they may also look upon themselves as a people created a-new to praise the Lord. 19. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary from heaven did the LORD behold the earth 19. Because in much mercy He hath been pleased to preserve a miserable Nation from utter destruction and though He be infinitely exalted above all our thoughts yet the Lord hath graciously condescended to mind the afflicted condition of this distressed Country 20. To hear the groaning of the prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death 20. And to be moved by our groans to deliver us out of a sad captivity and to revive us when we had reason to look upon our selves as dead and hopeless 21. To declare the name of the LORD in Sion and his praise in Jerusalem 21. That we might go and recount in his Temple the famous things which He hath done and make the holy City sound with the praises of his power goodness and truth which He hath declared in our restauration 22. When the people are gathered together and the kingdoms to serve the LORD 22. When all the people shall be gathered together there to worship the Divine Majesty and other Kingdoms join with us unanimously in his service 23. He weakened my strength in the way he shortned my days 23. I had hopes to have lived to see this blessed time and thought I had been in the way to it III. Ezra 8 c. But He hath stopt our vigorous beginnings IV. Ezra 4. and thereby so sorely afflicted me that I feel I am like to fall short of my expectations 24. I said O my God take me not away in the midst of my days thy years are throughout all generations 24. Though I prayed most earnestly to Him and said O my God who hast so graciously begun our deliverance take me not away before it be compleatly finished but let me see thy promise fulfilled which Thou who diest not as we do I am sure wilt not fail to make good 25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of thy hands 25. For it cannot be too hard for Thee to raise Sion out of her ruins who hast many ages ago created this goodly fabrick of heaven and earth by thy eternal Word I. Heb. 10. 26. They shall perish but thou shalt endure yea all of them shall wax old like a garment as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed 26. And Thou dost neither decay nor alter in process of time as thy creatures do some of which shall perish but Thou shalt eternally subsist and all of them shall grow old like our garments with long wearing even the heavens themselves which now enwrap the earth as our cloaths do our bodies shall be folded up I. Heb. 12. and laid aside like a tattered garment when Thou shalt command that alteration 27. But thou art the same and thy years shall have no end 27. But Thou and thy Word art still the very same and shalt always continue so without any the least variation 28. The children of thy servants shall continue and their seed shall be established before thee 28. Yet all that I conclude from hence is onely this that though I do not live to see our perfect restauration yet according to thy unalterable purpose the Temple and Jerusalem shall be rebuilt and the children of thy servants who now are in great distress be peaceably settled there yea their posterity after them remain unmovable in thy favour and enjoy the tokens of thy Divine presence among them PSALM CIII A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The Title tells us this Psalm is one of Davids and the third fourth and fifth Verses may satisfie us that he composed it after his recovery from a dangerous sickness to such a vigorous health as the Eagles have when they renew their plumes To that he alludes Ver. 5. as Euthymius and Saint Hierom understand it The latter of which says upon XL. Isaiah that he had often taught the Eagles do no otherway return to youthfulness when they are old but onely mutatione pennarum by change of their feathers I have expressed this a little more largely then ordinary in the Paraphrase as I have done in the rest of the Psalm to fit it the better to their use now that have escaped the like danger who should take occasion when they thank God for such a blessing to imitate David in making a thankfull commemoration of the rest of his mercies both to him and to others both in the present and in past ages And the more to excite devout souls to this and that I might make their thankfulness the more affectionate if they please to make use of this Hymn for that purpose I have oft repeated the beginning of the Psalm which I think refers to the whole and likewise put it into a little different form of a soul actually praising God without the least alteration of the sense 1. BLess the LORD O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name 1. BLessed for ever blessed be the Lord of life and health and all other blessings Blessed be his eternal power wisedom and goodness with my whole heart do I bless Him with my most ardent love and the devoutest affections of my soul 2. Bless the LORD O my soul and forget not all his benefits 2. Which shall be every day thus employed and praise his name with continual pleasure I will never forget how shouldst thou prove so ungratefull O my soul as not to acknowledge the inestimable benefits I have received from his bounty which are more then thought can number 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases 3. More particularly I render Thee O Lord my most hearty thanks for thy late mercies vouchsafed to me Blessed be thy mercifull kindness that after a short correction for my faults Thou hast graciously pardoned them and healed all the sores and grievous wounds which they had made 4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies 4. Blessed be God who hath saved me from death and not onely spared my life but surrounded it most graciously with I know not how many benefits which make it exceeding delightfull to me I owe my friends lovers and acquaintance my carefull attendants my warm and quiet habitation the plentifull estate Thou hast given me the liberal provision Thou makest for me with all the rest of thy mercies to the bowels of thy tender compassions towards me 5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles 5. Blessed be thy almighty Goodness that my mouth which lately disgusted all things or was restrained from what is desired or was prescribed that which was disgustfull to it can now relish its food again and is satisfied with many good things I can never sufficiently bless thy Goodness who by this
our brethren that still remain in Babylon which would be as welcome to this desolate Country as streams of water to the dry and thirsty grounds 5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy 5. Then this small handfull of people who are come to plant themselves here again and have laid the foundation of the Temple with a great mixture of sadness and tears III. Ezra 12. shall shout for joy to see so great an increase and this pious work by their help brought unto perfection 6. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoycing bringing his sheaves with him 6. Just as we behold the poor husbandman going to and fro with a little seed which in a scarce year he throws with an heavy heart into the ground returning again and again from the field with songs of joy in his mouth when the harvest comes to reward his past labours with a plentifull crop of corn PSALM CXXVII A Song of degrees for Solomon See CXX ARGUMENT The Hebrew particle which here we translate for is thought by our Interpreters in most other places to signifie of and so they translate it a little before in the Title of Psal CXXIV and a little after in that of CXXXI Therefore I shall look upon this Psalm as composed by Solomon who you reade 1 King IV. 32. made above three thousand Songs though none of them except that large Poem called the Song of Songs and as some think Psal CXXXII and as I suppose the next to this have been transmitted to posterity but onely this which is a commentary upon a pious Maxime of his often repeated in the Book of his Proverbs that it is in vain to attempt any thing if the Lord do not prosper it Teaching us therefore in all our ways to acknowledge Him III. Prov. 6. XVI 3. and not to presume that it is in our power to direct our own way that is our designs enterprises and actions to what issue we please For Though a man's heart deviseth his way yet it is the Lord that directeth his steps XVI Prov. 9. XX. 24. XXI 30 31. A truth to be deeply pondered by all especially by Princes in whose affairs this over-ruling Providence is most visible Of A Song of degrees see CXX 1. EXcept the LORD build the house they labour in vain that build it except the LORD keep the city the watchman waketh but in vain 1. THE success of all our undertakings depends so intirely upon the Lord's blessing that it is in vain by building Houses and Cities to enter into Societies unless He prosper the design and when they are framed all the care of the Souldier and the Magistrate is to no purpose unless his good Providence be their guard 2. It is vain for you to rise up early to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrows for so he giveth his beloved sleep 2. And as fruitless unless He favour it is the toil and solicitude of you the Artificers and Tradesmen in the City who rise betime and go to bed late and fare hardly when they whom He loves because they own his Providence and depend upon his Blessing more then their own diligence live securely and want nothing that is fit for them though they have no such strong guard of Souldiers to defend them nor break their sleep with labour and care to supply their necessities 3. Lo children are an heritage of the LORD and the fruit of the womb is his reward 3. Observe it also it is not in the power of the strongest and most healthfull persons though nature designs above all things the propagation of mankind to have Children when they please to inherit the riches they have got but the Lord bestows them as freely as Parents do their estates and makes those women fruitfull whose pious reliance upon Him He thinks good to reward 4. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man so are children of the youth 4. And yet there is nothing of which we are more desirous then a numerous issue especially in the flower and vigour of our youth for they will be no less defence to us in our age then arrows or darts are in the hand of a valiant Champion to beat off his Assailants 5. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them they shall not be ashamed but they shall speake with the enemies in the gate 5. Happy is that man who hath obtained so much favour of the Lord as to have his house as full of them as the Champions quiver is of arrows they will undauntedly appear for him to answer any challenge sent him by his Enemies * See Theodoret. or any accusation put in against him before the Judges PSALM CXXVIII A Song of degrees ARGUMENT It is not unlikely that this Psalm was composed by the same Authour that made the former to excite men to be truly Religious as the onely way to obtain the blessings there mentioned of the Lord. Which as he there shews we must have from his free gift and not think to acquire merely by our own industry so here he shews the Lord is wont to bestow on those who fearing to offend Him sincerely keep his Commandments Some think this was a form prescribed to be used at the blessing of their Marriages when they wished the new married couple all manner of happiness especially a long life in peaceable times Vers 5 6. Of A Song of degrees see CXX 1. BLessed is every one that feareth the LORD that walketh in his ways 1. WHosoever thou art that desirest to be happy be sure to add unto the devout Worship of the Lord the practice of Justice and Charity and all other Vertues and thou shalt never miss of it 2. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee 2. For then He will prosper thy honest labours and give thee an heart also to enjoy the fruit of them yea this will seem no small part of thy happiness that thou art able to live of thy self and not be beholden unto others 3. Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull vine by the sides of thine house thy children like olive plants round about thy Table 3. He will bless thee also in thy Wife and make her as fruitfull as the Vine which spreads it self laden with full clusters over all the sides of thy House and in thy hopefull Children too who shall grow up and flourish like the young Olive plants that are set in thy Arbour round about thy Table 4. Behold that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD 4. Observe it that this shall be the comfortable portion of the Man that religiously serveth the Lord who alone can bless our labours and continue the product of them in our Families 5. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life 5.
patiently that it may not exasperate his spirit to speak irreverently of Saul much less to doe him any mischief but leave it unto God to take his enemies in the snare they had laid for him No body need wonder that there are so many prayers found upon the same Subject for that persecution endured long and they were made upon different occasions or to different purposes and if they had been all to the same purpose it would not have been strange to him that considers the pious disposition of David who loved to spend his time in such devout Meditations And this seems to have been composed about the time of the offering of the evening Sacrifice Ver. 2 when his afflictions also pressed him sorely that they tempted him to speak some thing which was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Theodoret's phrase is unbecoming God's Anointed Saul and the profession he made of duty to him 1. LORD I cry unto thee make haste unto me give ear unto my voice when I cry unto thee 1. THE danger wherein I am O Lord is exceeding great 1 Sam. XXIII 25. or XXIV 1 2. which makes me double my cries and beseech Thee the more importunately speedily to succour me when my distresses call for it with seasonable relief 2. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice 2. Though I am now in a Wilderness and thereby disabled from offering Thee any other Sacrifice but my Prayers yet they shall be as acceptable to Thee as if they were accompanied with the sweetest Odours and my fervent devotion in them with intire dependance on Thee alone for help be as prevalent as if I could now present Thee at the Tabernacle with an evening Oblation 3. Set a watch O LORD before my mouth keep the door of my lips 3. And in the first place I humbly desire Thee O Lord to lay such restraints upon my tongue and to enable me so vigilantly to observe all the motions of it that none of the troubles I endure though never so grievous may make me burst out into any intemperate speeches which may give a just offence unto them that persecute me 4. Incline not my heart to any evil thing to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity and let me not eat of their dainties 4. Yea govern all the motions of my will so steadily that I may not listen to evil counsels 1 Sam. XXIV 4 6 7. much less ingage with men who have no regard to right and justice in any evil practices but alway refuse to partake in their designs though invited with the specious promises of the greatest felicity 5. Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness and let him reprove me it shall be an excellent oyl which shall not break my head for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities 5. I had rather much that a righteous man should give me a severe rebuke then be inticed by evil doers to accompany them in their sins For it will do me a real kindness and be so far from giving me any vexation that it will be as acceptable to me as the most excellent ointments are unto the head and onely make me continue my prayers with the greater earnestness that I may not run into those mischievous courses from which I am deterred by their pious reproofs and admonitions 6. When their judges are overthrown in stony places they shall hear my words for they are sweet 6. The effect of which their greatest Rulers have seen when being left by their Master on the sides of the Rock 1 Sam. XXIV 2 3. while he went into a hole of it to uncover his feet they heard that I spake not a reviling word much less did I stretch out my hand against him but in the mildest and most dutifull language addressed my self unto him 1 Sam. XXIV 8 9 c. 7. Our bones are scattered at the graves mouth as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth 7. And yet this gentleness hath been so far from mollifying their hearts that they still persecute me and the small body of men that follow me 1 Sam. XXVI 2. XXVII 1. whom they have reduced to such extremities that like the earth when it is ploughed up we break in pieces and are ready to disperse and flee for our lives with little hope of safety 8. But mine eyes are unto thee O GOD the Lord in thee is my trust leave not my soul destitute 8. But in this sore distress I fix my thoughts on Thee O mighty Lord the Governour of all things in whom I repose an assured confidence that Thou wilt not abandon me to the malice of those that seek to take away my life from me 9. Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me and the grins of the workers of iniquities 9. Preserve me I beseech Thee from all the subtle plots which they have laid to destroy me and though they stick at nothing though never so unjust and have various arts to blind the world and hide their perfidious designs suffer me not to be insnared by them 10. Let the wicked fall into their own nets whilst that I withall escape 10. But let all the contrivances of such wicked men prove pernicious to themselves and bring upon them the evils which they intended me whilst I and they that are with me by thy care of us escape untouched by any of them PSALM CXLII Maschil of David A Prayer when he was in the Cave ARGUMENT When David hid himself for fear of Saul in the Cave of Adullam 1 Sam. XXII 1. or as others think more probably in the Cave of Engaddi 1 Sam. XXIV 1 2 3. this was the meditation he had in that disconsolate place before Saul came thither to uncover his feet in it Which was set afterward to the tune of Maschil See Psal XXXII or called by that name because it admirably instructs Posterity in the most forlorn nay desperate condition to recommend themselves to God and to depend on Him with a resolved Faith Who by an unexpected means granted the desire of David which he makes in the conclusion of this Psalm vers 7. and brought him out of those straits wherein he was imprisoned I say resolved Faith because in the Hebrew the words of the first and second verses run thus I will cry unto the Lord I will make my supplication I will pour out my complaint before Him c. 1. I Cried unto the LORD with my voice with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication 1. THough I am destitute of humane help I will not despair of safety but with the more fervent cryes implore the divine Succour and with vehement sighs and groans deprecate the Lords displeasure 2. I poured out my complaint before him I shewed before him my trouble 2. I will lay before Him at large all the sad thoughts which perplex my
Thee and do not reject my petition accompanied with sad moans and dolefull lamentations but vouchsafe a favourable answer to it 3. For my soul is full of troubles and my life draweth nigh unto the grave 3. For my Soul is overcharged with great variety of long continued evils which have brought me so low that there is but a step between me and the grave 4. I am counted with them that go down into the pit I am as a man that hath no strength 4. All that know my condition look upon me as utterly lost and I have no reason to think otherwise being quite spent and having no power at all to help my self 5. Free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave whom thou remembrest no more and they are cut off from thy hand 5. I am no longer one of this world from whose society I am quite separated there is little difference between me and those who being slain in a Battel and cast all together into one common grave are no further regarded or those whose families are so wholly exstirpated that there are none left to preserve their memory 6. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit in darkness in the deeps 6. For Thou hast thrust me down into a deep and dismal Dungeon which I can compare to nothing but a Grave wherein I lie neglected and see no hope of being delivered 7. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves Selah 7. My spirit is ready to sink under the weight of thy displeasure while my calamities fall upon me so fast and so heavily like the mountainous waves of the Sea one after another that it is impossible to express the soreness of my affliction 8. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me thou hast made me an abomination unto them I am shut up and I cannot come forth 8. I am not allowed to have any familiarity with my friends or acquaintance no more then if I were in another world And as for other men they abominate to come into such a loathsome place where I am kept so close that I have no means of getting out 9. Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction LORD I have called daily upon thee I have stretched out my hands unto thee 9. Nor can I doe any thing there but weep till I am almost blind by reason of the miseries I endure onely I cease not to look up unto Thee O Lord continually who art my onely companion in this solitary and helpless condition imploring thy aid with fervent prayers and longing expectations saying 10. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead shall the dead arise and praise thee Selah 10. Make haste good Lord to deliver me if Thou intendest any kindness to me otherwise I shall presently perish and then without the greatest Miracle there is no help for me For can I with any reason expect that Thou shouldest doe wonders for me among the dead when Thou wouldest doe nothing for me while I was alive and raise me out of my grave when Thou wouldest not bring me out of prison 11. Shall thy loving-kindness be declared in the grave or thy faithfulness in destruction 11. Now is the time to declare the love Thou bearest to me and to perform the promise Thou hast made to them that faithfully serve Thee For if Thou dost defer thy relief I die and what can I hope for when I am rotten in my grave 12. Shall thy wonders be known in the dark and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness 12. Shall thy power be apparent there where nothing is seen And wilt Thou convince men how good and how just Thou art to thy servants in the place where they are no more remembred 13. But unto thee have I cried O LORD and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee 13. Thus O Lord I cry unto Thee in the anguish of my soul which keeps me awake to present my prayers unto Thee before the morning light 14. LORD why castest thou off my soul why hidest thou thy face from me 14. Though alas they have no effect but I see my self deserted notwithstanding all my prayers in these miserable straits wherein I lie sighing to think what the reason should be that Thou deniest me thy help and takest no notice of me 15. I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up while I suffer thy terrours I am distracted 15. Which is the more strange because I faint away under my misery which hath continued many years and under the sad prospect I have before me of more dreadfull calamities which so astonish me that I know not what to doe with my self 16. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrours have cut me off 16. I onely bemoan over again my forlorn estate which grows still more deplorable I suffer not merely the effects of thy anger Ver. 7. but of thy severest and most terrible displeasure wherewith I am so overwhelmed and oppressed that I am scarce able to fetch my breath 17. They came round about me daily like water they compassed me about together 17. Which way soever I turn my self I find that I am inviron'd with them and they increase continually like flouds of water coming from several places and at last meeting all together to inclose and swallow me up 18. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me and mine acquaintance into darkness 18. And there is no Friend no Neighbour comes near me to give me the least consolation But all they whose sweet society was wont to help to mitigate my sorrow are either dead or kept from my sight or hide themselves for fear of being thrust down together with me into this dolefull place PSALM LXXXIX Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite ARGUMENT The Authour of this Psalm was near of kin to him that made the former see the Argument there and they lived I suppose in the same time Onely Heman bewailed some private affliction which was befallen himself whereas Ethan after a thankfull acknowledgment of the benefits God had bestowed upon them and especially of his promise made to David by Samuel and Nathan of settling the Kingdom upon him and his posterity for ever laments most sadly the publick calamity by the subversion of the Royal Family and Government in the days of Jehojachin or of Zedekiah Whose miserable fate seems in the conclusion of this Psalm to be bewailed with the greater passion because it looked like a breach of God's promise to David and gave the Babylonians and other Nations who assisted in their destruction occasion to say that notwithstanding all the promises they boasted of and the fidelity of their God in the performance there was now a period put to David's Family and Kingdom That 's the clearest account I can give of the meaning of the last clause of the last verse but one where we reade that they reproached the foot-steps of his Anointed The word we render
means dost restore my strength and makest my youth and freshness return like the Eagles O that I may with fresh delight and joy be still praising Thee and be lifted up to heaven as they are when they have renewed their plumes in more vigorous love and affectionate desires and indeavours to imploy all my renewed strength in thy faithfull service 6. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed 6. Nor am I alone obliged to my gracious Lord for his singular favour to me but blessed be his name He relieves all those who suffer wrong and doth justice upon their oppressours who are too mighty for them 7. He made known his ways unto Moses his acts unto the children of Israel 7. Moses and the rest of our Forefathers are witnesses of this whom the Lord delivered in a stupendious manner out of the house of bondage 8. The LORD is mercifull and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy 8. And by other methods of his Providence towards them and dealings with them declared how bountifull his blessed nature is and how ready to forgive forbearing long when men deserve to be punished and soon releasing them from their pain when they heartily repent of their folly 9. He will not always chide neither will he keep his anger for ever 9. He doth not love blessed be his Name to be always chastising us for our faults And when He doth chastise us He neither loves to prolong our miseries nor to inflict them proportionable to our deserts 10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities 10. No Blessed be his holy Name there is mercy even in our punishments our sufferings are never so great as our sins but we might justly suffer a great deal more then we do for our faults 11. For as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him 11. And were we never so obedient there is not a greater disproportion between the vast circumference of the heavens and this little spot of earth then there is between his mercies towards us and our small services 12. As far as the east is from the west so far hath he removed our transgressions from us 12. To those mercies alone it is to be ascribed that we are not bemoaning our selves under innumerable miseries but He hath quite taken away his wrath from us and adored be his goodness perfectly remitted the punishment due to our manifold offences 13. Like as a father pitieth his children so the LORD pitieth them that fear him 13. O what bowels of mercy are these No father can be more indulgent and tender-hearted to his returning children then the Lord blessed be his Name is to those who so reform by his chastisements as to fear hereafter to offend Him 14. For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are dust 14. He easily relents and takes compassion on them considering how frail he hath made them and how soon of themselves they will moulder into the dust out of which He took them 15. As for man his days are as grass as a flower of the field so he flourisheth 15. For what is man that the Almighty should contend with him He looks fresh and fair but alas is as feeble as the grass and as a flower in the field whose beauty is far greater then its strength 16. For the wind passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more 16. Many accidents snatch him away even in his prime Just as the biting wind to which the field flowers are exposed blasts them on a sudden and they spring up no more in the place that was adorned with them 17. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him and his righteousness unto childrens children 17. O how much doth this magnifie the wonderfull mercy of our God! who designs to be everlastingly kind blessed be his Goodness to such short-liv'd creatures as we are rewarding the faithfull services of a few years with eternal life to our selves and with many blessings to our posterity in future generations 18. To such as keep his covenant and to those that remember his commandments to doe them 18. There is no doubt of this which hath been verified in those who have sincerely kept their faith with Him and not onely promised but constantly performed the obedience they owed Him 19. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his kingdom ruleth over all 19. For none can hinder Thee O most mighty Lord from being as kind as Thou pleasest who art the universal Monarch the blessed and onely Potentate to whom not onely the greatest men on earth but the highest powers in heaven are subject 20. Bless the LORD ye his angels that excell in strength that doe his commandments hearkening unto the voice of his word 20. Let the Angels therefore who know his greatness power and gracious Providence better then I bless his holy Name Let those mighty ones whose strength surpasses all the powers on earth and yet never dispute his sacred commands give praise unto Him with all their might and with the same chearfulness wherewith they obey his word 21. Bless ye the LORD all ye his hosts ye ministers of his that doe his pleasure 21. Let the whole company of heaven all the several hosts of those glorious creatures who have been imployed by His Majesty so many ways for our good and understand how much we are beholden to his love speak good of his Name and bless his Mercy both to themselves and unto us 22. Bless the LORD all his works in all places of his dominion bless the LORD O my soul 22. Yea let every creature throughout the wide world proclaim as well as it is able the loving kindness of the Lord let none of them be silent but all with one consent bless his holy Name And thou O my soul be sure thou never forget to make one O fail not to bear thy part in this joyfull quire that daily sing his praise PSALM CIV ARGUMENT The foregoing and the following Psalm being certainly composed by David the Greeks and from them several other ancient interpreters have ascribed this also to the same Authour For which they had this further reason that it begins as Aben Ezra observes just as the foregoing Psalm ends and celebrates the mighty power and goodness of God in the fabrick of the world as the CIII doth his benefits to himself and to the rest of the children of men As for the occasion of it we may look upon it as a probable opinion that when David thought of building a House for the Divine Service and God sent Nathan to forbid him 2 Sam. VII 5. he fell not long after into the contemplation of the Majesty of God who having built this great world as his Temple needed none of his erecting though He
that fear thee will be glad when they see me because I have hoped in thy word 74. It will be a very great comfort and incouragement to all good men when they see me delivered out of all these troubles For thereby they will be confirmed in their belief of thy faithfulness to thy promises on which it will appear I have not vainly depended though I stay long for the performance 75. I know O LORD that thy judgements are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me 75. And I am satisfied O Lord that while Thou makest me wait for the performance Thou doest nothing contrary to thy justice or to thy fidelity but that all these cross dispensations of thy Providence in the heavy afflictions which have befaln me are perfectly righteous and will onely make thy truth and faithfulness at last the more illustrious 76. Let I pray thee thy mercifull kindness be for my comfort according to thy word unto thy servant 76. O hasten that happy time when I shall see thy loving kindness turning this disconsolate into a more comfortable condition according to the promises which Thou hast made unto thy servant 1 Sam. XVI 12 13. 77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live for thy law is my delight 77. Let me feel the speedy effects of thy compassionate mercy rescuing me from those that seek my life and raising me out of this forlorn estate 1 Sam. XXIV 14. For howsoever I am represented my highest satisfaction is in obedience to thy Law 78. Let the proud be ashamed for they dealt perversly with me without a cause but I will meditate in thy precepts 78. Confound all those proud contemners of it who making no conscience of what they say have oppressed and overthrown me with lies and calumnies as if I studied to disturb the Kingdom when my onely study is to observe thy Precepts 79. Let those that fear thee turn unto me and those that have known thy testimonies 79. Let all pious men who have a due regard to thy testimonies be convinced of this and be no longer abused by these slanders but turn to my side and become my Friends 80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be not ashamed 80. And in order to it preserve me so blameless before Thee in such integrity of heart as well as life that I may not be ashamed of the hope I have that Thou and all good men will take my part CAPH XI 81. My soul fainteth for thy salvation but I hope in thy word 81. For which blessing I have now attended so many years that I am ready sometime to faint away with vehement desire to see thy long expected promise fulfilled of deliverance from all my enemies 82. Mine eyes fail for thy word saying When wilt thou comfort me 82. That joyfull sight I have looked for till I am in danger to be weary with expectation saying When will the time come of my deliverance from this disconsolate condition 83. For I am become like a bottle in the smoke yet do I not forget thy statutes 83. I hope it will not be long delayed for I am worn away and my skin like an empty leathern bag that hath hung a great while in the smoke is shrivelled up with toil and grief and yet I have never taken any unlawfull course to rid my self of all this misery 84. How many are the days of thy servant when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me 84. I leave that to Thee O Lord beseeching Thee to consider how my days spend apace in trouble and sorrow which force me to sigh and say How long must thy poor servant still lie in this calamitous condition O when wilt Thou doe me right against my persecutours 85. The proud have digged pits for me which are not after thy law 85. Who proudly contrive by all manner of frauds and treachery to take away my life directly contrary to thy Law to which they are as injurious as unto me 86. All thy commandments are faithfull they persecute me wrongfully help thou me 86. For all thy Commandments teach us to be just and true being as faithfull as those men are false and perfidious therefore make good thy promises to me and deliver me from those who persecute me with lies and forgeries 87. They had almost consumed me upon earth but I forsook not thy precepts 87. Which they have imployed so successfully that I escaped very hardly with my life when I was in the Land of Judah 1 Sam. XXIII 26. and yet for all this I stuck to thy Precepts and would not take away the life of him that sought mine when I could have easily done it 1 Sam. XXIV 6 7. 88. Quicken me after thy loving kindness so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth 88. Deal as kindly with me O Lord and not onely spare my life but raise me out of this forlorn estate wherein I lie like a man that is dead 1 Sam. XXIV 14. and I will indeavour the more carefully to observe the Testimonies which Thou hast solemnly Verse 72. given us in charge LAMED XII 89. For ever O LORD thy word is settled in heaven 89. Thou art eternal O Lord and changest not and thy promises are like thy self fixed and settled in the heavens which are a lively emblem of their constancy and unvariable truth 90. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations thou hast established the earth and it abideth 90. One generation goes and another comes but thy fidelity is still the same to all and alters no more then the earth which Thou hast firmly and immoveably established while all those creatures that live upon it pass away and perish 91. They continue this day according to thine ordinances for all are thy servants 91. All things remain to this day in the order at first appointed and never vary from the Laws which Thou hast set them for they are intirely subject to thy will and pleasure 92. Vnless thy law had been my delights I should then have perished in mine affliction 92. Which was a most comfortable Meditation in my afflicted condition when my heart would have failed me and I should have been undone if thy Laws which stand as fast as heaven and earth had not given me constant consolation 93. I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickened me 93. I will never therefore be guilty of neglecting thy Precepts which have revived me by the faithfull promises Thou hast annexed to the observance of them when I looked upon my self as a dead man that could not escape the hands of those that sought to destroy me 94. I am thine save me for I have sought thy precepts 94. And be Thou pleased still to deliver me from falling into their hands For though they have driven me from thy inheritance 1 Sam. XXVI 19. I still continue thine and serve no other God but have diligently inquired in my
a refreshing showre 7. Hear me speedily O LORD my spirit faileth hide not thy face from me lest I be like unto them that goe down into the pit 7. Do not delay it O Lord I most earnestly beseech Thee for I am not able to hold out much longer in this great extremity deny not my humble request lest I be utterly lost as I am in danger without all hope of recovery 2 Sam. XVII 16. 8. Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning for in thee do I trust cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee 8. Though this night be very sad yet let me hear according to the confidence I repose in thy mercy better news and see my Affairs in a more comfortable posture in the morning 2 Sam. XVII 22 23. shew me which way I shall direct my course and provide for my safety v. 24 27. for I depend intirely upon Thee 9. Deliver me O LORD from mine enemies I flee unto thee to hide me 9. Let me not fall into the hand of my Enemies from whom I am now flying but know not whither to go but onely to Thee for shelter and protection 10. Teach me to doe thy will for thou art my God thy Spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightness 10. Whose guidance I beseech as well as defence that I may doe nothing no not for my preservation but what is perfectly agreeable to thy Laws for thy favour is my security which I know is not otherways to be obtained and therefore I desire the conduct of thy good Spirit which is ready to assist those that seek it as well to lead me in the plain path of justice and piety as to suggest to me the way and means of escaping the snares of my Enemies and of coming into an honest Country where I may be free from the fear of being betrayed to them 11. Quicken me O LORD for thy Names sake for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble 11. I have nothing to move Thee to it but onely the honour it will be unto thy Majesty in respect to which I hope O Lord Thou wilt preserve me from perishing and restore me again to my Kingdome For though my straits are so great that my life is in extream danger yet nothing can hinder the performance of thy just and faithfull promise to me 12. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies and destroy all them that afflict my soul for I am thy servant 12. Thy mercy also surpasses all the malice of my Enemies whom I trust Thou wilt cut off and destroy rather then let me continue in these hazzards for I am thy Minister and though never so unworthy am appointed by Thee to govern thy people in which office I will doe Thee all faithfull service PSALM CXLIV A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The Inscription will not let us doubt that David was the Authour of this Psalm but that it was a Triumph after his victory over Goliath as the vulgar Latine hath it is asserted without ground For though some Greek Copies have such an addition to the Inscription yet Theodoret says that as he could find it in the Hebrew so it was not to be met withall in any other Interpreters no not in the LXX in the Hexaplus And it plainly appears by the second Verse that it was composed after he came to the Kingdome and not then till he had got some victories over those that opposed him Nay there are so many expressions here like to those we meet withall in the XVIII Psalm that it hath inclined some to think it was made at the same time and for the same purpose with that of which it looks like a compendium and might be intended for a short form of thanksgiving for his deliverance from all his Enemies But if the expressions be carefully examined their opinion will appear to be truer who think it was composed not after God had given him rest from all his Enemies but after those two victories over the Philistines mentioned 2 Sam. V. if not before them For as he still mentions more opposers who were unsubdued v. 7 11 so he doth not say as in the XVIII Psalm that God had cast forth lightnings and shot his arrows against them c. but desires Him here v. 5 6. that He would appear in that manner for him acknowledging that not onely his Kingdome but his Courage his Victories and Successes were all to be ascribed unto God 1. BLessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight 1. PRaised be the Lord by me and by all men else by whom I have been kept in safety as in an impregnable fortress and who hath given me both strength and skill to handle my Arms whensoever I ingaged either in single combate or in battles 2. My goodness and my fortress my high tower and my deliverer my shield and he in whom I trust who subdueth my under me 2. I ever found Him very mercifull unto me when I was in any danger for He still preserved me as in a strong hold nay set me out of the reach of the most potent Enemies either making a way for my escape when they surrounded me or protecting me in their most furious assaults upon me and as I reposed a constant trust in Him so He hath never failed my expectation but after long contests made all Israel submit themselves unto my Empire 2 Sam. V. 1 c. 3. LORD what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the son of man that thou makest account of him 3. I am astonished O Lord at this thy wonderfull Goodness and know not what to say but onely admire that Thou shouldst take such care of so poor a thing as man is at the best especially of me a miserable wretch whom Thou hast honoured with most glorious Successes 4. Man is like to vanity his days are as a shadow that passeth away 4. Man alas is but a breath which presently vanishes what a marvel is it then that I should have strength to atchieve such things his life is exceeding short and uncertain and yet such is thy stupendious Goodness I am not onely alive notwithstanding all the hazzards through which I have run but in a little time have performed such memorable acts that the same of them will last for ever 5. Bow they heavens O LORD and come down touch the mountains and they shall smoke 5. Proceed O Lord to perfect my conquest and now that new Enemies are combined against me 2 Sam. VIII let thy Majesty appear as it hath done formerly see Psal XVIII 9. for my assistance and defence and as soon as the proudest opposers feel that Thou art present they will vanish away like smoak 6. Cast forth lightning and scatter them shoot out thine arrows and destroy them 6. Let them be dispersed by flashes of Lightning in their
Address thy self unto Him in his holy place and the Lord shall bestow on thee whatsoever blessings thou askest of Him yea maist thou be so happy as to see Jerusalem the Seat of Justice and Religion in a flourishing condition all thy life long 6. Yea thou shalt see thy childrens children and peace upon Israel 6. And long maist thou live to such a good old age as to see thy Childrens Children and the whole Nation all the time in a prosperous tranquillity PSALM CXXIX A Song of degrees See CXX ARGUMENT This Psalm was made when some new Calamity threatned them either by Senacherib or as Theodoret thinks by those Nations which combined to destroy the Jews as soon as they returned from the Captivity of Babylon When they were taught by Ezra or some such holy man to recount what God had done for them ever since they were a people and to denounce the divine Vengeance against those that now sought their ruine The former conjecture seems the truer because as yet he saith vers 2. their Enemies had not prevailed against them unless we expound that phrase as I have done in the Paraphrase according to the received interpretation of the Psalm that they had not quite destroyed them and made them cease to be a Nation 1. MAny a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say 1. OUR Adversaries may Israel now upon this occasion say have very often and very sorely distressed us ever since we began to be a People 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me 2. It is hard to number how oft or to tell into how great straits they have reduced us ever since we began to be a Nation and yet by the special favour of God they have not been able to compass their desire of our utter extirpation 3. The plowers plowed upon my back they made long their furrows 3. They have laid us sometimes exceeding low and not onely scourged us so severely that the marks of it might be seen as plainly as the furrows are which the Plough makes in the ground but long continued also our vexation and torment 4. The LORD is righteous he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked 4. But the Lord at last in much mercy hath made good his faithfull Promises and broken in pieces the power of wicked Oppressours that they might not always hold us under their yoke and thus miserably tyrannize over us 5. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion 5. And may all those that still hate us and our Religion never have better success but be shamefully defeated and forced to desist in all their attempts upon us 6. Let them be as the grass upon the house tops which withereth afore it groweth up 6. Let none of their designs ever come to maturity but be blasted like the grass upon the house-top which having no root withers of it self and needs no bodies hand to pluck it up 7. Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosome 7. And as it lies unregarded by those that reap or that carry in the fruits of the Earth so let these men and all their enterprises become contemptible and be looked upon as good for nothing 8. Neither do they which goe by say The blessing of the LORD be upon you we bless you in the Name of the LORD 8. Let all their hopes so speedily vanish that there be none to favour them nor so much as to wish prosperity to them No more then there are gathethers of such withered grass appear to whom the Passingers after the usual form II. Ruth 4. should say The Lord give you a good harvest We pray God you may reape the fruit of your labours PSALM CXXX A Song of degrees See CXX ARGUMENT Some think David made this Prayer after he had plunged himself into a very deep guilt by his sin with Bathsheba I rather think when he was persecuted by Saul and reduced to so low a condition that his heart began to sink within him For the flouds of ungodly men as he speaks XVIII Psal 4. made him afraid that he should one day perish in them 1 Sam. XXIX 1. and he complains elsewhere that he sunk in the mire where there was no standing c. LXIX Psal 2 14 15. In this condition he implores the divine Mercy with great earnestness and beseeches him to pardon his sins and the sins of all the people which made them deserve that ill government under Saul and his Flatterers It is the last but one of the VII penitential Psalms 1. OVT of the depths have I cried unto thee O LORD 1. IN the greatest straits when I can see no bottom no end of my troubles but I still sink lower and lower into them I never despair of thy mercy O Lord but cry unto Thee most earnestly to deliver me 2. LORD here my voice let thiâ—… ears be attâ—… to the voice of my supplications 2. Vouchsafe good Lord the Governour of all things to grant my Petition Do not reject it I humbly beseech Thee but give me a favourable answer when I deprecate thy displeasure 3. If thou LORD shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand 3. I do not plead any merits of mine but rather accuse my self before Thee knowing that if I were the most innocent person in the world yet if Thou Lord shouldest strictly examine my life and proceed against me according to my deserts Lord what would become of me I should certainly be condemned 4. But there is forgiveness with thee that thou maist be feared 4. But Thou most graciously invitest us unto thy service by thy readiness to pardon all those that are truly penitent without the hope of which we could not so much as think of becoming religious 5. I wait for the LORD my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope 5. This incourages me to wait and expect when the Lord will deliver me my Soul is earnestly bent to expect this happy time which I believe will come because I have his Promise for it on which I depend 6. My soul waiteth for the Lord more then they that watch for the morning I say more then they that watch for the morning 6. I direct my thoughts to the Lord alone for safety and relief which I implore incessantly with my early Prayers For they that watch in the Temple for the break of day I say the Priests that watch in the Temple for the break of day are not more forward then I to offer up their morning Sacrifice to the Lord. 7. Let Israel hope in the LORD for with the LORD there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption 7. In whom let all his People place their trust and confidence for the Lord is very ready to doe good and hath more ways then we can imagine to rescue those that hope in Him out of the