other some places passiuelie The righteousnesse of God manifested in the lawe is a will wherewith God prescribeth vs to do those things which are right and after a certaine gladnesse of his resteth well pleased with thinges rightlie done and will not haue contrarie thinges to be done by anie but with an vnfeined displeasure repelleth and destroieth them Touching this righteousnesse It is saide in the 5 Psalme verse 4. For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickednesse neither shall any euill dwell with thee verse 5. Such as bee foolish shall not stande in thy sight for thou hatest all them that worke vanitie verse 6. Thou shalt destroy them that speake leasing the Lord will abhor both the bloudthirsty and deceiptful man The righteousnesse of God manifested without the Lawe touching which both the Law and the prophets do beare witnesse is the frée remission of sinnes reconciliation with God and obtaining unto life euerlasting for Christes sake the mediator He therefore craueth in this place to be deliuered in the righteousnesse of God not indeed legall and actiue but euangelicall and passiue as if he saide Though I maie surelie perswade my selfe that I am righteous not indeede by my owne worthinesse but thy righteousnes that is for thy sonnes sake imputed vnto me I also craue this addition namely deliuerance and glorification according to the prouidence of thy wisedome As it is saide Rom. 8. 30. For whome he hath iustified them also hath he glorified That this interpretation is neither fained nor forged the wordes of D. Martin Luther vpon the 42. cap. of Genesis doe witnesse In times past saieth he when it behooued me to reade and praie that part of the 71. Psalme verse 1. Rid mee and deliuer me in thy righteousnesse I trembled for feare in all the parts of my bodie and with all my whole heart I betested that saying Deliuer me not thought I in thy righteousnesse wherein thou art righteous actiuely Therefore passiuelie must I embrace and take holde of thy righteousnesse wherewith I am justified And a little after that hee saieth In times past when I came to those propositions the righteousnesse of God the worke of God thy worke thy righteousnesse they found me worke inough to deale withall Which if they be vnderstood actiuely they are death but passiuely vnderstoode they are life and saluation Be thou my strong holde wherunto I may alway resort thou hast promised to helpe me for thou art my house of defence and my castle Deliuer me O my God out of the hand of the vngodlie out of the hande of the vnrighteous and cruell man All men are carelesse in their doings so long as they haue a refuge and humane succours or defences But when these are once lost verie manie are drowned in desperation and crie out with that Tyrant Desertus ab amicis miser pereo Wretch that I am forsaken of friend I wretchedly nowe my life do ende But amongst these rockes is faith safelie caried and with great care shunneth both of them namelie security and desperation And neither is she puft vp or swelling proudlie in prosperitie neither is the discouraged in aduersitie but howsoeuer fortune fare with her the beleeueth she hath God for her mercifull defender and deliuerer and craueth of God helpe and gouernement and findeth by triall that God doth helpe her according to his promises Dauid had a most large kingdome and dominion furnished with wealth weapons for warre and hoastes of men but hee reposeth not anie thing at all the hope of his helpe in these defences Afterwardes when hee was banished out of his kingdome hee was not discouraged in minde but succoureth himselfe with this consolation Psalme 27. verse 12. My father and my mother haue forsaken me but the Lord hath taken me vp These matters without some vse or exercise in them cannot be vnderstood Therefore is the Church sore charged and burdened with the crosse that faith maie in exercises of the crosse encrease and be stronger which in idlenesse and pleasures is vtterlie extinguisht But Dauid here beseecheth God to defend him not onelie against the violence of his enemies but also against the falshoode of such as he tooke to be his friends For a great deale more doe the domesticall friendes hurt a man then outward enemies do For thou O Lord art the thing that I looke for thou art my hope euen from my youth Through thee haue I beene holden vp euer since I was borne thou art he that tooke me out of my mothers wombe my prayse shall be alwaies of thee He annexeth unto the proposition thrée reasons whereof the first is deriued from Gods promise the second from a former benefit and the third from the cause finall No doubt of it faith beareth her selfe correlatiuelie to the promise of God So often then as mention is made of faith or hope let vs call to minde the promise giuen from God The same then signifieth this verse Thou Lorde art my hope and thou Lord hast promised me helpe and other necessarie benefits So as afterwardes hee calleth to minde the benefites done him before time by reason whereof he conceiueth assured hope of deliuerances in time to come Thou saith he hast brought me out of my mothers wombe and hast bestowed vpon mee of thy most bountifull liberalitie manie other benefits O. vouchsafe therefore to finish and perfect vp the web of thy good will and working goodnesse and doe thou neuer forsake me Last of all Icraue and looke from thee defence against the violence and guilefull dealings of mine enemies not to the ende that I maie liue all at pleasure but that I maie reuerentlie honour thee in thy benefits and be a witness of thy true doctrine I am become as it were a monster vnto many but my sure trust is in thee O let my mouth bee filled with thy praise that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long He addeth vnto his praier an ardent affect of his state For like as S. Paule saith 1. Cor. 4. 9 The Apostles are counted for gazing stockes in the world So Esayas the Prophet in his 8. cap. 18. verse crieth out Beholde I and my children whome the Lord hath giuen me are as signes and as wonders in Israell These complaintes do signifie how difficult and hard a thing it is for vs to suffer the vnrighteous iudgementes of the world for some doe condemne vs of heresie other obiect vnto vs the crime Laesae maiestatis or as detractors of the supreame authoritie But séeing then that godly men cannot without great sorrow endure slanders or reprochfull taunts though vninst it is needful that they holde fast the expresse consolations against vnrighteous iudgements so as they map ouercome sorrowe and beleeue that they are not for such vniust iudgements cast away from god or excluded from the true church Let us therefore euermore looke vpon these sayings viz. Psal 109. vers
once but that we do repeate them dailie yea euerie moment and truelie for this cause that there may be a propagation or publishing of doctrine in the posteritie for like as God graunteth vnto the Halcion bird the quietnesse and calmenesse of the sea to hatch and bring forth their yong ones so must we pray that God in the ruines and confusions of kingdomes in the latter age of the world would preserue his church and ministrie that in time to come there want no publishers of the most mightie workes of God Thy righteousnesse O God is verie high and great things are they that thou hast done O God who is like vnto thee This ioyfull conlusion which the Prophet here hath maie more easilie be vnderstoode if we consider the historie of the Church from the beginning when Adam and Eua had transgressed and could not be helped by the meanes of anie creature God of his immense grace and goodnesse published a promise touching the Redéemer which shoulde come which when these our parentes heard they vnderstoode that they should bee receiued againe into Gods fauour and brought againe from euerlasting death Afterwardes when all mankinde miserablie perished in the vniuersall deluge God according to his wonted goodnes preserued Noah and his wife and familie that they shoulde yet scape the daunger of the floud and remaine the young plantes of the Church And that I maie for breuitie sake omit particular deliuerances howe glorious was the bringing and deliuering of the Israelites out of Egypt And no lesse glorious was the bringing backe againe of the same people from out of Babilon and the restoring of them into their ancient state What shall I saie of the church gathered from out of the whole world by the ministerie of the Apostles What shall I speake of the continuall preseruation and defence of this little flocke against the violence of Tyrants and wicked deceipts of heretickes And that I would not repeat all stories I will cōprehend in briefe for so I purposed this last restoring of the gospell euen by God effected maugre the malice and repugning thereagainst all the gates of hell to be no lesse worthie of admiration then other deliuerances of the church mentioned in the histories of the Prophets and Apostles These and other thinges innumerable when we call to minde it cannot be otherwise but we must needes crie out with Dauid in this verse Howe great thinges are they O God which thou hast done O God who is like vnto thee O what great troubles and aduersities hast thou shewed me and yet diddest thou turne and refresh mee yea and broughtest mee from the depth of the earth againe Thou hast brought me to great honour and comforted me on euery side The historie of the Church doth speciallie set forth this interchange of temptations consolations The church of the people of Israell had some rest peace and quietnesse in the time of K. Salomons raigne but a little while after when the Kingdome was deuided there followed continuall ciuill warres vntill the tenne Tribes were by Salmanazar carried a waie into exilement The two other Tribes had great tryall of diuers changes calamities and deliuerances euen vntill the comming of our Sauiour Christ But the church of the newe Testament being first grieuouslie afflicted by Tyrantes next of heretickes and afterwardes by Antichrist hath had thenceforth some space of breathing So let vs not doubt but the Church of this last age tossed and turmoiled with diuers stormes and surging seas shall hereafter not verie long to getting out of these great troubles desire and attayne vnto the porte of euerlasting life Therefore will I praise thee and thy faithfulnesse O God playing vpon an Instrument of musicke vnto thee will I sing vpon the harpe O thou holie one of Israell My lips will bee faine when I sing vnto thee and so will my soule whom thou hast deliuered My tongue also shall talke of thy righteousnesse al the day long for they are confounded and brought vnto shame that seeke to do me euill Oftentimes in the Psalmes Dauid keepeth these degrees of order Beleeuing he is tempted tempted he prayeth praying he is deliuered and being deliuered he giueth thanks vnto God So the Church beholding the destruction of her enemies or their purposes disappointed with ioyfull minde and mouth magnifieth and praiseth God who knoweth howe to deliuer his out of temptation ¶ A prayer composed by Dauid as touching the prosperitie of Salomons Kingdom which was a figure of Christ and his euerlasting kingdome 1. Kinges 3. Deus iudicium tuum Regi da. The Argument TIS Psalme with great excellencie of wordes preacheth of the person and office or of Christes kingdome of the calling of the Gentiles of the worshipping in the newe Testament and of the Crosse which the Church must beare But first to beginne with all the Iewes must bee refuted which with a blinde wilfull boldnesse contend that this Psalme must not bee vnderstoode touching Christ but touching Salomon And trulie the first refutation may bee taken from the limits and long continuance of his Kingdome touching whome the Psalme speaketh For he expresly affirmeth in verse 5. That the limits or boundes of his kingdome extend from the rising to the setting of the Sunne and this King shall rule and raigne verse 17. in all posterities without end Because therefore it appeareth sufficiently that neither Salomon nor any other King had euer anie Kingdome so largely limited and bounded and that all and euerie kingdome in the worlde haue their fatall periods Let vs here then confesse it to be most euident these things cannot bee spoken of any other King but of the promised Sauiour Christ Jesus Of this Argument such is the perspicuity that if the Iewes woulde burst themselues with vaine contention therein they cannot say so much as a word against it The second refutation is taken from the stability of peace touching which it is saide in verse 7. In his time shall the righteous flourish yea and aboundance of peace so long as the moone appeareth And wee knowe that the latter ende of King Salomns raigne was vnquiet and troublesome as the historie of the 1. lib. Regum cap. 11. maketh mention Therefore are the commentaries of the Iewish Rabines far wide from the scope of this Psalme But least I seeme to be too long in a thing so manifest and plain I will be content with the testimonie of the Caldean translation which interpreteth this Psalme as touching the promised Sauiour Christ Iesus This ground of the matter being thus ordained wee must thenceforth seeke who is the sauiour for the Iewes looke for a Guide and a restorer of their kingdome such a one as Hercules or Cyrus or Augustus And such a one doth Mahomet beleeue that Christ was and so haue manie heretickes alwaies thought and held opinion as Somosatenus Nestorius and others And I feare that euen this philosophie stirres vp great
salt of the earth purity of doctrine and the vnity of the teachers Examples of hurtful emulation euen in the ancient Bishops of the Church Discord arising felse brethren Why the Apostles and good Bishops are called Kings with their hoasts Verses 4. 5. 6 Teachers of the Gospell compared vnto doues for the diuersity of their gifts The vocation or calling of the Minister The 3. effects of the Gospell Iohn 12. 35. The 2. effect of the Gospell The 3. effect of the Gospell The exceeding great traine of Christ our triumphant king The saying of Athanasius against Arius of the ascension of Christ The deliuerance of the captiues The captiuing of the enemies and the spoiling of them A comfort vnto the Church burdened with the crosse A prophecie touching the destruction of the Iewish nation The sweete ioies of this triumph A thankesgiuing of the church for the victory by Christ obtained The order of the Apostles marching as Princes in the tryumph of Christ The stability and felicity of Christs church kingdom Dauids prophecie of kings and princes which shuld be patrones of the Church Dauid denouÌ„sceth a downfal and destructioÌ„ of Antichrist and his cruel bloody beastly warriours Dauid reciteth a prophecie touching the calling of the Gentiles to the church of God The Epilogue or conclusion of this Psalme is a general exhortation vnto thanksgiuing for manifold benefites * Of Shoshanim reade Psal 45. A threefolde Meditation of this Psalme The instructiue meditatioÌ„ The saying of Hippocrates The saying of Clement B. of Alexandria Pontanus The spiritual meditation of this Psalme The exemplary meditation The first part of this Psalme is a praier to the 31. verse Senecas verses of Hercules Christ bare vpon him the burthen of all our sinnes Preachers oftimes very vnthankfully delt with of those whom they haue best deserued of Examples of the heathen most vertuous persons Aristotles saying of iustice The godlie zeale which Dauid had for the aduancement of Gods glory Vrigils verse Scipios zeale for his country The seruent zeale of our sauiour Christ for our saluation S. Augustines saying touching a good conscience a good name The blind affection of man Christ is y e gate and the tower altar of refuge for vs to runne vnto with harty and humble praier Iosephs praier Daniels Praier It is Gods commandement and will that we should pray vnto him and his promise is assured performance The last act of Christs passion The 2. part of this Psalme containing a curse against the enemies of Christ Fiue degrees of punishmeÌ„ts inflicted vpon the Iewes and wherefore The 3. and last part of this Psalme containing a thanksgiuing by Dauid or rather by Christ and the maner thereof in 3. degrees The blessings lost by Adam are in and by Christ restored vnto vs. Gratiae priuatiur positiuae The diuers Epithites of our iustification by Christ A conclusion Exhortation The effects of this Psalme are touching faith and the force thereof mightily shaken by three meanes Iobs patience in his calamities Matth. 7. 7. 8 The effect of an oath The effect of prayer Dauid praieth for defence froÌ„ God in a good cause and for the destruction of his enemies We must pray to God to cut off the Pope and Turke the 2 strong arms of Antichrist A debasing of mans self conceit in his own nature A description of the 3. ages of the world The diuel stirs vp tyrants and heritikes in the last olde age of the world most wickedly weakning the state thereof Two effects of this Psalme The righteousnes of God in the law His righteousnes in y e gospel D. Martin Luthers saying vpon the first verse of this Psalme Tyrants trusting in mans helpe are desperately deceiued The Church sore charged and burdened with the crosse When good men are vnjustly slaundered it behooueth them to hold fast the consolations left them in the word of God against vnrighteous iudgements A principall proposition of this Psalme consisting in a Prayer and a Promise The Church in her old age thankfull vnto God A prayer for the Church in her old age The great mercy of God aboue mans merit The restoring of the church in the latter daies comparable to the deliuerances by God in former ages 1 Kinges 10 1 Kâ—ngs 12 2 〈◊〉 13 40 The church in the latter age shal at length descry and attaine vnto the port of life euerlasting The effects of this Psalme with a refutation of the Iewes contrary opinion in two points The vayne dreames of the Iewes This Psalme discerneth Christ the sauior from all other souerainty for euer The predictions of the prophets touching Christs suffering for mans saluation The excellencie of Dauids art oratoricall in compiling in 4. poynts The sentence of Saint Augustine cited by Prosperus Our excellent benefits by Christ our Sauiour A diuerse vse of the worde iudgement Dauids verse interpreted touching the first second comming of Christ the chiefe Iudge The peaceable estate of the Chucrch The maner of Chirsts kingdome governed by his iustice iudgement How Christ the Sauiour is to be honored in his kingdom The application of Daulds verse first to Gedeons and secondly to Christ his victorie Righteousnes and peace two effects of christ his kingdome A great difference between the bounds of Christs kingdom and the kingdoms of earthly Princes namely is sixe points Of kings and Queenes the nursing fathers and mothers of the Church from the beginning The great mercie of God in sending his son Christ to deliuer the distressed The application of the fable touching the viper and the palme Touching the eternail godhead of Christ and the royaltie of his euerlasting kingdome The florishing state of the Church with puritie of doctrine coÌ„cord of the Church The euerlasting renowme of Christ God and man eternal king of the faithfull and their euerlasting blessednes in and by him The myracle of myracles in the Messias Christ God man king immortall
A FIFT PROCEEDING in the Harmony of King Dauids Harpe That is to say a godly and learned Exposition of 5. other moe Psalmes of the princely Prophet Dauid beginning with the 68. and ending with the 72. Psalme being the last part of the first Tome or one halfe of the booke of Psalmes Written in Latin by the reuerend Doctor Victorinus Strigelius professor of Diuinity in the Vniuersity of Lipsia in Germanie Anno. 1576. Translated into English by Richard Robinson Citizen of London 1594. Seene and allowed Psalme 36. verse 10. O continue forth thy louing kindnesse to them that know thee and thy righteousnesse vnto them that are true of hart Psalme 37. verse 35. Hope thou in the Lord and keepe his way and he shall promote thee that thou shalt possesse the land when the vngodly shal perish thou shalt see it AT LONDON Printed by P.S. for Matthew Lownes and are to be sold at his shop vnder S. Dunstons Church in the West 1598. To the Right Reuerend father in God Richard by Gods prouidence Bishop of London To the Right Honorable Sir Richard Saltonstall Knight Lord Maior of London and to the Right worshipful his Brethren the Aldermen and Sheriffes of the same City grace mercy peace and plenitude of temporall and eternall beatitude in the sacred Trinity OUR Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus right reuerend Father in God honorable Lord and right worshipful Patrons as hee rightly called himselfe the way the truth and the life of all faithfull beleeuers and good liuers and was so in deed the way by example not erring the truth by promise not failing and the life by reward neuer ending so on a time ascending up a certaine hill after he had in a prolix sermon instructed his Disciples and a multitude of others his followers in the way truth and life of perfect blessednesse vpon earth and the fruitfull effects thereof in the life euerlasting said vnto them yee are the salt of the earth the light of the world As it might well seeme attributing the first title salt of the earth vnto his disciples as they which with the table of the Testament deliuering sincere doctrine it with the pot of Manna ministring the sacraments by Christs institution seasoning the soules of Gods seruants and with Aarons rod executing discipline vpon disordered liuers within the Church And by the second title light of the world fully attributing vnto temporal magistrates as to the learned in the lawes divine humane the light of righteousnes sword of truth and ballance of iustice with iudgement to cherish the good and punish the euill liuers in the common wealth And so making of both a blessed and happy coniunction or incorporation of good gouernement hee added hereunto this rare and notable conclusion A citty that is set on a hill cannot be hid signifieng thereby a Citty so gouerned is a right Hieropolis or sacred Citty and a kingdome so administred is a right Hierarchia or sacred principalitie knowne beloued of friends feared and made famous among enemies both neare and far off Such in truth blessed bee the true omnipotent and immortall God hath been the happy state of this citty of London yea and whole kingdome of England though low insituation yet high in acceptation with God and good people of all nations vnto which as I a poore member thereof God be my witnes defender Iudge and reuenger haue alwaies wished well in goodwill goodworde and good workes to my poore power so eleuen yeares nowe past I signified the same specially by translating the learned Vrbanus Rhegius his godlie exposition vpon the 87. Psalme intituled the Solace of Sion and ioy of Ierusalem and dedicating the same vnto the then Right Honorable Sir George Barne Knight Lord Maior of this Citty who thankfully accepted my good wil therein For it carried this credit with it Her foundations are vpon the holy hils and holy innocent and the best members of this our Church and common wealth have profited thereby I doubt not But nowe if there bee any vnholy nocent and bad persoyet remaining either within or without the gates of that Hierusalem or vision of peace as God which once promised to search it doth best see for man seeth not as God seeth 1. Sam. 16. 7. whether he be a forger of falshood Iere. 10. 14 slanderous seruant Pro. 13. 5. euill nurtured child Ecclus. 22. 7. and so a carnall master Iohn 3. 10. and a carelesse parent 1. Tim. 5. 8. with blinde seer and deafe hearer Esay 42. 8. whereof too many I haue found as I can conuince I pray to God humbly and hartely these either speedely if it be his heauenly holy will to conuert by doctrine and discipline in the church or if so they will not bee conuertible at his good pleasure in his iustice and iudgement to subuert them perseuering in their malignities inflexible In the meane time with all humble and hartifull duty I commend this my present poore labour to the aduancement of Gods glory ineffable hir maiesties continuall honour and your honours and worships fauorable protection first as vnto that Aaron whose sincere doctrine with example of life and discipline as your rod which God long make to bud and blossome in blessednes and consequently as vnto that Mercury which tuning this my harp in right concord of goodwil as I deliuer it may sende the sweete solace thereof from your sincere brests not vnto an earthly Apollo to regratifie you with an earthlie scepter but to the heauenly Iehoua who may best rewarde you with all abundance of heauenly happines in the life euerlasting which God for his sonne Christs sake grant vnto your honors and worships At my poore house in S. Brides parish in fleetstreet this 24. of August 1598. Your honorable good Lordships and worthy worships humble poore Orator Richard Robinson Cittizen of London PSALME LXVIII Exurgat Deus dissipentur Inimici c. TO HIM THAT EXCELLETH A Psalme or Song of Dauid demonstratiue touching the wonderfull mercies of God towardes his Church in respect of his pormises graces and victories which he giueth her and it is exhortatorie that his Church should therefore prayse God for euer The Argument THIS Psalme is a glorious and plentifull prophecie touching the resurrection and triumph of Christ in his ascension touching his gift of the holy ghost his gathering of the Church by the ministry of the Apostles the destruction of the Iewish policy or state and the benefits of his new and euerlasting kingdome And like as the fine verses of Poets do edifie vttered from a sincere and sacred brest So no doubt of it Dauids penne in the writing of this Psalme was filled with spirituall ioy which exceedeth all capacitie and consideration of man For he vseth not a simple kinde of phrase describing the magnificence of Christes kingdome but most e-legantly with figures hee describeth euen as it were the triumphant pompe of this King For he frameth his
this place is the Messias cléerelie and perspicuouslie distinguished from the eternall father Here he saith Thy God hath sent forth strength that is thy eternal father from whom thou art sent to publish and preach the gospell and to redéeme mankind hath instituted and ratified thy kingdome it shall therefore stand immoueable and shall not be weakened by anie force neither shall it by anie meanes possible be remoued out of place Of this consolation stoode the church in neede when Diotlesian and the other tyrants ruled and raigned who seemed to doe what they could vtterlie to race out the name of Christ from the memoâ—ie of all posteritie For writers affirmâ— when Dioclesian raigned there were euerie daie at the least xx godlie persons put to death in the Cittie Alexandria for profession of the gospell And now also in this olde age of the church the Church likewise needeth the same consolation For from the East â—arts the Turkish tyrant assaulteth her and from the West parts the Pope armed and fortified with the defence and cruelty of manie kings vexeth her What is then remaining where with we maie defend our selues from this Turkish and Popish outrage but this most strong wall Thy God hath sent forth strength for thee Stablish the thing O God that thou hast wrought in vs For seeing God is the guide and giuer of this kingdome doubtlesse he will be also the effecter and worker in vs and he only will be the foundation thereof Neither indéed let this praier and promise be vnderstood onelie touching the whole bodie of the Church but let it also bee applied unto euerie particular member and let it alwaies sound in our mindes eares and tongues Let vs dailie with seruent sighing saie Seeing O God thou hast translated vs out of the kingdome of darkenesse into the kingdome of thy light and that these beginnings of life euerlasting are diuers waies assaulted partely by the Diuell partly by the world and partly of our own flesh in which word I comprehend our wandring opinions and affections I humbly beseech thee that thou wouldst establish that benefit thou hast begun in vs and defend vs against our enemies domesticall and externall For as he that buildeth anie thing doth not onlie frame the foundations but goeth forwarde in setting vp the whole building whatsoeuer it be So God will not haue vs begin our conuersions and turnings vnto him but much more will he haue our saluation to bee perfected by him for as it is said 2. Phil. 13. It is God that worketh in vs the will and the deed euen of his good pleasure to the ende some acceptable seruices may be done vnto him For thy temples sake at Ierusalem so shall kings bring presents vnto thee He foresheweth hereby that some kings and princes shall be associates of the true church nursing fathers of them which teach and learne in the same and shall surely be made members of life euerlasting For although Religion do bring forth Riches as one saith elegantlie yet the daughter like an vnthankefull Stockedoue hath deuoured her mother For the Bishops in some ages haue not béene so vpright or sincere as that their estate of life might agrée with their calling that is they taught not the Gospel soundlie nor administred the Sacraments rightlie no they cared not for edifying the people with true doctrine but became stately Lords in kings courts and being ordained to sacred busines they intermedled themselues with prophane matters nothing agreeable to their calling Therefore both of these are best Meane wealth and meane pouertie in such like persons When the companie of the spearemen and multitude of the mightie are scattered abroad among the beastes of the people so that they humblie bring peeces of siluer and whâ—n he hath scattered the people that delight in warre He addeth vnto this prophecie of the calling of the Nations a heauie effect touching the kingdom of Antichrist whose chiefest members and as it were twinnes at one birth borne 900. yeares agone are the Pope and Mahomet These hee compareth vnto mightie strong Bulles treading vnder foote the true doctrine and true worshippings of God for to establish their owne power Against these is this Verse as if we in our time should now say O God restraine and ouerthrow the practises of these least the true knowledge of thy most holie name be extinguished in mankind For thy name for thy name sake O God do thou this that thou bee not blasphemed Helpe vs O God our Sauiour and for the glorie of thy names sake deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes for thy names sake least at any time the Gentiles do say vnto vs Where is nowe thy God Psal 79. 10. Then shall the Princes come out of Egypt The Morians land shall soone stretch out her hands vnto God This is a notable prophecie touching the calling of the Gentiles and I haue often elsewhere saide that the Reader is to be put in minde of the chiefest matters so often times as the Prophets doe make mention touching the calling of the Gentiles For first this calling is a notable testimonie implying that saying of saint Paule Rom. 5. 15. 20. Grace oueraboundeth aboue sinne For if so great force or effect were not procéeding from the louing sauour and mercie of God he would not haue receyued into fauour nations polluted with Idolatrie lusts and other most filthie and foule sinnes which are partlie so filthie and partlie so flagitious that they seeme euen filthie to speake of them Secondlie the same calling of the Gentiles witnesseth that the promise of the Gospel is vniuersall pertaineth vnto all persons that do trulie call vpon God for in God there is no courtlike respect of persons but God is indéede equall to the equall that is to them which trulie repent and flie vnto the Mediator Touching this consolation mo things are spoken by Paul Rom. 10. verses 6 10 11 13 14. Finally this selfe same vocation of the Gentiles refuteth the Pharisaical opinion which imagineth that ceremonies are righteousnes before God for the Gentiles are by God receyued into fauor without Circumcision and other ceremonies of Moses Sing vnto God O yee kingdomes of the earth O sing prayses vnto the Lord. Which sitteth in the heauens ouer all from the beginning lo he doth send out his voice and that a mightie voyce Ascribe ye the power vnto God ouer Israell his worship and strength is in the cloudes The Epilogue or latter part of the Psalme is an exhortation for he exhorteth all degrées of men vnto Thankesgiuing As if he said séeing the benefits of this king are so great meet it is that hee bee honoured and magnified with all speech and writing O sing prayses vnto God that is acknowledge yee his wisedome righteousnesse and mercie It is Mercie that we are not consumed and brought into nothing nor cast away amongst the Diuels after our first fall It is Righteousnesse that there
for the politike power defendeth his subiects with weapons and punisheth disobedient persons with corporall force or with the sworde but Christ by the preaching of the Gospell giueth euerlasting benefits remission of sinnes the holie Ghost and life euerlasting and punisheth disobedient persons not with corporall force but with his worde namelie lawfull excommunication Fourthlie they differ in glorie for the glorie of gouernments is in the excellencie of counsell in ciuill or peaceable gouernment and in valiancie and good successe in warre but the proper glorie of the Church in this life is true knowledge of God prayer profession of the true doctrine and perpetuall preseruation of the Church although shee bee persecuted in some members The greatnes of minds in ouercomming or vanquishing all inticements and terrifying torments of the wicked the ornament of manie vertues wherein the presence of God is perceiued and seene Fiftlie the defences of a politike kingdome are hoasts of men and riches necessarie in charges of domesticall affaires to maintaine warres abroad but the Church is not defended with visible helpes but is gouerned by the sonne of God and hath the Angels her super intendents or watchmen Lastlie they differ in stabilitie for all politike gouernements haue their end and limit of time but of this kingdome there shall bee none end because the king in eternall and he giueth vnto his people eternall life which is here begun and shall be accomplished after the resurrection These things must bee often recited touching the difference betweene Christs kingdome and politike kingdomes not onelie to refuse the Iewes but euen to instruct vs also least the consolation inuocation vpon the Sonne of God and our exercises of faith be obscured or darkened with politike imaginations For the eyes being bent vpon politike benefits when they are once gon do think that the church is but a castaway from god This imagination must we refuse and stedfastlie beleeue that true beléeuers are not therfore cast away from the sonne of God no though they be in the middes of punishments or torments for as saint Paule saith We stand and reioyce vnder the hope of the glorie of God not onelie but also We reioyce in tribulations c. Rom. 5. verses 2. 3. They that dwell in the wildernes shall kneele before him his enemies shall licke the dust The kings of Tharshis and of the Isles shall bring presents the kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts All kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall do him seruice He amplifieth the maiestie of Christs kingdome the inhabitants of the wildernes saith he shall not onelie be petitioners vnto this king but euen they also which dwell in faire and sumptuous houses which are garnishcd with costly works and pictures and neither shall his friends but euen his enemies also humble themselues and fall down before this Lord. What shall I say of the kings which shall be nursing fathers of Christs kingdome for in all ages from the first beginning of mankind there haue béene are shalbe some magistrates chosen of God vnto euerlasting saluation and called vnto the societie of the true Church as Nebuchadnezar and Euilmerodach in the kingdome of Babylon Darius Medus Cyrus and Artaxerxes with the long hande so called in the kingdome of Persia and Constantine Valentinian Theodosius Charles the great and certeine other in the Empire of Rome For as in that saying 3. Mat. 5. ver All Iurie went out vnto Iohn Baptist is the figure Synecdoche i. part for the whole so in this verse All kings shall fall downe before him the vniuersall particle must be restrained For it both not signifie that all kings shal become the friends of Christ but some cut of all kingdomes Now sée I pray you howe great a glorie it may bee that not onlie obscure and base persons shall embrase the preaching of the Gospel but euen mightie kings and Monarches Also vnto those kings which are conuerted to Christ shall nothing be attributed more glorious then that they are reputed called citizens and members of the true Church of Christ For he shall deliuer the poore when he crieth the needy also and him that hath no helper He shal bee fauourable to the simple and needie and shall preserue the soules of the poore He shall deliuer their soules from falshood and wrong deare shall their bloud be in his sight This is a most swéet and delectable reason of the former next verses As if he said therefore shall they fall down and worship him because he helpeth them that call vpon him when they are forsaken of earthlie creatures This sentence is greatlie set forth in the example of our first parents Adam and Eua after their fall could neither be helped by Angels their own deuises nor yet by anie other creature Here commeth Christ the sonne of God from his secret seat receiueth offenders into fauour and giueth them life So afterwards followed innumerable eramples of this Lordes benefits besides and without second causes as when he preserued Noah in the deluge when he saued Ioseph whom his brethren would haue slain when he made an open waie for the people of Israell to passe through the red sea and afterwards performed manie benefits vnto them besides and without all second causes or meanes Like as he defended Dauid against Golias and others as he saued the 3. men in the burning ouen Daniell amongst the Lions and Ionas in the whales belly And al men which call vpon God may declare and speak of some deliuerances which they haue had when they haue béene manifestlie preserued besides and without second causes Furthermore whereas the church is for most part rent in péeces with discords of opinions and féeleth the crueltie of tyrants this psalme promiseth her deliuerance from the wicked craft of hereticks and violence of Nero Dioclesian and such like tyrants But truly when I thinke vpon this verse the fable of the Viper and the palme commeth into my minde For like as the viper is with the palme leaues nourished and with the same againe destroyed so Heretikes abusing the scripture are refuted by the testimonies of scripture rightly conferred as although Samosatenus corrupteth the first chapter of S. Iohns gospel yet in the course of the same sermon conference of other testimonies he may be euidently refuted or conuinced But as vnto Tyrants appertaineth this Psalme in this place doth notably comfort vs He shall deliuer their soules from falshoode and wrong c. That is he shall inflame their hearts with ioy and gladnes the vanquisher of death and shall giue them life euerlasting according to that saying Iohn 10. 28. I giue vnto them euerlasting life And their blood shall be precious because tyrants shall suffer great iust torments for their crueltie vsed against the godlie ones and partlie because by this testimonie of their death the truth of Christs doctrine is sealed and confirmed But inasmuch as
elsewhere I haue often spoken touching the punishments for tyrants and the sufferings of Martyrs nowe I willinglie omit the recitall of them in this place He shal liue and vnto him shall be giuen of the golde of Arabia prayers shall be euermade vnto him and daylie shall he be praised We do remember that D. Martin Luther oftentimes said In the olde Testament there is a notable witnes of the Godhead of the Sauiour promised which affirmeth that he was called vpon by this propertie the same sauiour is there discerned from other Prophets That most graue witnes was by some complained to be obscured weakned by translating the same inuocation vnto other men And for that one cause saide he the custome of praying vnto others was to bee disallowed But where the Prophet Dauid affirmeth here that this Sauiour shall liue c. Let that be vnderstoode in that meaning touching which Christ saith Iohn 14. 19. I liue and you shall liue That is like as I of mine owne power do liue séeing that I am consubstantiall with the father and second person in deitie so by my merit and through my effectuall working you shall liue also for I in dying haue destroied death and in rising againe haue restored life as in the old godly verse the Church so singeth Yea I will raise vp againe your bodies from death and these euen counited with your soules I will adorne with gifts agréeable vnto the state of life euerlasting There shall bee an heape of corne vpon the earth high vpon the hilles his fruit shall shake like Libanus and shal be greene in the citie like grasse vpon the earth He compareth the fruitfulnesse of the Church or kingdome of Christ vnto the most lightsom flourishing corne which is answerable to the husbandmans praier and expectation For as the thicke growing corne delighteth the beholders so there is no sight more pleasant then to see the flourishing Churches wherein vnto the puritie of doctrine preached the concorde of the teachers is adioined or annexed There is a great force in the Nowne Bar which signifieth most pure wheate as if hee should say In the Church of Christ shall not beare sway anie vaine chaffe of humne traditions which haue no iuice in them but wheat shall flourish which with the body of man hath great affinitie for euē as of liuely wheat the best blood is increased so the Gospel deliuered without corruption bringeth to the godly ones firme consolation His name shall endure for euer his name shall remaine vnder the Sun among the posterities which shal be blessed through him and all the heathen shall praise him This verse glistereth most clearelie like a notable precious stone throughout the whole Psalme for it teacheth the reader touching the divine nature and benefits of the sauior and touching the calling of the Gentils It cleerelie affirmeth that this lord hath alwaies bin as he himselfe saith Iohn 8. 5. 8. Before Abraham was I am And he vseth the word Linnon the generation of the son from the father eternall And therefore Micheas saith 1 Mic. 3. This our deliuerer went forth before the daies of the world That is hee was the sonne of God before he tooke vpon him nature of man Let vs beleeue therefore being confirmed with these like testimonies that the Sauiour is God indeed and by nature the son of God light of light as in the Creed it is said But although there be manie descriptions which teach why and for what cause the son was sent yet the effect of the matter is brieflie in the worde Blessed signified And for that by the wanting of any thing the same may bee better estéemed which we haue as by darknes light let vs see what the curse is All mankind after our first fall was ouerthrowne with the curse of the law that is of gods wrath of euerlasting death by reason of sin as Paule saith Ephes 2 ver 3. We were by nature the children of wrath euen as others were This curse when no creature could take away or blot out the sonne of God tooke vpon himselfe both the wrath of God and our punishments that his father might be at peace with vs. So Paule Gal. 3. 8. interpreteth the promise giuen to Abraham In thy seed shal al the Gentiles be blessed Christ became accursed for vs and redeemed vs from the curse that we might obtaine the blessing of Abraham Last of all let the particle be considered touching the calling of the Gentiles in this verse The posterities shall be blessed in him and all the heathen shall praise him For the calling of Gentiles is a notable testimonie of Paules affirmattion wherein it is saide Rō 5. 15. Grace oueraboundeth aboue sin for no man can without some humbling of his mind read the examples of mischief striuing with the first and second table wherein the Ethnickes wickedlie and filthily with great rashnes and impudencie are defiled Let vs therefore giue God thankes that hee receiueth such castawayes into sauour and coopteth them into the societie of Christs kingdome Blessed be the Lord God euen the God of Israel which onely doth wonderous things And blessed be the name of his maiestie for euer and al the earth shall be filled with his maiestie Amen Amen It liketh me well in this place to set downe the words of D. Luther expounding the 7. ca. of the prophet Mic Like as the deliuerance in the new testament is by many waies greater and more excellēt then that which was out of Egypt so are the new miracles by infinite meanes farre greater then the olde for what might be more wonderfully said then that son of God take upon him nature of man and was borne of a virgin What is more to be amazed at then when the son of god wrastling with death and Sathan suffered himselfe to be ouercome laieth downe his life before these enemies and while he is ouercome conquereth So a speciall miracle it is that Christ dying like a man vpon the crosse did the third day rise againe from death and out of the graue closed vp after this with immortall flesh ascended vnto heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God what may be like notablie said yea or thought of any other miracles in respect of these Therefore belssed be God who onelie doth these and other myracles So be it FINIS Here end the prayers of Dauid the sonne of Ishai Iohn 14. 6 Matth. 5. 13 14 Sopho. 1. 12 The glorious effectes of Christs resurrection The ioy of the faithfull in the triumph of Christ The Church is as a widow and orphane in the world yet comforted and defended by Christ The Lord is carefull for the deliuerāce of his seruants But altogether neglecteth the vngodly ones A sweet Allegorie of the preaching of the Gospel how it is cōpared vnto thunder and raine Christ the shepheard of our soules The publishing of the law and preaching of the Gospell The