his lawfull successour in the Kingdom 2 King XXIV 20. XXV 6 7. IV. Lam. 20. 39. Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant thou hast prophaned his crown by casting it to the ground 39. Thou seemest not to regard the Covenant made with that thy faithfull Servant which Thou promisedst not to break Ver. 34. and instead of raising his Family higher then all other Kings Ver. 27. hast suffered it to lose all its Authority which together with the royal Diadem is vilely trodden under foot 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges thou hast brought his strong holds to ruine 40. Thou hast broken down all the walls of Jerusalem 2 King XXV 10. and made all his fortified places a mere desolation 41. All that pass by the way spoil him he is a reproach to his neighbours 41. So that he hath no defence against those who have a mind to make a prey of him 2 King XXIV 2. and is now scorned and derided by those who formerly dreaded him 42. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice 42. Thou hast made his adversaries whom Thou promisedst to depress Ver. 23. far stronger then himself they have executed all that they designed and now triumph in his ruin 43. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword and hast not made him to stand in the battel 43. His forces have done him no service but being shamefully routed durst never rally again to make any opposition to their enemies 44. Thou hast made his glory to cease and cast his throne down to the ground 44. Thou hast put out that splendour which we thought should have been perpetual Ver. 37 38. and hast utterly overturned his Kingdom 45. The days of his youth hast thou shortned thou hast covered him with shame Selah 45. Thou hast made a speedy end of the reign of Jehojachin who in his youth is made a slave 2 King XXIV 8 c. and suffered Zedekiah to be most disgracefully condemned as a rebel to lose his eyes and remain a prisoner all the days of his life 2 King XXV 6 7. 46. How long LORD wilt thou hide thy self for ever shall thy wrath burn like fire 46. O what a sad condition is this in which Thou seemest wholly to neglect us But O Lord wilt Thou never appear for us again and put a period to our miseries wilt Thou let thy anger burn till we be utterly consumed 47. Remember how short my time is wherefore hast thou made all men in vain 47. Our natural weakness pleads for some mercy and imboldens us to beseech Thee that since we must not onely die unavoidably but a short time will bring us to our graves Thou wilt be pleased to let us spend that little time in more ease and not live as if we were made for nothing else but onely to be miserable and to die 48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave Selah 48. For where is the man whose constitution is so firm that he shall not yield to death For what ability have we though our enemies should not thus destroy us to defend our selves from the power of the grave 49. LORD where are thy former loving-kindnesses which thou swarest unto David in thy truth 49. Lord what a difference is there between our times and those when Thou wast so exceeding good to David And swarest most faithfully to continue to him for ever thy loving-kindness which we beseech Thee now restore unto us 50. Remember LORD the reproach of thy servants how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people 50. Shew O Lord that Thou dost not forget the scoffs and jeers whereby our enemies augment the sufferings of thy servants there is nothing I lay to heart so much as all the reproaches of many and mighty Nations 51. Wherewith thine enemies have reproached O LORD wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed 51. Who are thy enemies as well as ours and have blasphemed Thee O Lord and mockt at Thee as if our slavery were the effect of thy inability to protect us and as if there were an end of the Family and Kingdom of David thine anointed which Thou saidest should last for ever 52. Blessed be the LORD for evermore Amen and amen 52. But let them laugh on neither their scoffs nor our calamity shall hinder us from praising the Lord and speaking good of Him continually in assured hope that He will at last deliver us Let it be so we beseech Thee Let it be so as we desire and hope that we may ever praise Thee for our happy restauration The End of the THIRD Book of Psalms The Fourth BOOK OF PSALMS PSALM XC A Prayer of Moses the man of God ARGUMENT Here begins the FOVRTH Book of Psalms in this differing from the rest that as those of the first Book are most of them ascribed to David and those of the second in great part to the Sons of Korah and those of the third to Asaph so there are few of these whose Authour is certainly known and therefore I suppose were all put together in one and the same Collection The first of them indeed being made by Moses the Hebrews have entertained a conceit which Saint Hierom and Saint Hilary also follow that he was the Authour also of the Ten next immediately insuing But as there is no reason for that it will appear in due place so I can see no cause why we should fancy David or some of the Children of Moses in his time or a singer of that name as Aben Ezra conjectures to have composed this present Psalm when not onely the Title expresly gives it to that Moses who was the Man of God as their Law giver is called XXXIII Deut. 1. or that famous Prophet by whom God spake to them but the Chaldee Paraphrase and the very matter of the Psalm sufficiently shew that it was a Meditation of his when the people offended so highly against God in the Wilderness especially by murmuring at the Relation the Spies brought them of the good Land XIV Numb that He shortned their lives to seventy or eighty years at the most and suffered them not to arrive at the age of their Ancestours or of Moses Caleb and Joshua whose lives he prolonged to an hundred and twenty years Which grievous punishment Moses prays God they may lay to heart seriously and so recover his favour Ver. 12 c. who is the eternal God as he tells them in the beginning of the Psalm and had been in a particular manner kind to their Progenitours in former Generations This is the substance of the Psalm which the Collectour of this Book thought fit to place in the very beginning of it because of the great antiquity of this Psalm and the dignity of its Authour 1. LORD thou hast been our dwelling-place
themselves of that pleasant Land wherein Thou dwellest among us in thy holy habitation 13. O my God make them like a wheel as the stubble before the wind 13. O my God whose goodness hath never failed us in distress let them not be able to stand their ground but put them to flight and make them run as swiftly as a ball down a hill disperse all their forces like the chaffe when it is blown about with a furious wind 14. As the fire burneth the wood and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire 14. Blast and consume them utterly as the lightning or the scorching rays of the Sun in a long drought do the leaves of the forrest trees or the grass upon the mountains I. Joel 19. 15. So persecute them with thy tempest and make them afraid with thy storm 15. Raise a dreadfull tempest to affright them and pursue them so with thy vengeance that they may be shattered and driven away uncertainly as in a whirlwind put them into such a pannick fear that they may not know which way to turn but clash against one another in a terrible confusion 2 Chron. XX. 22 c. 16. Fill their faces with shame that they may seek thy name O Lord. 16. And make those that escape so ashamed at this disgracefull disappointment that they may not be able to hold up their heads nor deny thy Power to be superiour to theirs but humbly seek thy favour 17. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever yea let them be put to shame and perish 17. This is the worst we wish them notwithstanding their enmity to us that they may be so astonished and confounded at their defeat as never to recover any courage to assault us nay together with their credit and their courage quite lose their power to give us any further trouble 18. That men may know that thou whose name alone is JEHOVAH art the most high over all the earth 18. And thereby be convinced which they would not believe before that Thou art what Thou art called the True and Onely God who givest Being to all things and art the supreme Governour not onely of us but of all the Nations upon earth PSALM LXXXIV To the chief Musician upon Gittith A Psalm for the Sons of Korah ARGUMENT It is uncertain to what times this Psalm belongs They seem to have most reason on their side who think it was composed upon the same occasion with the XLII and XLIII when David forced from Jerusalem by the rebellion of his Son Absalom most passionately long'd to be restor'd to the place of God's worship But it may as well or better in my judgment be thought to have been composed by some pious Levite in the Country when Senacherib's Army had blockt up the way to Jerusalem and hindred them from waiting upon the service of God at the Temple where he judged the lowest Ministry that of a Porter as we reade Ver. 10. to be far more honourable then the highest preferment among Pagan Nations And thus I shall take the liberty to expound it in my Paraphrase pointing the Reader to such places in the History of that sad time as I think will explain some passages of this Psalm which after their freedom was restored by the destruction of Senacherib's Army the Authour of it delivered to the Master of Musick in the Temple to be sung as the VIII Psalm See there 1. HOW amiable are thy tabernacles O LORD of hosts 1. IT is impossible to express the affection I have to thy Dwelling-place O Lord who art attended there by the ministry of the heavenly host XXXVII Isa 16. and needest none of our services 2. My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the LORD my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God 2. But we cannot live with any satisfaction while we are absent from Thee for I am ready to faint away in ardent longings to tread again in the Courts of the Lord's House where my tongue and my hands as well as my mind would gladly be imployed in the praises of our God who in this excells all other 2 King XIX 4 16 18. that He lives for ever 3. Yea the sparrow hath found an house and the swallow a nest for her self where she may lay her young even thine altars O LORD of hosts my King and my God 3. It grieves me O mighty Lord of all the heavenly hosts whose Subject I am and infinitely engaged to Thee to see the very Birds who know nothing of Thee injoy that liberty which is denied me who am here lamenting my distance from Thee when the Sparrows and the Ring-doves have their constant residence at thy House and there live so undisturbed that they build their nests and bring forth their young in the rafters of it 4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will be still praising thee Selah 4. O how happy are they who partake of such a privilege who live so near thy House and frequent it so much as if it were their own Their delightfull imployment is with never-ceasing praises to pay their thankfull acknowledgments unto Thee 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee in whose heart are the ways of them 5. And happy also is that man how mean soever his outward condition be who relying upon thy Divine protection XXXIV Exodus 24. goes up three times a year to the solemn Feast at Jerusalem or when he is debarred that liberty as I now am is one of those devout persons whose hearts are more in the high-ways that lead thither then at their own home 6. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well the rain also filleth the pools 6. Who travelling through the troublesome valley of Bacha where there is no water pass it as cheerfully as if it abounded with pleasant Springs and depending on God as the Fountain of what they want receive from Him the blessing of plentifull and seasonable showres to refresh them in their journey 7. They go from strength to strength every one of them in Zion appeareth before God 7. So that the whole company go from stage to stage with an unwearied vigour till they all present themselves before God to receive his blessing in his Temple upon the Hill of Sion 8. O LORD God of hosts hear my prayer give ear O God of Jacob Selah 8. O mighty Lord who commandest all the heavenly hosts which attend in that holy place and are far more numerous then the Armies that invade us 2 Chron. XXXII 7. make me one of that happy number and restore me O God who deliveredst Jacob out of all his troubles to the liberty of waiting upon Thee there 9. Behold O God our shield and look upon the face of thine anointed 9. Look graciously upon me O God who hast hitherto been our protectour against the most powerfull enemies and accept the prayer of our Sovereign who petitions Thee still to be
that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God 8. And take warning by the punishments inflicted on them not to imitate the ingratitude of their Forefathers who were not onely a refractory generation but so fickle that they fell off from God to the worship of Idols presently after they came out of Egypt For they did not lay to heart what He had done for them and so were never rightly disposed to his service or if in a good fit they were inclined to it they soon revolted from Him 9. The children of Ephraim being armed and carrying bows turned back in the day of battel 9. What could be more shamefull then their base refusal to go and ingage the Canaanites when they were so well appointed for the fight and were commanded by God in whose power they had no confidence to go up and take possession of the Land I. Deut. 26. unless it were their foul cowardise when they did ingage them against his command I. Deut. 43 44. and the Ephraimites themselves though a valiant Tribe and excellent Archers ran away and were chased in a shamefull manner by their enemies 10. They kept not the covenant of God and refused to walk in his law 10. For they brake their word with God who therefore would not be with them XIV Numb 43. and would not be governed by his will but by their own 11. And forgat his works and his wonders that he had shewed them 11. Never thinking of the illustrious works which their eyes had seen and so distrusting his power notwithstanding all the Miracles whereby He had demonstrated the greatness of it to them 12. Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt in the field of Zoan 12. Nor were the next Generation any better though the memory was then fresh of that heap of wonders which their Fathers saw him doe publickly not in a corner but in all the Land of Egypt yea in and about the principal City of the Kingdom 13. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through and he made the waters to stand as an heap 13. From whence when He had delivered them and they were in great distress at the red Sea He made it give way to them that they might walk through it on dry ground the fluid waters swelling into little hills XV. Exod. 8. which stood like a solid wall on either hand to secure them in that dangerous passage XIV Exod. 22. 14. In the day-time also he led them with a cloud and all the night with a light of fire 14. Through which He conducted them as He did at all other times by a glorious Cloud whose dark side served also in the day-time for a shadow from the scorching rays of the Sun and its bright side in the night for a torch to guide them when they travelled or if they rested to light them in their Tents 15. He clave the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as out of the great depths 15. And when they wanted water in the wilderness He brought it out of the Rocks which He commanded Moses to smite more then once first at Rephidim XVII Exod. 6. and then in Kadesh XX. Numb 8 11. And they had it in such plenty both for themselves and their cattel as if it had been a great pond or lake 16. He brought streams also out of the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers 16. And yet it was no standing but a flowing water which ran continually out of the dry Rock as out of its Fountain in several streams or rather like unto Rivers which followed them in their travels 17. And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness 17. But all these miraculous works did not alter their depraved Nature which broke out into new and greater provocations in that very place where without the singular Providence of their most high Benefactour they had all been starved 18. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust 18. For they were not content with the bountifull provision which he had made for them XVI Exod. but muttered within themselves against Him And wisht if He was so powerfull and kind as was pretended that He would give them a new proof of it by sending them meat to satisfie their wanton appetite 19. Yea they spake against God they said Can God furnish a table in the wilderness 19. And at last they openly declared that distrust of his power which was in their hearts saying Is God able to make us a feast here in this barren wilderness XI Numb 4 5 c. 20. Behold he smote the rock that the waters gushed out and the streams overflowed can he give bread also can he provide flesh for his people 20. It is true He hath brought water out of a Rock for us in great abundance which perhaps was lodged there before in the caverns of it and might have flowed out of it self but can he give us more substantial bread not such light stuff as this Manna is which He also hath sent us XI Numb 6. here where no corn grows and make an ample provision for all this multitude of such flesh as this place doth not afford 21. Therefore the LORD heard this and was wroth so a fire was kindled against Jacob and anger also came up against Israel 21. Which rude and insolent language highly incensed the Divine displeasure so that He sent lightning from heaven XI Numb 1. to consume those whom He had before cherished and He resolved also to punish them more severely before He had done with them Ver. 33. 22. Because they believed not in God and trusted not in his salvation 22. Because they had so mean an opinion of Him that they durst not confide in Him and commend themselves to his good providence to preserve and conduct them safe to Canaan 23. Though he had commanded the clouds from above and opened the doors of heaven 23. No not after such extraordinary benefits as they had received from Him for He had undertaken in a miraculous manner as is fit to be more particularly remembred to dispense food to them from above and to make the clouds their granary whose doors he opened to them 24. And had rained down manna upon them to eat and had given them of the corn of heaven 24. And instead of rain to make the earth with long labour become fruitfull to send showers of Manna out of the air XVI Exod. 4. which was a kind of Corn ready prepared for them XI Numb 8 9. 25. Man did eat angels food he sent them meat to the full 25. There was not a man among that vast multitude but was fed with that strong and hearty or rather princely food brought to them from the habitation and by the ministry of Angels This was their daily entertainment as long as their travels in the wilderness
welcome that day and meet the Lord with forward affection who is coming to them For he comes to reform the earth and will govern mankind by righteous and mercifull Laws and faithfully keep his word with all those that truly observe them PSALM XCVII ARGUMENT Some of the Hebrews conceive as I observed upon Psalm XC that Moses was the Authour of this as well as the rest of these Psalms which want an Inscription And indeed he excelled in this faculty of composing Hymns as we learn from Exod. XV. and Deut. XXXII and might upon some other occasion as well as the overthrow of Pharaoh in the red Sea make a Song of triumph after some of those great victories which God gave them over their enemies Which was a thing in use before his time as it appears by the fragments of ancient Songs recorded in his Books particularly that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made by some Poet among the Amorites after Sihon had taken Heshbon from the Moabites to whom it formerly belonged wherein they triumph over their God Chemosh as unable to deliver his worshippers XXI Numb 27 c. And if we could be sure this Psalm was made by Moses I should think it to have been composed after the Israelites had conquered Sihon and his Land over whom they triumphed as he had done over the former possessours of that Country But the Psalm seems so plainly to have been composed in pursuance of what was said in the foregoing Psalm that the Lord reigneth and is King not onely over Israel but all the earth that one cannot but think they had the same Authour who shews the truth of that by the illustrious Victories which God as their King had given them over all those that opposed them For the eighth verse makes it manifest that this Psalm hath respect to some Conquests they had lately made over the heathen which I suppose were no other then those which David won over divers Nations not long after 1 Chron. XVIII 1. he had brought the Ark to Sion and delivered the foregoing Hymn to be sung to put the Israelites in hope and their enemies in fear of the great things which would insue upon this special presence of God among them Which moved the Greeks to call this A Psalm of David after his Land was restored unto him that is after he was made Master of all those Countries which God anciently designed to be the inheritance of Israel For that it should relate to the restoring his Kingdom to him after Absaloms rebellion is not probable because the mention of Idolaters and of their gods Ver. 7. seem to determine it to other Countries In the subduing of which God it is likely fought for them by some such tempest as we reade of 2 Sam. V. 20 21 24. whereby their enemies Armies were shatâ—ered and so terrified that they not onely fled but left their images behind them such was their haste and gave the Israelites an easie Victory over them But whatever was the carnal sense it belongs in the diviner meaning to Christ's triumph over the grave and all the powers of darkness at his Resurrection and Ascension to his throne in heaven as appears by those words which the Apostle to the Hebrews alledges out of the seventh verse and applies to Christ's royal power and authority over Angels Which the Hebrew Doctours themselves as Kimchi confesses take to be there intended and may be further justified from that exposition which we meet withall in Midrasch Tanchuma of the words of the Prophet Isaiah LII 13. Behold my servant shall prosper He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high This is the King Messiah says that gloss who shall be exalted above Abraham and extolled above Moses and be very high above the Angels of the Ministry 1. THe LORD reigneth let the earth rejoice let the multitude of Isles be glad thereof 1. THE Lord it is manifest is the Sovereign of the world under whose happy Government not onely we and they who are already become subject to Him in other places ought to rejoice but the most distant Countries have the greatest reason to be glad thereof 2. Clouds and darkness are round about him righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne 2. His Majesty is most dreadfull and hath appeared in great terrour against those that oppose Him whom as he will not wrong so He will certainly punish for He maintains his Authority and supports his Government by doing exact and equal justice 3. A fire goeth before him and burneth up his enemies round about 3. Let none therefore resist Him for flames of fire proceedâ— from his presence which make the battel too hot for his enemies who can turn no way but they feel them flashing in their faces 4. His lightnings enlightned the world the earth saw and trembled 4. It was his thunder and lightning the brightness of which the world lately saw and were so amazed that shivering pains took hold upon them as upon a woman in her travail 5. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD at the presence of the LORD of the whole earth 5. The hearts of the stoutest Kings and Captains failed them and melted like wax before the fire at this terrible appearance of the Lord at the appearance of Him whose dominion extends over all the earth 6. The heavens declare his righteousness and all the people see his glory 6. For He is the Lord of the heavens which have declared by this dreadfull tempest excited by his Angelical Ministers his severity against his enemies and made all the people sensible of the incomparable splendour of his Majesty 7. Confounded be all they that serve graven images that boast themselves of idols worship him all ye gods 7. Which may well make them all ashamed and they shall be confounded by Him if they will not renounce their errours who worship graven Images though of gold and silver 2 Sam. V. 21. and boast themselves in vain gods who can doe nothing for them Let all that are called gods whether Princes on earth or Angels in heaven bow down to Him as the onely Saviour 1. Heb. 6. and acknowledge his supreme authority over them all 8. Sion heard and was glad and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments O LORD 8. Jerusalem the mother City hath received the news of thy Victories with a joyfull heart after whose example all the other Cities of Judah are exceeding glad O Lord because Thou hast judged righteously in destroying our idolatrous enemies and defending thy faithfull servants 9. For thou LORD art high above all the earth thou art exalted far above all gods 9. Whose hearts are filled with the greater joy because Thou O Lord hast manifested thy self hereby to be the supreme and onely Potentate who rulest over all the earth and art infinitely superiour to all that have the name of gods 10. Ye that love the LORD hate evil he preserveth the
doubt for the Title ascribes it to him but this Psalm was made by David And it is little less undoubted that he composed it as Theodoret well judges when he was persecuted by Saul who was instigated thereunto by the calumnies of Doeg and the information of the Ziphites whose falseness and pestilent malice he here describes beseeching God to preserve him from the mischief they intended him and to turn it upon themselves as he rests assured He would When he came to his Kingdom and had settled the service of God in that manner which we reade 1 Chron. XVI XXIII c. he delivered it to the Master of the Musick to be sung at certain times in the Tabernacle But it was not found I suppose no more then the two foregoing and the four following till some time after the other Books of Psalms were published and so were placed here all together by him that collected this Book 1. DEliver me O LORD from the evil man preserve me from the violent man 1. DEfeat O Lord the wicked designs of that naughty man 1 Sam. XXII 9 c. who makes no conscience of what he saith or doeth to compass his ends and let me not fall into the hands of that injurious Prince XXIII 7. whom I have never wronged but done him faithfull service 2. Which imagine mischiefs in their hearts continually are they gathered together for war 2. They are zealously bent to doe me all the mischief they are able which they studiously plot and doe nothing all the day but contrive how to oppress me with armed force which in several places they have laid to intercept me 3. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent adders poison is under their lips Selah 3. And they have so traduced me by their calumnies and false accusations that they have already given my reputation a deadly wound for the tongue of the Serpent or the teeth of the Adder or Viper doth not more effectually convey their poison into mens bodies then they have infused these venomous slanders into the peoples minds 4. Keep me O LORD from the hands of the wicked preserve me from the violent man who have purposed to overthrow my goings 4. And therefore I most humbly again beseech Thee O Lord to keep me from falling into the power of that naughty man Ver. 1. who instigates his Prince to the most injurious proceedings against me Be Thou my preserver O Lord for otherwise I shall never escape the trains they have devised and laid to supplant and utterly undoe me 5. The proud have hid a snare for me and cords they have spread a net by the way-side they have set grins for me Selah 5. There is no hunter or fowler more industrious and cunning in laying snares and toils in spreading nets or setting gins and traps for the beasts or the birds in the places which they are wont to frequent then they are to trace me in all my motions 1 Sam. XXIII 23. and to invent all manner of wiles and subtle arts to surprise me which they proudly presume will have their desired success 6. I said unto the LORD Thou art my God hear the voice of my supplications O LORD 6. To which I have neither cunning nor power of my own to oppose no Friend whose aid I can implore but onely commend my self unto the Lord saying I have always owned Thee for my Proteetour and Thou hast hitherto owned me and been my mercifull deliverer Do not now O Lord of all power and might deny my earnest request who depend on Thee alone for succour 7. O GOD the Lord the strength of my salvation thou hast covered my head in the day of battel 7. O most mighty Lord whom no Creature whatsoever can withstand O Thou who disposest of all events I again profess that I look for safety from thy almighty Power alone by which I was protected having no other helmet or armour but onely that 1 Sam. XVII 39 40 50. in the day when I fought with Goliath 8. Grant not O LORD the desires of the wicked further not his wicked device lest they exalt themselves Selah 8. Suffer not him O most mighty Lord who now seeks my destruction to effect his desire let him not succeed in any of his mischievous designs and projects against me lest he and his partakers grow so insolent as to dare to attempt all manner of violence against other innocents 9. As for the head of those that compass me about let the mischief of their own lips eover them 9. Let the poisonous and pernicious calumnies of those that now beset me round retort upon themselves and let them be overwhelmed by those very devices which with laborious lies they have contrived for my ruin 10. Let burning coals fall upon them let them be cast into the fire into deep pits that they rise not up again 10. Let their slanders which I can compare to nothing better then burning coals that are not easily quenched be the instruments of their own destruction let them perish in the flames which they themselves have kindled and be irrecoverably thrown headlong into those dangers and mischiefs which like dreadfully deep pits they prepared for my destruction 11. Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him 11. This I am confident shall be their portion for though a false Informer may for a time be believed and thrive by his lies and slanders yet Truth will at last prevail and not suffer him to establish his greatness by such base and wicked practices And as little shall violence and injustice avail him that relies upon it but bring upon him one evil after another which shall pursue him to his ruin as the hounds do the wild beast which after all its windings and turnings becomes a prey unto them 12. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor 12. For I am sure the Lord who is stronger then all will assert the cause of the Oppressed and doe right to those who are destitute of humane help by punishing all that are injurious to them 13. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name the upright shall dwell in thy presence 13. Let the righteous rely on this as an undoubted truth that they shall give thanks to thy almighty Goodness for appearing in their vindication and when these false and violent men shall be extinct they that are sincerely honest shall remain in thy favour and receive the marks of it in thy constant care and providence over them PSALM CXLI A Psalm of David ARGUMENT If the Title had not told us that David was the Authour of this Psalm the matter of it would have led our minds to think of him and of his many sufferings during the persecution of Saul Which he prays to God as Theodoret observes upon the third and fourth Verses he may be able to bear so
another command which as suddenly Ver. 15. makes a thaw and by the warm breath of softer winds loosens the waters which were bound up and causes them to flow again 19. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel 19. In such things as these the whole world see how powerfull and how good He is But we have more peculiar reasons to depend upon Him for a happy return of our Nation whom He doth not teach merely by the snow the hoar frost and the ice but by another sort of word then that which sends them upon the earth Ver. 15. even by His Ten Commandments delivered from heaven XX. Exod. 1. in a most glorious and astonishing manner Ver. 18. and by Laws of all sorts which He hath given us for the government of our life 20. He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgments they have not known them Praise ye the LORD 20. This is a privilege which no other Nation in the world enjoys IV. Deut. 32 33. For though they all receive the showres and snow out of the clouds yet Laws from thence they have no acquaintance withall Therefore let not us dishonour Him so much as to distrust his Providence but continually praise the Lord and acknowledge his bounty to us PSALM CXLVIII Hallelujah See CXLVI ARGUMENT It doth not appear who was the Authour of this Hymn nor upon what occasion it was composed But the last Verse sufficiently shews the Nation was then in a very flourishing condition and therefore probably it was made by David when God had given him rest from all his Enemies which filled his heart with such love to God that it transported him into this rapture Wherein finding how short his own praises were he wishes all Creatures in heaven and earth would conspire in a sweet symphony as Theodoret speaks of singing Hymns unto Him And first he calls upon the world above and all that is therein from the first Verse to the seventh where he descends to the world here below and calls upon all things on the earth to praise the Lord concluding v. 13. that as there is one Maker of both so all that they can say of Him when they have joyned all their powers together in one Quire falls infinitely short of his most excellent Majesty Who hath set forth his most transcendent wisdome power and munificence in such variety of stupendious work that there is not the smallest of them but ministers such matter of praise nay admiration to those that attentively consider them that they cannot but wish with the Psalmish here that every one of them were able to tell us how much skill and kindness He hath shown in their contrivance or that we were able to find it out and comprehend it Thus He is to be understood when he calls upon all Creatures to praise the Lord or it is as if he had said The Lord is to be praised by or in all these things as long as the world lasts This I take to be the true account of this Psalm which I refer to the times of David because the two following seem to have been then made and there is no other we can so well fix upon unless we will conceive that it was a Meditation when they were perfectly settled in a peaceable enjoyment of their Religion after the Captivity of which there is not the least intimation in the Psalm 1. PRaise ye the LORD praise ye the LORD from the heavens praise him in the heights 1. LET all Creatures praise the Lord. First let the Celestial Quire begin and sing their thankfull Hymns to Him who hath raised them so high above us in power and might as well as in dignity and place 2. Praise ye him all his Angels praise ye him all his hosts 2. Praise Him all ye Angels who have the honour to be the prime Ministers of his most excellent Majesty O let their several Hosts and Companies in whatsoever rank or order they stand praise Him whose Sovereign Authority commands them all 3. Praise ye him Sun and Moon praise him all ye stars of light 3. Praise Him ye Sun and Moon who are his greatest visible Ministers and unwearied in his service Praise Him all the rest of the shining Stars and declare to all future generations as ye have done for so many Ages past how glorious He is 4. Praise him ye heavens of heavens and ye waters that be above the heavens 4. Let all the heavenly Regions praise Him particularly the Clouds which hang in the Aire and disstill in fruitfull showres to inrich the Earth 5. Let them praise the Name of the LORD for he commanded and they were created 5. Let all these set forth the adorable wisdome and power and goodness of the Lord For by his omnipotent word these whom the mistaken world calls Gods were created not to be worshipped but perpetually to proclaim his praise 6. He hath also established them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not pass 6. who hath made them not onely illustrious but everlasting monuments of his splendour and glory having fixt and settled them in an admirable order which they constantly observe and prescribed them Laws which they never transgress 7. Praise the LORD from the earth ye dragons and all deeps 7. O Let all Creatures here below accompany those celestial hosts in their praises of the Lord whose power the vast Whales in their several kinds and all that moves in the profound depth of the Sea abundantly declare 8. Fire and hail snow and vapour stormy wind fulfilling his word 8. Let the Lightnings Thunder and Hail the Snow hoary Frost and Ice the Winds Storms and Tempests all make a part of this Song for they constantly execute his Sovereign Will and serve his wise Designs 9. Mountains and all hills fruitfull trees and all cedars 9. The lofty Mountains also and the lesser Hills the Fruit-bearing Trees with the stately Cedars the Pines the firrs and all the rest which He hath created for several ends and uses let them all be called upon to tell how great and how bountiful He is 10. Beasts and all cattel creeping things and flying fowl 10. The wild Beasts also of the Forest and all the Cattel that feed in the Fields whatsoever creeps upon the Earth or swims in the Sea or flies in the Aire let it joyn in this Hymn of praise to Him who hath shown his manifold wisdome and diffusive goodness in them all 11. Kings of the earth and all people Princes and all Judges of the earth 11. But especially let Mankind praise Him who after He had made these things brought them into the world last of all to contemplate his wonderfull works And first let Kings who here on Earth resemble the Angels or the Sun in Heaven and then let their Ministers of State and Lieutenants in their several Provinces and next all the Judges of the Earth who are