should set foorth thy holie name to be derided of them and vnlesse so long as we shal be banished awaie from thee we do mourne so long and againe that then we begin our ioie when we shal be restored vnto thee 7 But thou ô Lord do not forget these our vnkinde kinsmen and with what exhortations they haue kindled the crueltie of the Chaldees when they cried in the day of the cruel destruction of the citie Rase it rase it euen to the verie foundations 8 But the time shal be also when euen thou ô Babylon shalt be destroied and this thy prosperitie shal be giuen vnto him which shal deale with thee againe as thou hast dealt with vs. 9 And blessed shal he be that shal take thy yong infants also and dash them against the stones PSALME CXXXVIII The Argument When Dauid had atteined to the kingdome and brought the Arke into the citie thinking also of the building of the temple euen prophesieng that it would come to passe that al the kings of the world should acknowledge and celebrate this so great a benefite which was fulfilled in the end in Christ the eternal sonne of Dauid But because the instruments of Sathan vse commonlie to lie in waite for none more than for them that are the chiefe in the Church of God he adioineth also praiers as it becommeth vs to do in prosperitie to consider the battel against Sathan and the world neuer more carefullie than in the time of truce And he doth praie resting vpon that certaine foundation of our hope which is threefold euen that God beholdeth al things that he cherisheth the oppressed that he is the enimie of the proud howsoeuer he seeme to winke for a time that we are the worke of God without repentance and therefore of necessitie to be made perfect in due time THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Wil praise thee with my whole heart neither wil I be ashamed to sing foorth thy praises also in songs before the assemblie of the mightie and before the verie Angels that stand about thine Arke 2 I wil praise thee in the palace consecrate to thy Maiestie and I wil sing of thy mercie truth because thou hast gotten vnto thee now at the length most great honour for that thou hast so maruelouslie performed vnto me that which thou diddest promise in thy word 3 For thou hast deferred for a space my deliuerance notwithstanding so oft as I called vpon thee thou ministring vnto mee an inuincible strength of mind hast streightwaies heard me when I cried 4 And surelie it wil come to passe ô Lord that al the kings of the world when they shal knowe what thou hast promised vnto me and how assuredlie thou hast performed thy promise made vnto me they wil giue thee praise 5 Hauing in admiration chieflie this thing that thou hast fulfilled thy promises after such a maruelous maner aboue expectation confessing therein thy power and glorie chieflie to appeare 6 In that thou hast declared in deede that though thou sit in a most high throne yet doest thou behold al the base and most lowe things that thou knowest a far off those that proudlie lift vp themselues although thou maiest seeme to winke at both twaine for a time 7 Doubtles although I be inwrapped in the middest of most rough tempests thou wilt preserue me safe and laieng thine hand vpon mine enimies how cruel soeuer thou wilt deliuer me with thy right hand 8 For thou ô Lord thine owne selfe wilt fullie performe the work that I haue enterprised by thine authoritie for this is thine euerlasting mercie testified by thy word neither wilt thou leaue the worke vnperfect which thou hast once begun PSALME CXXXIX The Argument This Psalme doth teach vs when we are oppressed against right and equitie by men of power and chieflie for religion we must alwaies keepe a good conscience and appeale to the iudgement seate of God who beholdeth the verie hearts whose infinite power is described in this Psalme by Dauid with great maiestie THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord vnto whome I appeale and whome I can not deceiue though I would I am throughlie knowne manifest vnto thee 2 For no part of my life is vnknowne vnto thee whether I sit or I rise yea thou doest euen vnderstand al my thoughts a far off 3 And thou obseruest narrowlie my walking and my lieng downe neither is anie of those things hidden from thee which I go about 4 For thou knowest euen my words ô Lord before my tongue pronounce them 5 Thou holdest me inclosed before and behinde and as it were compassed by thy hand laide vpon me 6 Thy knowledge is so high that no man can comprehend it it doth astonish me assuredlie with the admiration thereof 7 Wherefore if peraduenture I be so mad that I go about to flee awaie from thee whither I praie thee can I go that thou shouldest be ignorant where I lie hid and whither shal I flie from thy fight 8 If I shal euen go vp and flie vp into the verie heauens verelie there shal I find thee contrariwise if I lie downe in the close places of the graue behold againe there shal I perceiue thee 9 If the sunne it selfe arising vp should lend me his most swift wings whereby I might flee euen into the farthest part of the west 10 That same shal be euen as though thou thy selfe diddest leade me thither and thy right hand wil there find me out and take me 11 And if I were so mad that I should persuade my selfe that the darkenes at least should hide me the night it selfe shal be like a light compassing me about that I shal be open vnto thy sight 12 For the verie darkenes doth not so couer anie thing but that thou seest it fullie yea the night doth shine vnto thee none otherwise than light it selfe so that there is no difference of light and darkenes with thee 13 And no maruel for euen the verie bowels within me are thine owne by right and authoritie because thou hast made me and couered me in my mothers wombe 14 And this worke surelie which I behold in my selfe is so wonderful that I am vtterlie most senseles and vnthankeful vnlesse I praise thee for this cause and professe that thy workes are exceeding maruelous seeing I do perceiue that thing manifest so to be 15 Euen then the ioining of my bones was knowne vnto thee when I was formed in so secret a place and was fashioned in the darke caue as it were with needle worke 16 Euen then I saie thou diddest behold mee when I was yet an vnfashioned lumpe without shape and al this my fashioning and also the verie time appointed therevnto was set downe in thy booke before that anie part of that workemanship was made 17 Therefore ô God how do I prefer the consideration of these things before al others which are so great verelie that no man is able once to account the summe of them 18
when he goeth from me he vttereth al to the men of his faction that he hath found out of me 7 And then when they haue diligentlie commoned and consulted together they pronounce the sentence of death against me 8 For saie they He is found guiltie of a horrible and mischieuous wickednes that there is no hope that he can escape from these miseries 9 Yea that same my most familiar who being in safetie I hoped for al prosperitie and of whome I looked for al kind of friendship euen he whome I tooke to mine owne table hath lifted his heele against me 10 But thou Lord haue mercie vpon me make frustrate their desires and raise me againe that according to the office and authoritie that thou hast giuen me I may iustlie punish their infidelitie 11 But oh Wherefore should I vse manie words vnto thee doubtles I now knowe that thou doest not hate me euen by this that thou hast not suffered mine enimies to triumph ouer me as they verelie hoped and by mans iudgement it seemeth so in deede 12 Behold then I do yet stand safe sure through thy defence and I knowe that thou wilt alwaies care for me 13 O Lord the God of Israël euerlasting praise be giuen to thee euen so be it I saie so shal it be PSALME XLII The Argument This Psalme doth set forth a singular example of true faith together with a maruellous care of the exercise of religion For Dauid being now an exile and not onlie spoiled of al his honour but of al his goodes and also fought for vnto death by most cruel enimies on euerie side doth yet testifie that he doth not despaire Furthermore he saith that he doth nothing regard so great losse of al other things in comparison of this one thing that whereas before time he was wont to go before others that vsuallie came vp to the Tabernacle he was now compelled to want those helpes of faith appointed by God For this most holie man did vnderstand that although he had God present with him whither soeuer he went and had profited so greatlie in the knowledge of God and his dutie as no man like him yet did he knowe that there was profite to be taken of the holie publike assemblies and that there is not anie man that doth not neede the hearing of the word and the comforts of the sacraments Let them marke this chieflie who thinke themselues so wise that they wilfullie despise the holie assemblies and the sacraments and they much more who for the commoditie of the transitorie things of this world doe refuse the holie ministerie Finallie they also which had rather he stil in the dunghil of idolatrie than to be accounted of the Church of Christ. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 LIke as the Hart long and sore chased with the hunters panting and braieng doth most greedilie seeke the fountaines of waters euen so I miserable man whome these men neuer cease so manie yeeres to persecute doe crie vnto thee ô God with my whole heart 2 Neither doe I desire againe the honour that I haue lost or the riches or my wife or my kinsmen and friends but I am consumed wholie rather with thirst and desire of thy liuely and euerlasting fountaine ô God Ah then when shal it at the length be graunted vnto me most miserable man that I may behold thee in thy house 3 I feede my selfe with teares day and night hearing these wicked men vpbraiding me as though I were forsaken of thee asking dailie Where is my God 4 O how bitter vnto me is the remembrance of the former times when I consider how great a multitude I was wont aforetime to leade vnto thy house which caused the verie fields to sound forth thy praises with their songs and danses 5 Go to yet my poore soule Why art thou so amazed and troubled so greatlie wait thou whilest God that thy deliuerer doe come For he I knowe wel wil bring to passe that I shal appeare againe in his sanctuarie and shal giue thankes vnto him for my deliuerance 6 But oh my God! I doe lie downe ouerthrowne both in the strength of my bodie and mind thinking of thee so far absent being chased vnto Iordan and lieng hid in the tops of the mountaines Hermon and Mizar 7 One deepe followeth another and calleth me to destruction thy streames breaking out with horrible sounding and the conduits of the clouds rolling downe vpon my head and al the flouds powred foorth to destroie me at once 8 Be it far from me yet that I should despaire for surelie the Lord wil prouide for mee in the daie time through his goodnes and in the night time he wil giue me cause to sing foorth his praise Finalie I wil neuer cease to praie vnto God the onelie authour and preseruer of my life 9 I wil saie vnto God vnto whose onlie protection I trust Can it be that thou shouldest be vnmindful of me and suffer that I being oppressed of the enimie should lie for euer in sorowe and miserie 10 Wilt thou neuer regard me nothing mooued with the losse of those thinges whereof I am most vniustlie spoiled but wounded to the heart with those wicked words of mine enimies when I heare them oftentimes speake in derision asking Where that my God is 11 Go to then my seelie soule why art thou so amazed and why art thou so disquieted wait rather whilest the Lord come for he wil graunt me that I being againe deliuered shal giue him thanks Thus he deliuering me shal cheere my countenance he I saie is my God PSALME XLIII The Argument This Psalme is a portion of the former repeating the praiers whereby he praied to be restored to the Church THE PARAPHRASIS 1 MAinteine my right ô God and defend my iust cause deliuer me from this vnmerciful multitude and from the deceitful and wicked man 2 For I trust to thy power alone ô my God wherefore doest thou refuse me and sufferest me to go heauilie being oppressed of mine enimies 3 Graunt I beseech thee that thy mercie and truth may shine vnto me which may bring me vnto that holie mountaine euen to thy tabernacles 4 O God! I wil there witnesse my ioie with my voice comming foorth vnto thine altar and I wil praise thee ô God my God vpon the harpe also 5 Wherefore art thou cast downe my soule and so sore disquieted wait vpon God for it wil come to passe that I shal praise him againe For this is that my God who deliuering me wil againe comfort me PSALME XLIIII The Argument This is also a Psalme of praier but ful of most grieuous lamentations the authour whereof is supposed of manie not to be Dauid because these complaintes seeme not to belong to his time therefore other do refer it to some other time but I do thinke that that which is spoken in the 18. verse and afterward doth much lesse agree to anie time than to those times which came after Dauid
to stirre vp our dul hearts to the sense of our sinnes to feare Gods iudgements and to seeke for mercie betimes And if it please God to giue vs this grace thus to do vnfeignedlie and without al hypocrisie of this are we sure that though we can not turne awaie the general plagues that are threatned and seene to hang ouer England yet that al we that can be stirred vp with like affections with these saints of God our fathers and brethren of old to vtter our misliking and loathing of our owne sinnes and of the sinnes of the people and so seeke for Gods mercies shal be marked to saluation when the plague commeth as God himselfe hath promised Ezekiel 9. Yea though the perusing of these Psalmes can worke no more in vs but to cause vs to consider how far we are from that zeale of Gods glorie that desire of building his house that comfort of his word and sacraments that vprightnes of life that faith hope and patience in afflictions that was in Dauid and the other seruants of God that made these Psalmes and so bring vs to some more earnest desire and longing for the same vertues yet wil they be verie profitable vnto vs to be diligentlie read and wel weighed in our mindes And these Arguments and Paraphrasis giuing the true sense of the psalmes in so plaine words as no man hath done before wil greatlie further vs to such godlie meditations Now as the latine Psalmes of Beza belong to my most honorable Lord by right as dedicate and sent vnto him from farre so these english Psalmes translated at home by one of your seruants who is wholie my Lords and yours in the seruice of the great Lord do by as good right pertaine to your honour who but by some such meanes of translation can haue smal commoditie of the others although you haue some propertie therein because it is my Lords your husbands to whom if mine old forworne rude simplicitie vnfit for this fine world could haue brought forth anie thing worthie his honour I would not haue bin so long silent But I humblie beseech both your honours to take thus in good part this poore mite as that of the widowe which did testifie hir great good wil in a right smal matter And as I am most bound I wil praie for you both that God our merciful father for his Christes sake would vouchsafe to graunt you to reade the Psalmes of Dauid and to meditate them by the same spirit with Dauid whereby ye may feele true comfort in al troubles of mind and bodie as did Dauid and so in the end be crowned in the heauens with Dauid and reigne for euer with Christ our spiritual Dauid in euerlasting glorie Amen Ashbie 7. of March 1579. Your Honours most bound alwaies to commaund in the Lord Anthonie Gilbie THE EPISTLE TO the Reader SEEING among humane affaires those men which haue good causes and sound reasons for their enterprises are of greater authoritie and more able to persuade a reasonable man than they that can render no other account but either their owne affectionate opinion for a cause sufficient or their selfe wil how vnreasonable soeuer for an inuincible argument or in a word their headie rashnes for a lawe that may be in no wise gainesaied Therfore the Translator thinketh meete to shew some reason of his doings that that thing which was most forceable to drawe him to this translation who otherwise for his age is verie vnfit to take such paines might somewhat preuaile both to moue other that are more apt for such matters to do the like and thee also the Christian Reader to a more attentiue consideration of those things that are most diuinelie set foorth in this Booke Wherfore these two causes especiallie brought him to take this worke in hand First loue to his vnlearned countriemen Secondlie the excellencie of the worke it selfe For considering that the Psalmes in English are in manie places read rather for taske as it were and for fashion sake than for good deuotion and with vnderstanding which the spirit of God commandeth in al partes of diuine seruice and because that to reade that which a man neither yet vnderstandeth nor seeketh ordinarie meanes whereby hee may vnderstand is a plaine contempt of the thing that is read in that it noteth want of care and therefore defect of loue and consequentlie the hypocrisie of him that serueth God careleslie Againe such is the miserable state of our nation seeing that euerie congregation hath not a sufficient pastor to explane and interprete these Psalmes as also other places of scripture with liuelie voice of man the principal and chiefe way that ought to be in the Church to edifie the conscience and to build the faith therefore the Translator receiuing this Booke which was come from farre euen from a strange Countrie and in a language vnknowne to the multitude he was moued none otherwise than as a louing friend is wont to impart to his louers that thing which he knoweth may be profitable to manie and so set forth in our vulgar speach that thing wherof otherwaies they that haue greatest neede should haue reaped the least commoditie in so much as now euen the simplest poore man for a smal peece of monie may by diligent reading in this Booke of that rare man THEODORE BEZA atteine to a better vnderstanding of these holie Psalmes of Dauid than in old time by the report of the ancient the great learned men were able by the perusing of manie of the great Doctors of the Church Further sith we see this also by dailie experience that what so euer we knowe whether it be in flieng newes touching this or that matter whereof mans mind is so desirous or else euen in the Artes and Sciences which are gotten by great exercise and long practise a man taketh a little or no pleasure in them so long as he keepeth them to himselfe and maketh no man priuie to them but so soone as he vttereth them to others whome he loueth then his ioy and pleasure increaseth and he accounteth his owne knowledge so much the greater the more that he hath participated it vnto other Euen so this Translator hauing viewed this Booke through out could not be silent but receiuing so great comforts himselfe thereby tooke in hand God giuing thereto good successe to make it manifest also to the common sort that they might al reioice together in the Lord hauing found so precious a iewel which hath afore time bene hid from our forefathers and is in our daies reuealed vnto vs by the goodnes of God And he thinketh his labour wel bestowed and his knowledge and comfort greatlie augmented and aboundance of fruite redounding to himselfe if his godlie purpose be wel accepted that is if it be generalie receiued and reuerentlie embraced as by right it ought of them of whome chiefelie in his trauel he had respect Now as concerning the matter that is translated we
vnto this grace by an earnest abasing and casting downe of themselues with a true knowledging of sinne that they may obteine forgiuenesse in Christ apprehended by faith by feruent and continual praier Finalie that al this conflict shal turne in the end to the glorie of God and most great commoditie of the saints so that the other part of repentance which is the amendment of life do folowe and that we must desire to be deliuered from those euils to this end that we may be the instruments to set foorth the praise of God THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger neither chastise me in thy wrath 2 Haue mercie vpon me ô Lord that am vtterlie without al strength heale me ô Lord for my verie bones are shaken 3 Yea and my soule is vtterlie amazed but thou ô Lord how long 4 Turne againe ô Lord and behold me deliuer my soule saue me of thy free mercie 5 For the dead can not remember thee neither can he set foorth thy praise in the graue 6 I am wearie with sighing my bed swimmeth euerie night washed with my teares 7 Sorowe doth consume my face I waxe wrinkled and old by reason of the miseries wherewith I am oppressed 8 Hence from mee al ye wicked for the Lord hath heard my lamentable crie 9 The Lord I saie bâ—â—h heard my praier the Lord hath receiued me his humble suppliant 10 Let al mine enimies bee ashamed and dismaied and flie awaie suddenlie confounded PSALME VII The Argument Whereas reprochful slaunders do most trouble men so that it is hard for them therein to bridle their anger and other euils that folowe especialie when we can find no comfort in the lawful defence of the magistrate we are taught in this Psalme to set the defence of God against men but so that we commit without al outrage of affections the defence of our innocencie vnto God alone the most seuere punisher of slaunderous tongues And the circumstances and causes of the writing of this Psalme are diligentlie to be considered whether it be referred to Saul or to Semei which historie is written 2. Sam. 16. or to anie other of Saules kinred that we may learne how that in the most greeuous slaunders and accusations wherein both our good name and our life also is dangered that we must yet keepe this moderation of mind and brideling of our affections And this doctrine doth chieflie apperteine to the whole Church and the gouernours thereof whome Sathan and his ministers do chieflie strike with these darts THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Trust in thee ô Lord my God preserue me and deliuer me from al those that persecute me 2 Let him not deuoure me aliue like a Lion and teare me in peeces hauing none to deliuer me 3 O my Lord God if I haue committed this wickednesse if my hands haue committed anie such mischiefe 4 If I haue rendered euil to anie man yea if I haue not deliuered this same man from danger that doth persecute me without anie cause 5 Let the enimie pursue me vnto death let him take me and cast me downe and spoile me of my life and burie al mine honour and credit with me 6 Arise ô Lord in thine anger and come downe with thy power against al mine enimies awake ô Lord for my sake to execute that iudgement that thou hast appointed 7 Let the assemblie of people come about thee and turne thee vnto them from thine high throne 8 Lord execute iudgement among the people iudge me ô Lord euen as I am innocent giltles 9 Let the wickednes of the wicked I beseech thee come to an end and establish the iust For thou ô iust God doest search the hearts inward thoughts of man 10 My defence is in my God who defendeth the vpright in heart 11 God doth deliuer the iust and the same God is dailie angrie 12 So that vnlesse this wicked man repent God hath sharpened his sword he hath bent his bowe and made it readie 13 He hath also prepared his deadlie weapons and shooteth his arrowes against them that do so hotlie persecute me 14 Behold he traueleth with mischiefe he hath conceiued within himselfe to molest me but he shal bring foorth nothing 15 He hath digged a deepe pit but he shal fal into the pit that he hath digged 16 The euil that he hath deuised against me shal fal vpon his owne head and the hurt that he hath wrought against me shal fal vpon his owne pate 17 I wil praise the Lord as he iustlie deserueth and I wil sing praise to the name of the Lord most high PSALME VIII The Argument This Psalme is a thankesgiuing vnto God for two most excellent benefites bestowed vpon mankind that is for our creation in Adam and our restauration and redemption in Christ. And although that man by his owne fault did fal from that high dignitie wherein he was created yet there doe remaine certaine notes and markes of that dignitie and excellencie both in that he is the Lord ouer al the beastes and hath a certaine power of life and death ouer them and also in that singular prouidence wherewith God in mercie ordereth mankinde but that other state wherevnto the eternal sonne of God hath exalted mans nature being assumpted into the vnitie of his person al the infirmitie thereof laid aside that he might make al that beleeue partakers of his excellent glorie to whome onlie also he graunteth this that in this life they should haue the light of the true wisedome and that they may vse al the creatures of God in this world with safe conscience is the chiefe end of this Psalme as the holie Ghost doth interprete it Matth. 21 15. 1. Cor. 15 27 and Hebr. 2 8. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 O Lord our God how excellent is thy name throughout al the earth aduancing thy glorie aboue the verie heauens 2 The verie mouths of infants sucklings confirme thy power so that al they that oppresse others or do rise vp against thee shal come to naught 3 For when I behelde those thy heauens the worke of thy fingers the Moone and the Starres so cunninglie set in order 4 O what is man saie I that thou art mindful of him that he being borne of mortal parents thou shouldest regard him 5 Thou hast made him little inferior to the Angels and hast crowned him with glorie and honor 6 Thou hast made him Lord ouer al the workes of thine hands thou causest al to serue him 7 Al sheepe cattel and the verie wilde beasts 8 The foules fleeing in the aire and the fishes swimming in the seas 9 O Lord our GOD how excellent is thy name throughout al the earth PSALME IX The Argument The Prophet doth teach the Church in this ix Psalme continualie to giue thankes for the benefites receiued at Gods handes which do testifie both his infinit power and singular fauor and by these examples both to comfort themselues in present miseries
and to confirme them against imminent calamities which wil assured he fal vpon al them that vex the Church THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Wil praise the Lord with my whole heart and I wil shew foorth al his maruelous workes 2 I wil be ioiful and reioice in thee I wil sing vnto thy name ô God most high 3 For that mine enimies are turned backe are fallen downe and perish at thy presence 4 For thou hast mainteined the right of my cause and sitting vpon thy throne of iudgement thou hast declared thy selfe to be a iust iudge 5 Thou hast rebuked the multitude of the heathen and thou hast destroied them for euer 6 O enimie the destructions that thou diddest threaten doe no where appeare thou saiest forsooth that thou wilt destroie cities and the memorie of the inhabitants shal together be abolished with them 7 But the Lord hath an euerlasting dominion and sitteth alwaies to giue vnto euerie man his due right 8 It is he onlie that ruleth the whole world righteouslie and gouerneth the people with equitie 9 He is an high tower to the oppressed and a safe refuge to the afflicted 10 Wherfore al that knowe thy name wil trust in thee for thou neuer forsakest ô Lord them that seeke vnto thee 11 Sing praises to the Lord which dwelleth in Zion declare vnto the people his worthie actes 12 For he maketh inquisition for bloudshead and murther neuer vnmindful of his people neither forgetteth he the crie of the oppressed 13 Haue mercie vpon me ô Lord ô thou that hast deliuered me from deaths doore see what violence mine enimies do vse against me 14 That I maie shew foorth al thy praise and entering into Zion may with ioie declare that thou art my sauiour 15 The multitude of the enimies are drowned in the selfe-same ditch which they haue digged for me and they are snarled in the selfe-same snares the which they haue hid for me 16 The Lord is knowne by executing his iudgement by catching the wicked in their owne wiles and crafts 17 The wicked shal fal backward into hel and al they that forget God 18 Neither shal the poore be alwaies forgotten neither the hope of them that are oppressed shal faile them for euer 19 Rise vp ô Lord let not mortal men preuaile let these wicked people be punished by thine appointment 20 Cast them downe ô Lord let them al knowe that they be but men mortal PSALME X. The Argument The crueltie of the enimies of the Church is liuelie painted foorth in this Psalme and their carelesse securitie and they are described to be much like the Giants called of the Poets Cyclops yet al their enterprises in the end shal come to naught because God wil neuer forsake his Church nor suffer them to go vnpunished THE PARAPHRASIS 1 WHY departest thou far off ô Lord and why withdrawest thou thy selfe when most need is in the time of troble and calamitie 2 The wicked with crueltie doth rage against the good cause them to be snared in their owne craftie counsels 3 For the wicked delighteth in his owne lustes and the couetous man doth therein count himselfe blessed and contemneth God himselfe 4 He walketh with a proud countenance and careth for nothing and thinketh alwaie that there is no God 5 Al things fal out prosperouslie vnto him he putteth awaie thy iudgements farre from his sight he casteth downe his aduersaries as with his onelie breath 6 He thinketh in his heart alwaie that he shal neuer be moued neither suffer anie aduersitie 7 His mouth is ful of cursing griefe and iniurie doe lie vnder his tongue 8 He lieth in waite in the villages to kil the innocent in secret places with glieng eies he watcheth for the succourlesse 9 He lieth in waite in secret as the Lion doth in his denne he lieth in waite I saie that he may spoile the poore drawen into his net 10 He crowcheth lieth downe so that heapes of the poore fal as a praie into hi◠teeth nailes 11 He imagineth with himselfe that God forgetteth these things and doth not behold them or at the least doth not alwaies marke them 12 Rise vp ô Lorde lift vp thine hand ô most mightie and forget not the poore 13 For whie should the wicked aduaunce himselfe against God persuading himselfe that thou wilt neuer cal these things to accompts 14 But thou surelie doest behold these things thou doest obserue if anie man hurt or vexe an other that thou maist apprehend him and set him before thy iudgement seate the poore do rest vpon thee and thou hast taken vpon thee to defend the fatherles 15 Breake thou the power of this malicious and wicked person search out his wickednes that he being destroied suddenlie be seene no more 16 God the eternal King wil cast downe and destroie the wicked out of his land 17 O Lord thou hearest the desires of the poore thou comfortest their heart thou bendest thine eare vnto them 18 Deliuer the fatherles and the oppressed least these earthlie wretches do exercise a continual tyrannie ouer them PSALME XI The Argument The Prophet doeth heere teach that the godlie are in this world like vnto birds which are compelled to wander to and fro without certaine habitation for the foulers snares yet are not they to be heard which thinke that a man should leaue his calling either imagining that things are lead by fortune or that the godlie otherwaies should perish For the end wil declare it selfe that al and euerie particular thing is gouerned by Gods prouidence who wil neuer forsake them that trust in him neither wil suffer them vnpunished that dispise him And it seemeth that Dauid made this Psalme when the courtiers laboured vnder the colour of friendship to driue him out of the Court as though otherwaies he should be slaine by Saul the which thing he counted not meete to do vnlesse he were constrained by extreme necessitie THE PARAPHRASIS 1 IN the Lord put I my trust how saie yee then as men careful for my life Flee awaie into your mountaines 2 For lo saie ye the wicked haue bent their bowe and haue laid their arrowes vpon their string to shoote at those priuilie that are of vpright heart 3 And whereas the verie foundations are shaken what can the righteous do 4 The Lord sitteth in his holie temple the Lords throne is in the heauens his eies doe behold al things and he trieth mortal men with his eie lids 5 The Lord trieth both the good and the bad and he vtterlie hateth and abhorreth him that is giuen to wickednes 6 He wil raine vpon the wicked coles fire and brimstone and stormie tempests this is their portion appointed 7 For the iust God loueth righteousnes and he alwaies beholdeth them that do right PSALME XII The Argument When the Church is sometime brought into this extremitie that al men may be bold to doe al things either by force or by craft so that al things may
seeme desperate this Psalme doth teach vs notwithstanding to cal vpon God with assured confidence For seeing that both his wil and his promises are most certaine we must needes conclude that he doth heare the sighings of them that are his whome he wil comfort in due time and likewise that he wel knoweth the wickednes of the wicked which he wil auenge at his good time THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HElpe ô Lord our sauiour for there is not a godlie man left and the faithful are failed from among the children of men 2 They speake deceitfullie euerie one to another euen though he be his friend flattering with their wordes with double and deceitful hearts 3 Cut off ô Lord these flattering tongues boasting themselues so proudlie 4 They saie We can bring to passe what we wil with our tongues we may speake what we list who is Lord ouer vs 5 But the Lord now at the length saith I wil rise vp for these so pitifullie oppressed and for the mourning of the miserable and I wil set in safetie those that they haue snared 6 The words of the Lord are pure words euen as the siluer tried and fined seuen fold 7 Therefore ô Lord keepe them euerie one and preserue them for euer from this wicked kind of men 8 For the wicked do wander on euerie side when the worst men are exalted into the highest place of honour PSALME XIII The Argument The Prophet doth teach vs the more desperate that the state of the Church is in this world the more earnestlie must we praie vnto God and beleeue in him more stedfastlie for that the praiers of the Saints shal neuer be made in vaine THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HOw long ô Lord wilt thou forget me how long wilt thou turne thy face from me 2 How long shal I carefullie consult with my selfe and torment my soule how long shal mine enimie gape ouer my head 3 Behold me and heare me ô my God restore lightes vnto mine eies that I sleepe not in death 4 Least mine enimie saie that he hath ouercome me and they that oppresse me reioice that I am fallen 5 But I trust in thy mercie assured that this my heart at the length being deliuered by thee shal be replenished with ioie and I wil praise thee ô Lord of whose louing kindnes I haue had so good experience PSALME XIIII The Argument This Psalme setteth forth a most sorowful description of the natural man or of the man not regenerate as Paule himselfe doth interprete it Rom. 3.10 The which corruption both of the vnderstanding and of the wil doth chiefelie vtter it selfe in that deadlie hatered which hath bin from the beginning whereby the world doth persecute the Church Howbeit the Prophet biddeth the true Jsraël to be of good courage resting vpon the hope of the comming of the Messiah Wherefore we ought much more to be of good comfort seeing that Christ is come alreadie and hath fulfilled the whole mysterie of our saluation whose latter comming yet we do looke for with the old fathers when at the length we shal be brought home into our owne true vndoubted countrie THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THAT men are so doting mad to persuade themselues that there is no God it is manifest heereby that they are al so wicked al doe make themselues abhominable and not one of them doth leade his life aright 2 The Lord himselfe from whome nothing is hid beholding men from heauen to see if anie would knowe him or seeke after him 3 Doth find that al are turned away from him that they are altogither filthie and that there is not one at al which ordereth his life aright 4 Are not these mischieuous men altogither mad which deuoure the holie people of God as it were bread and neuer cal vpon God 5 But the time wil come when they shal be as feareful as they are now careles For God doth defend the generation of the iust 6 You make a mocke at the counsel of the poore whome you oppresse but the Lord is their refuge 7 Oh that now at the length that sauiour of Israël would come foorth out of Zion for then in deed Iacob should reioice then shal Israël be ful of ioie when the Lord shal bring againe his captiues PSALME XV. The Argument The Prophet hauing declared in the former Psalme the manifest and apparant enimies of the Church now he sheweth who those be that are iudged of God the true Citizens or inhabitants of the Church or of the eternal kingdome of heauen and such as shal neuer be cast out opposing them against hypocrites who though they be conuersant in the verie bosome of the Church and that sometime also they haue authoritie and gouernement in the same yet are they not of the Church howsoeuer they both deceiue themselues with a false opinion of godlinesse and other with a lieng shew of religion He teacheth therefore that the true worshippers of God are not discerned by those things that are common to good and euil men that is to saie by the obseruation of the outward worship but by those things that are onlie proper to good men that is to saie by an vpright mind to God and an vpright dealing towards men without al dissimulation both the which they must testifie with an holie and iust life Finalie he teacheth certaine precepts of an holie and iust life after this sort that a man must be farre from al theft and deceit that he may slander no man to abhorre from hurting anie man to hate false accusations to detest the wicked to ioine himselfe with those that feare GOD to set more by his oth than by al the world neuer to seeke gaine by the damage of an other to exercise iudgement incorruptlie finalie he addeth a sure and euident promise that they shal neuer be forsaken of God but shal haue euerlasting felicitie with him who so euer doe keepe this course of life THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Pray thee ô Lord which of so manie as beare a roome in thy tabernacle shal remaine for euer in thy holie hil 2 He that walketh with an vpright heart and worketh righteousnes without al deceit 3 Which slandereth not with his tongue which neither hurteth his neighbour by open violence nor by craft 4 Who abhorreth the wicked and maketh much of them that feare GOD who wil rather willinglie suffer damage than to breake his promise 5 Which doth not lend his monie to the hinderance of an other neither condemneth the innocent being corrupt by reward 6 Who so euer thus doth behaue himselfe he shal enioie most certaine and vnchangeable blisse and felicitie PSALME XVI The Argument Dauid in this Psalme being as it were rauished in spirit acknowledgeth the kingdome which he enioied to be giuen him of God without his deseruing by whose 〈◊〉 helpe he was able to rule and gouerne it orderlie and rightlie Furthermore whereas men for the most part are wont to abuse such dominion vnto riot he setteth
before him two farre other markes that is the true and earnest restoring of the worship of God by taking away al shew of idolworship secondlie a careful defence of the godlie Then he witnesseth that he is mindful of another euerlasting kingdome promised vnto him and that he wil euer turne his eies vnto it euen in verie death and so by this hope he wil go downe comfortablie into the verie graue For he trusting vpon the power of Messiah which must die in deede but shal liue againe before he feele anie corruption in the graue so also shal he himselfe rise againe and be made partaker of his eternal blessednes Therefore this Psalme amongst others is plainelie written by the spirit of prophâ—sie For it contriueth an excellent doctrine of the original of magistrates of their authoritie and office and doth manifestlie reproue the Pharisaical doctrine of the merite of workes euen folowing faith as also it describeth Christs resurrection and his power in raising vs againe from death as Peter doth interprete it Actes 2.25 and Paule Actes 13.34 not as a Prophet but as an Euangelist And where he calleth Messiah Chasid that is as I interprete it The man vpon whome the father hath powred foorth most abundantlie al his mercie and bountie which we draw out of him alone by faith he seemeth by one word to haue conteined the summe of the doctrine of the Gospel THE PARAPHRASIS 1 PReserue me ô Lord for thou art he in whom I do trust O my soule say thus vnto the Lord. 2 Thou verelie art my Lord yet am I able to do nothing that can profit thee 3 But I do most gladlie waite how I may comfort those saincts and excellent men which are with me vpon the earth 4 Doubtles they are most miserable that seeke to anie other God be it farre from me therefore that I should be partaker of their cruel and bloudie sacrifices the which I am afraide once to name with my mouth 5 Thou ô Lord art my portion thou art my wages thou alone art vnto me al sufficient 6 And surelie a most pleasant place and a most beautiful portion of inheritance is fallen vnto me 7 I doe thanke thee ô Lord and wil giue thankes vnto thee for that thou hast giuen me this counsel and because thou doest teach me inwardlie euerie night 8 I haue thee ô Lord and wil haue thee before mine eies for so long as thou standest by me I shal not be moued 9 Therefore my heart leapeth and my tongue reioiceth yea and this same my bodie being in securitie doth not feare verie death 10 For thou wilt not leaue me in the graue because thou wilt not suffer thy most deare beloued vpon whom thou hast powred foorth al thy bountiful mercie to feele corruption 11 Thou wilt open vnto me the way to that true life for the ioie wherewith the mind can rightlie be satiate is set in the sight of thy countenance and it belongeth onlie vnto thee to graunt euerlasting ioie PSALME XVII The Argument This Psalme doth teach vs when the tyrants do persecute either the religion it selfe or the godlie professors of the same that we should yet keepe a safe conscience and praie to God for deliuerance It teacheth also that thing which Christ declareth in the parable or historie of that glutton and poore Lazarus ful of sores that is that the wicked rich men are fed in this life but in the other they shal perish howbeit on the contrarie the Sainctes are here pressed with miseries that they may learne to hope for better things which hope shal neuer deceiue them THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HEare ô Lord that which is iust hearken vnto my crie bend thine eares vnto my praiers which I powre foorth of an vnfained heart 2 Let thy sentence be for me from thy iudgement seate and declare that thou alowest the things that are right 3 For thou thy selfe hast searched my heart in the night thou hast tried me and hast found no fault in me nor that I am otherwise minded towards them than my mouth doth testifie 4 Concerning these men I haue so behaued my selfe as thou commandest I haue carefullie auoided the path that the oppressors tread 5 Strengthen thou me therefore which walke in thy waies that in my walking I do not wander 6 I cal vpon thee heare me my God giue attentiue eare and hearken vnto my words 7 Shew foorth al that thy maruelous mercie thou that art the sauiour of them that trust in thee against such as stand vp against thy power 8 Keepe me as the apple of the eie and defend me vnder the shadowe of thy wings 9 Against those wicked men that would destroie me the enimies I saie that gape ouer me with such greedines round about 10 Fatnes couereth their eies and they speake cruellie 11 They watch our steps on euerie side hauing their eies onlie bent how they may cast vs downe to the ground 12 For he is like a Lion gaping for his praie and like a Lions whelpe lieng in waite in his den 13 But come thou foorth ô Lord that thou maist preuent him and cast him downe and preserue my life deliuered from this wicked man by thy sword 14 Deliuer me I saie by thy hand ô Lord from these mortal men these mortal men I saie that flourish so long which thinke of nothing but of this life whose life thou doest so fil euen as it were with delicates drawne out of thy store that they haue aboundance to leaue to their children and also to their posteritie 15 But I now being vniustlie oppressed of him shal once haue the ful fruition of thy countenance and when I shal awake and behold thee I shal be satisfied PSALME XVIII The Argument At what time this triumphant song was written by Dauid it appeareth by 2. Samuel 22. and by the plaine and euident title of the same when he declared after he had ouercome al his enimies and had not onlie established his kingdome in his owne countrie but farre abroade in other places that he was bent vpon this thing onlie to declare that he raigned not for his owne cause but for the glorie of God alone And we must needes graunt this that we haue no writing extant of anie Poet that flourished most in wit and eloquence to be compared with this Psalme if we do but onlie looke to the phrase But concerning the matter it selfe he so describeth those his so dangerous perils that he that readeth them shal thinke himselfe almost to behold the things with his eies And so doth he paint foorth the glorie of God in executing iudgement and his diuine Maiestie with such a high style that he that readeth it may thanke the heauens and the earth yet stil to shake And he doth so set forth his victories that we may thinke we see his triumphes before our eies And he doeth so attribute those things onlie vnto GOD that he taketh no praise at al to himselfe
onlie by his word and commandement euen that great compas of the heauens how wide and vnmeasurable so euer togither with that infinite number of starres and both the great lightes of the Sunne and the Moone wherewith he hath beautified that frame of the heauenlie firmament as with a great armie set in most comelie order was formed and made by the commandement of his eternal word and by the vnspeakeable power of his spirite also which proceedeth from him 7 Now to come vnto the creatures more neare vnto vs it is the selfe-same power that hangeth ouer vs that liquid and euer flowing element of water and heapeth it vp in it selfe and holdeth it inclosed in certaine secret gulfes and doth keepe it backe that it doth not drowne the world againe 8 Go to then let al them that dwel in the world feare and reuerence such a workemaister and tremble at his workes 9 And learne to followe the examples of those things though they want both sense and vnderstanding who yet so soone as he had spoken the word they stoode foorth and were obedient vnto him do now stil remaine at his commandement 10 It is he the same also although verie manie not onlie particular persons but also whole multitudes conspire togither outragiouslie to their own destruction and labour to bring al things to vtter confusion that yet doth ouerthrowe and breake their wicked practises and craftie counsels because he is the mainteiner and preseruer of ciuil policie and natural equitie whereby mankinde is kept in safetie 11 For it can not be that anie thing that the Lord hath determined can at anie time be made frustrate and voide but rather must alwaies and in al ages remaine stable and vnmoueable 12 But ô most blessed and happie nation to whome the Lord sheweth himselfe their God before others euen by taking a singular and peculiar care ouer them O thou trulie art an happie people if thou didst knowe thine owne blessed state whome he hath chosen to himselfe as his peculiar heritage 13 For God is not an idle beholder of the things that he hath created neither doth he suffer them to be carried at al aduentures but he doth behold al things with a watchful eie and most chieflie doth he obserue al mankind 14 And from his most hie throne he doth behold al the inhabitants of the world wheresoeuer they are placed 15 God forbid that we should thinke that he that hath created the hearts of al men and hath put into them the power of affections of reason could not consider and vnderstand what they thinke and enterprise 16 Wherefore they are doting mad how proud and mightie soeuer they be who dreame that they are able to do anie thing by their owne power seeing that al kingdomes are planted and subuerted by Gods onelie appointment 17 Wherefore their hope is deceiueable vaine who abusing the meanes giuen them by God doe depend of anie other thing than of his power alone not vnlike to the horsemen who trust to the strength of those horses which haue oftentimes ouerthrowne them 18 So then they perish through their owne fault but contrariwise them doth the Lord behold assuredlie keepe and defend which feare him and haue onelie regard vnto his mercie 19 For although al things seeme to threaten their destruction being destitute of al other helpe and sometimes both heauen and earth denie them their bodilie foode yet the Lord preserueth them safe and sound and doth minister vnto them in due season sufficientlie to passe thorough the course of their life 20 Let vs therefore earnestlie run vnto the Lord alone as he worthilie deserueth being our onelie defence and succour 21 And surelie our expectation shal not faile vs for vndoubtedlie it wil come to passe that after some sharpe assaults of these miseries he wil comfort vs with most certaine and true ioies Therfore let vs neuer cease to rest vpon the promises that he hath reuealed vnto vs and neuer faile at anie time to cal vpon his holie name 22 And thou againe ô Lord defend vs by thy mercie that we haue so oft felt from the heauens as thou commandest vs to hope and we trust that thou wilt performe PSALME XXXIIII The Argument This Psalme was written by Dauid as the title declareth for the wonderful deliuerance foorth of the hands of king Achis by dissembling madnes as is written 1. Sam. 21. And it declareth what is our dutie when we haue receiued Gods benefites that is not onlie to giue thanks vnto God and to confirme our selues in faith and hope against other temptations by such like experience but also to exhort others to doe the same by setting foorth these examples that they may belieue that these deliuerings from dangers are not special priuiledges granted to anie one man but that they are so manie preachings as it were and sermons which do appertaine both to the whole Church and to euerie membâ—r of the samâ— Howbeit the Prophet doth ad this one thing that these benefites yet do appertaine to none other but vnto them who after they be deliuered forth of dangers doe repent of their sinnes and doe feare God more seriouslie Also he admonisheth that we should ioine the deliuerance of the godlie with the destruction of the wicked that we make not God as the mockers and scorners doe onlie to see of the one side and so to be merciful that he should forget his iudgements Finallie this Psalme is so furnished with eloquent wordes and so great glistering of most graue sentences that amongest others this is wel worthie to be committed vnto memorie by al the godlie THE PARAPHRASIS 1 I Wil giue thankes vnto the Lord without ceasing and I wil neuer leaue off to haue his praise in my mouth 2 I wil extol the benefits of the Lord I saie from the bottome of my heart that al the afflicted when they heare this may be thereby comforted 3 Go to then praise and magnifie the Lord together with me and let vs altogether extol and praise his name as he deserueth 4 For I haue sought the Lord and he accomplishing my desire hath deliuered mee from al that troubled me 5 Therefore shal they be bold also moued by my example to turne their eies vnto him and to make haste to run vnto him and shal not be repulsed 6 For Behold shal they saie this miserable man was heard when he called vpon the Lord who deliuered him out of al his miseries 7 And this is a sure case for like as they that feare God are assaulted of euerie side not onlie of other men but also of Sathan and his angels euen so the Lord againe doth campe about them with the inuincible armies of his Angels that they may so be preserued 8 I beseech you therefore doe not careleslie behold this great goodnes of the Lord but rather thinke vpon it againe and againe taste his most comfortable sweetnes and crie together with me O blessed is
they desire 8 They speake openlie of oppressing others being of dissolute life and despise others looking downe as it were from the top of heauen and they terrifie al men with their proud speach 9 And also they set themselues against the heauen as though they would prescribe lawes to God himselfe and hold in subiection al things vpon the earth at their pleasure 10 Thus commeth it to passe that not a few of the verie people of God wearied by their long miseries do ioine themselues vnto them 11 For how saie they can we thinke that God knoweth these things or that there is anie God that careth for mans busines 12 Whereas we euen the people of God are assaulted with continual calamities and these wicked men abound so long with good things and their riches are increased more and more 13 Haue not I therefore endeuoured my selfe to godlines in vaine and kept my hands pure from al iniurie 14 Being alwaies miserable and seuerelie chastised euerie daie if I trespas in anie points 15 But contrariwise how can I so thinke or speake but I must sinne most greeuouslie for if the matter went so what should become of the sonnes of God yea and how great iniurie should I do vnto thee their most merciful Father and vnto them borne of thy spirit and preserued by thee so manie ages 16 Therefore I thought againe that I must more diligentlie consider the whole matter howbeit I could not rid my selfe of these most troublesome cogitations 17 Whilest that I entred into thy house the house of most holie and most true wisedome and did learne of thee what is the end of this so great prosperitie of the wicked 18 For there I learned that they whose condition I thought to haue bin the best were so far from standing in that most slipperie place that they were alwaies by sliding steps readie to fal not onlie because al these things are vanishing and transitorie which thing euen the prophane men taught by verie experience do confesse but as we are taught in thy schole onelie because they abusing thy benefites are cast downe headlong by thee into that deepe pit 19 Neither doest thou defer alwaies thy iudgements vnto that time so far out of our sight For how manie do we behold brought into extreame and vnrecouerable miseries in a moment from that top of shadowed felicitie how manie saie I do we see suddenlie taken awaie being horriblie cast downe with sudden terrors 20 Wherfore their state is like a dreame that vanisheth when a man awaketh For thus ô Lord doest thou shake off al imaginations as things most vaine and doest also waken their vaine securitie 21 Wherefore did I then so sore boile and was inwardlie pricked 22 Surelie I was mad and I was not a man but a beast without vnderstanding and reason when I thus doted and willinglie wearied my selfe 23 But I knowe that it is come to passe by thy singular benefit that I alwaies notwithstanding stood of thy side euen because it pleased thee to reach me out thy right hand who else should haue fallen 24 And thus no doubt thou wilt direct me in thy wisedome whilest by thy gift I may obteine a glorious victorie by ouercomming my selfe 25 Farewel earth oh that it were so and that I were now in heauen with thee ô God! For what is there in the earth that should retaine me neuer so little space 26 I haue experience how carnal and fleshlie and how vaine al things are that mortal men do thinke of themselues Thou therefore ô God be vnto me a true and sound wisedome wherein I may onlie and wholie rest 27 For howsoeuer al things are tossed vp and downe whosoeuer depart from thee shal perish and whosoeuer do forsake thee that is to saie whosoeuer do trust in anie other but in thee are destroied by thee 28 Therefore I do thus determine with my selfe neither wil I suffer my selfe at anie time to bee drawne from this iudgement that then shal al things go wel with me when I shal not depart one foote from God which waie soeuer he leadeth me ô Lord God al my hope is set vpon thee alone and I wil bestowe al my life in praising thy great workes PSALME LXXIIII The Argument Where this Psalme doth manifestlie speake of the subuersion of the temple either that same Asaph is to be supposed to haue spoken of it before by the spirit of prophesie and to haue indited this praier for the captiues that should be so long after carried into Chaldëa or else this Psalme must be referred to some other of his posteritie And it conteineth most feruent praiers against the spoilers of the Church whereof we haue too manie at this daie which do not onelie as foraine enimies most cruellie fight against it but also within the bowels and bosome thereof do vexe and torment it But the Prophet doth set before God first of al that euerlasting couenant which is in deede the staie and foundation of al our praiers then doth he touch the crueltie of the enimies and their wicked words and the greatnes of the present calamities and chiefelie the ceassing of the prophesie He doth also rehearse the benefites bestowed vppon the people of old and beseecheth him to continue his accustomed goodnes bringing in manifold examples of his power to proue that he can do what he wil. Finallie which is the greatest argument of al he doth testifie that the matter doth not stand so much for the deliuerance of the people as for the glorie and maiestie of God to be mainteined against the wicked enimies al the which things how they do agree to our times it is most euident euerie daie THE PARAPHRASIS 1 SHal we suppose ô God that thou hast vtterlie cast vs off and that thy wrath is kindled against thine owne flocke without anie hope of reconciliation 2 Naie rather remember that multitude which thou hast redeemed and purchased to thy selfe so manie yeares ago and be mindful of that heritage which thou hast measured out vnto thy selfe namelie of this mount Sion in the which thou hast built an house for thy selfe 3 Come forth speedilie and cast these men downe headlong that they neuer rise vp againe euen as these thine enimies haue left nothing safe in thy sanctuarie 4 For they openlie professing themselues to be thine enimies roaring against this thine owne house haue brought in their banners euen their prophane ensignes 5 And loe a man may behold them like the wood fellers in the woods so hewing with their axes and cutting downe that thine excellent building built and set vp with so great cunning 6 And they were so farre off from spareing the vawtes and most fine carued workes that they brake them downe most violentlie with axes and with maules 7 And what more they haue also burnt vp with fire that thy secret sanctuarie most ful of maiestie and most holie least anie part of thy house should remaine vndestroied 8 Finallie
it be by death or by anie other meanes that he wil câ—l them to an accounts of al their words and deedes euen as he doth al other mortal men Afterward he condemneth another thing wherein they fault and faile most commonlie to wit the parcialitie and fauouring one person more than another Finallie because the Prophets had oft preached this to men that would not heare them the Prophet praieth that that righteous King would come to put an end to this disorder the which thing also we did see came to passe when the political gouernement of the Iewes ceased and was abolished Now in our times and especiallie after the preaching of the Gospel is restored whereas we see these euils to growe aboue measure so that in manie places there is no regard at al either of Gods law or the law of man what must we now rather desire than that that last daie should speedilie come wherein the Lord may restore al things as it is promised vnto vs by the mouth of Peter Actes 3 21. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 YOV sit indeede I confesse in a higher place aboue other men that are your subiects but I the most high God am present in that your assemblie who haue not debarred my selfe of mine authoritie ouer you neither am I present as an idle beholder but as your Iudge also 2 I praie you then how long shal I suffer you thus to abuse this authoritie giuen vnto you by me vnder certaine lawes and conditions and to exercise iudgements not by right and equitie but as you fauour the wicked partie 3 But I haue placed you in this seate vpon this condition and giuen it vnto you in plaine commandement that you should relieue them that are spoiled by violence that you should defend the fatherles and mainteine the poore against the iniuries of the rich 4 That you should deliuer I saie the miserable and the poore from the hands of the wicked 5 But what hath it auailed to haue spoken these things vnto you I do see that you do care for nothing lesse than to knowe what is your dutie and therefore are more vnwilling to do your dutie Wherefore al things are out of order and none otherwise confounded together than if al men were in most extreame darkenes so that the verie foundations of the earth are moued foorth of their places For what can remaine safe amongst men when the difference of right and wrong is taken awaie 6 Heare therefore ye kings and magistrates who are so negligent what sentence is giuen vpon you You are honoured in deede with that name wherby mine authoritie ouer al men is declared and I haue embraced you with special fauour as a father his children 7 Howbeit I haue not exempted you from my power and authoritie Therefore you are kings I saie but mortal euen as other men you shal die ô ye princes and you shal stand at my iudgement seate as euerie most vile and poore man to giue account of al things 8 O God arise and seeing thou art the onelie Lorde by ful right and authoritie of al men thou thy selfe gouerne the empires and the kingdoms PSALME LXXXIII The Argument This Psalme seemeth then to be made when Dauid had begunne to reigne and had great warres against manie nations whereof mention is made 2. Sam. 8. 1. Chron. 18. And it declareth that there shal neuer want neither foreine nor domestical enimies vnto the Church and by what weapons they are chieflie ouercome the which doctrine how necessarie it is to our times especiallie would God that al to whome it belongeth would consider THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GO to now come foorth ô God neither keepe silence stil ô God 2 For those that are rather thine enimies than ours conspiring together were neuer more outragious neither did they euer rage with more furie 3 They did neuer take more craftie counsels and that against thy people I saie euen them whome thou hast receiued to protection flieng vnder thine onlie shadowe of defence 4 Neither do they deuise anie light assault against vs but exciting and stirring vp one another Come saie they and let vs destroie these men al at once that we may abolish the name and al memorie of the people of Israël 5 Thus then with one accord haue they made a solemne league against thee 6 The Edomites I saie comming foorth of their tabernacles the Ismaëlites Moabites Agarens 7 Gebalites Ammonites Amalekites Palestines and Tyrians 8 And also the Assyrians confederate with the sonnes of Lot 9 But thou ô God so deale with these as thou diddest with the Midianites of old and with Sisara and Iabin at the brooke of Kison 10 Whome thou diddest destroie at the citie of Endor and madest their lands to be dunghils 11 Do so to their princes as thou didst in old time to Oreb and Zecb and also to Zeba and Salmuna the ringleaders of thine enimies 12 Who euen as these men had the same purpose euen to driue thee awaie and to occupie thy place 13 Whurle them awaie therefore like a ball and tosse them like stubble before the winde 14 And like as the fire burning vp some great wood and the flame consuming the tops of the mountaines 15 So fal thou vpon them with a great storme and pursue them and terrifie them with thy whirlewinde 16 Ouerwhelme them with infamie and shame that they may be compelled against their willes to aske Who is this so mightie a Lord 17 Cause them to be ashamed and to tremble seeing their purposes more and more disappointed and let them perish miserablie in the end 18 That al men may vnderstand that thou art both in name and in deede the onelie Lord which rulest from heauen far and broade throughout al the earth PSALME LXXXIIII The Argument There is the same argument and the same vse of this notable Psalme and of the 42. For the Prophet doth bewaâ—le and lament his miserable condition that for the rage of his enimies he could not go with others into the house of the Lord and there enioie the commodities of the outward holie ministerie The which thing he doth testifie to be more deare vnto him than al other most excellent commodities so far was he from following their example who being conuersant in the verie bosome of the Church do despise the holie assemblies and the vse of the sacraments or else do willinglie go into such places where they can not come together to the true worship of God And in my iudgement this Psalme was written by Dauid himselfe and after was deliuered to the Korites to be sung chiefelie in the solemne feast of the tabernacles that the zeale and desire of the people assembling together might be stirred vp by this notable example oftentimes repeated either that it was written of the Korites themselues of whome as it is verie probable some did ioine themselues vnto Dauid after the Priestes were slaine by Saule and were partakers of his calamities as was Nathan and
iudge of the world and punish the proud as they deserue 3 For how long ô Lord shal the wicked how long shal the wicked reioice 4 If thou behold their words they powre out what they list tauntingly and the most wicked men do threaten cruelie and boast themselues proudlie 5 But in their deedes ô Lord they oppresse thy chosen people and waste the heritage consecrated vnto thee 6 It is so farre awaie that they should helpe the widowes straungers and fatherlesse as the verie lawes of nature do require and thy lawes do command that they euen kil them most cruellie 7 Yea and which is the greatest of al wickednes these are their words whereby they inflame themselues to al mischiefe God seeth none of these things the God of Iacob knoweth not these things 8 O ye most foolish and most mad of al men when wil ye once waxe wise 9 Is he deafe which hath ioined the eares vnto mans head framed so cunninglie is he blind who hath made the eies with such a maruellous workemanship 10 He that spared not whole nations wil not he reprooue you doth he vnderstand nothing which giueth the power of vnderstanding vnto men 11 Yes verelie he doth not onelie knowe what they saie and doe but also the Lord fullie knoweth what men doe thinke and is not ignorant how vaine and foolish their thoughts are 12 What then shal we doe in so great a disorder of al things surelie we must knowe this of thee O blessed is the man therefore ô Lord whome thou teachest by the doctrine that thou hast deliuered vnto vs 13 That he hauing receiued of thee a quiet and peaceable mind in the midst of these tumults waiteth whilest the wicked may be perceiued to haue digged a pit for themselues wherin they are fallen 14 For it cannot be possible by anie meanes that the Lord should cast awaie his people and that he should forsake them whome he hath chosen to be his peculiar heritage 15 Therefore it is of necessitie that this so disordered a state of the world which seemeth to be vtterlie void of iustice should be restored at the last into that ancient most right order that they may followe God with great cheerefulnes whosoeuer delight in righteousnes 16 And that al men may euen now knowe that the Lord doth not faile his and that the saints are established by his power alone Who amongst al mortal men hath holpen me being assaulted by these most wicked enimies who hath taken my part against the wicked 17 Verelie the Lord alone who vnles he had bene present with me verie death streightwaies would haue put me to silence 18 But when I thought with my selfe that I was now ouerthrowne thy goodnes ô Lord hath staied me that I did not fal 19 And when I was vtterlie amazed and my mind distracted into diuers parts thou hast comforted me with maruellous consolations 20 For what hath the tyrannical domination agreable with thee adioining authoritie to most wicked lawes 21 Conspiring against the godlie and abusing the colour of the lawe to condemne the innocent 22 But go to let these men rage as they list for a space and let them tread vnder foote al the lawes both of God and man the Lord shal be vnto me a most safe fortresse and I wil flie to the rocke of my God 23 For he wil repaie vnto the wicked that which their wickednes deserueth and their owne malice shal destroie shal destroie them I saie ô Lord our God PSALME XCV The Argument Jt may he that the Church of Israël whilest their temple did stand did begin their continual morning sacrifice with this Psalme by whose example the latine Church when they set in order in old time the holie Church seruice did begin the morning praiers and the memorie of those that departed godlie which were afterward most filthilie polluted with idolatrie and this Psalme was so vsed not vnworthilie for it containeth a doctrine amongst others most necessarie namely the knowledge of that last end for the which men are created and vnto the which as vnto a marke al the actions both of the bodie and of the mind must be bent and it hath a most sweet exhortation adioined Now this end is the glorie of God both because the infinite maiestie of the most mightie Creator of al things and most wise gouernour doth require it and also for the infinite and singular benefites bestowed by him vpon those men who being chosen out of the number of the residue he hath consecrated to himselfe But because many of those same which wil be counted in the Church either vse negligentlie to regard these things or else vtterlie to despise them there is added a rehearsal of a most famous storie wherein is set forth a notable example of the vnthankful mind of men and of the most seuere iudgement of God As for the meaning of the last verse how these things pertaine to the time of the new testament search in the Epistle to the Heb. 4. Chap. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 COme ye al that we may celebrate the praises of the Lord together and let vs sing altogether a song of triumph vnto him that is the onelie rocke of our saluation 2 Let vs make haste to praise him openlie and to sing Psalmes vnto him 3 For God is a great Lord doubtles and a King far aboue al emperours how great soeuer 4 For he hath in his power as the Lord of al both the lowe secret parts of the earth and the high tops of the mountaines 5 And also he hath ful authoritie ouer the whole sea as he that hath euen created it like as he hath made the masse of the earth also by his power 6 Come therefore that we may fal downe and worship him and kneele downe before the Lord our maker 7 For he is not onlie our God as he is of others but after a peculiar maner as he that hath chosen vs whome he wil feede as his sheepe and lead by the hand as his flocke 8 Therefore so oft as you shal heare his voice and so long as he speaketh vnto you take heede least you stubbornelie striue against his voice as it did fal out of old in those places which thereof had their name Meribah and Massah 9 Of the which matter heare the words of God himselfe rebuking you There saith he your fathers although they had so oft beholden with their eies what I was able to do yet ceased they not to tempt me and to trie my power 10 Wherefore I being greeued after so manie sorts fortie yeeres long by this kind of men haue in the end thus determined with my selfe Seeing that this people is wilfulie mad and wil not knowe me although it hath bene admonished so oft both with words and deedes 11 I sweare in my wrath if euer they shal set one foote to take possession of that rest which I had promised vnto them PSALME XCVI The Argument This
Psalme and other foure that followe haue neither the name of the writer nor the occasion of the writing set before them in Hebrue but they seeme altogether to be written by Dauid which thing is noted in the Greeke and that at the same time when he brought in the Arke of the Lord into his citie as it is written 1. Chron. 15. whereof we did speake vpon the Psalme 47. either verelie when he dâ—clared the building of the temple of the Lord a little before the death of Salomon which historie is written 1. Chron. 29. and it doth conteine the doctrine of the true vse of the temple of al the holie rites wherewith both Messiah himsâ—lfe and al his office was shadowed Therefore notable and plaine prophesies are adioined of his comming and of that spreading of his spiritual kingdome throughout the whole world so that Christ did not vnworthilie admonish the senselesse Jewes with these words Search the scriptures for they beare witnes of me THE PARAPHRASIS 1 SIng vnto the Lord a new song sing vnto the Lord al ye inhabitants of the earth 2 Sing I saie vnto the Lord giue him thanks shew foorth without ceasing the saluation that he hath wrought 3 Rehearse vnto the Gentiles and to al people his excellent and maruellous works 4 For the Lord alone is great and no praise is sufficient for him and he is to be feared worthilie but not those false and feigned gods 5 For they verelie are vaine though the people do worship them so deuoutlie but the Lord hath created the verie heauens 6 Maiestie and honour doe go befoâ—e him shining foorth in his works and it is declared in his sanctuarie both how great his power and glorie is 7 Giue therefore vnto the Lord al ye people assembled together giue I saie vnto the Lord the praise of power and glorie 8 Giue honour vnto the Lord due vnto his name and take an oblation and enter into the courts consecrated vnto him 9 Worship the Lord sitting in that his renowmed sanctuarie al ye inhabitants of the earth reuerence his Maiestie 10 Proclame on euerie side ô ye criers Now is the Lord come to reigne ouer the whole earth now verelie the world shal be established now shal the people be gouerned with a iust and righteous gouernement 11 Let the heauens be glad and the earth reioice and the roring sea how wide soeuer it lieth testifie her ioie 12 Let the fields leape for ioie and whatsoeuer is in the fields finallie let al the trees of the wood now reioice 13 Before the Lord for lo he commeth he commeth to gouerne the earth to gouerne the world I saie and al the people with the scepter of his iustice and truth PSALME XCVII The Argument Jt falleth out in the Psalmes as in a doubtful feast that thou canst not easilie iudge which to prefer before another This Psalme verely is most worthie for al the godlie to meditate most diligentlie as a most diuine briefe summe of al the mysterie of the Gospel and these are the chiefe places thereof First the diuinitie of Christ by the repeating of the name Iehouah sixe times and by attributing al glorie and power vnto him verse 2 5 6 9 10. finallie by worshipping of the verie Angels verse 7. it is most manifestlie confirmed as the Apostle doth interpret it Heb. 1 6. Secondlie his humanitie as the same Apostle doth interpret it which thing is also prooued hereby that here it is treated of that kingdome as it were first then to be begun verse 1 2 6 9. wherby it is plaine that it cannot be referred onelie to his godhead but that it apperteineth necessarilie vnto the King that should be borne of the stocke of Dauid which should so be God that he should also be man and so also man that he should be verie God Thirdlie a plaine prophesie of the spreading of the spiritual kingdome throughout the whole world verse 1 5 6. wherevnto Christ himselfe had regard Ioh. 5 22. Mat. 28 18. Fourthly the rebellion of verie manie vnto whom the Gospel should be now is the sauor of death vnto death verse 2 3 4 5 wherevnto Christ had respect Luke 12 49. For J had rather interpret these things thus than to applie them to the preaching of the lawe Fiftlie that incredible power of the spirit of God which should declare it selfe in the ministerie of the Apostles verse 1 6 7 9. the which thing Christ also foretold before Iohn 12 32. and 14 12. Sixtlie the exaltation of the verie person of Christ verse 9. wherevnto the Apostle manifestlie alluded Ephe. 4 10. and Philip. 2.9 Seuenthlie faith by bearing the word in the elect and the vnspeakable ioie of the conscience that shal folowe thereof verse 8. Eightlie the office of those that are iustified and sanctified verse 10. Ninthlie the crosse is like a certaine apparitor attending vpon the promises of the Gospel which yet shal haue a most ioiful end verse 11. and 12. Wherevnto the Apostle most manifestlie alluded Philip. 4.4 THE PARAPHRASIS 1 THe Lord being so long inclosed as it were within the smal and narrowe bounds of one people now at the length he beginneth his kingdome ouer al the world wherefore let the earth reioice and al ye most great countries euen beyond the seas be ye ioiful 2 For he is come although verie mild and meeke towards his yet to be reuerenced of his owne both for his diuine Maiestie and also terrible to his enimies how fierce soeuer they be euen compassed about with the blacke darknes of the clouds and sitting vpon a throne staied as it were with two vnmoueable pillers namelie iustice which he sheweth in keeping promise with his owne and defending them by his couenant and most seuere iudgement whereby he punisheth his aduersaries 3 A flaming fire shal then go before him and shal take hold on his enimies on euerie side 4 The lightenings breaking forth from his iudgement seate shal fil the world with glittering light they shal see this in the end euen against their wils which are most blind and they shal tremble thoroughout the compasse of the earth 5 The hils at the sight of the Lord at the sight I saie of the Lord of al the earth shal melt 6 But vnto others that are willing to be taught and readie to obeie he wil shew himselfe so iust and minful of his mercie promised that the verie heauens being astonished with so great so glorious bountie powred out by him vpon al people as farre as the heauens are extended shal set foorth this so great a benefite as it were with a sounding voice 7 Go to then be ye ashamed of your most filthie seruitude ô ye slaues of the idols but ô ye euen the verie Angels worship him as your Lord and King 8 But who wil heare these things verelie the true Sion who with the residue of the cities of her dominion as a mother with her daughters
being for this cause replenished with ioie and comforted with thy iudgements ô Lord wil reioice 9 Go to then ô Lord sitting vpon thy most high throne rule thou the whole earth and exalt thy selfe aboue al that is aloft anie-where 10 And ye that loue the Lord continue to hate that which is euil and doubt nothing but that he which hath freelie embraced you with so great fauour wil defend you also most mightilie and wil deliuer you from the wicked 11 And though this light of the mercie of God doth not streightwaie shine vnto the godlie let them remember that like as the seedes which are sowen in the earth do not foorthwith spring vp naie though they lie longer hid in the bowels of the earth yet they come forth more plentifullie euen so the light of righteousnes is sowen for them that loue that light whereby it shal wholie come to passe that al they that leade an vpright life are replenished with incredible ioie 12 Reioice ye therefore in the Lord so great a King ô al ye iust and magnifie the holie remembrance of him continuallie PSALME XCVIII The Argument This Psalme is the same almost with the ninetie and sixe and it conteineth the prophesie of the spreading of the kingdome of the Messiah and repeateth it againe of the which prophesie Simeon Zacharie and Marie the mother of the Lord in those their most famous hymnes are most diuine interpreters vsing almost the selfe-same words But this Psalme doth teach three things of most great importance euen in three verses One verse 1. that Christ our mediatour in this worke of our redemption hath no coadiutor at al nor partener the which heauenlie doctrine doth confute that diuelish dotage of the merits of saints as they cal them with what painted colours soeuer it be intruded and it giueth to God alone his due glorie as wel in the redemption as in the creation of man The second verse 2. that al this redemption consisteth in the iustice of Christ himselfe which verelie can not be made ours but by imputation The third verse 3. that al this benefit doth flowe foorth from the onelie free promise and truth of God himselfe THE PARAPHRASIS 1 SIng vnto the Lord a new song for he hath now shewed foorth al that his maruellous power by ouercomming al his enimies by his owne right hand onelie and by his owne arme alone 2 And now in the end he setteth foorth to be seene before al nations this benefit of so great a deliuerance which was so long looked for of our fathers and now at the length is performed which did lie hid before as in a corner euen his owne iustice wherewith they being indued shal not onlie escape the damnation which their vnrighteousnes deserueth but also shal obteine the crowne of iustice promised 3 And if anie demand what hath mooued him at the length to so great bountifulnes let him knowe that al this proceedeth from hence that hee is mindful of the promise that he hath made and by the same mercie that he was moued to promise it by the same he is moued to perfourme it in deede that he might shew himselfe most bountiful in verie deede vnto al men to the vttermost borders of the earth 4 Go to then al ye inhabitants of the earth blowe vp the trumpets vnto God sound out the instruments sing a triumphant song vnto him sing praises vnto him 5 Sing vnto the Lord both with the harps and with voices by order and course 6 Go before the King Iehouah with sounding trumpets and shalmes 7 Let the sea how wide soeuer sound againe and also the whole world with the song of al the inhabitants of the earth 8 Let the verie flouds sound round about with their noise and the verie mountaines with triumphant songs 9 Before the Lord that shal vndertake the gouernement of the world and shal gouerne the people most iustlie and vprightlie PSALME XCIX The Argument This Psalme was set foorth that the people what storme soeuer should arise turning vnto God should learne to set foorth the promise of the Messiah against al terrours of whome he so plainlie speaketh as though he had bene now present at the same time commanding al men euen to behold him in the visible sacraments set before them because they were no vaine signes of his most present fauour being euen the same in signification that ours are seeing there is but one and the same Christ whether he be to be shewed or alreadie exhibited although their signes were differing from ours Furthermore he adioineth the testimonies of three most godlie men Moses Aaron and Samuel whose office was to praie vnto God for the people both that whilest that priesthood appointed of God should remaine in authoritie the people should surelie iudge that the same God should be present with them who was with them of old as also they which desired to be heard might followe the same waie of faith and godlines that they did vnto the which doctrine of the publike and ecclesiastical praiers that is to be applied which Paule writeth 1. Timoth. 2 1. THE PARAPHRASIS 1 NOw I beseech you why should we feare the force or threatenings of anie man seeing we haue the Lord himselfe to be our King let the people fret as much as they lust yea let the earth wauer the foundations being shaken it is enough that he is with vs that inhabiteth the Cherubims 2 Verelie the Lord hath declared abundantlie the greatnes of his power in Sion and al the people nil they wil they shal be subiect to his power 3 Let vs therefore neither feare nor yet doubt but rather trusting vpon the most assured protection of God magnifie that his mightie and terrible name to the enimies for it is holie and therefore al honour is due vnto it 4 For is not this our King as he is indued with most great power so also the louer of iustice wherefore we neede to seeke none other succour besides him neither neede we to doubt but that he wil punish most sharplie al them of whome we are vniustlie oppressed For it is not possible that he should suffer their wickednes vnaduenged who is the authour of equitie it selfe hath set downe the verie rule of iustice vnto the posteritie of Iacob 5 Go to then praise ye the Lord our God and falling downe before his footestoole worship him for he is holie 6 For this cause did he consecrate Moses and Aaron of old and set Samuel also amongst them who did exercise the office of the mediator for the people the which thing whilest they did carefullie praieng vnto God they were heard of the Lord. Why then should wee doubt seeing that same priesthoode is of force but that we folowing their example should now also be heard 7 And also he did speake to those our fathers of old out of the cloudie piller vnto whome because they should keepe his commandements he prescribed the rites of
commeth vpon vs and then verelie the wild reuening beasts creepe foorth of their dens 21 Euen the young lions searching their praie with roring and requiring their meate as it were of God himselfe who hath kept them shut vp in the daie time for mans sake 22 But when the light returneth againe at the sun rising they get themselues into their dens againe as it were by a signe giuen from the heauen 23 So that man may returne vnto his labors which he had lest off and continue his trauel safelie vnto the euening 24 How maruellous therefore are thy works ô Lord how wiselie hast thou made al things with what and how great riches hast thou filled the earth 25 And this wide sea how large is it and how in numerable fishes are there how manie liuing creatures both of smal bodies and of monstrous greatnes doe swim therein 26 The ships also do run there through the seas and those huge beasts created of thee doe leape to and fro through the midst of the flouds as though they would plaie 27 And al these things as they haue receiued life of thee so also they wait for meate of thee wherewith they are nourished in their due time 28 Therefore thou giuest it vnto them and they receiue it and when thou openest thine hands they are satisfied 29 But if at anie time thou withdrawe thy selfe from them they stand euen astonished whilest that thou calling againe that liuelie strength which thou hadst giuen them they die at the length and returne to their dust 30 Yet for al this the kinds of things doe not decaie but whilest thou doest shew foorth that thy power which createth and preserueth al things thou causest that one of thy creatures comming into the place of another the verie face and furniture of the earth is renewed 31 Therefore euerlasting praise be giuen to the Lord and let the Lord continue to take his delight in his owne works 32 He is great I saie and verie mightie at whose angrie countenance the earth it selfe doth shake and tremble and by whome the mountaines being touched doe cast out smoke and flame 33 And as concerning me I wil consume al my life in praising him and so long as I shal remaine aliue I wil praise that my God 34 And would to God that my songs might be so acceptable vnto him as I with glad and cheereful mind doe celebrate his so manie and so great benefits 35 And contrariwise would to God that al the wicked that are stubborne against him might vtterlie be destroied But thou my soule praise thou the Lord and al ye others praise ye God PSALME CV The Argument Jt is euident by 1. Chron. 16. that the author of this Psalme was Dauid and that it was indited for Asaph to be sung when the Arke of the Lord was carried into the citie and there is the same vse of this as of the two former but the argument is diuers in this point that he doth celebrate two peculiar benefits of the Israëlites namelie the free adoption of that people and the bringing in of the same into the land promised Now seeing we haue a couenant more excellent than the former and our true Joshua is gone before into the verie heauen we may wel perceiue besides that now also the rehearsal of those old histories is most ioiful and most profitable so haue we so manie examples both of Gods mercie and truth whereby we may confirme our faith resting vpon the same foundations and are bound also much more than our fathers to celebrate these benefits and to continue in setting foorth the same THE PARAPHRASIS 1 PRaise the Lord cal vpon him and in the hearing of the people shew foorth his works 2 Sing vnto him praise him set foorth his maruellous acts 3 Glorie in his holie name you also that seeke the Lord reioice 4 Come ye vnto the Lord and diligentlie seeke this visible signe and pledge of his power and excellencie namelie this Arke 5 Cal to mind how manie and how great miracles and wonders he hath wrought for your sakes finallie what punishments he hath executed is iudgement of your enimies 6 For we are the children of Abraham his seruant and the ofspring of Iacob whome he hath choses to himselfe 7 And the Lord againe is the gouernour in deed and Lord ouer al the earth but he is our God by a peculiar right 8 Namelie for that he is mindful of that his couenant and word which shal be of force for euer by his commandement 9 Of that couenant I saie which he made first with Abraham and after with Isaac which was confirmed with a solemne oth 10 And further established with Iacob or Israël in these plaine words to stand for an vnchangeable and euerlasting decree 11 I wil giue you this land of Canaan as a possession by right of inheritance measured out by me 12 And that which he promised most freelie he hath perfourmed also most faithfullie For though they were verie few in number and of no strength and liued in that land as strangers 13 And changing their seates oftentimes wandering from nation to nation and remoued from one kingdome to another 14 Yet was it so farre off that he would suffer anie violence to be done vnto them by anie man that he also rebuked kings for their sakes 15 And hath written this decree as it were in these few words Let none touch mine annointed consecrate priests let no man hurt my prophets 16 But afterward he sent a famine vpon the earth as it were called by him and he did breake al the strength of bread that they might al seeme to be readie to perish streightwaies 17 But he sent a man before them when they should go into Aegypt long before by a most maruellous meane farre from al mans wisedome who should prepare them a place to soiourne in euen Ioseph who was first sold as a slaue in Aegypt 18 But afterward he was bound with iron fetters no lesse chained in mind than in bodie 19 Whilest at the last at the time appointed mention was made of him vnto the king and the wisedome which the Lord gaue vnto him did declare what maner of man and how excellent he was 20 Then therefore the king and lord of the Aegyptians did not onelie send messengers and loose him from his bonds 21 But also made him the steward of his court and so appointed the gouernement of al his affaires vnto him 22 Also an absolute authoritie was giuen vnto him ouer al the great princes of Aegypt that he should gouerne the verie magistrates of Aegypt by his wisedome and counsel 23 Therefore came Israël at length into Aegypt and Iacob did soiourne in the countrie of Cham. 24 And the Lord increased his familie there maruellouslie so that they became feareful for this cause vnto the Aegyptians that hated them 25 For God did change their minds against his people that they began to hate
as thou art accustomed to doe to those that loue thy name 133 Direct me that I set not one step out of the waie of thy words and that no affection striuing against thy wil doe rule ouer me 134 Defend and deliuer me from the crafts and false accusations of the wicked that I being deliuered from them may applie my selfe to keepe thy commandements 135 Command the light of that thy countenance to shine vnto thy seruant and teach mee thy statutes 136 Mine eies verelie did swim with teares when I beheld the contempt of thy doctrine THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XVIII 137 THou art iust ô Lord doubtles and whatsoeuer thou decreest is right 138 And thou hast commanded worthilie that those thinges which thou hast testified vnto vs should be knowen and obserued as most iust and as the most perfect rule of truth 139 Wherefore I am wholie consumed being inflamed with the loue of thee because I see thy words despised of mine aduersaries 140 For verelie there is nothing more pure than thy words wherefore I euen thy seruant doe embrace them with an incredible loue and desire 141 So that though I see my selfe to be counted vile and abiect of these men therefore yet wil I not cast awaie the studie of thy commandements 142 For that onlie rule of iustice taught by thee is euerlasting and the same is most true and most stable wheras other both decrees and lawes which mans wisedome doth set downe are subiect vnto change and at length euen do come to naught 143 And I haue tried this by experience getting not onelie great comfort but also delectation thereby when I was in most great miseries and anguish 144 That is the fountaine of euerlasting goodnes that it hath pleased thee to testifie vnto vs by thy voice but grant thou that I may vnderstand it more and more that I may so liue the true life THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XIX 145 O Lord heare me crieng vpon thee with my whole heart and that am bent to keepe thy statutes 146 Preserue me I saie calling for thy helpe and thinking on nothing more than of those things which thou hast testified vnto vs to be kept 147 Thou knowest that I am accustomed to preuent the verie twilight in the morning with my lowd praiers euen because I trusted to thy word 148 Neither do anie watchmen doubtles so carefullie keepe their watch as I am diligent in meditating thy words 149 Heare my words therefore ô Lord of thy singular mercie and as thou hast promised to do in thy lawes restore me that am without life 150 Thou seest how neere they assault me which are continuallie giuen to wickednes and are departed most far from thy doctrine 151 But I knowe wel that thou cleauest more nere vnto me for it must needes be that the verie truth remaine stable which thou hast ioined both to thy threatenings and to the promises in thy precepts 152 And I haue alreadie tried in deede that they are so ordeined by thee that they can neuer be ouerthrowne THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XX. 153 REgard I beseech thee how sore I am oppressed and deliuer me which doe not forget the doctrine that thou hast taught vs 154 Euen thou vnto whome I appeale from the most wicked iudgements of other men pleade my cause and be my iudge and as thou shalt determine of my right by the prescript rule of thy word deliuer me and preserue me 155 For they are in greater danger than I for saluation is further remooued from none more than from these wicked men which refuse thy statutes 156 Yet do not I trust in anie righteousnes of mine to desire thy helpe but whereas it is most euident that thou art most merciful ô Lord keepe thou me I beseech thee after thy woonted manner 157 For although they be verie manie and mightie of whom I am oppressed and driuen to extreme necessities yet haue not I declined frō those things which thou hast testified vnto vs. 158 Naie I neuer conceiued more griefe of anie thing than when I did perceiue these men to despise thy words so stubbornelie and impudentlie 159 Haue regard of me therefore vnto whom thy commandements haue alwaie bene most deere and of thy singular goodnes saue me that doe perish 160 This is the chiefe thing in thy word that it is infallible and it is the vnchangeable rule of thy iustice for euer THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XXI 161 AL the most mightie do persecute me though I haue deserued no such thing but I had rather to tremble at thy words than at their threatenings and to feare to offend thee rather than them 162 And though I might seeme to get great gaine by the denieng of thee yet the ioie that I receiue of thy words is better vnto me than anie praie how rich soeuer 163 I hate and abhorre deceits and I embrace thy doctrine 164 Yea I am so far off from folowing their example that contrariwise I beholding the excellent iudgements of thy iustice seuen times a daie do celebrate thy praises 165 Certainlie most great tranquillitie and true securitie safe from al casualtie do come vnto those men onelie which are occupied in the studie of thy doctrine 166 Therefore ô Lord I cherish within my selfe the hope of deliuerance which wil come vnto me from thee being in the meane season bent to keepe thy commandements 167 For I am determined to embrace with most great loue those things which thou hast testified vnto vs and to keepe them most diligentlie 168 And how sincerelie I doe this that is how without al hypocrisie I applie my selfe to thy commandements and to al things that thou hast testified vnto vs it is best knowne vnto thee who being my witnes and priuie to my doings I doe whatsoeuer I doe THE PARAPHRASIS Octo. XXII 169 LET my cries come vnto thee ô Lord and graunt vnto me the vnderstanding of thy word 170 Let my praiers I saie come vnto thee and deliuer me as thou hast promised to doe by thy word 171 Then I being deliuered and being taught thy statutes wil powre foorth thy praises out of my mouth flowing as it were from a most abundant spring 172 And I sounding foorth thy words with my tongue wil publish far and neere that there is nothing more iust than thy precepts 173 But go to helpe thou me with thy hand who haue preferred thy commandements before al other things 174 For of thee alone ô Lord I wholie depend and I seeke comfort at thine onelie doctrine 175 Commaund therefore my life to be prolonged that I being receiued into thy defence that art a most iust deliuerer may sing euerlasting praises vnto thee 176 Ah alas as thou seest I doe run wandering to and fro like a sheepe going far astraie from the flocke lieng open to al dangers but thou ô most merciful pastor seeke vp thy poore seruant which doth not forget thy precepts and when thou hast found him restore him againe PSALME
abide 18 And he also againe so soone as he commandeth doth melt the things that are frosen and the waters streightwaie flowe foorth againe as though their bands were losed 19 And these things verelie do testifie most plainelie both his infinite goodnes and power yet surelie they are nothing in comparison of that benefite which he bestowed vpon his Israël when he deliuered vnto him the doctrine of saluation and the rule to leade his life both godlie and honestlie 20 Neither is there any nation vnder heauen with whome he hath so dealt but he hath left other men without this most true and most iust doctrine PSALME CXLVIII The Argument The scope and end of this Psalme most ful of maiestie euen written with a heauenlie feruencie is whereas there be extant so manie most cleare witnesses of Gods wisedome of his power and goodnes as there be things created to cal vpon al those things high lowe and of the middle sort to set foorth the praise of God with common consent For though manie of them are without both vnderstanding and sense yet they al after their maner although they be silent are said to sound foorth the glorie of God though men which haue reason and for whose cause they are made ought properlie both in their owne name and in their name to do this dutie and chieflie the godlie ought to set foorth continuallie that incomparable benefite whereby they are chosen into the felowship of the sonne of God THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GO to let them found forth the praises of the Lord euen from the most high heauens 2 O al ye holie spirits the apparitors of his Maiestie which are diuided into innumerable garrisons go ye before others in this his praise 3 Thou Sunne and Moone and al ye Starres shining in the heauens shewe forth the praise of your Maker 4 O ye most high spheares of the heauens praise ye him ye vawts of waters which hang on high 5 Let al these things I saie praise the Lord for they began to haue their being by his onlie commandement 6 And they are placed by his appointment in the same place and order where they stand most stable and they are set in order with certaine spaces and bounds which they can not passe ouer by anie meanes though they would 7 And let the earthlie things againe answer vnto the heauenlie and the creeping wormes in the hollowe holes of the earth and also the depths of waters 8 And ye flames of lightnings also hailes snowes vapours lifted vp whirlewinds and other tempests which al haue your being and are moued by his commandement 9 Mountaines and al hils trees laden with fruits the Cedars mounting vp with such maruelous height 10 Ye wild beasts also and ye that be tame whatsoeuer creepeth vpon the ground and whatsoeuer fleeth through the aire 11 But chieflie both the kings and their people subiect vnto them the princes and the gouernours of the earth 12 Yong men and old yong maides also and children 13 Praise ye the name of the Lord for he alone deserueth most high praise as he that is more deepe than the very earth more high than the heauens 14 But this becommeth chieflie the people whom God of his vnspeakable fauour hath consecrated vnto himselfe and brought them into the most high state of dignitie aboue others therefore it becommeth those that haue receiued such benefits of God to set forth his praises euen the posteritie of Israël the which people God hath chosen to be his owne familie and houshold PSALME CXLIX The Argument The interpretation of this Psalme seemeth to be more plaine and more agreeable to the holie historie if it be applied vnto the kingdome of Dauid rather than to the last times of the captiuitie of Babylon Wherefore in ny iudgement the people recouering themselues from so manie miseries which they had suffered both in the times of the iudges and of Saule himselfe both the religion of God being first restored and also the policie set in good order is taught by this Psalme to giue thankes vnto God and not to abuse his so great benefits Wherein Dauid himselfe giueth them example acknowledging the Lord God to be the King together with them And as concerning the musical instruments here named it was a part of the seruice of the lawe which is abolished notwithstanding no man vnlesse such a one as is worthie to be counted amongst beastes can denie but that there is a great power both of musicke when it is sung and also in instruments to moue mens minds yet the examples both of the former Church and the horrible abuses that streightwaies followed do teach sufficientlie how vnprofitable it is to bring in such musicke and instruments into the Church of Christ as hath bin of late And a prophesie is also added which the verie end did confirme so manie victories being granted vnto Dauid and the bounds of his kingdome being spread euen vnto Euphrates that then the promise was fulfilled at the length which was made vnto Abraham as concerning the figure for it can not be doubted but that these things were the figures of the kingdome of Christ and of his spiritual victories and of that horrible iudgement which shal be most fullie in the end at the last daie and which now and then God executeth vpon al the rebellious THE PARAPHRASIS 1 GO to al ye that haue receiued benefites of the Lord sing vnto him a new and excellent song being deliuered from so manie not dangers but deaths 2 Euen thou ô Israël delight thy selfe in setting forth his praises whose worke thou art as it were newlie formed O ye citizens of Sion reioice ye trusting in the Lord your King Gouernor which belongeth to none other nation vnder heauen 3 Set foorth his praises far and wide not onelie priuatelie but also publikelie not onlie with voice but also with fluites and timbrels and with al kind of musical instruments 4 Euen because it hath pleased the Lord of his infinite mercie to consecrate this people vnto himselfe and as the matter it selfe maketh it manifest when they seemed vtterlie to be lost to make them honourable and of most high dignitie 5 Wherefore these glorious people vpon whom he hath bestowed so manie benefites do now reioice and shal reioice hereafter and with great quietnes shal sing a triumph 6 Praising the Lord indeede with their exclamations cries but armed with double edged swords in their hands 7 Wherewith they may punish the prophane Gentiles and auenge the crueltie of the people 8 And also may drawe their kings nobles bound in chaines and iron setters 9 Euen to execute the iudgement appointed and commanded by the Lord and this verelie is the dignitie and the honour of al them whome God hath receiued to his fauour PSALME CL. The Argument Jt is probable that the holie singing men of the temple did stir vp one another with this Psalme ful of maruelous zeale We
do flourish which argument is treated in manie other places it admonisheth least the godlie should turne themselues to folowe the wicked that we may not esteeme the loue or hatred of God by prosperitie or aduersitie or that we should therefore denie the prouidence of God as though anie thing came by chance or yet be discouraged but rather to adore the wisedome of God and his power also who concerning the wicked wil recompence the delaie of the punishment with the greeuousnes thereof but wil defend his that is those that are grafted trulâ—e into the Church euen vnto the end THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HOw excellent a thing is it to praise the Lord and to sing vnto his most high name 2 And to rise in the morning earelie to praise thy goodnes ô God and to praise thy truth at the night as we are admonished both by the morning and euening sacrifices ordeined by thee 3 Vpon the instrument of ten strings vpon the viol and with song and with the harpe 4 For the workes that thou hast done minister an argument of most great ioie vnto me that I can not but with reioicing haue them in admiration 5 For how wonderful are thy workes ô Lord and how secret and hid are the reasons of thy counsels 6 Therefore the foolish and mad men who onlie seeme to themselues and to others to be wise do not perceiue what this thing meaneth 7 That the euil and most wicked men do growe vp and flourish therefore they wickedlie condemne that which they do not vnderstand as though either the state of men were gouerned by chance or that God did fauour wickednes euen because they do not vnderstand that these wicked men are like hearbes so greene and flourishing that streightwaies they die vp by the roots 8 For although these inferiour things be subiect to maruellous changes yet thou the most wise and most iust gouernour of al them sitting on high art not changed but art the same and doest remaine like thy selfe ô Lord. 9 What alteration then of things or time soeuer do fal yet must this end of necessitie folowe that thine enimies thine enimies I saie ô Lord must perish and that al which are obstinatelie bent vpon wickednes because those are thine enimies howsoeuer they flourish for a time in the end shal be scattered and vanish 10 But thou contrariwise wilt lift vp this mine head as it were of an vnicorne being annointed by thee with fresh oile and laden with new benefites continuallie 11 Wherefore there wil be a time when we shal see and heare that this is come vpon them which they deserue who rising out of their ambushments seeke to destroie vs by al meanes 12 But the iust men do not onlie not faint vnder the burthen of miseries but also they gather strength like the palme tree and like those high cedars of Libanus which cannot be consumed with rottennes or age but dailie growe vp more great 13 For they are planted in a most fat and wealthie place euen in the house of the Lord himselfe in the courts whereof let them flourish 14 And that with such power that they may be greene bud foorth and be ful of sap euen in their verie age 15 And this is the onelie end of these benefites and the marke that we may feele and professe the Lord to be our onlie towre and the most righteous gouernour in the world who departeth not one iot from that which is most iust PSALME XCIII The Argument This Psalme trulie is verie short but it conteineth al in one word that is necessarie to confirme our faith when he saith that God reigneth that is to saie that he is a King not in name alone but in verie deede the most mightie defender of his and the auenger of their enimies And seing that the father hath giuen al iudgment to his sonne euen as he is man Iohn 5.22 and the Church is therefore called the kingdome of heauen it is euident that this Psalme hath respect vnto Messiah whose verie true godhead is prooued heereby manifestlie that the name of Jehouah is attributed vnto him THE PARAPHRASIS 1 HOwsoeuer the wicked freat and disturbe al things as much as lieth in them yet reigneth the Lord ful of maiestie and power which thing the verie sight of the heauens do declare Neither doth he sit there idlelie but if we diligentlie consider with how great wisedome and also power he doth gouerne al things howsoeuer they be disordered by the wickednes of men he is alwaies armed with those weapons wherewith he both defendeth his and brideleth their enimies For how can he not do this thing who vpholdeth this huge masse of the verie earth by his onlie power so ballanced that it can neither wauer to the one part nor to the other 2 Therefore is his kingdome much more stable and vnmoueable as it hath alwaies bin and shal be 3 How great is the rage of the flowing waters how terrible is the roaring of the stormes that do rise vp and beate one against another 4 But al these how lowd sounding and raging tempestes soeuer are nothing verelie compared with the infinite power of Iehouah thundering forth of his high throne and repressing al this tumult by his onelie becke and how much more easilie can he calme selie men be they neuer so outragious 5 And the assemblie of the saints which continueth stable now from the beginning of the world declareth the matter to be thus For it is necessarie that the promises made by God should bee sure and altogether vnchangeable Therefore howsoeuer the world doe sreat and how great stormes soeuer it do stir vp against thy house ô Lord that holines ful of most excellent beautie wherewith thou doest adorne it shal be euerlasting PSALME XCIIII The Argument This most excellent Psalme is a displaieng of the tyrannie of Sathan by whose furies the most mightie princes of the world being stirred vp doe violate al the lawes of God and man especiallie when they rise vp against the godlie euen as though there were no God or that he had no prouidence at al of which horrible rage and wickednes the chiefe kingdomes of Europa giue vs an example at this daie But most effectual comforts are afterward annexed drawne forth of the vnchangable nature of God himselfe and of his prouidence and are described with great maiestie the godly are commanded to read and meditate diligentlie the holie scriptures that they may knowe these things whereby they shal vnderstand euen by innumerablâ— and most certaine testimonies that al these tempests and stormes shal turne to the commoditie of the godlie but to the destruction of the wicked the which thing euen the Prophet proueth by his own example and the Church verelie neuer triumphed but vnder the crosse THE PARAPHRASIS 1 SHine vnto vs in so great and horrible confused darknes ô Lord the auenger of wickednes and most iust iudge 2 Go vp vnto thy iudgement seat ô thou