God was little Beniamin i. those of the tribe of Beniamin which is called litle either because it was one of the least in number or else because they came of Iaakob his yongest sonne with their ruler i. with some principall man who was captaine and gouernour of that tribe and the Princes of Iudah i. the noble and great personages of the tribe of Iudah with their assembly i. with the people gathered vnto thē and in such sort must the wordes in this verse following bee expounded Ver. 28. Thy God hath appointed thy strength hee speaketh to the people q.d. the God which thou seruest hath beautified thée with strength because hee hath so appointed or commaunded the same to resist thine enemies shewing that the power of this people was from God and not of it selfe stablish i. strengthen and continue for euer that which thou hast wrought in vs hereby he vnderstandeth the graces and blessings of God both bestowed vpon them their forefathers praying the continuance of his graces Ver. 29. Out of thy temple i. out of the place where the Arke was as 1. Samuel 1.9 from whence it pleased the Lord many times to set foorth the power and maiesty hee had in him for the defence of his Church vppon Ierusalem by Ierusalem hee meaneth the Church of God as Psalm 51.18 And kinges shall bring presents vnto thee i. as some expound it shall yéeld themselues tributaries as it were subiects others to whom I incline giue this sense the Prophet speaketh of himself of his successours meaning that they would with most thankful mindes acknowledge him to be their God speaking in the third person of them altogether and vnderstanding by bringing presents which was a signe of thankfulnes the thing it self Ver. 30. Destroy the company of the speare men i. ouerthrowe both the multitude and the force of common souldiers vnderstanding by spearemen al others that vsed any weapon against them whatsoeuer vnder one sort comprehending all and multitude of the mighty bulles i. the great cōpany of their captaines and men of might who for their greatnes cruelty he compareth to mighty bulles sée Psalm 22.12 with the calues of the people i.
and confusion that should fal vpon them that séeke mine hurt i. that indeuour to do me mischéefe Ver. 14. But I wil wait i. looke for help succour from thée and that in hope and patience and wil praise thée more and more vz. because thou ministrest more and more arguments of prayse vnto me by the particular delyuerances that thou doest bestow vpon me Verse 15. My mouth shall daylye rehearse i. continually speake of thy righteousnes i. that righteousnesse which thou exercisest towards the vngodly in punishing them and thy saluation i. the helpe and deliuerance that thou performest to thine when they are oppressed Some stretch the word righteousnesse further as that it should comprehēd also Gods assured goodnesse in sauing his and that he ioineth thē both together because we can not else where be certainly assured but in this that in as much as God is iust and righteous he maintaineth those that are his for I knowe not the number that word for would better be rendred though for here is a modest correction of his former spéech q.d. I wil declare vnspeakeable thinges not according to their excellency but according to the slender abilitie that thou hast bestowed vpon me I will doe my indeuour to set forth thy iustice and saluation though I must néedes confesse that thy iudgements exercised vpon the wicked and thy mercies towards thy children neyther are knowne to me neither can I reckon them sée Psal 40.5 Verse 16. I wil go forward q.d. notwithstanding that great difficultie before alleaged that I know not the number yet I will procéede to speake of them and that in the strength of the Lord God i. assisted and ayded with strength and abilitie from him to the performaunce thereof which I am not able to doe of my selfe and wil make mention i. speake of with my mouth and lippes as before Ver. 15. euen of thine only vz. and of no others q.d. that is sufficient more then I can doe Ver. 17. O god thou hast taught me vz. by thy iudgements vpon others thy benefites towards me he meaneth that God had instructed him in his iustice and in his saluation by those meanes and had giuen him plaine demonstrations and euident proofes thereof and that from his youth i. from the time of his birth as ver 6. of this Psalme therfore I will tell i. speake openly and fréely of thy wondrous workes i. in respect of man as Psal 40.5 Verse 18. Yea euen vnto mine old age and gray head i. euen vntill I come to be very olde vsing graye head or heares a signe of great age for old age it selfe as Leuit. 19.32 Gen. 42.38 This verse may either be ioyned to that that goeth before as it is in the Geneua text with a comma q.d. thou hast taught me from my youth vntil now yea euen vntill that I am very aged or else read by it selfe thus taking away the colon in the middle of this verse thus yea euen vnto mine old age gray head forsake me not q.d. as thou hast continued mercifull and fauourable to me heretofore so I pray thee leaue me not till I come euen to extremity of old age as it were yea euen vntil I haue declared c. as it followeth in this verse and this reading and sence I do approue as most fit vntil I haue declared i. made manifest and set out both by déedes and wordes thine arme i. the moste great workes and mightie power and so is it expounded in the wordes following vnto this generation vz. whiche is yet present and aliue that shall come vz. after these meaning that he would labour to publish it to posterity Verse 19. I will exalt on high i. greatly prayse the same because thou hast giuen me particular triall thereof for thou hast done great thinges i. thou alone without the helpe and assistaunce of any other O God who is like vnto thée vz. either amongst the gods as Psal 86 8. or else in heauen and earth as psa 73.25 and this question sheweth that none is any manner of waye comparable with him Verse 20. Which hast shewed me i. madest me to sée and féele great troubles and aduersities vz. both inwardly and outwardly but thou wilte returne vz. from afflicting me to thy accustomed loue and fauour as Psal 6.4 and reuiue me who was it were almost dead thorow sorrow and gréef q.d. thou wilt refresh me and as it were call me back from death to life and wilte come agayne vz. after this departure and long absence of thine from me and take me vp vz. safe and sound from the depth of the earth i. from very great troubles and extreme daungers Verse 2. Thou wilt increase mine honour which by the conspiracye and rebellion of my sonne Absalon was for a time layd as it were in the dust sée Psalme 3.3 and returne vz. vnto me being pleased with me againe and comfort me vz. with that comfort that belongeth to thine which none can take from them Verse 22. Therefore will I prayse thée he concludeth with promise of thanksgiuing q.d. I will not be vnthankful to thée for thy mercies though I cannot be so thākful as I should or would for thy faithfulnesse i. iust performaunce of thy promises made to me vpon instrument and viol he alludeth to the maner of that age prescribeth not a rule for vs vnder the gospell as some imagine O holy one of Israel i. O God as Psal 8.41 Now he is called the holy one of Israel because that all the sanctification that either that people or his Church haue they haue it from that one alone who sanctifieth al those that be his Verse 23. My lippes will reioyce when I sing vnto thée the Prophet in these wordes expresseth the greate delight that not only his lippes but that al the parts and members of his outward man shall take in praysing the Lord by lips one part vnderstanding all the rest and my soule i. his inward affection al that is within him as Psal 103 ◠which thou hast deliuered vz. from most dangerous distresses yea from death it self Ver. 24. My tongue also shal talk of thy righteousnesse daylye i. I wil inforce my seife continually to speake of thy righteousnesse sée verse 15.17 of this Psalme for they are confounded and brought vnto shame that séeke my hurt sée Psalme 70.2 also verse 13. of this Psalme Verse 1. Teacheth vs to hang vpon God only Do. how great soeuer our gréefes and daungers be Ver. 2. Teacheth that Gods faithful promises made vnto vs or performed vnto vs ought to be the grounds of our supplications prayers Ver. 3. Setteth out what great care God hath ouer his people and what safetie and assuraunce they are in that be vnder his protection Ver. 4. Teacheth vs to pray for deliueraunce from mischieuous men and cruell persons Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that God must be trusted vnto and hong vpon al the dayes of our life
in God he sheweth the roote of all their sinne vz. Diffidence and distrust in GOD and his power and trusted not in his helpe vz. which he had promysed to perform for them which also maketh their sinne the greater because they beléeued not his promise whereby we sée that incredulitie is so déepely rooted in mans nature that it is impossible to pull it out except God work miraculously therein Verse 23. Yet he q.d. though God had bestowed very great abundāce and plenty had commaunded the cloudes aboue i. by his commaundement had brought to passe that the clouds poured down Manna as in the next verse had opened the dores of heauen i. had giuen them in great plenty an excellēt Metaphor to expresse the abundance of it Ver. 24. And had rayned down Manna sée Exod. 15. almost thorow out and had giuen them of the Wheat of Heauen he calleth Manna by this name because God caused it in great plēty to come down from the heauen by wheat you must vnderstand a food that had in it the same vse of nourishment that wheat had sée Num. 11.7.8 Ver. 25. Man i. men and euery one of the people of Israel did eat the bread of Angels i. excellente bread and such as Angels might vse if they did eat and not that they do eat it but because it came downe from that place that Angels inhabite this is a vsual phrase in scripture by things attributed to Angels to vnderstand very excellent things Sée Acts 6.15 also 1. Cor. 13.1 he i. God sent vz. from Heauen meate ynough i. strange and delicate flesh ynough as may appeare ver 28 29 30 31 of this Psalme also Exodus 16. and in other places Verse 26. He caused the East wind to passe in the Heauen i. he stirred it vp in the ayre or the Firmament It is likely that he meaneth that winde whiche is expressed Num. 11.31 which brought the Quailes vpon them and that which followeth in the next verse séemeth to strengthē the same and thorow his power he brought in the south wind meaning that God had al elements at his commaundement for the performaunce of his worke whatsoeuer Ver. 27. He rayned i. hée gaue them great plenty as ver 24. of this Psalm flesh vz. of Quailes as may appeare by the story Num. 11. as dust i. in such great abundaunce and as thicke by a maner of spéech as dust is vpon the earth see Genesis 13 16 also Numbers 23.10 also 2. Chronicles 1.9 and feathered foule i. Quayles for of them particularly he speaketh and meaneth as the sand of the sea i. innumerable as it were sée 1. Sam. 13.5 Psalme 139. Verse 17.18 Verse 28. And hee made it fall vz. from the heauen or the firmamente meaning it also of the fleshe of Quayles or Quayles themselues in the middest of their Campe i. of the place where they camped and not of the tents or campes themselues and round about their habitations i. the places where they dwelte for the time sée for this Numb 11.31 by these spéeches he meaneth that they might with ease gather them for they were not farre of Verse 29. So i. hauing these blessings and graces bestowed vpon them from God they did eat vz. of Quails were wel filled i. satisfied with the flesh thereof for he gaue them their desire i. god gaue thē that which they longd lusted after Ver. 30. They were not turned frō their lust i. frō the thing they longed after lusted for q.d. they were not wery of quails though they had eatē thē a whole mōth together sée num 11.20 they were as a mā would say ready to burst with fulnes but the meat i. the flesh of quails which they had eaten was yet in their mouthes i. euen as they were eating of it as may appeare Num. 11.33 Ver. 31 When the wrath of God i. punishment and vengeance sent from him vpon thē for their sinnes came euē vpon thē vz. as they were eating then gods wrath is sayd to come vpon any when he taketh iudgement in hand against them executeth the same vpon them flew the strongest of them who no doubt had abused the strong constitution of their body agaynst God thinking they were able to make their partye good with him and smote down vz. to the ground by death the chosen men in Israell i. the picked ones as men of greatest hope so that we sée no mans strength or neatnesse can turne away Gods iudgement from thē which by sin they haue pulled vpon thēselues Ver. 32. For al this i. notwithstanding the benefits God had giuen thē and the punishments he had layd vpon them they sinned still i. they procéeded on in their iniquities murmuring cōtinually against god as appereth Num. 14 12. c. num 16.1.2 c. num 17. almost thorowout num 20.2.3 c. and beléeued not his wondrous works i. had not their perswasion strengthened by the maruailous thinges that God did for them but did as much doubt of his power and good will as though he had shewed no signe or miracle at al Verse 33. Therefore i. for their sinnes and namely not profiting by his corrections their dayes i. the dayes and times of their life appointed vnto them did he consume in vanity i. God made them to passe away as vain transitory and vnprofitable things some expound it thus he caused thē to die some thus God thorow his curse vpon them cut off the time of their life so that they liued not out half their days nor brought thē into the lande of promise but layd their Karkases in the wildernes sée Num. 14.28.29 al commeth to one sence their yeres hastily he meaneth that they died hastilye sodainlye or when they thought least of it as appeareth verse 3. of this Psalm Ver. 34. And when hee slewe them i. when he did not only destroy them by his iudgements but also when soeuer he layd any affliction vpon them they sought him vz. in hipocrisie and counterfeiting as appeareth ver 36.37 of this Psal so that they did but séeme only to séeke him or made as though they would séeke him and they returned vz. from their euil wayes but this was in outward shew onlye and not from the hart as Iudas is sayd to repent Matth. 27.3 and sought God vz. by hypocriticall and dissembled prayers such as are mentioned Isaiah 29.13 early vz. in the morning pretending that they would spare no labour or payn Ver. 35. And they remembred that God was their strength i. he that strongly defended them from their enimies and gaue them strength to incounter with them and the most high God their redéemer vz. from al distresses trouble and daunger Ver. 36. But they flattered him with their mouth i. they went aboute by words and faire spéeches to deceaue God as it were and this was not only because they did not vnfainedly confesse their offences but also did not truly and
rightly glorifie god dissembled with him with their tongue i. they spake one thing thought an other these words flattering dissembling must be takē thus that the Israelites did indéed perform these wickednes and caried with thē this perswasion to flatter dissemble deceaue God if they could not as though God were ouertaken with this their lewdnesse for he can not be deceyued Ver. 37. For their hart i. their affection and mind was not vpright with him i. was not sincere sound towardes him his seruices whatsoeuer they pretended neyther were they faithful in his couenant i. they did not faithfully kéepe the couenant which he had made with thē vz. that he would be their God and they should be his people Ver. 38. Yet q.d. Notwithstanding all their sinnes and namely their sinne of hipocrisie dissimulation he being mercyfull i. not delighting in the death destruction of sinners but rather that they should liue forgaue their iniquitie i. pardoned their sinne and remoued the punishment due vnto them for the same as appeareth by that whiche followeth and destroyde them not vz. in his wrath and iudgemente but did beate them with the rods of his children to their amendment but oftentimes called backe his anger i. the testimonies and signes of his wrath and displeasure euen then when it was ready to bée powred forth vpon them as if a father ready to strike should holde his hand and did not stirre vp all his wrath for then they shoulde haue béene vtterly consumed hée meaneth by this speache that God declared not himselfe so wrathfull against them as he coulde haue done might haue done if it had pleased him and their sinnes iustly deserued Ver. 39. For hee remembred i. God considered and knew full wel hée rendreth in this verse a reason why God forbare them and layd not all his iudgements vpon them that they were flesh i. by nature mortall and subiect to death and therefore hée should not néede to powre heauy iudgements vppon them séeing that of their owne nature they were inclined to corruption sée Gene. 6.3 also Psal 103.14 yea a wind that passeth and commeth not againe i. not onely a thing mutable and inconstant as the winde but also vanishing and flitting away not continuing long in one state sée Iob. 14.1.2 and in this verse he respecteth the state of this earthly life that passeth away as a winde and being passed returneth not againe in his former condition Verse 40. Howe oft did they i. the Israelits prouoke him i. God in the wildernes i. al that fourtie yeere that they were in the wildernes and the propounding of it by the way of interrogation is q.d. who is able to vtter so many and so grieuous rebellions as they prouoked god by in that time of their trauaile sée Numb 14.22 also Psal 95.9.10 and grieue him vz. by their murmuring and this is the same that was spoken before Ver. 41. Yea they returned vz. from their feigned repentance to their former euill wayes and this they did more then once as you would say and tempted God i. ment to try what he was able to do not being contented with the experience of his might and power which hee had shewed vnto them and limit vz. as it were within certaine boundes it is a notable metaphor to expresse the peruersenes of his people who tooke so much vpon them that they woulde set Gods infinite power some hedges either larger or narrower at their pleasure sometimes desiring thinges to bee performed as they would haue them sometimes denying that he coulde doe them as the bookes of Exodus Numbers Deutronomie doe in many places declare the holy one of Israel i. hee that doeth sanctifie Israel and whom Israel ought to sanctifie because he is the only true God Ver. 42. They remembred not i. they quite and cleane forgate his hand i. his might power meaning that power and strength that God had shewed for them so we haue heard the word hand sundry times vsed before nor the day i. the times and seasons when he deliuered them i. set them free from the enemie i. from all their enemies and their mischieuous attempts against them vnder one meaning all but yet so that hee meaneth that by the chiefest and that was Pharaoh and the Egiptians who afflicted them and this sense is warranted by that which followeth in this Psalme Ver. 43. Nor him that set his signes in Egipt this is a discription of God and his power meaning by setting his signes in Egipt giuing a testimonie as of his goodnes towards his children so of his wrath towarde the Egiptians and his wonders i. the wonderful things he did in the fielde of Zoan sée ver 12. of this Psal Ver. 44. And turned i. when he turned for now he beginneth a particular enumeration of his wonders done for them against their enemies their riuers i. the Egiptiās riuers of waters and their floods he meaneth that neither their smal brookes nor great floods were frée from this plague Sée Exod. 7.20.21 That they could not drinke vz. the Egiptians which circumstance also proueth the trueth and certaintie of the miracle Ver. 45. Hée i. God by the ministery of his seruants Moses and Aaron sent a swarme of flies amongst thē i. an innumerable multitude vnderstanding by flies not only flies but flying serpents and venemous beasts whose poison sting did euen corrupt the land Exod. 8.24 Which deuoured thē i. destroyed many of the Egiptians frogs which destroyed thē this is set out Exod. 8. ver 6. whereby we sée that the holy ghost standeth not much vpon order so that the matter bee expressed Ver. 46. He gaue also i. the Lord gaue ouer their fruits i. those fruits that their land by the labor of their hands did yéeld vnto the caterpiller vz. to be consumed eaten vp destroyed by them putting one for the whole number that God sent Exod. 13. They are said to be grashoppers the places laid together shew that the plague was both of grashoppers caterpillers grashoppers not annoying the trées as these did Exod. 13.15 And their labour i. al that which they had labored for For for the fruits of the earth do men labour Ver. 47. He destroyed their vines i. he did vtterly marre al the increase of their earth plants what soeuer whether they were sowen or vnsowen high or low tender or wel grown natural or wild as appeareth by that which followeth in this ver and Exod. 9.25 with the hailestone he meaneth an other kinde of hailestone then that which is ordinarie and common Immanuel readeth this latter part thus and their wild fig trées with fire whiche in what place soeuer it aboad should consume and this text I like wel not only because the Etimologie of the compound Hebrew word yéeldeth it but also by reason of that which followeth in the next ver touching thunderbolts is written also Exod. 9.23 touching
lightning ioyned with the haile and thunder Ver. 48. He gaue their cattle also to the haile i. to that same great extraordinarie haile mentioned in the other ver to the end that the cattle therby might bee destroyed and their flockes vz. of shéepe and their droues of beasts to the thūderbolts or after some to burning or kindled coals the sense commeth al to one he meaneth destruction of them Sée Exod. 9.25 Ver. 49. He cast vpon them i. vpon the Egiptians and the word of casting noteth the greatnes of his wrath also the fiercenes of his anger indignation wrath all these termes tend but to one end to expresse the greatnes of Gods wrath against thē vexation vz. not of body only but in mind soule by the sending out vz. against them euil Angels I like the note in the Geneua Bible wel vpon this place Immanuel readeth it thus by sending thē messengers of euill tydings meaning it of Moses and Aaron by whose ministerie all the plagues expressed here and in Exodus against the Egiptians were not onely foretold thē but brought vpon them both the senses are good Ver. 50. Hée made a way to his anger i. he executed the same tooke away euery let that might hinder it as men remoue those things that might hinder them in their courses or goings he spared not their soule frō death i. he slew thē and tooke their life from them but gaue thir life to the pestilence he declareth by what meanes God tooke life from them vz. by the plague and pestilence Sée Exod. 12.29 Ver. 51. And smote al the first borne in Egipt vz. both of man beast euen the beginning of their strength this is a discription of the first borne as appeareth Gene. 49.3 in the tabernacles i. in the dwelling places so that there was neither towne house nor field but there was one dead in it Sée Exod. 12.30 of Ham i. of the Egiptians putting the name of the first man from whom they came for the people that came of him for the Egiptians came of Mizraim the seconde sonne of Ham. Sée Gene. 10.6 of whome Egipt is so called in the Scripture the land of Mizraim Ver. 52. But he made his people to goe out vz. of Egipt like shéepe sée Psalm 77. ver 20. q.d. but he dealt most mercifully with his owne people It may bee vnderstoode thus also but for as much as they séely people had neither counscll nor meane in themselues to maintaine themselues it would haue gone wrong with them if God had not béene in stéed of a shepheard vnto them and lead them in the wildernes like a flock i. héedely and tenderly caring for them and prouiding their foode Sée Gene. 33. ver 13. Ver. 53. And he caried them out vz. of Egypt safely i. without any manner of peril or danger and they feared not i. they had no occasion to feare vz. their enemies and aduersaries and in the sea couered their enemies i. the Egiptians their enemies were drowned in the red Sea Exod. 15.13.27.28 Ver. 54. And he brought them i. the people of Jsrael and that in a mightie hand stretched out arme vnto the borders of his sanctuary i. vnto the lande of Canaan which he had assigned to his people and dedicated to himselfe meaning by borders which are the vttermost partes of the lande not onely those partes them selues as though God had left them there and woulde haue gone no further with them but the whole land putting the first part that they entred into for the whole and he calleth that land his sanctuary because God had sanctified the same for his people and for his owne seruice as being the place where hee would most manifest his aboad euen to this mountaine i. the mountain of Sion wherin Ierusalem stood the temple it self was to be builded with his right hand i. his power might purchased i. obtained got that out of the hands of mighty and strong enemies Ver. 55. He cast out the heathen also i. the Canaanites and other inhabitants of that land before them i. in their sights and for their sakes Sée Gene. 2.18 and caused them i. their land and all that they had putting the persons for the thinges they possessed for for the men they might not spare the to fal to the lot of his inheritance i. to come to the people of God whom he calleth here the Lords inheritance as it were by casting the lot by which also the Prophet noteth that the Israelits did lawfully rightly possesse these things made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles i. in their possessions as land cities houses c. putting one for all Ver. 56. Yet q.d. notwithstanding all these iudgements vpon their enemies graces towardes them for al that they tempted vz. God sée for tempting verse 8. of this Psalme and prouoked the most high God vz. to wrath against them selues and kept not either in worde or deede his testimonies i. commandements which are testimonies or witnesses as it were of his will sée Psal 19.7.8 Ver. 57. But turned backe vz. from well doing pretended to their former euils practised and dealt falsely i. dissemblingly and that with God meaning that they laboured what they could to haue deceiued God like their fathers i. as their fathers did and ancestours that were before them who came out of Egipt dealt dissēblingly with him as appeareth ver 36. of this Psal and turned vz. aside out of the right way like a deceitfull bowe vz. that turneth backe into belly as wee say I knowe there are many senses giuen of this similitude some expound it thus the Israelites did for a time make shewe of faith and repentance but sodainly they became vnprofitable as a bow sodainly marred by some occasion deceiueth the expectation of the shooter some expound it this way and some that but methinketh mine owne sense is most simple sée Hosea 7.16 Ver. 58. And they prouoked him to anger vz. against thēselues and their own soules with their high places i. with the altars which they had erected and set vp in high places as mountaines and hilles so hee sheweth the cause why God was angry with them vz. for their straunge and newe kinde of worshippings and moued him to wrath all this is spoken of God according to man with their grauen images vz. which they had made set vp and worshipped contrary to his expresse commandement Exod. 20.4.5 Ver. 59. God heard i. knewe because by hearing things come to knowledge and vnderstanding this is attributed to God according to mans capacity as other thinges are this i. the wicked words and works which the Israelites vsed in their idolatrous seruices and was wroth vz. against them for their sinne and greatly abhorred Jsrael vz. for their iniquities and transgressions committed against him Ver. 60. So that he forsooke the habitation of Shilo he sheweth by effect that God was angry with them
no end of thy wrath against vs shal thy gelousie vz. ouer thine owne glory and vs also euen for our good if we coulde sée it burne like fire i. consume vs vtterly as the fire doth euery thing that is before it Ver. 6. Powre out thy wrath i. lay the abūdance of thy iudgements for the word of powring out noteth the plenty of thē vpon the heathen that haue not knowne thée vz. according to thy wil reueiled in thy worde for otherwise the Gentiles had a knowledge of God as appeareth Rom. 1. ver 21. And vpon the kingdomes vz. of the earth or world that haue not called vppon thy name i. made profession of thy religion and seruice Sée Gene. 4.26 also 2. Tim. 2.19 And note that the faithfull are not in this place caryed away with carnall affections but onely as hauing respect to the publike saluation of Gods Church Verse 7. For this very reason sheweth that the former prayer against the enemies was made for the good and peace of the Church and not of any rancor or fleshly affection they haue deuoured i. the enemies haue cruelly and gréedily like bruite beastes dealt with Iaakob i. the people of Israel who descended or came from Iaakob and so haue wee had this worde vsed sundry times before and made his dwelling place i. the whole lande of Iudea which was assigned him by God to dwell in desolate i. waste and voyde as it were of inhabitants Ver. 8. Remember not against vs i. thinke not vpon as meanes to prouoke thée to wrath against vs and to destroy vs the former iniquities vz. which we continuing also in the euill step◠of our auncestours haue committed against thée but make haste vz. to helpe and succour vs in these distresses and to deliuer vs from the same and let thy tender mercy preuent vs vz. before we sinke downe vnder the burthens of our afflictions for we are in great miseries q.d. vnlesse thou put to thy helping hand we perish vtterly Ver. 9. Helpe vs O God of our saluation i. thou that only workest deliuerances for vs for so is the word saluation vsed here as it is Psal 3.8 helpe vs deliuer vs now as thou hast done sundry time heretofore for the glory of thy name i. that thy maiesty might and power may bee glorified of vs for name is vsed here as it is Psalm 20.1 which otherwise shall bee somewhat obscured and darkened and deliuer vs vz. from troubles and out of the handes and powers of our enemies and bee merciful vnto our sinners i. forget and forgiue them taking away also the punishments from vs which by them we haue pulled vppon vs for thy names sake i. for thy glory and goodnes sake as before Verse 10. Wherefore should the heathen say q.d. why should they haue an occasion to say as they will not spare to speake it if thou helpe not where is their GOD vz. the God that the Israelites serue q.d. giue not occasion to the enemyes to reioyce ouer vs and mocke vs because wee haue trusted in thée as though thou haddest forsaken vs in the tyme of neede They shewe howe that the aide which God shall giue them shall turne to his glory q.d. if thou helpe the vngodly people shall haue no cause to say that wee haue in vayne trusted in a GOD that forsaketh vs in our troubles but they and wée shall féele by effectes that thou hast a singular care ouer vs let him I woulde rather reade let it vz. our gracious deliueraunce from these distresses bée knowne i. opened and made manifest among the heathen vz. who are our enemies and otherwise would insult ouer vs in our sight i. wée liuing séeing and diligently beholding the same that thou arte alwayes presence with thine by the vengeaunce of the blood i. by the punishment that thou wilt take and lay vppon them for the blood of thy seruauntes hee calleth them Gods seruauntes who notwithstanding confessed that they were iustly punished for their sinnes because GOD when hee chastiseth vs testifieth that hee hath care of our saluation that is shed vz. by their cruelty and rage by blood and shedding of the same hée meaneth the godlies life and the death that the wicked did cruelly laye vppon them Verse 11. Let the sighing of the prisoners i. of them that are taken prisoners by the enemies and ready to bée caryed away or put to death vnderstanding by the sighing of these men their earnest prayers pitifull complaints teares outcries c. come before thee i. into thy presence and let it appeare by effect that thou regardest and acceptest of them according to thy mighty arme q.d. as thy power is most large and infinite for hee vseth this worde arme for power so preserue and defend thy people preserue vz. from outrage violence and death the children of death i. them that bée in verye great daunger at deaths doore as it were and ready to bée slayne so that death séemeth to haue as much authority ouer them as parents haue ouer their children Verse 12. And render to our neighbours i. to them that are round about vs as before ver 4. seuen folde i. most grieuous punishmentes a number finite for an infinite sée Gene. 4.15 in to their bosome i. largely and plentifully as appeareth Isaiah 65.6.7 Ierem. 32.18 it is a metaphor taken from them that powre things without number into the lappe or bosome as it were of those to whome they giue them their reproch i. the blasphemous and wicked wordes that they haue vsed against thée which is expressed in the part of the verse following Verse 13. So wée thy people i. the people that thou hast chosen seperating vs from other nations sée Psalm 74.1.2 and shéepe of thy pasture i. people whome thou féedest as tenderly and carest as much for as shepheardes doe their pasture sheepe shall prayse thée vz. for thy grace and goodnes towardes vs in deliuering vs and from generation to generation wée will set foorth thy prayse vz. to others q.d. we will bee instrumentes to publish thy prayse and occasions of thy glory to all posterity Do. Verse 1. Teacheth that God many times for the punishment of his peoples sinnes appointeth the wicked to preuaile so farre against them that euen his own glory séemeth as it were to bée layd in the dust Verse 2.3 Set out the monstrous cruelty and barbarousnesse of the wicked and vngodly people whose cursed nature is the more they preuaile the more outrage violence to offer and doe Ver. 4. Teacheth that the miseries of Gods children should prouoke them to earnest and hearty calling vpon his name Ver. 5. Teacheth that the consciences of the godly can hardly be quieted so long as they féele Gods wrath and anger against them Ver. 6. Teacheth that wee may safely pray against the malicious enemies of Gods Church Ver. 7. Setteth out the rage and cruelty of the wicked against the Lordes people and inheritance Verse 8. Teacheth
ouerthrow stoode also the Kings discomfiture and ouerthrowe Sée Iudges 4.2 at the Riuer of Kishon hée nameth the place for the more certaintie of the Historye sée Iudges 4 7 and it may be vnderstoode that at the riuer Sisera and the Midianites were Verse 10. They i. Sisera and the Midianites with them perished i. were ouerthrown confounded and destroyed at Endor which is the name of a place nigh to Taanach and the waters of Megido as appeareth Iudg. 5.19 and were dung for the earth i. were not only troden vnder féete as mire but also left vnburied vpon the vpper face of the earth as dung layde vppon grounde is Verse 11. Make them vz. the enemies that now come to assault vs euen the Princes q.d. the best mightiest men amongst them and he prayeth agaynst them because in the dismay confusion and ouerthrow of the Prince standeth for the most part the discouragemēt and ouerthrow of the people like Oreb and like Zeeb i. destroy them and ouerthrowe them by death of both these see Iudges 7.25 yea all their Princes i. all their men of might and power that they being discouraged the rest might be confounded like Zebah and like Zalmana these were two great Kinges or Princes of Midian whom Gideon slew sée Iudges 8. verse 5.21 Verse 12. Which vz. enemies of thine ours whose great number hee had reckoned vp before ver 6.7.8 haue sayd vz. euen in our hearing or as a man would say euen yet do speake thus let vs take vz. by force and conquest for our possession i. to be a possession to vs and oures the habitations of God no doubt he meaneth Iudea and the Cities thereof wherein God was worshipped but especially Ierusalem where the temple and tabernacle was and in which places God gaue most manifest testimonies of his presence and dwelling Verse 13. O my God this speake the faythfull as it were but one man or else some particular person amongst them in the name of the rest make them like vnto a whéele hée prayeth that they and their counses may be vnstable and inconstant so that wandring in their consultations and imaginations they may not hurt thy people and as the stubble before the winde vz. which is tossed hither and thither an other similitude which hee vseth to expresse their owne inconstancye and the vanity of their deuises sée Psalme 1 4. Verse 14. As the fyre vz. put into the Forrest burneth the forrest vz. if men minde to consume and destroy it after that sort for fire eateth vp all before it and as the flame vz. of that fyre so kindled and burning setteth the Mountaynes on fyre i. causeth the very mountaynes to melt as it were and burne before it Verse 15. So persecute them i. pursue and ouertake them for it muste not bee vnderstoode as though God by laying these iudgements vppon them did offer them iniury or wrong with thy Tempest i. with thy sodayne and fierce iudgementes as tempestes are wonte to come sodaynelye and fiercelye make them afrayde i. cause them not only to quake or shake for feare but astonishe them and take awaye from them all vse of witte and reason that they maye bée euen as it were deade men with thy Storme by storme hee meaneth the same that he did by tempest vnder these two Metaphors noting Gods fierce wrath and iudgement Whatsoeuer it be this is his meaning to praye the Lord that the wicked may be enforced euen in despighte of their heads as it were to acknowledge thorow the multitude of punishmentes that shall fall vpon them that they doe in vayne set themselues agaynste God and his people and shal in the end be confounded and ouerthrowne Ver. 16. Fil their faces with shame i. poure forth vpon them such abundance of shame and confusion by destituting them of their hopes that they may be ashamed as it were to shew their faces that they may séeke thy name O Lorde eyther this worde they must be referred to the faythfull eyther then liuing or afterwards to come who in the confusion of the enimies should haue a good ground offered them continually to hang vpon Gods power or else the Text must bee mended thus after Immanuel that thy name may be sought O God making this as it were one end of their deliuery that God might afterward be prayde vnto and praysed for it for in my iudgement it can at no hand be referred as the Geneua note goeth to the enemies Verse 17. Let them be confounded vz. by thy iudgements which thou shalt execute vpon them and troubled vz. in their mindes and bodies that thorow disquietnesse in both of them they maye be hindered from doing any euill thing agaynst thine for euer i. all the dayes of their life and as long as they shall liue yea let them be put to shame vz. before men and openly in their sight and perish vz. from amongst men Ver. 18. That they i. thine and our enemies may knowe i. féele inwardlye and confesse outwardly though they shall not haue the grace to yeelde to the same for here he speaketh of knowledge by experience which goeth not downe into the hart but is only put into them thorow necessitie and force that thou which art called Iehouah sée for the expounding of this name Exod. 6.3 arte alone contrary to that opinion which the Gentiles haue that their idols are Gods euen the most high ouer al the earth i. that doest whatsoeuer pleaseth thée in earth Ver. 1. teacheth that the more our dangers and miseries be Do. the more earnest and often we should be with God in prayer for the redresse therof Ver. 2. sheweth how the enemies of Gods people in great multitudes with great noyse and very proudlye set themselues agaynst the Lord and those that are his Verse 3. teacheth also that they doe it not rashly but aduisedlye and with great crafte and subteltie Verse 4 setteth out both the words and purposes of the wicked who carrye continuallye with them a hart to roote out good and godlye men from off the earth Ver. 5 6 7 8. teach principally two thinges the one is the great multitude of enemies that Gods people haue the other is howe that al the wicked though otherwise at iarres can yet notwithstanding consente together to destroy Gods chosen They shewe also that they who by nature and kindred as it were should fauour them do many times become their deadly enimies as the Edomites came of Esau Iaakobs brother and the Ammonites and Moabites of Lot Abraham his nigh kinsman Verse 9.10.11 teache that we may pray against the enemies of Gods Church also that iudgments executed vpon former enemies should be grounds to strengthen our hope that God will doe the like to ours if he sée it may serue for his glory and oure comfort Verse 13. and all the rest vnto the ende of the Psalme teach that we maye lawfully pray against the enemies of Gods Church that in their
his sight neither wil the God of Iaakob regard it q.d. hee will make no great account of our transgressions so the wicked are caryed away into sinne perswading themselues either that God maketh no account of it or if hée doe they are able to stoppe his eyes vppe and to shut his mouth Verse 8. Vnderstand vz. howe farre yee goe astray and deceiue your selues q.d. nowe at the length bee of a better mynde yee vnwise i. yee wicked and vngodly men as Psal 92.6 among the people hee meaneth by this speach not onely that they committed sinne in the sight of the people but were as a man woulde saye the ringleaders of the rest and yée fooles i. O yée wicked people as generally you shall haue that worde so vsed throughout the Prouerbes when will yee bée wise i. when will yée returne and bée of a better mynde for that is true wisedome in déede Ver. 9. Hée that planted the eare vz. in the heade and that place of the head meaning thereby the creating and making of it shall hee not heare q.d. it can not bée but hée must needes heare or hee that formed the eye i. hée that not onely gaue shape but substaunce also and being vnto it shall hée not sée q.d. it can not bée auoyded but hée must needes sée and therefore that is a vayne perswasion which you haue to thinke that hee doeth not beholde and marke your wordes and déedes and this is a reason taken from the very order of nature q.d. if GOD giue men power to heare and sée can any thing then be hidden from him as you suppose no in déed Sée such a like argument vsed Exodus 4.11 Verse 10. Or hée that chastiseth vz. with his punishmēts and iudgments the nations i. whole peoples countries yea and the whole world as in the general flood shall hée not correct vz. you that with the same or like punishments q.d. you may assure your selues that hée will come vppon you in seuere iustice and iudgement And this is an argument taken from the more to the lesse q.d. if GOD chastise and correct all people without partialty or respect of persons will he leaue some fewe men vnpunished no in deed he that teacheth man i. all mankynde and euery man that hath any thing knowledge i. any knowledge or vnderstanding that hée hath shall not hée knowe vz. the sinnes and iniquyties which you commit against him either openlye or secretlye q.d. assure your selues hée knoweth them all Verse 11. The Lorde q.d. whatsoeuer you imagine yet this is certaine that hée knoweth i. heareth seeth correcteth yea and pronounceth iudgement of the thoughtes of man i. not only the thinges that man thinketh but also the wordes hee speaketh and the workes hee doeth putting thought which is the beginning of euery thing for the pursuite and perfourmaunce of the thinges themselues that they are vanitye i. that they are vayne and shall come to no ende as by the iudgement which hée will execute vppon them shall appeare Verse 12. Blessed is the man i. certainely hee is in good case howsoeuer the world déeme of him And marke how after hee had reproued the wicked hee commeth to comfort the good whome thou chastisest vz. for a small while and that either by the ministery of wicked and vngodly men as verse 5. and 6. of this Psal or else by thine owne hande and crosses of tryall and teachest him vz. to walke in thy law i. according to the rules prescribed in the same Verse 13. That thou mayest giue him rest vz. after some short and small affliction as Psalme 30.5 vnderstanding by rest deliueraunce from all daungers and distresses and peace after the same deliueraunce from the dayes of euill i. from the tyme wherein hée was exercised with affliction and aduersitie while the pit is digged for the wicked i. not onely while the vngodly is afflicted as though he ment that the good being deliuered the vngodly shoulde bée punished in this life but also death and destruction from the Lorde is prepared for them and commeth vppon them Sée 2. Thessalonians 1. ver 5.6.7 Vnderstanding by pit death and destruction and by digging the preparing and performing thereof Ver. 14. Surely the Lorde will not faile his people i. deceiue or disappoint them in any thing neither will hee forsake his inheritaunce vz. vtterly or for euer hee here laboureth to staye the faythfull vppon the assured loue and trueth of the Lorde Verse 15. for iudgement i. Gods iudgements which in this worlde is rather executed vppon the good then vppon the badde shall returne to iustice i. shalbée brought to full and assured iustice euerye man hauing yéelded to him his right vz. affliction to them that afflict and to the afflicted Gods kingdome for which they suffer Sée 2. Thessalonians 16.7.8 not as though Gods iudgements executed in this life were vniust for hee is iust in all his workes and holy in all his wayes but because wee haue in this life but the beginning of them and in the great daye the full measure of iustice shalbée made manifest and all the vpright in heart i. all that are soundly and sincerely without hypocrisie giuen to godlinesse shall followe after it vz. chearefully meaning by the worde following not onely the approuing of it but also a holy desire to sée and imbrace the same Verse 16. Who will rise vppe with mee i. for mee against the wicked hee meaneth that none woulde defende him and his cause against the wicked or who will take my part against the workers of iniquity q.d. none saue God only by this the Prophet sheweth in his owne example that vnlesse GOD had holpen him hée had béene vtterly cast away so much was hee despised of all and so little coulde or woulde any mans helpe preuaile Verse 17. If the Lorde had not holpen mee vz. in the tyme of my distresse and feare by the woorde holpen hee meaneth plentifull helpe and deliueraunce my soule had almost dwelt in silence i. I shoulde haue béene dead and buryed hée putteth the worde soule for life as sundry tymes before and dwelling in silence for lying in the graue which is called the place of silence not onely because the deade haue no féeling force speaking c but also because they haue no power as then to prayse GOD. Sée Psalme 6.5 also Psalme 115.17 and by the worde almost hee meaneth not that hee shoulde haue escaped death but that hee shoulde shortly haue dyed Verse 18. When I sayde vz. either in wordes or thought in my heart that which followeth my foote slydeth i. I am come nowe into some one daunger or other and I seeme thereby to bee cast awaye and euen at deathes dore as it were If any man list to to take it of small daungers because slyding or slipping of the foote is no great matter I will not gainesay it thy mercye O Lorde stayed mee vz. from falling either into daunger or perill of destruction or into
of the Lorde i. shal tremble at his great power and maiesty though not with the reuerent and right feare thereof which his owne children only haue and al the kings of the earth q.d. this feare shal not onely sease the heartes of their common people but euen of their greatest and mightiest princes thy glory i. they shal feare thy maiesty glory which doest such great and glorious thinges for thy people Verse 16. When the Lorde hee noteth the time of the trembling of the kings and people shall builde vp Sion i. his Church vz. decayed and cast downe hee vseth this worde Sion generally for the place of Gods seruice because that sometime the arke of couenant was placed there and shal appeare in his glory i. shall shewe himselfe glorious and triumphant which shall no doubt be comfortable to his children and feareful to his enemies Ver. 17. And shal turne vz. his gracious and louing countenance meaning by this speach yéelding or graunting vnto the prayer i. to the harty supplications and requests of the desolate i. of thē that are forsaken of all whom though they stand in néede of euery mans helpe yet no man helpeth The worde properly signifieth a kinde of shrubble which groweth in vntilled places as a brier or such like by which he noteth also the people that were in the captiuity of Babylon as in a deserte and wilde place and not despise their prayer vz. which they make vnto him in their affliction hee speaketh one thing twise as it were of which sundry times before and not as though god did euer despise the supplications of his poore seruants Ver. 18. This vz. gracious hearing of his poore seruants prayers and deliuery of them out of captiuity shal be written vz. as an excellent thing and worthy of continual remembrance for the generation to come vz. that they therby may be instructed both of the power of God and his faithfulnes and trueth in performing his promises and the people vz. of Israel and Iudah which shalbée created i. which shal returne out of the captiuity of Babylon which hée compareth to be a second birth or creation as it were because they séemed therin to bée as dead Sée Ezech 37. from ver 1. to the ende of the 14. of which also for the greatnes of it it is sundry times sayd in the Prophets It shalbée no more sayd the Lord liueth that brought the people out of Egypt but that brought the people from the lande of the North shall prayse the Lorde vz. for his great goodnes and mercy towardes them Ver. 19. For hée hath looked downe vz. vppon the great outrage of his enemies and the wonderfull affliction of his people from the height of his sanctuary i. euen from the very heauens as hée séemeth to expound it euen in this verse out of the heauē which is the throne of his maiesty did the Lorde behold the earth i. not onely the earth it self but specially and chiefly men inhabiting the earth and amongest the rest his owne people as may appeare in the verses following Verse 20. That hee might heare vz. and so take pity of the mourning i. the sighings gronings and lamentable cryes of the prisoner i. of the prisoners one number put for an other meaning those that were bound and helde as captiues in Babilon and deliuer vz. out of daunger distresse and all manner of feare the children of death i. them that were at deaths doore or appointed to death as it were Sée Psal 79.11 Ver. 21. That they vz. so deliuered noting also the end why god giueth deliueraunce vnto his seruants may declare i. set out and publish and that both by word and déede the name of the Lord i. his power maiesty goodnes c. as Psal 21.1 in Sion i. in his Church and his prayse i. the prayse which is due vnto him for the same not that any is able to prayse him sufficiently for his power and goodnes in Ierusalem i. in the Church as before Sion and Ierusalem being the principall places of his worshippe put for his whole Church and the publike assemblies and congregations thereof sée Psal 2.6 Ver. 22. When the people vz. which are nowe in captiuity and dispersed abroad shal be gathered together vz. to serue the Lorde in these places and after that sort which he himselfe hath prescribed and the kingdomes vz. of the earth meaning hereby the calling of other people besides the Iewes to serue the Lord vz. according to the prescript rule of his word The Prophet noteth two thinges specially in this verse the one is the returning of the people out of Babylon the other is the calling of the Gentiles to the religion and seruice of God Ver. 23. He i. the Lorde abated vz. by outwarde and inward afflictions my strength i. whatsoeuer séemed excellent in mee putting one excellent thing for many in the way vz. wherein I walked meaning the daies and course of his life as may appeare by that which followeth in this verse and shortened vz. in mine owne iudgment and as I supposed for otherwise in respect of God our dayes are certainely numbred my dayes i. the dayes of my life Ver. 24. And I sayd vz. in that great affliction and griefe O my God take mee not away vz. out of this life q.d. let mee not vanishe awaye but shewe mée thy fauour in continuing my life in the middest of my dayes i. before I come to the full ende of my race and all this and that in the former verse the Prophet speaketh not onely in his owne person but in the name of the rest of the faithful thy yéeres indure from generation to generation i. thou continuest and abidest for euer and art alwayes one make mee therefore q.d. like vnto thy selfe Verse 25. Thou vz. O GOD hast afore tyme vz. in the beginning layde the foundation of the earth i. created and mainteined the earth and all thinges therein hee sheweth Gods eternitie because hee was before all thinges created and was the maker of all thinges whatsoeuer and the heauens vz. and all thinges therein conteined are the worke of thine handes i. thou hast made them handes attributed to GOD for our vnderstanding sake Verse 26. They vz. the heauen the earth and all thinges therein shall perish vz. not in respect of their substance but in respect of their qualities sée Isaiah 65.17 Isaiah 66.22 Reuelat. 21.1 2. Peter 3.12.13 and this perishing hée calleth afterwardes in this verse a chaunging but thou shalt indure vz. frée from any alteration or chaunge as Iames 1.17 and that for euer and euer hée here commendeth Gods eternity by comparison euen they all q.d. not one of them accepted shall waxe olde as doeth a garment i. shall through continuaunce of tyme decay as doeth a garment as a vesture shalt thou chaunge them this is a metaphor taken from men who changing their garmentes from worse to better of which chaunge of the creatures the Apostle
speaketh Roman 8.19.20.21.22 verses Nowe if any wil demaunde to what vse the creatures shal be imployed I answere that for as much as GOD in his worde hath not reueiled that it is more then curiositie to aske the same and they shal bee changed i. they shall certainely and without fayle bée chaunged for so much doeth the doubling of the worde chaunge import Verse 27. But thou art the same i. alwayes one and the selfe same without any shadowe of chaunging q.d. howsoeuer the creatures bee variable yet thou the creator art alwayes vnchaungeable and thy yeeres i. the time of thy essence and beeing shall not fayle vz. for euer and euer q.d. thou art and hast béene from euerlasting and so shalt continue Verse 28. The children of thy seruantes i. thy godly ones and their godly posterity shall continue vz. stedfast and sure alwayes safe vnder thy almighty defence whatsoeuer great alteration shal bee in heauen or earth and their séede i. their race and posteritie shall stande fast vz. so that they shall not bée mooued for euer in thy sight i. before thée hée meaneth that GOD will care for and preserue for euer the godly Ver. 1. Teacheth vs to be earnest with the Lord to grant vs our holy requests Do. Verse 2. Sheweth that in the time of affliction nothing is more grieuous to Gods children then to perceiue God any long time absent Ver. 3.4.5 Do declare what great affliction the godly are in for their sinnes and the wrath of God vppon them for the same Verse 6.7 Shewe that it is no new thing to sée the children of God forsaken of men Verse 8. Noteth two things the one is howe that the godly are subiect to the vyle both woordes and deedes of the vngodly the other that the wicked giue themselues a full swinge to all manner of outrage both in worde and deede Verse 9. Teacheth that so long as wée féele Gods wrath vppon vs for our sinnes our meat and drinke is not pleasaunt and delightfull vnto vs. Verse 10. Teacheth vs three things first howe much wee shoulde stande in awe of the fearce wrath and indignation of the Lorde Secondly that in this life Gods children haue no durable estate and thirdly that their exaltation and depressing is not by fortune as they say but from the Lorde onely Verse 11. Setteth out the shortnesse and troublesomnesse of mans life Verse 12. Setteth out the eternity and continuaunce of the almightie Verse 13. Teacheth vs to haue an assured trust that God wil looke graciously vppon the afflictions of his Church Verse 14. Teacheth Gods children two thinges first to delyte more euen in the verye ruines of the Church then in the palaces of the vngodly secondly to pity and pray for the reforming of the desolations thereof Ver. 15. and 16. Teach vs that Gods fauour shewed to his Church shalbée matter of sufficient terrour to the wicked and vngodly Ver. 17. Is comfortable shewing that the prayers of Gods poore people shall neuer returne empty from the Lorde Ver. 18. Teacheth the faithful to haue a care for their posterity that both Gods mercy towards them and his iudgements vpon the wicked might be conueyed to their children Ver. 19. Teacheth that God beholdeth al things done vpon the earth contrary to the imagination of them who suppose him to sit as idle in heauen Ver. 20. Teacheth that God taketh speciall regarde of those that be his and namely when they are in the greatest distresse Ver. 21. Teacheth that god doth deliuer his people out of al their feares specially to this end that they might publish his prayse for the same in the Church Ver. 22. Teacheth that our assemblies should be for the seruice and glory of god Ver. 23. Teacheth that God for the trial of his children layeth manifold afflictions vpon them in this life Verse 24. Teacheth vs that wee may pray for long life but yet so that that life may bée referred to Gods glory Verse 25. Teacheth that God is the maker of heauen and earth Verse 26. Teacheth the variablenesse of the creature which shoulde instruct vs so to vse the worlde as though wee vsed it not and no otherwise but as it may further vs to the hope of a better life Ver. 27. Teacheth that howsoeuer variable the creature is yet the creator is altogether vnchaungeable Ver. 28. Setteth out to the comfort of the godly their continuaunce Psalme 103. Di. THis Psalme may bee diuided into thrée partes In the first hee doeth stirre vp and prouoke himselfe to be thankful to the Lord and this is conteyned in the two first verses In the seconde hee sheweth causes for which men shoulde prayse the Lorde as for the forgiuenesse of their sinnes for their deliuery from daunger and the continuall course of his mercies from ver 3. to the end of the 19. In the last part he exhorteth euen all creatures to praise the Lord for the largenes of his goodnes from ver 20. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title of this Psalme hath beene expounded before in others of the lyke inscription Ver. 1. My soule hee exhorteth the soule to this great worke because if that be ready the other cannot be much backward and the word soule is vsed here for the seate of vnderstanding and afflictions prayse thou the Lord vz. for his great mercies and all that is within me as my thought my hart and all the powers both of the one and the other and hee meaneth all inwarde thinges because those parts specially doeth the Lorde regarde as Psal 51.17 Ioh. 4.23 prayse his holy name i. set foorth the glory that apperteineth to his maiesty power goodnes c. name is here vsed as Psalm 20.3 Ver. 2. My soule praise thou the Lord this is expounded before ver 1. and forget not vz. through negligence or otherwise but earnestly thinke vpon to the vttermost of thy power al his benefites i. not onely all but any one of them as possible thou canst and by this meanes he prepareth himself a way to speak of the blessings which afterwardes he reckoneth vp Ver. 3. Which vz. alone forgiueth thée fréely vz. and of his owne mercy onely without any merites or deserts of thyne at all all thine iniquity vz. committed either against God or man either of ignoraunce or of knowledge and he beginneth with the frée forgiuenes of sinnes because it is as it were the fountaine from which al other blessinges flowe many whereof he reckoneth vp afterwardes which are nothing else but the effects of that reconciliation and healeth vz. of his great goodnes his mighty power all thine infirmities vz. bodily or spirituall outwarde or inward Ver. 4. Which vz. alone as before ver 3. redéemeth vz. by his great and mighty power thy life i. thy whole man both body and soule putting a part for the whole from the graue i. from death and destruction Sée Psalm 16.10 putting that which followeth death for death it selfe and crowneth
which darkenesse and night all the beastes of the forrest i. a great number of rauening and deuouring beastes whiche in the daye tyme durste not for feare of man shew their heads amongst these hee reckoneth vp the Lyon in the nexte verse créepe forth vz. out of their holes and dennes where they had lurked all the day long Verse 21. The Lions i. euen the yong lustie and strong Lyons roare vz. in that darkenesse and nighte after their praye i. after a praye that they woulde gladlye gette and obtayne to satisfye their hunger withall and séeke their meate at GOD the Prophet meaneth not that they staye themselues vppon the care which GOD hath ouer them for that they cannot doe but hée sheweth that GOD doth myraculouslye giue meate to the Lyons and other deuouring beasts yea although they liue by spoyle and rauening whiche serueth wonderfullye to sette foorth God his power and prouidence whiche is the special marke that the Prophet aymeth at in this Psalme Verse 22. When the Sunne ryseth the Prophet sheweth that GOD so distributeth the tyme that the daye belongeth vnto man and the nighte to rauenous beastes whose cruelty is in parte also restrayned by the lighte of the Sunne or day so that they are thereby as it were constrayned to kéepe themselues in their dennes to the ende that man may more safelye goe aboute his businesse they retyre i. those rauenous Beastes of the Forrestes and couche in their Dennes i. lye still and quietlye there without annoying or hurting man any waye Verse 23. Then i. at the Sunne rysing and when the wilde beastes are in their Caues and holes goeth man foorth i. mankinde or the people whiche inhabite the earth to his worke and to his labour i. to the affayres and businesses whiche thou haste appointed him to doe whiche is called his because hée is Gods Instrumente in the performaunce thereof vntill the euening whiche tyme thou of thy goodnesse O Lorde haste ordayned for his rest Verse 24. O Lorde the Prophet in this sentence vseth both an exclamation and a wondering after that hee had as before spoken of the merueylous vses of GOD his gouernmente howe manifolde i. not onely dyuers in respecte of kynde but innumerable in respect of multitude are thy workes i. the thinges that thou haste created and made in wisedome i. in suche greate and excellent wisedome haste thou made them all vz. generally and particularlye as none is able to controll eyther the whole or any parte thereof The Prophet meaneth that Gods workemanshippe is so exquisite that there is no confusion eyther in the whole or in parte some expounde it thus In wisedome hast thou made them all i. by wisedome meaning his eternall Sonne as Prouerbes 8 verse 22 c. vnto the ende of the Chapter but notwithstanding I lyke the former sence better the earth i. the whole worlde and the people that dwell therein is full of thy riches i. is plentifullye replenished with varyetie of thy greatnesse whiche are greate testimonyes of thy grace Verse 25. So is the Sea q.d. as the earth is filled with thy riches so is the Sea lykewise from the testimonyes of Gods grace and goodnesse vpon the Lande he commeth to the Sea which hée setteth out as it were a new glasse wherein men may behold Gods power and wisedome greate and wyde hée attributeth two Titles to the Sea the one noting the force thereof the other the largenesse both yet tending to manyfest Gods power which had replenished so huge a place with such wonderfull store and varietye of creatures for therein i. in the Sea are thinges vz. whiche thou haste created créeping vz. according to the order whiche thou haste sette meaning by this terme swimming and liuing in the Waters innumerable hée sheweth that the creatures of GOD in the Sea can not bée numbred muche lesse can those in Heauen and these in earth and altogether both small Beasts and great q.d. There is not onely innumerable store but varietye of kindes also all which setteth forth still Gods mightye power Verse 26. There i. in that Sea goe the Shippes i. they sayle to and fro a Metaphor taken from liuing Creatures and applyed to insensible thinges yea that Leuiathan q.d. Euen that same greate monstrous Fishe is in the Sea also sée Iob. 40. verse 20. to the end of the Chapter and Iob 41. throughout whome thou hast made to play therein i. to swimme vp and downe at his pleasure q.d. This onely Sea beast doth sufficyently sette out vnto vs the fearefull power of GOD whose styrring though it trouble the seas yet is it nothing but sporte in respecte of GOD. Verse 27. All these vz. thy creatures whether they bée in the ayre or in the earth or in the Sea wayte vppon thée vz. not only to haue foode and sustenaunce as followeth but to bée disposed of euen as shall please thée without whome they canne doe nothing that thou vz. thorowe thy prouidence and appoyntment mayest giue them vz. of thy gracious goodnesse and mercy foode vz to eate vppon and lay by in due season i. in that time wherein thou thy selfe haste appoynted with thy selfe to bestowe it vppon them Verse 28. Thou giuest it vz. graciously and plentifullye vnto them vz. when they are in néede and wante and they gather it vz. to their comforte and sustentation thou openest thine hande hée séemeth here to resemble GOD to a good Father or Mayster of a householde who many tymes with holdeth from his children and Seruauntes to the ende that they might learne to sette a better price vpon them which when he séemeth then inclined vnto then hée bestoweth these thinges vppon them and they are filled with good thinges vz. from thée by opening of the hande hée meaneth Gods greate liberalitye and by filling with good thinges hée vnderstandeth the effecte of that grace Verse 29. But if thou hyde thy face i. if thou shewe not thy selfe fauourable and mercyfull vnto them but leaue them Hée sheweth that euen GOD his verye countenaunce giueth euen béeing and moouing and lyfe vnto all thinges they are troubled vz. beyonde all measure so that they euen seeme to bee withoute all lyfe or béeing If thou take awaye their breath i. that kinde of lyfe whiche thou hast giuen them sée Genesis 1 verse 24. they die and returne to their dust vz. out of which they were taken and not that it is their owne Verse 30. Againe if thou vz. O Lorde the Prophetes minde is to shew that the death and life of all creatures is in the Lords power only send forth thy spirit i. thy quickening and liuely power some referre it to the holy Ghost I suppose both sences may very well stand prouided also that wée fall not into the error of some who supposed that the spirit did essentially dwell in men and other creatures they are created i. not only restored into their former state by thy fauourable countenaunce after they haue bene troubled by
Verse 8. Gilead i. the whole lande countrie of Gilead with the people inhabiting the same shall be mine i. subiect to my power and authority and Manasseh i. the whole tribe of Manasseh shal be mine i. subiect to me though now for a while they follow the house of Saul Ephraim also i. the tribe of Ephraim shall be the strength of mine head i. shall be a principall proppe and staye of my kingdome and this the Prophet speaketh not only for any affiaunce he had in that tribe but also and chéefly because that tribe was mighty much people and when he sayth the strength of his head he vseth a Metaphor taken from beasts with hornes who vse also to defend thēselues therwith q.d. Ephraim shal be one of my principall meanes of defence Iudah i. the tribe of Iudah or the place where that Tribe dwelt is my lawgiuer i. is the place or people frō whence or from whom my lawes and ordinaunces procéed Verse 9. Moab i. the whole land people inhabiting it q.d. not only the Israelites but euen the Gentiles shal be added to my kingdome shal be my washpot vz. wherein I wil wash my féet meaning hereby that he would handle them more hardly make les account of them then of the Israelites because they were vncircūcised q.d. I wil make no more account of them then of an earthen pot vnder my féete and yet if I will reserue any of them I wil vse them in base seruices sée 2. Sam. 8.2 ouer Edom i. ouer the Edomites and their lande I will cast my shoe i. I will ouercom them when they are cast down tread vpon thē as it were meaning nothing else but that he would bring thē euen easily into his subiection obediēce vpō Palestina i the country it self the people inhabiting it who were called Philistines wil I triumph vz. boldly chearfully q.d. whereas they were wont ieastingly and scoffingly to triumph ouer vs as appeareth Iudges 16 25. 1. Samuel 4.7.8.9 Nowe wee will doe the like vnto them as though he should say now let them brag that they haue vanquished vs heretofore if they can or dare Verse 10. Who vz. besides God q.d. there is none able but he alone as may appeare by the next verse following wil lead me vz. the righte and ready way into the strong Citie vz. of mine enemies he putteth one citie for many and he calleth thē strong because they that possessed thē thoughte them so to be and not that they were able any maner of way to resist Gods power in him who will bring me to Edom vz. to vanquish and subdue it and the people there inhabiting Ver. 11. Wilt not thou O God q.d. I am sure thou wilt for so significant is the interrogatiō in this place which haddest vz. heretofore forsaken vs vz. vtterly leauing vs in the hands of our aduersaries and diddest not go forth vz. as thou wast wont to doe in fauour loue with our armies i. with those armies which we sent out agaynst our enemies q.d. Though heretofore we haue receaued a repulse yet now we perswade our selues that thou wilt giue vs victory ver 12 Giue vs vz. thorow thy mercy and goodnesse only for we craue it as a gift helpe i. aid strēgth grace c. against trouble i. against al trouble that we shall indure eyther outward or inwarde for vayne is the helpe of man i. the ayd that man can giue or bring is to little or no purpose Ver. 13. Thorow God i. thorow the ayd and strength we haue of him and in that assurance that we haue of his succour and assistance we shal doe valiauntly vz. against his and our enemies howsoeuer men be not able to ayd vs for he vz. alone without the helpe of any other shall tread down vz. vnder our féete meaning by that spéeche vanquishing and subduing of them our enemies i. all that shall rise vp agaynst vs either at home or abroad Do. Ver. 1. teacheth to come to Gods seruice with purpose and preparation also to serue him with our inward and outward man both Verse 2 doth teach vs two things first to vse all the meanes that may prouoke to the seruice and worship of God secondly to forgoe some parte of our pleasures and profits to performe it Verse 3 teacheth vs to prayse God so that other men may knowe it and by our example be stirred vp to do the like Verse 4 teacheth vs that Gods mercy and truth and the greatnesse and assurednesse thereof are two singular comforts to the consciences of his children Verse 5 teacheth vs in all our praiers to set before vs Gods glory as the speciall marke to aime at Ver. 6 teacheth vs also in our prayers to remember the safety and deliueraunce of our brethren Verse 7 teacheth vs that Gods worde and promise is ground sufficient ynough for the stay of his childrens perswasion Verse 8 teacheth vs that if the Lord haue promised vs a thing we should make as certayne account of it as though we had it in possession Verse 9 teacheth vs that no enemies whatsoeuer shal be able to resist Gods purpose in his seruants but that he wil both with ease and in assurance cast them down Ver. 10 teacheth that the ouerthrow of cities and peoples is from God only though he vse sundrye meanes for the performance therof Verse 11 teacheth that though God séeme to destitute his children for a while yet he will not forsake them for euer Ver. 12 sheweth that all mans ayde helpe counsell and countenaunce is as much without God as nothing Ver. 13 teacheth that all the strength power and victory that God his seruaunts haue is from the Lord only Psalme 109 THis Psalme as I take it Di. doth principallye propounde two things first the Prophet prayeth for himselfe alleaging his own misery and the mischiefe of his aduersaries as a mean to moue the Lord to mercy promising also praise thanksgiuing if the Lord will performe it verse 1 2 3 4 5 21 22 and so forth to the end of the Psalme In the second he praieth agaynst his aduersaries who were voyd as of all godlinesse in respect of the Lord so of all curtesie in respect of men and this reacheth from verse 6 vnto the end of the 20 verse The title of this Psalme is all one with Psal 13. and Psal 14. in their titles Se. and many others Likely it is that Dauid made this Psalm at some one time or other while Saule was king in whose dayes all the thinges were oute of order and if we compare the second verse of this Psalme with 1. Samuel 26.19 it shall appeare it was not made long before Saules death Verse 1. Hold not thy tongue vz. at these things which the vngodly practise agaynst me leste thou shouldest be thought eyther not to sée or else not to regarde the iniuries that they lay vpon me when they falsly accuse me before Saule the
for some deliuerances he addeth the cup of saluation that is deliuerances how Dauid performed this sée 1. Chro. 16.1.2.3 c. and will call vpon the name of the Lord i. pray vnto him also q.d. I wil not only thank him for his benefites but pray vnto him for the increase and continuance thereof Ver. 14. I will pay vz. with a frée and willing heart my vowes i. the thinges that I haue vowed or the sacrifices of thanksgiuing which I promised vnto him if he deliuered me out of distresse for amongst other that vsed to make vowes they did it that were in extreme danger distresse q.d. I wil not only by wordes confesse my self to be safe from danger so witnes the thankfulnes of my mind but I wil declare it also by offring the sacrifices which I vowed to the Lorde at what time Saul did pursue me very hardly The ende of vowes was to seale in the hearts of Gods children a hope to obtaine that which they did aske and moreouer to prouoke and bind them to thanksgiuing and this liberty to vow is permitted vnto Gods children to comfort them in their infirmities and not otherwise and that word pay noteth that it is due debt and that it can not be omitted without sinne if the thing vowed be lawful euen now q.d. I will not deferre it in the presence of all his people i. in the temple or place of publike exercise whether al Gods people resorted or else before all the Israelits whom he gathered together to Ierusalem to bring the arke of the Lorde thither Sée 1. Chro. 15.3 Ver. 15. Precious i. deare and of great account and regard in the sight of the Lord i. before him and his iudgement is the death of his saints i. death or mischief imagined or performed towards those whom he alloweth of q.d. God by my example hath declared how deare vnto him is the life of faithfull men séeing that hee hath so often preserued me assaulted so many wayes and with so great force or thus God doeth grieuously take good mens deathes and therefore they shall not escape vnpunished that kill them And marke this that for his comfort he setteth this against the malice of his enemies that God doth not at al aduenture deliuer his vp to death but maketh great account of them for the word saints sée Psalm 30.4 Ver. 16. Beholde Lord q.d. most true is it Lorde that thou wilt not haue the godly slayne for thou hast preserued me thy poore seruant for I am thy seruant vz. and thou hast shewed mée this grace and fauour I am thy seruaunt hee repeateth the same againe as a matter of no small comfort vnto himselfe neither must wee so vnderstand him as though hée grounded the causes of his deliuerance vpon his seruices perfourmed to God but vppon Gods frée election q.d. from my mothtrs wombe yea before I was borne this honour and goodnes was prepared for mee and the sonne of thy handmayde i. of a woman who did purely worship thée and this he speaketh because that children by reason of their first education imitated the disposition and manners of their mothers for which cause also it should séeme that the names of the kings mothers are so commonly expressed in the bookes of kings sée for this phrase Psal 86.16 thou vz. alone hast broken vz. in pieces or a sunder by thy almighty power my bands i. either the bands that I was bound in or else the bandes that were prepared to bind me in by this maner of spéech he meaneth that god had deliuered him from the danger wherin he was or else he had kept him that he came not into the troubles that his enemies had prepared for him Ver. 17. I will offer vnto thee a sacrifice of praise vz. for thy mercy goodnes shewed vnto mee he meaneth that he wil acknowledge confesse gods goodnes praise him for the same for here he protesteth again as he had done before ver 13.14 that hee would giue God thanks which is a signe that he was not vnthankful and I will cal vppon the name of the Lord marke the sodaine change of the person from the seconde to the third he meaneth by this speach that he wil neuer cease to worship God to praise God sée before ver 13. of this Psal Ver. 18. I wil pay c. This is the same with ver 14. before going both in words meaning therfore we shall not néed to stand vpon it Ver. 19. In the courtes of the Lordes house i. in the place of publik resort and assembly whether the people came together to serue God meaning no doubt the Church euen in the middest of thée O Ierusalem i. openly in that most famous City in which was at that time the only place appointed for gods sacrifices and seruice because there was but one only altar and that was placed there from which also it was not lawful for any man to withdraw himselfe Ver. 1. Teacheth vs vnfeignedly to loue the Lord Do. also that he is nigh to the supplication praiers of the faithful Ver. 2. 3. Teach vs that the time of affliction is an acceptable time to pray to God in that affliction it selfe addeth also an edge vnto our praiers Ver. 3. Doth further teach into what great anguish distresse the children of god are many times brought Ver. 4. teacheth vs earnestnes continuance in praier vnto almighty God Ver. 5. Teacheth vs that the consideration and féeling of Gods mercy is ought to be a notable spurre vnto prayer Ver. 6. Teacheth vs that Gods mercy towards other men our selues also should assure vs that our prayers shal be heard and we deliuered Verse 7. Teacheth vs to comfort our selues what wee may in our distresse and heauinesse also that God himselfe is the onely proppe and stay of those that are his Ver. 8. teacheth that god doth graciously preserue those that depend vpon him how great or how many soeuer their troubles bee Ver. 9. Teacheth that those which are vnder the sauegarde prouidence and protection of almightie God shal neuer miscary Ver. 10. Teacheth vs that faith in God and his promises maketh vs bold in prayer to him and ouercommeth all assaults of Satans malice our owne corruption Ver. 11. Teacheth into what extremities gods children oftentimes fal specially whē they do not presently see the accomplishmēt of Gods promises Ver. 12. Teacheth vs that Gods benefites are so many and excellent that wee are not able to comprehende much lesse to answere the least part of them Ver. 13. Teacheth that vnfeigned and humble thankesgiuing is the most acceptable sacrifice to almighty God Ver. 14. Teacheth vs that when we haue vowed any thing which is lawfull and holy wee ought to performe it but what serueth this for vowes of monkery single life c. Ver. 15. Teacheth vs that god careth for that very tenderly those that are his which is a
sée that fall vpon them that I haue long desired and wished vz. destruction and confusion Immanuel readeth it thus therefore doe I despise mine enemyes q.d. I make no more account of them and their forces then of thinges whiche I contemne so safe sound and vnfearefull am I being vnder Gods defence Verse 8. It is better vz. by infinite degrées and marke that the worde better is not spoken here as though confidence in men were good for to trust in men is to rob god of his glory to trust vz. stedfastly in the Lord vz. only then to haue confidence i. any maner of trust or coÌ„fideÌ„ce at al in man vz. of what calling soeuer he be or how many in number soeuer they are Ver. 9. is the same almost with ver 8 therfore looke vpon that again in Princes this is a certaine kind of amplification q.d. We must not put our trust neither in men of low estate nor in mighty men those that séeme to haue all the power and authority in the world for they that wil cleaue to them shall be deceaued also because they be but men Ver. 10. All nations vz. whiche lie round about me my kingdom as the Philistines Moabits c. haue coÌ„passed me vz. and my people that round about sometimes by fraude sometimes by force and somtimes by one mean somtimes by another but in the name of the Lord i. thorow the goodnesse power strength of God shal I destroy theÌ„ vz. al with al their imaginations deuises In this verse and some other following the Prophet rehearseth the great daunger hée was in hee setteth out also the power cruelty multitude of his enemies and al to this end that hée might the more manifest the grace power of God in his deliueraunce which could not be performed by mans ayd but after a certayn meruailous diuine sort Ver. 11. They i. the nations round about me being my deadly enemies haue coÌ„passed me sée before ver 10 yea they haue coÌ„passed me i. they haue oftentimes enuironed me also very hardly and straitly beset me so that there was no likelyhood of escaping for so much I suppose the doubling of the phrase importeth al that followeth in this ver is the same in words sence with ver 10 Ver. 12. They i. mine enemies came about me vz. on euery side like bées i. not only in great multitudes as though there had bene many hiues of bées together but also with great fiercenesse eueÌ„ as though they would haue ouer-run me sée Deut. 1.44 for this phrase True it is that these little creatures haue no great power yet they are wonderfully fierce and angry specially if they be prouoked and make men somewhat afrayd if they set vpon them at the sodaine or vnawares but they i. mine enemies were quenched vz. thorow the strength and power which the Lord gaue me He meaneth by this spéeche that they were euen as it were vtterly and sodainly confounded as fyre that hath abundaunce of water cast vpon it as a fyre of thornes whiche though it make much noyse at the beginning by reason of the crackling thereof as our experience teacheth vs and yéeldeth a greater flame then greater woode doth yet notwithstanding it quicklye vanisheth awaye q.d. for all the vngodlye mens bragges they shall sodainlye perish and come to nothing sée for this spéeche Ecclesiasticus 7 8. the rest that followeth is expounded before in the other verses Ver. 13 Thou vz. O mine enemie some refer it to Saule as though Dauid spake it particularly of him I rather thinke that vnder one who was as it were the chéefest he meaneth all or manye hast thrust sore at mée vz. with al thy power force and deuises whatsoeuer The Prophet meaneth by this that hée had left no way vnassaâ—ed to hurt him that I might fal vz. either by death or into some dangerous state from the high coÌ„ditioÌ„ wherin I now am but the Lord vz. alone hath helpen me vz. thorow his mighty power meaning that the Lord had deliuered him froÌ„ the dangers distresses that were deuised against him Ver. 14 The Lord vz. alone is my strength i. is the strength that I haue to withstande or to ouercome al mine enemies my song i. the only matter mean of my ioy q.d. I haue nothing else in my selfe to reioyce in but onely in the Lorde who doth thus and thus for me for he hath bin my deliueraunce vz. oute of all my feares and daungers q.d. he alone hath deliuered me Ver. 15. The voyce of ioy and deliuerance i. ioyful voices and soundes for deliuerance vz. bestowed vpon me shal be vz. continually in the tabernacles of the righteous i. in the dwelling places houses of good men q.d. the righteous shall sing praises to god for the great deliuerances wch he hath wrought for them me saying vz. amongst themselues yet so that other may heare it the right hand of the Lord i. his great glory power and might hath done valiauntly vz. againste his enemies and for the defence of his own children he meaneth that they shoulde confesse that God had nobly displayed his power Ver. 16. The right hand of the Lord i. his great power might is exalted vz. aboue euery thing that setteth it selfe against it how high or great soeuer it be the rest of this verse is expounded before Verse 17. I shall not die vz. yet as mine aduersaries supposed and wished and as my weake state did make shew of but liue vz. vppon the earth amongest men suche doubling of spéeches haue bin touched before sundry times such a one there is also Psal 110.4 and declare vz. amongest men and vnto the people which shal come hereafter the workes of the Lorde the great and excéeding workes that he doth specially for his seruauntes and childreÌ„ Ver. 18. The Lord vz. by the hand and rod of his and mine enemies hath chastened me sore i. sharply q.d. It was Gods purpose to correct me by the meanes of mine enemies but the wicked went about thereby to destroy me but this God would not suffer sée Isaiah 10.6 7. also Zacha. 1 15. but he hath not deliuered me to death vz. which mine enemies purposed and practised against me q.d. thorow his goodnesse I haue escaped that daunger Ver. 19. Open ye vz. ye Priests and Leuites that haue the watch garding and kéeping of the Lords house sée Psalme 134.1 vnto me vz. vpon whome God hath bestowed such graces and mercies the gates of righteousnesse i. the dores of the Tabernacle or Gods house which is called righteousnesse either because none ought to enter therein but wise and good people or else because that in that place there was only reade and expounded the law of God whiche is the only true rule of all righteousnesse And by this maner of spéech hee testifyeth his ardent zeale when he desireth that the dores of the Tabernacle may be set
felt is the speciall matter of comfort to al his children Ver. 77. Teacheth vs that wee can not liue no not in this life much lesse in the life to come without Gods great mercy Ver. 78. Teacheth vs that wee may pray against the wicked also what the nature of the wirked is vz. to vse force and flattery against Gods Saintes to worke them hurt if they can thereby lastly that serious meditation in Gods lawe is a singular comfort agaynst the assaultes of our enemies Ver. 79. Teacheth vs to pray for them that bee shrunke away euen as for our selues also that there is no right worshippe of God without the knowledge of his woorde Ver. 80. Teacheth vs to pray earnestly against the sinne of hypocrisie and dissimulation Caph. Di. THe Prophet in this eleuenth part maketh hearty prayer to the Lorde for helpe and deliuery first because of the miserable estate wherein hee himselfe was in respect of his owne person verse 81.82.83.88 Secondly in respecte of the great outrage and cruelty of his enemies verse 84.85.86.87 Se. Verse 81. My soule faynteth i. my life is euen as it were consumed for thy saluation i. with looking for helpe and deliueraunce from thée yet q.d. notwithstanding all this great distresse wherein I am I doe wayte vz. in hope and patience for thy worde i. for the accomplishment of those thinges which thou in thy worde hast promised q.d. I haue in great patience waited for deliuerance from thée and wil waite for it still for by fainting hee vnderstandeth a certaine patience whose force though it séeme to be vtterly lost yet doeth it not altogether forsake them in whome it is who séeme notwithstanding to bee dead but putteth into their heartes secret gronings yea such as men cannot well expresse Ver. 82. Mine eies i. the power strength and sight of mine eies faile i. decayeth and waxeth dimme for otherwise hée had his eyes still for thy promise i. with looking for the accomplishment of thy promise so long thou séemest to mée to deferre and put it off saying i. in so much that I burst foorth into this speach and saide when wilt thou comfort mee vz. distressed and afflicted on euery side such a sore conflict and battaile had Dauid within himselfe Verse 83. For I am like a bottle vz. made of beastes skinnes in the smoke i. hanged vp in the smoke hee meaneth that through griefe and misery hée was wrinkled withered dryed away and consumed as it were yet do I not forget thy statutes q.d. my miseries driue me not into a forgetfulnes of thée and thy word but make mee more to remember thée it Verse 84. Howe many are the dayes vz. of affliction and trouble of thy seruaunt i. which thy seruaunt shall indure Sée Psalme 116.2 in the Prophetes also we shal read this phrase the dayes of Egipt the dayes of Babilon c. when wilt thou execute iudgement i. when wilt thou punish on them that persecute me vz. without a cause Verse 85. The proude Sée before ver 51.69.78 haue digged pits for me i. haue secretly and by ambushes as it were sought my death and destruction Sée Psalm 7.15 which vz. craftie and subtil kinde of dealing is not after thy lawe i. consenteth not with the trueth of thy woorde but directly fighteth against it and this hee addeth to moue the Lorde the rather to execute iustice Immanuel referreth it to the persons thus The proude who conforme not themselues to thy lawe i. will not bee ruled after thy woorde nor order their life according to it haue digged pittes for mee but me thinketh the other sence is as playne Verse 86. All thy commaundements i. they all generally and euery one of them particularly are true i. most true yea trueth it selfe and in all trueth and vprightnesse enioyned men to obserue them they i. the proude and wicked men persecute mée falsely i. not only without a cause on my part but lyingly and slanderously in respect of themselues helpe mée vz. thus distressed and deliuer mee from these bloody and cruell men Verse 87. They had almost consumed me vz. through their wicked deuises and cruell practises vppon the earth i. liuing here vppon the earth with them Immanuel readeth it better thus cast downe vppon the earth i. being very much humbled and afflicted q.d. my miserie coulde not moue them to pity mee but the more weake I was the more cruell they were against mée but vz. for all that I forsooke not thy statutes i. I ceased not to beléeue thy woorde and to walke in obedience of it Verse 88. Quicken mee i. recreate and refresh mée ouer all my troubles and as it were call mée backe from death to life according to thy louing kindenes vz. which thou wast wont to shewe to thy seruaunts and hast heretofore declared vnto mee so shall I kéepe vz. diligently and carefully the testimonie of thy mouth i. thy woorde and lawe which is thus named to set out the authoritie that it hath in it selfe and shoulde haue amongest men Sée ver 13. of this Psalme Ver. 81. Teacheth vs that howsoeuer the faith hope Do. and patience of Gods children bee for a time darkened yet is is neuer vtterly quenched or put out Ver. 82. Teacheth vs that God many times bringeth his children to a lowe ebbe and doth for a long while withholde his aide yet doeth he not altogether for euer forsake them it sheweth also what great conflicts the godly haue in their troubles Ver. 83. Teacheth vs that no misery shoulde make vs to forget Gods word nay rather the more our miseries are the more should we meditate therin because in it only is sound comfort to be found Ver. 84. Teacheth vs that euen Gods children do many times desire to know those things which the Lord hath not particularly reuealed vnto them in his word Ver. 85. Teachech vs that the wicked are both cruel and crafty Ver. 86. Teacheth vs that the more egerly men molest vs the more earnestly we should call vpon God for his helpe Ver. 87. Teacheth vs two things first that the vngodly are without bowels of pity and compassion secondly that we should be so rooted in the loue and knowledge of God and his trueth as nothing shoulde pull vs away therefrom Ver. 88. Teacheth vs that wee can performe nothing obediently to God till it please him to giue vs the grace and strength Lamed Di. IN this part the Prophet maketh plaine proofe of the certainety continuance and truth of Gods word first by the very works of creation ver 89.90.91 secondly by his owne particular experience and practise ver 92.93.94 and so on to the end of this part Se. Ver 89. O Lorde thy woorde indureth for euer in heauen q.d. euen the very heauens can be witnesse of the continuance and constancie of thy worde séeing that they in the strength of thy word continue and abide much more shall thy word it selfe indure Some expound it thus the Prophet affirmeth
woorde more then the ancient vz. in whom wisedome vnderstanding should specially abound partly for their experience and partly for their yeres because I kept i. labored and endeuoured to kéepe with a single and sincere heart thy precepts i. thy commandements word where the Prophet saith in al these thrée verses first that he was more wise then his enemies because that with al their subtilty craft they profited nothing in diuising his destruction and that he was better learned then euen the wise and ancient he declareth that whosoeuer he bee which shall haue brought his vnderstanding in subiection to gods word he shal find wisdom inough not only to kéepe him from the snares of his enemies but also to make him excéede his teachers in iudgment Ver. 101. I haue refrained vz. through the strength that thou hast giuen me and being instructed by thy law my féet vz. from going or walking in corruption féet also may be here vsed for affections as Ecel 4.17 from euery euil way i. not only from all corrupt courses and orders of life but also from euery prouocation which might draw me on thereto that I might kéep thy word q.d. al this I did to this end that I might testifie my obedience to thy law therfore I did take diligent héede to my selfe that I did not walk in the way of sin Ver. 102. I haue not declined vz. either to the right hand or to the left from thy iudgements i. from thy law and word which he calleth iudgments because that according therto the Lord wil iudg the world for thou diddest teach me vz. to walke in the obedience thereof q.d. If thou haddest not helde me in obedience thereof I had gone astray and he meaneth no doubt by teaching a speciall kind of teaching as when God draweth his electe vnto himselfe inwardly by his spirit Verse 103. How swéete q.d. I am not able to expresse the swéetenesse of them are thy promises vz. which thou hast made vnto thy seruaunts The word which he vseth here comprehendeth the whole doctrine of Gods word the principall part whereof is the frée couenaunte and promise of saluation and that maketh our translator to turne it promise vnto my mouth i. vnto the mouth of my hart and soule for otherwise the spirituall promises yéeld but little swéetenesse vnto the bodily mouth yea more then hony to my mouth q.d. They are more swéete and pleasaunt vnto my minde then hony is to my mouth He meaneth that with his mouth he neuer tasted anye meat how good or pleasaunt soeuer it were as he felt Gods word and specially the grace of adoption swéete and comfortable to his soule Vers 104. By thy preceptes i. by thy word I haue gotten vnderstanding vz. in great measure and abundance as before verse 93. therefore I hate vz. from the bottom of my hart al the wayes of falshood i. all false deceaueable and wicked wayes whatsoeuer Verse 97 teacheth vs two things Do. first that we ought to haue a harty affection towards Gods word secondly that we should meditate in it continually or else we can neuer profite in it Verse 98 teacheth vs that in all our affaires wée should presently conferre with Gods word Verse 98 99 100 teach vs that Gods word is only our wisedome also that knowledge of it maketh vs to excell not only our enemies but all men whatsoeuer Verse 101 teacheth vs in care and conscience to striue to abstayne not only from grosse euils but from all manner of euil whatsoeuer Verse 102 teacheth vs that if God be our guide and schoolemaister we can not go astraye and that therefore we should suffer oure selues to be lead by him Verse 103 teacheth vs that only Gods word and specially his promises are comfortable and delightfull to the consciences of his Ver. 104 teacheth vs that if we be once truly enlightened with Gods word it wil make vs loth all sinne and corruption both in our selues and others Nun. THe Prophet in this xiiii part of the Psalme Di. first commendeth the worde for the light and comfort that it yéeldeth to those that are afflicted Ver. 105.111 Secondly he declareth what a great care and loue he had to kéepe Gods Lawe Verse 106 109 110 112. Thyrdly he prayeth to the Lord not only to comfort him by his word but also to accept the thinges which shall come from him verse 107 108. Verse 105. Se. Thy word vz. O Lord is a Lanthorn i. is in stéede of a Lanthorne vnto my féete i. vnto my wayes or vnto mine affections as verse 101. and a light i. standeth in stéed of a light vnto my path i. vnto my behauioure and conuersation where in I walke as in a path He meaneth that Gods lawe did lead him out and teache him what he should doe Vnder which similitude also he teacheth vs that without the light and guidance of Gods worde the world can not go else where but in darkenesse and terrible downfalles Verse 106. I haue sworne i. I haue bound my selfe vnto God and the obedience of him by an oth and will performe it vz. thorow his strength and assistaunce who at this time hath giuen me a stedfast purpose and will hereafter adde a power that I will kéepe vz. according to the measure of grace receaued from God and as mans frailty will suffer me for he bound not himselfe to kéepe the law wholy and in euery point because that is impossible to vs thy righteous iudgements i. the rules and precepts of thy worde which containe nothing else but righteousnesse and well doing Ver. 107. I am very sore afflicted vz. in the outward man by enemies troubling me and infirmities weakning me and in the inwarde man with continuall anguish of hart and dayly assaultes O Lord quicken me i. deliuer me from death and daunger whereto I am very nigh according to thy word i. according to thy promise in thy worde sée it so vsed in this Psalme sundry times and namely verse 25 81. Verse 108. O Lord I beséech thée vz. vnfaignedly and from the bottome of my hart accept vz. in good part or of thy good pleasure only fauour and allowe the trée offerings of my mouth i. my prayers and thanks giuings which I fréely and willingly offer vnto thée they are called in other places of the scripture the calues of our lippes Hosea 14 2. and in an other place the fruit of our lippes Heb. 13.15 and teach me vz. not only to know but also to perfourme thy iudgments i. thy word and the rules thereof as sundry times before in this Psalm Ver. 109. My soule i. my life for otherwise the soule cannot bee touched and it is put for life because that whatsoeuer life this life hath it hath it from the soule is continually in my hand i. is in most present daunger of death and destruction sée 1. Samuel 28.21 also Iob. 13.14 he vseth this phrase or manner of spéech because that those things
vnfaignedly and from his hart Ver. 3. I wil not enter vz. willingly and gladly into the tabernacle of my house i. into any part of the house or the house it self which I haue caused to be newlye builded sée 2. Samuel 5 9 also 1 Chronicles 15 1. nor come vpon my pallet or bedde vz. whiche are set and made in my new house to lye down vpon them or take my rest there Verse 4. Nor suffer mine eyes to sléepe vz. verye muche specially in that house which I haue newly made nor my eye liddes to slumber q.d. I will bee continually watchfull and carefull for to build God a house The Prophet meaneth not in al this that he was so proude as to think that either by oth or vow he could prescribe God a law neither yet that he was so rash as to promise that he would dwel openly in the ayre not sléepe neither daye nor night till the arke were brought to a place whiche hee woulde prepare for it which could not be very quickly done for that had but after a sort to haue killed himself but this he meaneth that he made religion conscience of it to goe into his new house vnlesse he had prepared a place for Gods arke to rest in also q.d. I must not be more carefull for my selfe either in respect of pleasure or profit or both then I am for God and his seruice Ver. 5. Vntill I finde out i. vntill I shal by searching find out a place i. a fit méet and conuenient place for otherwise there were places ynow for the Lord vz. to dwell and rest in not that God is tied to any place for the heauen of heauens can not contain him but he meaneth the Ark which is called the Lord himself because it was a most manifest testimonie of his maiesty and power an habitation i. a place to rest dwel in that it may no longer bee caried from place to place as it hath bin for the mighty God of Iaakob i. for that great God whom Iaakob worshipped or else for him that saued and deliuered Iaakob frō many daungers as before ver 2. Ver. 6. Lo we i. both I and others heard of it i. not of the place but of the arke in Ephrathah i. that it was Ephrathah I take this rather as Immanuell doth to be the name of the countrie wherein the tribe of Ephraim dwelt then of any one particular place yet so that it should note Shilo in the Tribe of Ephraim where the Arke of the Lord was kept from the dayes of Iehoushua vntill the death of Helie the Priest at what time it was taken by the Philistines sée 1 Samuel chapiters 1 2 3 and 4. and found it i. the Arke in the fieldes of the Forrest or as Immanuel turneth it as it is in the hebrew text in the fields of Iahar i. in the citie of Iahar which was situate both in a plain and woody place and therfore is turned here in the fields of the forrest in which respect also it hath seuerall names for of the woodes it is called Kiriah Iearim that is the citie of woods and of the playn or fielde it is called Baal or Baalah or Kiriah in Baalah and sometimes Bala of Iuda that is plaine place for the sence of this place sée 1. Sam. 7 1 c. and for the citie it self sée Iehosh 15.60 where it is reckoned vp among the cities alotted to the tribe of Iudah hath two names I know other men giue other sences but methinketh this is most plain Ver. 7. We wil enter vz. cherefully gladlye into his tabernacles i. into the places where this arke shall rest he himself be religiously serued which in Psal 100. ver 4. are called his gates his courts and worship vz. him before his footestoole i. before the ark of the couenaunt which is so called to put the faithfull in mind that they must not stay in the beholding of the ark only as though god wer inclosed therin but that they must lift vp their harts to heauen to worship God there with all reuerence as though GOD stretched his féete from the heauen to the earth that hée might lifte vs vp to heauen Now he must be sought to in Christ who is the verye Arke of Couenaunte in déede Verse 8. Arise vz. now at the earnest prayer of thy people O Lord this is to be referred both to God himselfe and to the Arke also as may appeare by that which followeth in the Vers Sée the word Lord also put for Arke verse 5 of this Psalme to come into thy rest i. into the place of thy rest because that before the Arke stayed not long in one place as maye appeare by the continuall concourse of the stories thou and the Arke of thy strength i. both thou thy selfe and the visible sacrament as it were of thy strength and power and he calleth it the ark of Gods strength because that in and from the Arke the Lord did plainly declare his maiesty power c Ver. 9 Let thy Priests i. the Priests which thou hast chosen vnto thy selfe to bée the administers of holy things be clothed i. compassed about on euery side let it cleaue stick fast to thē as apparel doth to the body with righteousnes vz. both outward inward q.d. Let thē that are sanctified to this gret office be more and more sanctified let thy saints i. thy people whom thou hast sanctified to thy self reioyce vz. greatly that for this because the Ark shal stay in one place not flit as heretofore it hath done so that here he praieth both for Priests people Ver. 10. For thy seruaunt Dauids sake i. for him those promises which thou hast made to him others vnderstād by Dauid christ the sonne of Dauid who also in the Prophets is called by that name as Hosea 3 5 in the letter the first sence is most playn he speaking of himself in the third person in the doctrine the other is very true refuse not the face of thine annointed i. of me whom thou haste appointed to be King vnderstāding by not refusing his face the graunting of him his requests for here he prayeth the Lord to be merciful to his priests and people not to reiect the prayers which the king maketh for thē Ver. 11. The Lord vz. himself hath sworn in truth i. hath truly iustly sworn to perform whatsoeuer he hath promised vnto Dauid i. vnto me speaking stil of himself in the third person will not shrinke from it i. will not at any hand or by any meanes go back from his word sée Psa 110.4 and note that God sweareth not for any inconstancy in his word but for the strengthening of our fayth of the fruit of thy body i. some one or other of thy children sée Psal 127 3 wil I set vpon thy throne i. I will establishe them as thy lawfull heyres in thy kingdome after
the creation of heauen and earth the waters c. but also in that hee gouerneth euery thing according to his will and disposeth of them in a most wyse order Ver. 7. Hée vz. God alone bringeth vp vz. into the aire and skye and that by his almighty power the clouds i. vapors and exhalations which afterwardes in the middle region of the aire are turned into cloudes as we sée them from the endes of the earth i. from al the quarters of the worlde and maketh vz. by his almighty power the lightnings with the raine i. both lightning and rayne which are seldome sundered but come together as our dayly experience teacheth vs for wee haue seldome any lightning without rayne and thunder hee draweth foorth the wynds vz. by his almightie power stil to which euery thing euen the dumbe and insensible creatures must obey out of his treasures i. out of holes dens hidden and secret places in which as it were in treasure houses god keepeth the windes of which our sauiour Christ sayth Iohn 3.8 That the wind bloweth where it listeth and men heare the sound thereof but whence it commeth or whither it goeth no man can tell And thus wée sée that though by reason wee can giue a naturall cause of these meteors as that the cloudes are congealed of moist and watery vapours drawen out of the Sea and from the earth from which cloudes the rayne commeth as Ecclest 11.3 and that lightning is made of hote drye and firie exhalations drawen by the power of the sunne into the regions of the aire and so foorth of the rest yet we may perceiue by the playne woords of this text that nothing is done in the order of nature without the counsell and will of our GOD Sée Iob. 36. verse 27.28 c. also Iob. 37. throughout for this purpose Verse 8. Hée smote vz in his iustice and iudgement and that by his almighty power the first borne of Egipt i. all the first borne in the lande of Egypt both of man and beast i. of all men and beastes whatsoeuer Sée Exod. 12.29 Psalme 105.36 meaning by smiting destroying them with death And note that here he reckoneth vp a fourth cause wherefore the faythfull shoulde prayse God to wit for his speciall graces and benefites bestowed vppon his Church in their preseruation and deliuerance and his singular iudgements and punishments brought vpon their enemies wherein the principal prayse of his vertue and power is manifested Verse 9. Hée i. God himselfe hath sent vz. by his eternal power in the ministery of Moses and Aaron his seruants tokens vz. of his wrath and iudgement and wonders i. feareful and straunge thinges into the middest of thée O Egypt vz. so that thou canst not either pleade ignoraunce or alledge excuse for my iudgements were euen vppon Pharaoh vz. thy king and vppon all his seruauntes i. not onely them that attended vppon him but vppon all his people and subiectes the trueth and accomplishment of this Sée in Exod. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. chapters Verse 10. Hée i. God smote vz. in his iudgement and that by the dint of the sworde and death many nations vz. greater and mightier then the people of the Iewes Sée Deutronom 2. 3. chapt throughout for this matter and flewe vz. by the sworde of his seruantes and people many kinges whereof some hee reckoneth vp in the next verse and others are mentioned Numb 21.1 and in other places Verse 11. As Sihon king of the Ammorites and Og the king of Bashan sée the historie of these Numb 21. Deut. 3. Ioshua 12. and all the kingdomes of Canaan which was diuided into sundry kingdomes and wherein dwelt seuen nations greater and mightier then the Iewes Ver. 12. And gaue vz. of his frée goodnes their lande i. the land of the Canaanites or that land which they inhabited for an inheritance euen an inheritance to Israel his people i. for a place for them as safely and as lawfully for them to dwell in as if it had descended to them by inheritance Ver. 13. Thy name i. thy maiesty power and goodnes indureth for euer vz. towardes all but specially towards thine owne people O Lorde thy remembraunce i. the continual instructions which thou giuest to thy people to remember thée is from generation to generation i. lasteth comtinually and goeth on from age to age so that there is no age but they haue euident examples thereof Ver. 14. For the Lorde vz himselfe will iudge i. guide gouerne and defend as Psalme 96.13 and Psalme 98.9 and bee pacified towardes his seruauntes i. hee will as it were chaunge his purpose and not execute with heauy iudgement that which he had determined against them and this is spoken of God according to the manner of men Ver. 15.16 17.18 Sée expounded before Psalm 115. ver 4.5.6.7.8 where you shall finde both the very same woordes and matters And hee here inueigheth so sharply agaynst idoles because that the prayse which belongeth vnto GOD is many tymes falsly giuen vnto them and therefore hee declareth that neither the matter it selfe whereof they are made nor the workeman can giue them the title of GOD or God heade Ver. 19. Prayse the Lorde sée ver 1.3 of this Psalme yee house of Israell i. yee that descende of Israell or Iaakob meaning by this speach all the people generally prayse the Lorde yée house of Aaron i. ye Priests who descend and come from Aaron to whose race familie and stocke the priesthood was by Gods ordinaunce onely appoynted and tyed Ver. 20. Prayse the Lorde yee house of Leui i. all ye Leuites who were inferiour vnto the Priestes though they came all from one father to wit Leui Iaakobs third sonne and by this place wee sée that euen by the very institution and ordinaunce of God there were two distinct orders amongest the people of the Iewes to wit priests and Leuites according to which also he speaketh here ye that feare the Lorde vz. with a reuerent child like feare meaning also by this speach such as did worshippe and serue him sée Psalme 128.1 prayse the Lorde vz. with a good heart sée before ver 1.3 of this Psalme Ver. 41. Praysed be the Lord vz. for his infinite mercies towards vs out of Sion i. in Sion which was the place appoynted for his worshippe for this phrase sée Psalm 128.5 also 134.3 which vz. Lord and God dwelleth in Ierusalem i. giueth most plaine testimonies of his presence and abode there and not that God is tied to any place The Prophet meaneth that in Sion and Ierusalem the place of his worshippe he gaue euident signes of his presence and power and not that hee was inclosed or tied to that place only praise ye the Lord this Psalme beginneth and endeth with like woordes for which sée Psal 105. and Psal 106. in the beginning and ending Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs to exhort and prouoke al gods people to thankefulnes to God for his benefites Ver.
17. How deare i. how precious yea incomprehensible to my iudgement or to al mens iudgement whatsoeuer therefore vz. for the causes aboue rehearsed are thy thoughts vnto me i. are the meditations which I my selfe haue concerning thée and thy great workes howe great is the summe of them i. both of thy workes and of the thoughts and meditations which I haue of them q.d. they are so many as they are able to ouerwhelme al the vnderstanding of men that they are not able to count them much lesse to comprehend them sée Psa 40.5 Verse 18 If I should count them i. go about or indeuour to count them they are moe then the sand q.d. I might as well number the sand of the sea whiche is infinite and innumerable sée for this spéech 1. Samuel 13.5 2. Sam. 17.11 Psal 78.27 when I awake vz from my sléepe and naturall rest I am still with thée i. I doe continually meditate of thy wonderfull workes and wisedome q.d. Except it be when I sléepe I spend little or no time otherwise then in the meditation of thy maiesty and workes Verse 19. Oh that thou wouldest stay vz. in thy iust iudgements O God the wicked and bloody men i. mē that giue themselues ouer to wickednesse and murther q.d. Then should I muche reioyce to haue this my wish and prayer performed and I and others should be instructed to turne from their wayes and not to follow them to whome I saye vz. vnfaignedly and with a good hart depart ye from me sée Psa 6.8 Immanuel readeth this verse farre otherwise giueth a contrary sence but I sée no reason or ground for it for the place of the 2. Chron. 30.18.19 hath no such thing in it Ver. 20. Which vz. wicked bloody men speake wickedly of thée i. doe openly shew both by wordes and déedes withoute any maner of hipocrisie or counterfeiting a full contempt both of thée thine and that of hatred agaynst both and being thine enemies i. opposing and setting thēselues agaynst shée and thine are lifted vp i. aduaunce themselues and are swelled in pride as though that in the loftines of their harts they would doe whatsoeuer pleased them vpon the earth but all this is in vayne i. to no purpose for downe they shall be cast and haue terrible falles Immanuel readeth this latter part thus who doe vainly extoll i. not only without a cause but also proudly presumptuously set vp fauour and allow of thine enemies of which sée Rom. 1.32 Ver. 21. Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thée q.d. thou knowest that I do it for that I take to be the force of the interrogation and doe not I earnestly cōtend with those that rise vp against thée i. doe I not striue as it were for lyfe and death agaynst those that are thine enemies for this phrase rising vp agaynst one sée Psal 3 1. Ver. 22. I hate them with an vnfeigned hatred i. not as men who séeme to hate and yet to loue but I doe vnfainedlye and with a round hart as they were mine vtter enemies vz. yea and more to if it be possible for a man to hate more He sheweth that he had gods glory in such regard that he would not haue any familiaritie with the contemners of God Ver. 23. Trie me O God vz. thorowly and know mine heart i. not that hee doubted whether God knew it yea or no but to declare that he did willingly subiect him selfe to Gods triall proue me and know my thoughts this repetition doubling séemeth not only to note his earnestnesse in prayer but also the vnfeignednesse of his hart sincerely submitting it selfe to the examination and tryall of God and all is q.d. thou art a witnesse of all my matters and I am thy seruaunt therefore if néede be behold I am ready to indure thy trials sée Psal 26 1 2. c. Neyther doth he here boast as though he were without sinne but assureth himselfe that God will accepte his godlinesse and indeuour although that thorow infirmitie he fall sundry times Ver. 24. And consider vz. thorowly and narrowly if there be any way of wickednesse in me i. whether I follow an vngodly and rebellious kind of life against thée yea or nay for it is one thing to fall of infirmitie and another thing to sinne rebelliously Paul Rom. 7 expresseth it by sinne dwelling in vs sinne reigning in vs and lead me vz. thorow thy goodnesse and mercy in the way vz. of thy commaundements i. in a godly and holy conuersation for euer i. continually He prayeth vnto God that he may be constant in his obedience and that he may finish the course of his life in his faith and feare Verse 1. teacheth vs that God is the searcher of the hart and raines Ver. 2 teacheth vs that the Lord doth not only know but also dispose of al the affairs of our life also that he looketh euen vnto our thoughts and that therefore wée should striue euen to a reformation of them likewise Verse 3 teacheth vs that God is the protector and defender of those that be his in euery thing that they take in hand Ver. 4 teacheth vs that God regardeth euen our words and that therefore we should labour to make them approued vnto him Ver. 5 teacheth vs that we can doe nothing without God Verse 6 teacheth vs that we cannot of our selues attaine to the knowledge of God and his maiestie Verse 7 8 9 10 11 12 teach vs that nothing nor no place can hide vs from the presence and power of God neither heauen nor hell nor the sea nor the darkenesse nor any thing else whatsoeuer They teach further that it is a very vaine and false perswasion for a man to thinke that by going or flying he canne escape from God They shew also that God by his power and prouidence is euery where Verse 10 doth specially teach vs this that whatsoeuer we purpose yet wee can goe no whither but thither whither the Lord will haue vs to goe Verse 13 teacheth vs that God preserueth and kéepeth vs euen before we be borne or else should we neuer behold this light Verse 14 teacheth vs but euen to looke into our selues and our creation and we shall finde great occasion offred vs thereby to be thankful to God Verse 15. setteth out Gods prouidence as to whole man generallye so euen to the particular partes and members of his body Verse 16 teacheth that God alone worketh in all in our conception creation c. Verse 17 teacheth vs reuerently to estéeme of Gods wayes and of his workes and not to let them passe with so slight a consideration as commonlye men doe Ver. 18 teacheth vs that Gods workes are infinite and we not able to comprehend them no not any one of them in such sort as we should and as the excellency of them requireth it teacheth vs also in the meditation and beholding of them that thereby wee may more and
aduāced Ioseph Israel i. Iaakob al his people for he putteth the principal man of the familye for the whole came to Egipt vz. not only to sée Ioseph but also to tary abide there sée Gen. 46.1 c. Iaakob i. he and his posterity was a stranger i. dwelt soiorned as a stranger in the land of Ham i. in Egipt which is called the land of Ham because they came of Ham Noahs secōd son as appeareth Gen. 10.6 sée before Psal 78 51. ver 27. of this Psal Ver. 24. And for this word read where then the sence wil be more plaine he i. God increased vz. thorow his especial blessing his people vz. of Israel excéedingly vz. into an infinit multitude number in respect of them wch went down into Egipt and made them stronger vz. both in power might then their oppressors i. then the Egyptians who oppressed them by reason of their multitude increasing of thē stood in feare of thē sée for this Exod. 1.7 8 c. Ver. 25. He vz. God turned their harts i. the harts of the posterity of the king and the people of Egipt as appeareth also Exod. 1.8 c. to that his people wheras their predecessors loued fauored the and to deale craftily he meaneth by this spéech the subtil wicked cruel deuises that the Egiptians had to kéepe the people of Israel vnder mentioned Exod. 1. ver 8 10 11 c. with his seruants i. with those whom the Lord had chosen called to serue him These spéeches in outward shew séeme to make god the author and cause of sinne but we must note that the Prophet meaneth not any such thing thereby but to declare that in that the Egiptians hated and dealt cruelly with the children of Israel it was not don without Gods prouidēce counsel yet so that the roote séed of malice corruption and cruelty was wholy in the Egyptians and that no péece of fault could therfore be ascribed to God Ver. 26. Then i. when the Egiptians did deale so wickedly and cruelly agaynst his people sent he vz. of mercy and goodnes pittying their misery Moses his seruaunt i. that excellent man whom he had appoynted to serue his turne in the deliuery of his people and Aaron whom he had chosen vz. to go with Moses and to be his mouth in that great busines sée for this matter Exod. chapt 3 4 thorowout Ver. 27. They i. Moses Aaron shewed vz. by the power that God had giuen them and according to his commaundement among them i the Egiptians and the Israelits both but chéefely the Egiptians the message of his signes euident demonstrations and proofes that the signs and wonders wch they wrought they did by his power not otherwise and wonders i. wonderful things meaning that they did them a particular resitall wherof followeth in the next verses in the land of Ham i. in Egipt sée before verse 23 of this Psalme Verse 28. Hée i. God true it is that it may be referred to Moses or God but I rather vnderstand it of God without whom Moses could do nothing and by whom alone Moses was inabled to do that which he did sent darkenesse vz. amongst the Egyptians and made it darke i. made the whole land darke so that nothing in it could behold any light sée this story Exod. 10.21 where you shall finde it to bee one of the last plagues though here the Psalmist reckon it vp first by which we sée that the holy Ghost is not greatly curious of order and they i. as some think Moses and Aaron othersome vnderstand it of the signs and wonders were not disobediēt to his cōmission i. they did perform those things which he had enioined and laid vpon thē It is not much material whether we refer it to the men or to the signes but I had rather refer it to the wonders themselues q.d. They did readily performe that which god had enioyned they were not vneffectual but were performed euen as Moses had sayd Ver. 29. Hee i. God by the ministery of his seruant Moses turned their waters i. the waters of the Egiptians into blood so that they could not drink thē and slew their fish vz. which were in the waters sée Exod. 7 20 21 Ver. 30. Their lād i. Egipt brought forth frogs vz. in great abūdance and multitude and that by gods specyal appointmēt euē in their kings chambers q.d. there was no place frée from thē Kings is here a word of the plurall number whiche we must not vnderstande as though Egypt had many Kinges for wee knowe it had but one but he meaneth thereby eyther the King and the Nobles of his kingdome who ioyned with him were as it were little Kinges or else the Kinges children who were nourished and brought vp in the hope of the kingdome Sée this more largely set out Exodus 8 verse 5 6 c. Ver. 31. Hee spake q.d. The Lord made not much adoe to plague Egypt for euen as soone as hee spake any thing it was performed and there came vz. immediately being sente from God swarmes of Flyes i. wonderfull abundaunce so that men could not say it was naturall and the word which we turne swarmes of Flies doth in déede signifye troupes of all sortes of creatures which serued also to make the myracle so much the more straunge and lice vz. hee sente and that in greate store and aboundaunce in all their quarters i. in all the quarters of the land of Egypt sée Exodus 8 verse 17 c. vnto the end of the chapeer Verse 32. he gaue them haile for raine i. wheras by reason of the drouth of the country they did much desire rain the Lord gaue them in stéed therof terrible fearful hail and flames of fire vz. sent frō heauen in their land i made manifest in the land wherin they dwelt sée Exod. 9 23 24 c. Ver. 33. He smote their vines also their fig trées vz. with that haile thunder lightning c. sent from heauen and brake down vz. euen to péeces the trées in their coasts i. the trées that were in al the coasts and quarters of their country fée Exod. 9 25. Ver. 34. He spake i. so soone as he spake sée verse 31 of this Psalme and the grashoppers came vz. in great number sent from him caterpillers innumerable vz. to destroy the fruit that the Grashoppers had left Ver. 35. And did eate vp vz. the grashoppers caterpillers did euen consume and deuour al the gras i. al the gréen and flourishing things that were sprouted forth in their land i. in the land of Egipt and deuoured the fruit of their ground i. did also consume and wast the fruit that their ground yéelded sée Exod. 10 13 14 c. Ver. 36. Hée smote also vz. in his wrath and anger and that not with pain and sicknesse only but euen with death all the first born in the land
vz. both of man and beast sée Psal 136.6 also Psa 78.51 Exod. 12.29 euen the beginning of al their strēgth this is another Peraphrasis of their first born or eldest and they are so named because their parents are of principal force then in the beginning of them and their force doth specially then appeare sée Gen. 49.3 Psal 78.51 Sée this story Exod. 12.29.30 c. Ver. 37. He i. the Lord by the ministery of his seruaunt Moses brought them vz. the people of Israell forth vz. out of the lande of Egipt and that with a mighty hand and outstretched arm also i. euen as wel as punished the Egiptians I suppose that the word may note the time whē god performed it vz. after that he had plagued and punished the Egiptians with siluer golde vz. euen as it were faden they had such great abundance of it which they tooke from the Egiptians sée Exod. 12.35 36. and there was none féeble among their tribes q.d. they came al out of Egipt safe and found frée from al not only outward but inward hinderaunces as the Lord had promised Exod. 11.7 Ver. 38. Egypt i. the Egiptians putting the land for the inhabitants was glad at their departure vz. from amongst them for the feare of them i. of the Israelites meaning that God then had made thē terrible and fearful to their enemies who but a little before did cruelly oppres them had fallen vppon them i. had seased taken hold of and possessed the harts of the Egiptians sée Exod. 11.8 also Exod. 12.33 Verse 39. He spread a cloud vz. in the day time to bee a couering vz. vnto his people of Israel and that to kéepe them from the heate of the sunne and fire i. a piller of fire to giue light in the night vz. to lead them in the way that they went sée Exod. 13 21. Ver. 40. They i. the Israelites asked vz. of god and that temptingly as Psal 78.18 and he broughte quailes i. most dainty delicate things so gracious was God vnto them and hee filled thē with the bread of heauen i. with Māna wch is called the breade of heauen because it came from the Firmament sée for this Exodus 16. thorow out also Psal 78. verse 23.24 c. Ver. 41. He opened vz. by his almighty power the rock vz. in the Wildenesse he putteth rock for rocks for this miracle was performed more then once as may appeare Exod. 17 6 Num. 20 11 by diligent cōparing of these two places together the waters flowed out vz. in great abundance and ran in the dry places vz. where there was no water before like a riuer i. in great plenty abundance so that both men beasts were satisfied therwith as Num. 20 11. sée also Psalme 78 15 16. Verse 42. For he remembred vz. euen to performe it sée verse 8. of this Psalme his holy promise vz. which he had made the promise is called holy both because it came frō him that is holines it self and also because it conteineth holy things to Abraham his seruant sée ver 6 of this Psal Now he made him this promise when he promised to bring his séed into the land of Canaan after 400 yeres sée Gen. 15 13 c. also Iosh 24.4 5 c. Ver. 43. And he vz. God brought forth vz. after that he had plagued the Egyptians his people vz. of Israel with ioy vz. both on the behalfe of the Egiptians who were glad to be rid of them and of the Israelites who reioyced to be set free from bondage and his chosen i. that people whom he had chosen with gladnes i. with mirth and singing the truth of this appeareth Exo. 15.1 c. also Num. 33 3 Ver. 44. And gaue them vz. fréely and of his own accord and goodnes and that for an inheritaunce as ver 11. of this Psalme the lands of the heathen i. the lands that the heathen did inhabite and dwell in vnderstanding by Heathen the Amonites Hittites other people that dwelt in the lande of Canaan And they vz. the Israelites tooke vz. vnto themselues the labours of the people i. those things that the people by great labour and trauayle had got vnto themselues in possession i. to bée a possession or inheritance for thē Ver. 45. That they vz. the Israelites might kéepe vz. with al their harts his statutes i. Gods cōmandements obserue vz. in thought word déed his lawes i. those thinges which by his laws he commaunded them to do So that here he noteth the end wherfore God gaue them those graces prayse ye the Lord sée the last verse of Psalm 104. Verse 1 teacheth vs to prayse God for his mercies Do. secondly to ioine with our praises praier vnto him for the things we want thirdly to indeuor that other as well as we may come to the knowledge of his maiestie and power Verse 2 teacheth vs both with hart and mouth to glorify our god that this should be one péece of our spéech to set forth his wonderful workes Ver. 3 teacheth vs that we can not rightly reioyce in any thing but in the power and goodnesse of God it teacheth vs also that none can in déed reioyce but those that loue fear the Lord Ver. 4 teacheth vs to ioin our selues to the publike assēblies of gods church for there the Lord is to be found also it teacheth vs the doctrine of perseuerance that we should neuer be weary of well doing Ver. 5 teacheth vs that in our meditations it is good for vs to ioyn Gods works his word together because al the life light that the works haue they haue it frō the word Ver. 6 teacheth that chéefly and only indéed it appertaineth to the faithful their séede to praise God Ver. 7 teacheth the faithful to comfort themselues in this that God is their God that they are vnder his gouernment Ver. 8 sheweth that this is very comfortable to Gods children that he thinketh alwaies vpon his mercies promised them to perform the same Ver. 9 10 setteth out Gods great goodnes who for the strengthning of our faith in the truth of his promises doth not only oftētimes repeat confirm the same but as it were tieth himself vnto vs by an oth Ver. 11 teacheth that whatsoeuer benefits either outward or inwarde God bestoweth vpō his seruants he giueth thē of his méere liberality goodnes only Ver. 12 teacheth vs that God respecteth not the person of men nor their multitude Ver. 13 sheweth that Gods children are vpō the earth strāgers pilgrims Ver. 14 teacheth that God doth neuer destitute his in any distres Ver. 15 teacheth how deare Gods children are vnto him and what care he hath ouer them so that he wil not haue them so much as once touched Ver. 16 teacheth that God many times euen by outward things exerciseth the faith of his dearest seruants Verse 17 teacheth that he doth not at any time for
the same alway i. all the dayes of my life q.d. I fainte weare awaye and consume with a holy desire that I haue to knowe and obserue thy lawe Verse 21. Thou vz. O Lord hast destroyed vz. iustlye by thy great mighte and power the proude i. the wicked vnbeléeuing and obstinate people for vnbeléefe is the mother of pride as faith is the mother of humilitie cursed are they i. all they of what estate or condition soeuer they are that doe erre vz. in their life and conuersation and this worde of erring doeth not signifye euery offence indifferentlye but an vnbrydeled licence whiche procéedeth from the contempt of GOD sée verse 10 of this Psalme and the word wander from thy commaundements vz. which thou hast prescribed as footesteppes and paths for me to tread in Verse 22. Remoue vz. very farre and that of thy goodnesse and mercy from me vz. thy poore and vnworthy seruaunte shame and contempt which the wicked and vngodlye haue purposed to bring vpon me for i. because I haue kepte thy testimonies vz. in my life and conuersation q.d. suffer not the wicked to diffame and mocke mée for this that I studye to obserue thy Lawe meaning that in that respecte and for that cause only the wicked did contemne mocke and despyse him Verse 23. Princes also i. great and mightye men as Magistrates and Iudges q.d. I was scorned and contemned not onlye of the common sorte of people but of great personages did sit vz. in the place and on the seat of iudgement and did speake vz. there and that openly where they should haue vttered nothing but iustice and truth this hee alleageth as a circumstaunce to aggrauate the sinne of those Rulers agaynst me vz. in my iust cause and that with mockes and tauntes but thy seruaunt i. I thy seruaunt speaking of himselfe by chaunging the person in the thyrde person did meditate vz. notwithstanding all that they spake or sayde agaynst mée in thy statutes i. in thy lawe and worde q.d. I did couragiously neglecte the shame and contempt which they did purposely lay vppon mée And this no doubte did muche wounde him that he was mocked not onlye of the popular sorte but of the mightiest amongste them yea euen of them that sate in the iudgement seate Verse 24. Also q.d. I did not only meditate in them but I tooke also singular delight and pleasure in them thy testimonies are my delighte i. I take my only pleasure and pastime in them and my Counsellors i. they by whose counsell I gouerne my selfe Dauid speaketh here after the manner of men and namely Princes who will doe nothing without the aduise of them that are of their counsell whereby he declareth that we must not stay our selues vppon our owne vnderstanding and wit but vppon the worde of God onely Verse 17 teacheth vs that our life is giuen vs Do. and shoulde be spent in the obedience of Gods truth Verse 18 teacheth vs that in respect of apprehending Gods misteries we are of our selues blinder then béetels till GOD open the eyes of our vnderstanding Verse 19 setteth out the wretchednesse misery and ignoraunce that is in vs not only before but after regeneration Verse 20. teacheth vs to haue a holy hunger and thirste not onlye after the knoweledge but also after the practise of God his lawe Verse 21 teacheth vs that GOD cannot awaye with proude men also that disobedience to Gods lawe pulleth his curse vppon vs. Verse 22 teacheth vs to praye to bée deliuered as GOD will from shame and contempt amongst men Verse 23 teacheth vs first that it is no new thing to haue mightye men to bée enemyes to Gods children secondlye that the more they shall trouble vs by persecution reuyling or otherwise the more we should giue our selues to meditation of God his word and the exercises therein prescribed Ver. 24 teacheth vs also two thinges firste that we should take singuler delight and pleasure in GOD his word otherwise there is little hope of profiting thereby secondlye that wée should haue it in this reuerence neuer to doe any thing but to aske aduise of the word whether we may do it yea or no. Daleth Di. THis is the fourth letter and serueth to distincte the fourth parte of the Psalme which generally comprehendeth an earnest praier of the Prophet desiring God somtime to instruct him in his wayes Verse 26 27 29 somtimes he prayeth to be deliuered from gréefes and troubles wherein he was verse 25 28 31 sometimes he setteth out the purpose that he had within him of obedience to the law verse 27 30 31 32. Se. Verse 25. My soule i. my life yea I my selfe in respecte of the outward and inward man cleaueth to the dust i. is not only nigh to deaths doore as it were but is full fraught with calamities and miseries so that I am cast downe and lie prostrate vnder them quicken mée vz. thus distressed q. d. Restore me to a better state and condition of life according to thy woorde vz. whiche thou hast giuen vnto me Hée putteth the worde which is the whole for the promises which are a part thereof Verse 26. I haue declared vz. from the bottome of my hart and that vnto thée alone my wayes i. not onely my matters affayres and thoughts but all my miseries yea very harte and order of lyfe committing them as it were into thy handes and thou heardest mée vz. thus praying and declaring my gréefes vnto thée vnderstanding by hearing graunting of his requestes teache mée thy statutes i. instructe mée in thy law and learne mée to leade my life according thereto q.d. I haue heretofore declared all my thoughtes vnto thée without hypocrisie or deceate I haue also committed all my actions and affections to thy care and referred all my enterpryses to thy good will hanging wholye vppon thy prouidence and thou hast heretofore hearde mée and taughte mée doe the lyke for me nowe Verse 27. Make me vz. that am so blinde and ignoraunt to vnderstand vz. rightlye and soundlye the waye of thy preceptes i. after what sorte and order I am to liue and directe my selfe and lyfe according to those thinges that thou haste commaunded mée in thy Lawe and I will meditate vz. continuallye and with a good harte thorowe thy goodnesse in thy wonderous workes i. in those workes whiche thou haste done and bée wonderfull because they farre excéede the reache of mans witte I had rather reade in thy wonders i. in the wonders of thy lawe sée before verse 18. of this Psalme Verse 28. My soule i. my life and I my selfe as verse 25. melteth i. consumeth and weareth awaye hée vseth a word here whiche signifieth dropping q.d. Droppe by droppe as it were my life perisheth and being made thinne consumeth awaye I wéepe so much for heauinesse vz. of harte whiche I haue by reason of the outward and inward gréefes whiche I sustayne rayse mée vp vz. euen as it were from deaths dore Hée meaneth by
this restoring of him to a better estate and refreshing him ouer all his miseries according to thy worde sée verse 25 of this Psalme Verse 29. Take vz. thorowe thy goodnesse and mercye from mée vz. which am so much inclyned thereto the way of lying i. the order trade and course of lying vnderstanding thereby all manner of corruption whatsoeuer agaynst GOD or man and graunt me graciously i. of thy great grace and goodnesse giue to mee thy Lawe i. the knowledge and practise of it that according to the same I maye leade my lyfe for it is not to bée doubted but that he had the Law q.d. Kéepe mée from all lying vanitie and sinne from the whiche that hée mighte bée the better preserued hée desireth to bee instructed in the doctrine of GOD his law Verse 30. I haue chosen vz. thorow the light that thou hast reuealed vnto me by the worke of thy spirite the waye of truth i. that path that leadeth into truth and well doing and thy iudgementes i. thy Lawe and commaundementes whiche hee calleth iudgementes because according to the same will he pronounce sentence haue I layde before mee vz. not onlye to looke vpon them but also as the rule of my life and behauioure Immanuell readeth this verse thus The way of truth which I chose and of thy iudgementes which I set before me making it as it were an exposition of the latter part of the other verse q.d. Graunt me graciously thy lawe which I acknowledge and take to be the way of truth c. Ver. 31. I haue cleaued vz. vnfaignedly and with a good hart meaning by this Metaphor of cleauing continuing and perseuering in GOD his Lawe sticking so fast vnto it as nothing coulde remooue him from it sée Romanes 12 9. to thy testimonies O Lord i. to thy law confounde me not i. let me not bee confounded and ashamed q.d. suffer me not to slide or fall into suche infirmitie eyther of woorde or déede that my life shoulde be shamefull vnto mée and I skorned of the enemies of thy law Ver. 32. I will runne vz. chearefullye and swiftlye the waye of thy commaundementes i. that waye order and course of life whiche thy commaundementes shewe me he meaneth that he will bee prompte and ready to kéepe Gods lawe when thou shalt inlarge mine hart some expounde it thus when thou shalt haue set mée out of daunger and giuen me thereby an occasion of great reioycing I rather would expounde it thus when thou shalt haue made my vnderstanding and spirite which of it selfe is narrow and straight not able to contain or conceaue any good things capable by inlarging and opening of it to containe and conceaue thy gifts and graces sée 1. King 4 29 concerning the inlarging of Salomons hart which in my iudgemente serueth very wel to open this place Do. Verse 25 teacheth vs in distresse and affliction to call vppon GOD by earnest prayers also that one good grounde of our prayers is Gods promises made vnto vs in his word Verse 26 teacheth vs that God is nigh to the faythfull prayers of his poore seruaunts also that we are ignoraunt of Gods law till it please him in mercye to vouchsafe to teache vs. Verse 27 teacheth vs carefullye and continuallye to meditate in Gods worde Verse 28 sheweth that Gods children are many times broughte verye lowe but yet the hope that they haue in GOD his promises doeth raise them vp agayne Verse 29 teacheth vs to abhorre as all sinne generally so particularlye lying and falshood also that Gods worde rightly vsed is a great mean to vanquishe sinne by Verse 30 teacheth vs that GOD his word shoulde be sette before vs in all the particular actions of this life Verse 31 teacheth vs to perseuer and continue in the profession of Gods truth all the dayes of our lyfe Verse 32 teacheth vs to go on forward in the race that is set before vs and neuer to be weary of wel doing He. Di. IN this whole part which consisteth of earnest prayer vnto God the Prophet first beséecheth the Lord to giue him good things as amongst others the knowledge and obedience of his law Ver. 33 34 35 38 40 secondly he praieth him to giue strength to auoyd euil things Ver. 36 37 39. Se. Verse 33 Teach me vz. which of my selfe am so blind ignorant and vnapte to euery good thing O Lord vz. whom alone I feare and worship the way of thy statutes i. that order of life which thy law setteth out ver 32. he called it the way of his commaundements and I will kéepe it vz. thorow thine assistance and goodnesse for otherwise no man can do any thing that good is vnto the end vz. of my life meaning that he would obserue Gods law al his life long sée verse 112 of this Psalme afterwards Ver. 34. Giue me vnderstanding vz. of thy will reuealed in thy word and I will kéepe thy law vz. thorow thy goodnesse and assistaunce as before not onlye in my hart but in my conuersation outwardlye yea I will kéepe it with my whole hart i. soundly sincerelye and with an vnfeigned affection Meaning that in the obseruation and obedyence of Gods lawe he would auoyde all hipocrisie Verse 35. Directe mée vz. which thorow mine owne corruption am readye to runne out of the way in the path of thy commaundements i. in the waye and order of life which thy commaundements would haue me to tread for therein i. both in thy Lawe and in a conuersation according to the same is my delighte i. I take singular ioye and pleasure Verse 36. Inclyne vz. thorowe the exercises of thy worde and the working of thy spirite mine hearte i. the affections and desires of my harte vnto thy Testimonyes i. to imbrace the knowledge and practise of thy worde and not to couetousnesse i. gréedye affecting and desyring of that whiche appertayneth to an other man hee putteth one kinde of sinne which is in déede the roote of all euill for al other transgressions and vices whatsoeuer as he did before the word lying ver 29. of this Psalme Ver. 37. Turne away mine eyes by the eyes he meaneth all other senses because they are the messengers which conuey or bring things to our other senses and the windowes or gates as it were by which euil entereth into vs from regarding i. from beholding or looking vpon he prayeth against the beginning of euill which being once ouercome processe and procéeding in it néed not to be feared vanity i. vaine things with the loue whereof men may easily bee ouertaken q.d. remooue the affections of my mind from these things which men do greatly desire and delight in lest otherwise I being caryed away from thy word I imbrace vayne things with other men quicken mee i. make me not only liuely to do thy will but giue me grace to liue in it all the dayes of my life in thy way i. in thy lawe see ver 15. of this Psalme Verse 38. Stablish