LXXXVI A Prayer of David ARGUMENT The Title satisfies us that David was the Authour of this Psalm which the Collectour of this third Book found I suppose after the other two were made up and published and so placed it here among those which belong to the same subject For though it was composed by David when he was so persecuted either by Saul or Absalom that he was stript of all he had and left in a most forlorn condition Ver. 1. yet Theodoret thinks it was made with a prospect of the attempt which the Assyrians made upon Jerusalem and the hope which Hezekiah then placed in God for deliverance Which Notion it is likely he had from the Jews who say that this Prayer was made use of by Hezekiah in the time of that sore distress for the first words of this Psalm are the same with his in 2 King XIX 16. and the eighth and ninth Verses may very fitly be accommodated to that History as I have there observed but the rest a great deal better to David 1. BOW down thine ear O LORD hear me for I am poor and needy 1. THere cannot be a fitter object of thy Mercy O Lord then thy poor Supplicant who beseeches Thee graciously to condescend to his request for else he is utterly undone being quite destitute of all humane help 2. Preserve my soul for I am holy O thou my God save thy servant that trusteth in thee 2. And yet my life is in imminent danger unless Thou dost preserve it as many reasons make me hope Thou wilt for as Thou the righteous Judge hast been long my benefactour and I am perfectly innocent of that my enemies charge me withal so I my self have been a reliever of others in their need and besides am a faithfull servant of thine who depends intirely upon Thee and hath no confidence in any thing but onely thy Almighty Goodness 3. Be mercifull unto me O Lord for I cry unto thee daily 3. Whose mercifull help I have also implored with most importunate and incessant prayers which is another reason of my hope that Thou wilt take compassion upon me O Lord 4. Rejoice the soul of thy servant for unto thee O LORD do I lift up my soul 4. And turn the present sorrow of thy servant into joy and gladness For I have placed my hope intirely in Thee O Lord and expect nothing but from Thee alone 5. For thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee 5. Who art no less bountifull which is another exceeding great encouragement to me then I am indigent ready also to pardon those that have offended Thee yea to shew abundant kindness to every one of them in their greatest distress when with unfeigned devotion they call upon Thee 6. Give ear O LORD unto my prayer and attend to the voice of my supplications 6. As I now do O Lord most humbly beseeching Thee with repeated intreaties to give a favourable answer to these prayers and supplications whereby I deprecate thy displeasure and sue unto Thee for favour 7. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee for thou wilt answer me 7. Which I beseech Thee let me the rather obtain because my distress is so great and so urgent that thy power will now be the more magnified in delivering me as heretofore Thou hast been wont to doe upon such earnest petitions as these are unto Thee 8. Among the gods there is none like unto thee O LORD neither are there any works like unto thy works 8. For nothing is too hard for Thee nor art Thou unwilling to doe more kindnesses for us because Thou hast done so many already But as appears by thy unparallel'd works dost incomparably excell whatsoever strangers think 2 King XVIII 15. all those that are worshipped in the world as gods who are not able so much as to help and preserve themselves 9. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee O LORD and shall glorifie thy name 9. Which shall move all our neighbouring Nations 2 Chron. XXXII 23. as all the rest shall do in the days of that Great King which we expect XV. Rom. 9. to acknowledge Thee O Lord to be their Creatour and with humble veneration to submit themselves unto Thee and to honour Thee with their highest praises 10. For thou art great and doest wondrous things thou art God alone 10. For they shall clearly see by the magnificence of thy marvellous works that Thou art infinitely superiour to all those Powers whom they adore And that in truth there is no God but Thou thy self alone 11. Teach me thy way O LORD I will walk in thy truth unite my heart to fear thy name 11. Which I so firmly believe that I desire nothing more then to be perfectly instructed in all thy will which I will sincerely observe knit my heart O Lord in such pious affections to Thee that it may never in the least dissent from Thee nor be disturbed with any vain cares but intirely bent to study this alone what is pleasing unto Thee 12. I will praise thee O LORD my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy name for evermore 12. Whom I am bound to praise both as the fupreme Lord of all and as my most bountifull Benefactour with all the powers of my Soul and accordingly I do now most thankfully acknowledge Thee and will never cease to honour Thee and to doe Thee service as long as I have any Being 13. For great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell 13. For the benefits Thou hast bestowed on me are as inestimable as they are innumerable I owe my very life to Thee which hath been often snatched out of the extreamest dangers wherein I had inevitably perished if Thou hadst not mercifully delivered me 1 Sam. XXIII c. 14. O God the proud are risen against me and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul and have not set thee before them 14. Behold O God a new opportunity to glorifie that mercy for proud and ambitious men 2 Sam. XV. 1 2 c. have made an insurrection against me and raised a most formidable Army 2 Sam. XV. 12 13. to take away that life which Thou hast so miraculously preserved having no regard to thy Providence nor refusing any means whereby they may satisfie their unjust desires 15. But thou O LORD art a God full of compassion and gracious long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and truth 15. All our comfort is that Thou not they dost govern the world who art no less compassionate then Thou art powerfull readily forgiving offences or bearing long before Thou punishest Them chusing rather to heap thy benefits upon us and never failing to perform thy faithfull promises 16. O turn unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and save the son of
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
ARGUMENT This is a mournfull Song composed by some of the captive Levites in Babylon when he reflected upon their sad parting with their dear Country and the scorn wherewith their insulting Enemies treated them in that strange land Which he foresaw God would severely punish by the hand of some other cruel People who should shew them as little mercy as they had shewed the Israelites The vulgar Latine ascribes this Psalm to Jeremiah upon which Inscription Theodoret who found it also in some Greek Copies in his time passes this censure that the bold Authour of it wanted wit as the Inscription it self openly proclaims for Jeremiah was not carried captive into Babylon but when he had staid some time in Judea was compelled by the disobedient Jews to go down with them into Egypt Yet there are those who to excuse this would have us think that Jeremiah sent this Psalm to the Captives in Babylon and that it is called a Psalm of David for so it is in the vulgar Latine also because made after the example of his Psalms As Virgil said he sung Ascroeum carmen among the Romans when he made his Georgicks in imitation of Hesiod In the Paraphrase of the first Verse I have followed a conjecture of Saint Chrysostom's that the Captives were not suffered at their first coming thither to dwell within any of their Towns or Cities but were dispersed all along several Rivers of the Country where they built Tabernacles or Cottages for themselves and perhaps were forced to drain those moist places to make them wholesome 1. BY the rivers of Babylon there we sat down yea we wept when we remembred Sion 1. WHen we were transported from our own Country into the Land of Babylon and had the sides of Euphrates and several of its Rivers I. Ezek. 1. assigned for our habitation there we sate down in a sorrowfull posture and could not refrain from tears when we called to mind the happy days which we enjoyed in the holy Hill of Sion 2. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof 2. We brought our harps along with us wherewith we were wont to praise the Lord 1 Chron. XV. 16. But as our fruitfull vines and figtrees under which we formerly sate were turned into barren willows and osiers so all our mirth and joy was turned into such heaviness and sorrow of heart that we let all our Instruments of Musick hang neglected upon the boughs of those dolefull trees 3. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song and they that wasted us required of us mirth saying Sing us one of the songs of Sion 3. For when our new Masters who had carried us away captive they that had laid Jerusalem on heaps and had power to doe what they pleased with us required us between jest and earnest to entertain them with our Musick and to let them hear one of those Songs which were wont to be sung in the Temple 4. How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land 4. Neither fear nor favour could extort this service from our Levites but they resolutely answered As those Songs were not made for pastime and sport but in honour of the great Lord of the world So how can you imagin that miserable slaves are disposed to sing and to sing those Songs in the Land where we are exiles which recount the mercies of God unto us in our once most flourishing Countrey 5. If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning 5. No said I then within my self if I forget thy desolations O Jerusalem though never so far removed from thee so as to gratifie their desires by prophaning thy Musick and thy Songs then let my right hand be benummed or quite lose its skill of touching the harp any more 6. If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy 6. Let me be struck dumb and never be able to move my tongue if I be not so mindfull of thee as never to sing again till I see Jerusalem and her holy Solemnities restored 7. Remember O LORD the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof 7. Which joyfull day I hope will come when Thou O Lord wilt call our enemies to an account And first of all reckon with the Edomites XLIX Jer. 10. XXV Ezek. 12. who instead of pitying Jerusalem as became kind neighbours and relations were glad to see the day of its desolations and incouraged our destroyers with their acclamations saying Lay it flat lay it even with the ground upon which it stands 8. O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us 8. And then shall your turns come O ye Babylonians who have laid waste so many Nations but shall one day be made desolate your selves XIII Isa 19 c. And may that Prince and people prosper and be happy L. Jer. 9 41. who shall pay you in your kind and use you as barbarously as you used us LI. Jer. 24 35 49. 9. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones 9. He shall be praised and thought to have done a worthy work who shall snatch your sucking children from their mothers breasts and have no more mercy on them then upon the whelps of wolves or such like creatures but shall dash out their brains against the walls of your houses or stones in the street XIII Isa 16. that there may be no remains of such a cruel generation LI. Jer. 62. PSALM CXXXVIII A Psalm of David ARGUMENT This is one of David's Psalms as the Title assures us wherein he thankfully acknowledges God's Goodness to him in advancing him from a low and afflicted condition to the royal dignity which remarkable change would invite he thought other Kings and Princes to have a very great regard to his Divine Majesty who he hoped therefore would support and defend him in his new-gotten Kingdom by the same Almighty power which raised him unto it 1. I Will praise thee with my whole heart before the gods will I sing praise unto thee 1. I Will make Thee my thankfull acknowledgments O Lord with the devoutest affections of my heart thy holy Angels shall be witnesses of my gratitude which I will express in Psalms and Hymns in the presence of the great Assembly of the Judges XXII Exod. 9. LXXXII Psal 1 6. that they may remember to whom they owe their power and authority 2. I will worship towards thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name 2. I will prostrate my self in the humblest adorations of Thee toward the place where the Monument of thy Divine Presence is and acknowledge how much I am indebted to thy almighty
may well be a warning to all fell Tyrants not to be so fierce and outragious which will onely present Thee with the fairer opportunity to glorifie thy self and raise thy praise to a greater height as Thou hast now done by suppressing the Assyrians fury who if they have any reliques of wrath which may boil up again in their hearts Thou shalt chain it up and not suffer it to break forth to our further disturbance 11. Vow and pay unto the LORD your God let all that are round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared 11. And let this excite you all who are thus marvellously delivered to make more liberal promises of gratefull Sacrifices as well as to perform those which you have already vowed to the great Lord your most gracious God who so far excells all others that the Nations round about us who hear the fame of this shall reproach you if you be forgetfull of his benefits by the presents which they shall make to Him 2 Chr. XXXII 23. who ought to be feared by all his Friends and is most terrible to his Enemies 12. He shall cut off the spirit of princes he is terrible to the kings of the earth 12. For he can easily with a sudden stroke not onely take down the proud stomach but take away the life of the fiercest Captains and Commanders 2 Chr. XXXII 21. yea make the greatest Monarchs who keep the world in awe quake and tremble at his dreadfull executions PSALM LXXVII To the chief Musician to Jeduthun A Psalm of Asaph ARGUMENT A Psalm composed by Asaph and sent by him to that Song-Master who was over the Children of Jeduthun in which I imagined at first sight that he represented the sad condition of Hezekiah and the motions of his heart towards God in his sickness 2 Chron. XXXII 24. XXXVIII Isa 1. But upon further consideration it appears from the latter part of it that he bewails the calamity of all the Nation either when Senacherib over-ran the Country or else in the Captivity of Babylon If we refer it to the latter then it was not Asaph the Seer whom I mentioned before Psalm LXXIII that made this Psalm but some other in after times see Psal LXXIV who laments the long continuance of their Captivity which looked like an utter forsaking by God but he comforts himself at last with the remembrance of what God had done formerly for them when he delivered them out of the Egyptian bondage 1. I Cried unto God with my voice even unto God with my voice and he gave ear unto me 1. I Have incessantly made my prayer to God and I will still most earnestly intreat his favour To Him who hath justly afflicted us and can alone relieve us have I again and again renewed my importunate suit which I hope will at last prevail with Him for deliverance 2. In the day of my trouble I sought the LORD my sore ran in the night and ceased not my soul refused to be comforted 2. I have not negligently discharged this Duty but as the distress is great wherein we are so I have restlesly implored help from the Lord In the night when men are wont to bury their troubles in sleep I have with unwearied diligence spread out my hands unto Him in token that all my dependence is upon His power alone resolving to admit of no consolation till I obtained a gracious Answer from Him 3. I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed Selah 3. I remembred indeed how kind God had been unto us in former times but this onely gave me the greater trouble when I compared it with our present miseries and the more I mused on it the more my spirit was disturbed and miserably afflicted 4. Thou holdest mine eyes waking I am so troubled that I cannot speak 4. Insomuch that I could not close my eyes to take a wink of sleep nor open my mouth such was my perturbation and astonishment to express the heaviness of my grief 5. I have considered the days of old the years of aucient times 5. All that I could doe was to recount thy mercifull Providences over our Forefathers in times past and ponder seriously what wonders Thou didst for them many ages agone 6. I call to remembrance my song in the night I commune with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search 6. I called to mind all the Songs I had indited to celebrate the memory of those ancient benefits and spent whole nights in silent meditations and diligent inquiries which I revolved to and fro in my mind why He who had taken such care of our Ancestours had so long rejected us 7. Will the LORD cast off for ever and will he be favourable no more 7. Will the Lord thought I abandon us for ever Is He so incensed against us that He will never be reconciled nor intend to shew us any more favour 8. Is his mercy clean gone for ever doth his promise fail for evermore 8. Is his infinite mercy which is the fountain of all his benefits quite exhausted and will He never hereafter speak a word of comfort to us 9. Hath God forgotten to be gracious hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies Selah 9. Hath God whose property it is to shew mercy quite laid aside all thoughts of exercising his clemency towards us or have we so highly provoked Him to anger that He hath no regard at all unto our miseries 10. And I said This is my infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High 10. But having thus complained and said within my self This is the thing which sorely afflicts me to see such alterations in the proceedings of the most High that the same hand which formerly protected us now severely scourges us 11. I will remember the works of the LORD surely I will remember thy wonders of old 11. I presently considered that there might be a change again and resolved to comfort my self with the remembrance of the former works of the Lord and to go back as far as the Miracle Thou didst for us in bringing us up out of the Land of Egypt when our deserts were as small as in these days 12. I will meditate also of all thy work and talk of thy doings 12. Of all the ensuing wonders I will think rather then on our present miseries I will not omit one of them but instead of these complaints make them the constant subject of my discourse 13. Thy way O God is in the sanctuary who is so great a God as our God 13. From which I cannot but conclude that the method of thy Providence O God is not onely perfectly holy and just but quite out of our reach nor is thy Power inferiour but as Thou dost not proceed in the common way of our thoughts so none can resist what thy incomparable Majesty thinks fit to effect 14. Thou art the God that
foot-steps signifies properly the heel of a mans foot and from thence is translated to signifie the end of any thing as in Psal CXIX 33. Which notion of it in my judgment best suits with all that goes before in this Psalm concerning the stability of David's Kingdom which their enemies now boasted as we would express it in our present language they saw upon its last legs And the truth is it was never restored to that Family till Christ the great Son of David came to whom some passages in this Psalm are applied by the Jews themselves in both the Beresiths and in other Books to which Abenezra and R. Solomon consent Why this Psalm is called Maschil see Psal XXXII But why any should fancy as some have done that it was made by Jehojachin after he came out of Prison 2 King XXV 27 28. I cannot conceive unless the first words moved them to think that he who in the foregoing Psalm speaks of himself as in a Dungeon gives God thanks here for his deliverance 1. I Will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations 1. THE innumerable calamities that are befaln us shall not blot out the memory of the innumerable benefits which the Lord hath formerly bestowed on us but I will sing of them without ceasing and indeavour to make all posterity believe notwithstanding our present desolation that Thou art faithfull and constant to thy word 2. For I have said Mercy shall be built up for ever thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens 2. For I am confident thy Mercy which is immovable and indures for ever will raise us out of these ruines thy promises being as firm and stedfast as the heavens in which we see an image of the unchangeableness of thy Nature and of thy will 3. I have made a convenant with my chosen I have sworn unto David my servant 3. Which Thou didst declare by thy Prophet saying 1 Sam. XVI 13. 2 Sam. III. 9 10. V. 2. VII 15 16 28. I have chosen David my faithfull Servant to be the Governour of my people and have made a Covenant with him confirmed by an Oath 4. Thy seed will I establish for ever and build up thy throne to all generations Selah 4. That not onely he but his Children after him shall be settled in the Throne which though it totter sometime or be thrown down shall be raised again and continued throughout all succeeding generations 5. And the heavens shall praise thy wonders O LORD thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints 5. For which stupendious kindness if we should forget to praise Thee or in this our calamitous condition distrust thy power and fidelity to make it good the heavenly inhabitants will not fail to doe it but in their holy Assemblies confess them both with their solemn praises 6. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD 6. For there are none of the powers of the air they know much less any upon earth that can resist the Lord and hinder the fulfilling of his will The mightiest among themselves they are sensible are not to be compared with his Majesty to whom they are but Ministers 7. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him 7. And when they assemble in the greatest numbers and make the most glorious Court stand in great fear and dread of Him attending with awfull reverence what commands He will be pleased to lay upon them 8. O LORD God of hosts who is a strong LORD like unto thee or to thy faithfulness round about thee 8. With whom I will join O Lord the Commander of all these heavenly Hosts and celebrate thy Name on earth as they do in heaven saying Where is he among them all that can equal Thee O most powerfull Lord whose Faithfulness is as ready to fulfill thy Promises as the Angels are to execute thy Commands 9. Thou rulest the raging of the Sea when the waves thereof arise thou stillest them 9. The Sea it self which submits to no body else is under thy Government who when it is a calm makest it swell as if it would overflow the earth and reducest it when it is in its greatest rage to a perfect stilness again 10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces as one that is slain thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm 10. There the Egyptians who had been wounded before with many other grievous plagues were utterly overthrown and with the like irresistible power the Canaanites were scattered at the entrance of thy people into the promised Land 11. The heavens are thine the earth also is thine as for the world and the fulness thereof thou hast founded them 11. For Thou art the owner of things both in heaven and earth and hast the justest right to dispose of them to whom Thou pleasest because the world and all the inhabitants of it are thy Creatures 12. The north and the south thou hast created them Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name 12. Whether we cast our eyes to the Southern or Northern parts of the earth to the West towards Tabor or Eastwards towards Hermon they all acknowledge Thee their Creatour and rejoice in thy bountifull Providence which inriches them with all things needfull for them 13. Thou hast a mighty arm strong is thy hand and high is thy right hand 13. And thy power extending it self throughout the whole always effects in every place whatsoever Thou designest whether it be to punish evil-doers or to preserve and exalt them that doe well 14. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne mercy and truth shall go before thy face 14. But none shall be able to say Thou doest them any wrong Because Thou dost not rule the world merely by thy absolute power but hast placed thy principal glory in justice and equity mercy and fidelity from which Thou never swervest 15. Blessed is the people that know the joyfull sound they shall walk O LORD in the light of thy countenance 15. Happy then are the people who live under thy righteous and mercifull Government and hear the Trumpet sound which signifies the royal presence of thy Majesty among them and calls them to attend upon Thee X. Numb 10. They shall spend their days most chearfully O Lord being secure of thy favour which will let them want nothing that is good for them 16. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted 16. They shall not barely rejoice but triumph and that continually in thy love to them and thy power to defend them and walking in thy holy Laws shall by thy goodness be highly exalted and made superiour to all their enemies 17. For thou art the glory of their
forty years long before the end of which I concluded that they were a people whose heart would never be stedfastly resolved to adhere unto me for they did not mind what wonderfull things I did for them nor what I commanded them to doe for me 11. Vnto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest 11. Which so highly displeased me that I sware they should wander all their days and die at last in the Wilderness XIV Numb 28 c. and never enter into that good Land where I intended to give them rest after all their travels XII PSALM XCVI ARGUMENT This Psalm also wants a Title in the Hebrew but the Greeks are justified in the former part of their Inscription which calls it An Ode of David's by the 1 Chron. XVI where we find that at the bringing up the Ark from the house of Obed Edom to the place he had prepared for it on Mount Sion David delivered this Psalm together with the CV into the hand of Asaph to express the joy he had in God's special presence among them which all their neighbours round about he foretells should be made sensible of as well as themselves This Psalm indeed is not exactly the very same with that but there is a difference in some expressions ex gr it is called here A new Song but not there which shews it was afterward altered by some divine person who accommodated it to other uses And very probably by Ezra when they came out of Babylon which occasioned the Greeks to add in the latter part of the Inscription of this Psalm these words when the house was built after the Captivity Ezra that is made use of it to express their joy at the re-edification of the Temple But it never had a compleat fulfilling answerable to the height of it till the Messiah who was indeed the Temple of God came to dwell among us to give eternal Salvation to us Several of the Jewish Writers acknowledge that it belongs to His times and accordingly we not onely may but ought to have Him in our minds when we say Sing unto the Lord a new Song for his new Grace that is in sending Him to give Salvation to all Nations and the Lord reigneth Ver. 10. and hath all things put under his feet See Euseb in his Demonstrat Evangelica L. 1. c. 4. 1. O Sing unto the LORD a new song sing unto the LORD all the earth 1. O Sing praises unto the Lord for his new and extraordinary benefits which He hath bestowed upon us Let all the earth join together with us to sing his praises 2. Sing unto the LORD bless his name shew forth his salvation from day to day 2. We can never praise Him enough and therefore cease not to bless his Name and to spread the fame of his Almighty Goodness towards us but publish every day with joyfull hearts the great deliverances He hath wrought for us 3. Declare his glory among the heathen his wonders among all people 3. Tell the Nations round about how He hath glorified Himself let none of them be ignorant of the wonderfull things He hath done among us 4. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised he is to be feared above all gods 4. For all our praises fall infinitely short of the greatness of the Lord who is worthy of the highest praise of the whole world and hath shewn both to us 1 Chron. XIII 10 12. 1 Sam. VI. 20. and to others 1 Sam. V. 3 4 c. how dreadfull He is above all that are called Gods 5. For all the gods of the nations are idols but the LORD made the heavens 5. For all the Gods of the Nations are nothing worth being able to doe neither good nor harm But the Lord not onely made the earth but the heavens too which abundantly declare the greatness and the splendour of his Majesty 6. Honour and majesty are before him strength and beauty are in his sanctuary 6. Whose heavenly Court infinitely out-shines all the state and pomp wherein the greatest earthly Monarchs live 1. Esther 4. For all the words we have are not able to express the brightness and magnificence the power and comely order of so much as his Ministers an image of which we have in his holy place wherein He manifests Himself among us 7. Give unto the LORD O ye kindreds of the people give unto the LORD glory and strength 7. Ascribe therefore unto the Lord O ye people from whatsoever Family ye come ascribe unto Him that incomparable Majesty and supreme Dominion and Authority which you give to imaginary gods 8. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name bring an offering and come into his courts 8. And renounce them all and acknowledging the Lord alone to be the omnipotent King of all the world doe Him honour sutable to the excellency of his Majesty bring Him an oblation in token of your subjection to Him and humbly worship Him in his Temple 9. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness fear before him all the earth 9. O come and cast down your selves before the Lord in his Sanctuary where He hath fixed his glorious residence among us Adore his transcendent perfections and let all the people approach into his presence with a pious trembling and dread to offend their Sovereign 10. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved he shall judge the people righteously 10. Go ye that are already become Proselytes unto Him and publish every where in all Countries that the Lord CHRIST is the Sovereign of the World who alone can make it happy For He shall settle those in peace that submit unto his Government and they shall not be so disturbed as they were wont with wars and tumults He shall administer equal justice unto all and neither suffer the good to be unrewarded nor the evil to escape unpunished 11. Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad let the sea roar and the fulness thereof 11. Let the whole Universe therefore be filled with joy at this blessed news which the Angels themselves shall gladly receive I. Luk. 30 32. much more ought all mankind wheresoever they are dispersed on the Earth or on the Sea and the Islands thereof exceedingly rejoice and fill all places with the loud sound of their joyfull praises 12. Let the field be joyfull and all that is therein then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 12. Let the husbandmen and the shepherds and all that dwell in the fields leap for joy and the woodmen and foresters shout for joy to see the happy day approaching when all the Idols that are worshipped there shall be thrown down together with their groves 13. Before the LORD for he cometh for he cometh to judge the earth he shall judge the world with righteousness and the people with his truth 13. Let them
souls of his saints he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked 10. But do not content your selves merely with this passion of joy if you truly love the Lord hate every thing which you know is displeasing to Him so shall you have the Lord of all things for your continual keeper who preserves the lives of sincerely pious men and watches over them with such a carefull providence that when they are in the power of the wicked He will not suffer them to destroy them 11. Light is soweâ—… for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart 11. Be not discouraged though the world should frown upon you but rest assured that God designs you in due time more chearfull and happy days which if you continue faithfull and serve Him with upright hearts shall as certainly come as the corn at last springs up after it hath lain all winter in the ground 12. Rejoice in the LORD ye righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness 12. Let all truly good men rely on this and rejoice in their worst estate that they serve such a gracious Lord Let them give thanks unto Him for his benefits and gratefully commemorate how kind and gracious He hath been unto them that it may be kept in perpetual remembrance PSALM XCVIII A Psalm ARGUMENT There is no Title here but onely this A Psalm to which the Greeks add of David who it is very probable was the Authour or if he was not it was made by some holy man in imitation of what David saith in the XCVI of many of whose expressions this Psalm consists upon occasion of some remarkable deliverance which God had newly granted to Israel as an earnest of future blessings especially of the coming of that great blessing the Lord Christ to give compleat Salvation to his people 1. O Sing unto the LORD a new song for he hath done marvellous things his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory 1. O Let the new and extraordinary benefits which the Lord hath bestowed upon us provoke you to sing praises unto Him with fresh devotion for He hath done stupendious things and by his Almighty goodness alone and incomparable strength hath wrought salvation for those who were as unworthy to be helped by Him as they were unable to help themselves 2. The LORD hath made known his salvation his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen 2. The Lord hath declared by the wonders He hath done how mighty He is to save and deliver He made the Gentile world apparently see that He is the just rewarder of all those who piously obey Him and will not let the wicked escape unpunished 3. He hath remembred his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God 3. He hath not forgot his ancient Covenant with our Forefathers but so faithfully performed what his mere mercy moved Him to promise 1. Luke 54 72. that all mankind have seen what our gracious God hath done and partake of his Divine benefits 4. Make a joyfull noise unto the LORD all the earth make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise 4. Let them all therefore shout for joy let them cry aloud and with strong and chearfull voices sing hymns of thanks and praise unto the Lord. 5. Sing unto the LORD with the harp with the harp and the voice of a psalm 5. Let nothing be wanting to express your joyfull sense of the goodness of the Lord but let the Harp accompany your songs let the sweet sound of the Harp I say and the sound of your voices be mixt together with your Psalms 6. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyfull noise before the LORD the King 6. And let the Trumpet also and Cornet proclaim with a louder sound the exceeding greatness of your joy while you shout with triumphant acclamations to Him and acknowledge the Lord to be your King 7. Let the sea roar and the fulness thereof the world and they that dwell therein 7. Let the noise of his praises be heard like thunder throughout all the habitable world both among those that live on the Sea and those that are upon the Land 8. Let the flouds clap their hands let the hills be joyfull together 8. Let high as well as low applaud their happiness and joyn together with one consent to express by all the tokens of joy the singular pleasure and satisfaction they feel in their hearts 9. Before the LORD for he cometh to judge the earth with righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity 9. Let them meet the Lord with forward affections who is coming to reform the earth and will govern mankind by righteous and mercifull Laws distributing to every man according to his works PSALM XCIX ARGUMENT The Greeks intitle David to this Psalm which seems to have been made upon the same occasion and to the same end with the three foregoing onely with these two differences First that from the consideration of the royal power of the Lord who had manifested himself by some notable conquests over his enemies to be the onely Monarch whose Sovereignty extends over all the world they should mix fear and trembling together with that joy and exultation to which in the former Psalm he had excited them And secondly that he doth not so plainly as in those Psalms prophesie of the Kingdom of the Lord Christ But there are many passages as Theodoret observes which may be applied to the appearing of our Saviour and the infidelity of the Jews Saint Austin and Saint Ambrose apply to him that passage upon which the Roman Church builds the lawfulness of worshipping Images Ver. 5. where the vulgar Latin reading adorate scabellum pedum ejus worship his footstool those two Fathers think there is no way to reconcile this with that command Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him onely shalt thou serve but by expounding this of the flesh of Christ which is the footstool they say which the Psalmist exhorts all men to worship so far were those holy men from allowing adoration to any thing that is not God or hath not a personal union with Him And indeed Christ was represented by the Ark which was the Divine footstool here spoken of but not to be adored no more then the Hill on which it stood concerning which the Psalmist speaks in the last Verse just as he doth of the Ark in this and therefore we ought to understand both passages alike the particle in the Hebrew being the very same before footstool and before Hill and translate them thus worship at or before or towards his footstool and holy Hill as elsewhere he speaks of worshipping towards his Temple V. 8. CXXXVIII 2. And so Menochius very honestly here expounds this passage in these words worship in his Temple turning your faces towards the Ark on which
is the propitiatory which is his footstool since he sits on the wings of the Cherubins 1. THe LORD reigneth let the people tremble he sitteth between the cherubims let the earth be moved 1. LET the people fret and be tumultuous if they please it will do them no service for the Lord is the supreme Governour of the world whether they will or no and they had better with a pious fear submit themselves unto Him Though the whole earth should be in an uproar we are safe and secure for the Lord is attended with innumerable heavenly Ministers who are a Guard to his faithfull worshippers 2. The LORD is great in Sion and he is high above all people 2. The Lord whose Palace is in Sion is transcendently great there is no power on earth able to oppose Him who infinitely surpasses the united strength of all people 3. Let them praise thy great and terrible name for it is holy 3. Let them all therefore praise and reverently acknowledge thy mighty and dreadfull Majesty for that alone is every way most excellent and hath no equal and therefore worthy of all veneration 4. The Kings strength also loveth judgment thou dost establish equity thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 4. For though none can resist Him yet He is not a King that uses his power to wrong or oppress his Subjects but to do them right and give them relief in which He delights This is thy character O Lord who hast established most equal Laws among us and hitherto governed the seed of Jacob with exact justice and singular mercy 5. Exalt ye the LORD our God and worship at his footstool for he is holy 5. Do you therefore above all other people extoll the Lord our God both in your thoughts affections and words and turning your faces towards the Ark of his presence prostrate your selves before his Majesty in token of your absolute subjection to Him For He is incomparably above all other Beings and the proper object of your adoration 6. Moses and Aaron among his priests and Samuel among them that call upon his name they called upon the LORD and he answered them 6. Thus did Moses and Aaron two of his principal and most famous Ministers XXXII Exod. 11. XVI Numb 45 46. and thus did Samuel one of his greatest Prophets that were wont to intercede for you 1 Sam. VII 5 8 9. VIII 5. XII 19. These holy men fell down before Him to make their humble supplications to Him and He gave them what they desired 7. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar they kept his testimonies and the ordinance that he gave them 7. He spake to them in a familiar manner telling them his mind out of a pillar of cloud wherein He appeared to them XXXIII Exod. 9 10. XII Numb 5. XVI 42. 1 Sam. III. 10. and they like faithfull servants of his conformed themselves to his precepts by which He testified his will to them and worshipped him after that manner that He appointed them 8. Thou answeredst them O LORD our God thou wast a God that forgavest them though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions 8. Whereby they obtained great favour with Thee O Lord our God for when they prayed to Thee Thou fulfilledst their petitions passing by for their sakes the sins of those who had highly offended Thee but taking a most severe vengeance on all those who contemned their authority and were contriving how to depose them XII Numb 2 9 10. XVI 3 31 35. 1 Sam. VIII 7 8 9 c. 9. Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy hill for the LORD our God is holy 9. Imitate therefore the piety of those admirable men and raise your thoughts and affections and voices to extoll and magnifie the Lord our God as much as you are able for you can never do it enough And in token of your absolute subjection to Him go and prostrate your selves before Him at his house on the holy hill of Sion for the Lord our God is incomparably above all other Beings and alone worthy of your adoration PSALM C. A Psalm of Praise ARGUMENT There is no other Psalm hath the like Title with this which is called a Psalm of Praise or rather of Thanksgiving and acknowledgment for Divine blessings as the word is translated below Verse 4. and in most other places For which reason I suppose it is that the Hebrews imagin as the Chaldee Paraphrase as well as other of their Authours tells us it was peculiarly appointed to be sung when their sacrifices of thanksgiving were offered mentioned VII Levit. 12 13. The Companies also or Quires of them who gave thanks to God are called by this Name XII Nehem. 31 38. Which makes it probable that the Levites sang this Song upon that occasion which the Greeks think was made by David who invites all the world to join with the Israelites in the service of Him who was kind and gracious to them beyond expression Accordingly we Christians now properly use it in acknowledgment of God's wonderfull love to us in Christ by whom we offer up continually spiritual sacrifices for redeeming us by the sacrifice He made of himself for making the world anew and creating us again unto good works according to his faithfull promises which we may depend upon for ever I do not know but the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made Ver. 3. may be used here as it is 1 Sam. XII 6. for advancing raising or preferring them as He is there said to have done Moses and Aaron making them to be what they then were a famous people in a good Land which seems to agree best with the following words and not we our selves and therefore I have not omitted that sense For to deny that we created our selves is altogether needless but that it is not to be ascribed to our industry or wit that we are raised to a happy condition is a proper expression of humility 1. MAKE a joyfull noise unto the LORD all ye lands 1. LET all the people of the earth lift up their voices in triumphant Songs to the honour of the Lord who deserves all our praises 2. Serve the LORD with gladness come before his presence with singing 2. Make the service of the Lord your delight nay greatest pleasure and when you approach into his Tabernacle shout for joy that you are admitted into his blessed presence to praise Him with your chearfull hymns 3. Know ye that the LORD he is God it is he that hath made us and not we our selves we are his people and the sheep of his pasture 3. Consider that the Lord whom you worship is the Creatour and the Governour of the world who gave us our Being and all the good things we enjoy His we are and by his power and goodness not our own we are become so great and mighty a Nation whom out of his own mere good will alone He hath made his peculiar people of
enemies that invade us not that we may grow more famous no we have no thoughts of the glory that will accrue to our selves thereby but that thy Divine Majesty may be honoured and thy goodness and faithfulness to thy promises be made the more illustrious 2. Wherefore should the heathen say Where is now their God 2. What a sad thing will it be to hear the Nations that surround us insult not so much over us as over Thee saying what is become of their God in whom they trusted If He be so powerfull as they boast why doth He not deliver them 3. But our God is in the heavens he hath done whatsoever he pleased 3. Let them know that Thou art infinitely superiour to them and all their gods being the possessour of the heavens as well as the earth 2 Chron. XX. 6. whom no power of theirs can hurt or so much as restrain but art able to doe whatsoever Thou pleasest for their confusion and for our deliverance 4. Their idols are silver and gold the work of mens hands 4. Their Idols cannot hinder it in the least who are of no more value then the silver and gold of which they are made and are so far from being the makers of things that they themselves are the work of those that adore them 5. They have mouths but they speak not eyes have they but they see not 5. They are mere lifeless Images that have mouths but cannot give a word of advice or of incouragement and comfort to their supplicants and eyes also but cannot see the devotion wherewith they look up unto them or prostrate themselves before them 6. They have ears but they hear not noses have they but they smell not 6. Let their worshippers cry to them never so loudly they cannot hear a word All the Frankincense and sweet Odours which they burn to them are merely lost for they cannot smell them 7. They have hands but they handle not feet have they but they walk not neither speak they through their throat 7. Though they have thunderbolts in their hands they feel them not nor are able to doe either good or harm They cannot stir a foot from the place where they stand unless they be carried nor make so much noise as a fly being utterly void of breath as well as of sense and reason 8. They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them 8. To what then but to those Idols shall we compare the makers of them and such as confide in them who are mere Images of men having eyes but do not see that the brutes are more excellent then such gods and that the least help is not to be expected from them 9. O Israel trust thou in the LORD he is their help and their shield 9. O ye Israelites who by the Divine Favour are better instructed repose that confidence in the eternal Lord which they do in those Vanities And He will not onely protect and defend you against all the assaults of your enemies but help you to overcome them 2 Chron. XX. 9. 10. O house of Aaron trust in the LORD he is their help and their shield 10. O ye Priests and Levites do you above all others rely upon that eternal Lord whose praise you sing and to whom you offer continual Sacrifice For He will never fail not onely to protect but to assist all such as piously confide in Him 11. Ye that fear the LORD trust in the LORD he is their help and their shield 11. And let all that fear the Lord and devoutly worship Him of whatsoever Nation they be place the like confidence in his Almighty Goodness For He will never forsake those that depend on Him alone though they be not of the seed of Abraham but defend them also in all dangers and aid them against all their enemies 12. The LORD hath been mindfull of us he will bless us he will bless the house of Israel he will bless the house of Aaron 12. We have had abundant experience of his care over us in all ages and therefore though now for the present our enemies afflict us yet let us believe that the Lord will doe us good and bless us with a glorious deliverance All the house of Israel shall see how kind He is especially they that minister unto Him in his holy Temple 13. He will bless them that fear the LORD both small and great 13. And He will not forget those pious Proselytes that are come to worship Him there as the onely God but without any respect of persons give them his blessing also which shall not be denied either to old or young to rich or poor 14. The LORD shall increase you more and more you and your children 14. Nor will He grant you onely a single blessing by sending a present deliverance but heap his benefits and multiply his mercies upon you and upon all those that shall succeed you 15. You are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth 15. Ye are a happy people who live under the care and love and benediction of that mighty Lord whose power nothing can confine for He is not made like the Gentile gods but Himself created both the Heaven and the Earth 16. The heaven even the heavens are the LORD's but the earth hath he given to the children of men 16. In which He cannot be comprehended neither for his Empire extends further then you can see to the heavens which are above these visible heavens from whence his Providence reaches down even to us the children of men whom He hath placed upon this earth to admire and praise his infinite Majesty 17. The dead praise not the LORD neither any that go down into silence 17. And therefore will not suffer us to be rooted out as our enemies design 2 Chron. XX. 11. for then the earth would have none in it to sing his praises which the dead who dwell in the silent grave cannot celebrate 18. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore Praise the LORD 18. But will continue us still alive that we may praise the Lord and speak good of his Name as we do at this time 2 Chron. XX. 21 22. and leave those to succeed us who shall continue his praises in all future generations to the worlds end Hallelujah Praise the Lord. PSALM CXVI ARGUMENT I do not understand the reason why Theodoret applies this Psalm to the times of Antiochus Epiphanes when it agrees so exactly to the condition of David in his flight from his Son Absalom which seems to be mentioned Ver. 11. when Ahitophel and others proved very false to him and he had little or nothing to depend upon but onely the Goodness of the Almighty who was pleased to plead his cause and deliver him For which he resolved to be very thankfull and to call all his Friends to rejoice with him as I have expressed it Ver. 13. where the first
both by my Birth and by my Education and by this marvellous Deliverance whereby Thou hast rescued me from the power of death which had in a manner taken hold of me 17. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the LORD 17. I can never sure prove ungratefull to Thee unto whom I am tied by so many bonds But will always be making Thee my most thankfull solemn acknowledgments for the benefits I have received And together with those praises and thanksgivings wait upon thy Goodness for the like mercies in time to come 18. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people 18. I resolve again religiously to make good these and all other my vows wherein I stand ingaged to the Lord and that not onely in private but here at this solemnity in the face of all his people 19. In the courts of the LORD's house in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise ye the LORD 19. When they are gathered together at his House in the midst of the holy City of our God where they meet to worship Him and to doe Him honour There let them all join with me to bless and praise the great Creatour and Preserver of all things PSALM CXVII ARGUMENT This Psalm like the CX seems to be altogether Prophetical of the joy that all the world should conceive at the coming of the Messiah to give Salvation first to the Jews and then to all other Nations according to his faithfull promise Saint Paul applies the first words of it to this business Rom. XV. 11. and some of the Hebrews justifie his application confessing that this Psalm belongs to that matter The brevity of it makes it the more remarkable and easier to be remembred both by Jews and Gentiles 1. O Praise the LORD all ye nations praise him all ye people 1. LET not the praises which are due to the great Lord of all be confined to our Nation but let all people upon the face of the earth praise Him Let all mankind sing thankfull hymns unto Him 2. For his mercifull kindness is great towards us and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever Praise ye the LORD 2. For they are all concerned in his transcendent kindness which hath done mighty things for us and the Lord who changes not will never fail to perform his faithfull promises to the worlds end Therefore let us all join our praises to our common Benefactour PSALM CXVIII ARGUMENT There is nothing more probable then that David composed this Psalm after God had settled him upon the Throne of Israel as well as Judah and also subdued the Philistines who hoped to have crusht him before he grew too powerfull 2 Sam. V. 17. together with other enemies round about him who though they are not mentioned yet in all likelihood joyned with them as we may gather from Ver. 10 11. of this Psalm compared with 2 Sam. VII 1. For that it was written after he had brought the Ark to Jerusalem mentioned there Chap. VI. and placed it in the House he had prepared for it seems very plain from Ver. 19. of this Psalm Where he begins to praise God in such words as had not their compleat fulfilling till the Lord 's Christ whom the Jews rejected and said He shall not reign over us was made King of the World For to Him R. Solomon himself acknowledges those words The stone which the builders refused c. are to be applied And as the latter part of the Psalm is a Prophecy of Christ in David his Type so the former part may be accommodated to all Christians who being persecuted as Theodoret speaks and tormented and disgracefully treated by many Princes and their people by Kings and Governours got a glorious Victory over them all after they had indured a thousand deaths It seems also to have been pronounced at first in some solemn assembly of all the people met together to praise the Lord for his benefits And it is the common opinion of most Interpreters that they all had a part in this Psalm The greatest part of which was spoken by David who begins with a declaration how much he was indebted to God desiring all to assist him in his praises And then coming in a solemn procession I suppose to the Gates of the Tabernacle calls upon the Porters Verse 19. to open them to him that he might praise God in his Sanctuary which he doth in the very entrance Ver. 20 and then in the Courts of his House Ver. 21. After which all the people shout and magnifie the Divine Goodness in making him who was banished from his Country their King Ver. 22 c. And then the Priests come forth and bless both the King and people in the Name of the Lord Ver. 26 and exhort them to be thankfull Ver. 27 And then David seems to take the words out of their mouth and to declare that he will never be unmindfull of God's benefits desiring all the people also to remember them Ver. 28 29. According to which account of the Psalm I have ordered the Paraphrase 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD for he is good because his mercy endureth for ever 1. O Make your thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of all the world who as He is the Authour of all good and hath been exceeding bountifull unto us so will continue his kindness to all succeeding generations 2. Let Israel now say that his mercy endureth for ever 2. Let the Children of Israel who have had such long experience of his love and now see his promises fulfilled let them confess and thankfully acknowledge that his kindness continues to all generations 3. Let the house of Aaron now say that his mercy endureth for ever 3. Let the Priests and the Levites whose business it is to attend upon His service confess now and thankfully acknowledge that his kindness extends unto all ages 4. Let them now that fear the LORD say that his mercy endureth for ever 4. And let all the devout Worshippers of the Lord of whatsoever Nation they be join together with us for there is one Lord of all who dispenses various benefits to every one of us and confess now most thankfully that there is no end of his kindness 5. I called upon the LORD in distress the LORD answered me and set me in a large place 5. You may see an example of it in me who was in grievous straits and dangers 1 Sam. XXIII 26. XXVII 1. but then imploring the Divine Protection the Lord not onely delivered me but placed me in a secure estate free from all such molestation 2 Sam. V. 3. VII 1. 6. The LORD is on my side I will not fear what can man doe unto me 6. For the Lord it is evident takes my part and therefore though I have many enemies I am not afraid of them for when He is for me what disturbance can men be they
never so powerfull give me 7. The LORD taketh my part with them that help me therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me 7. It is sufficient that the Lord who hath done great things for me by weak instruments is still aiding to me therefore I dare look the most malicious enemies in the face and doubt not to see them turn their backs upon me 2 Sam. VIII 8. It is better to trust in the LORD then to put confidence in man 8. This is my hope and long experience hath taught me that it is much safer to relie upon Him then upon the most numerous Armies 9. It is better to trust in the LORD then to put confidence in princes 9. Far more safe to depend upon his help and protection who as He can doe what He pleases and is constant to his word so never dies then to confide in the aid of the greatest Princes whose mind may change or their forces fail or they themselves on a sudden leave the world 10. All nations compassed me about but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them 10. All the neighbouring Nations round about 2 Sam. V. 17 c. VII 1. combined with the Philistines to inviron me but by the Almighty power of the Lord I was consident that I should hew them in pieces 11. They compassed me about yea they compassed me about but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them 11. Again they made a new invasion and beset me with stronger forces 2 Sam. V. 22 c. but still by the Almighty power of the Lord I doubted not that I should cut them off and utterly defeat them 12. They compassed me about like bees they are quenched as the fire of thorns for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them 12. Though they were exceeding numerous swarming about me like angry bees and flaming with such rage and fury as if they would presently consume me yet it was but like the blaze of fire among thorns for by the Almighty power of the Lord I was confident I should destroy them 13. Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall but the LORD helped me 13. They pressed me exceeding hard and as one man conspired with all their might to throw me down from the Throne to which I was advanced But though they shaked it and it was ready to fall yet by the help of the Lord it was supported 14. The LORD is my strength and song and is become my salvation 14. To Him alone I ascribe my present happiness saying with our Forefathers in their triumphant Song XV. Exod. 2. the Lord hath armed me with invincible strength He and He alone is to be praised who hath given me a most glorious deliverance 15. The voice of rejoycing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly 15. Which comforts the hearts of all righteous men whose houses sound with such joyfull shouts of praise for my deliverance as these The mighty power of the Lord hath done most stupendious things 16. The right hand of the LORD is exalted the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly 16. He hath made his mighty power appear to be superiour to all other for not by man but by that power we have again and again obtained illustrious victories over our enemies 2 Sam. XIX 9. 17. I shall not die but live and declare the works of the LORD 17. From whence I conclude that I shall not fall into the hands of those that would take away my life but still prolong it to declare what wonderfull works the Lord hath done for me 18. The LORD hath chastened me sore but he hath not given me over unto death 18. Who hath let my enemies have power to afflict me very sorely but not to proceed so far as to destroy me 19. Open to me the gates of righteousness I will go in to them and I will praise the LORD 19. No instead of that He hath brought me to his own House again from which I was banished 1 Sam. XXVI 19. where I will return thanks unto Him And therefore O ye that minister in the Tabernacle open the Gates at which the righteous enter into the Courts of the Lord that I may go in and make Him my acknowledgments for bringing me from a most forlorn condition to a 〈…〉 20. This gate of the LORD into which the righteous shall enter 20. This is the Gate which I behold and approach with joy that leads to the Courts of the Lord at which the righteous shall enter together with me and hear me say 21. I will praise thee for thou hast heard me and art become my salvation 21. I will never cease to praise and acknowledge Thy goodness O Lord who hast graciously heard my prayer when I implored thy help and delivered me out of all my distresses 22. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner 22. And let them bear a part with me in this my Psalm of praise saying He whom the great men and Rulers of the people rejected 1 Sam. XXVI 19. as the builders of a house do a stone unfit to be employed in it is now become our King to whom we must all join our selves if we hope for safety in whom we see a figure of that glorious King who shall hereafter be in like manner refused XIX Luke 14. XX. 17. and then by God exalted to be the Lord of all the world and the foundation of all mens happiness IV. Act. 11 12. 23. This is the LORD 's doing it is marvellous in our eyes 23. This is the sole work of the Lord not the effect of humane counsels who opposed and obstructed it which surprises us with the greatest admiration to see a despised person become on a sudden so renowned 24. This is the day which the LORD hath made we will rejoice and be glad in it 24. This is the happy day which the Lord himself hath made illustrious by this marvellous work and which it becomes us to celebrate with joyfull hearts and with all outward expressions of gladness for so great a benefit 25. Save now I beseech thee O LORD O LORD I beseech thee send now prosperity 25. Most humbly beseeching Thee O Lord to preserve our King and to advance and perpetuate his Kingdom especially the Kingdom of Christ which shall be welcom'd into the world with these words XXI Matt. 9 c. It begins most gloriously be pleased now O Lord to give it answerable success and prosperity 26. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD 26. Which acclamations of the people let the Priests of the Lord meet with their approbation saying Blessed be the King which is set over us by the Divine appointment and Blessed be all the people who live under his happy Government we whose Office
see such variety of humours and inclinations all conspiring with one accord to promote the common good of the whole Society 3. As the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Sion for there the LORD commanded the blessing even life for evermore 3. The dew of heaven is not more necessary for the parched mountains which though never so distant one from another as far as from Hermon to Sion are refreshed with it then this is for men of all ranks and conditions who every where perceive the comfortable fruits of it for to this the Divine favour is immutably annexed which will pour upon such Societies innumerable blessings giving them an happy and long life an earnest of endless felicity in a constant enjoyment of all manner of good things PSALM CXXXIV A Song of degrees ARGUMENT It is uncertain by whom this Psalm was composed but it seems to have been made to be sung by some one or more of the Levites at the shutting up of the Gates of the Temple to excite the rest whose turn it was to watch that night to be diligent in their office of singing Psalms and making devout prayers for the people It is the last of those that have the Title of A Song of degrees concerning which see CXX 1. BEHOLD bess ye the LORD all ye servants of the LORD which by night stand in the house of the LORD 1. ATtend to your duty O ye Ministers of the Lord who not onely by day but by night also reverently wait upon Him in his House 1 Chron. IX 33. cease not to declare how great and how good the Lord is 2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the LORD 2. Be fervent in your devotion and disclaiming all dependance on any thing else praise the Lord in his Sanctuary with pure hearts and clean hands and give thanks for all his benefits 3. The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Sion 3. Pray also for his people Israel and say The great Lord who though He cannot be confined being the Creatour of all things yet hath his special residence in this place dispense his blessings both heavenly and earthly from hence unto every one of you PSALM CXXXV ARGUMENT This perhaps was the morning Hymn which the Praecentor Ver. 4 5. called upon the Levites to sing at the opening of the Gates of the Temple as the former was sung at the shutting up of the Gates in the evening It recounts several of the great works of the Lord especially towards that Nation whom it excites to stedfastness in their Religion and to contempt of Idols and Idolaters It both begins and concludes with an Exhortation to give praise to God and so was intituled as several other Psalms are CVI. CXI c. Hallelujah or Praise the Lord. That is by this Hymn set forth the most excellent perfections and works of the Lord. There are those who conjecture from what we reade Ver. 14. of this Psalm that when it was composed they were or rather had been lately infested by some of their idolatrous neighbours Whose gods the Psalmist derides in the very same manner as he doth Psalm CXV For the four following Verses of this Psalm 15 16 17 18. differ very little from the 4 5 6 8. of that which it is certain was composed in a time of great distress as this was when it was over 1. PRaise ye the LORD praise ye the name of the LORD praise him O ye servants of the LORD 1. LET all here present praise the most wise and omnipotent goodness of the Lord Let Him especially be praised by you his Priests who minister unto his Majesty 2. Ye that stand in the house of the LORD in the courts of the house of our God 2. And by the Levites who attend upon Him in his House together with all the rest of his people that frequent the Courts of God's House who is our constant and most liberal benefactour 3. Praise ye the LORD for the LORD is good sing praises unto his name for it is pleasant 3. Let this excite you all to praise the Lord For as his Nature is most excellent so He is the fountain of all the good we enjoy and no imployment is so delightfull as to acknowledge his perfections and commemorate the benefits we have received from Him by singing Psalms and Hymns of praise and thanks unto Him 4. For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his peculiar treasure 4. I invite you above all other people to this heavenly duty both because the Lord had a peculiar kindness for Jacob your Forefather and doth still exercise a special providence over you his Children as far more dear and precious to Him then the rest of mankind who are under his care 5. For I know that the LORD is great and that our Lord is above all gods 5. And because I am sensible that the Lord under whose government we are is so great and powerfull above all other Beings though called by the name of gods that you can never praise his Majesty enough 6. Whatsoever the LORD pleased that did he in heaven and in earth in the seas and all deep places 6. His own will alone gives bounds to his power for as none can act without his leave so none can hinder Him from doing what pleases Himself in the heavens as well as in the earth and the seas and other deep waters 7. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth he maketh lightnings for the rain he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries 7. He raises vapours for instance from any quarter of the earth and makes them go up into the air where some of them break forth in flashes of lightning and that which is strange is followed with great showres of rain and from unknown places and causes strong and violent winds blow with such continuance as if they came out of some Treasury where He had gathered and long lockt them up till He had occasion to bring them forth 8. Who smote the first-born of Egypt both of man and beast 8. He made the Egyptians feel how much superiour He was to all their gods XII Exod. 12. who could not defend them from his stroke but He sent his Angel and in one night slew all the first-born in the Country both of man and beast XII Exod. 29. 9. Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee O Egypt upon Pharaoh and upon all his servants 9. Before which terrible blow He had given many other wonderfull demonstrations of his power in several miraculous plagues which He openly inflicted on thee O Egypt not onely on the meaner sort but upon the King and all his Court Exod. VII VIII IX c. 10. Who smote great nations and slew mighty kings 10. And after He had by these means brought you out of their bondage He overthrew several great Nations and slew
potent Kings who presuming of their strength opposed the accomplishment of his promises to you 11. Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan and all the kingdoms of Canaan 11. First of all Sihon King of the Amorites who were esteemed invincible XXI Numb 24. II. Amos 9. and then Og that giantly King of Bashan XXI Numb 33. III. Deut. II. and at last all the Kingdoms and Kings of the Land of Canaan XII Josh 7 24. 12. And gave their land for an heritage an heritage unto Israel his people 12. Which He graciously bestowed upon us the Children of Israel as an inheritance we should hold of Him by a Divine right of which none while we continue his obedient people shall be able to dispossess us 13. Thy name O LORD endureth for ever and thy memorial O LORD throughout all generations 13. O Lord how astonishing is this thy omnipotent Goodness the fame of which shall never be forgotten But an illustrious memory O Lord shall be continued of it from generation to generation 14. For the LORD will judge his people and he will repent himself concerning his servants 14. For though our enemies may sometimes oppress us when we offend Him yet the Lord at last will take the part of his people and deliver them and being reconciled unto his servants will turn his severity into kindness towards them 15. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold the work of mens hands 15. It is not in the power of the Idols which the heathen worship to divert his kindness from us for they are of no more value then the silver and the gold of which they are made and are so far from being able to doe any thing that they themselves are made by those that adore them 16. They have mouths but they speak not eyes have they but they see not 16. They are mere Images of things without their life having mouths but cannot give a word of advice or comfort to their supplicants and eyes also but cannot see much less prevent any danger that doth approach them 17. They have ears but they hear not neither is there any breath in their mouths 17. Ears they have but cannot hear a word that is said to them and noses also but they do not so much as breathe much less can they smell the odours that are offered to them 18. They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them 18. They that make them therefore or put any confidence in them are as senseless as themselves having eyes for instance but do not see that brutes are more excellent then such gods and that no help is to be expected from them 19. Bless the LORD O house of Israel bless the LORD O house of Aaron 19. O how much then are we all bound to bless the Lord the Creatour of all who hath freed us from this stupid blindness Let the whole Nation of the Children of Israel especially the Priests of the Lord praise Him and give thanks to Him who hath better instructed them 20. Bless the LORD O house of Levi ye that fear the LORD bless the LORD 20. Let all the Levites declare how gracious He is yea let all his pious Worshippers of whatsoever Nation they be join in this heavenly imployment of speaking good of the Lord. 21. Blessed be the LORD out of Sion which dwelleth at Jerusalem Praise ye the LORD 21. Let them all say with one accord the Lord be ever praised in this holy place who though He be the owner of all the World yet makes his special residence at Jerusalem The honour the heathens give to their lifeless Images ought to excite you all with the greater devotion to praise the Lord of the World PSALM CXXXVI ARGUMENT This Psalm like the former is a commemoration of the goodness of God expressed in his wonderfull works particularly those He had done for that Nation And it is likely was composed to be sung upon the great Festivals as every day I suppose they sung the foregoing which is of the same strain with this and contains much of the same matter onely here at every half Verse one half of the Quire answers to the other in these words For his mercy endureth for ever A form of acknowledgment prescribed by David to be used continually in the Divine Service 1 Chron. XVI 41 and accordingly followed by Solomon 2. Chron. VII 3 6. when he dedicated the Temple and by Jehoshaphat when by the incouragement of a Prophet he went out to incounter a vast Army with small Forces 2 Chron. XX. 21. and here is repeated six and twenty times to make them the more sensible that they owed all they had to the mere bounty of God and to excite them to depend intirely upon it and rest assured it would never fail them if they did piously and most heartily acknowledge it Such repetitions we use now in our earnest Prayers when we say Lord have mercy upon us c. which are no more vain then these I have variously expressed the sense of this repeated acknowledgment according as the other part of the several verses seemed to direct me 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 1. OFfer your thankfull Hymns unto the Lord of all who is as good as He is great and will continue his kindness which hath been exceeding abundant towards us unto all succeeding generations 2. O give thanks unto the God of gods for his mercy endureth for ever 2. He is the Sovereign of all the heavenly Hosts and therefore praise Him and give thanks unto Him for He can imploy them all for your help and protection as He hath in former times and you need not doubt of his kindness which continues unto all Ages 3. O give thanks unto the Lord of lords for his mercy endureth for ever 3. All the Kings and Princes of the Earth are his Subjects upon which account also give Him praise and thanks For his kindness endures throughout all Ages to defend you as He hath done hitherto from their tyrannical violence 4. To him who alone doth great wonders for his mercy endureth for ever 4. He it is and He alone whose Works are so great that they surprise all those who seriously consider them with wonder and astonishment and therefore give Him praise and thanks For his kindness will never fail still to imploy his infinite Power for the good of those who are truly gratefull to Him 5. To him that by wisdome made the heavens for his mercy endureth for ever 5. Look upon the Heavens and behold with admiration and praise the splendour and the order wherein his wisdome hath contrived and setled them For his kindness is as large and as firm and durable as they 6. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters for his mercy endureth for ever 6. And then look down to the Earth and thankfully praise Him
thou art there 8. If I could get up into the highest part of heaven I should not be out of thy reach or go down and lie in the lowest depth of the earth I should find Thee still as near unto me 9. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea 9. If I could move as swiftly as the light of the rising Sun and in an instant flie from hence and take up my dwelling in the remotest parts of the world 10. Even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me 10. I should not be a jot the further from Thee without whom as I could not get thither so I should be still subject to thy Government and beholden to thy Providence to support me there 11. If I say Surely the darkness shall cover me even the night shall be light about me 11. If I should have such a thought as this in my mind that though Thou art present every where yet in the dark I may lie undiscovered by Thee it would be very foolish For when the Sun is gone down all that is in me is as apparent unto Thee as if it were noon day 12. Yea the darkness hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee 12. The darkness cannot conceal any thing from Thee who being the Fountain of light feest as well in the blackest night as in the brightest day the night and the day the most open and the most covert practices are equally clear unto thy view 13. For thou hast possessed my reins thou hast covered me in my mothers womb 13. For my very thoughts and what is there more abstruse then they my most retired thoughts and contrivances and my most secret desires are apparent to Thee whose I am and by whom I was wrapt up in those skins which inclosed me in my mothers womb then which there is nothing more hidden and dark 14. I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well 14. Yet there such is thy stupendious wisedom which I will never cease to praise and thankfully acknowledge I was I know not how in such a wonderfull manner formed that the thoughts of it strike me with astonishment thy operations in that work are most admirable and of that I am exceeding sensible but I can say no more for they are incomprehensible 15. My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth 15. Though I was made in so secret a place yet not the least joint in my body was concealed from thy eyes but I received from Thee there where no more light can come then there doth into the lowest depths of the earth such a comely distinction of parts and variety of powers that no embroidery can be so curiously wrought 16. Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect and in thy book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them 16. For when the matter out of which I was made was without any form it was visible to Thee how every muscle vein and artery with all the rest of my body should be wrought out of the pattern of them which was in thy mind and accordingly in time when there was not so much as one of them they were all fashioned for the several uses to which they are designed and not the smallest of them omitted or left imperfect 17. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me O God! how great is the sum of them 17. How invaluable also and incomprehensible O God I am not able to express the high and gratefull sense I have of it is thy tender care and providence which Thou hast exercised over me ever since I was born All the secret passages of it amount to such a summe that I am not able to give an account of them 18. If I should count them they are mo in number then the sand when I wake I am still with thee 18. When I attempt to reckon how many they are I find that I may as well undertake to number the sand For though I continue the whole day in this employment and after a nights rest begin again the next morning to think how numerous thy mercies are I am still as far as ever from seeing any end of them 19. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked O God depart from me therefore ye bloudy men 19. Which makes me consident O God Thou wilt not now desert me but rather destroy that wicked man CXL 1. who forgetting thy allseeing eye regards not by what means he plots my ruin And therefore it will be best for you all O ye men of bloud who have slain the Priests of the Lord 1 Sam. XXII 18. and now thirst after my life to make your retreat and desist from persecuting me any further 20. For they speak against thee wickedly and thine enemies take thy name in vain 20. For it is not so much me that they persecute as Vertue and Piety to which though they are not open yet they are the most dangerous enemies because they make it serve their wicked ends having godly pretences for their doing mischief and not sticking so little belief have they of thy Omniscience to call Thee to witness the truth of their lies and calumnies 21. Do not I hate them O LORD that hate thee and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee 21. And have I not reason then O Lord to hate those who have such an inveterate hatred unto Thee and to take the greatest distaste to them that oppose themselves so industriously to thy holy Laws 22. I hate them with perfect hatred I count them mine enemies 22. I detest them with all my heart and as their impiety is the onely cause of it so I cannot loathe them more then I do but declare my self upon that account to be their utter enemy 23. Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts 23. If I have any other ground of my enmity or am guilty of so much as designing any evil to them merely because they have done so much evil to me I desire to find it out and submit my self to the severest trials which may discover to me any such thought that lurketh in my heart 24. And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting 24. For I would not continue in such a pernicious course But if in any thing I doe I intend them any hurt or so much as to be grievous to them my humble request is either that I may not live or live more exactly by the unchangeable rules of righteousness sincerity and truth PSALM CXL To the chief Musician A Psalm of David ARGUMENT There is no
faces and so terrified with Thunder and Hail that they may not be able to recollect their Forces 7. Send thine hand from above rid me and deliver me out of great waters from the hand of strange children 7. Send powerfull aid unto me from Heaven XVIII Psal 16. for I rely upon nothing on Earth relieve me in all my straits and deliver me out of these great and manifold dangers wherewith I am threatned by a forreign power of Idolatrous people which now invade me 8. Whose mouth speaketh vanity and their right hand is a right hand of falshood 8. Who as they have been wont to brag of more then they doe so promise more then they will ever perform For whatsoever treaties of peace and leagues of friendship I make with them they break them all and falsify so shamefully both their words and their oaths that there is no trust to be given to them v. 11. 9. I will sing a new song unto thee O God upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee 9. I will never prove ungratefull to Thee for so great a benefit but here solemnly vow to compose with my best skill new Hymns of thanks unto Thee O God and with the usual instruments of Musick sing thy Praises saying 10. It is he that giveth salvation to kings who delivereth David his servant from the hurtfull sword 10. It is not merely by the conduct and valour of our Captains and Souldiers that we have overcome but the most powerfull Kings owe their safety and their victories unto the Lord To whom I am more particularly bound first for the high honour He hath done me in making me his Minister and now for this deliverance form these mighty Armies which threaten my destruction 2 Sam. VIII 11. Rid me and deliver me from the hand of strange children whose mouth speaketh vanity and their right hand is a right hand of falshood 11. Grant my renewed requests therefore I beseech Thee v. 7 8. and send me seasonable relief and deliverance from this forreign invasion of an Idolatrous people who have no faith nor honesty but shamefully falsify both their words and their oaths and when they shake hands with others as if they were their Friends intend thereby to deceive them 12. That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth that our daughters may be as corner stones polished after the similitude of a palace 12. Let not our Country be overrun by such barbarians but be so preserved by Thee in peace and tranquillity that our hopefull Sons may grow up like young flourishing Trees till they attain their full strength and stature and our Daughters be tall and beautifull like those polished Pillars which are the ornaments of a royal Palace 13. That our garners may be full affording all manner of store that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets 13. Our Granaries also and Store-houses being as full as they can hold may afford us all sorts of Provision from year to year and our flocks of Sheep bring forth thousands which may multiply into ten thousands in their walks 14. That our oxen may be strong to labour that there be no breaking in nor going out that there be no complaining in our streets 14. Our Cows also being great with young may neither be driven away by the irruption of our Enemies nor cast their Calves at home but we may be free from this and all other causes of crying or complaining in our streets 15. Happy is that that is in such a case yea happy is that people whose God is the LORD 15. Happy is that Nation which is setled in such a prosperous condition That is happy is that Nation which truly worships the great Lord of the World who hath promised Deut. XXVIII to bless his faithfull servants with these and all other fruits of his love PSALM CXLV David's Psalm of Praise ARGUMENT After David had obtained these favours of God for himself and for the Nation which he begs in the foregoing Psalm he composed according to his promise there Ver. 9. this admirable Hymn which is contrived with such Art that it is manifest from thence he made it when he was much at leasure and God had given him rest from all his enemies 2 Sam. VII 1. For every Verse begins with a new Letter of the Alphabet in order which are all here except the Letter Nun which is wanting Verse 13. I suppose it was lost when this Psalm came to the hands of the Collectour of this Book and he would not adventure to supply it with one of his own inventing The Greek indeed that is the present Greek Copies for Theodotion and Aquila and the ancient LXX had it not and Latin and Arabick which in effect are but one and the same have another Verse which we may well think if it ever were in the Hebrew began with that Letter Nun But it differs so little from the seventeenth Verse when there is no repetition in any other part of the Psalm that it doth not in my opinion look like the true original Verse And it may be doubted whether there ever was any such Verse in that place where we suppose one wanting for the Psalmist might be carried see Psalm XXV by the strength of the inspiration which was upon him out of the method he had at first proposed to himself Certain it is this Psalm was always esteemed so excellent that the Title of the whole Book of Psalms is taken from this which is wholly spent in praising God with such admirable devotion that the ancient Hebrews were wont to say as Valentine Schindler hath long ago observed He could not fail to be a child of the world to come who would say this Psalm three times every day And for that reason perhaps it was composed Alphabetically that so usefull a Psalm might be the more easily learnt and remembred by every body 1. I Will extoll thee my God O King and I will bless thy name for ever and ever 1. I Will proclaime to all the world O my God the supreme Governour of heaven and earth how excellent thy Majesty is infinitely surpassing the highest of our thoughts and will never cease to express the delightfull sense I have of all thy glorious Attributes whereby Thou art made known unto us 2. Every day will I bless thee and I will praise thy name for ever and ever 2. This shall be my daily imployment and I will sing joyfull Hymns in praise of thy glorious perfections without any end 3. Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable 3. For the Lord is immensely great in power and dominion and all other ways and therefore to be honoured with our highest and with our endless praises But when we have said all we can our best praise of Him will be to confess that his transcendent excellencies cannot be comprehended 4.
doest wonders thou hast declared thy strength among the people 14. For Thou art the mighty God who canst doe miracles as easily as the most ordinary works and hast made all the world sensible that thy power exceeds both the strength and the opinion of all Creatures 15. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people the sons of Jacob and Joseph Selah 15. Having delivered thy people descended from Jacob and miraculously preserved by Joseph from the Egyptian bondage by a long series of stupendious judgments upon Pharaoh and his Servants VI. Exod. 6. VI. Deut. 21 22. VII 8. 16. The waters saw thee O God the waters saw thee they were afraid the depths also were troubled 16. Which were followed presently with a greater wonder when the waters of the Red Sea felt thy Power O God They felt thy power to the very bottom of them which so disturbed them that they retreated as if they had been affrighted at thy presence and left a plain way for thy people to march through upon dry ground 17. The clouds poured out water the skies sent out a sound thine arrows also went abroad 17. But returned again upon the Egyptians who pursued after us accompanied with a terrible storm of rain and thunder and hailstones which flew about their ears and brake the very Wheels of their Chariots XIV Exod. 24 25. 18. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven the lightnings lightned the world the earth trembled and shook 18. The noise of this thunder filled all the air thereabout and so did the lightning that flashed in their faces which together with a dreadfull Earthquake made the very inhabitants of Canaan tremble II. Josh 10 11. 19. Thy way is in the sea and thy path in the great waters and thy foot-steps are not known 19. We might well say then that thy way is quite out of our reach Ver. 13. who madest a passage through the Sea a broad path through the boisterous waters which as none ever trod before or after so they cannot trace the footsteps which the waters have overflown and obliterated XIV Exod. 26 27. 20. Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron 20. Nor did thy care over thy people end there but by the ministry of thy servants Moses and Aaron Thou didst conduct them with the same tenderness that a good Shepherd doth his Sheep through a horrid Wilderness in which Thou feddest them till they came to Canaan And thither the same Power can and the same Goodness will I hope restore us though now we seem neglected by Thee as our Fathers were for a time in the Land of Egypt PSALM LXXVIII Maschil of Asaph ARGUMENT When God gave his Law to the Israelites He commanded them not onely to be carefull to study it themselves but to inculcate it upon their Children as the Psalmist here remembers Ver. 5. that they might propagate the knowledge of it to all future generations IV. Deut. 9. VI. 7 8 c XI 18 19 c And particularly to instruct them in the reason of their Feasts which were appointed for the commemoration of several benefits which he would not have forgotten XIII Exod. 8 14. In prosecution of which end as Theodoret well observes this Psalm was indited by the Prophetical grace as his words are that they and all their posterity might preserve in mind the wonderfull works of God An Epitome of which for the help of their memory He here presents them withall from the time of their coming out of Egypt till David's promotion to the Throne Where this Narration concluding it makes it probable this Psalm was composed by that Asaph so often mentioned as one of the principal Singers in those days who setting before the peoples eyes as in a Table the benefits their Fathers had received with their shamefull ingratitude and the punishments inflicted upon them for it teaches and instructs them who succeeded for which reason some will have it called Maschil see Psal XXXII to learn greater gratitude and fidelity to their Benefactour for fear they should incur his higher displeasure if they did not beware by such sad Examples 1. GIve ear O my people to my law incline your ears to the words of my mouth 1. ATtend reverently O my Country-men for whom I have a particular affection unto the Admonition which now I intend to give you listen diligently I beseech you to the following instruction 2. I will open my mouth in a parable I will utter dark sayings of old 2. It is no vulgar lesson which I would have you learn nor will I be sparing in my instruction but I will abundantly inform you in the most remarkable passages of God's Providence in former times which are more worthy your knowledge then the skill of resolving the darkest Riddles 3. Which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us 3. And I will not report uncertain or doubtfull things to you or things done in another Nation But such as are of unquestionable credit which you have heard and know to be recorded in your holy Books and our Forefathers who were eye-witnesses of them have faithfully registred and transmitted unto us 4. We will not hide them from their children shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD and his strength and his wonderfull works that he hath done 4. Who will not be so treacherous as to lose the memory of them in our days but diligently propagate them to posterity endeavouring that all future generations may understand how much the Lord deserves to be praised for the mighty and stupendious works which He hath done in former Ages 5. For he established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel which he commanded our fathers that they should make them known to their children 5. And indeed when God gave us the Law He strictly charged our Forefathers and made a particular injunction about it which He frequently repeated Deut. IV. VI. XI see the Argument that they should be carefull to leave the knowledge of these things as a sacred legacy or inheritance unto their Children 6. That the generation to come might know them even the children which should be born who should arise and declare them to their children 6. In order to the conveying them by their hands to the next generation who were then unborn who should be taught also when they were grown up to deliver them with the same diligence to their descendants and so preserve the memory of them to all succeeding generations 7. That they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his commandments 7. To the end that they might learn by such wonderfull instances of his powerfull goodness to adhere unto Him and confide in Him alone and by the constant commemoration of his benefits be provoked religiously to observe his Precepts 8. And might not be as their fathers a stubborn and rebellious generation a generation
themselves of that pleasant Land wherein Thou dwellest among us in thy holy habitation 13. O my God make them like a wheel as the stubble before the wind 13. O my God whose goodness hath never failed us in distress let them not be able to stand their ground but put them to flight and make them run as swiftly as a ball down a hill disperse all their forces like the chaffe when it is blown about with a furious wind 14. As the fire burneth the wood and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire 14. Blast and consume them utterly as the lightning or the scorching rays of the Sun in a long drought do the leaves of the forrest trees or the grass upon the mountains I. Joel 19. 15. So persecute them with thy tempest and make them afraid with thy storm 15. Raise a dreadfull tempest to affright them and pursue them so with thy vengeance that they may be shattered and driven away uncertainly as in a whirlwind put them into such a pannick fear that they may not know which way to turn but clash against one another in a terrible confusion 2 Chron. XX. 22 c. 16. Fill their faces with shame that they may seek thy name O Lord. 16. And make those that escape so ashamed at this disgracefull disappointment that they may not be able to hold up their heads nor deny thy Power to be superiour to theirs but humbly seek thy favour 17. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever yea let them be put to shame and perish 17. This is the worst we wish them notwithstanding their enmity to us that they may be so astonished and confounded at their defeat as never to recover any courage to assault us nay together with their credit and their courage quite lose their power to give us any further trouble 18. That men may know that thou whose name alone is JEHOVAH art the most high over all the earth 18. And thereby be convinced which they would not believe before that Thou art what Thou art called the True and Onely God who givest Being to all things and art the supreme Governour not onely of us but of all the Nations upon earth PSALM LXXXIV To the chief Musician upon Gittith A Psalm for the Sons of Korah ARGUMENT It is uncertain to what times this Psalm belongs They seem to have most reason on their side who think it was composed upon the same occasion with the XLII and XLIII when David forced from Jerusalem by the rebellion of his Son Absalom most passionately long'd to be restor'd to the place of God's worship But it may as well or better in my judgment be thought to have been composed by some pious Levite in the Country when Senacherib's Army had blockt up the way to Jerusalem and hindred them from waiting upon the service of God at the Temple where he judged the lowest Ministry that of a Porter as we reade Ver. 10. to be far more honourable then the highest preferment among Pagan Nations And thus I shall take the liberty to expound it in my Paraphrase pointing the Reader to such places in the History of that sad time as I think will explain some passages of this Psalm which after their freedom was restored by the destruction of Senacherib's Army the Authour of it delivered to the Master of Musick in the Temple to be sung as the VIII Psalm See there 1. HOW amiable are thy tabernacles O LORD of hosts 1. IT is impossible to express the affection I have to thy Dwelling-place O Lord who art attended there by the ministry of the heavenly host XXXVII Isa 16. and needest none of our services 2. My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the LORD my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God 2. But we cannot live with any satisfaction while we are absent from Thee for I am ready to faint away in ardent longings to tread again in the Courts of the Lord's House where my tongue and my hands as well as my mind would gladly be imployed in the praises of our God who in this excells all other 2 King XIX 4 16 18. that He lives for ever 3. Yea the sparrow hath found an house and the swallow a nest for her self where she may lay her young even thine altars O LORD of hosts my King and my God 3. It grieves me O mighty Lord of all the heavenly hosts whose Subject I am and infinitely engaged to Thee to see the very Birds who know nothing of Thee injoy that liberty which is denied me who am here lamenting my distance from Thee when the Sparrows and the Ring-doves have their constant residence at thy House and there live so undisturbed that they build their nests and bring forth their young in the rafters of it 4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will be still praising thee Selah 4. O how happy are they who partake of such a privilege who live so near thy House and frequent it so much as if it were their own Their delightfull imployment is with never-ceasing praises to pay their thankfull acknowledgments unto Thee 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee in whose heart are the ways of them 5. And happy also is that man how mean soever his outward condition be who relying upon thy Divine protection XXXIV Exodus 24. goes up three times a year to the solemn Feast at Jerusalem or when he is debarred that liberty as I now am is one of those devout persons whose hearts are more in the high-ways that lead thither then at their own home 6. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well the rain also filleth the pools 6. Who travelling through the troublesome valley of Bacha where there is no water pass it as cheerfully as if it abounded with pleasant Springs and depending on God as the Fountain of what they want receive from Him the blessing of plentifull and seasonable showres to refresh them in their journey 7. They go from strength to strength every one of them in Zion appeareth before God 7. So that the whole company go from stage to stage with an unwearied vigour till they all present themselves before God to receive his blessing in his Temple upon the Hill of Sion 8. O LORD God of hosts hear my prayer give ear O God of Jacob Selah 8. O mighty Lord who commandest all the heavenly hosts which attend in that holy place and are far more numerous then the Armies that invade us 2 Chron. XXXII 7. make me one of that happy number and restore me O God who deliveredst Jacob out of all his troubles to the liberty of waiting upon Thee there 9. Behold O God our shield and look upon the face of thine anointed 9. Look graciously upon me O God who hast hitherto been our protectour against the most powerfull enemies and accept the prayer of our Sovereign who petitions Thee still to be
our Defender 2 King XIX 19. 10. For a day in thy courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tents of wickedness 10. For one day spent in thy Courts is far more pleasant than a thousand in any other place and I had rather lie at the Gates of thy House then live in the most splendid condition in Idolatrous Countries 11. For the LORD God is a sun and shield the LORD will give grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly 11. For though our happiness be sometimes clouded yet the Lord like the Sun will dispell the darkness of affliction and having brought us out of a disconsolate condition defend and secure us in a better 2 King XX. 6. The Lord will give those favour with others and advance them to great honour 2 Chron. XXXII 22 23. He will never be sparing of his blessings but heap them abundantly on those who sincerely doe his will in all things 2 King XVIII 5 6. XX. 3. 12. O LORD of hosts blessed is the man that trusteth in thee 12. O most mighty Lord who commandest all the host of heaven happy is that man who by his integrity preserves this hope and confidence in Thee though for the present he be restrained from the delightfull injoyment of Thee in thy Temple PSALM LXXXV To the chief Musician A Psalm for the Sons of Korah ARGUMENT It is thought by many that this Psalm was composed by some of the Sons of Korah after David's banishment from Jerusalem by his Son Absalom called a Captivity as we reaâ—… Psal XIV ult and his happy restauration to his Kingdom though not to such a settlement as they desired But it may be as well or better applied to the miraculous providence which drove Senacherib out of the Land who had taken many Captives V. Isa 13. and restored them to the happy liberty whose loss they bewailed in the Psalm foregoing Which way soever we understand it the composure is such that it might be much better used by them after their return from the Captivity of Babylon then at any other time when they were infested with many enemies who disturbed their peaceable injoyment of their Country and Religion And therefore it is possible it might be reviewed if not made in those days and delivered to the chief Master of Musick in the Temple to be sung presently after the Foundation of it was laid III. Ezr. 10 11 c. but the Work hindred from proceeding by the opposition of their enemies And so I shall interpret it 1. LORD thou hast been favourable unto thy land thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. 1. THou hast been exceeding kind unto us O Lord and we most thankfully acknowledge the favour Thou hast done us in delivering us the posterity of Jacob out of our sad Captivity and restoring us to the Land in which Thou thy self hast chosen to dwell I. Ezra 2. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people thou hast covered all their sin Selah 2. Our sins kept us from it in banishment a long time but now Thou hast graciously pardoned both our Idolatry and all the other crimes for which we justly suffered 3. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath thou hast turned thy self from the fierceness of thine anger 3. Thou hast put an end to the sore punishments which in thy heavy displeasure Thou inflictedst on us and turned thy severity which like sire had almost consumed us into great clemency and mercy toward us 4. Turn us O God of our salvation and cause thine anger towards us to cease 4. Compleat good Lord our deliverance which Thou hast thus graciously begun and let not our ingratitude provoke Thee to continue this new vexation and trouble that is befaln us IV. Ezra 4 5 21 23. 5. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations 5. Which forces us to sigh and say in the anguish of our Souls will there never be an end of our miseries Is it not enough that the foregoing generation hath felt the sad effects of thine anger but it must extend it self to us also and our posterity 6. Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee 6. Will it not be more for thy honour not onely to preserve this feeble life which Thou hast bestowed on us but to give us a perfect recovery that thy people may have nothing to damp their joy and intire satisfaction in thy goodness to them 7. Shew us thy mercy O LORD and grant us thy salvation 7. Make us so happy good Lord and though we deserve indeed to be more miserable then we are yet let thy mercy prevail with Thee to grant us a compleat deliverance 8. I will hear what God the LORD will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints but let them not turn again to folly 8. I will wait patiently upon the Lord the Judge of the world for a gracious Answer to these Prayers hoping that He will not condemn us to further punishment but settle his people who devoutly worship Him in a prosperous tranquillity provided they return not again to their old Idolatry 9. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him that glory may dwell in our land 9. He will be so far from deserting those who fear to offend Him that I am confident the time approaches when He will finish what He hath begun to doe for us in rebuilding our Temple V. Ezra 2 8. VI. 7 8 c. and restoring our Country to its ancient dignity and splendour 10. Mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other 10. For methinks I see goodness and fidelity justice and concord which are the principal glory of a Kingdom meeting together like ancient Friends which have been long absent and embracing each other 11. Truth shall spring out of the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven 11. And as Truth and Honesty with all other Vertues shall grow and flourish among us like Flowers and Herbs in the Spring after a tedious Winter so God shall faithfully fulfill his promises to us and exercise a most gracious providence over us 12. Yea the LORD shall give that which is good and our land shall yield her increase 12. Yea the Lord will doe us good beyond our expectation and reward our fruitfulness in good works with such a large and plentifull increase of the fruits of the earth as shall demonstrate the bounty of heaven to us 13. Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps 13. He will govern us with great justice and mercy having his faithfull promises always before his eyes from that rule He will never swerve but stedfastly proceed by it as the constant method He will hold in his Divine Administrations PSALM
thine handmaid 16. In confidence of which I humbly beseech thy favour and gracious pardon though I have highly offended Thee Assist thy poor servant by thy irresistible power against those mighty forces which are ready to assault me O deliver me who am here humbled in the lowest manner before Thee looking upon my self as more absolutely thine then any slave that is born in our house can be ours 17. Shew me a token for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou LORD hast holpen me and comforted me 17. Vouchsafe me now in this great distress such manifest tokens of thy favour towards me that I may not onely be delivered but all may take notice of it And good men thereby be encouraged to hope in Thee but they that hate me be utterly confounded to see him whom they intended to destroy not onely preserved but blessed with comforts proportionable to the sorrow he hath indured PSALM LXXXVII A Psalm or Song for the Sons of Korah ARGUMENT It is as uncertain when this Psalm-Song see LXVII was composed as which of the Sons of Korah was the Authour of it But it is manifest enough that it was written in commendation of Jerusalem situate in the holy Mountains of Sion where David built his Palace and afterward settled the Ark and of Moriah where Solomon built the Temple There are those that think it was composed upon the Anniversary of the Birth or Coronation of some great Prince such as Hezekiah in whose days this City was made more famous by the glorious deliverance which God gave it from the power of the King of Assyria's Army But this is a mere conjecture and I shall follow the vulgar opinion according to which the beginning of this Psalm must be lookt upon as very abrupt but expresses the greater rapture of joyfull admiration wherein the Psalmist was 1. HIS foundations is in the holy mountains 1. GReat is the strength and beauty of this place which is founded by God in the high Mountains which He hath peculiarly chosen for the seat of his Kingdom and of his Priesthood 2. The LORD loveth the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob. 2. Though the Lord loves all the habitations of his people yet none are so dear unto Him as those within the Gates of Jerusalem A principal part of which is Sion 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee O city of God Selah 3. There is no City in the world of which such glorious things are foretold or of which any thing can now be said comparable to what we can truly boast of thee that art the City which God Himself hath separated for his own habitation 4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me behold Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia this man was born there 4. I do not deny the due praises which belong to other places and Countries but rather am wont to make honourable mention among my acquaintance and familiars of Egypt and of Babylon and of those who are nearer to us the Philistines Tyrians and Arabians bidding them observe that such a notable person was born among them 5. And of Sion it shall be said This and that man was born in her and the Highest himself shall establish her 5. But what is this to Sion of whom it shall be said in future times that not such a single person but this and that man a great many Worthies and far more eminent both in Learning and in Arms but especially in Piety were born in her for she hath no meaner instructour than the most high who shall settle her in a flourishing estate by educating and forming her inhabitants to the most excellent qualities 6. The LORD shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born there Selah 6. So that when He himself whose eyes nothing can escape shall look over the register of those Nations and count the famous men they have produced He shall find onely some one great man and he comparatively of no great value was born among them 7. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there all my springs are in thee 7. But in thee O City of God He shall find multitudes of excellent persons all eminent in their kind even among those of lower rank as well as in the higher And there shall be a constant succession of such as there is of water from a spring PSALM LXXXVIII A Song or Psalm for the Sons of Korah to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite ARGUMENT Who this Heman was is uncertain Not he who was the famous Singer in David's time for he was of the Tribe of Levi 1 Chron. VI. 32. XV. 17. whereas this was descended from Zerah who was one of the Sons of Judah 1 Chron. II. 6. where we find indeed not onely Heman but Ethan to whom the next Psalm is ascribed mentioned as two of Zerah's Sons But we cannot reasonably think that they were in those early times the Authours of these two Psalms because Ethan plainly makes mention of David and the promise which God had passed to him of a perpetual Kingdom It remains therefore that these two here mentioned were of the posterity of those Sons of Zerah and thence called Ezrahites and had the Names of their noble Ancestours given them to perpetuate the memory of those who were so famous for wisedom 1 King IV. 31. But in what time they lived cannot be certainly determined It is probable when Jechoniah otherwise called Jehojachin or after him Zedekiah was taken and carried captive to Babylon together with abundance of the Nobility and the principal Commanders and Artizans 2 King XXIV 14 15 16. In some of which ranks I suppose this Heman was who being cast into a dark prison which hath made some fancy Jehojachin himself to have made it Ver. 6 8. or otherwise as miserably treated as if he had been in a dungeon bewails his private calamity as Ethan in the next Psalm doth the publick Why it is called a Song-Psalm see upon the Title of Psal LXVII It was to be sung by the Sons of Korah interchangeably which is the meaning of Leannoth upon a Flute or Pipe see Psal LIII to the known tune of Maschil see Psal XXXII Some passages in it may be applied to our Saviour's Death and Burial in his Grave which the Prophet Isaiah compares to a Prison and so is used by our Church upon Good Friday 1. O LORD God of my salvation I have cried day and night before thee 1. O Mighty Lord by whose gracious care and good providence I have been hitherto preserved and on whom all my hopes of safety still depend I have not failed in this sore affliction to implore thy mercy with most earnest cries without any intermission 2. Let my prayer come before thee incline thine ear unto my cry 2. Let them at last prevail I beseech
strength and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted 17. For they owe not their conquests to their own valour or forces though never so great but it is Thou who givest illustrious Victories to the smallest Armies And therefore by thy favour we hope that our Empire which is now broken shall be raised again to its former splendour 18. For the LORD is our defence and the holy One of Israel is our King 18. For the Lord is still our Protectour though our Prince be taken and made unable to defend us He whom Israel adores and acknowledges infinitely to transcend all other Beings is our King and Governour 19. Then thou spakest in vision to the holy One and saidest I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people 19. Who then didst reveal thy mind in a Vision to the holy Prophet Samuel 1 Sam. XVI 1. when the Philistines defied Israel and grew terrible to them XVII 10 11 24. saying I have provided myself a valiant Champion 1 Sam. XVI 18. to be your deliverer 2 Sam. III. 18. I have designed a person of singular worth from among the common people 1 Sam. XVI 11. to be promoted to the Kingdom 20. I have found David my servant with my holy oil have I anointed him 20. I have observed David 1 Sam. XVI 1. and find him a man that will faithfully serve me Go and anoint him with the holy Oil for I intend him for the Governour of my people 21. With whom my hand shall be established mine arm also shall strengthen him 21. With whom I will always be powerfully present for his assistance 1 Sam. XVII 45 c. and never desert him as I did Saul XVIII 12 24 28. But my mighty power shall extraordinarily strengthen him in all his enterprises 1 Sam. XXX 6. 2 Sam. VIII 6 14. 22. The enemy shall not exact upon him nor the son of wickedness afflict him 22. The subtilest of his enemies shall not be able to circumvent him nor the most malicious how powerfull soever oppress him 23. And I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him 23. But after all their vain attempts I will not onely protect him from their crafty violence but subdue all his adversaries under him and destroy those that hate him 2 Sam. VII 9. 24. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him and in my name shall his born be exalted 24. He shall ever find me not onely faithfull in my promise to him but kind above his expectation and by my powerfull assistance and his confidence in it his authority shall be highly exalted 1 Chron. XIV 17. 2 Sam. VII 9. VIII 13. 25. I will set his hand also in the sea and his right hand in the rivers 25. On one hand he shall conquer the Philistines and those that live upon the coast of the Sea 2 Sam. VIII 1. and on the other hand the Syrians as far as Tigris and Euphrates 2 Sam. VIII 9 c. X. 16 19. 26. He shall cry unto me Thou art my father my God and the rock of my salvation 26. For he shall intirely depend on me in all his distresses and fly to me for succour as a Child to his Parent saying with more then usual love and confidence Thou art my Father as well as my omnipotent God from whom alone I expect protection and deliverance 27. Also I will make him my first-born higher then the kings of the earth 27. Which I will never fail to afford him till I raise him to the prime dignity among all those whom I call my Sons and set him so high above all other Kings in the world that he shall be a most eminent Type of my Son Christ the King of kings and the Lord of lords 28. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore and my covenant shall stand fast with him 28. Nothing shall alter these kind intentions toward him but I will always have a love for him and faithfully perform my Covenant with him 29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever and his throne as the days of heaven 29. Which is that his Family shall never be extinct but notwithstanding the changes which all things are subject unto here below have the royal power continued in it as long as the heavens endure 2 Sam. VII 16 28 29. I. Luke 32 33. 30. If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments 30. If his Successours indeed shall depart from the Law which I have given you by my Servant Moses and not judge my people righteously 31. If they break my statutes and keep not my commandments 31. If they prophanely neglect or corrupt my Religion and observe not the rest of the Rules of life which I have enjoined them 32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes 32. Then will I execute the threatnings which are in my Law XXVI Levit. upon them and punish their transgressions with sore diseases and their Idolatries with several plagues 2 Sam. VII 14. 33. Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail 33. But I will not so chastise them as never more to doe good to his Family 2 Sam. VII 25. but will still have a kindness for it and faithfully keep my promise with it 1 King XI 34 36. XV. 4. 2 King VIII 19 c. 34. My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips 34. I will not violate the Covenant I have made with David 2 Chron. XXI 7. nor retract the promise which I have solemnly passed to his Family 35. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David 35. For I have unalterably sworn by my own incommunicable excellencies that I will as soon cease to be what I am as deceive him 36. His seed shall endure for ever and his throne as the sun before me 36. His Family as I said Verse 29. shall never be quite extinct but always remain in my favour and hold the royal dignity as long as the Sun shineth 37. It shall be established for ever as the moon and as a faithfull witness in heaven Selah 37. The Moon may as well fall from her Orb as his Authority fall to the ground and rise no more Let that be a witness of my fidelity when you look upon it XXXIII Jer. 20 21. and conclude that after all the changes and eclipses his Kingdom may suffer it shall stand as fast as that and all the rest of the heavenly bodies 38. But thou hast cast off and abhorred thou hast been wroth with thine anointed 38. But all these promises alas so sacredly confirmed and oft repeated have not secured it from a dismal subversion For Thou hast rejected with the greatest contempt and indignation our Sovereign one of the posterity of David and
his lawfull successour in the Kingdom 2 King XXIV 20. XXV 6 7. IV. Lam. 20. 39. Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant thou hast prophaned his crown by casting it to the ground 39. Thou seemest not to regard the Covenant made with that thy faithfull Servant which Thou promisedst not to break Ver. 34. and instead of raising his Family higher then all other Kings Ver. 27. hast suffered it to lose all its Authority which together with the royal Diadem is vilely trodden under foot 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges thou hast brought his strong holds to ruine 40. Thou hast broken down all the walls of Jerusalem 2 King XXV 10. and made all his fortified places a mere desolation 41. All that pass by the way spoil him he is a reproach to his neighbours 41. So that he hath no defence against those who have a mind to make a prey of him 2 King XXIV 2. and is now scorned and derided by those who formerly dreaded him 42. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice 42. Thou hast made his adversaries whom Thou promisedst to depress Ver. 23. far stronger then himself they have executed all that they designed and now triumph in his ruin 43. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword and hast not made him to stand in the battel 43. His forces have done him no service but being shamefully routed durst never rally again to make any opposition to their enemies 44. Thou hast made his glory to cease and cast his throne down to the ground 44. Thou hast put out that splendour which we thought should have been perpetual Ver. 37 38. and hast utterly overturned his Kingdom 45. The days of his youth hast thou shortned thou hast covered him with shame Selah 45. Thou hast made a speedy end of the reign of Jehojachin who in his youth is made a slave 2 King XXIV 8 c. and suffered Zedekiah to be most disgracefully condemned as a rebel to lose his eyes and remain a prisoner all the days of his life 2 King XXV 6 7. 46. How long LORD wilt thou hide thy self for ever shall thy wrath burn like fire 46. O what a sad condition is this in which Thou seemest wholly to neglect us But O Lord wilt Thou never appear for us again and put a period to our miseries wilt Thou let thy anger burn till we be utterly consumed 47. Remember how short my time is wherefore hast thou made all men in vain 47. Our natural weakness pleads for some mercy and imboldens us to beseech Thee that since we must not onely die unavoidably but a short time will bring us to our graves Thou wilt be pleased to let us spend that little time in more ease and not live as if we were made for nothing else but onely to be miserable and to die 48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave Selah 48. For where is the man whose constitution is so firm that he shall not yield to death For what ability have we though our enemies should not thus destroy us to defend our selves from the power of the grave 49. LORD where are thy former loving-kindnesses which thou swarest unto David in thy truth 49. Lord what a difference is there between our times and those when Thou wast so exceeding good to David And swarest most faithfully to continue to him for ever thy loving-kindness which we beseech Thee now restore unto us 50. Remember LORD the reproach of thy servants how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people 50. Shew O Lord that Thou dost not forget the scoffs and jeers whereby our enemies augment the sufferings of thy servants there is nothing I lay to heart so much as all the reproaches of many and mighty Nations 51. Wherewith thine enemies have reproached O LORD wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed 51. Who are thy enemies as well as ours and have blasphemed Thee O Lord and mockt at Thee as if our slavery were the effect of thy inability to protect us and as if there were an end of the Family and Kingdom of David thine anointed which Thou saidest should last for ever 52. Blessed be the LORD for evermore Amen and amen 52. But let them laugh on neither their scoffs nor our calamity shall hinder us from praising the Lord and speaking good of Him continually in assured hope that He will at last deliver us Let it be so we beseech Thee Let it be so as we desire and hope that we may ever praise Thee for our happy restauration The End of the THIRD Book of Psalms The Fourth BOOK OF PSALMS PSALM XC A Prayer of Moses the man of God ARGUMENT Here begins the FOVRTH Book of Psalms in this differing from the rest that as those of the first Book are most of them ascribed to David and those of the second in great part to the Sons of Korah and those of the third to Asaph so there are few of these whose Authour is certainly known and therefore I suppose were all put together in one and the same Collection The first of them indeed being made by Moses the Hebrews have entertained a conceit which Saint Hierom and Saint Hilary also follow that he was the Authour also of the Ten next immediately insuing But as there is no reason for that it will appear in due place so I can see no cause why we should fancy David or some of the Children of Moses in his time or a singer of that name as Aben Ezra conjectures to have composed this present Psalm when not onely the Title expresly gives it to that Moses who was the Man of God as their Law giver is called XXXIII Deut. 1. or that famous Prophet by whom God spake to them but the Chaldee Paraphrase and the very matter of the Psalm sufficiently shew that it was a Meditation of his when the people offended so highly against God in the Wilderness especially by murmuring at the Relation the Spies brought them of the good Land XIV Numb that He shortned their lives to seventy or eighty years at the most and suffered them not to arrive at the age of their Ancestours or of Moses Caleb and Joshua whose lives he prolonged to an hundred and twenty years Which grievous punishment Moses prays God they may lay to heart seriously and so recover his favour Ver. 12 c. who is the eternal God as he tells them in the beginning of the Psalm and had been in a particular manner kind to their Progenitours in former Generations This is the substance of the Psalm which the Collectour of this Book thought fit to place in the very beginning of it because of the great antiquity of this Psalm and the dignity of its Authour 1. LORD thou hast been our dwelling-place
in all generations 1. O Lord who sustainest and governest the whole world Thou hast been the constant Protectour of our Nation for many Ages having afforded all things necessary for the defence and security of our Forefathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob when they had no certain dwelling-place but were strangers in the Land whither we are going and supported us in the Land of Egypt where in a time of dearth Thou madest an ample provision for us as Thou hast also done hitherto in this barren desert 2. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God 2. Where though we have no Towns nor Houses we ought to think our selves safe and to trust in Thee who art the same mighty God Thou ever wast not onely before we and our Forefathers were made but before the mountains arose out of the waters and Thou commandedst the rest of the earth and this beautifull world to appear and ever wilt be whatever changes there be here without any alteration 3. Thou turnest man to destruction and sayest Return ye children of men 3. We have highly offended Thee indeed and so did our first Parents who became thereby most wretched and miserable Creatures and were doomed by Thee to return to the dust out of which they were formed as all their posterity must do whensoever Thou summonest them to obey that sentence Thou hast passed upon them 4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night 4. And should we have a reprieve for a longer time then our first Father Adam and some of his successours had who lived near to a thousand years we should be wretched still especially when we compared our selves with Thee in whose account the longest life is as inconsiderable as one day and that when it is spent and gone nay as three or four hours which pass away in sleep 5. Thou carriest them away as with a floud they are as a sleep in the morning they are like grass which groweth up 5. But alas in these ages Thou carriest men away suddenly as a violent torrent doth those things it meets withall in its passage they vanish like a dream when we awake and are as grass which in the morning is grown higher and stronger then it was 6. In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up in the evening it is cut down and withereth 6. But how flourishing and fresh soever it then appear is cut down before night and loses all its beauty such is the frailty of man who now is in vigorous health and anon languishes and falls to the earth 7. For we are consumed by thine anger and by thy wrath are we troubled 7. This I am sure is our condition who have so provoked Thee to anger by our sins that we perish in an instant XVI Numb 35 46. and are perpetually disturbed with dreadfull apprehensions of thy heaviest displeasure XVII Numb 12 13. 8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance 8. After many threatnings Thou hast proceeded as a righteous Judge to call us to a severe account for all our foul crimes though never so secretly committed and makest it appear by our punishments to all the world XIV Numb 20 c. that we are a perverse generation though we pretend to thy service 9. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath we spend our years as a tale that is told 9. For we constantly feel some effects or other of thine anger whereby our lives decline exceeding fast and many times before we can say what 's this is at an end 10. The days of our year are threescore years and ten and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years yet is their strength labour and sorrow for it is soon cut off and we flie away 10. We fall short of the days of our Forefathers being now all doomed to perish in the Wilderness and not to exceed commonly the age of LXX or if men be of a vigorous constitution at most of LXXX years the best part of which also is spent in toilsome travels XX. Num. 14. XXI 4. XXXI 11. II. Deut. 1 3 c. and much sorrow and vexation to see the strongest among us cut down like grass in a moment or at least making great haste unto their graves 11. Who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy wrath 11. And yet alas who is there that seriously considers and lays to heart the dreadfull effects of thy displeasure which irresistibly falls upon us XXV Num. 1 2 3 c. or with such a pious fear as it ought to excite takes any care to prevent more terrible punishments then those we have felt already 12. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisedom 12. Lord do Thou touch us with a sense of thy judgments that we may not presume thus foolishly to offend Thee as our Fathers have done but making a just account of the shortness and uncertainty of our lives may wisely apply our selves to make the best use we can of them in repenting of our sins 13. Return O LORD how long and let it repent thee concerning thy servants 13. And then be pleased to turn thy severity into kindness towards us Let it suffice good Lord that we have indured so many and long punishments and now at last revoke or mitigate the sentence Thou hast past upon us who though very disobedient are thy servants 14. O satisfie us early with thy mercy that we may rejoice and be glad all our days 14. O let us see some appearance of thy love to us which may satisfie and chear our languishing souls like the morning light after a tedious night and instead of sighs and groans fill us with shouts of joy all the remainder of our days 15. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen evil 15. Compensate our past troubles with future comforts and make our happiness to equal if not exceed the misery we have suffered 16. Let thy work appear unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children 16. Declare to all the world that Thou hast not quite forsaken us thy servants but wilt still work wonders for us and doe more glorious and magnificent things for our Children though we have sinned against Thee XX. Numb 17 18 c. XXXI 2. II. Deut. 25. III. 24. 17. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us and establish thou the work of our hands upon us yea the work of our hands establish thou it 17. Let them inherit by the special favour of the Lord our God that lovely and pleasant Land XLIX Gen. 15. VIII Deut. 7 8 c. which He hath promised to give us and for that end direct
expect an happy issue of all the vexation which they gave them 1. O LORD God to whom vengeance belongeth O God to whom vengeance belongeth shew thy self 1. O Eternal Lord the Sovereign of the world in whose power it is to punish the highest offendors and to whom alone it belongs to take revenge on those who oppress thy people when they should protect them make thy justice conspicuous in a severe vengeance upon them 2. Lift up thy self thou judge of the earth render a reward to the proud 2. Call them to an account O Thou righteous Judge of the whole earth And by making them suffer according to the wrong they have done let those proud men who have acted as if they thought none could controle them know they have a Superiour 3. LORD how long shall the wicked how long shall the wicked triumph 3. We can scarce behold these wicked men without indignation it tempts us to impatience O Lord to see how they prosper and triumph in their injurious proceedings 4. How long shall they utter and speak hard things and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves 4. And to hear their insolent and provoking language for they care not what they say but as they intolerably abuse us so they audaciously blaspheme Thee the whole company of them priding themselves in the mischief they doe and scornfully deriding those that tell them thy judgments will overtake them 5. They break in pieces thy people O LORD and afflict thine heritage 5. They have crushed thy people so that they dare scarce complain of their tyranny which cruelly afflicts those who are dear unto Thee with all manner of rapines and extortions 6. They slay the widow and the stranger and murther the fatherless 6. They have no compassion upon the widow or the stranger but the rather spoil them nay condemn them to die upon false accusations that they may possess themselves of their estates because they have no Patron to defend them and in the same manner they murther for it is no better the poor fatherless children whom they ought to protect from violence 7. Yet they say The LORD shall not see neither shall the God of Jacob regard it 7. And to harden themselves in their wickedness they say what do you tell us of the Lord He knows not or minds not what we doe here though there are such evident demonstrations of the Divine providence over Jacob and his posterity yet for all that they fancy He doth not regard nor will call them to any account for their doings 8. Vnderstand ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise 8. What stupid wretches are these who think themselves the wisest but are in truth the most brutish of all mankind whom I would advise if they have not perfectly lost their reason to consider this and sure they are not such fools but they may soon understand it 9. He that planted the ear shall he not hear He that formed the eye shall he not see 9. Shall not He hear your blasphemies who gave you the faculty of hearing and shall not He see all you doe who gave you the power of seeing Is it possible He should give to others what he wants Himself 10. He that chastiseth the heathen shall not he correct he that teacheth man knowledge shall not he know 10. He that taught all Nations his will shall not He correct them when they transgress it To what purpose did he make man to know the difference between good and evil but that he should observe it and expect if he did not to suffer for it 11. The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanity 11. Let them devise what ways they please and flatter themselves with hopes to escape his vengeance the Lord knows them all and will make them see one day that all such counsels and contrivances are but mere folly and vanity 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O LORD and teachest him out of thy law 12. And far better had it been for them to have been punished sooner For not he that prospers in his wickedness is happy but he whom Thou chastenest O Lord when he doth amiss and thereby teachest to study and obey thy Law with greater care and diligence 13. That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity untill the pit be digged for the wicked 13. Which will quiet his mind under all his troubles and at last procure the removal of them when absolute destruction and ruin mean time is preparing for the ungodly 14. For the LORD will not cast off his people neither will he forsake his inheritance 14. For the Lord will never abandon the care of his people nor leave those whom He owns for his peculiar possession to be utterly undone by the oppressions which for a time they may endure 15. But judgment shall return unto righteousness and all the upright in heart shall follow it 15. But how much soever his judgments may seem to depart from the rules of righteousness while the wicked flourish and the godly are afflicted they shall at last return to such a perfect conformity with them that all honest hearted men shall be incouraged thereby still to follow the Lord and by no means to depart from their integrity though all things look as if they were unequally carried 16. Who will rise up for me against the evil doers or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity 16. Let them learn by my example not to despond for who is it but He alone from whom I have expected and still do expect to receive protection and help against these malicious men who make no conscience of what they doe and design my utter ruin 17. Vnless the LORD had been my help my soul had almost dwelt in silence 17. Whose power also is so great that if the Lord had not seasonably interposed for my assistance and deliverance I had not now been praying to Him but laid in a silent grave 18. When I said My foot slippeth thy mercy O LORD held me up 18. This was my constant support if at any time my heart even failed me and I was ready to conclude I cannot subsist any longer then thy mercy O Lord sent me relief and preserved me from the danger wherein I was afraid I should have unavoidably perished 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul 19. I have had innumerable perplexed thoughts and anxious cares which have extreamly disquieted me But as soon as ever I reflected on thy goodness justice and truth they all vanished and I felt such consolation from thence as revived my dejected soul 20. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth mischief by a law 20. And made me say I will never imagin it possible that Thou shouldest favour the tyrannical proceedings of these unrighteous Judges who not onely oppress thy people but doe it in
welcome that day and meet the Lord with forward affection who is coming to them For he comes to reform the earth and will govern mankind by righteous and mercifull Laws and faithfully keep his word with all those that truly observe them PSALM XCVII ARGUMENT Some of the Hebrews conceive as I observed upon Psalm XC that Moses was the Authour of this as well as the rest of these Psalms which want an Inscription And indeed he excelled in this faculty of composing Hymns as we learn from Exod. XV. and Deut. XXXII and might upon some other occasion as well as the overthrow of Pharaoh in the red Sea make a Song of triumph after some of those great victories which God gave them over their enemies Which was a thing in use before his time as it appears by the fragments of ancient Songs recorded in his Books particularly that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made by some Poet among the Amorites after Sihon had taken Heshbon from the Moabites to whom it formerly belonged wherein they triumph over their God Chemosh as unable to deliver his worshippers XXI Numb 27 c. And if we could be sure this Psalm was made by Moses I should think it to have been composed after the Israelites had conquered Sihon and his Land over whom they triumphed as he had done over the former possessours of that Country But the Psalm seems so plainly to have been composed in pursuance of what was said in the foregoing Psalm that the Lord reigneth and is King not onely over Israel but all the earth that one cannot but think they had the same Authour who shews the truth of that by the illustrious Victories which God as their King had given them over all those that opposed them For the eighth verse makes it manifest that this Psalm hath respect to some Conquests they had lately made over the heathen which I suppose were no other then those which David won over divers Nations not long after 1 Chron. XVIII 1. he had brought the Ark to Sion and delivered the foregoing Hymn to be sung to put the Israelites in hope and their enemies in fear of the great things which would insue upon this special presence of God among them Which moved the Greeks to call this A Psalm of David after his Land was restored unto him that is after he was made Master of all those Countries which God anciently designed to be the inheritance of Israel For that it should relate to the restoring his Kingdom to him after Absaloms rebellion is not probable because the mention of Idolaters and of their gods Ver. 7. seem to determine it to other Countries In the subduing of which God it is likely fought for them by some such tempest as we reade of 2 Sam. V. 20 21 24. whereby their enemies Armies were shatâ—ered and so terrified that they not onely fled but left their images behind them such was their haste and gave the Israelites an easie Victory over them But whatever was the carnal sense it belongs in the diviner meaning to Christ's triumph over the grave and all the powers of darkness at his Resurrection and Ascension to his throne in heaven as appears by those words which the Apostle to the Hebrews alledges out of the seventh verse and applies to Christ's royal power and authority over Angels Which the Hebrew Doctours themselves as Kimchi confesses take to be there intended and may be further justified from that exposition which we meet withall in Midrasch Tanchuma of the words of the Prophet Isaiah LII 13. Behold my servant shall prosper He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high This is the King Messiah says that gloss who shall be exalted above Abraham and extolled above Moses and be very high above the Angels of the Ministry 1. THe LORD reigneth let the earth rejoice let the multitude of Isles be glad thereof 1. THE Lord it is manifest is the Sovereign of the world under whose happy Government not onely we and they who are already become subject to Him in other places ought to rejoice but the most distant Countries have the greatest reason to be glad thereof 2. Clouds and darkness are round about him righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne 2. His Majesty is most dreadfull and hath appeared in great terrour against those that oppose Him whom as he will not wrong so He will certainly punish for He maintains his Authority and supports his Government by doing exact and equal justice 3. A fire goeth before him and burneth up his enemies round about 3. Let none therefore resist Him for flames of fire proceedâ— from his presence which make the battel too hot for his enemies who can turn no way but they feel them flashing in their faces 4. His lightnings enlightned the world the earth saw and trembled 4. It was his thunder and lightning the brightness of which the world lately saw and were so amazed that shivering pains took hold upon them as upon a woman in her travail 5. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD at the presence of the LORD of the whole earth 5. The hearts of the stoutest Kings and Captains failed them and melted like wax before the fire at this terrible appearance of the Lord at the appearance of Him whose dominion extends over all the earth 6. The heavens declare his righteousness and all the people see his glory 6. For He is the Lord of the heavens which have declared by this dreadfull tempest excited by his Angelical Ministers his severity against his enemies and made all the people sensible of the incomparable splendour of his Majesty 7. Confounded be all they that serve graven images that boast themselves of idols worship him all ye gods 7. Which may well make them all ashamed and they shall be confounded by Him if they will not renounce their errours who worship graven Images though of gold and silver 2 Sam. V. 21. and boast themselves in vain gods who can doe nothing for them Let all that are called gods whether Princes on earth or Angels in heaven bow down to Him as the onely Saviour 1. Heb. 6. and acknowledge his supreme authority over them all 8. Sion heard and was glad and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments O LORD 8. Jerusalem the mother City hath received the news of thy Victories with a joyfull heart after whose example all the other Cities of Judah are exceeding glad O Lord because Thou hast judged righteously in destroying our idolatrous enemies and defending thy faithfull servants 9. For thou LORD art high above all the earth thou art exalted far above all gods 9. Whose hearts are filled with the greater joy because Thou O Lord hast manifested thy self hereby to be the supreme and onely Potentate who rulest over all the earth and art infinitely superiour to all that have the name of gods 10. Ye that love the LORD hate evil he preserveth the
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
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
praising thy great Creatour and Benefactour And let all those who have any sense of Him stir up themselves and join with me in his praises PSALM CV ARGUMENT Though this Psalm have no Title yet we are assured by what we reade in the 1 Chron. XVI 8 c. that the first part of it at least to the end of Ver. 15. was made by David and delivered by Him to Asaph and his Brethren for the constant service of God in the Tabernacle when after several Victories over the Philistins 1 Chr. XIV he had settled the Ark of God in Sion And it is most probable that he afterward inlarged this Psalm for who else would adventure to doe it that it might be a more compleat commemoration of all the mercies of God towards their Nation from the days of Abraham to their taking possession of the Land of Canaan Into which he shews their gracious Lord conducted them by so many miraculous providences in several ages according to his faithfull promise made to Abraham his faithfull Servant that it deserved their most hearty acknowledgments to which he excites them by ten several expressions in the five first verses of the Psalm To which the Greeks praefix an Hallelujah for they take the last word of the foregoing Psalm and set it on the head of this as a note how much they were obliged to praise the Lord according to that exhortation when they remembred in this Psalm the benefits that He had bestowed upon their Forefathers which were sufficient to excite and whet their minds to the imitation of their vertue And it may serve to admonish the new people of God as Theodoret speaks that is us Christians how much we ought to rejoice in God's goodness to us and how dangerous it is to be ungratefull to Him which provoked Him to deprive the Jews of that fatherly care which He had taken of their Ancestours 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD call upon his name make known his deeds among the people 1. STir up your selves all ye that are here assembled to make your most gratefull acknowledgments unto the great Lord who is pleased to come and dwell among you never approach his presence to make your petitions to Him but join his praises together with them and proclaim to all the people round about what great things He hath done for you and for your Forefathers 2. Sing unto him sing psalms unto him talk ye of all his wondrous works 2. Sing his praise with a chearfull voice and with all the Instruments of Musick and let the subject of your hymns and of your ordinary discourse be his many marvellous acts of which let not one be forgotten 3. Glory ye in his holy name let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD 3. For nothing can be so great an honour to you as that you are the servants of such a mighty Lord who infinitely transcends all other Beings triumph therefore and make your boast of this as a greater happiness then all worldly goods let it fill the hearts of all his faithfull worshippers with the highest joy and gladness 4. Seek the LORD and his strength seek his face evermore 4. Let it incourage them to address themselves unto Him upon all occasions and prostrating themselves before the Ark of his presence 2 Chron. VI. 41. commend themselves to his powerfull protection let them unweariedly seek his favour and implore his gracious assistance 5. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgments of his mouth 5. Which you may with the greater confidence expect if you call to mind and thankfully commemorate the marvellous things He hath done for your deliverance and his terrible executions III. Exod. 20. according to his just sentence passed VII Exod. 4. upon your enemies 6. O ye seed of Abraham his servant ye children of Jacob his chosen 6. The benefit of which you still enjoy O ye who are the posterity of his servant Abraham whose faith and obedience you ought to imitate the children of Jacob whom He chose rejecting Esau to inherit the promised blessing 7. He is the LORD our God his judgments are in all the earth 7. He is still the same mighty Lord and our most gracious God who continues to execute his judgments every where upon our enemies 2 Sam. V. 7 10 17 c. and therefore let us never cease to praise Him and chearfully serve Him and faithfully depend upon Him 8. He hath remembred his covenant for ever the word which he commanded to a thousand generations 8. For He is never unmindfull of his ingagements to us but punctually performs in all ages what He hath promised in his Covenant 9. Which covenant he made with Abraham and his oath unto Isaac 9. Which He first solemnly made XV. Gen. 17 18. and then sware XXII 16. unto Abraham and renewed with his Son Isaac to whom He promised to perform that Oath which He sware unto Abraham XXVI Gen. 3. 10. And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law and to Israel for an everlasting covenant 10. And again confirmed it to Jacob both when he went to Haran XXVIII Gen. 13 c. and at his return when He changed his name into Israel XXXV Gen. 10 c. and at last passed it into a Law in that Covenant which He made with their posterity XXIII Exod. 22 23 31 32. never to be altered if they keep their Covenant with Him 11. Saying Vnto thee will I give the land of Canaan the lot of your inheritance 11. The sum of which was this I bestow upon thee and will bring thee into that good Land the Land of Canaan which according to this faithfull Covenant you now possess as by lot it was distributed to your several Tribes for their inheritance XIV Josh 1 2. 12. When they were but a few men in number yea very few and strangers in it 12. This Covenant He began to make with your Forefathers and shew'd his intention to perform it by his singular care over them when their Family was very small XII Gen. 1 5. and consequently so weak that they might easily have been destroyed in the Land where they were strangers XXIII Gen. 4. and had no friends nor allies to support them 13. When they went from one nation to another from one kingdom to another people 13. Nor any settled habitation but were forced to wander to and fro from one part of Canaan into another XII Gen. 6 8 9. and then to sojourn in other Kingdoms sometimes in Egypt XII Gen. 10. sometimes in Gerar XX. Gen. 1. XXVI and sometimes in the Eastern Country from whence they came XXIX Gen. 1. 14. He suffered no man to doe them wrong yea he reproved kings for their sakes 14. And wheresoever they sojourned He took them into his protection and suffered no man to doe them any injury XXXI Gen. 24 42. but gave severe checks even to the King of Egypt XII Gen. 16.
of various sorts of locusts X. Exod. 5 12 c. 35. And did eat up all the herbs in their land and devoured the fruit of their ground 35. Which by his command came and covered the whole face of the Country eating up the very leaves of the trees as well as all the grass and herbs upon the ground X. Exod. 15. 36. He smote also all the first-born in their land the chief of all their strength 36. And at last He finished these plagues in the slaughter of all the first-born both of man and beast the Angel of the Lord killing in one and the same night XII Exod. 29. the principal prop of every Family and the best of all their flocks and their herds 37. He brought them forth also with silver and gold and there was not one feeble person among their tribes 37. Which terrible destruction so affrighted them that they not onely let Israel go but were forward to thrust them out of Egypt and that loaded with silver and gold XII Exod. 31 35. And which is very wonderfull among so many thousand persons Ver. 37. there was not one at that time so feeble as to be unable to travel 38. Egypt was glad when they departed for the fear of them fell upon them 38. And great was the joy at their departure not onely among the Israelites but among the Egyptians who thought themselves not safe till the Israelites had their liberty but were in dread of another plague which they thought might kill them as the former had done their children XII Exod. 33. 39. He spread a cloud for a covering and fire to give light in the night 39. Nor did the Divine providence desert our Fathers after it had brought them out of Egypt but lest they should suffer any prejudice by the exceeding great heats or mistake their way in a desolate wilderness He defended them in the day from the scorching rays of the Sun by a cloud which it self gave them light to comfort and if need were to guide them in the night XIII Exod. 21 22. 40. The people asked and he brought quails and satisfied them with the bread of heaven 40. He provided also a delicate food for that vast multitude even when they were so ungratefull as to murmur against Him XVI Exod. 12 c. sending them in the evening such flights of quails and in the morning such showrs of corn out of the clouds as abundantly satisfied every one of them 41. He opened the rock and the waters gushed out they ran in the dry places like a river 41. And when they murmured again for want of drink XVII Exod. 2 6. He was so kind as to stop their complaints by making water to spring out of a rock from whence it gusht so constantly and in such abundance that it made a stream which followed them in all the parched grounds through which they marched 42. For he remembred his holy promise and Abraham his servant 42. For the Lord was resolved punctually to perform his promise passed in former ages XV. Gen. 18. II. Exod. 24. which made Him reward the fidelity of his servant Abraham even upon his incredulous posterity at that very time which He had prefixed for it XV. Gen. 13. XII Exod. 41. 43. And he brought forth his people with joy and his chosen with gladness 43. When with much mirth and joy He brought his people out of the Egyptian bondage and made them shout to see the difference He made between them and the Egyptians who were drowned in the red Sea while they were conducted safe through it on dry Land XV. Exod. 1 13 19. 44. And gave them the lands of the heathen and they inherited the labour of the people 44. And in conclusion He cast out seven Nations to make room for them in the Land of Canaan where their posterity took possession of Cities and Towns Fields and Vineyards which the labour of others had built and planted for them VI. Deut. 10 11. XXIV Josh 13. 45. That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws Praise ye the LORD 45. That they might have the more leisure to purge the Country of all its ancient superstition and filthiness and set themselves heartily to worship God after that manner that He prescribed in a strict observance of all the rest of his holy Laws For which and all other his benefits excite your selves to praise the Lord. PSALM CVI. Hallelujah i. e. Praise the Lord. ARGUMENT There is little doubt to be made but this is the Title of the Psalm as it is of many other CXI c. whereby the Authour excites them to acknowledge God's bounty to their ungratefull Forefathers For as in the foregoing Psalm they are the words of Theodoret the Divine Benefits are commemorated so in this the Psalmist both commemorates them and also upbraids the ingratitude of those that received them Which magnified the mercies of God the more in being so very kind to those wicked people that when He punished them He did not utterly destroy them The opinion of that Father is that the Psalm was composed in the person of the more pious sort of people who bewail the common calamities and implore the Divine indulgence And most Interpreters that I have met withall imagin it to have been made in the time of the Captivity of Babylon but the proof of it is very weak For the last verse but one upon which they ground that conjecture may have another construction and mean no more but this that God would be pleased when the Nation or any part of it should be carried captive to take pity upon them and restore them again to their Country Or rather in my opinion it refers to those who in the days of Saul or before were taken prisoners by the Philistines and other Nations whom David prays God to gather to their own Land again that they might worship Him in that place which He had prepared for the Ark of his presence For it seems plain enough that this was one of the Psalms which he delivered then to Asaph the first verse and the two last being set down in the 1 Chron. XVI 36 37 as the beginning and ending of another Psalm which can be none but this which he then gave in with the other two there mentioned XCVI and CV to praise the Lord withall 1. PRaise ye the LORD O give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 1. O Make your thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of all the World who was exceeding gracious to your Forefathers and will continue his kindness you may hope unto all succeeding ages 2. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD who can shew forth all his praise 2. Praise Him with all your might for when you have done your best you must acknowledge that it is impossible to express your obligations to his omnipotent Goodness For who is able to tell how miraculous that
the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth 3. For in the day when thy forces 2 Tim. II. 3. compleatly armed with a Divine power IV. Act. 33. shall march forth to subdue the world unto thy obedience they that are fit for thy Kingdom IX Luk. 62. XIII Act. 48. shall chearfully submit themselves and present Thee with free-will Offerings in token of their absolute subjection to Thee II. Act. 45. IV. 34. And great shall be the number of chosen men 1 Joh. II. 13. who glad to see the night of Ignorance gone shall at thy first appearance by the celestial blessing fall unto Thee as thick as the morning dew 4. The LORD hath sworn and will not repent Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek 4. And happy are they who live under thy Government for the Lord hath unchangeably resolved that Thou shalt be a Priest as well as a King with full power to bless all thy Subjects not onely in that but in all future Ages even to all Eternity For Thou shalt not be a Priest like those after Aaron's order who die to make room for others but like that great King and Priest Melchisedek shalt neither have any Predecessour nor Successour in thine Office but continue a royal Priest for evermore Hebr. VII 5. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath 5. Who as he will be most compassionate to all those that heartily acknowledge Him for their Lord and submit unto His Government so will break in pieces the greatest powers on earth that provoke his displeasure by obstinate opposal of his Authority at thy right hand 6. He shall judg among the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead bodies he shall wound the heads over many countries 6. From whence He shall demonstrate Himself to all the heathen world to be their Law-giver and their Judge taking a severe vengeance on those that persecute his Subjects and destroying at last even that mighty Empire which shall then rule over many Countries 7. He shall drink of the brook in the way therefore shall he lift up the head 7. But before all this He shall first humble Himself to the meanest condition not living in the state of a King here in this world but of a way-faring man IX Luk. 56. who is content with such provision as he meets withall For which cause after the enduring many hardships even death it self He shall be highly exalted to his Royal and Priestly dignity in the Heavens from whence He shall never fall PSALM CXI Hallelujah i. e. Praise the Lord. ARGUMENT It is certain this is the Title of the Psalm which consists of as many short Metres as there are Letters in the Hebrew Alphabet and therefore cannot begin with Hallelujah whos 's first Letter is the fifth not the first Letter in that Alphabet In which order it proceeds for the better help of the memory being composed thus artificially that every one as well as the singers to whom the Hallelujah perhaps is particularly directed might have in their minds a brief form of thanking God especially upon festival days for the wonderfull things He had done for that Nation It was a meditation which the Authour had in time of peace and quiet for in distress or immediately after a great deliverance mens spirits are not at liberty to use such art and curiosity in their composures as there is in this Psalm being full at those seasons of such passions as make them neglect it even when they are inclined to use it see Psalm XXV For which reason I think Theodoret's opinion hath no ground that the Psalmist hath respect to the great Victory obtained by Jehoshaphat over the Ammonites and other Nations who invaded his Kingdom for which they gave thanks to God presently after 2 Chr. XX. It is more likely that David who composed those larger forms of commemoration Psalm CV and CVI. made this as I said for a compendious remembrance of what is there more largely delivered And that He might not exceed the number of the Ten Commandments as some give the reason of it in the Verses of this Psalm the Metres of the two last are so short that they have each of them three Letters of the Alphabet in them whereas all the former have but two 1. PRaise ye the LORD I will praise the LORD with my whole heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation 1. I Will make my thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord not onely with my lips or with some slight affections of my mind but with all my heart and soul And that not onely in the private society of those good â—…en whom I am more inâ—…mately acquainted withall but in the publick congregation of all his people 2. The works of the LORD are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein 2. Who ought to join together to praise the Lord for his mighty and wonderfull works which it will not cost them much labour to understand for they are easily found out by all those who take any pleasure in such inquiries 3. His work is honourable and glorious and his righteousness endureth for ever 3. And there is not one of them but is full of majesty and splendour and the fruit of his infinite bounty and faithfulness to his promise which He still expresses towards us and will doe so for ever 4. He hath made his wonderfull works to be remembred the LORD is gracious and full of compassion 4. And such is his Goodness lest we should forget his Benefits He hath instituted solemn times for the commemoration of the wonders He hath done for us XII Exod. 14. XIII 3 9 c. which are everlasting testimonies that we serve a most gracious and compassionate Lord. 5. He hath given meat unto them that fear him he will ever be mindfull of his covenant 5. Who gave our Forefathers whom by his wonderfull works He possessed with the fear of Him XIV Exod. 31. the spoil of the Egyptians XII Exod. 35 36. and afterward fed them with Manna in the wilderness XVI Exod. according to his Covenant which He had made long before XV. Gen. 14. and will never forget in future Ages 6. He hath shewed his people the power of his works that he may give them the heritage of the heathen 6. He hath evidently demonstrated to his people the greatness of his power in destroying Sihon the Amorite II. Deut. 24 25. and Og the King of Bashan III. Deut. 21 24. with the rest of the Amorites and other Nations in the Land of Canaan X. Josh 6 11 12 c. which He took from the ancient Inhabitants that He might give it us for our possession 7. The works of his hands are verity and judgment all his commandments are sure 7. In which He did them no wrong but was exactly
it is to minister to the Lord give you his Blessing from the holy place into which you are come to worship Him 27. God is the LORD which hath shewed us light bind the sacrifice with cords even unto the horns of the altar 27. Who is the omnipotent Lord most faithfull to his promise who hath put an end to our troubles and made peace among us O be not ungratefull to Him but solemnize this day with festival joys bind your sacrifices with cords and bring them to the corners of the Altar to be offered as testimonies of your love and thankfulness unto Him 28. Thou art my God and I wiâ—…â—…ise thee thâ—… 〈◊〉 my God I will exalt thee 28. And so for my part I am resolved who must own Thee to be my most gracious God and almighty Deliverer to whom therefore I will make continually my most thankfull acknowledgments to thy almighty Goodness alone I owe this greatness to which I am promoted and therefore I will never cease to speak the highest things I am able in thy praise 29. O give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 29. And let all good men join together with me and make their thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of the world who as He is the Authour of all good and hath been exceeding bountifull unto us so will continue his kindness unto all succeeding generations PSALM CXIX ARGUMENT This Psalm is contrived so artificially that one would think at first sight it was made after the foregoing when God had subdued the rest of David's enemies 2 Sam. VIII X. and given him leisure for such curious composures For it is divided into as many Parts as there are Letters in the Hebrew Alphabet each Part containing eight Verses and every one of those verses beginning with that Letter wherewith that Part begins The Verses for instance of the First Part all begin with Aleph or A and all of the Second with Beth or B c. And thence this Psalm is called in the Masora the great Alphabet which is an indication that David was now in a very sedate condition under no extraordinary motions when he penned this Psalm but quietly considered things as they were represented to his remembrance But when we observe how frequently he mentions his affliction as lying actually upon him now wâ—… he wrote these Meditations it forces u◠〈◊〉 â—onclude that it was penned during Saâ—…s persecution In which there were I suppose some quiet intervals see Verse 54. either between the time that Saul having his life given him by David resolved to persecute him no more 1 Sam. XXIV and his renewed attempts to destroy him upon the information the Ziphites again gave him 1 Sam. XXVI or after David's fresh demonstration of his loyalty to him before he went to Gath or while he was in that City where he had liberty to meditate on the excellence of God's Laws and the happiness of those that kept them and the comfort they were to him in his affliction which he found to be so sweet and so great that he begs of God little else but that he might be more and more in love with them which were already so much his delight that he mentions them under one name or other in every Verse of this Psalm none excepted but one Ver. 122 or two at the most Ver. 90 where he celebrating God's Faithfulness which relates to the stedfastness of his promise called in this Psalm his word it may well be thought to be no exception to that observation I shall not be so curious as to examine the nice difference which is made by some between Laws Statutes Testimonies Judgments Precepts c. because they seem here to be used promiscuously or if there be any peculiar meaning in some Verses I shall endeavour to express it plainly in the Paraphrase Theodoret hath a conjecture concerning David's design in this Psalm both in his preface to it and upon Ver. 157. which I shall mention that the Reader may take his choice David it is well known had great varieties in his condition for he both fled from enemies and chased them lived sometimes very melancholy and again most pleasantly ran in God's ways and stumbled and rose again to run that good course Now all these things says he and it is not improbable David afterward collected into this one Psalm connecting all the Prayers which He had made to God at several times and on several occasions and putting them together in this admirable Meditation divided into XXII Parts which propound one and the same most profitable lesson to all men and teaches them how it is possible to live vertuously in the worst condition Nor doth he neglect dogmatical instruction as he speaks but adds it to the other so that this Psalm is sufficient to perfect those that study exquisite vertue and to stir up the diligence of those that are lazy to comfort those that are sad to correct the negligent and in one word to afford all manner of medicines for the cure of the various diseases of mankind And if it would not have made this Book too big I should have taken the pains to shew the design of every Part in an Argument before it ALEPH. PART I. 1. BLessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the LORD 1. HAppy more happy then can be expressed are those men who do not take the liberty to live as they list but making the Law of the Lord their Rule order their life in an exact conformity therewith 2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart 2. The stricter they keep unto that Rule wherein He hath testified his will unto us most heartily studying to please Him intirely devoting themselves to seek his favour in this way alone the Happier still they are 3. They also doe no iniquity they walk in his ways 3. Especially when they will not be tempted to doe an evil action though it were to gain the greatest good in this world but constantly adhere to Him in the way which He hath prescribed them 4. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently 4. We are infinitely beholden to Thee therefore O Lord that Thou hast obliged us to be so happy by requiring us to use our utmost diligence to observe thy Precepts which we our selves know to be good for us with all care and exactness 5. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes 5. O that I may ever be one of those happy men I have no greater wish then this that all the actions of my life may be ordered and governed according to thy Will 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy commandments 6. Then shall I never be disappointed of my hopes nor blush at the crimes which are laid to my charge when my own conscience tells me that there is not one of
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
thee or what shall be done unto thee thou false tongue 3. O thou false accuser what dost Thou hope to get by these specious tales which thou hast forged what will They add to that heap of wealth which thou treasurest up LII Psal 7. 4. Sharp arrows of the almighty with coals of juniper 4. They shall be so far from turning to thy advantage that they shall prove thy undoing for the mighty Lord whom none can resist shall take a sharp and a swift vengeance on thee which shall never cease till it hath utterly consumed thee 5. Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the tents of Kedar 5. For it is but fit thou shouldst smart for the mischief thou hast done under which I groan most sadly not onely in a tedious banishment from my own Country but in that I am forced to seek for shelter among the barbarous Arabs 6. My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace 6. Where my mind cannot but perpetually reflect upon the implacable spirit of my enemies whose bitter hatred will not suffer them to come to any terms of agreement 7. I am for peace but when I speak they are for war 7. As I never gave them the least offence so there is nothing that I more vehemently desire then peace and reconciliation but when I make a motion for it they are the more exasperated and as if I distrusted my cause or craftily sought advantage by a treaty betake themselves more fiercely and resolutely to their arms PSALM CXXI A Song of degrees ARGUMENT If David was the Authour of this Psalm and to whom can we with so much likelihood ascribe it it is an expression of the high trust and confidence which he reposed in God when he was in great straits and saw no hope of humane help being either inviron'd by Saul's Forces or pursued by his Son Absalom It is hard to say to which it belongs but if by hills in the first Verse we understand Sion and Moriah where David's Palace and the Ark of God were placed then it must be referred to the latter for Sion was not theirs during Saul's persecution There are those indeed who following Kimchi take the first Verse to be a military form of speech and suppose David to have looked round about him as a Captain in danger doth to see if he could spie any assistance coming to him down the neighbouring hills wherewith he was encompassed But the other sense seems to me more simple which therefore I have followed though if we should adhere to that conjecture still it will best agree to the distress into which Absalom had reduced him For then he might well look to see if any of his Subjects continuing their fidelity to him would appear to defend him Why called A Song of degrees see CXX 1. I Will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help 1. THough I am driven not onely from my own Palace but from God's Dwelling place 2 Sam. XV. 14 25. yet my eyes shall be ever directed thitherward from whence I expect a powerfull aid against those numerous enemies that are combined to destroy me 2. My help cometh from the LORD which made heaven and earth 2. I have no dependance on any other help but wait for deliverance wholly from the presence of the Lord to whom all Creatures are subject and who hath Angels at his command to send to the succour of his servants for he made the heaven as well as the earth 3. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved he that keepeth thee will not slumber 3. And me thinks I hear his Ministers calling to me out of his holy place and saying Fear not since Thou hast placed thy confidence in the Lord alone He will not let thee be subverted thou hast a stronger guard then the most valiant Army would be to thee for they may be tired and fall asleep but He that hath thee in his custody will exercise a most unwearied care over thee 4. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep 4. Be confident of it He that is the protectour of all good men will never in the least neglect thee much less abandon the care of thee but by a most watchfull providence keep thee in safety 5. The LORD is thy keeper the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand 5. The omnipotent Lord of the world is thy Guardian the very same Lord that covered your Forefathers with a glorious cloud XIII Exod. 21. is always present with thee to defend and assist thee against all the enemies that assault thee 6. The sun shall not smite thee by day nor the moon by night 6. Be not troubled that thou art forced to take up thy quarters in the open field for the Sun shall doe thee no hurt by its vehement heat in the day nor the Moon by its cold and moisture in the night 2 Sam. XVII 1 6 22. 7. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul 7. The Lord shall preserve thee from all manner of harm He will preserve thy life and not suffer thee to fall into the hands of those that contrive to take it away 2 Sam. XVII 1 2 14. 8. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore 8. The Lord shall secure thee whithersoever thou marchest and prosper thee all along in all thy undertakings either abroad or within doors not onely now but in all future times to the end of thy days PSALM CXXII A Song of degrees of David ARGUMENT The Title satisfies us that David was the Authour of this Psalm who having settled the Ark which before had no certain place at Jerusalem and being at this time upon some occasion in the Country heard the good people there speak one to another as some of them did to him of going to worship God at some of the three solemn Feasts Which devotion of theirs as it rejoiced his heart so it moved him I conjecture to compose this Psalm for their use at such times If the Talmudists may be believed they were wont to sing the first Verse of this Psalm as they went out of the Country towards Jerusalem carrying their first-fruits to the House of the Lord as the Law XXVI Deut. 2. directed them And when they entred within the Gates of the City they sang the second Verse There they were met by some of the Citizens who if this be true sang the rest of the Psalm it is likely together with them as they went toward the Temple Of this custom Mr. Selden treats L. III. de Synedr Cap. 13. Of A Song of degrees see CXX 1. I Was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the LORD 1. I Was exceedingly pleased with the chearfull devotion of those who came unto me before the approaching Feast and said Let us go and pay our
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.
sorest distresses 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities 8. And He will at last free them from all those troubles which He hath inflicted on them as a punishment for their iniquities PSALM CXXXI A Song of degrees of David See CXX ARGUMENT Though David could not purge himself from all manner of guilt as he confesses in the foregoing Psalm vers 3. yet in that matter which he was charged withall by his Enemies of affecting the Kingdome he could safely protest he was as innocent as a little Child Which he doth in this Psalm particularly and in several parts of other Psalms 1. LORD my heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofty neither do I exercise my self in great matters or in things too high for me 1. O Lord I am accused of traiterous designs against my Sovereign and of aspiring to the Throne wherein Thou hast placed him But Thou who searchest the hearts knowest that I harbour no such ambitious thoughts nor hath my behaviour betrayed any such intentions For I never looked upon any man superciliously nor medled with affairs of State or any thing else that is above my place and calling 2. Surely I have behaved and quieted my self as a child that is weaned of his mother my soul is even as a weaned child 2. But have levelled my mind else let me perish to an equality with my condition and resolved to acquiesce in the present state of things committing my self unto thy care and depending on thy Providence as a Child that is newly weaned doth upon its Mother just so do I silence my natural desires and am content to be disposed of as Thou pleasest 3. Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever 3. And let all good men in like manner modestly place their confidence and hope in the Lord as long as they live and choose rather to be depressed then by any undue means raise themselves to greatness and honour PSALM CXXXII A Song of degrees See CXX ARGUMENT This Psalm seems to have been composed by some holy man after God had given commandment to David by Gad the Seer to build an Altar in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite where the destroying Angel stood and the Lord had answered him by fire upon that Altar 1 Chron. XXI 18 26. whereby David knew what he had till now been ignorant of that this was the place where God would be worshipped and have his Temple built XXII 1. Accordingly we reade expresly that Solomon therefore built the Temple in this place because God here appeared to David his father and David designed and prepared this place for it 2 Chron. III. 1. that there God's habitation might be fixed and not removed from place to place uncertainly as it had been in former times For the Tabernacle which the Hebrews call Mischkan had been in an unsettled condition except one period of time ever since they came into the Land of Canaan It was first pitched in Gilgal and staid there 24. years Then it was removed to Shiloh where it remained to the death of Eli 369. years After his death Shiloh being laid waste it was translated to Nob where it remained they say 13. years but was now no better then a Cabinet without its Jewel the Ark being in another place and never restored to it after that desolation of Shiloh see Psal LXVIII And then it was carried to Gibeon where Solomon found it and from thence fetcht it when he had finished the Temple Which the Hebrews therefore call Beth Olamim the eternal House because it was fixed to a place and out of it the Ark never departed as it had done out of the Tabernacle but there as the Psalmist here speaks Verse 14. the Lord took up his rest for ever Never to depart that is to any other place till the Messiah came who was the Temple of God in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily There are those that think Solomon penned this Psalm because in the 2 Chron. VI. the two last Verses he concludes his prayer at the consecration of the Temple with some part of it viz. Ver. 8 9 10. And truly since he speaks as if the Priests were just taking up the Ark to carry it into this resting place and there begs that God would not for David's sake turn away the face of his Anointed i.e. refuse to hear his prayer it is not an improbable conjecture which I shall follow in my Paraphrase And connect also this Psalm with the former to which it seems to have respect if we render the last word of the first Verse as the ancient Interpreters doe not affliction but humility meekness or modesty Yet I have not forgot to take notice of the other signification and in like manner have expounded that phrase the mighty God of Jacob two several ways Ver. 2. and 5. 1. LORD remember David and all his afflictions 1. LET it appear O Lord that Thou art not unmindfull of the pious humility of my Father David CXXXI 1. who chose to endure many afflictions rather then by unlawfull means to prefer himself to a Kingdom 2. How he sware unto the LORD and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob. 2. Which when he enjoyed his principal care was to provide a settled place for the worship of God for he bound himself with a solemn Oath unto the Lord and vowed unto the mighty One who had preserved him as He did Jacob in all his troubles 3. Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house nor go up into my bed 3. Saying I am resolved as I hope to prosper that I will not come into the new Palace which I have built for my self 1 Chron. XIV 1. much less go to dwell and take up my lodging there 4. I will not give sleep to mine eyes or slumber to mine eye-lids 4. Nay I will not lay my self down to rest nor take a wink of sleep 5. Vntill I find out a place for the LORD an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. 5. Untill I have found out a convenient place for the Ark of the Lord 1 Chr. XV. 1. XVI 1 43. an habitation for that mighty One who there makes Himself present to his people the posterity of Jacob. 6. Lo we heard of it at Ephratah we found it in the fields of the wood 6. And now behold the Lord Himself to our great joy hath told us the very place where He will fix his habitation 1 Chron. XXI 18 26. in the territory of Bethlem Ephrata XXXV Gen. 16 19. in the fields of that Forest where the Angel stood and directed David to build an Altar unto the Lord 1 Chron. XXI 18. XXII 7. We will go into his tabernacles we will worship at his footstool 7. Let us go therefore into his Tabernacles and prostrating our selves before his Majesty let us take up the Ark on which his Glory stands 1 Chron. XXVIII 2. with humble reverence and bring it
Goodness first for promising me out of thy mere grace and favour the royal Dignity and then for performing thy promise most faithfully For Thou hast manifested thy most excellent power and goodness to me in nothing so much as in punctually fulfilling thy promise 1 Sam. XVI 13. nowithstanding all the opposition which was made to it nay in raising me higher then I expected 3. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul 3. I had long ago faln short of this honour to which I am advanced hadst not Thou during all the time of Saul's persecution as readily relieved me as I cried to Thee and mightily supported my spirit by a couragious faith and hope in Thee 4. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee O LORD when they hear the words of thy mouth 4. Which will move sure all our neighbouring Kings who have any knowledge of my affairs 2 Sam. V. 11 12. VIII 10. to join with me in praising Thee O Lord when they shall hear by how many strange providences Thou hast brought to pass that which Thou promisedst to me by thy Prophet 5. Yea they shall sing in the ways of the LORD for great is the glory of the LORD 5. The wonderfull ways whereby the Lord brings things about shall be the subject of their Songs and they shall think it their greatest happiness to be guided and governed by Him for they shall confess that none can doe such glorious things as the Lord hath wrought 6. Though the LORD be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly but the proud he knoweth afar off 6. Whose sublime greatness doth not make Him neglect as they see in me the meanest persons especially when their minds are as humble as their conditions but will not let Him stoop to the loftiest Princes as they may see in Saul whom He despises when they are forgetfull of Him and ungratefull to Him for his benefits 7. Though I walk in the mids of trouble thou wilt revive me thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me 7. Which have been so great to me that should I fall again into the same straits wherein I was before and be incompassed with them I should hope that Thou wouldst preserve me and bring me safe out of them all Thy power I am confident will repress the violent assaults of my enemies and by thy almighty Goodness I shall be delivered from their wrath and fury 2 Sam. V. 17 c. VIII 1 c. 8. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me thy mercy O LORD endureth for ever forsake not the works of thine own hands 8. The Lord who hath begun will go on to finish his gracious intentions towards me not for my merits I know they are none at all but for thy own mercy sake O Lord which as it was the sole motive to what Thou hast done for me so will I hope for it is still the same and ever will be incline Thee to preserve and settle me in that dignity to which not my ambition but thy own good will and pleasure hath promoted me PSALM CXXXIX To the chief Musician A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The two last Verses of this Psalm seem to me a sufficient indication that David to whom the Title ascribes it composed it when he lay under the imputation of having evil designs upon Saul 1. Sam. XXIV 9. which as he protests against in several parts of other Psalms and calls God often to witness his integrity so here he appeals unto Him in a set and solemn meditation composed on purposed to represent before Him the clearness of his intentions which never suffered such designs to enter into his thoughts And who could believe that a man who seriously acknowledged it was impossible to conceal any thing from God's all-seeing eye who formes us in the womb should be so impudent as to make this appeal unto Him if he were conscious to himself of any such guilt And which is more how could he be confident as he declares he was Ver. 19. that God would make his innocence evidently appear by destroying his opposers if he did not know they were calumniatours whose vile aspersions when God had effectually confuted he delivered this Psalm to the Master of the Musick as a lasting testimony of his sincerity all along before he came to the Kingdom and a constant admonishment to himself and others never to promote any designs for the future by sinister arts though managed so secretly that they lay hid from the eyes of all the world since God cannot but be privy to them who loves righteousness and hates all iniquity 1. O LORD thou hast searched me and known me 1. I Am accused O Lord of grievous crimes but my comfort is Thou seest I am not guilty of them For the exactest survey cannot make any thing so well known to us as I am to Thee who art thoroughly acquainted with me 2. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising thou understandest my thought afar off 2. Thou knowest what designs I have when I sit musing at home and what I go about when I stir abroad nay my inclinations are so perfectly understood by Thee that before I have conceived any design it is visible unto Thee 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways 3. Nothing can be so narrowly sifted as all the motions of my body and mind both by day and by night are scanned by thy all-penetrating eye which comprehends and is intimately privy to all the ends which I pursue 4. For there is not a word in my tongue but lo O LORD thou knowest it altogether 4. When I am about to speak Thou O Lord such is thy most admirable wisedom needest not to be informed what it is but knowest before I open my mouth every thing I intend to utter 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me 5. Whatsoever I have done long ago is as well known to Thee as that which is lately past or which I am about to doe For I am so invironed by Thee and so absolutely in thy power that I cannot possibly escape thy notice nor so much as stir without thy leave 6. Such knowledge is too wonderfull for me it is high I cannot attain unto it 6. O amazing height of understanding It is in vain to think I can hide any thing from it which so far surpasses all I can say or conceive that it excells even my admiration 7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence 7. Into what world shall I go where Thou art not as present as Thou art in this It is impossible for me should I make never so much haste to get out of thy sight 8. If I ascend up into heaven thou art there if I make my bed in hell behold
doubt for the Title ascribes it to him but this Psalm was made by David And it is little less undoubted that he composed it as Theodoret well judges when he was persecuted by Saul who was instigated thereunto by the calumnies of Doeg and the information of the Ziphites whose falseness and pestilent malice he here describes beseeching God to preserve him from the mischief they intended him and to turn it upon themselves as he rests assured He would When he came to his Kingdom and had settled the service of God in that manner which we reade 1 Chron. XVI XXIII c. he delivered it to the Master of the Musick to be sung at certain times in the Tabernacle But it was not found I suppose no more then the two foregoing and the four following till some time after the other Books of Psalms were published and so were placed here all together by him that collected this Book 1. DEliver me O LORD from the evil man preserve me from the violent man 1. DEfeat O Lord the wicked designs of that naughty man 1 Sam. XXII 9 c. who makes no conscience of what he saith or doeth to compass his ends and let me not fall into the hands of that injurious Prince XXIII 7. whom I have never wronged but done him faithfull service 2. Which imagine mischiefs in their hearts continually are they gathered together for war 2. They are zealously bent to doe me all the mischief they are able which they studiously plot and doe nothing all the day but contrive how to oppress me with armed force which in several places they have laid to intercept me 3. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent adders poison is under their lips Selah 3. And they have so traduced me by their calumnies and false accusations that they have already given my reputation a deadly wound for the tongue of the Serpent or the teeth of the Adder or Viper doth not more effectually convey their poison into mens bodies then they have infused these venomous slanders into the peoples minds 4. Keep me O LORD from the hands of the wicked preserve me from the violent man who have purposed to overthrow my goings 4. And therefore I most humbly again beseech Thee O Lord to keep me from falling into the power of that naughty man Ver. 1. who instigates his Prince to the most injurious proceedings against me Be Thou my preserver O Lord for otherwise I shall never escape the trains they have devised and laid to supplant and utterly undoe me 5. The proud have hid a snare for me and cords they have spread a net by the way-side they have set grins for me Selah 5. There is no hunter or fowler more industrious and cunning in laying snares and toils in spreading nets or setting gins and traps for the beasts or the birds in the places which they are wont to frequent then they are to trace me in all my motions 1 Sam. XXIII 23. and to invent all manner of wiles and subtle arts to surprise me which they proudly presume will have their desired success 6. I said unto the LORD Thou art my God hear the voice of my supplications O LORD 6. To which I have neither cunning nor power of my own to oppose no Friend whose aid I can implore but onely commend my self unto the Lord saying I have always owned Thee for my Proteetour and Thou hast hitherto owned me and been my mercifull deliverer Do not now O Lord of all power and might deny my earnest request who depend on Thee alone for succour 7. O GOD the Lord the strength of my salvation thou hast covered my head in the day of battel 7. O most mighty Lord whom no Creature whatsoever can withstand O Thou who disposest of all events I again profess that I look for safety from thy almighty Power alone by which I was protected having no other helmet or armour but onely that 1 Sam. XVII 39 40 50. in the day when I fought with Goliath 8. Grant not O LORD the desires of the wicked further not his wicked device lest they exalt themselves Selah 8. Suffer not him O most mighty Lord who now seeks my destruction to effect his desire let him not succeed in any of his mischievous designs and projects against me lest he and his partakers grow so insolent as to dare to attempt all manner of violence against other innocents 9. As for the head of those that compass me about let the mischief of their own lips eover them 9. Let the poisonous and pernicious calumnies of those that now beset me round retort upon themselves and let them be overwhelmed by those very devices which with laborious lies they have contrived for my ruin 10. Let burning coals fall upon them let them be cast into the fire into deep pits that they rise not up again 10. Let their slanders which I can compare to nothing better then burning coals that are not easily quenched be the instruments of their own destruction let them perish in the flames which they themselves have kindled and be irrecoverably thrown headlong into those dangers and mischiefs which like dreadfully deep pits they prepared for my destruction 11. Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him 11. This I am confident shall be their portion for though a false Informer may for a time be believed and thrive by his lies and slanders yet Truth will at last prevail and not suffer him to establish his greatness by such base and wicked practices And as little shall violence and injustice avail him that relies upon it but bring upon him one evil after another which shall pursue him to his ruin as the hounds do the wild beast which after all its windings and turnings becomes a prey unto them 12. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor 12. For I am sure the Lord who is stronger then all will assert the cause of the Oppressed and doe right to those who are destitute of humane help by punishing all that are injurious to them 13. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name the upright shall dwell in thy presence 13. Let the righteous rely on this as an undoubted truth that they shall give thanks to thy almighty Goodness for appearing in their vindication and when these false and violent men shall be extinct they that are sincerely honest shall remain in thy favour and receive the marks of it in thy constant care and providence over them PSALM CXLI A Psalm of David ARGUMENT If the Title had not told us that David was the Authour of this Psalm the matter of it would have led our minds to think of him and of his many sufferings during the persecution of Saul Which he prays to God as Theodoret observes upon the third and fourth Verses he may be able to bear so
One generation shall praise thy works to another and shall declare thy mighty acts 4. For there are none of thy works which we see that we are able to understand but though this Age transmit its observations to the next and that recommend the study of them to posterity yet still we are ignorant and cannot praise them enough no nor sufficiently declare the prodigious acts of thy miraculous Providence for the preservation of thy people which shall be perpetually commemorated 5. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty and of thy wondrous works 5. It shall be my business in this present age to speak of the dazling splendour and beauty of thy Majesty which I want words to express but appears in thy stupendious works 6. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts and I will declare thy greatness 6. Which they that come after shall rehearse and from the narratives that I shall make of thy magnificent greatness declare to their posterity what dreadfull things were done by thy irresistable power for the subversion of our enemies 7. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness and shall sing of thy righteousness 7. And with the same diligence shall they continue the constant memory of thy numerous benefits to us which they shall no more cease to celebrate with their praises then a spring doth to pour out water but publish in their perpetual Hymns how just and faithfull Thou art to thy word 8. The LORD is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy 8. For the Lord this shall be the subject of their and of my Song is exceeding propense to doe us good and very indulgent when we doe amiss which makes Him that He doth not presently punish but rather chuses to bestow new and greater benefits upon us if we repent of our faults 9. The LORD is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works 9. Nor is his goodness confined unto us but extends it self in various acts of bounty to all mankind who need not doubt of his kindness when they see He takes so tender a care of all his Creatures 10. All thy works shall praise thee O LORD and thy saints shall bless thee 10. Who all in their several kinds declare O Lord throughout all generations how great how wise how powerfull and provident Thou art which such as we who are particularly bound unto Thee for special favours bestowed upon us ought most sensibly to acknowledge with thankfull praises 11. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom and talk of thy power 11. It is their duty to discourse of the incomparable wisedom and goodness and care which Thou exercisest in the government of the whole world especially of us and to recount the memorable acts of thy invincible power among us 12. To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious majesty of his kingdom 12. That all mankind who regard not such things so much as they ought may be made sensible how mighty the Lord is and adore the amazing splendour of his illustrious works and the admirable order He observes in his government of all things 13. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations 13. Which as they are all intirely subject to Him so his Empire over them is immoveable and neither ends nor decays but when earthly Kingdoms fail and are transferred from one to another his dominion is still the same throughout all successions 14. The LORD upholdeth all that fall and raiseth up all those that be bowed down 14. In which He doth not neglect any of his subjects that depend upon Him as mortal Princes too frequently doe but supports and comforts the meanest of them that are oppressed with grievous afflictions and gives them a seasonable deliverance when they are in danger to sink and perish under the heavy weight of their burthens 15. The eyes of all wait upon thee and thou givest them their meat in due season 15. He makes a constant provision also for them which every Creature when their necessities call for supply daily receive from Thee O Lord in the proper season for it 16. Thou openest thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing 16. And Thou art not sparing of thy blessings but dispensest them with such a bountifull hand that there are none of them live without satisfaction but have all their appetites filled by thy liberality to the smallest of them 17. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works 17. And therefore let us not doubt but thankfully acknowledge that the Lord is not onely just in all the dispensations of his Providence to us though perhaps we do not apprehend it but exceeding mercifull and kind in every thing that befalls us 18. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth 18. We need doe no more but piously commend our selves to Him and He will take care of us for He is ready on all occasions to relieve every one that addresses himself unto Him with a sincere heart truly disposed to be faithfull to Him 19. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will save them 19. He that satisfies the appetite of all Creatures Ver. 16. will not fail we may be confident to gratifie in their desires such religious persons as fear to offend Him But though He let them fall into troubles and straits in due time will be moved by their importunate prayers to send them a seasonable deliverance 20. The LORD preserveth all them that love him but all the wicked will he destroy 20. For since they love Him so well that they had rather suffer any thing then disobey Him the Lord undoubtedly will preserve them and destroy all those impious men who have no regard to his Laws nor make any scruple to abuse and oppress such vertuous persons 21. My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever 21. For which and all the rest of his benefits I will never cease to sing Hymns of praise unto the Lord and let all mankind remembring how weak and frail they are join together with me in this imployment as the greatest support and comfort and security they have to bless his incomparable Goodness and Power and carefull Providence for ever and ever PSALM CXLVI Hallelujah ARGUMENT This Psalm and the other four which follow both begin and conclude with the word Hallelujah i. e. Praise ye the Lord. And therefore might if the Jews had pleased have been called The great Hallelujah being all of them exhortations and incitements to the people to stir up themselves unto that heavenly imployment which this Psalm recommends to them from the consideration of several of the Divine Excellencies which make