whom He takes a tender care 4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise be thankfull unto him and bless his name 4. When you enter therefore into the gates of his Sanctuary present Him not merely with the sacrifices of beasts but with the most acceptable sacrifice of hearty Thanksgiving and as you stand in his Courts attending on Him cease not to sing his praises Thank Him I say for all his benefits and praise his incomparable perfections 5. For the LORD is good his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations 5. For as his power is transcendent so is his goodness as appears by his never-failing bounty towards us and his stedfast faithfulness to his word for the mercy promised to our Forefathers He hath exactly fulfilled in our days and will continue to all succeeding generations PSALM CI. A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The Title tells us who made this Psalm and the matter of it is so plain that any body may see it is a pious resolution of David to govern first himself and then his Court and then his Kingdom with so much care that the good might expect all favour from him but no wicked man of any sort have the least countenance or incouragement The onely difficulty is to know when he composed it whether before or after he was settled in his Kingdom The first words of it seem to countenance those who think he was possessed of it and newly entred upon the Government which he thankfully acknowledges But the words that follow verse 2. O when wilt Thou come unto me seem to justifie their opinion who think he was now under Saul's persecution yet having confidence in God's promises which he long'd to see fulfilled made this religious Vow of being a good King and proposed to himself an excellent form and manner of life when God should be pleased to perform them To reconcile both these there is a middle way lies open to every ones view that reads his history For upon the death of Saul he was immediately promoted to the Kingdom though not intirely but resolved then with himself how well he would govern when God should make him King over all Israel as He had done over Judah And so I shall order my Paraphrase supposing him to reign now in Hebron 2 Sam. II. 1 2 3 4. and expecting to reign in Jerusalem 2 Sam V. 3 4 5. which I presume he here calls the City of God Ver. 8. because there he intended to settle the Ark as well as to fix his Court when he should be possessed of it That passage indeed hath induced some to think that he composed this Psalm after he had made an attempt to bring the Ark thither but failing in it 2 Sam. VI. 9 10. sighs here for its enjoyment Which I shall not dispute because I would not prolong this preface unnecessarily It is sufficient in my judgment to say that it doth not seem likely he would defer this resolution so long after he was installed in his Kingdom For it required time to prepare a place for the reception of the Ark sutable to the Majesty it represented 1. I Will sing of mercy and judgment unto thee O LORD will I sing 1. I Will never forget but celebrate with perpetual praises that mercy which hath raised me from a low condition unto the Throne and that just punishment which I see inflicted upon all my opposers both which I ascribe O Lord to Thee alone and not to my vertue or valour and therefore to Thee will I sing my gratefull Hymns 2. I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way O when wilt thou come unto me I will walk within my house with a perfect heart 2. Nor will I satifie my self merely with Songs of praise but study with all diligence integrity of life and purity of manners O when wilt Thou perfect what Thou hast begun for me and settle me peaceably in my Kingdom Then I shall be able to live more regularly then now in this state of war and confusion 2 Sam. III. 1 39. and so I resolve to doe sincerely indeavouring to make my self an absolute pattern of piety and vertue to all my Court. 3. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside it shall not cleave to me 3. No pretended reasons of state and politick ends shall make me so much as project any thing against the Law to which I will ever tie my self For I abhor the practices of those who decline that Rule to pursue their own private desires no such corrupt principles shall be entertained in my mind 4. A froward heart shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person 4. I will turn him instantly out of my service who shall dare to suggest to me any crooked counsels I will have no familiarity with him much less make him my favourite who makes no conscience how he compasses his ends 5. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer 5. I will be so far from listening to their private whispers who by secret calumnies and detractions indeavour to supplant their fellow-servants that I will severely punish and banish them my Court nor will I indure those whose pride makes them overlook all others as if they were another sort of Creatures or whose unsatiable covetousness and ambition makes them study their own advancement more then the publick good 6. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me 6. I will look out for trusty persons men fearing God and of clear integrity and in what part of the Country soever I find them make them of my Privy Council and no man shall bear any other Office in my Court but he that lives unblameably 7. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight 7. No subtil knave that is made up of shifts and tricks or that devises cunning cheats to oppress my subjects shall remain in my service Though he have craftily got into it under a guise of simplicity yet no false informer flatterer or any other sort of Liar shall continue in my favour 8. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD 8. As soon as ever I am settled in my Throne I will use my utmost diligence to reform the whole Nation especially the place of thy peculiar residence which ought to be an example to the rest of the Kingdom taking care that all offenders be severely punished in the Courts of Justice and if there be no other remedy cutting off those evil members who have got an incurable habit of doing wickedly PSALM CII A Prayer of the afflicted when
words sufficiently declare the sense but I have added more to explain the phrase which is borrowed from the custom of those days about which the Reader may consult Mr. Mede p. 483. last Edit In this resolution he was so serious that he repeats it again in the conclusion and saith he will pay his vows in the midst of Jerusalem from whence the History tells us he was forced to fly in great haste to save his life 2 Sam. XV. 14 c. This seems to be the occasion of the Psalm which may very well befit any other persons that receive any great deliverance from God and accordingly I will order the Paraphrase and fit it for the expressing of their devout affections 1. I Love the LORD because he hath heard my veice and my supplications 1. O How I love the Lord He knows that I love Him exceedingly and there is the greatest reason for it because He hath so graciously heard my prayer when in my distress I cried unto Him 2. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live 2. I cannot chuse but mention again this love of his in granting so readily my desires which incourages and ingages me on all such occasions to address my self with thankfull acknowledgments unto Him and to the last breath of my life to expect deliverance from Him 3. The sorrows of death compassed me and the pains of hell gat hold upon me I found trouble and sorrow 3. Great was my misery exceeding great Death it self and the grave were ready to seize on me and I saw no way to escape nay I my self in the anguish of my Soul inconsiderately cast my self into danger 4. Then called I upon the name of the LORD O LORD I beseech thee deliver my soul 4. Yet I did not despond in these straits but made the mighty wise and good Providence of God my refuge to whom I cryed saying O Lord who wast before all things and commandest them as Thou pleasest rescue me I most humbly beseech Thee from those dangers which threaten my destruction 5. Gracious is the LORD and righteous yea our God is mercifull 5. And it was not in vain that I cryed unto Him for the Lord hath shewn me how ready He is to doe good and how faithfull in his promises and withall how gentle in his punishments and inclinable to pardon our faults which demonstrates that no people serve such a gracious Master as our mercifull God 6. The LORD preserveth the simple I was brought low and he helped me 6. I had perished I am sure if I had relied onely on my own Wisedom or the skill and policy of others But the Lord was my hope who preserves the most simple and incautious Souls when they commit themselves to Him and wholly depend on his Providence I ought to say so who was reduced to a most forlorn estate and then by his assistance in a wonderfull manner delivered 7. Return unto thy rest O my soul for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee 7. What hast Thou then to doe O my Soul who hast been so tempestuously tossed but to settle thy self again in peace and tranquillity loving and praising the Lord who hath very many ways expressed his bounty most liberally to thee 8. For thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling 8. For when the dangers of death surrounded me Thou O my God didst deliver me when ever any sadness seized on me Thou hast been my Comforter and when I have been in danger of hurts maims or bruises or of falling into the hands of my enemies Thou still hast been my Protectour 9. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living 9. I ought therefore and I am resolved to imploy all that health and chearfulness that soundness of body and mind that peace and safety which Thou hast thus graciously bestowed on me in doing Thee to whom as my Sovereign Lord I owe all faithfull service as long as I stay in this world 10. I believed therefore have I spoken I was greatly afflicted 10. I had nothing I will thankfully remember to depend upon but onely thy kind Providence In this I placed my trust in this I placed my trust in this I gloried to others when I was in my greatest straits for the truth is I was extreamly miserable 11. I said in my haste All men are liars 11. Pressed on all sides with dangers from which when I fled as fast as I was able 2 Sam. XV. 14. XVII 16. 22. I concluded it was vain to rely on the friendship and help of men For they in whom I trusted proved so false and treacherous 2 Sam. XV. 31. that I had reason to think the rest would deceive and fail my expectation when I was in the greatest need of them 12. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits towards me 12. O the greatness of thy love who even then didst interpose and deliver me by the assistance of some faithfull Friends who still stuck to me 2 Sam. XVII 13 c. What shall I render unto the Lord who heard my prayer 2 Sam. XV. 31. How shall I shew my self gratefull to Him for this and for all other his benefits which He hath heaped upon me 13. I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD 13. All that I can doe cannot make Him more happy But as my duty binds me I will praise the Lord and speak good of his Name and give Him thanks in the best and most solemn manner I am able I will call all my Friends together to rejoice with me and taking the Cup which we call the Cup of Deliverance because when blessed and set apart we are wont to commemorate the blessings we have received I will magnifie the Power Goodness and Faithfulness of God my Saviour before all the company and will drink my self and then give it to them that they may praise his Name together with me 14. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people 14. And whatsoever I have promised Thee O Lord in the time of my distress I will faithfully ingage my self to perform before them all They shall see I am not forgetfull of Thee who wast so mindfull of me in my trouble 15. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints 15. As indeed Thou art of all good men whose lives Thou preservest as a precious Jewel and wilt not give them up to the pleasure of their enemies nor suffer them to be lost but by thy special Providence 16. Oh LORD truly I am thy servant I am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid thou hast loosed my bonds 16. Accept good Lord of these my resolutions for I am sensible that I am thy servant every way thy servant and intirely obliged to be faithfull to Thee
people over also to the sword and was wroth with his inheritance 62. Whose Sword slew a great number of his people 1 Sam. IV. 10. so exceeding angry was He with those whom He had formerly taken into his special care above all other Nations XXXII Deut. 8 9. 63. The fire consumed their young men and their maidens were not given to marriage 63. For it was by his Divine vengeance more then the Philistines valour that they lost abundance of brave young men the very flower of their Army by which means many of their Virgins were constrained to remain unmarried and they that found Husbands were fain to omit all tokens of joy in a time of publick sorrow 64. Their priests fell by the sword and their widows made no lamentation 64. For some of their Priests who were peculiarly consecrated to God's service were slain in this Battel 1 Sam. IV. 11. and their Wives oppressed with grief did not long survive to make any publick Funeral for them 1 Sam. IV. 20. 65. Then the LORD awaked as one out of sleep and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine 65. The Lord Himself also who was wont to sight for us seemed no more concerned in all these calamities which befell both us and our Religion then a mighty Commander is at that which is done to his Army when he is asleep or overcome with Wine Till at last like such a great Warriour who being awaked calls for his arms and charges the enemy with greater fury He vindicated his honour in a terrible manner and made a very great destruction among them 1 Sam. V. 9 11. 66. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts he put them to a perpetual reproach 66. For besides the fall of Dagon before the Ark He smote several Cities of the Philistines with a grievous sort of Haemorrhoids whereof many died and the rest languished under most miserable torments 1 Sam. V. 6 9 12. the monuments of which they themselves were forced to make and send back with the Ark to his great glory and their eternal reproach 1 Sam. VI. 3 4 9. 67. Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph and chose not the tribe of Ephraim 67. Yet he would not return to Shiloh again which was in the Tribe of Ephraim the Son of Joseph nor have the Ark of his presence placed there any more 68. But chose the tribe of Judah the mount Sion which he loved 68. But first it was brought to Kiriathaim 1 Sam. VI. 21. a City of the Tribe of Judah XV. Josh 6. where He resolved hereafter to have his special residence and so from thence after a short stay at the House of Obed-Edom unto Mount Sion 1 Chron. XIII 6. XVI 1 3 29. which He preferred before the Hill of Kiriathaim 1 Sam. VII 1. or any other place in all the Country 69. And he built his sanctuary like high palaces like the earth which he hath established for ever 69. There Solomon built Him a stately Temple which as it was a high and lofty Fabrick so was not moveable like his former habitation but remained perpetually fixed like the earth on which it stood 70. He chose David also his servant and took him from the sheepfolds 70. For as He had rejected Shiloh and chosen Sion for the place of his dwelling so He had likewise rejected Saul and chosen David the Father of Solomon to be the King of his people A man who served Him as faithfully in that Office as he had done his Father in keeping of his Sheep 71. From following the ews great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance 71. From that mean imployment He took him and raised him to the highest charge and dignity that the care he had imployed in looking after the Ews and their Lambs when they should fall he might exercise in governing his people and endeavouring that they whom He had chosen for his own peculiar inheritance did no way miscarry 72. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands 72. And he did not deceive His expectation but governed them with equal integrity and prudence never designing any thing but their good and dextrously accomplishing whatsoever he designed PSALM LXXIX A Psalm of Asaph ARGUMENT This Psalm was penned in all probability upon the same occasion with the LXXIX viz. The destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar see what I have said there in the Argument of that Psalm and it will appear altogether unlikely that this should have respect to the times of Antiochus Epiphanes as many imagin and among the rest Theodoret which is the more strange because the same reason he gives there why the LXXIV Psalm doth not belong to those times which he repeats again upon LXXX Psal 17. lies as strongly against the application of this Psalm to the fury and rage wherewith that Prince fell upon the Jewish Nation Whose miserable calamity under Nebuchadnezzar we find bewailed by Jeremiah who then lived X. Jer. 25. in the very words of the sixth and seventh verses of this Psalm which is some indication that they both belong to the same matter but whether Jeremiah took them from Asaph or Asaph from him I cannot certainly determin The latter is most likely because this Psalm seems to have been written after that desolation had for some time continued We reade indeed in the Book of Maccabees 1. VII 16 17. two other verses of this Psalm viz. 2 3. applied to the slaughter of threescore of the devouter sort of Jews presently after Antiochus his death But that Authour quotes them it is plain as words which had been written in former days and by him onely made use of to his purpose which was to shew that the same cruelties were in great part acted over again which their Fathers had seen at the destruction of Jerusalem 1. O God the heathen are come into thine inheritance thy holy temple have they defiled they have laid Jerusalem on heaps 1. O God the supreme Judge of the world Thou art not ignorant we know of our calamity for it comes by thy order but give us leave to represent unto thy Majesty the sad condition of the people and place which was once very dear unto Thee for prophane Nations have not onely invaded our or rather thy Country to which Thou hast a peculiar Title but polluted thy own House which was separated to thy service alone and laid it together with Jerusalem in ruinous heaps 2. The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth 2. Under which thy servants the Priests and other holy men whom they have slain could not have the honour to be buried nor obtain the common civility of a Grave but the dead Bodies of those whom Thou lovest they have barbarously disposed to
which they were dispersed 4. They wandred in the wilderness in a solitary way they found no city to dwell in 4. And they also who travelling through vast wildernesses and sandy desarts lost their way and could find no tract to lead them to a City inhabited 5. Hungry and thirsty their soul fainted in them 5. But in this perplexity wandred up and down so long that all their Provision was spent and they were ready to dye with hunger and thirst 6. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble and he delivered them out of their distresses 6. Yet then recommending themselves to the Lord and earnestly imploring his help in this miserable strait He mercifully delivered them out of it and freed them from all their anxieties 7. And he led them forth by the right way that they might go to a city of habitation 7. Directing them when they were in a Maze into the right path again which brought them to a place inhabited where they found relief for their necessities 8. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness and for his wonderfull works to the children of men 8. O that such men would never forget to make their thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord for this singular kindness but every where proclaim his wonderfull works 9. For he satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness 9. Who thus seasonably preserved them from starving by providing in this languishing condition drink to quench their thirst and plenty of good things to satisfie their hungry appetite 10. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death being bound in affliction and iron 10. They also who have no other dwelling but a dark prison nay a horrible dungeon where to add to their affliction they are loaded with iron manacles or fetters 11. Because they rebelled against the words of God and contemned the counsel of the most High 11. As a just punishment for the crimes they had rebelliously committed against the express commands of God and the plain dictates and frequent checks of their own consciences which were the voice of the most High giving them wholsome counsel though they contemned and despised it 12. Therefore he brought down their heart with labour they fell down and there was none to help 12. And thereby provoked Him to throw them into that miserable condition to humble their proud hearts by the hardship of a tedious and painfull imprisonment in which they lay so dejected and helpless that they saw no humane means whereby they should be delivered 13. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble and he saved them out of their distresses 13. Yet they then making their addresses to the Lord and earnestly beseeching Him to take pity upon their wretched estate He was pleased mercifully to hear their prayers and free them from those miserable straits 14. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of deaâ—h and brake their bands in sunder 14. Bringing them out of their sad confinement in that dismall dungeon and setting their hands and feet at liberty from the chains wherewith they were bound 15. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness and for his wonderfull works to the children of men 15. O that such men would never forget to make their thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord for his singular kindness but every where proclaim his wonderfull works 16. For he hath broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder 16. Who when their case was desperate removed the greatest obstacles and made even brasen gates and iron bars give way to their escape 17. Fools because of their transgression and because of their iniquities are afflicted 17. In like manner we see others who forgetting God and sottishly giving themselves up to all kind of debauchery in an irregular way of living fall into grievous diseases 18. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat and they draw near unto the gates of death 18. Which not onely quite take away their appetite but make them nauseate all manner of food which they formerly abused and thereby lay them so low that they are at the very brink of the grave 19. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble he saveth them out of their distresses 19. Yet even these men when they make their addresses unto the Lord and in the weak estate into which they have brought themselves pray earnestly to Him are wont to find relief from Him when no Medicines whatsoever will avail them 20. He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction 20. He orders their recovery when all the prescriptions of Physicians prove ineffectual nay when they are left for dead raises them up to life and health again 21. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness and for his wonderfull works to the children of men 21. O that these men would be so gratefull to the Lord as never to forget his singular kindness to them but every where proclaim such wonderfull works as these 22. And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing 22. And not content themselves with the Sacrifices of beasts which in their sickness they were apt to vow unto Him but offer those far more acceptable sacrifices of a gratefull heart acknowledging his Goodness and telling every body they meet withall in such a manner as may express how much they are affected with it what great things the Lord hath done for them 23. They that go down to the sea in ships that doe business in great waters 23. Who shews no less kindness to those that have occasion to be much upon the Sea to fish or to traffique upon the main Ocean 24. These see the works of the LORD and his wonders in the deep 24. Where they behold remarkable acts of Divine Providence in the wonderfull alterations which He makes in that vast collection of waters 25. For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind which lifteth up the waves thereof 25. For when they are smooth and still a sudden tempest arises by his command which puts them into such a rage that they are turned into swelling waves and billows 26. They mount up to the heaven they go down again to the depths their soul is melted because of trouble 26. On which the ships are sometimes mounted up as high as if they would touch the clouds and then sink down as low as if they would be buried in the bottom of the Sea to the great astonishment of the passengers who are ready to die with fear 27. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits end 27. For they are so tossed and whirled about that as they are not able to stand upon the decks so the most skilfull Mariners do not know which way to steer or what course to take to save themselves from perishing 28. Then they cry unto the LORD in
sorest distresses 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities 8. And He will at last free them from all those troubles which He hath inflicted on them as a punishment for their iniquities PSALM CXXXI A Song of degrees of David See CXX ARGUMENT Though David could not purge himself from all manner of guilt as he confesses in the foregoing Psalm vers 3. yet in that matter which he was charged withall by his Enemies of affecting the Kingdome he could safely protest he was as innocent as a little Child Which he doth in this Psalm particularly and in several parts of other Psalms 1. LORD my heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofty neither do I exercise my self in great matters or in things too high for me 1. O Lord I am accused of traiterous designs against my Sovereign and of aspiring to the Throne wherein Thou hast placed him But Thou who searchest the hearts knowest that I harbour no such ambitious thoughts nor hath my behaviour betrayed any such intentions For I never looked upon any man superciliously nor medled with affairs of State or any thing else that is above my place and calling 2. Surely I have behaved and quieted my self as a child that is weaned of his mother my soul is even as a weaned child 2. But have levelled my mind else let me perish to an equality with my condition and resolved to acquiesce in the present state of things committing my self unto thy care and depending on thy Providence as a Child that is newly weaned doth upon its Mother just so do I silence my natural desires and am content to be disposed of as Thou pleasest 3. Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever 3. And let all good men in like manner modestly place their confidence and hope in the Lord as long as they live and choose rather to be depressed then by any undue means raise themselves to greatness and honour PSALM CXXXII A Song of degrees See CXX ARGUMENT This Psalm seems to have been composed by some holy man after God had given commandment to David by Gad the Seer to build an Altar in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite where the destroying Angel stood and the Lord had answered him by fire upon that Altar 1 Chron. XXI 18 26. whereby David knew what he had till now been ignorant of that this was the place where God would be worshipped and have his Temple built XXII 1. Accordingly we reade expresly that Solomon therefore built the Temple in this place because God here appeared to David his father and David designed and prepared this place for it 2 Chron. III. 1. that there God's habitation might be fixed and not removed from place to place uncertainly as it had been in former times For the Tabernacle which the Hebrews call Mischkan had been in an unsettled condition except one period of time ever since they came into the Land of Canaan It was first pitched in Gilgal and staid there 24. years Then it was removed to Shiloh where it remained to the death of Eli 369. years After his death Shiloh being laid waste it was translated to Nob where it remained they say 13. years but was now no better then a Cabinet without its Jewel the Ark being in another place and never restored to it after that desolation of Shiloh see Psal LXVIII And then it was carried to Gibeon where Solomon found it and from thence fetcht it when he had finished the Temple Which the Hebrews therefore call Beth Olamim the eternal House because it was fixed to a place and out of it the Ark never departed as it had done out of the Tabernacle but there as the Psalmist here speaks Verse 14. the Lord took up his rest for ever Never to depart that is to any other place till the Messiah came who was the Temple of God in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily There are those that think Solomon penned this Psalm because in the 2 Chron. VI. the two last Verses he concludes his prayer at the consecration of the Temple with some part of it viz. Ver. 8 9 10. And truly since he speaks as if the Priests were just taking up the Ark to carry it into this resting place and there begs that God would not for David's sake turn away the face of his Anointed i.e. refuse to hear his prayer it is not an improbable conjecture which I shall follow in my Paraphrase And connect also this Psalm with the former to which it seems to have respect if we render the last word of the first Verse as the ancient Interpreters doe not affliction but humility meekness or modesty Yet I have not forgot to take notice of the other signification and in like manner have expounded that phrase the mighty God of Jacob two several ways Ver. 2. and 5. 1. LORD remember David and all his afflictions 1. LET it appear O Lord that Thou art not unmindfull of the pious humility of my Father David CXXXI 1. who chose to endure many afflictions rather then by unlawfull means to prefer himself to a Kingdom 2. How he sware unto the LORD and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob. 2. Which when he enjoyed his principal care was to provide a settled place for the worship of God for he bound himself with a solemn Oath unto the Lord and vowed unto the mighty One who had preserved him as He did Jacob in all his troubles 3. Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house nor go up into my bed 3. Saying I am resolved as I hope to prosper that I will not come into the new Palace which I have built for my self 1 Chron. XIV 1. much less go to dwell and take up my lodging there 4. I will not give sleep to mine eyes or slumber to mine eye-lids 4. Nay I will not lay my self down to rest nor take a wink of sleep 5. Vntill I find out a place for the LORD an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. 5. Untill I have found out a convenient place for the Ark of the Lord 1 Chr. XV. 1. XVI 1 43. an habitation for that mighty One who there makes Himself present to his people the posterity of Jacob. 6. Lo we heard of it at Ephratah we found it in the fields of the wood 6. And now behold the Lord Himself to our great joy hath told us the very place where He will fix his habitation 1 Chron. XXI 18 26. in the territory of Bethlem Ephrata XXXV Gen. 16 19. in the fields of that Forest where the Angel stood and directed David to build an Altar unto the Lord 1 Chron. XXI 18. XXII 7. We will go into his tabernacles we will worship at his footstool 7. Let us go therefore into his Tabernacles and prostrating our selves before his Majesty let us take up the Ark on which his Glory stands 1 Chron. XXVIII 2. with humble reverence and bring it
both by my Birth and by my Education and by this marvellous Deliverance whereby Thou hast rescued me from the power of death which had in a manner taken hold of me 17. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the LORD 17. I can never sure prove ungratefull to Thee unto whom I am tied by so many bonds But will always be making Thee my most thankfull solemn acknowledgments for the benefits I have received And together with those praises and thanksgivings wait upon thy Goodness for the like mercies in time to come 18. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people 18. I resolve again religiously to make good these and all other my vows wherein I stand ingaged to the Lord and that not onely in private but here at this solemnity in the face of all his people 19. In the courts of the LORD's house in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise ye the LORD 19. When they are gathered together at his House in the midst of the holy City of our God where they meet to worship Him and to doe Him honour There let them all join with me to bless and praise the great Creatour and Preserver of all things PSALM CXVII ARGUMENT This Psalm like the CX seems to be altogether Prophetical of the joy that all the world should conceive at the coming of the Messiah to give Salvation first to the Jews and then to all other Nations according to his faithfull promise Saint Paul applies the first words of it to this business Rom. XV. 11. and some of the Hebrews justifie his application confessing that this Psalm belongs to that matter The brevity of it makes it the more remarkable and easier to be remembred both by Jews and Gentiles 1. O Praise the LORD all ye nations praise him all ye people 1. LET not the praises which are due to the great Lord of all be confined to our Nation but let all people upon the face of the earth praise Him Let all mankind sing thankfull hymns unto Him 2. For his mercifull kindness is great towards us and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever Praise ye the LORD 2. For they are all concerned in his transcendent kindness which hath done mighty things for us and the Lord who changes not will never fail to perform his faithfull promises to the worlds end Therefore let us all join our praises to our common Benefactour PSALM CXVIII ARGUMENT There is nothing more probable then that David composed this Psalm after God had settled him upon the Throne of Israel as well as Judah and also subdued the Philistines who hoped to have crusht him before he grew too powerfull 2 Sam. V. 17. together with other enemies round about him who though they are not mentioned yet in all likelihood joyned with them as we may gather from Ver. 10 11. of this Psalm compared with 2 Sam. VII 1. For that it was written after he had brought the Ark to Jerusalem mentioned there Chap. VI. and placed it in the House he had prepared for it seems very plain from Ver. 19. of this Psalm Where he begins to praise God in such words as had not their compleat fulfilling till the Lord 's Christ whom the Jews rejected and said He shall not reign over us was made King of the World For to Him R. Solomon himself acknowledges those words The stone which the builders refused c. are to be applied And as the latter part of the Psalm is a Prophecy of Christ in David his Type so the former part may be accommodated to all Christians who being persecuted as Theodoret speaks and tormented and disgracefully treated by many Princes and their people by Kings and Governours got a glorious Victory over them all after they had indured a thousand deaths It seems also to have been pronounced at first in some solemn assembly of all the people met together to praise the Lord for his benefits And it is the common opinion of most Interpreters that they all had a part in this Psalm The greatest part of which was spoken by David who begins with a declaration how much he was indebted to God desiring all to assist him in his praises And then coming in a solemn procession I suppose to the Gates of the Tabernacle calls upon the Porters Verse 19. to open them to him that he might praise God in his Sanctuary which he doth in the very entrance Ver. 20 and then in the Courts of his House Ver. 21. After which all the people shout and magnifie the Divine Goodness in making him who was banished from his Country their King Ver. 22 c. And then the Priests come forth and bless both the King and people in the Name of the Lord Ver. 26 and exhort them to be thankfull Ver. 27 And then David seems to take the words out of their mouth and to declare that he will never be unmindfull of God's benefits desiring all the people also to remember them Ver. 28 29. According to which account of the Psalm I have ordered the Paraphrase 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD for he is good because his mercy endureth for ever 1. O Make your thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of all the world who as He is the Authour of all good and hath been exceeding bountifull unto us so will continue his kindness to all succeeding generations 2. Let Israel now say that his mercy endureth for ever 2. Let the Children of Israel who have had such long experience of his love and now see his promises fulfilled let them confess and thankfully acknowledge that his kindness continues to all generations 3. Let the house of Aaron now say that his mercy endureth for ever 3. Let the Priests and the Levites whose business it is to attend upon His service confess now and thankfully acknowledge that his kindness extends unto all ages 4. Let them now that fear the LORD say that his mercy endureth for ever 4. And let all the devout Worshippers of the Lord of whatsoever Nation they be join together with us for there is one Lord of all who dispenses various benefits to every one of us and confess now most thankfully that there is no end of his kindness 5. I called upon the LORD in distress the LORD answered me and set me in a large place 5. You may see an example of it in me who was in grievous straits and dangers 1 Sam. XXIII 26. XXVII 1. but then imploring the Divine Protection the Lord not onely delivered me but placed me in a secure estate free from all such molestation 2 Sam. V. 3. VII 1. 6. The LORD is on my side I will not fear what can man doe unto me 6. For the Lord it is evident takes my part and therefore though I have many enemies I am not afraid of them for when He is for me what disturbance can men be they