Vers 10. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee They can do no otherwise that savingly know Gods sweet Attributes and noble Acts for his people We never trust a man till we know him and bad men are better known than trusted Not so the Lord for where his name is poured out as an oyntment there the Virgins love him fear him rejoyce in him repose upon him Them that seek thee So they do it seriously seasonably constantly Vers 11. Sing praises to the Lord c. This is the guise of godly people to provoke others to praise God as being unsatisfiable in their desires of doing him that service and as deeming that others see him as they do totum totum desiderabilem worthy to bee praised Psal 18.3 highly to be admired vers 1. of this Psalm Vers 12. When he maketh inquisition for bloud for innocent bloud unjustly spilled as he did for the bloud of Abel Gen. 4.10 of Naboth 1 King 9.26 surely I have seen yesterday the bloud of Naboth Murther ever bleeds fresh in the eyes of God of Zechariah the Son of Barachiah 2 Chron. 24.22 those ungrateful Guests who slew those that came to call them And when the King heard it for Bloud cryes aloud he was wroth and destroyed those Murtherers Matth. 22.6 7. These shall have bloud to drink for they are worthy Revel 16.6 God draws Articles of enquiry in this case as strict and as critical as ever the Inquisition of Spain doth the proceedings whereof are with greatest secrecy and severity He forgetteth not the cry of the Humble Heb. of the poor lowly meek afflicted Humility and Meekness are Collactancae twin-sisters as Bernard hath it Vers 13. Have mercy upon me O Lord c. These are the words say some of those humble ones whom God forgetteth not they were Gods remembrancers See Isa 62.6 or it is a prayer of David for further deliverances according to that I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised Psal 18.3 Betwixt praysing and praying he divided his time and drove an holy trade between Heaven and Earth Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death i.e. Ex praesentissimo certissimo interitu from desperate and deadly dangers such as threaten present destruction and shew a man the Grave even gaping for him David was oft at this pass and God delivered Paul from so great a death 2 Cor. 1.10 he commonly reserveth his hand for a dead lift and rescueth those who were even talking of their Graves Vers 14. That I may shew forth all thy praises i.e. All that I can compass or attain unto Alitèr omnes laudes Dei dici non possunt quia plures ignorat home quà m novit saith R. David here for all the praises of God cannot be shewn forth sith those wee know not are more than those we know In the gates of the daughter of Zion These are opposed to the Gates of Death as Aben-Ezra here noteth and betoken the most publick places and best frequented Vers 15. The Heathen are sunk down c. Hoc est initium cantici Sanctorum saith Aben-Ezra This is the beginning of the Saints Song knit to the former verse thus saying The Heathen c. In the Net which they bid c. To Hunters they are compared for cruelty and to Fowlers for craft But see their success they are sunk down in their own pit caught in their own Net Thus it befell Pharaoh Exod. 15.9 10. Jabin and Sicera Judg 4. Sennacherib 2 Chron. 32. Antiochus Epiphanes Maxentius the Tyrant Euseb lib. cap. 9 who fell into the river Tiber from his own false Bridge laid for Constantine The Spanish Armado our Powder-Papists c. See the Note on Psal 7.15 Vers 16. The Lord is known by the judgement c. The Heathen Historian observed that the ruine of Troy served to teach men Herod that God punisheth great sinners with heavie plagues Go up to Shiloh c. The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands Heb. Palms hollows noting the close conveyance of his wicked plots and practises but for his own mischief Higgaion Selah Ainsworth rendreth it Meditation Selah meaning that this is a matter of deep meditation worthy to be well-minded and spoken or sung with earnest consideration always The word is found only here and Psal 92.3 where also the wonderful works of God are discoursed R. Solomons Note here is Ultimum judicium debet esse continua meditatio The last Judgement should be continually thought upon Vers 17. The wicked shall be turned into Hell Heb. into into Hell twice that is into the nethermost Hell the lowest Dungeon of Hell The word Lâ—shâ—â—lah hath a vehement inforcement from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 locall as Grammarians call it and importeth that they shall be cast into outer darkness August In tenebras ex tenebris infelicitèr exclusi infelicius excludenâ—â— R. Solomons Note here is They shall be carried away from Hell to Judgement and from Judgement they shall be returned to the deepest Pit of Hell This if men did but beleeve they durst not do as they do as once Cato said to Cesar And all the Nations The wicked be they never so many of them they may not think to escape for their multitudes as amongst Mutineers in an Army the tenth man sometimes is punished the rest go free Vers 18. For the needy shall not always be forgotten Because he that shall come will come and will not tarry The Lord is at hand to help those that are forsaken of their hopes Julian Lining was apprehended by Dale the Promooter in Queen Maries days who said unto him You hope and hope but your hope shall be aslope For though the Queen fail she that you hope for shall never come at it for there is my Lord Cardinals Grace Act. Mon. 1871. and many others between her and it c. But the Cardinal dyed soon after the Queen and according to Father Latimers prayer Elizabeth was crowned and England yet once more looked upon Vers 19. Luther Arise O Lord let not man prevail Prayers are the Churches Weapons her Bombards instrumenta bellica whereby she is terrible as an Army with Banners she prays down her enemies Vers 20. Put them in fear O Lord strike them with a panick terrour as once the Canaanites Philistines 2 Sam. 5. Syrians 2 King 7. Germans in the War against the Hussites c. Some read it Put a Law upon them bridle them bound them as thou hast done the Sea Job 38.11 The Greek and Syriack favour this reading That the Nations may know themselves to be but men And not gods as that proud Prince of Tyrus Ezek. 27. and Antiochus who would needs be stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to such an height of pride will Persecutors grow if they prosper and be not taken a link lower as we say Home id est fracti saith R. Obad.
Vers 17. He delivered me from my strong enemy Saul this he oft instanceth rolling it as Suger under his tongue and turning aside often to look upon it as Sampson did to see his dead Lion fetching Hony out of it For they were too strong for me And then Gods help was most seasonable when David found himself over-matcht Vers 18. They prevented me c. They took me on the sudden and unprovided The Children of this World are wiser c. But the Lord was my stay Or my staff whereon I so leaned as that if he had failed me I had been all along Vers 19. He bronght me forth also c. He freed me out of all straights and stated me in a most happy condition He delivered because he delighted in me All was of free grace and favour not of any merit And this he purposely premiseth as a caution to the ensuing profession of his innocency Vers 20. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness viz. The righteousness of my Cause and my freedom from such crimes of disloyalty and ambition wherewith mine enemies charged me as if prickt on by my pride I sought the Kingdom As also according to mine honest desire and endeavour in all things else â—o keep a good Conscience voyd of offence toward God and men This though Gods own work and a debt most due to him yet he is pleased graciously to reward Vers 21. For I have kept the ways of the Lord For the main and for the most part though not without some particular stumblings and startings aside against my general resolution and the tendency of mine heart And have not wickedly departed from my God By an utter defection I have not been transformed into Sins Image by projecting sin by falling into it with full consent and by lying under the power of it Non ex superbia sed errore saith R. David here not of presumption have I offended or with an high hand but of infirmity and with reluctancy rising up again by repentance and renewing my Covenant Vers 22. For all his Judgements were before mee Mine obedience in desire and indeavour at least was universall extending to the compass of the whole Law and this is a sure sign of sincerity Hence in the next words Vers 23. I was also upright before him This he had because he kept Gods Commandements as Vers 22. had respect to them all Psal 119.6 both to the Magnalia and minutula legis which he kept as the apple of his eye Prov. 7.2 even all Gods Wills Act. 13.22 and was therefore approved in Christ as Apelles Rom. 16.10 and passed for an Israelite indeed in whom was no guile as Nathaniel Joh. 1.47 And I kept my self from mine iniquity i.e. from my peccatum in delicâ—is my darling sin whereto I am either by Nature or Custom most inclined and addicted From the iniquity of my heart and secret thoughts which no man can charge me with saith Aben-Ezra from that sin of disloyalty R. David which Saul and his Courtiers falsly charge me with Say others Vers 24. Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me See on vers 20. Reward and Mercy are joyned together in the Second Commandement and Psal 62.12 it is a mercy in God to reward a man according to his work According to the cleaneness of my hands in his eye sight i.e. which he hath beheld in me Qua illo judice praeditus dum Vatab. though mine enemies were of another judgement Ver. 25 With the mercifull c. Hypothesin hic ad thesin transfert it is as if the should say I and mine enemies are a pattern of thy Truth and Justice that thou wilt do good to those that are good and to them that are upright in their hearts As for such as turn aside unto their crooked paths thou Lord shalt lead them forth with the workers of iniquity Psal 125.4 5. Vers 26. With the pure c. Cum candido candide agere soles The pure shall have all that heart can with And with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward Or thou wilt wrastle viz. with such cross peices as proudly and perversly erre from thy precepts as it were on purpose to thwart thee or to try Masteries with thee Against such stubborn persons God threatneth not eight degrees which are the highest Notes in Musick and degrees in qualities as the Philosopher distinguisheth them but twenty and eight degrees of wrath Levit. 26.18 21 24 28. Exiget ab â—is rationem minutissimorum saith R. Obad. Gaon upon this Text he will reckon with them for their least offences and not bate them an Ace of their due punishment He will pay them home in their own coyn over-shoot them in their own Bow fill them with their own ways be as cross as they are for the hearts of them yet still in a way of Justice though he break the necks of them in wrastling and send them packing to their place in Hell Ainsworth rendreth it With the froward thou wilt shew thy self wry It is a Similitude taken from Wrastlers and noteth a writhing of ones self against an adversary Compare herewith Deut. 32.5 They are a perverse and crooked Generation the same two words that are here in this Text the latter importeth that they wriggled and writhed after the manner of Wraâ—â—lers that wave up and down and wind the other way when one thinks to have them here or there But all will not serve their turn to save them from punishment God will be sure to meet with them his Word will lay hold on them and their sin shall finde them out Vers 27. For thou wilt save the afflicted people Even the same whom before he had called Merciful or godly upright pure here are the Afflicted and seem by God to be neglected but he will save them assuredly though he bear long with them Luk. 18.7 But will bring down high looks In Samuel it is Thine eyes are upon the haughty that thou maist bring them down 2 Sam. 22.28 q.d. Gods eyes are upon them all the while that he spareth them to watch for a fit season to ruine them Vers 28. For thou wilt light my Candle Or Thou hast lighted my Candle that is thou hast bettered my condition which seemed to be put out in obscurity The wicked mans is Job 18 6. 21.17 Prov. 13.9 The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness He hath and yet still will turn my grief into joy as Hest 8.19 and mean while direct and comfort me in mine Afflictions as a Candle is a great comfort in the dark though it doth not make Day where it comes as the Sun doth Vers 29. For by thee have I run thorow a Troop Though but a little man yet by Gods help heatchieved great matters did great exploits Homo tricubitalis saith a Father concerning Paul Et coelum ascendit so here Some render it Currebam accinctus Bucholc I ran well appointed and they interpret
of Hell as it were and doth therefore set up as loud a cry after God as once Micah did after his mawmets Judg. 18. and farre greater cause he had And to the Lord I made supplication He knew that the same hand alone must cure him that had wounded him neither was Gods favour recoverable but by humble confession and hearty prayer Some think to glide away their groans with games and their cares with cards to bury their terrours and themselves in wine and sleep They run to their musick with Saul to building of Cities with Cain when cast out of Gods presence c. sed haret lateri lethalis arundo but as the wounded Deer that hath the deadly arrow sticking in his side well he may frisk up and down for a time but still he bleedeth and will ere long fall down dead so it is with such as feek not comfort in God alone as make not supplication to Him for Him as return not to God who hath smitten them nor seek the Lord of Hoasts Isa 9.13 Vers 9. What profit is there in my blood c i.e. In my life say some q. d. To what purpose have I lived sith Religion is not yet settled In my death say others Diolat and better a violent death especially and out of thy favour Now all beleevers have ever abhorred such a kind of death before they were reconciled to God and had a true feeling of his grace Shall the dust praise thee c See Psal 6.6 with the Note Vers 10. Hear O Lord and have mercy upon me When faith hath once said to God what it hath to fay it will wait for a good answer relying on his mercy and expecting relief from the Lord as here David doth looking in the mean whiles through the anger of his corrections to the sweetneffe of his loving countenance as by a Rain-bow we see the beautifull image of the Suns light in the midst of a dark and waterish cloud Vers 11. Thou hast turned from mee my mourning c. Sustulisti luctum latitiam attulisti See the Note on vers 5. Ver. 12. To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee i.e. That my tongue oyled from an heart enlarged may exalt thee according to my bounden duty and thine abundant desert A good tongue that watcheth all opportunities to glorifie God and edifie others is certainly a mans great glory but an evill tongue is his foul shame Basil expoundeth glory by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spirit or soul The Chaldee Paraphrast Laudabunt to honor abiles mundi The glorious ones of the World shall praise thee O Lord my God I will give thanks unto thee for ever Epiphonematica pathetica conclusio Davidi ex summis calamitatibus erepto familiaris He concludeth as he began ingaging his heart to everlasting thankfullnesse and therein becoming a worthy pattern to all posterity PSAL. XXXI A Psalm of David made say Vatablus and others at that time when Saul pursued David in the Wildernesse of Maon 1 Sam. 23.24 But by many circumstances and passages of this Psalm it appeareth more probable that it was as the former composed when Absolom was up 2 Sam. 15.10 c. See vers 11 12 22. of this Psalm with 2 Sam. 17.24 27. 19.33 Joseph Autiq. lib. 7. cap 9. Vers 1. In thee O Lord do I put my trust Hic Psalmus varia mixtus magna affectnum vicissitudine insignis est This Psalm is strangely mixt and made up of many and diverse passions and petitions according to the change of times and estate In the time of affliction he prayeth in the time of consolation he praiseth the Lord Ercles 7.15 In these three first verses is little said but what had been before said and is already opened Let mee never be ashamed i.e. Repulsed worsted defeated In thy Righteousnesse And not according to mine own Righteousnesse saith Kimchi or according to thy faithfullnesse Vers 2. 〈…〉 This repetition of his petition is no vain babbling as Mat. 6.9 but an effect and an evidence of greatest earnestneffe as Mat. â—6 44 For an house of defence Where the enemy can as little hurt mee as when I was in the Hold 1 Sam. 22.4 Vers 3. For thou art my Rock and my fortresse Such places David had been forced to fly to but stil he trusted in God Lead mee and guide mee Duc me deduc me A Metaphor from Captaines and Generalls who lead on their armies with greatest art and industry Vatab. Vers 4. Pull mee out of the net That noted net as the Hebrew hath it Nam Zâ— denet at rem notam omnibus saith Kimchi David was not caught in it but the enemies presumed he would be so selling the hide before the beast was taken as did likewife the proud Spaniards when coming against England in eighty eight they triumphed before the victory and sang Tu qua Romanas suevisti temnere leges Hispano disces subdere collajugo But blessed be God the net brake and wee escaped Psal 124.7 For thou art my strength As a tree is strongest at the root and a branch or bough next the trunck or stock and the further it groweth out from thence the smaller and weaker it groweth too So the nearer the Creature is to God the stronger and on the contrary Vers 5. Into thine hand I commit my spirit So did our Saviour so did St. Stephen and diverse of the dying Martyrs with these very words most apt and apposite surely for such a purpose But what a wretch was that Huberâ—â— who dyed with these words in his mouth I yeeld my goods to the King my body to the grave and my soul to the Devill Thou hast redeemed And so hast best right unto mee O Lord God of truth I know whom I have trusted Vers 6. I have hated them that regard lying vanities i.e. Idols or ought else besides the living God who giveth us all things richly to injoy 1 Tim. 6.17 See Jon. 2.8 with the Note Vanitates vanitatis Vatablus rendreth it and telleth us that some understand it of Astrology R. David doth so in this Note of his upon the Text Astrologos in cantatores in fuga mea non consului sed in Domino prophetis ejus confisus sum I have not consulted Astrologers and Soothsayers in my trouble but have trusted to the Lord and his Prophets Vers 7. I will be glad and rejoyce In the midst of trouble faith will find matter of joy as extracting abundance of comfort in most desperate distresses from the precious promises and former experiences Thou hast known my soul in adversity God knows our souls best Psal 1.6 and wee know him best in adversity Isa 63.16 the Church thought she should know him in the midst of all his austerities Vers 8. Thou hast not shut mee up c. i.e. Not given mee into their power See Psal 27.12 Thou hast set my feet in a large room So that
that I break not forth into outward act God will not hear i. e. so hear as to impute it or to account it a sin Pharisaice Vers 19. But verily God hath heard mee As I well perceive by his answer full and enlarged as the cloud that riseth out of the earth in thin and insensible vapours falleth down in great and abundant showers Vers 20. Blessed be God c. This is the conclusion of Davids syllogism in this and the two former verses and herein his Logick is better than Aristotles PSAL. LXVII VErs 1. God be mercifull unto us sc In sending his son and calling his elect both among Jews and Gentiles to the participation of that gift Joh. 4.10 that Benefit 1 Tim. 6.2 And blesse us Specially with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ Jesus Ephes 1.3 And cause his face to shine upon us Giving us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 who is the brightnesse or glittering refulgency of his Fathers glory and the expresse image of his person 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Serenâ— suo vulâ—â— nos irrad et Beza Heb. 1.3 the day-spring from on high Luk. 1 78. In this prayer the Psalmist plainly alludeth to that blessing pronounced upon the people by the High-Priest Numb â— and sheweth that all commeth from Christ the true Aaron the High-Priest of the new Covenant Vers 2. That thy way may be known Thy way of worship that way that is called holy the Gospel Act. 19.23 18.25 26. the way of salvation Act. 16.17 Thy saving health That is thy Christ Luk. 1.30 32. Vers 3. Let the people praise thee O God Enlarge the bounds of thy Church and bring in the Hallelujahs of the Gentiles also Let them praise Thee that pronown Thee is emphaticall and exclusive and not their Gods of gold and silver Let them turn to God from Idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thes 1.9 Vers 4. O Let the Nations be glad c. As they cannot but bee upon their sound conversion Act. 8.8 there being no such joy as the joy of faith and that a mans name is written in Heaven Beatus Ludâ—vicus would be called Ludovicus de Pissiaco rather than take greater titles because there he became a Christian For thou shalt judge the people righteously c. Not rigorously keeping thy Church in safety amidst the greatest ruines of the World and collisions of Empires And 〈◊〉 the Nations upon earth Selah Heb. Thou shalt gâ—â—â—ly lead them as 〈◊〉 Shepheard doth his flock or a Father his child Lord hasten it Vers 5. Versus 〈◊〉 See Vers 3. Vers 6. Then shall the earth yeeld her increase Omnia opera â—â—stra eram prospera All shall go well with us and we shall abound with blessings of both â—â—es The Gospel is a cornucopia and they that receive it shall have all that heart can with or need require all creatures shall conspire to make them happy The earth which was cursed for mans sin and hath lain bed-ridden as it were ever since shall put forth her utmost strength for good peoples use God will hear the Heavens and the Heavens shall hear the earth c. Hos 2.21 22. when once mens hearts bear fruit to the Lord Mat. 13.19 23. Heb. 6.7 Hierom interpreteth these words of the Virgin Mary bringing forth the child Jesus Others thus Then shall the earth bring forth innumerable servants of God Vers 7. In more Nevochim God shall blesse us God is thrice named here and in the former verse to note the Trinity of persons as Kamban wrote and had therefore his book burnt by the Jews in France And whereas it is thrice here said God shall bless us it importeth that the blessings here meant are more than terrene and bodily blessings PSAL. LXVIII A Psalm or song of David Made at that time when having overcome his enemies he brought arcam in arcem the Ark of God into the Tower of Sion conferre vers 1. with Numb 10.35 Herein also he treateth of the greatest secrets of Christs Kingdome and prophesieth of things to come as Act. 2.30 31. witnesse the Apostle Ephes 4.8 Vers 1. Let God arise He need do no more that his enemies may be scattered though never so close united eâ—iamsi catapbractus incedat Satan as Luther speaketh digitum sunns tantum moveat dissipabuntur hostes Let the Lord but stirre his finger only let him but look unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and they shall be troubled as Exod. 14.24 funduntur fugantur cum primum se exferit Deus as those Philistines 2 Sam. 5. Let them also that hate him flee before him Athanasius telleth us that evill spirits may be put to flight by this Psalm and that Anthony the Hermite fought against the Devill with this verse and worsted him This may be done also as well with other texts of Scripture Golloq Mens Luther encountred the Devill with that sentence Thou hast put all things under his feet Another Dutch Divine with this The Sbn of God came to dissolve the works of the Devil Cramerus A third with those words The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head As the rocks repel the boisterous waves câ—nantia frangere frangunt so doth Christ the Rock the stone cut out of the mountains without hands Dan. 2.45 all his Churches enemies Vers 2. As 〈◊〉 is driven away c. Smoak at first sight seemeth formidable but soon vanisheth and the higher it ascendeth the sooner it is dissipated so here Guicciardine saith of Charles the eighth of France that he came into the field like thunder and lightening but went out like a snuff more than a man at fist and lesse than a woman at last Semblably Gods enemies As wax melteth before the fire c. Wax is a more solid substance than smoak but held to the fire it quickly dissolveth The Psalmist both prayeth and prophesieth here that the downfall of the Churches enemies may be praeceps presentissimum sad and suddain as is elegantly set forth by these â—wo similitudes Vers 3. But let the Righteous be glad When he seeth the vengeance Psal 58.10 See the Note there whilst this wise King scattereth the wicked and bringeth the wheel over them Prov. 20.26 Let them rejoyce before God Heb. At the presence of God from which the wicked must flee vers 1. See Isa 33.14 Yea let them exceedingly rejoyce Heb. Rejoyce with gladness over-abound exceedingly with joy as St. Paul 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 7.4 Joy is the just mans portion which the wicked may not meddle with Hos 9.12 Vers 4. Sing unto God sing praises 〈…〉 not in a custumers 〈…〉 help hereunto was this Psalm 〈…〉 Excell him that rideth upon the Heavens Exalt him so as when a 〈◊〉 is made up unto a great height Beza rendreth it Sternite 〈…〉 Cast upon pave the way for him
without so shall all that will live godly in Christ Jesus set them never dream of a dilicacy in religion So will I keep thy Precepts Not say as those Miscreants Jer. 7.10 wee are delivered to do all these abominations but as good old Zachary Luk. 1.74 75. servati sumus ut serviamâ—â— wee are delivered that wee might serve God without fear c. Vers 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant David could not live out of Gods favour nor without his direction hee therefore here and elsewhere prayeth heartily for both Vers 136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes My countenance is clouded and even furrowed with continuall tears shed for thy dishonour therefore lift up upon mee the light of thy loving countenance It grieveth mee greatly to see thy law violated and the transgressours thereof so careless of their own eternall good This was Lâ—tâ— case at Sodom 2 Pet. 2. and is many a good mans still every prophane wretch being a Hazael to his eyes an Hadadriâ—â—â—â— to his heart The Septuagint and Vulgar read Mine eyes have drawn down issues of Waters i.e. they have wept abundantly because they that is those eyes of mine have not kept thy Law So Aben-Ezra Quia ipsi 〈◊〉 non observassant 〈◊〉 David had walked after the sight of his eyes and the lust of his heart this is now his grief Thus they but not so well Vers 137 Righteaâ—â— arâ— thâ—â— O Lord Essentially and efficiently And upright are thy Judgements Which are sometimes secret but alwayes just as the Emperour Mauricius also acknowledged when his wife and children were slain before his eyes by the traitour Phocas Vers 138 Thy Testimonies which thou hast commanded i.e. the Gospel as Isa 8.20 And the Commandement thereof to hear Christ Mat. 17.5 and to beleeve in his name 1 Joh. 3.23 this is a faithfull and true saying 1 Tim. 1.15 not Aven-gelaion as the Jews blasphemously call it or fabula de Christo as that black mouthed Pope Vers 139 My zeal hath consumed mee Hath meagred and impaired mee much In the Hebrew the last letter is doubled to increase the signification .. Zeal is the extreme heat of all the affections Vers 140 Thy Word is very pure And calleth for purity Hence wicked men sleight it but Saints the rather imbrace it desirous to bee conformed to the heavenly pattern Vers 141 I am small and despised Minutus a worm and no man an abject and outcast nullificamen hominis c. Yeâ— do I not forget thy Precepts My mean condition impaireth not my constancy Vers 142 Thy Righteousness is an everlasting righteousness When all other laws and sentences though ingraven in brass or marble shall decay and determine thy Law lasteth for ever and so shall they that observe it And thy Law is the Truth And therefore lasting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Platâ— The Eternity of Israel cannot lye 1 Sam. 15.29 Vers 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold of mee Heb. Have found mee Those as wee say of foul weather come before they are sent for yet are they not without the Lord. It is hee that putteth his under the black-rod Yet thy Commandements c. God and his Word are never so sweet to the Saints as in adversity Vers 144 The Righteousness of thy Testimonies c. This is the same with vers 142. Give mee understanding c. An ignorant life is a lifeless life Fuit non vixit The life of God is the only life But from this men are alienated by the ignorance that is in them Ephes 4.18 Vers 145 I cryed with my whole heart This sheweth that hee had not only a gift of prayer but a spirit of prayer Vers 146 I cryed unto thee save mee Salvation properly denoteth the privative part of mans felicity but includeth the positive part also this must bee got by prayer Vers 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning I was up and at it before day-break This is check to our sluggishness I hoped in thy Word The Word furnished his hope and his hope his prayer Vers Hier. ad Eusta 148 Mine eyes prevent the night-watches By this verse and the former it appeareth that hee spent whole nights in prayer and meditation of Gods Word Hierom counselled some godly women thus Tenenti codicem somnus obrepat cadentem faciem pagina sacra suscipiat Vers 149 Hear my voice according to thy loving kindnesse Shewed heretofore to others of thy servants and to mee frequently Quicken mee according to thy Judgement i.e. According to thy promise Vers 150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief Those scelerum assidui-sectatores prompti sunt ac parati They are far from thy law And so have nothing to restrain their rage sith they have cast thy cordes from them Vers 151 Thou art near O Lord To counterwork and controule the enemy as also to safeguard and support thy people Vers 152 Concerning thy Testimonies c. the sempiternity of Gods Word is an excellent prop to faith and help in prayer to those especially who are of long experience and have well laid up their experiments David had learned this truth of a child little See 2 Tim. 3. ult Vers 153 Consider mine affliction and deliver mee Vide commisâ—ratioâ—es oculis look upon it and let thine eye affect thy heart say as once I have seen I have seen the affliction of my people Vers 154 Plead my cause and deliver mee Litiga litigium meum Bee both mine Advocate and my Redeemer Vers 155. Salvation is far from the wicked How can it bee otherwise when as God is neither in their heads Psal 10.4 not hearts Psal 14.1 nor words Psal 12.4 not wayes Tit. 1.16 can these have part or portion in his salvation For thy seek not This contempt of Gods Word is a plain proof that no part or peece of Gods favour belongeth to them Vers 156 Great are thy tender mercies c. Or many and Mother-like This is great comfort to great est sinners Vers 157 Many are my Persecutours Truth never wanted an adversary and goes seldome without a scratcht face Yet do I not decline But still adhere to thy word when others fall off as fast as leaves fall from trees in Autumn Vers 158 I beheld the Transgressours and was grieved Or I abhorred them or I contended with them not so much because they were mine as thine enemies Because they kept not thy Word Which all men are bound not only to observe but to preserve as much as may bee Vers 159 Consider how I love thy Precepts And love facilitateth duty helping us over all the hardship of holinesse It yeeldeth also much boldness to a man to offer it to God as here for a proof of his sincerity Vers 160 Thy Word is true from the beginning Heb. The beginning of thy Word is true Primarium illud est in verbo tuo quod est firmissimum this is a speciall praise of thy Word that it is very
Historians had their work done to their hands He wrote with the same spirit he fought saith Quintilian Eodem aâ—imo dixit quo bellavit lib. 10. And it came to passe This Book then is a continuation of the former Nehemiah being a third instrument of procuring this peoples good after Zerubbabel and Ezra and deservedly counted and called a Third Founder of that Common-wealth after Joshuah David In the moneth Chisleu In the deep of Winter then it was that Hanani and his brethren undertook their journey into Persia for the good of the Church In the twentieth year Sc. of Artaxerxes Longimanus thirteen yeares after Ezra and his company first came to Jerusalem Ezra 7.8 with Nehem. 2.1 I was in Shushan the palace Id est In the palace of the City Susan this Susan signifieth a Lily and was so called likely for the beauty and delectable site Now it is called Vahdac of the poverty of the place Here was Nehemiah waiting upon his office and promoting the good of his people Nomine tu quiu sis natur â Gratius ac te Gratius hoc Christi gratia praestet Amen Strabo and others say that the Inhabitants of Susia were quiet and perceable and were therefore the better beloved by the Kings of Persia Cyrus being the first that made his chief abode there in Winter especially and that this City was long and in Compasse 15 miles about Verse 2. That Hanani A gracious man according to his Name and zealous for his Countrey which indeed is a mans self and therefore when our Saviour used that proverb Physician heal thy self the sense is heal thy Countrey Luk. 4.23 Out of my brethren Not by race perhaps but surely by grace and place a Jew and that inwardly and therefore entrusted after this by Nehemiah with a great charge Neh 7. ver 2. Came he and certain men of Judah Upon some great suit likely for their Countrey because they took so long and troublesome a journey in the Winter not without that Roman resolution of Pompey in like case Necesse est ut eam non ut vivam Whatever their businesse was these men had better successe then afterwards Philo the Jew and his Colleagues had in their Embassy to Cajus the Emperour who cast them out with contempt and would not hear their apology against Appion of Alexandria their deadly Enemy And I asked them concerning the Jewes The Church was his care neither could he enjoy ought so long as it went ill with Zion He was even sick of the affliction of Joseph and glad he had got any of whom to enquire he asked them not out of an itch after newes but of an earnest desire to know how it fared with Gods poor people that he might cum singulis pectus suum copulare as Cyprian speaketh rejoyce with them that rejoyced and weep with those that wept Rom. 12.15 a sure signe of a sound member Which were left of the captivity One of whom he well knew to be more worth then a rabble of Rebels a World of wicked persons As the Jews use to say of those seventy souls that went down with Jacob into Egypt that they were better worth then all the seventy Nations of the World besides Verse 3. Are in great affliction and reproach The Church is heir of the Crosse saith Luther and it was ever the portion of Gods people to be reproached Ecclesia est hae res crucis as David was by Doeg with devouring words Psal 52. Their breath as fire shall devour you Esay 33.10 The Wall of Jerusalem also is broken down So that theeves and murtherers came in in the Night saith Comestor here and slue many of them And the gates thereof are burnt with fire They were burnt by the Chaldeans and never yet repaired And to keep a continual great watch was too great a charge and trouble Verse 4. And it came to passe when I heard It was not without a special providence that these good men thus met and by mutual conference kindle one another and that thereby God provided a remedy Things fall not out by hap-hazard but by Gods most wise dispose and appointment That I sate down and wept He was even pressed down with the greatnesse of his grief Expletur lachrymis egeriturque dolor Ovid. whereto he gave vent by his eyes Zeph. 3.17 18. God promises much mercy to such to whom the reproach of the solemn assemblies was a burden Nehemiah cannot stand under it but sits down and weeps And mourned certaine dayes Viz. For three moneths space for so long he was preparing himself to petition the King chap. 2. And fasted and prayed This was a sure course and never miscarried as hath been noted Ezra 9. Before the God of heaven With face turned toward his holy Temple 1 Kings 8.44 48. with heart lifted up to the highest heavens those hills whence should come his help Verse 5. I beseech thee O Lord Annah Jehovah An insinuating preface whereby he seeketh first to get in with God speaking him faire as doth likewise David in a real and heavenly complement Psal 116.16 Obsecro Jehova I beseech O Lord I am thy servant I am thy servant the sonne of thy handmaid break thou my bands So the Church Esay 64.9 Behold see we beseech thee we are all thy people The great and terrible God A great King above all gods 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exod. 15.11 saith a Greek Father glorious in holinesse fearful in prayses doing wonders saith Moses in one place as in another The Lord our God is God of gods and Lord of lords a great God a mighty and a terrible Verè verendus venerandus Deut. 10.17 Thus Nehemiah begins his prayer and counts it a great mercy that he may creep in at a corner and present himself before this most Majestick Monarch of the world with greatest self-abasement That keepeth covenant and mercy That he may at once both tremble before him and trust upon Him he describeth God by his Goodnes as well as by Greatnes and so helpeth his own faith by contemplating Gods faithfulnesse and loving-kindnesse God hath hitherto kept Covenant with heaven and earth with nights and days Jer. 33.20 25. that one shall succeed the other and shall he break with his people No verily Be sure to keep faith in heart or you will pray but poorly And for this learn in the preface to your prayers to propound God to your selves in such notions and under such tearms and titles as may most conduce thereunto pleading the Covenant That love him and observe his Commandments That love to be his servants Esay 56.6 that wait for his Law Isa 42.4 that think upon his Commandments to do them Psal 103.18 Verse 6. Let thine eares now be attentive and thine eyes open Should not God see as well as hear saith a Divine his children should want many things We apprehend not all our wants and so cannot pray for relief
yet none so profitable as the Sheep who hath Wool for Raiment Skin for Parchment Flesh for Meat Guts for Musick and was therefore in Sacrifice so frequently offered Vers 8. The Fowl of the air These Moses seemeth to have forgot in that discontented speech of his Numb 11.22 but God sent those murmurers such a drift of Quails meat of Kings with their bread of Angels as he could not have imagined or hoped for And the Fish of the Sea Piscis of Pasco Many Islands are maintained and people fed by Fish In Hebrew the same word signifieth a Pond or Fish-pool and a Blessing And surely it is a blessing to any Country that they have plenty and dainty of these good Creatures And whatsoever passeth c. As Whales and other great Fishes which make a smooth path in a calm Sea as a Ship or Boat doth Job 41.23 c. See the Note there Vers 9. O Lord our Lord c. Prius incipit Propheta mirari quam loqui desinit loqui non mirari The Psalmist endeth as he began transported with an extasie of admiration So he begins and ends many of his Psalms with Hallelujah Betwixt God and us the distance is infinite and if it were possible our love and thankfulness should fill up that distance and extend it self to infiniteness saith a grave Divine PSAL. IX VPon Muth-Labbon This was the name of a certain Instrument say some the beginning of a Song say others to the tune whereof this Psalm was to bee sung Montanus and many more hold it to be an Annagramatism and render it For the death of Nabal viz. by a covert intimation and inversion of the Letters So in the Title of Psal 7. Cush Benjemini for Kish the Benjamite This is Parcere nominibus dicere de vitiis Vers 1. I will praise thee O Lord with my whole heart This is a gratulatory Psalm wherein David shews his thankfulness Cic. which a very Heathen calleth Maximam imò matrem omnium virtutum reliquaram the Mother of all the rest of the Vertues True thankfulness as one well observeth is here and in the next verse described 1 By the matter of it 2 By the manner First for matter the Psalmist delivereth it in Four parcels Of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seems to come Cipher 1 The acknowledging of God in all 2 A Ciphering and summing up of special Mercies 3 An expression of Spiritual joy in God as well as in his Gifts 4 A dedication of our Songs and selves to his Name Secondly For the manner he presseth 1 Integrity for the subject and object vers 1 2 Sincerity for affection and end vers 2. I will be glad and rejoyce in thee Spiritual cheerfulness is the Mother of Thankfulness Jam. 5.13 Birds when got in the air or on the top of trees and have taken up a stand to their mind sing most sweetly O thou most High God was so first called by Melchisedeck upon a like occasion as here by David Gen. 14.19 20. The Greeks might have their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Sun which they worshipped from this Hebrew Helion most High Vers 3. When mine enemies This Tremellius maketh to be the form of praise which the Psalmist professeth that he will sing to God and rendereth it thus That mine enemies returning back are fallen c. And perish at thy presence The victory is of God and to him alone to be ascribed The Romans in their Triumphs presented a Palm to Jupiter The Graecians also thankfully ascribed to Jupiter their deliverance from the Persians wrought by Themistocles and there-hence called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Deliverer Vers 4. For thou hast maintained my right Heb. Thou hast done me judgement Locus hic in signis est saith Polanus this is an excellent place and maketh much to the comfort of Gods poor people that are oppressed by the World ◠the righteous Judge will not fail to right them See Luke 18.7 8. Vers 5. Thou hast rebuked the Heathen c. God first chideth the Churches Enemies by lighter Judgements if these be not improved he destroyeth them Psal 119.21 and because they sought to obscure and extirpate his name from amongst men therefore he puts out their name that is their fame and reputation for ever and yet or for ever and a day as we use to say Ingloria vita recedit they go out in a snuff as did the Primitive and Modern Persecutors of abhorred memory Vers 6. O thou enemy The same whom he called Wicked one in the former verse where the word Wicked is of the singular number q. d. O thou implacable Wretch that wouldst never be reconciled till thou wast ruined which now thou art c. Some read it interrogatively and withall ironically O enemy are destructions come to an end and Cities so wasted that they can never be repaired q. d. So indeed thou hast designed it but art fairly disappointed And the like besel Antiochus Nero Dioclesian Philip the Second of Spain Charls the Ninth of France and other bloudy Persecutors with their devillish thoughts and threats which they could never effect and accomplish Their memorial is perished with them Heb. Of them of them twice for more vehemency The vulgar after the Greek hath it cum sonitu with an humming noyse so that the sound thereof ringeth all the World over R. David rendreth it Memoria eorum periit suntne illi Their memorial is perished have they yet a being any where Vers 7. But the Lord shall endure for ever Vivit Christus regnatque alioqui totus desperassem said that good Dutch Divine upon the view of the Churches enemies i.e. Christ liveth and reigneth for ever setting one foot on the earth and the other on the sea as Lord of both otherwise I should have been altogether hopeless Blessed bee God that he is God was a learned Divines motto Vers 8. And he shall judge the world c. See on vers 4. Vers 9. The Lord also will be a refuge c. Heb. An high tower edita arx wherein men are secured and escape the impressions of an enemy The very Lame and Blinde those most shiftless Creatures when they had gotten the strong Hold of Zion over their heads thought that then they might securely scorn David and his Host 2 Sam. 5.6 7. yet their Hold failed them So did the Tower of Shechem those that ran into it Not so the Almighty his poor oppressed Universal experience sealeth to this truth neither can one instance be given of the contrary Higgaion Selah It is reported of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that living in the Fens and being vext with Gnats Herod Lib. 2. they use to sleep in high Towers whereby those Creatures not being able to soar so high they are delivered from the biting of them So would it be with us when bitten with cares and fears did we but run to God for refuge and rest confident of his help
for to thee doth it appertain Jer. 10 7. Rev. 15.4 Vers 11. The counsell of the Lord of standeth for ever That counsell of his whereby he hath decreed to maintain government amongst men to relieve the oppressed to punish the Wicked to uphold the Church is firm and inviolable Divinum consilium dum devitatur impletur humana sapientia dum reluctatur comprehenditur saith Gregory There is a councell in Heaven will dash the mould of all contrary counfells upon earth Vers 12. Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord viz. By speciall favour and covenant The preservation of the Church which hath so few friends on earth and so many enemies in earth and hell is justly brought as an evident argument of the divine providence Christ standeth upon mount-Mount-Zion and that mountain shall bee exalted above all mountaines The Church as it is highest in the favour of God so it shall be set above all the World and het enemies shall be in that place that is fittest for them the lowest the footstool of Christ The people whom he hath chosen Some read it The people which hath chosen Hims for their inheritance It cometh all to one See Deut. 26.17 18 19. Vers 13. The Lord looketh from Heaven Ita râ—spicit universos quasi singulas it 〈…〉 sâ—lâ—s And this Doctrin of Gods particular providence is fides natinnum quarum Deus est Dominus saith Kimchi taught in the Church only Vers 14. From the place of his habitation he beholdeth And this is a very great condescension sith he humbleth himself to behold things in Heaven Psal 113.6 to look out of himself upon the Saints and Angels how much more upon the inhabitants of the earth Vers 15. Unum paâ—â—ter acaliud Kimchi He fashioneth their hearts alike i. e. Ones as well as anothers The Arabick hath it Format sigillatim he fashioneth them severally one after another and not all soules together as the Origenists and some Jew-doctors held Hee considereth all their works Their hearts are not hid from him sith he made them as is said before much lesse their works These God considereth and therefore men had need consider them and turn their feet to his Testimonies Psal 119.59 Vers 16. There is no King saved by the multitude of an hoast Witnesse Sennacherib Xerxes Bajazet Away then with Creature-confidence it will be the ruine of all that rest in it whether it be in men or means that they trust See Psal 62.9 10. with the Notes A mighty man Or A Giant Goliah for instance As the most skilfull swimmers are often drowned So here Vers 17. Pausan An Horse is a vain thing And yet a warlike creature full of terrour See the Note on Psal 32.9 and so swift in service that the Persians dedicated him to the Sun See Job 41.20 Prov. 21.31 With the Notes Vers 18. Behold the eye of the Lord is on them that fear him Hee looketh upon such with singular delight not without sweet intimations of his singular kindnesse and care of their good Upon them that hope in his mercy Here we have a description of that true Church which God will never forsake sc It is a company of such as truly serve God and boast not of their merits but possessing their soules in hope and silence wait for his mercy Vers 19. To deliver their soul Freedom from troubles He promiseth not but deliverance in due time he assureth them and support in the mean while to keep them alive in famine Vers 20. Our soul waiteth for the Lord i. e. Patiently tarrieth the Lords leisure We can both wait and want for a need Vers 21. Our heart shall rejoyce in him We shall be sure of an happy issue and event but yet so as that we pray for it as in the next words Vers 22. Let thy mercy O Lord be upon us according as we hope in thee Not that we would have no more mercy than we have trust but we would shew that our trust is bottomed upon thy promises and that we humbly expect the full accomplishment of the same in due time PSAL. XXXIV VErs 1. A Psalm of David An Alphabeticall Psalm which David newly delivered from the Philistines Semper in Ecelesia his Psalmus piis suit commendatissimus Moller who had taken him prisoner and presented him to their King as a speciall prize composed with singular art as fit to be committed to memory by all godly people who may here meet with many excellent lessons and cordiall comforts When he changed his behaviour Heb. gust um hoc est gestum This he did being put to his shifts but not without sin Lib. 3. Od. 11. for he was splendide mendax as Horace saith of Hypermuestra at the best neither can this dissimulation or officious lye of his be excused as some have by distinctions indeavoured it but in vain Before Abimelech Or Achish King of Gath 1 Sam. 21. for he was binominiâ— saith Aben-Ezra or else Abimelech that is Father-King was his title of honour As Augustus would be stiled Pater Patria the Father of his Country R. Solomon saith that Abimelech was a common name to all the Philistin-Kings as Pharaoh to the Egyptian Who cast him one For a mad man 1 Sam. 21.15 wherein there was a sweet providence of God who can order our disorders to his own glory and our good like as an Artificer with a crooked tool can make straight work or as an Apothecary of a poysonfull Viper can make a wholesome triacle And he departed Into some parts of Judea where he might repent of his sin first as Peter did when got into a corner and then compile this Psalm of thanksgiving to God who had so graciously delivered him out of that hard and hazardous condition not only above but against his desert Vers 1. I will blesse the Lord at all times As not satisfied with any thing I can do herein at any time The Saints have large hearts and could bet eem the Lord a great deal more service than they are able to perform A certain Martyr said at the stake I am sory that I am going to a place where I shall be ever receiving wages and do no more work His praise shall continually be in my mouth For this remarkable mercy especially which I will still be telling of and speaking good of Gods name to as many as I can possibly extend unto This thankfull man was worth his weight in the gold of Ophir Vers 2. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord This holy gloriation is a Christians duty not to be neglected The Church in the Canticles is much in it and so is St. Paul It sheweth an heart full of joyes unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 8. And besides God is thereby greatly glorified Jer. 9.23 24. The humble shall hear thereof and be glad Not for my sake only but their own as conceiving good hope of like deliverance But then they
finde them out as cunning as they are and sith they are so fool-hardy as to walk upon iniquities Fire-works let them look to bee blown up and they shall have my prayers to that purpose In thine anger cast down c. It is Prophetical as well as Optative Vers 8. Thou tellest my wanderings Or thou cipherest up my stittings and hast them in numerato ready told up my vagaries whilst hunted up and down like a Partridge and hushed out of every bush so that I have not where to settle Saint Paul was at the same pass 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he we have no certain abode 1 Corin. 4.11 and so were sundry of the holy Martyrs and Confessors who wandred about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins c. driven from post to pillar from one Country to another God all the while noting and numbring all their flittings yea all their footings Bottleing up their tears booking down their sighs as here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Mal. 3.16 See Mat. 10.30 The Septuagint for my wandrings or flittings have my life to teach us saith one that our life is but a flitting Put thou my tears into thy Bottle Heb. My tear that is every tear of mine let not one of them be lost but kept safe with thee as so much sweet water It is a witty observation of one That God is said in Scripture to have a Bag and a Bottle a Bag for our sins a Bottle for our tears and that wee should help to fill this as we have that There is an allusion here in the Original that cannot bee Englished Are they not in thy Book sc Of Providence where they cannot be blotted out by any time or tyrants Vers 9. When I cry unto thee then shall mine enemies turn back For how should they stand before so mighty a God Of the power of Prayer for the beating back of enemies besides the Scripture Histories are full that famous Victoria Halleâ—â—iatica for instance Vers 10. In God will I praise his word The Jew-Doctours observe that Elohim God is a Name importing Justice and that Jehovah Lord holdeth out mercy according to that Exod 34.6 Jehovah Jehovah Merciful Gracâ—us c. But if God should foem neither to show his Mercy upon us nor his Justice upon our enemies we must nevertheless adhere to his Word or Promise and patiently wait his performance which will be as sure as he is God and Lord. See the Note on vers 4. Vers 11. In God have I put my trust I will not be afraid c. When news came to Luther that both the Emperour and Pope had threatned his ruine he bravely answered Contemptus est à me Romanus favor furor I care for neither of them I know whom I have trusted See vers 4. Vers 12. Sunt tua post quam Vori. Arabâ— Thy Vows are upon me O God I am a Votary ever since I was at Gath there and then I vowed that if the Lord would vouchsafe to bring me out of that brake I would do as became a thankful man every way And now I am Damnatus votorum as the Latine expression is Vow I must and pay to the Lord my God Ecce ego Domine Lord I am ready do thou but set me up an Altar and I will offer a Sacrifice restore me to thy Sanctuary and I will do it exactly in the Ceremonies and Formalities thereof Mean while mine heart and lips shall not be wanting to give thee praise in spirit and truth I will render praises unto thee Vers 13. For thou hast delivered my soul from death Which was the very thing I begged of thee when I was at worst viz. that thou wouldest save my life which then lay at stake I also then solemnly took upon me such and such ingagements which lye upon me as so many debts and I am in pain till I have paid them This if I shall do effectually Wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling Yea I know thou wilt Lord for every former favour of thine is a pledge of a future That I may walk before God in the light of the living Called else-where the Land of the living that is in this present life spending the span of it in thy fear and labouring to be every whit as good as I vowed to be when I was in great distress and danger Pliny in an Epistle of his to one that desired rules from him how to order his life aright I will saith he give you one rule that shall be instead of a thousand Ut tales esse perseveremus sani quales nos futuros esse profitemur infirmi i. e. That you hold out to bee such when well as you promised to bee when weak and sick c. PSAL. LVII ALtaschith i. e. Destroy not David being in an imminent danger of destruction in the Cave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept. might send up this short request as it were in a fright before he uttered this insuing prayer Altaschith in such an exigent might well be an effectual prayer as was the Woman of Canaans Lord help me and the sick mans Ah Father or these might now be his words to Abishai or some other of his Servants whose fingers even itched to bee doing with Saul as afterwards they were upon a like occasion 1 Sam. 26.9 Destroy not Saul See thou do it not Michtam of David See Psal 16. title When he fled from Saul in the Cave 1 Sam. 24.1 Or into the Cave for shelter and where when he might have cut Sauls throat he cut his Coat only and was inwardly checked for it nevertheless the Spirit came upon him which was no small comfort as Aben-Ezra here observeth and he said Vers 1. Be merciful unto me O God be merciful q. d. Now or never help at a dead lift Bis pro more rogantium ad corrober andum saith Kimchi Other Jew-Doctors give this reason of the repetition of his petition Be merciful c. lest either I fall into Sauls hands Midr. Tilli or Saul into mine lest desire of revenge prick me on to kill him Or Have mercy on me that I sin not or if I do sin that I may repent For my soul trusteth in thee An excellent argument so it comes from the soul so it be heart-sprung Yea in the shadow of thy wings c. As the little Chicken in danger of the Kite hovereth and covereth under the Hen. Vntil these calamities be over-past For long they will not continue Nubecula est site transibit said Athanasins of the Arrian Persecutions which for present were very sharp So Master Jewel about the beginning of Queen Maries reign perswading many to patience said often Hac non durabunt aetatem this sharp shower will soon over Vers 2. I will cry unto God most high Who can easily over-top Saul as high as he is and all his complices against whom I have this comfort that in the thing wherein they deal proudly