draweth on totall and finall apostasie vpon the other not so God giving grace to repent Obs 18. The more liberall God is to vs the more thankfull should wee bee the taste of his goodnesse should force vs to loue him Obs 19. God is good to all his creatures but in speciall manner to his Church Psal 147. Obs 20. The benefits of adoption and regeneration are attributed to hypocrites because externally they are called thereto But they are proper to the Elect whom Paul calleth the worke of GOD created to good workes Eph. 2. or Moses heere by the word made as in the 15. verse meanes Gods providence in making his people great and renowned Obs 21. verse 6. This aggredgeth the peoples vn thankfulnesse that God was so good to them and they wicked against God Obs 22. If wee will looke back to our beginning naturall spirituall or civill wee shall see wee haue no reason to bee proud Obs 23. verse 7. The best and surest witnesses of Gods benefites are these who beeing indeede godlie haue had long experience of them Obs 24. God so loved his Church that in the creation of the world and in the midst of his providence hee had a speciall regard to it not for their merite but because of his gratious election and adoption where by hee hath made them his heirs and coheirs with CHRIST Rom. 2.8 verse 8.9 Obs 25.10.11.12 David Ps 105. repeats GODs benefites to this people farther of nor Moses doeth in this song for Moses labouring to bee short beginneth at their comming to the wildernesse Obs 26. verse 13.14 Varietie of creatures for mans necessitie vtilitie and pleasure flowes from GODS liberalitie to man for the which man should bee thankfull See Psal 104. Obs 27. verse 15. Ieschurun or hee who should haue beene righteous is put for Israell by Ironicall illusion because they prooved vnrighteous and vnthankfull so GOD to Adam Gen. 3.22 Obs 28. Hee concluds all the faults of this people with their sinne of Idolatrie the haynousnesse whereof hee sets foorth by the similitude of an impudent harlot prostituting her selfe to other men of purpose to provoke her husband to anger for idolatrie is the highest sinne against GODS Law Obs 29. Men and women are called GODs children by nature because of creatioÌ„ or by grace by regeneration generallie or in a speciall respect Moses cals this people so heere because of their generall and outward calling which divynes cals voluntatem signi distinguish it a voluntate bene placiti Obs 30. GOD punishes not rashlie but takes first due inquisition of the fault howbeit he needs not who knoweth all things by his example to teach judges their duetie See Genes 11.5 and 18.21 Obs 31. verse 19. If GOD lye aback from vs and leaue vs to our selfe wee shall runne to perdition and if hee returne to vs wee shall bee saved Psal 30 39. Psalme 80.3.7.19 Obs 32 GOD raisde vp the Egyptians Syrians Assyrians Babilonians Grecians Romans against his people All those he calleth foolish how beit they were politick honorable wealthie vet vnlyke to the people of GOD while they served GOD. See Deut. 4.6.7.8 and Psal 147.19.20 Obs 33. It is a fearefull thing to fall in the hands of GOD beeing angrie with vs for even our GOD is a consuming fyre Heb. 12.29 Obs 34. verse 20.21 All plagues and punishments comes from God Amos. 3.6 yet to the godly they are made fatherly chastisments for their good Heb. 12 Obs 35. verse 27.28 GOD magnifies his mercie in making grace to superabound where sinne abounded Rom. 5.20 and his owne glorie is the end of all his working Obs 36.29.30 c. GOD requyres three things of his people which hee missed in them 1. The habit of wisedome 2. The vnderstanding of things concerning his glorie and their owne salvation 3. prouidence to foresee things to come Obs 37 verse 34.35 GODS judgements sleepe not as wicked men thinke but ly at the doore Gen. 4. 7. Ier. 17.1 2. Pet. 3.9 Obs 38. When GOD hath chastised his people eneugh hee will cast the rod in the fire and in wrath remember mercie Hab. 3. â—3 Psal 89. Psal 30. Esay 54.8 that wee may haue experience heereof true repentance is requyred at our hands Zach. 2.3 Obs 39. When our estate is most desperate GODS helpe is nearest that hee onely may haue the praise 2. King 14.26 Obs 40. GOD is the supreme ruler of al things ordinarâ— or extraordinar of punishmeÌ„ts deliveraÌ„ces therefroâ— Obs 41. verse 36.37 c. Wee defraud GOD of his right if wee set him not aboue all and according to our place gifts callings trample not vnder foote al Idolatrie superstition will worship inventions and traditions of men which cannot bee demonstrat by the word of GOD whether it bee in matters of faith maners Church government or ceremonies joyned to the worship of GOD. Obs 42 verse 40.41.42 In holy Scripture wee find many oaths which GOD makes joyned sometime to promises and hee doth both promise and sweare that by two immutable things hee may confirme our faith Hebr. 6.18 and when hee sweares hee sweares by himselfe as having none greater ibid. 13. Obs 43. The whole Catholick Church of Iewes and Gentils and exhorted to sing and praise the LORD for his workes both of justice and mercie which hee would manifest to them Rom. 15.10 Obs 44. The word expiation alludes to the legall ceremonies and imports that salvation that was to be perfyted by IESVS CHRIST Obs 45. verse 43 With this prophesie of the calling of the Gentils and conversion of the Iewes as with a blast of a trumpet after a Kings proclamation hee concluds this song This song in meeter followeth to be sung with the tune of the 78. Psalme Verse 1. HEare O yee Heavens what I doe speake O Earth my wordes attend Vers 2. My doctrine shall drop down as raine my speach lyke deaw I 'le spend And as small raine on tender hearbs and showres vpon the grasse So shall my word much fruit bring foorth not beeing heard amisse Vers 3. Since I the name of God the Lord will publish and proclame Ascribe yee people all to him the greatnesse of the same Vers 4. God is a rocke his work 's perfite for all his wayes are just A strong God faithfull without sinne hee must bee right and just Vers 5. His people are become corrupt and filthie now they are Perverse and crooked is their kinde vnlike his children deare Vers 6. O foolish people and vnwise who so the Lord reward Thy Father Maker Saviour wilt thou not him regard Vers 7. The dayes of old the ages past fathers fore-beears all Will tell and teach thee this for treuth if for them thou wilt call Vers 8. When the most High to Nations did heritage divide A pleasant bounds for Israel hee did even then provide Vers 9. For they his chosen people were the portion of the Lord The line on them layde for himselfe
lead captiue thy captivitie thou sonne of Abinoam Then hee that remained ruled over the nobles of the people IEHOVAH shall beare rule to mee among the strong Out of Ephraim whose root streatches to Amalek after Beniamin among thy people out of Machir they came downe and out of Zebulon they that draw with the rod of the writer And the Princes of Isachar with Deborah and Isachar with Barak sent downe to the valley vpon his feete for the divisions of Reuben great thoughts of heart Why sate thou betwixt two folds to heare the bleeting of the flocks for the division of Reuben great searching of heart Gilead dwelt still in the other syde Iordan and why dwelt Dan in ships Asher sat at the sea shore dwelt vpon his Creeks Zebulon Naphtali were the people who did hazard their soule to die vpon the places of the field The Kings came then they fought the Kings of Canaan fought in Taanah at the waters of Megiddo their desire of silver they got not The starres faught from the Heavens out of their degrees fought they with Sisera The river Kison swept theÌ„ away that ancient river Kison My soule shall trample vpon the strong Then were the horsehoofes bruised by the strokes of the strong Curse ye Meroz said the Angell of IEHOVAH Cursing curse yee the inhabitants thereof because they came not to helpe IEHOVAH to helpe IEHOVAH among the strong Iahel the wife of Cheber the Kenite shall bee blessed aboue women aboue women in tent she shall be blessed Hee asked water and shee gaue him milke she broght him butter in a dish for nobles Her hand sent themselves to the naile and her right hand to the haÌ„mer of worke men and shee hammered Sisera she cut off his head shee pricked through and pearsed the temple of his head Betwixt her feete hee was bowed together hee fell hee sleept betwixt her feet hee bowed himselfe hee fell where hee bowed himselfe there hee fell spoyled The mother of Sisera looked through the window and cryed out at the open of the window Why tarryes his charet from comming why are the turning of his foure wheeles made slow Her wise ladies answered vnto her also shee her selfe turned her speaches to her selfe Haue they not found shall they not divyde the spoyle one damosell two damosels for everie man The spoyle of colours for Sisera himselfe the spoyle of party collours of needle worke two of spoyle for the necke So let thy enemies all perish IEHOVAH and let those that loue him bee as the sunne going foorth in his strength Paraphrase PRaise yee the LORD who both hath made you able to revenge your selfe vpon your enemies and given you courage to fight and power to overcome them 2. O yee Kings who trust in your might rulers who lift vp your selfe in pryde heare and hearken vnto the words of this song wherein the LORD the GOD of Israel is praised for it serveth to teach you 3 O LORD when thou led thy people from mount Seir and the land of Edom toward the land of Canaan all creatures in Heaven and earth were moved with thy presence among thy people 4 Yea the mountaines that seemd so solid melted before the face of the LORD even mount Sinai where thou gaue thy law 5. A long time before this our last deliverance our estate was so hard that from the death of Ehud vnto this tyme none durst goe abroad for feare of the enemie 6. And as the people durst not travell in hie wayes So might they not abyde in villages vntill the time that GOD raised mee vp to foretell and confirme the deliverance of his people 7. Because Israel chosed new gods God raised vp new enemies to sight against them and oppresse them so that no weapon was found among them 8. I rejoyce of the Princes of Israel and of the people who came willingly to battell Blesse ye the Lord. 9 Let al sort of people speak of this work of God but namely merchants judges way-faring folke where before hid them selues for feare of the enemie 10. Before for feare of the enemy they durst not come foorth to draw water nor inhabit villages nor minister justice now the case is altered by the righteous acts of the LORD which wee should proclaime 11. Thou Deborah a prophetesse ryse vp and sing thy song of praise to GOD. and thou Barak captaine of the Lords armie triumph over the Cananite 12. When wee were left few in number and dispysed our enemiâ—s were manie and mightie yet the Lord hath made vs rule over theÌ„ 13. To this battel came some of the tribe of Ephraim of Beniamin and of the familie of Machir of the tribe of Manasseh of the tribe of Zebulon men more wise learned then valourous warriours 14. The Princes of Isachar were also with Deborah And Isachars souldiers being footemen attended Barak in the valley It greived vs much that the Reubenites concurred not to helpe vs. 15. Why had thou greater pleasure in the care of thy flocks nor in the care of the commonwealth more care of thy beasts then of GODS people wee marveled much when we saw Reuben absent 16. Gilead came not Dan for feare keept the boats of Iordan to flee away Asher also did stay at home in his surest places for refuge 17 Such courage zeale was in the tribs of Zebulon Naphtali who being few in number in comparison with their enemies did venter 18 Many Kings of Canaan sent their forces with Sisera who fought in the plaine betwixt Taanah Megiddo They looked for greater spoyle riches but brought none away 19. GOD shew himselfe partie against the enemies of his people and caused the starres in their stations fight against them 20. Hee also caused the river Kison to swell drowne them and made his people stout to slay them 21. So sore were the horse put at in fighting and fleeing that they being strong and beating the ground with their feete brake all their hoofes 22. Barak the Lords messenger had good cause to curse and bide curse the inhabitants of Meroz who would not come foorth to helpe GODS people being so neare them 23. Iahel the wife of Cheber the Kenite shall bee much praised aboue other women who dwell in tents 24. When Sisera fled came to her tent to hyde himselfe hee called for water to quench his thirst shee gaue him milke and butter in pretious vessels like a freind or servant 25. But when shee saw him fast a sleepe shee tooke one of the nailes of the tent with a hammer in her right hand wherewith she drove the naile throgh the temples of his head fast in the ground 26. So that hee lay first sleeping next dead among her feete notwithstanding all his strugling in the agony of death So ended this great Captaine oppressor of others 27. Sisera his mother looking for his returne with victorie being impatient whiles looked out at the window
shepheards watching their flocks in the night there appeared to them with the Angell a multitude of heavenly souldiers that is to say other Angels congratulating the nativitie of Christ and singing this song The parts of it are 3. The 1. concerneth God that the Angels in HEAVEN were praising him for manifesting his Sonne in the flesh The 2. concerneth mankynd vpon earth to whom peace is wished The 3. maketh mention of a greater benefite to them even GODS loving kindnesse Annotations vpon this song GOod will The Syriak exponeth a good message Peace For so it was then through all the world Men The Syriak exponeth the sonnes of man Observations for vse and doctrine IT is customable to earthly Princes to congratulate by their Ambassadors one another when children are procreated to them but the lyke of this was never heard before nor shall be heereafter That the eternall infinite everlasting GOD should send from Heaven a multitude of Angels his Ambassadours to congratulate the birth of a bairne teaching vs in what estimation GOD hath his sonne new manifested in the flesh how willing hee sent him in the world to redeeme vs. Obs 2. Outward peace is little worth where peace of conscience is away therefore to peace is well joyned Gods good will the sense whereof giveth peace inward This song paraphrased in English meeter to the tune of the 117. Psalme IN highest Heaven to GOD is glore Let men on earth yet praise him more For hee to vs his peace hath send In praising him our life to spend To men hath shew'd his great good will To laud his name should wee be still The song of Simeon Luke 2. Text. NOW LORD thou lettest goe thy servant in peace according to thy word For my eyes haue seene thy salvation Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glorie of thy people Israell Paraphrase 1. LORD thou said I should not depart froÌ„ this life vntill I had seene Messias now I haue seene him and am readie to die with peace and joy 2. Even with the eyes of body I haue seene him who shall saue vs. 3. Even Christ Iesus vpon whom both Iews Gentiles should looke and belieue in him their saviour 4. That light that was promised to bee revealed to the Gentiles and the glorie of the Iews being flesh of their flesh and bone of their bones The argument and analysis of this song SIMEON a just and godly man living in the dayes when IESUS CHRIST was borne had a revelation from the holy Ghost that hee should not see death before with his bodilie eyes hee had seene the LORDS CHRIST And when Ioseph and Mary brought Iesus to Ierusalem to present him to the LORD and offer according to the law of purification of women Simeon beeing mooved by the Spirit of GOD came to the Temple and tooke the babe IESUS in his armes and blessed GOD and vttered the words of this song shewing therewithall what child this was and what hee should bee The parts of the song are 2. The 1. in substance a thanksgiving in forme an affirmatiue proposition containing beside the subject and attribute the circumstance of time in the word now and of manner in the words according to thy word verse 1. The 2 part is a reason of the thanksgiving or proposition because he had seene with his bodilie eyes the Messiah whom he describs calling him the Gentils light Israels glory Annotations vpon this song Vers 1. LEttest goe The Greeke word is a metaphor from ships lowsing from one place to another port the Syriak hath Now let mee goe In peace That is happilie with inward peace joy Verse 2. My eyes that is the eyes of my body for otherwayes Abraham long before Simeon saw Christ with the eye of saith Iohn 8. is that sight which the Prophets desired to see beside the sight of faith 1. Pet 1 My salvation That is IESUS the Saviour thy Son The Syriak hath thy gratious Verse 3. Before the face as a worke to looke vnto and a light to follow Glory because come of them according to the flesh Observations for vse and doctrine Obs 1. SImeon Swan-lyke for whyte haires sang this sweet song before his death As Moses did another Deut. 32. Obs 2. The dayes were verie evill wherein Simeon lived which did appearantly make him wearie of his lyfe So Elias Ieremiah and other holy men haue bene tempted with this tentation Obs 3. The metaphor froÌ„ Mariners hauing a cable cast fast where they minde not to stay and casting it lowse when they will goe home teacheth vs that the life of the godly is a voyage throgh many stormes their death a goâ—â—â— home to their Heaven their port their rest Obs 4. The houre of our death is appointed by God therefore wee should neither too much loue life not hasten or feare to die Obs 5. vers 1. The end of the godly is peace Ps 37. Es 57. but no peace to the wicked ibid. Obs 6. vers 3. Christ is set forth by the preaching of the Ghospell before all people yet some looke vpon him and offend others looke vpon him and belieue 1. Cor. 1.13 1. Pet. 2.8 7. This song in meeter to the tune of the 25. Ps 1. NOW lettest thou O LORD thy servant part in peace According to thy promise made to mee of thy good grace 2. For why my eyes haue seene my LORD and Saviour 3. Whom thou hast set before our face to looke on every houre And al 's before the face of other people all 4. For heer 's the light revealed now to Gentiles whom wee call In whom Isra'l may glore as beeing Abrahams feed And sent to them now in due time in time of their great need FINIS
sea The deep congealed then So mightie was thy easter wind dry way it made to men Vers 9. The enemie had said I will oretake I will Divyde the spoyle I shall haue my heart sytht on them with ill My sword I will draw out and then my hand shall make This people my inheritance my yoke they shall not shake Vers 10 Then with thy wind thou blew the sea them all did hyde They sanke as lead in waters deepe so cruell was the tyde Vers 11 Who is lyke vnto thee the mightie all among IEHOVE I say who is the lyke I say that there is none Thy glorie is so great and thou so holy art With praises to bee reverenc'd thy wonders make vs start ¶ 12. When thou didest streatch out thy right hand suddenly The lowest earth did then thy foes vp swallow by and by Vers 13. Thou leads in thy mercie thus thy redeemed people Thou guyds them also in thy strength vnto thy holy staple Vers 14. So soone as nations shall heare then shall they shake Palestina's inhabitants shall doole and sorrow make Vers 15. The Dukes of Edom then amazed all shall bee Moabs strong men shall melt away And Canaans posteritie Vers 16. Such feare dread shall fall on them of thy right hand That as a stone they shall ly still till Israell passe their land Vers 17. IEHOVAH thou shall bring and plant them in the hill Of thy holy inheritance a place where thou'le dwell still Thy sanctuarie there thy hands haue made to byde Vers 18. Iehovah alone shall reigne The Song of MOYSES before his death Deut. 32. Text. GIve eare yee Heavens and I will speake and heare O earth the words of my mouth My doctrine shall drop as the raine my speach shall distill as the dew as the small rain vpon the tender hearbe and as showres vpon the grasse Because I will publish the name of IEHOVAH Ascribe yee greatnesse to our GOD. The rock his work is perfit for all his wayes are judgment a strong God faithfull and without iniquitie just and right is hee Hee hath corrupted himselfe their spot is not his childrens a perverse and crooked generation Doe yee so requyte IEHOVAH O yee foolish people and vnwise Is not hee thy Father Thy Redeemer Hath he not made thee and establisht thee Remember the dayes of old the yeares of generation generation aske thy father and hee will shew thee thy elders they will tell thee The hie one in distributing heritage to the Nations in separating the sons of Adam hee set the bounds of the people to the number of the children of Israel For the portion of IEHOVAH is his people IACOB the line of his heritage Hee found him in the land of Wildernesse and in a waste and howling Wildernesse hee caused him goe about hee taught him he kept him as the apple of his eye As the Eagle stirreth vp her nest flightereth over her birds spreads out her wings takes it beares it vpon her wing Iehovah alone led him and there was no strange god with him Hee made him ryde vpon the hie places of the earth and hee ate the increase of the field and hee made him to sucke honie out of the rock and oyle out of the flint of the rocke Butter of Kyne and milke of Sheepe with fat of lambs and Rams sons of Bashan with the fat of the neares of wheat and the red blood of the wine berry thou didest drinke And I eschurun grew fat and flang thou hast growne fat thou hast grown grosse thou covered thee and hee left GOD that made him the rocke of his salvation They provoked him to jelosie with strange gods they provocked him to anger with abominations They sacrificed to Devils not vnto GOD to gods whom they knew not to new gods neare hand whom your fathers feared not Of the rocke that begatte thee thou art forgetfull and hath forgot the GOD that brought thee foorth of the wombe And IEHOVAH saw it and hee abdicat through indignation his sonnes and his daughters And hee said I will hide my face from them I shall see what will bee their end for they are a froward generation children in whom is no fidelitie They haue provoked me to jealousie with that which was not God they haue provoked mee to anger with their vanities and I shall provoke them to jealousie with those that are not a people I shal provoke them to anger with a foolish nation For a fyre is kindled in my anger and shall burne to hell and shall consume the earth with the increase therof shal set on fire the foundatiō of the mountains I will joyne evils togother vpon them I will spend my arrows vpon them Burnt with hunger eaten vp with burning coale and bitter destruction teeth of beasts wil I send against them with the poyson of serpents of the dust Without the sword shall make fatherlesse in the secret chambers feare shall overtake the choyse younge man and the Virgin the suckling child with the gray-haird man I said I shall scatter them in corners I shall make the memorie of them to cease from men Were not I feared the wrath of the enemy least their adversaries should behaue themselues strangely least they should say our hie hand and IEHOVAHS hath not wrought all this For they are a nation voyd of counsell and hath no vnderstanding in them Oh that they were wise that they vnderstood this that they vnderstood their latter end How should one chase a thousand or two put ten thousand to flight if not because their Rocke had sold them and IEHOVAH caused them yeeld them selfe For their rocke is not as our ROCKE even our enemies being judges For their vine is of the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorah their graps are grapes of venome they haue bitter clusters Their wine is the venome of Dragons and the cruell head of Aspes Is not this laid vp beside me sealed among my treasures Vengeance is myne and recompense in time their foot shall stagger for the day of their destruction is neare and hastneth things to come to them For IEHOVAH shall judge his people and shall repent himselfe for his servants when hee shall see the hand is gone nothing shut vp or left And hee shall say where are their gods the rocke wherein they trusted Who did eate the fatte of their sacrifices dranke the wine of their brunt offerings let them ryse help you let them bee your hyding See now that I I my selfe and no gods with mee I cause to die and I cause to liue I wound and I heale and there is none can pluck out of my hand For I lift vp my hand to the Heavens and say I liue for ever If I sharpe my glittering sword and my hand take hold on judgement I will render vengeance to my enemies and recompense thē that hate mee I will make my arrows drunke with blood and my sword
shall eat flesh of the blood of the slaine and captivitie from the beginning of revenges vpon the enemie Yee nations praise his people for hee will auenge the blood of his servants and render vengeance to his adversaries and will be mercifull to his land and to his people Paraphrase 1. IF you people will not hearken to my words the Heavens and Earth all creatures other shall be witnesses against you 2. If my people bee a soft soyle and good ground my doctrine shall be fruit full in young and olde in weake and strong 3. Glorifie God in hearkening to his word for I will make him manifest to you who howbeit hee be alwayes infinite yet hee abases him to be our God his will I will declare 4. To whome will yee goe from this God who is so stronge so righteous in all his actions so true in all his wordes and in whom no defect can bee found 5. Yet Israel hath corrupted his owne wayes which proveth they are not the children of GOD but a wicked and perverse generation 6. Is this the reward where with ye recoÌ„pence God who hath adopted you to be his children when ye were his enemies passing by the rest of mankinde who were as sib to him by creation as you who hath redeemed you from the bondage of Egypt hath magnified you above other people when you were worse than nothing 7. The historie of Abraham Isaak and sacob and of the rest of your predecessors shewes your small be ginning Gods great mercy goodnes toward you 8. When God in his providence allotted to everi nation a dwelling place he had minde of Israel and appointed for their number a place most convenient and most excellent 9. For hee had freelie chosen the posteritie of Iacob to bee his peculiar people beside all the World 10. When they were in a Wildernesse where there was neither bread nor water nor other thing to sustaine their life GOD fed them and clad them and because of their infidelitie he caused them go about the Wildernesse fourtie yeares during the which time hee taught them by his benefites and chastisments yet hee had exceeding great care of them to keep them from all hurt 11. And look whaâ— care the Eagle or any other fowle have of their young ones in hatching them covering them vntill they can come foorth or flee and guiding them from the nest such care had God of his people 12. Hee needed not the helpe of any other besyde himselfe would haue none for hee would haue the guyding of his people to himselfe alone 13. Hee placed him in Canaan an hillie countrie full of fertill valleyes whose craigie places were noâ— barren but there was to bee found honnie there olyves grew and it was a land flowing with milke and honny 14. Nothing was wanting for delicate meate and drinke as butter milke fat lambs rams choyse wheat most excellent claret wyne all these the LORD gaue liberallie to Israell 15. For all this Israell who should haue beene vpright became vnthankfull to GOD in their prosperitie like bruit beasts misâ—enning their maisters they rebelled against their maker and redeemer 16. Lyke vyle harlots they made the LORD their husband angrie committing sprituall whooredome with strange gods abhominable Idols 17. They came to the hiest degree of idolatry to giue the worship propper to GOD to devils yea they were so foolish that leaving the God whom they knew or rather who knew them they worshipped vnknowne gods and did not follow their holy fathers footsteps 18. All this thou didest not of simple but of wilfull ignorance after so great experience of Gods loue to thee and care for thee 19. After that the Lord considered this their apostasie hee cast off these that before by outward calâ—ing appeared to bee his children 20. Then hee said I will misken them I am wearie of them there is no good to be looked for from them they will in end perish miserably 21. As they haue done to me so shal I doe to them they forsooke mee and followed idols I shall forsake them set other nations aboue them yea the Gentiles whom they despyse I will take in their place to be my people and cast them off 22 I shall be to them a consuming fyre hie nor low shal not escape my wrath their land and all the increase thereof will I destroy 23 I will multiply my plagues vpon them as arrows out of my quiver shotte at them 24. Namelie famine pestilence wyld beasts Serpents so openly and secretly without and within they shall bee plagued 25 No sort of person no sex neither younge nor old without or within shall bee free from the feare and stroake of the sword of the enemie 26. Whereas I had made theÌ„ as the starres in number and glorie I purpose to put them in obscure places and roote them out 27. If I had no respect to my glorie that it should not be the subject of blasphemie of the Gentils I should vtterly haue destroyed them 28. Their madnes is vncurable why should I spaire them no counsell will they follow neither haue they any wit 29. It is a pittie to see the hardnesse of their heart that after so long experience of punishment they cannot consider their case nor what will be their end 30. So long as I fought for them and was with them no multituds could resist them now while as man of them are overcome by few it is evident they want my protection 31. I take to witnesse the infidels who by experience of my power finde that I am not lyke their idols 32. Moreover they their workes are wicked as if they had beene the seed of Sodom and Gomorah venemous and bitter fruit bring they foorth 33. No nation so wicked as they being lyker to Dragons and Aspes nor men 34. This their wickednesse is laid vp in store with mee and treasured vp in the treasure of my wrath against the day thereof and revelation of my righteous judgement 35. I am judge of all the world it is my office to punish howbeit I seeme to delay you shall fall in due tyme your destruction bee the evill that shall come vpon you at hand 36. Albeit the LORD shall judge his people yet at last hee shall be appeased and moved with repentance to mitigate the rigor of his wrath when hee shall see all their strength gone and all almost destroyed at home and abroade 37. Then shall they say to their enemies where are your gods where are your rocks your particular patrons in whom ye trusted 38. Before whoÌ„ the Priests did eat the fat of the sacrifice and dranke the wine of their drinke offering let those idols helpe you now and take your protection 39. Let them who haue eyes to see behold mee and make no gods my companion for I haue power to kill and to keepe aliue to wound make heale let them in all changes trust in mee
with all greatest care alluding to mans practise who will cast vp any part of his body to receaue a stroake and saue the eye Vers 11. Eagle The same similitude is in Exod. 19 which sheweth his fathealy care to his people which is exponed by these parts sturring vp to wit by a noise about her birde mooving her wings to giue them wind streatching her wings for example to them to flie taking them out of their nest putting them vpon her wings that being taken from their nest they might bee compelled to flee further All these may bee seene in GODS dealing with his people when hee brought them out of Egypt stirring them vp by his word of promise mooving them with the winde of his wrath vpon Egypt taken vnder his protection and as caried vpon wings brought them through the red sea Verse 13. Ryde vpon hie places so that no strength could withstand them Numb 20. Deut. 2. Verse 14. Neares of wheat That is the best so called because of kirnels of nuts the graine is within and for some resemblance that good graines of wheat haue to neares The red blood Because the claret wine in Iudea is both best most aboundant as witnes Strabo Plinie Verse 15. leschurun from Iesher righteousnesse or Schor seeing Schor a bullok because Israell were by calling righteous had a righteous law or because they saw the glorie of GOD in Sinai or because afterward they became a flinging bullok Fat The Chaldea interprets riche so this maxime hath ever holden true Ecclesia peperit divitias filia devoravit matrem Verse 17. Devils in Hebrew Schedim that is destroyers of mankynd Verse 19. Saw it That is as a righteous judge hee tooke cognition of their wickednesse and decreed to abdicat them Verse 20. I will hyde That is I will abdicat them and not looke vpon them I shall see I will giue them over to a reprobate sense that they may perish Verse 21. Vanities The Septuagints cals them Idols Ier. 18.19 Ionah 2.8 Not a people that is the Gentils whom I will call by the preaching of the Ghospell Rom. 10.19 Es 65.2 Verse 23. Arrows All sort of plagues as after is exponed of famine the Hebrew word not in any part of Scripture but heere pestilence Hab 3.5 wylde beasts serpents sword Verse 36. Iudge his people That is take their cause in hand and defend them from their enemies Shall repent So speaketh the Scripture of GOD after the manner of man but in simple trueth repentance is not in GOD Numb 23. 1. Sam. 15. The hand gone that is their strength and they nothing Verse 37. Hee shall say that is GOD to his people Ieremie 2.28 Verse 39. I I The pronoune doubled to stirre vp the people to hold fast their faith Observations of grounds for vse and doctrine Obs 1. BEcause GOD as a judge was to pronounce sentence against his people in the song Moses begins with a majesticall preface lyke vnto the sound of a trumpet before Princes proclamations Obs 2. This majesticall preface serves to keepe the people in due reverence of this song that neither pride mooue them to dispyse it nor the sharp threatnings contained therein make them loath Obs 3. vers 1. Hee directs his speach to Heaven earth taking and making them witnesses of the peoples stupiditie if they condemne this doctrine Also to shew that such is the force of GODS word that all creatures should bee attentiue there vnto Es 1.2 Ier. 23. and so the living are sent to the schoole of the dead to learne at them Obs 4. The word of GOD is as dew and raine vpon graffe and herbs when it meets with good ground but hearts hard lyke stones get no good thereby Heb. 6. Obs 5. The Hebrew word which is exponed doctrine signifieth properly perception or discipline and teaches that the ministers of the word should deliver nothing to the people but that which haue bene taught and receaved of the Lord. Obs 6. vers 2. The word of GOD is compared to dew and raine which similitude teacheth that the Church is Gods land or lizzure and the word of God the food thereof making his people grow in grace Obs 7. Moses professeth himself to bee Gods Herauld proclaiming his praise and so teacheth the people their duety to doe so Obs 8. By the name of God he meaneth Gods majesties works of goodnesse and grace his severe judgments all which he setteth downe after Obs 9. verse 3. The words IEHOVAH and our GOD imply reasons to perswade the practise of the duety craved these arguments in Scripture are oft fund together the 1. taken from Gods nature the 2. from his covenant of grace Obs 10. The consideration of the perfection of God and of his works as done in judgment trueth justice and righteousnes should keepe vs from running from God to Idols Ier. 2.13 Obs 11. The perfection of Gods works in creation or providence is not to be sought in everie particular so much as in the generall seing amongst beasts there be some we call vnbeasts and amongst men some crooked some blind some deafe some maimed and mutilat of one member or other and all corne commeth not to perfection yet in these defects God is glorified Obs 12. verse 4. The trueth of God and his fidelitie should teach vs to belieue him and his word yet his fidelitie prejudgeth not his justice against vnbelievers for hee is just and right Obs 13. It may be mervailed that the people bore with Moses libertie in rebuking them yet it behoved to bridle them that they knew this worthie servant of God was shortly to depart from this life Obs 14. Hypocrits are sometimes called Gods children Esay 1.2 sometimes they are denyed to bee the children of God when Adoption by generall vocation is restrained to particulare Election Obs 15. Moses describing the peoples ingratitude to God beginneth first at their action in these words They corrupted themselves that is by their owne deed lost the estate of grace offered to them by outward calling and cast themselfe in course of perdition 2. hee sets downe the blot remaining after their action in these words their spot not the spot of his children 3. hee sets downe the habit contracted of both calling them a perverse crooked generation These 3 may be observed in all actuall and outward sinnes Obs 16. As Adam and Evah by their first sinne fell from the integritie of nature so such as seemed by out ward vocation and adoption to be in the state of grace by turning from GOD fals from that which they appeared to haue Obs 17. verse 5. Sinne leaves behind it a spot as diseases in the lever and leprosie send foorth spots in the skinne and flesh This spot of sinne is a disposition of the heart to bee apt and prone to the sinne once committed or to any other This spot in the reprobat differeth frō the spot of Gods children because vpon the one it
Shee put her right hand and a naile In her left hand least shee should faile And through his temples causd it start Verse 26. Betwixt her feete hee bowed sore Hee fell hee sleept betwixt her feete Vntill in him was life no more And so to die for him was meete Verse 27. When his mother did then looke out To spye the fields round about Shee said my sonne stayes long in streete Verse 28. Her ladies wise did answere make And shee her selfe affirmed to Ver. 29. Now of the spoile their parts they take And so they haue now much ado So many damesels to divyde And colourd garments right well dy'de Right meete their shoulders all vnto Verse 30. O LORD let all those perish so That enemies are to thee and thine And such as loue thee moe and moe As cleare as sunne aboue to shine As cleare as sunne in his great strength So that thy Church may at the length Sing foorth thy praises with mee and myne The Song of CHANNAH 1. Samuel 2. Text. MY heart rejoyceth in IEHOVAH my horne is exalted in IEHOVAH my mouth is enlarged against my enemies for I rejoyce in thy salvation None holy like IEHOVAH for there is none but thou and no rocke like to our GOD. Multiplie not speaches highly highly let not the old come out of your mouth for IEHOVAH is a GOD of sciences and actions are not directed without him The bow of the strong is broken the weake is girded with strength They that were full of bread hath hyred themselfe and the hungrie hath ceased while the barren hath borne seven shee with many sonnes is weakned IEHOVAH kils and giues life casts downe to hell and makes to ascend IEHOVAH makes poore and rich hee causes to fall also hee exalts Hee raises the poore out of the dust hee lifts vp the beggar from the dung hill to make them sit with princes and makes them to inherit the throne of glorie for to IEHOVAH the pillars of the earth doe appertaine and he hath put vpon them the habitable world Hee will preserue the feete of his godly ones and the wicked shall bee silent in darknesse for a man shall not bee made strong by his owne strength IEHOVAH let their contentions be trampled vnder foote he shall thunder from Heaven vpon him IEHOVAH shall judge the ends of the earth and shall giue strength to his King and shall lift vp the horne of his CHRIST Paraphrase 1. OF this late and great benefite O LORD which thou hast bestowed vpon mee I haue conceaved so great joy that my heart which before was heavie now is light and my weakenesse made strong my mouth closed before is now opned against my enemies Pēinna others who reproached mee 2. In thee O LORD I rejoyce justlie who art most holy hath no companion neither is there any so able to saue 3. Speake not proudly as thou was wont to doe O my enemies for the LORD knowes all things and without him we can doe nothing 4 O Peninna thy strength is gone who insulted vpon my barrennesse and I who was weake am made strong 5. The case now is farre changed thou was full of prosperitie now thou must content thy selfe I was in great affliction when I had no child God hath now given to me one childe better nor seven more worth then all thine 6. The LORD is author of all changes can bring contrares out of contrares life out of death prosperitie out of adversitie light out of darknesse Gen. 1. 7. Povertie and riches are from the Lord low estate and honor comes frō him 8. None so poore whō God if hee will can not make rich none so vile but hee can make them honorable even companions to princes setting them in glorious thrones for the Lord hath set the pillars of the earth to it to stand vpon with the inhabitants there of which pillar is his word and power 9. All the wayes of the godly hee will direct and wicked men shall perish in darknesse for no man standeth in his owne strength 10. All who contend against GOD shall bee trode vnder foote hee shall thunder from Heaven against everie one of them the LORD shall judge the whole inhabitants of the world giving glory to his Sonne IESUS CHRIST the King of Kings The argument and analysis of this song CHANNAH the wife of Elkanah who also had another wife called Peninna beeing a long time barren which grieved her much for the Hebrew women knowing the promise of the seed of the woman to tread downe the head of the serpent Gen. 3. and that that seed should of the posteritie of Abraham their father esteemed barrennesse a great crosse And her companion Peninna having children to Elkanah insulting vpon her added affliction to the afflicted Therefore Channah prayed to God earnestly to comfort her to take away her reproach and giue her a son The Lord heard her prayer and gaue her a son whom therefore she called Samuell that is to say The strong God heard And shee beeing moved by the Spirit of GOD made and sung this song The parts of the song are 3. The 1 a proposition with the reason thereof verse 1.2 The 2. a dehortation with the reasons thereof from the 3. verse to the 9. The 3. the conclusion of the song verse 10. The proposition is of Channas joy in the LORD set foorth by the motives of her joy viz. the present benefite recaued and effect thereof her abilitie to answere Peninna and all other that vpbraided her before The reasons of the proposition are 2. the 1. taken frō the efficient joy to wit her deliverance from her griefe and reproach which shee ascribs to GOD and cals it hersalvation verse 1. The 2. reason is taken from the vnchangeable nature of GOD that hee is most holie most strong most true verse 2. The dehortation is proponed in the beginning of the 3. verse The summe of the proposition is That none specially Peninna bee any more proude or vtter loftie language which is the effect of pryde the reason of her dehortation are two The 1. is taken from Gods omniscience The 2. from his powerfull providence verse 3. The 2. reason is illustrat by the effects thereof 4.5.6.7.8 verse of which effects shee showeth the cause in the end of the 8. verse The conclusion of the song containes a pophecie of the salvation of the godly the destruction of the wicked with a reason 9. Next a petition conforme to the prophecie with a repetition more cleare of the prophecie verse 10. Annotations vpon this song AS this song begins so it cōtinues full of metaphors purposes flowing from great feeling and therefore wanting conjunctions In it also there be diverse apostrophees of al these the judicious reader may make vse Verse 1. Thy salvation so said Simeon in his song Luk. 3. for the saincts of old by temporall benefites as this was to Channa were stirred vp to thinke of the great salvation
by CHRIST which Simeon looked for and saw more clearely and nearelie then his forbeares Vers 2. None holy no rocke This most true for holinesse and power are in GOD essentially and perfyte in the creature by communication onely and in part being compared with GOD. Iob. 4.18 Verse 5. Hath ceased To wit to bee hungrie and are filled Seven that is many Ruth 4.11 Set out themself to wit for hyred servants for want of food Verse 8. The pillars See Iob. 48. v. 4. Psal 124. v. 8. Psal 112.26 and 104. verse 5. Verse 10. To his KING that is to say to CHRIST IE SUS to whom hee was to giue all power in Heaven and earth as his appointed King Psal 2. Observations of grounds for vse and doctrine Obs 1. THis song is called a prayer because it is spoken to GOD and in end hath a prayer but the purpose of it is a thanksgiving and so these well joyned according to the precept of the Apostle Phi. 4.6 Obs 2. It is easie to GOD when hee will to make a heavie heart light and joyfull a dispysed person honorable one silenced to speake boldly These things and other benefites are obtained by humiliation prayer Obs 3. verse 1. Whatsoever benefite GOD bestows vpon vs wee should not so much thinke of it or vse it as looke to GOD the giver of it and praise him not being as the swyoe who feed vpon fallen fruit but looke not vp to the tree Obs 4. We should labour to know Gods attributes by his word and workes wee should meditate therevpon that wee may loue feare trust him and obey his will alwayes Obs 5. verse 2. It is easier to tell what God is not or to deny any creature to bee like him then to tell what hee is for God beeing alwayes infinit cannot be defyned affirmatiuelie so well as negatiuelie Obs 6. Pryde is a hereditarie sicknesse in men and women yet GOD resisteth the proude and giveth grace to the humble Iam. 4.6 Obs 7. verse 3. to the 8. The providence of GOD rules all things maks all mutations among men Ps 107. Obs 8. Wee should not look vpon things and judge of them by present apperance for the earth is as a stage wee are players there vpon everie one is not that hee seemeth to bee in the play for a beggar there may represent a King a wise man a foole a wicked man a good but wee should abide patiently the catastrophe of the play staying till the morning when everie man putteth on his owne coat that is the morning of the resurrection Psal 49.14 1. Iohn 3.1 Obs 9. verse 9.10 The godly of old tooke their deliverances particular and of the Kirk in generall as types of their great salvation by Christ which they looked for 1. Pet. 1.10 This song paraphrased in English meeter to the tune of the 103. Psalme Verse 1. MY heart rejoyceth in the Lord in him my horne is hie My mouth is open wyde and large against my enemie In thy salvation I joye 2. none holy like to thee For there is none but thou O Lord a God a rocke to mee 3. Speake thou no more words arrogant as thou was wont before For God knowes all things very well and doth both lesse and more 4. The strong mans Bow is broken quyte the weake hath put on strength 5. The full beginne to begge their bread the hungrie eate at length The barren hath her seven borne the mother of sonnes is weake 6. The Lord hee kills and giveth life casts downe and vp doth take 7. Hee makes men poore and hee makes rich hee humbles and raiseth hie 8. Ev'n poore men from the dung and dust Princes equalls to bee For to the Lord the pillars of the earth doe appertaine And therevpon hath hee set fast the world and all therein 9. The feete hee will keepe of his Saints that they may never swerve The wicked shall in darknesse dwell as they do well deserve No man shall by his owne strength stand 10. O Lord stoppe all their strife The Lord will shoot his thunderbolts at him from heaven right rife The ends of earth the Lord shal judge his King hee shall make strong And hee shall his Anoynteds horne lift vp ere it bee long The Song of Hezechiah King of Iudah Esay 38. Text. I Said in the cutting of my dayes I shall goe to the ports of the grave I am deprived of the rest of my yeares I said I shall not see IAH Iah in the land of the living I shall not behold man more with the inhabitants of the world My habitation is gone and flitted from me as a sheep-heards tent I haue cut off as a weaver my lyfe he wil cut me off from the thrum from the daye to the night thou will destroy mee I resolved vnto the morning as a Lyon hee so bruised all my bones from the daye to the night thou consumes me As a crane a swallow I chettered I sighed like a dove myne eyes were lifted vp to the hight IEHOVAH I am weake give me rest What shall I saye both hee said to mee and he himself hath done it I shall goe on all my yeeres with the bitternesse of my soule Lord vpon these they shall live in all wherein the lyfe of my spirit is and thou wilt heale me and give me life Behold for peace I had bitternesse and thou hast loved my soule from the pit of rottennesse because thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy back For the graue shal not confesse vnto thee death praise thee neither shall they hope who goe downe to the pit to thy trueth The living the living hee shall confesse vnto thee as I this day the father to the sonnes shall make knowne thy trueth IEHOVAH to saue mee Therefore my songs shall we play all the dayes of our lyfe in the House of IEHOVAH Paraphrase 1. VVHen I thought God was cutting the threed of my life by deaths knife I thought and said within my selfe I shall now die young and child-lesse 2. Then my greatest griefe was that my bodily eyes should not see God for a long time and presentlie to be deprived of the sight of him in the mirrour of his workes word and Sacraments 3. My dwelling place leaves mee and I it as a sheep-herd leaveth his tent the web of my life is cut out as the weaver cutteth out a web out of his loome for I made it short by sins God hath made it short in his justice and gives to mee no rest daye or night 4. After the nights vnrest I looked for no better in the morning but that hee cruelly wold destroy mee 5. The cranes and swallows cannot speak in their pain yet they chatter and the dove cheeps so vnder so great griefe and paine I could doe nothing but mourne sigh lift vp my eyes and heart to God 6. It is the Lord I can neither say good nor euill he hath spoken to mee by his servant
he asking writting tables because he could not speake wrote his name shall bee IOHN and immediatly his tongue was loosed and he opned his mouth and praised GOD. And beeing filled with the Spirit of GOD hee spake the words of this song The summe of it is he praised GOD for performing of his promise concerning Messiah made to their father Abraham and to David and foretold by the holy Prophets since the world beganne and in the end he prophecieth that his sonne Iohn should be the forerunner and furriour of CHRIST The parts of the song are three The 1. containeth the praise of GOD or an exhortation to praise him ver 1. at the beginning The 2. part containes the reasons of the exhortation from the 1. to the 9. And they are in number 3. The 1. is the visitation of his people The 2. is the redemption of them verse 1. The 3. reason is the raising vp of the horne of salvation in the house of David verse 2. All these 3. reasons are illustrate by comparing the promises of God and prophecies with these things the event and accomplishment of them verse 3.4.5.6.7.8 The 3. part of the song containes a prophecie concerning his sonne Iohn that he should bee called a Prophet be the furriour and sorerunner of CHRIST verse 9. Next the ministrie and doctriné of Iohn viz. to point out Messiah prepare the people to receaue him teach the doctrine of repentance faith for receaving by the mercie of GOD remission of sinnes verse 10.11 Thirdly hee sets downe the finall cause of CHRISTS first comming to wit to giue light comfort life eternall to all those that should beleeue in him verse 12.13 Annotations vpon this song Verse 1. BLessed The verb be is to be vnderstood Visited This word in holy Scripture signifieth whiles to punish Exod. 20. whiles to doe good as heere where it imports the personall presence of GOD in his Sonne IESUS CHRIST comming in the flesh to see the estate of GODS Church on earth and to redeeme them See Exod. 3.8 Redemption This word is diversly taken 1. for delivering by force and power out of the hand of the enemie as GOD redeemed his people out of Egypt 2. For going free with the enemies good will as the redemption from the Babylonian Captivitie 3. For ransoming that is paying the just pryce as heere and els where Verse 2 The Horne That is the strength a metaphor from horned beasts Verse 7. Without feare That is with confidence Eph. 3.12 for feare heere doth not signifie religious reverence but griefe for evill to come Verse 10. In the remission or by the remission of sinnes which is the manner by the which GOD saves vs. Rom. 4.7 Verse 11. Who commeth from aboue The Greeke word properly signifieth the sunne rysing And Messiah is so called in Hebrew Ier. 23.5 Zach. 3.8 Peace In the old Testament often signifieth prosperitie and in the New but heere it imports happinesse everlasting In this way CHRIST by his word leads vs for hee is the way the veritie and life Observations of grounds for vse and doctrine Obs 1 ALbeit these words of Zacharie bee called a prophecie yet the learned calleth this the second song in the New Testament There is indeed a prophecie in the foure last verses but the former containerh the praise of GOD. Obs 2. verse 1. It hath alwayes beene the practise of the godly after sight or sense of Gods benefites temporall or spirituall to praise GOD so should wee Obs 3. GOD maketh his promises to his Church good when there is least appearance hence the proverb when man is weakest GOD is strongest Obs 4. verse 2. The raising vp of the horne of salvation in the house of David is the continuing of Davids kingdome to bee an everlasting kingdome in the person of CHRIST Obs 5. The comparison of prophecies with their event argue the Scripture to be the word of GOD. Obs 6 verse 3. All the Patriarchs and Prophets beleeued and looked for the comming of Christ 1. Pet. 1. Obs 7. verse 4 5.6 The Covenant of grace is that God would forgiue vs our sinnes save vs from enemies chiefely spirituall sinne Satan death put vs in the estate of grace and bring vs to glorie which benefites Christ meriteth to vs by his death Obs 8. verse 8. The end of our redemption is that wee serue God Christ his Sonne in true holinesse righteousnes before him beware of hypocrisie Ps 50. Obs 9. Iohn new borne is installed in his office by the holy Ghost Obs 10. verse 10. The onely way to salvation by remission of sinnes through the merit of the blood of Christ was shewed in the bloody sacrifices from the beginning types heereof Obs 11. Gods mercie is over all his workes Psal 145.9 but the bowels of his mercie that is his superaboundant love towards his chosen in redeeming of them by Christ his Sonne Obs 12. verse 11. CHRIST is compared to the morning starre the sunne the light an orient from aboue all which haue good vse to comfort vs. This song paraphrased in English meeter to the tune of the 18. Psalme 1. THE LORD the GOD of Israel bee blest and praisde alway For hee with great redemption hath visit vs this day 2. The horne now of salvation to vs is raised hie Vnto the house of David his beloved as wee see 3. As did foretell our fathers all who prophets were by name Since that the world did first beginne by them hee spoke the same 4. That wee should bee delivered out of our enemies hand From everie one that did vs hate or that should vs withstand 5. According to the Covenant once with our fathers made Of mercie now remembered though they long since bee deade 6. The oath which vnto Abraham our father hee did sweare 7 To give to vs deliverance to serue him without feare 8. In righteousnesse and holynesse sincere before his face So long as life should in vs dure and that from race to race 9. And thou my little babe shall bee prophet of the most Hie And so bee cald because that thou the LORD himselfe shall see And thou before him first shall goe his way for to prepare 10. Instructing to salvation his people lesse and maire 11. That vnto them remission of all their sinnes is given 12. By GODS most tender mercie now set foorth before our eyne For now the Sunne of righteousnesse hath shyned from aboue 13. To them that sit in darknesse and in shaddow of the graue Our paths for to direct into the way that leads to peace And everlasting glorie next The Song of the Angels at the birth of CHRIST Luk. 2. Text. GLORY to GOD in the most High and in the earth peace to men good will Paraphrase GLORY is giving to GOD in the most hy Heavens peace is now vpon earth and good news to men The argument and analysis of this song ONE Angell maketh manifest the birth of Christ to
and feare to offend mee whose hand none can escape 40. For I hold vp my hand to Heaven and sweare saying As I am the everliving GOD. 41. My enemies thinke my sword wil alwayes be hid in the scabard and because I am patient that I cease to bee a iust judge but they shall feele the contrare when my wrath shall breake out against them 42. There shall bee no end of my vengeance vntill the earth bee filled with blood and dead bodies my enemies be made captives vpon whom I will haue no mercie 43. Seeing GOD will manifest his goodnesse to his people I sraell his mercie it is the part of all nations to acknowledge the same and to praise him in the cōmunion of Sancts both of Iewes Gentiles The argument and analysis of this song GOD caused and commanded Moses to write this Song preach it to Israel and to testifie Gods goodnesse and grace to them and to convince them of vnthankfulnesse towards God and to prepare the catholick kirk of the Iewes who were to bee dispersed through the world Therefore hee commanded this song to bee put in the mouth of the Israelites and to be preserved in writen monuments Deut 31.19 The summe of this Song is this GOD the Father of his Church and Iudge of all the world contests with the people of Israel by this solemne Song of his goodnesse towards them of their ingratitude and contumacie seene already in Moses dayes and now forseene by him that it would bee greater heereafter and therefore prophesieth by Moses of the rejection of the Iewes calling of the Gentiles The parts of this song are three 1. the preface verse 1.2.3 The 2. a narration from the 4. verse to the 43. The 3. the conclusion of the Song verse 43. The 1. part which is the preface or beginning of the song con taineth an exhortation to the Heavens and earth to attend to this Song verse 1. a reason of this exhortation verse 2. a precept to the people to bee attentive docile with the reason thereof verse 3. The 2. part of the Song containeth in it first a narration of things bygone before the penning of this song from the 4. verse to the 19. Secondly a narration of things that were to come from the 19. to the 43. The summe of the narration of things bygone is set downe verse 4.5 The enarration or exposition thereof from the 5. verse to the 19. and the summe containeth in it 2. things The 1. concernes God verse 4 The 2. concernes the people of Israel verse 5. which is aggredged and they taxed with foule ingratitude verse 6. The enarration and exposition of these thinges keepes this order 1. the part of God is set downe from the 6. vers to the 15. Next the part of the people is set downe from the 15. verse to the 19. Gods part verse 6 proved by antiquitie and testimonie of their fore-beears verse 7. and from his providence for them from the beginning of the world verse 8. with the reason therof verse 9. Thirdly from his care of them when they were in the Wildernes verse 10. illustrated by similitude verse 11.12 Fourthly from his placing of them in the land of CANAAN verse 13.14 The enarration of the part of the people and the exposition thereof verse 16.17.18 The 2. part of the narration concerning things to come containeth 2. things 1. Gods justice against the vnthankful and rebellious Iewes from the 19. to the 35. Secondly the work of Gods mercy to a remnant of them from the 35 verse to the 43. The worke of Gods justice is set downe in this order 1. that he abhorred them and the reason verse 19.2 that hee resolved to leave them to themselues with the reason thereof verse 20.3 That hee will pay them home with like for like lege talionis verse 21. with the reason thereof verse 22. 4. That he will multiplie plagues vpon them verse 23.24.25 5. That hee purposed to haue put away their memorial amongst men were not the respect hee had to his owne glorie and the pride of their enemies verse 26 27. 6. Hee wisheth they had a minde and heart to consider and bee sensible of his dealings with them of their end together with the reason of all verse 28.29.30 which he proves by the testimonie of Gentils their enemies verse 31. and subjoyneth reasons of his severitie against them verse 32.33.34.35 The work of his mercy to the remnant of them is set down verse 36. Amplified with the triumph and iusulting of his people over their enemies verse 37.38 Which hee confirmeth by the demonstration of his power verse 39. and by his oath verse 40.41.42 The conclusion of the Song verse 43. containeth an exhortation to the Church catholick of Iewes and Gentiles to praise God with the reason thereof Annotations vpon this Song Verse 2. My doctrine the Hebrew word signifieth received learning a good description of the doctrine of true religion because it is receiued from GOD not devysed by men 1. Cor. 11.23 Ioh. 8.28 and should be receaved by the hearers with this respect 1. Thess 2.13 and this imports that the teacher receaues it frō God and the hearers also from him by his ministers Shall drop so Micah 5.7 Esay 55.10 The doctrine of false teachers not so Iud 6.12 Pro. 25.15 and this is a wish rather then a promise Raine dew figures of heavenly graces Gen. 27.28 Grasse here vnto people compared for their frailtie Es 40.6 or admonition to bee fruitfull Heb. 6. Verse 3. The name that is his majestie his workes of mercie and justice Verse 4. ROCK The septuagints translate this word GOD who is a Rocke to his Church Mat. 16.18 1. Cor. 10.4 and this word imports GODS constancie wherein his servants trust His worke The Greeke translats workes Heb. 3.9 Verse 5. Not of his sonnes for they sinne of infirmitie and this showes the effect of the law differing from the effect of the Ghospelf Rom. 7.9 Phil. 2.5 Verse 6. Requyt see the contrare spoken to God by David Psal 103.10 Father that bought thee this aggredges their vnthankfulnesse forgetting the benefites of their redemption adoption regeneration Made thee that is not onely created thee but also redeemed and called thee and put thee in a high estate whē thou was nothing 1. Sam. 12 6. Es 43.7 Mark 3.14 Verse 7. The dayes of old That is looke not so much what thou art now as what thy forbears were once Ios 24. this argument also is vsed for consolation Ps 77.67 Psal 119.52 Psal 14.3.5 Verse 9. Thy Elders who are yet living among you Portion that is the Church and members thereof are the heirs of God coheirs with Christ Ro. 8.17 Verse 10. Wildernesse that is I fand them needie vnworthy flying frō the enemy enemies to me but I gratiously and mercifullie receaved and intertained them though most vnworthie Ezec. 16. Rom. 5.10 Aple of his eye that is
whiles cryed out why stayes he so long what can bee his stay 28. Her ladies essayed al their wits to comfort her yea even shee comforted her self with his owne words saying 29. They haue found their prey they are parting the spoyle even damosels to everie man and the colloured partie coloured garments sowed with nedle worke made to be ornaments for their neckes 30. This may bee a document to all ages that all the enemies of GOD shall perish and those that loue him shall shine as the sun at noone day The argument and analysis of this song AFter the death of Ehud who slew Eglon king of Moab and delyvered Israel out of the hands of Moabits whom they had served eighteene yeares before Israel had rest from enemies for the space of foure score yeares But againe Israel wrought wickednesse in the sight of the LORD therefore he delivered them over into the hands of Iabin king of the Canaanits the generall of whose armie was called Sisera who oppressed Israel the space of twentie yeares Then Israel repented them of their sinnes humbled themselfe and cryed to the Lord and hee heard them And Deborah Barak Iabel he made instruments to deliver them This deliverance is the argument of this Song sung by Deborah a Prophetesse There bee three chiefe and principall parts of this song 1 The exordium or beginning of this song vers 1. 2. Next the purpose from the 3. verse to the 30. Thirdly the conclusion of the song verse 30. The exordium containes in it 2. exhortations with their reasons The 1. exhortation is to Gods people to praise God the reason thereof is taken from their present deliverie verse 1. The 2 exhortation is to al kings and princes to bee attentiue to the words of this Song The reason thereof is taken from the purpose of the Prophetesse in this song to wit to praise and make manifest the onely true God v. 2. see the like Ps 2. The purpose of the song containes in it chiefely 5. things 1. a narration of things bygone from the 3 verse to the 8. Next an exhortation to praise God from the 8. vers to the 13. Thirdly a narration of the battell betwixt the Israelites and Cananits from the 13. to the 22. Fourthly a curse and blessing from the 22. verse to the 27. Fifthly a prettie prosopopeia from the 27. verse to the 30. The narration of things bygone containes 2. things 1. Gods wonderfull power in bringing his people through the wildernesse to the land of promise ver 3.4 Next the great miserie wherein Israel was of late with the reason thereof verse 13. that they had served new gods idols 5.6.7 The exhortation to praise God hath in it 4. things 1. the governours of this people verse 8. Next to merchants verse 9. Third to the commons verse 10. the reason thereof is their libertie The fourth part is to her selfe and Barak verse 11. with the reason thereof verse 12. The narration of the battell containes in it 1. the praise of the tribes of Israell who came to fight and the dispraise of such as lay abacke from the 13. verse to the 18. Secondly is set downe the part of the Canaanites verse 18. Thirdly the part of God and his people verse 19.20.21 The curse is vpon Meroz and his inhabitants with the reason thereof verse 22. The blessing is vpon Iahel with a narration on of her part and the event thereof from the 22. ver to the 27 the prosopopeia is of Sisera his mother her ladies talking to gether from the 27. verse to the 30. The conclusion which is the last part of the song containes a prayer for the confusion of the enemies of God and of his Church and for the prosperitie of all those who truely loue GOD verse 30. Annotations vpon this song IT was the custome of Lyrick Poets in giving of thanks to GOD to vse solemne verses as wee may read in Orpheus Linus Pindarus Horace so the priests of Mars among the Romans called Salij All these did so by the light of nature but holy men and women did the lyke by the inspiration of the holy spirit Verse 1. Revenge In Hebrew in revenging revenges Willing That is not all Israell but such onely as followed Barak who at the time had no authority in Israel Verse 2. The earth c. Hyperbolicall speaches signifying the power of Gods presence working in all his creatures Verse 4. Sinai That is to say not onely creatures which were as it were before GOD in his presence but also such as it were behind him were mooved Verse 6. Mother so called because beeing endued with the spirit of prophecie as a mother to her childrē so prophets were called fathers their disciples their sonnes Verse 7. Gates or ports signifying that the enemie was master of all for in the ports of cities judges sat and the munition of the citie lay there Verse 9. Whyte asses This may bee exponed either of merchants or great men as after chap. 10.4 12.14 Vers 13. EPHRAIM It may be meant of Deborah for chap. 4.5 it is said she dwelt in mount Ephraim Verse 14. A dish that is to say aboundantlie for the Hebrew word signifieth a veshell cup like appointed to be vsed at great sacrifices as chap. 6.38 Butter That is to say new milk new severed from the butter Observations of grounds for vse and doctrine Obs 1. DEBORAH conceived and sung this Song by a prophetick spirit the very daye when the benefite was gotten teaching vs heereby to giue thankes to God for his benefites without delaye not lingering with Iacob to go to Bethel and performe his vowes neither beeing vnthankfull altogether as the nyne lepers were to Christ The Ethnicks sung their Paeans immediatly after victorie over their enemies Obs 2. It is God who revengeth the wrongs done to his servants for it is his office Deut. 32. which when we find we should praise him Psal 18.47 neither should wee avenge our self Pro. 25.21 Ro. 12.10 Obs 3. v. 1. All true fortitude comes of God and is his gift as the right vse of it and good event Psal 18 for our actions are not in our power Ier. 10.23 This doctrine refuteth the errour of mans free-will Obs 4. Whatsoever is writen in holy Scripture serveth not only for the age when it was written but also for the posteritie Rom. 15.4 1. Cor. 10.11 Obs 5. Kings Princes and potentates haue neede to bee exhorted to marke the judgements of God vpon their Peeres for pride so blinds their mindes that they mis-ken both God man Ps 2.10 Ps 70.12 Ps 82.6 Obs 6. Wee should remember Gods works of olde that wee may praise him trust in him and be comforted in the day of trouble Psal 77.11 Obs 7. vers 3.4 All creatures in heaven earth serve God only the Devils and mankind are rebellious Obs 8. Peace is a great benefite of God to Church common-wealth and Warre a great