the Lord who shewed his glory and presence from betwéen the Cherubins in the arke ver 8. who is this c. the demaund or question of the faithful people the Lord strong and mightye this is an aunswere to the former question whereby for the strengthening of their faith they are admonished that God armed with inuincible power commeth to defend his people and to beat downe his enemies ver 10. The Lord of hostes i. he whom al hosts both heauenly and earthly do obay and therfore most strong mighty euen in battaile i. not only in warlike strength but in the very pinch and brunt of battaile Do. Ver. 1. describeth the largenesse of Gods gouernment so that nothing is exempted therfrom for though he speake only of the earth and thinges contayned therein yet he mindeth not to exclude the heauenly creatures Ver. 2. Setteth out Gods power and prouidence Ver. 3. Teacheth men to haue regarde to ioine themselues to his church in this life and to haue a speciall care of etexnal life Ver. 4 Teacheth the brideling of our hands the reformation of our harts the subduing of the vaine and wicked affections of our minds and to take héed that we abuse not an othe so that to sweare is not forbidden as the Anabaptists imagine but to sweare deceitfully and wrongfully ver 5. setteth out gods goodnes plentifully rewarding the holy indeuours of his children ver 6. Teacheth that care and zeale to worship God must be in his children ver 7.9 Teacheth men to be prepared to receaue the Lord when he commeth to them ver 8. and 10. is a particular description of Gods power and glory which serueth for comfort to his children because he will deliuer them and for terror to his enemies because he will punish them Psalme 25. IN this Psalme Di. the Prophets prayers are wonderfullye intermedled and therefore it canne be hardlye well diuided Sometimes he prayeth deliuerance frō his enimies shewing what fruit shall come thereby to him and others ver 1.2.3.15.16.17.18.19.20.21 sometimes he prayeth the Lorde to instruct and teach him and others also in the right way shewing how God dealeth with his children ver 4.5.6.8.9.10.12.13.14 and sometimes he confesseth his sinnes praying pardon for them and shutteth vp this Psalme with a prayer for the Church ver 7.11 18.22 The title is expounded before Ver. 1. My soule i. Se. hart and all that is within me his words shewing that in the outward he gaue himselfe to the Lordes seruice and this spéech proueth that his inward man was ioined therewith ver 2. Let me not be confounded vz. by receiuing a repulse at thy hands ver 3. mend thus yea let none that trust in thée be confounded and ioyne it to the former thus q.d. I pray not only for my self but for the rest of the faithfull that transgresse vz. against me in resisting my kingdom that without any cause on my behalf giuen them and so doth the Chaldee paraphrase expoūd it ver 4 shew me thy ways vz. by or in which thou wouldst haue me to walk meaning by waies the order of life which God himself prescribeth the same he meaneth by his paths as we haue had it before ver 5. Lead me forth vz. without daunger of mine enimies in thy truth i. as thou hast promised to shielde mee from them and teach me vz. the same thy truth teaching me to finde it and féele it by experience the God of my saluation i. such a one as I fynd a present helpe to saue me frō and in al dangers all the day i. continually with an vnwearied constancy Ver. 6. Remember thy tender mercies that I maye féele them now as thou hast shewed them always hertofore ver 7. The sins of my youth i. those that I did commit in my youth nor my rebellions vz agaynste thy maiestie euen for thy goodnesse sake q.d. though my sinnes deserue the withdrawing of thy fauor yet think vpon thy mercy and not vppon my iniquities ver 8. Gracious righteous i. merciful to penitent persons and vprighte in the execution of his iudgements Dauid vseth these termes to strike vp himself therby to praier sinners i. all one and other for none are without sin in the way or rather the way for so it is in the Hebrue text meaning a conuersation the God himselfe alloweth of for so it is ver 9. though al do not imbrace it ver 9. in iudgement i. with a thorow iudgement meaning therby aduisedly rightly it séemeth to be a metaphor taken from them that guide others shew thē the way ver 10. paths of the Lord sée ver 4. of this Psalm are mercy and truth i. are most mercifull faithful because that in thē God giueth testimony vnto thē of his mercy truth meaning by truth gods faithfulnesse in performing that which he promiseth his couenant his testimonies i. his Law which is called his couenaunt because that thereby God maketh a couenaunt or bargayne as it were with vs that we should kéepe his law for testimonies sée Psalme 19.7 Verse 11. For thy names sake i. for thy glory and mercies sake least otherwise by my iniquity thy glory might be called into question Verse 12. The way sée verse 4. of this Psalme Verse 13. His soule i. his whole man a part put for the whole Ver. 14. Secrete of the Lorde i. the law of the Lord which is called secret because we cannot vnderstande it of oure selues without light from him Ver. 15. Mine eyes vz. not of my body only but of my fayth and soule are euer toward the Lord i. are earnestly lifted vp and stedfastly fixed vpon him as Psalme 123. ver 1.2 my féete i. me my selfe a part for the whole out of the net i. out of the snares and daungers that myne enemies haue layde to catche me in Ver. 16. Turne thy face i. thy fauourable and louing countenaunce for I am desolate i. vtterlye destitute of helpe vnlesse thou helpe as Psal 22.11.20 and poore i. maruailously afflicted and so haue you this worde sundry times vsed in the Booke of Psalmes Ver. 17. The sorrowes of my harte i. The gréefes and sorrowes that touche and possesse of my harte are inlarged i. multiplied to a wonderfull numbers so that I am hardly able to thinke vpon them with my hart ver 19. with cruell hatred i. with hatred that will neuer be appeased but by committing some crueltye agaynst me ver 20. Soule put for whole man as ver 13. before in this Psalm ver 22. Israell put for the faithfull Israelites and Gods church as Psalme 14 7. Psal 125.5 Psal 131.3 Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth that prayer must ve made to GOD onlye Verse 2. that seruice cannot bee performed but by trust in God ver 4. We are ignoraunt euen the best of vs in Gods worde till the Lorde lighten and teache vs. ver 5. We must continuallye hang vppon GOD by an assured fayth ver 6. Gods mercye is the onely
his enemies for which he promiseth thankfulnesse from ver 1. to the end of the eight in the second part hée setteth out his poore and miserable state desiring the Lorde in mercy to deliuer him from the proude and cruell men frō ver 9. to the end of the 18. Thirdly he declareth Gods wonderfull goodnesse towards his seruaunts whom he exhorteth to put their trust in him and to loue him continually from ver 19. to the end of the Psalme The title is expounded before Ver. 1. be confounded vz. Se. by or among my enimies which I shall be if thou forsake me in thy righteousnesse i. according to thy righteous promise which is then declared to be righteous when it is performed ver 2. a strong rock i. in stéede of a strong rock and high sée Psa 27.5 and an house of defence i. in stéede of such a one and as sure to saue mee i. to defend and deliuer me vz. from the forces of mine enimies ver 3. Rock and fortres sée Psal 18.2 for thy names sake i. for thy own glory honor direct me and guide me vz. going before me and shewing me the way ver 4 For thou art my strength q.d. Without thée I can doe nothing neither truste I in any thing but in thée alone ver 5. Into thine hand i. into thy mighty power and protection I commend my spirit i. life body soule and all that I haue thou hast redéemed vz. out of distresse and bondage wherin I haue bin heretofore God of truth i. most true and faythful God in performing that which thou hast promised ver 6. I haue hated i. wonderfully disliked loathed that giue thēselues i. that take delight pleasure and trust in deceitful vanities he meaneth hy vanities any thing that may cal men frō trust in God he calleth them deceitfull because that though for a time they may féede vs with glorious oftentation yet in fine they wil deceaue vs ver 7. in thy mercy a sodain chaunging of the person thou hast séene vz. euen vnto this daye ver 8. hast not shut vp i. giuen me ouer in the hand i. power and might sée psal 27.12 my féete sée Psalme 25.15 He meaneth that the Lorde had brought to passe that he might fréely without feare go in and out sée Psal 18.19 Ver. 9. Mine eye my soule and my belly are consumed with gréefe he meaneth by this not onely that his sorrow had continued a long while but also wrought wōderful effects in him vz. brought dimnes to his eyes as psal 6.7 weaknes to his stomack for I take the word soule to be vsed here for the power part of life which desireth foode sée Psal 38.10 Psal 102.4 and by belly he meaneth that parte whiche should concoct meat noting that he neither had appetite to eat nor strength to concoct and digest by reason of his great gréefe Ver. 10. he noteth what great gréefe he sustained in respect of himself his own body ver 11 he sheweth what he indured from others I was a reproch i. I was scorned of all and forsaken of them and a feare i. I was a feare meaning that al his acquaintance were afrayde so much as to looke vpon him Ver. 12. I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde he meanrth not that they did not thinke vpon him for all their imagination was how to worke him mischiefe but this he was euen as a dead man who hath no familiaritie nor acquaintance with those that are alyue and of whome he could receiue neyther pleasure nor profite like a broken vessell i. of which or of whom there is no regard had because it is estéemed vnprofitable Ver. 13. Feare was on euery side vz. of me he meaneth that he was as it were beset with feare Ver. 15. My times i. the dayes and yeres of my life are in thine hand i. are gouerned by thy power and prouidence which is great comfort to me because they cannot destroy me though they conspire agaynste me hand of my enimies i. power force Ver. 16. Make thy face to shine i. shew thy self fauorable vnto as Psal 4.6 saue me i. deliuer me out of these dangers ver 17. and the latter part amend thus let the wicked be cut off whē they are going down into the graue i. when they are redy to die let them not be restored to life and health againe as sundrie men are but let them then dy and perish ver 18. Lips put for mouth yea and for the liers themselues a part for the whole ver 19. Layd vp vz. as a most excellēt and rich treasure euen before the sonnes of men these wordes may haue diuers sences If you referre it to these wordes Done to them meaning the godly then they must be vnderstoode thus that God openly and in the sight of mē had poured forth great blessings vpon them If you refer it to these words That trust in thée then it may haue this sence that the godly make more account of God then of the greatest and mightiest in the world for so had we these words vsed before Psal 4.2 Lastly referring it to these wordes That trust in thée it maye haue this sence that Gods children are not afrayde or ashamed to put their trust in God and to serue him The first and the last I best like of Ver. 20. Priuily vz. in respect of men and yet openly to God for he sayth afterwards in thy presence But by hiding them priuily he meaneth nothing but sure kéeping and defence and by presence he vnderstandeth Gods fauour and loue from the pryde i. from the effects that mens pride bring forth though it be neuer so great as braulings contentions bloodshead c. in thy tabernacle sée Psal 27.5 from the strife of tongues i. from brauling and quarrellers wordes which prouoke strife as Prouerb 15.1 Ver. 21. In a strong citie amend thus placing me as it were in a defenced citie wherby he meaneth that God had set him safe and sound from his enimies as they that are in a most strong and safe citie that can not bee surprised Ver. 22. in my hast i. when I was moued to hastines thorowe the trouble of my spirite I am cast out of thy sight i. thou madest no more accoūt of me then of one that was in thy dissauour Ver. 23. The faythfull vz. those that trust vnto him and hold fast their fayth giuen them Ver. 1. Those that trust in God shal neuer be confounded Ver. 2. Do. God is only the defence of his seruants Ver. 3. Gods own goodnesse is the only cause wherfore he doth vs good Ver. 4. The wicked priuily imagine mischiefe against the godly Ver. 5. Féeling of gods goodnesse in time heretofore should perswade vs that we shal féele it hereafter Ver. 6. We must trust in nothing but in the Lord only ver 7. It is no small comfort to Gods children that God hath an eye ouer them and their
procéedeth from imagination in the mynd to execution in act and déede Ver. 3. Plainely prooueth original sinne and noteth the procéedings that the wicked make in vngodlines so that from their birth vnto their death there is nothing but sinne corruption Ver. 4.5 Teacheth vs first that the wicked are giuen to all manner of lying slaundering and backbiting secondly that they are so setled in their sinne that they are almost past hope of recouery Verse 6.7.8.9 Teacheth that wee may pray against the obstinate enemies of Gods Church and trueth that the Lord God woulde if hée sée it so good shortly confounde and spéedely ouerthrowe them which condition would bee vnderstood in al such prayers of Dauid though hee were excellently indued with the spirit of prophecy Ver. 10. Teacheth vs that the execution of Gods iudgements vppon the wicked is a matter of great comfort to the godly Ver. 11. Teacheth vs that the execution of Gods iudgementes vppon the wicked is likewise a matter of great instruction to other people wringing from them a sincere confession acknowledgement of Gods mercy towardes the good and of his iustice towardes the other it teacheth also that the godly shall loose nothing by this that they haue lead a religious and holy life before men in this life sée Isaiah 3.10 Psalme 59 THis Psalme as I take it may bee diuided into two partes Di. In the first the Prophet prayeth deliueraunce from his enemies shewing that their craft cruelty and proud bragges made him thus earnest with God from ver 1. to the end of the 8. In the second he declareth that God notwithstanding all their trecheries will deliuer him vpon which ground hee prayeth and prophecieth against him promising to yéeld thankefulnes to the Lord for that goodnes from ver 9. to the end of the Psalme The title for the most part is expounded before Psalm 57. Se. When Saul sent and they did watch the house to kill him sée for this 1. Samuel 19. from verse 11. to the ende of the 17. where it appeareth howe Michal his wife saued him from those that Saul sent to slay him Ver. 1.2 Hee prayeth to bee deliuered from his enemies which were ready as it were to ouerwhelme him by their wicked attempts cruell practises and mischieuous subtilties who did nothing else as a man would say but seeke his destruction Verse 3. They haue layd wayte vz. both secretly and openly for my soule i. for my life as sundry times before that they might take it away the mighty men q.d. no smal ones and therefore the greater danger am I in but such as haue wille and power to performe what they lift vnlesse thou preuent nor for mine offence nor for my sinne vz. to themward for I haue not done them any maner of euil which also may appeare by the next verse following O Lord q.d. euen as thou that searchest al heartes knowest Ver. 4. They runne and prepare themselues by these wordes the Prophet meaneth that they vsed al their diligence and spared no cost labour or paines to destroy him yea they were so diligent that they thought vppon nothing else almost but to execute their wicked enterprise without a fault on my part vz. towards them as before ver 3. Arise therefore here hee calleth vpon God whom he imagineth to be a sléepe as it were and all this is spoken according to man q.d. shewe thy power and might as hee doeth that is waked out of his sléepe to assist mee i. to stand by me and to strengthen me against such a number of cruel enemies as I haue and behold vz. not only my wretchednes and weakenes but also the outrages and mischieuous matters that they imagine and doe against me Ver. 5. Euē thou O Lorde of hostes hee more plainely describeth the God whom he called vpon for succour and in these termes Lorde of hostes hee comprehendeth his power as who hath infinite armies of all sorts of creatures in his handes to punish the wicked by and to defend the good and by these wordes O God of Israel he setteth out his mercy ioyning both together for the further strēgthening of his fayth awake i. declare thy power as before verse 4. and shewe thy selfe no lesse diligent to succour mee then they are to hurt mee to visite i. to punish and correct as Exod. 20.5 All the heathen by heathen he meaneth the hypocriticall and counterfeit Israelites who did as grieuously persecute Dauid for Sauls pleasure as people estraunged from God woulde haue done and when hee sayth all hee meaneth the greatest number expressing also vnder that terme the great multitude of his enemies which were so many in number as though they had béen whole swarmes of the Gentiles cōming together and bee not mercifull i. shewe no manner of fauour at all that transgresse maliciously i. of set purpose and as it were for the satisfiyng of their owne mischieuous myndes hée mindeth not here to speake of any but of the reprobate whose iniquitie was altogether desperate which as it should seeme hee did knowe through the spirit of prophecy Here wee must take héede that wee bee not ouer hasty to iudge in this behalfe Verse 6. They runne to and fro i. they cease not to goe and come so that they may execute their enterprises and this manner of speach noteth their rage in the euening q.d. if they can doe no euill in the day they will not cease to imploy the night thereto as being in déede a most conuenient tyme to woorke mischiefe in and this setteth out their diligence in committing euil they barke like dogges i. they pursue mee egarly and that with open mouth it is a metaphor taken from dogges vsed in hunting who sundry times followe their game barking and opening their mouthes wide as though they were ready to deuour their pray in which respect hee also compareth them here to raging hungry dogs and goe about the city vz. lest I might escape any maner of way and this noteth their diligence sée Psalm 55.10 Ver. 7. Behold they bragge in their talke i. they boast openly of that which they haue wickedly deuised and consulted on yea they vomit out and discouer all their wicked attempts without hyding or dissembling any thing so great is their impudency and shamelesnes and swordes are in their lippes i. the woordes that they speake are cruell for they speake of nothing but murthering throatcutting and spoyling sée Psalm 55.21 for who say they doth heare vz. our woordes or else perceiue our déeds and attempts and this they say amongst themselues meaning that neither God nor men do perceiue them And here he teacheth the outragious blockishnes that raigneth in the wicked when they perswade themselues that God regardeth not their wickednesses for being in possession fréedome to execute their wicked counsels they haue no shame of men nor feare of God Ver. 8. Sée expounded before Psal 2.4 for the word heathen sée ver 5. of this
i. praye vnto thée he vseth the sign of prayer for prayer it selfe 141.2 Also 1. Timothie 2.8 in thy name i. as some expound it calling vpon thy name me thinketh this is better that for as much as Gods name is in scripture vsed for Gods goodnesse and mercye it should rather be expounded thus in thy name i. cleauing to thy goodnesse and mercy Verse 5. My soule shall be satisfyed q.d. though nowe I bee in greate miserye yet when thou shalt haue heard my prayers I shall bee filled both inwardly and outwardly for I take the soule to be put here for the whole man as Psalme 42.2 as with marrow and fatnesse i. as though I had a heape or abundaunce of all swéet and good things sée Psal 4.6.7 and my mouth shall prayse thée i. set out and shew forth thy prayse as Psalme 51.15 with ioyfull lippes i. with lippes that shal be glad and ready to perform that duety Ver. 6. when I remember thée in my bed i. thinke vpon thee and thy goodnesse being thereby prouoked to call vpon thée and that as I lie vpon my bed in the night watches this is spoken according to the maner of the people thē who diuided the night into certaine watches as Mat. 14.35 Mark 13.35 Verse 7. Because thou hast bin my helper vz. at al assaies and in all distresses therefore vnder the shadow of thy winges will I reioyce i. being vnder thy protection I will be glad and alwayes trust in thée sée Psal 57.1 and other places Verse 8. My soule i. I my selfe both body and soule cleaueth vnto thée vz. euen as if it were glued and by this manner of spéeche hee expresseth the assured hope and confidence that he had in god for thy right hand i. thy great might and power as we haue had it sundry times before vpholdeth me vz. in all distresse and agaynst al assaults of mine enimies both inward outward Ver. 9. Therefore i. because thou art on my side they that séeke my soule i. my life and that of a cruel hatred to destroy it vz. as much as in them lyeth to take it away from amongst men shall go into the lowest parts of the earth i. shall die and perish he speaketh this of Saule and the people that tooke part with him the verification of which prophecie sée 1. Sam. 31. throughout Ver. 10. They i. the Philistines shall cast him down i. ouerthrow Saul his company yea kill the with the edge of the sword i. with the force of warlike instruments vsing one sort of them for the rest and they i. mine enemies vz. Saule and his complices shal be a portion for foxes i. their bodies shal be deuoured and torne in péeces by wild beasts and they shal not haue the honor of buriall which was a very hateful thing to heare of specially amongst the people of the Iewes True it is that this oftentimes falleth vpon the good as is declared Psal 79.2 for afflictiōs are cōmō both to good bad but in the end is diuers Ver. 11. But the king i. I my self whom God hath annoynted by Samuel to be King speaking of himselfe in the third person shal reioyce in God vz. for the great help and deliuerance that he hath wrought for me all that sweare by him i. God meaning by this manner of spéech all that feare him and serue him with a right and reuerent affection putting a part of the seruice for the whole as Deutronom 6.13 shall reioice i. be glad because God in fauour hath bestowed so good a king vpō them for the mouth of them that speake lies he setteth these hipocrites agaynst the other sincere harted people and by speaking of lies he meaneth not only false slaundering of Dauid but also dissimulation and crafty dealing with God in his seruice shal be stopped he meaneth that the wicked shal be vtterly remoued and taken away from amongst men some by death as before ver 10. and some by confusion and shame as in this verse Do. Verse 1. Teacheth that we should many times breake our sléepes to the ende we might pray to God it teacheth vs also what an earnest hunger thirste we ought to haue to his seruice and worship with the assembly of his saynts Ver. 2. Teacheth that Gods power maiesty glorye and goodnesse appeareth in no place more then in the congregations of his people Ver. 3. Teacheth that Gods mercy rightly felte farre surmounteth all treasures of this life whatsoeuer Verse 4. Teacheth that the féeling of Gods goodnesse shoulde wring from vs continuall prayer and praysing of his maiestie Verse 5. Our inward man and our outward man should delight in God and good things aboue al. Ver. 6. teacheth vs continually to think vpon god both vpō our beds in our beds and al the night long when we can not sléepe Ver. 7. sheweth that Gods prouidēce and protection is a sure safegard to al the faythful and the only matter in déed that canne minister true ioy Verse 8. Teacheth that the perswasion wée haue of God and in God should not be wauering but assured and constant Verse 9. teacheth that bloodthirsty men shal not escape vnpunished Verse 10. Teacheth that God sundry times stirreth vp one wicked company to plague ouerthrow another Ver. 11. comprehendeth a doctrine of singular comforte to all sincere and true worshippers of Gods maiestie Psalme 64 THis Psalme is the selfe same argument with that which goeth next before and it may be diuided into thrée parts Di In the first the Prophet prayeth God to graunt him his requestes and to kéepe him free from the rage and crueltie of his enemies and this is comprised in the two first verses In the seconde he doth by péecemeale as it were set out the vices of those his wicked and vngodly enimies from verse thrée to the end of the 6. In the third he foretelleth their ruine and ouerthrowe shewing what good shall come therby to al men in general and namely to the righteous from verse 7. to the end of the Psalme The title is expounded already in the fourth Psalme Ver. 1. Se. Heare my voice O God in my praier i. graunt me those requests that in my praiers by my voice I lay out before thée for hearing is put for yéelding vnto in this place as sundry times before for Dauid neuer doubted the God heard him though sometimes he deferred to graunt his petition from feare of the enemy i. from that great peril which I feare the enemie goeth about would gladly lay vpō me Ver. 2. Hide me vz. in some assured place that the flatterers of Sauls court which imagine my destructiō may not find me out from the conspiracy of the wicked i. from these outrages cruelties that the wicked in their secret méetings haue conspired and imagined agaynst me from the rage i. frō the outwarde violence oppression of the workers of iniquity he meaneth by this spéech those that
vz. with thy gracious raigne or abundance thereof when it was weary i. faint and not able to yéelde fruite through drought or some other discommodious season Ver. 10. Thy congregation i. thy people of Israel which is called the Lordes congregation because hee had gathered it out of all the people of the world dwelled vz. long agoe and euen at that present when this Psalme was made therin i. in the land of Canaan hast of thy goodnes i. of thy méere mercy without any merite or desert at all on mens behalfe prepared it i. long agoe appointed it for the poore i. for thine owne people as ver 7. of this Psalme not onely to set out the great goodnes of God who despised them not for that but also because they came of poore auncestry and were in miserable case in Egipt and when they came out of it sée Deutron 26.5.6 Ver. 11. The Lorde gaue matter vz. not only of speach but also of praise and thankesgiuing to the women who were wont amongest Gods people to sing songes after a victory gotten against the enemies as Exodus 15.20 Iudg. 5.1 c. Iudg. 11.34 1. Sam. 18.16 to tell i. to speake largely and to set abroad of the great army vz. ouerthrowne and cast to the ground by Gods people and by one armie hee vnderstandeth many Ver. 12. Kinges of the armies i. Kinges furnished with mightie armies comming out against Gods people as Sihon king of the Amorits Og the king of Bashan c. did flée vz. away from the face and presence of Gods people they did flée i. they were in déede discomfited and not able to stand for the repetition of the worde maketh for the certaintie of the thing and she that remained in the house i. weake women who in deede shoulde bée housekéepers as appeareth 1. Timothie 5.13 Nowe he speaketh of one comprehending vnder her all the rest who this was can hardly bee determined but most likely it was to bee Iael of whom sée Iudges 5.24 deuided the spoyle i. either was an instrument that the spoyle was diuided amongest others by slaying Sisera or else hee meaneth that the bootie shoulde bee so great that euen the weake women which taried at home in their houses or tentes shoulde haue part thereof Verse 13. Though yee haue lyen among pots i. haue béene in very great misery and liued as it were in great deformity for lacke of trimming or looking too for this is a metaphor taken from slaues or skullions that followe campes who in the night season labour in some sort to keepe thēselues from wind and weather as we say by sitting in chimney corners or lying on hearthes and therefore commonly are all ouer black Now this is vsuall in Scripture by blackenes to haue aduersitie and affliction signified yet shall ye bee vz. through the grace and fauour that I will shewe you as the winges of a Doue i. yée shall shine and haue a glorious colour and shalbée purged from all your blackenes for yée shalbée like to the wings of a Doue that is couered with siluer i. yée shalbée all white and cleane and glittering for so much hee meaneth by this similitude and that which foloweth in this ver and not that any Doues were couered ouer with siluer or had golden fethers but hee speaketh it thus q.d. if it were possible for a Doue either in winges or feathers to haue as goodly a shewe as golde or siluer yet assure your selfe of this that you shall come to as much cleannes Ver. 14. Scattered kinges i. confounded them causing them either to flee or killing them sée verse 1. of this Psalme in it i. in the lande of Canaan which hee gaue to his people it was white i. florishing and fresh by reason of the slaughter of the enemies and the great victory God had giuen that people against them as the snowe in Zalmon this was a mountaine on this side Iordan Iudg. 9.48 Which some affirme was wont to haue snowe continually lying vpon it whether it were so or no it is not much material I rather take it to be a part of the land of Canaan put for the whole meaning that after the ouerthrow of these kings the land was as glorious and glittering to behold to as any snowe could bee Ver. 15. The mountaine of God i. mount Sion which is called Gods mountaine because it pleased him that in that place his worshippe should be vsed is like the mountaine of Bashan i. most fruitfull and plentiful in all blessings as Bashan is but it excéedeth it in spiritual graces it is an high mountain as mount Bashan q.d. there is nothing commendable or praise worthie in Bashan but a mā may find as much and more also to cōmend in mount Sion Ver. 16. Why leape ye i. why do ye reioyce for ioy lift vp your self in pride you high mountains vz. because of your height q.d. there is no cause why you should so do as for this mountaine vz. of Sion God delighteth to dwell in it vz. by his spiritual presence the exercises of his religion the Lord wil dwel in it for euer i. for a long season as sundry times before we haue had the word so vsed q.d. GOD hath not chosen you or any of you for al your height to that purpose and therfore good cause why you shoulde leaue of lifting vp your selfe in pride and no doubt but by Sion he signifieth the estate of the kingdome of the Messias and of his Church which is farre aboue all height in the world Ver. 17. The chariots of God i. the armies that God hath or his power putting the thinges wherein men were caried for the men themselues or else because in olde time they thought great strength to stand in chariots and horses hee vseth them for Gods might are twenty thousand thousand Angels i. infinite and innumerable Angels a certaine number for an vncertaine sée 2. King 6.17 and the Lorde is among them vz. to commaund order direct and guide them that all things may be rightly done as in the sanctuary of Sinai i. in as great glory as he appeareth in the holy place or mount of Sinai where the lawe was giuen The Prophet meaneth that the maiesty of God did shewe it selfe no lesse forth in the sanctuary at Sion then it did in the mountaine at Sion when the lawe was published Verse 18. Thou art gone vp on high the Prophet speaketh vnto God meaning that by the manifestatiō of his power he had obtained excellent honour thou hast led captiuitie captiue hee putteth captiuitie for persons in captiuitie as prisoners alluding to the custome of those dayes wherein the princes after victory obtained were wont to haue the prisoners takē in warres lead before them in token of renowne and victory and marke in this verse that though in Dauids time warres were made vnder his conducting notwithstanding the prayse of the victory is wholy ascribed to God and receiued gifts
those that are his but rather hee praieth the Lord to shew by effect that he hath care ouer him sée Genesis 8 1. O Lord vz. in whom alone I put my trust and therfore as a sure testimony thereof call vpon them with the fauour of thy people i. with that fauour that thou hast promised and art wont to shew to thy people he calleth that frée loue and mercy which God carieth towards his the fauour of his people visit vz. with mercy and goodnesse for to visit in this place is taken in the good parte euen for the accomplishment of Gods gracious promises towards his seruauntes sée Gen. 21.1 me vz. oppressed with mine own gréefe the gréefe of my people with thy saluation i. with gracious fauour deliuerance from thée so you haue had the word saluation sundry times vsed before namely Psal 3.8 ver 5. That I may sée vz. not only with my bodily and spiritual eyes but also possesse inioy sée Psal 34.12 fight put for inioying the felicity of thy chosen i. the blessednes and goodnes that thou bestowest vppon them whome thou hast chosen to thy self reioice in the ioy of thy people i. haue an occasion giuen me to reioyce as thy saints and seruaunts doe and glory vz. not in my selfe but in thée with thine inheritaunce i. with thy people whom thou hast elected an heritage to thy selfe for inheritance sée Psal 28.9 Ver. 6. We haue sinned vz. against thy Maiesty with our fathers i. as our fathers haue done also q.d. we they also haue sinned not as though they had both sinned at one time but that they were al culpable of sin against him vnderstanding by fathers al their ancestors we haue cōmitted vz. continally without ceasing iniquity done wickedly vz. both agaynst God man The Prophet cannot content himselfe with any words to set forth the notoriousnes of his own sins and the sins of his people Ver. 7. Our Fathers i. our ancestors as before ver 6. of this Psal vnderstood not i. did not rightly or wisely consider of thy wonders in Egipt i. those great works that thou diddest for their sake in that land neither remembred they vz. as they should haue don to haue prouoked thē to thankfulnes towards thée for the same the multitude of thy mereies vz. shewed euē frō the time of Abrahams calling vnto this present but speciallye those thinges that were done in Egipt before their eyes but rebelled vz. against thée at the sea euen at the red sea for the more assurance he nameth the sea And this may bée vnderstoode either of their rebellion Exod. 14.11 before they passed through the sea or else of their murmuring and rebellion after they came through the sea Exod. 16.2 c. q.d. they were no sooner passed the sea but immediatly they beganne to rebell or of both of them together Immanuel readeth it farre otherwise and giueth an other sense but methinketh this is playne Ver. 8. Neuerthelesse q.d. notwithstanding all their sinnes hee saued them i. hée deliuered them from daungers and distresse as sundry times before for his names sake i. because hee woulde not haue his maiesty goodnes and power ill spoken of amongest the Heathen that hée might make his power to bee knowne vz. thereby and that euen among all his and their enemies Ver. 9. And he rebuked the red sea he now prayseth and setteth out the power of God because that at his onely commaundement and will the sea gaue frée passage to his people for the word rebuke sée Psalm 104.7 and it was dried vp vp in that place through which the people had passage for otherwise the waters were as a wall vnto them on their right hande and on their left sée Exod. 14.21.22 and he led them vz. safely in the déepe vz. of the redde Sea meaning that God caried them betwéene two heapes of waters which waters gaue place vnto the Israelites by Gods appoyntment as if that the place it selfe had béene by nature dry sée Exod. 15.5 as in the wildernes i. as vpon the dry land in a safe and playne way Ver. 10. And he saued them i. deliuered them vz. the Israelites from the aduersaries hand i. from the power and force of them that pursued them with a deadly hatred meaning the Egiptians and deliuered them from the hande of the enemy i. set them frée from the power rage of the Egiptians counting them all but as one enemie because they were all of one heart and mynd to do mischiefe to Gods people Ver. 11. and the waters vz. of the red sea couered their oppressors i. ouer whelmed and drowned them so that not one of them was left vz. aliue to carry backe any tydinges Sée Exod. 14.28 Ver. 12. Then vz. when they had séene al these gret things beléeued they his words this is not spoken for their prayse but to amplifie the fault of their rebellion for that they continued not but immediatly fell to distrust and vnbelief and sang prayses vnto him vz. for his great mercies practised towardes them Sée the history of ver 9.10.11.12 in the 14. and 15. chapters of the booke of Exodus Ver. 13. But incontinently i. they were almost no sooner deliuered they forgate his workes vz. which he had done for them hee meaneth not by forgetting that the remembrance of them was vtterly rased out of all their myndes but that they had them not in that due and reuerent regarde they should haue had for the strengthening of their fayth sée for their sodaine chaunge Exod. 15 22.23 and wayted not vz. with patience for his coūsell i. for the thinges which in his eternall counsell he had purposed to bestow vpon them his purpose is to note that as they would not be gouerned by god suffering him to do all according to his good pleasure but woulde followe the deuises of their owne heads and hearts so they did it though the remēbraunce of gods benefits were fresh before them which circumstance aggrauated their sinne Ver. 14. But lusted with concupiscence by doubling the word the Prophet mindeth not onely to note the sinne of their lust but the very burning and rage of that sinne of theirs in the wildernes he noteth also the place for the more certainety of the story and tempted God in the desert to tempt God is in this place put for not staying themselues vppon Gods will but laying the raynes in their neckes and following their owne concupiscences to aske more of God then hee would giue them and when he speaketh of lusting tempting we must vnderstande that they did it more then once as may appeare Exod. 15.24 Exod. 16. throughout Exod. 17.2 c. Numb 11.1 Numb 20.3 c. Ver. 15. Then he gaue them their desire i. the things which they desired and demanded so gracious was God howsoeuer rebellious they were and sent leanenes into their soule i. into their body one part being put for an other or else
themselues had deuised to themselues meaning also by whoring that they followed it earnestly and with delight Ver. 40. Therefore vz. for their great grieuous sinnes was the wrath of the Lorde kindled vz. very hote meaning by kindling the preparing of it against his people i. against that people that hée had chosen to bee his owne and hée abhorred i. lothed and hated as it were and that for their sinnes sake his owne inheritance i. both the land the people whome hee tooke for an inheritaunce vnto himselfe Ver. 41. And he gaue them vz. for their great sinnes committed against him into the lande of the Heathen i. into their power and possession and they that hated them i. the geÌ„tiles who could at no hand away with them because they came to enioye their lande were Lordes ouer them i. ruled them at their owne pleasure sée for this speach Isaiah 26.13 and for the truth of the matter the whole booke of Iudges and namely chap. 2.14 Ver. 42. Their enemies also oppressed thm vz. sore and hardly and many times and they were humbled i. subiected and that sundry tymes vnder their hand i. vnto their power and authority Ver. 43. Many a time did hée vz. God deliuer them vz. out of the hande and power of their enemies but vz. notwithstanding these great graces they prouoked him vz. to wrath against them and that sundry times also by their counsels i. by those things which they themselues had grauely and as it were in counsel concluded and resolued vppon to perfourme therefore they were brought downe vz. from that high state of liberty and fréedome wherein God had set them to miserable captiuity and bondage by their iniquity vz. committed against his maiesty Ver. 44. Yet hee sawe q.d. notwithstanding these grieuous sinnes of theirs he did not onely behold them afflicted but pitied them when they were in affliction i. in any trouble and hee hearde their cry i. granted them al things they prayed for when they prayed which was a sure token of compassion towardes them Verse 45. And hée remembred his couenant vz. which hee had made with their Fathers and them the Prophet in these two verses noteth two meanes whereby God was moued to doe good to this people the one was his frée mercy and the other was his gracious couenant towardes them i. for their good and on their behalfe and repented vz. of the punishmentes that hee had purposed to bring vppon them meaning hereby that God after a sort chaunged as it were his purpose not that God is subiect to alteration or chaunge but because pardoning both the fault and the punishment hée séemeth vnto vs to chaunge and this manner of speach is applied to the weakenes of our capacity Sée Gene. 6.6 according to the multitude of his mercies q.d. euen as hee is inclined to shewe abundance of fauour so he shewed them the riches of his grace Ver. 46. And gaue them fauour i. made them to finde fauour Sée Gene. 45.14 in the sight of all them that led them captiues the Lorde who hath the disposing of all mens heartes so inclined their heartes to his people Ver. 47. Saue vs O Lorde our God i. deliuer vs and set vs frée from the daungers and distresses wherein wée are and gather vs from among the Heathen whose captiues we are for our sinnes and amongest whome we heare and sée things tending much to thy dishonour and the griefe of our soules and marke the Prophets zeale and loue towardes the people though hée were king and the gouernement well established yet because that by the confusion that was in the dayes of the Iudges and Saul many people were out of their owne countrey hée prayeth the Lorde as for himselfe to reduce and bring them backe agayne that we may prayse thy holy name i. thy maiesty power goodnesse c. which is full also of all holinesse and glorye in thy prayse i. reioyce and boast as it were of this that wee haue him for our GOD who alone is worthy all prayse and glorye Verse 48. Blessed i. praysed bée the Lord GOD of Israell i. hée that is the defender of the people of Israel who are called Israell because they came of Iaakob otherwise called Israell for euer and euer and let all the people say so bee it i. let all young and olde one and other acknowledge that hée alone is woorthye prayse and giue their frée and willing consent vnto it for so much hee meaneth by so bée it prayse yée the Lorde Sée Psalme 104. and 105. in the ende Ver. 1. Teacheth vs that the greatnesse of Gods goodnes Do. and the continuaunce of his mercies shoulde prouoke vs earnestly and continually to praise the Lorde Verse 2. Teacheth first that Gods graces and woorkes are infinite Secondly that though wée can not so sufficiently prayse him as wee shoulde yet wée shoulde not for all that leaue off to doe that which hée hath giuen vs grace to doe Verse 3. Teacheth vs to deale well and to continue in well doing and that so wee shall in the end atteine true blessednesse Ver. 4. Teacheth vs in distresse to cal vpon the Lord. Ver. 4. and 5. Teach vs to set before vs Gods mercies towardes his children that wee may assure our selues in hope to receiue the like Ver. 6. Teacheth vs humbly vnfeignedly fully confesse to our sins Ver. 7. Teacheth vs that forgetfulnes of Gods graces is the high way to all rebellion and sinne it teacheth vs also that forefathers are not always to be followed Verse 8 teacheth that though the sinnes of his children be very great yet they doe not alwayes set or hinder the riuers of his mercies towards them Ver. 9. Teacheth first that for the benefite of his children he will make things go contrary to their natural course Secondly that when his children in mens eyes séeme to bée in the greatest daungers hée will lead them as safely as though they were in none at all Ver. 10. Sheweth that al maner of deliuerances come from the Lord onely and his power Ver. 11. Teacheth that the same things that God maketh to giue place to his childreÌ„ shall serue to the vtter destruction of his and their enemies Ver. 12. Teacheth vs alwayes to beléeue the trueth of Gods worde yea though wee sée no meane how it can be performed secondly that wée should continually prayse God for his mercies Ver. 13. Teacheth that it is a very easie thing to fall into sinne it teacheth also that forgetfulnes of gods graces is as it were the nurse mother of many other transgressions also that we should tary the Lordes leasure for the accomplishing of that which hée hath appoynted vs. Ver. 14. Teacheth that lust or concupiscence is sinne also also that we should not tempt or try the Lord Ver. 15. Teacheth that God bestowing hâ—â— benefits vpon the wicked doth many times with all lay punishments vpon them Ver. 16. Teacheth vs to loue and reuerence the
watching all night do desire to sée the breaking vp of their watch in the morning Verse 7 Let Israell i. Gods faithfull people as before Psalme 129 and afterwardes Psal 131 3 and in this verse he exhorteth all the Church by this example to hāg vpon God wayt vz. with patience on the Lorde vz. only and no other but him for with the Lord is mercy i. hee is gracious and mercifull as before verse 4 of this Psalme and this is a reason why he woulde haue the faithfull to hang vpon the Lord and with him is greate redemption vz. procéeding from that mercye of his as the streame from the Fountayne Meaning by that word great redemption that the Lord hath diuers meanes to deliuer his by and to draw them out of all daungers wherein soeuer they shal be Ver. 8. And he vz. himself and no other for him shall vz. most certainlye and assuredly redéeme i. set frée and deliuer Israell i. his faythfull people which shall haue their trust in him from all his iniquities i. not onely from all their sins but also from all daungers and distresses whereinto their sinnes mighte cast them For so largely doe I rest perswaded that the word shoulde be taken in this place Do. Verse 1 teacheth vs that the more afflictions increase vpon vs the more earnest and often should we be with the Lord by prayer Verse 2 teacheth vs that because sinne cleaueth fast vnto vs and our praiers pierce little or nothing that therefore we should continually call vpon the Lord to heare our prayers Verse 3 teacheth vs in our prayers to haue recourse vnto Gods mercy onely also that no man is able to stand as righteous in the presence and iudgement of God Verse 4 sheweth that Gods mercy should not breede carelesnesse in vs but care and conscience to walke before him in feare and trembling Verse 5 teacheth that there was neuer yet any one confounded that did vnfeignedlye put his trust in the Lord Verse 6 teacheth vs earnestly to hunger and thyrste after the Lord. Verse 7 teacheth vs to prouoke others as well as our selues with patience to waite vpon the Lord. Verse 8 teacheth vs that it is God onlye that can deliuer from sinne and from all those punishments whiche sinne hath pulled vpon vs. Psalme 131. Di. THe Prophet in this Psalme propoundeth two thinges first he setteth downe the simplicitie and humblenesse of his own minde ver 1 2. Secondly he exhorteth the faithfull by his example to stryue to patience verse 3. Se. The title is expounded before Psalme 120 also Psalme 122 in the title thereof Verse 1. Lord vz. whom I serue q.d. thou knowest whether it bee true or no that I speake though men will not beléeue me mine heart is not haughty he beginneth with the fountayne of pride which is in the heart q.d. Thou knowest that I haue not so much as in hart affected the Kingdome or Saules ruine or taken in hande any great matter but by a stedfast faith haue wholye stayed my selfe vpon thée and rested in the obedience of thy will neither are mine eyes loftie from the inward which is the hart he commeth to the outward which are the eyes q.d. that there was not in his visage or countinance any signe of pride but that outwardly he gaue an euident testimony of the humilitie of his hart inwardly neither haue I walked in great matters i. I haue not attempted high enterprises by fact without the reache of my calling and hid from me i. I haue not assayed to looke into such thinges as passe the lighte of capacity and vnderstanding which thou gauest me Verse 2. Surely q.d. this is most certain and thou knowest it though I would not report it I haue behaued my selfe vz. both outwardly and inwardly like one weaned from his mother i. euen as a little childe which is humble and lowly in whiche respecte our sauiour sayth except we receaue the kingdome of God as a little child we shall not enter therein Mar. 10 15. and Paul bee not children in vnderstanding but as concerning maliciousnesse be children 1 Cor. 14 20. and kéept silence i. speake very little or nothing I am in my selfe i. in mine owne perswasion and that in the vpright testimonie of a good conscience before God as one that is weaned i. as a yong childe in respect of affections and wicked desires for children commonly are not very old when they are weaned Ver. 3. Let Israell waye on the Lord sée this expounded Psal 130. ver 7. from henceforth and for euer i. from this time and continually Ver. 1 teacheth vs to auoyd pryde and arrogancye Do. both inwardly in the hart and outwardly in the countenance and behauiour Ver. 2 teacheth vs to striue to all humilitie and lowlinesse of affection Ver. 3 teacheth vs not only with patience for the time to wait vpon the Lord but to doe it continually for euer Psalme 132. THis Psalme may be diuided into two parts Di In the first is conteined a prayer for Dauid the Lords Priests and the faithfull people of God with a declaration of their zeale to Gods worship and seruice from verse 1. to the end of the 10. In the second there is expressed both Gods promises made particularly to Dauid and his posterity also to the whole churche generally from ver 11. to the end of the Psalme The Title is expounded before in the title of Psal 120. Ver. 1. Lord vz. Se. which art the only true God iudgest vprightly remēber i. declare by effects that thou remēbrest and beholdest him that thou doest approue the purpose of his mind in graunting him his request for otherwise God neuer forgetteth specially those that are his sée Gen. 8.1 Dauid vz. thine annointed king seruaunt and al his affliction i. al and euery one of the troubles which he hath indured specially the great care of his hart for the building of thy Temple of which sée 2. Sam. 7 1 2 3. but specially that which followeth in this Psal and all this he alleageth not as boasting of any thing he did but that séeing the Lord mercifull vnto him he might thereby take an argument of good things Ver. 2. who sware vnto the Lord i. bound himselfe vnto him by an oth and that to this end that therby he might be the more carefully bound to perform the good wch hée had promised sée Psal 119 6 vowed a vow i. promised that certainly this difference I take to be betwéen an oth a vow that the one is made with calling god to witnes the other is a solemn protestation or promise only yet so that if it be made concerning good things and by them that haue power in themselues to perform it it bindeth the cōscience sée Num. 30 thorow out to the mighty god of Iaakob i. to God who by his mightie force and power did deliuer the Patriarche Iaakob from all his daungers faying vz.
wil spéedily send vs to god cried I vnto the Lord sée this expounded verse 1. of this Psal and sayd vz. froÌ„ the bottome of my hart thou art my hope i. he in whom I put my hope to be deliuered from al my distres feare for otherwise he had his hope fast setled in his hart and my portion vz. wherewith I do content my self knowing that hauing thée I haue all things wanting thée I haue nothing in the land of the liuing i. in this worlde in this very present life as Psal .. 27 13 Ver. 6. Hearken vnto my cry i. graunt my petition which I do earnestly make vnto thée and poure forth before thée for I am brought very low vz. by outward persecutions and inward gréefes as ver 3 of this Psal meaning by this spéech also that he was at the last cast and euen as it were at deaths dore deliuer me vz. of thy goodnesse thorow thy great power might from my persecutors i. from such as persecute me that without anye cause on my part for they are too strong for me vz. alone of my selfe meaning that he was not able to deale with theÌ„ any maner of way vnles God tooke his part and strengthened him Ver. 7. Bring vz. thorow thy goodnes and power my soule i. my life me my selfe a part put for the whole as Psal 14.1.8 and ver 4 of this Psal out of prison i. out of this most present daunger and captiuity wherin I am with which I am coÌ„passed about on euery side by the reason of the rage of mine enemies as the prison is with strong wals that I may praise thy name i. thy maiesty power and goodnes for that deliueraÌ„ce so we haue had the word name vsed sundry times in that sence before then i. when thou shalt haue deliuered me shal the righteous come about me i. a great number of good people shal come vnto me and heare me setting forth thy praise for thy mercy towards me shal not only reioyce be glad on my behalf but prayse thy name together with me when thou art beneficiall vnto me i. when thou shalt haue bestowed vpon me this great benefit of deliueraunce sée Psal 119.17 Do. Verse 1 teacheth vs earnestnes and feruency in prayer Ver. 2 teacheth vs that the way to be rid from affliction is harty calling vpon the name of the Lord. Ver. 3 teacheth vs that howsoeuer we be distressed either outwardly or inwardly this is our comfort that the Lord approueth vs. Ver. 4. teacheth vs of what little estimation Gods children be with the world and worldly men Ver. 5 teacheth vs that the more afflictions increase vpon vs the more chearefully should we stirre vp our fayth and hope and earnestly call vpon the Lord. Ver. 6. teacheth vs that the féeling of our own misery and weakenesse and the feare of our foes force should be good whetstones to sharpen our prayers Verse 7 teacheth vs not onlye to prayse God for those mercies which he bestoweth vppon vs our selues but also to repaire to others vppon whome God hath bestowed great graces that thereby we may be prouoked to prayse God not only for theÌ„ but for our selues also and his mercy towards vs. Psalme 143 I Doe iudge that this Psalm may very fitly be diuided into two partes Di. In the first the Prophet beséecheth the Lord to grant his petition and to remooue his sins which might be a hinderaunce to his mercies alleaging certayne reasons of his supplication as the rage of the enemie his owne weakenes the experience he had had of Gods goodnesse c. from verse 1. to the end of sixt In the second part he doth as it were renewe his prayer afresh desiring the Lord to graunt his requests to shew him his mercy to order his conuersation and to deliuer him from his aduersaries and oppressors from verse 7. to the end of the Psalme The title A Psalme of Dauid i. which Dauid made Se. this is the title of sundry Psalmes and hath bin expounded before Ver. 1. Heare my prayer O Lord i. graunt me the things that I pray for hearken vnto my supplication i. giue me the things that I humbly sue vnto thée for answere me vz. who call vppon thée and pray vnto thée vnderstanding by answering also yéelding vnto his requests in thy truth i. according to thy gracious promises which contayn in theÌ„ nothing but truth because they procéed from thée that art the God of truth and truth it self in thy righteousnesse i. according to thy righteous nature who doest deliuer a iust cause from iniustice or else by righteousnes we may vnderstand gods goodnesse by which he maintaineth those that are his for gods righteousnesse specially shineth forth in his faithful accomplishment of his promises Ver. 2. And enter not into iudgement i. be so farre of from pronouncing sentence I pray thée that I would not haue thée to begin to prepare thy selfe to lay out my faults or to come into iudgement with thy seruaunt i. with me thy seruauÌ„t speaking of himself in the third persoÌ„ as sundry times before namely Psal 119 17. for in thy sight i. before thée if thou shouldest once take vppon thée to enter into iudgement with theÌ„ shal none of what state or condition soeuer he be that liueth vz. euen now or shal liue hereafter be iustified i. be fouÌ„d iust if he be loked vpon in himself for otherwise he mindeth not to say that al shall be condeÌ„ned for God hath a remnaunt in election according to grace Ver. 3. For the enemie i. my enemy or enemies rather â—utting one who was the chéef as Saul or some such other for him al his coÌ„plices hath persecuted my soule i. hath egarly pursued me and my life to take it awaye from mee hee hath smitten vz. with his rage and crueltie my life i. me my selfe my company that I haue with me who are means for the preseruation of my life which appeareth plainly by the history of the first booke of Sam. and by Psalme 141.7 he i. the enemye as in the beginning of this verse hath layde mée in the darkenesse i. hath caused me and mine to dwell in Caues and holes and other darke places sée 1 Samuel 24.4 as they that haue bin deade long agoe q.d. By the importunitie of our enemies we are inforced to flie the light to liue in darke places euen as it were in the graues with them that died long sithence Ver. 4. And my spirit was in perplexitie in me i. I was greatlye and gréeuously troubled sée Psal 77.3 also Psal 142.3 and my hart within me was amased vz. by reason of the gréeuous assaultes that both outwardlye and inwardly I did indure Ver. 5. Yet q.d. notwithstanding al my heauy affliction do I remember vz. euen to my great ioy and comforte the time past i. the graces and blessinges whiche in former time thou diddest bestowe vppon my
afflictions or aduersities or whether they bee already fallen into the same God reacheth out his hande and either keepeth them from falling or else deliuereth them being fallen Verse 15. The eyes of all vz. thinges whatsoeuer wayte vppon thée vz. with patience and that for their â—â—â—â—re and sustenaunce and thou giuest vz. euen in thy mercy them their meate i. that portion of foode that thou hast appointed for them in due season i. in that time that thou séest with thy selfe to bee good and méete for them Verse 16. Thou openest thyne hande i. thou stretchest forth thy power and giuest plentifully and largely to all thy creatures and fillest all thinges liuing i. whatsoeuer liueth and moueth or hath sense féeling and groweth of thy good pleasure hee noteth here the cause why all the creatures are norished vz. Gods good pleasure and will Sée for these 2. ver Psalme 104. ver 27.28 c. Verse 17. The Lorde is righteous i. iust and equall in all his wayes i. in euery thing that hee taketh in hande hée meaneth that God obserueth a most vpright course in euery thing he doeth howe corrupt or partiall so euer men be in their dealings and holy in all his workes i. his very workes declare that there is a certaine kynde of vnspeakeable holinesse in his maiesty that woorde holy would bee better turned good or mercifull and so doeth Immanuel turne it sée to this end ver 9. of this Psalme Ver. 18. The Lorde is néere i. euen ready at hand not onely to heare them but to helpe them vnto all that call vpon him i. to those that worshippe and serue him a part of Gods seruice put for the whole as Gene. 4.26 1. Corinth 1.2 also 2. Timot. 2.19 yea to all that called vppon him in trueth i. without feigning or hypocrisie or else that call vppon him in such sort that they perfourme not the inuocation of his name by their inuentions and superstitions In summe hee setteth trueth against infidelitie doubting impacience murmuring counterfeite humilitie and vicious affecting of thinges which are the fruites of lying for true worshippers Sée Iohn 4.24 and this hée addeth in the way of correction q.d. though I sayde before that the Lorde heareth all them that call vppon him yet I meane it of al them that call vppon him in trueth Verse 19. Hée will fulfill i. accomplish and perfourme the desire of them i. the thinges which they shall desire and will according to his will Sée 1. Iohn 5.14 because God setteth vppon their affections a lawe of obedience that feare him i. that serue and worshippe him this hath béene sundry tymes expounded before hee will also heare their cry i. graunt them their requestes which they pray euerlastingly vnto him for and will saue them i. both deliuer them out of all the daungers of this lyfe and at the ende bring them to eternall life Verse 20. The Lorde preserueth vz. from any notorious hurt or daunger or if not so yet hée maketh away for them to escape out of it as shal bee most for his glory and their comfort all them that loue him vz. vnfeignedly and with a good heart Sée Roman 8.28 but hee wil destroy vz. in his wrath and iust iudgement all the wicked vz. of the worlde of what estate or condition so euer they bee Verse 21. My mouth shall speake the prayse of the Lorde i. I will boldly and openlye in wordes set foorth his prayses hee putteth the instrument wherewith wordes are vttered for the wordes themselues all flesh i. all men for when this word is so put alone without adding any thing to it doeth most commonly in the Scriptures respect men shall blesse his holy name i. shall prayse his maiesty power and goodnes for euer and euer i. continually sée ver 1.2 of this Psalme Verse 1. Teacheth vs not onely to be thankfull to God for his mercies Do. but also to continue in the same because his mercies are continually powred forth vppon vs. Ver. 2. teacheth vs that wee shoulde let no day passe without heartie thankesgiuing to the Lord for his graces Ver. 3 teacheth vs that Gods power and incomprehensible maiesty should prouoke vs to thankfulnes Verse 4. Teacheth vs to haue a care to conuey the remembraunce of Gods benefites to our posteritie Verse 5. Teacheth vs to imploy more time in the meditation of Gods workes then heretofore we haue done Verse 6. Teacheth vs as well to publish Gods iudgements as his mercies that the wicked may bee pearsed with a feare of his maiesty Verse 7. teacheth vs neuer to be ashamed to publish gods promises Ver. 8 9. Are excellent descriptions of god by his qualities and comprehende much matter of comfort for those that bee afflicted and also conteine very excellent causes why we should prayse and thanke God Ver. 10. Teacheth vs that it becommeth all Gods creatures but specially his faythful people to blesse and prayse the Lorde Ver. 11. and 12. Teach vs not onely for our owne good and the discharge of our owne duety but that others also therby may be drawne to do the like Ver. 13. Teacheth vs that howsoeuer mens kingdomes be brittle yet Gods gouernment ouer all but specially ouer his indureth for euer Ver. 14. Teacheth vs that God so prouideth for his children in their daungers and distresses that howsoeuer they bee afflicted yet they do not vtterly perish Ver. 15. Setteth out Gods gracious prouidence fatherly care ouer his children Ver. 16. Sheweth that the Lorde is liberall handed towardes his creatures and that al the good thinges which we haue procéede from his good will and pleasure Verse 17. Teacheth vs that whatsoeuer God doeth he doeth in all vprightnes though perhaps we through the blindnesse and corruption of our nature can not conceiue so thereof Ver. 18. Teacheth vs that God quickly heareth the earnest and vnfeigned prayers of his Seruauntes Verse 19. Sheweth that God will graciously deliuer his out of all their daungers Verse 20. Sheweth the vnlikely reward betweene the godly and the vngodly Verse 21. Teacheth vs both in our owne persons and in others to stirre vp and prouoke our selues to continual thankfulnesse Psalme 146 Di. THis Psalme may bee diuided into two partes In the first hee prouoketh himselfe to prayse God promising to perfourme it as long as he liueth to which he addeth a dehortation that we should not trust in any man nor giue them the matter of praises Ver. 1.2.3.4 and 5. In the second he sheweth certaine causes why he and other should prayse the Lord from ver 6. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title Prayse ye the Lorde sée Psalme 106. in the title Ver. 1. Prayse thou the Lorde O my soule vz. for his mercy and goodnes towardes thée vnderstanding by soule the seate of his affections which is the heart Sée Psalm 103.1 Ver. 2. I will prayse the Lorde vz. for his mercies during my life i. as long as I liue and all the dayes
iudgementes ouertake you as are mentioned verse 5. and 9. of this Psalme be wise and learned not that they were withoute wit and learning but because they wanted godly wisedome hee exhorteth them to looke for that Ver. 11. Serue the Lord q.d. Giue vnto him his true honor and worship which hitherto you haue kept backe from him in feare or after others with reuerence both come almost to one ende if wee reade Feare he meaneth the feare of his children which are loth to offende him not so much for feare of punishment as for lothsomnesse on their parte of loue to displease his Maiestie If we reade reuerence then hee noteth with what inward perswasions and outward behauiour we should performe his seruice to his Maiestie vz. not so lightly and vnreuerently as commonlye we doe and reioyce vz. because he hath set suche a king ouer you with trembling vz. at his iudgements which he setteth before them to kéepe them the better in awe and to with-holde them from manifolde mischiefes Ver. 12. Kisse the sonne vz. not only in signe of homage subiectiō but also as a sure pledge of that faithfulnes trust which you wil perform towards him And by Sonne he vnderstandeth either Dauid or Christ least he be angrie and then those punishments fal vppon you mentioned before ver 9. and ye perish q. d least ye also should perish The Prophet putteth downe two reasons to induce men to yéelde to Christ 1. least they prouoke him to wrath 2. least they themselues perish and that in the waye i. before they come to their iournies end meaning thereby the full accomplishment of their purposes practises which no doubt shal be a great gréefe When his wrath shall sodaynly burne others read if his wrath shall burne though neuer so little if you follow the first reading the sence is thus vz. hee noteth not only the time wherein the vngodly shall perish but the maner how and suddainly If you allow the other then this is the meaning q.d. it is good for you to take héede how you prouoke agaynste youre selues God and his iudgements for if his wrath bée neuer so little kindled bée yée sure it will be your destruction this latter I better like of as more agréeing with the circūstance of the place blessed are all that trust in him this is a graue sentence shutting vp the whole Psalme into which the Prophet sodainly entreth not only because of the déepe consideration of Gods iudgements pronounced before agaynst the wicked but also thereby to shew that the godlye are not without hope Ver. 1. Do. Teacheth that the people do many times oppose thēselues against God his ordinance Ver. 2. sheweth that the kings mighty men doe it likewise by which we may learn also that it is not good to hang vpon the multytude for their number nor vpon the mightye for their great countenaunce Ver. 4. Teacheth that God will frustrate the wicked of their hope and mischieuous purposes Ver. 5. as also 9. declareth that the vngodlye shall not escape vnpunished Ver. 7. Teacheth vs not onlye faythfully to declare but also humbly to stand vppon the giftes and calling that God hath bestowed vpon vs. Ver. 8. Declareth Gods liberalitie who giueth to his childrē rich and plentifull gifts ver 9. Noteth the vtter ruine and destruction of the vngodly ver 10. Setteth out Gods mercy in calling men yea euen the highest that others by their examples may be brought therto also to repentāce and amendment and teacheth them likewise to account of the time and not to put off from day to day ver 11. Teacheth that God alone must be worshipped and what maner of seruice it is that he requireth at our hands ver 12. Teacheth obedience to Christ euen as to God the Father by which wee sée that he is God and that there is a distinction of persons it declareth also what iudgement shall fall vpon the vngodly for their sinnes and what graces shall be giuen to the faythfull Psalme 3. THis Psalme hath a large Title Di. which doth not onlye comprehend the Authors name but the time when and the occasion wherefore he did write it is the argument as a man would say of the whole Psalme it may be diuided into thrée parts In the first Dauid declareth what great daungers hee was in by reasons of the multitude of his aduersants and this is in the two first verses in the seconde are comprehended comforts which Dauid gathered vnto him by consideration of Gods present ayde and of the wonderfull consolation which he had by experience felte before from the thyrde verse to the ende of the sixte In the thirde parte hee maketh his prayer vnto GOD for his deliueraunce foretelling as it were Gods iudgements vppon his enemies and his fauour to his children and that is in the two last verses ver 1. Se. is vttered by an interrogation by which the Prophet noteth the wonderfull number of his aduersaries as though hée had bin left almost alone and all the people had gone after Absolon Ver. 2. To my soule mend it thus of my soule i. of me my selfe and my whole lyfe a part put for the whole person There is no help for him in God i. the Lord will not deliuer him for they supposed when they saw him flée from the face of his sonne Absolon on the one side and Absolons power on the other side that God had forsaken him and that he could looke for no helpe of God such a one was Schemei 2. Samuel 16.7.8 Ver. 3. Art a Buckler i. a sure defence from the force of my enemies For me or after some about me by which he noteth in what assuraunce he was vnder the shadow and safegarde of the Almighty My glory i. who how base soeuer I am now must and wil restore me to my former glory And the lifter vp of my heade to lift vp the head is to make one that was very sad and throwne downe with gréefe ioifull and chearefull by exalting of him to giue him matter of mirth sée Genesis 40.13.20 Luke 21.28 he meaneth then by these thrée spéeches that he was to him without weapon a shield or Buckler i. a sure defence and to him contemned glory and renowne and to him cast downe an Author of ioy and raysing vp agayne Verse 4. I did call or after some crye whiche I better like i. I did earnestly pray heard or after some answered i. yéelded and graunted me my request out of his holy mountayne we heard the same before Psalme 2.6 By holy mountayne he meaneth the propitiatorie or mercy seate which was vpon the Arke placed in Mount Sion whiche was sayd to be holy because God the author of holines appeared there and by reason of the holy exercises obserued in that place for God had promised that he would heare his people out of the mercy seate from betwéene the Cherubines when faythfully they should call vpon him or else
ouerthrowe me vers 10. Lette them fall from their councels i. lette them dislike that which they had counselled and purposed before cast them out vz. eyther from thy selfe or from the inheritance of thy children vers 11. Couer thou them i. defend them and keepe them safe from the face of their enemies that loue thy name i. that feare thy maiestie and vnfeignedly professe thy religion vers 12. Blesse put for doing al maner of good to one righteous see Psalme 1.5.6 put for such as striue to righteousnes and are so accounted though not so in deed of themselues but by means of another vz. Iesus Christ Ver. 1. Do. Teacheth that Gods children many times vse words in their praiers many times not So did Moses and Anna the mother of Samuel vers 2. Gods children should striue to earnestnes in prayer should pray vnto none but to him alone vers 3. Teacheth that we should breake our sleeps in the morning to the end we might pray to the Lord. vers 4. Teacheth that seeing God cannot away with wickednes his children should abhor it likewise the same doth vers 5. In vers 6. are comprehended iudgements against the vngodly namely against lyers cruel persons and deceitful men vers 7. Teacheth that we may not appeare before God in the trust of our own merits but of his mercies onely also that with reuerence we should repayre to the places of Gods seruice and reuerently also there behaue our selues vers 8. Teacheth that vnlesse God guide vs we shal go out of the way also that we should pray for an holy life and that to this ende that the mouthes of the enemies may be stopped from euill speach vers 9. Is a liuely description of the vngodlies qualities as that they are inconstant that they imagine mischiefe that they are giuen to crueltie to flatterie vers 10. We learn that it is lawfull to pray against the enemies of the Church as that their counsels deuises may be scattered c. verse 11. We learne that the faithfull may reioyce at the ouerthrow of Gods enemies verse 12. We learn in what assurednes they are whome the Lord defendeth Psalme 6. 1 THis Psalme consisteth of three principall partes Di. In the first is comprehended the Prophets praiers with reasons that hee alledgeth to induce the Lorde to take pitie vpon him frō vers 1. to the end of the 4. In the second he setteth out the greatnes of his griefe shewing that if God should take him away by death he should lacke occasion to praise him among men as he was wont to doe from vers 5. to the end of the 7. In the third he doth not onely sharpely rebuke his enemies but also foretelleth their destruction frō vers 8 to the ende of the Psalme This Psalme hath a title as sundry others haue Se. but it is the same with the 4. and therefore looke backe to that sauing that he addeth here vpon the eight tune which was a tune well knowne among the Iewes and was sung with a very cleare and high voyce see 1. Chron. 15.21 vers 1. Anger and wrath attributed to God not that they bee in him but that it so seemeth to men when hee correcteth them and this vers is shortly vttered something seeming as it were to want which is an ordinarie matter to those that are diseased Adde therfore this neither chastise me in thy wrath vz. least I should be consumed and brought to nothing Sée Iere. 10.24 ver 2. I am weake vz. with my sicknes q.d. I am wonderfully weakned through my sicknes but restore me my former forces my bones are vexed i. full of griefe and ache by the abating of my flesh through sicknes and by continuall lying vers 3. Wilt thou delay vz. to send helpe and reliefe vers 4. returne q.d. as it seemed to me thou hast departed away from mee but nowe returne at the length deliuer my soule vz. from present death as may appeare in the next vers following vsing also the word soule which is a part of man for the whole vers 5. in death i. among dead bodies there is no remembrance of thee because the body hath nothing without the soule in the graue who shall praise thee i. what dead bodie put into the graue shall praise thee q.d. none shall or can Verse 6. I faint rather then I fainted because al the rest is read in the present tense meaning by fainting not onely a long vse of his mourning but a wearisomnes yea a consuming and wearing away with the vse thereof I cause my bed euery night to swimme and water my couch vpon which I lie in the day time for ease refreshing for that difference I make betweene bed and couch with my teares these exceeding speaches doe nothing else but note the greatnes of Dauids mourning and the bitternes and sharpnes of his disease vers 7. mine eie is dimmed i. the clearnes and good sight it had is taken from it partly through continual mourning and partly through despite or freting and wrath rather which he caried towardes his enemies that reioyced at his sicknes and sank in or after some waxed olde I take it to be but a repetition of that which went before vers 8. Depart from me c. q.d. You may now go your way for that which you looked for vz. my death you shal not haue at this present for the Lord hath hearde the voyce of my weeping i. Graciously granted me that which with teares I asked of him vers 9. Wil receiue my prayer The Prophet assureth himselfe euen for the time to come as well as for the time past or present vers 10. Is here red as a prophecie or fortelling of the ruine of his enemies others read it as a wish and a praier against his enemies thus let al mine enemies c. There is no hardnes in it in respect of the sense they shal be turned backe as those that haue suffered a repulse Do. not able to looke their foes in their face Ver. 1. Teacheth vs to run vnto the Lord by praier to preuent his iudgements ver 2. Teacheth vs to do that but yet always hauing recourse to his mercy onely it teacheth such that the more we are afflicted the more need wee haue to come to God specially if we be touched in soule or conscience as verse 3. vers 8.9 expresseth Gods readines in yeelding to the supplications of his seruants vers 10. conteineth iudgements against the wicked and vngodly Psalme 7. THis Psalme consisteth principally of three partes Di. In the first part he praieth for deliuerance from his enemies setting out his innocencie and vpright dealing towards them from vers 1. to the end of the 5. In the second he praieth against his enemies declaring what good shall come to his children by the ouerthrow of the wicked From vers 6. vnto the ende of the 10. In the 3. hee pronounceth Gods iudgements against the vngodly which
by benefites past hee assureth himselfe of deliuerance from dangers present and in time to come diddest draw me out of the wombe he meaneth that by Gods speciall power and goodnes he was borne thou gauest me hope vz. that thou wouldest nourish and defend me at my mothers breasts i. when I did sucke and could not defend or helpe my selfe ver 10. I was cast vppon thée i. committed vnto thy prouidence and protection from the wombe i. so soone as I was borne came into the world not denying also but that by his goones hee was preserued continually before thou art my God vz. that doest defend nourish succour me ver 11. Be not farre c. q.d. séeing I haue heretofore receiued so many benefites from thée do not now depart from mee yea I so much the more earnestly craue thy helpe and presence nowe first because affliction is nigh secondly because there is none that can help me but thou ver 12. Many this word noteth the multitude of his enemies yong this word noteth their lustines courage bulles this word is wel expounded in the Geneua note i. are before and behind and on euery side by which we may sée that his troubles were great and almost impossible for him to escape out of them mightie this woorde noteth their force and power bulles of Bashan This is the name of the countrie which did apperteine to the people of the Iewes and was full of pastures whereof mention is made at large Deut. 3.1.2 c. And by bulles of Bashan hee meaneth very fat and mighty ones such as Bashan did féede sée Deut. 32.14 ver 13. They gape vpon me c. q.d. they come vpon me with open mouth to deuoure me euen as a deuouring roaring Lion doth for his pray sée Amos. 3.4 1. Pet. 5.8 ver 14. Amend thus I am powred out like water he meaneth by this maner of speach that he is as it were almost past al recouery as of whom no more account is to be made then of water spilt vpon the ground my bones are out of ioynt in this verse hee doeth by large maner of speaches declare the greatnes of the feare griefe he was in as he did before Psa 6.6 Mine heart is like waxe i. soft and tender it is molten in the middest of my bowels hee now sheweth in what respect his hart is like wax by these words he describeth his fainthartednes ver 15. My strength i. my naturall moisture whereby life strength is maintained is dried vp like a potsheard i. is woÌ„derfully decaied and there is almost no more moysture left in mee then in a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my iawes i. I am brought very lowe and weake so that I can not wagge my tongue in my mouth as it were into the dust of death by these wordes he meaneth the graue the earth of it which is so called because none are there laid but dead folkes His purpose is to declare that through the vehemency of his afflictions all hope of his life in a maner was taken away ver 16. For dogges before ver 12.13 He compared his enemies to bulles and Lions now he resembleth them to dogs for their snarling at him and biting of him and the assembly i. great troupes multitudes they pearced my hands and my féete this is spoken of Dauid in respect of the daungers his enemies kept him in as though he had had no féet to flée away nor hands to defend him selfe but in Christ it was most truly performed indéed as appeareth Ioh. 20.25 Where mention is made of nailes ver 17. I may tel al my bones i. I am so fallen away with griefe and anguish that I haue nothing left but skinne and bone Yet they behold me and looke vpon me vz. with great pleasure ioy whereas if they had any compassion they should pity my case ver 18. They part my garments among them If we referre it to Dauid then he meaneth by garments other things that he possessed noting that they dealt with him his goods as they that in some victory had goteen a pray but if we referre it to Christ then is it to be vnderstood of his ordinary apparell and garments in déed as appeareth Ioh. 19.23.24 And cast lottes both to auoide contention that euery one might know his share and portion ver 19. Farre off vz. from me lest I be swallowed vp and drowned ver 20. My soule i. my life as wee haue often times had it before from the sword i. from peril of violent cruel death vnderstanding by the instrument that the wicked vseth to execute his rage and wrath by the thing it selfe From the power of the dogge i. of mine enemies and wicked men sée ver 16. Of this Psalme the singular number put for the plural ver 21. Lions mouth sée ver 13. of this Psalme and answere me i. graciously here me and graunt my request from the hornes of the Vnicornes i. from the present and perilous daungers of mine aduersaries It is Dauids maner as sufficiently appeareth in this Psalme to resemble his enemies to beasts Vnicornes are very wild beasts and as some write of them wil hardly or not at al be tamed ver 22. Thy name i. thy vertue power grace as Psal 20.1.5.7 Vnto my brethren i. to the Israelites that are of the same nation and religion with me sée Rom. 9.3 In the middest of the congregation i. openly before thy people assembled to praise thée ver 23. Séed of Iaakob put for posterity and when hee saith séed of Israel hee meaneth the same thing for Iaakob was called Iaakob and Israel If you referre it to Dauids time then it belongeth to the Iewes If to Christ and his time then to all the faithfull ver 24. The affliction of the poore i. the trouble and anguish that he was in the prophet meaneth that God did not lesse regard the good people for their pouertie and affliction as commonly men do but rather made the greater account of them hid his face vz. as men are wont to do who for lothsomnes as they say but in nisenes in déed can not behold those that are in affliction he called i. praied he heard i. accepted him and his prayers ver â—5 My praise shal be of thée i. thou art and shalt be the cause of my foundation of my praises by reason of the wonderful mercies that I haue receiued from thee In the great congregation i. when the greatest multitude shal méet to prayse thee he noteth that he wil do it publikely as before ver 22. My vowes they were wont when they were in any danger to vowe a peace offring to the Lord to be performed after their deliuerance out of it so did Iephte which was done to testifie their thankfull mindes for the benefites receiued before them i. in their sight that feare him i. worship and serue him meaning God of whom he speaketh now in the
afflictions ver 8. God alone preserueth his children from the rage of their enimies and if they come into thraldome setteth them at liberty when it pleaseth him ver 9. the afflictions of Gods children in this life are very long in respecte of time and gréeuous in respecte of greatnes ver 11.12 It is no newe thing that those whiche should most loue men do many times eyther for feare or flattery of others make lesse account of them ver 13. Greate men are many times enemies to Gods children also Gods children haue their passions of feare when they are in dangers ver 14. It is a singular thing to haue fayth in the hart and true confession of God his goodnes in mouth ver 15. God hath numbred our dayes and neyther can we passe them nor our enemies abridge thē ver 16. Gods fauour and mercy the only cause of deliuerance from dangers in this life and of eternal saluation also ver 17. that wee maye sometimes pray against the vngodly and ver 18. likewise ver 19. Setteth oute Gods vnspeakeable goodnes towards those that are his ver 20. It is God alone that kéepeth his children safe from the outragious déedes and wordes of the vngodly ver 21. Thankes must be giuen to God for benefits receaued ver 22 Many of Gods children in hast both thinke and speake that they should not as Psal 30.6 Ver. 23. We must prouoke others as wel as our selues to praise the Lord there is also contained the vnlikely reward of the faythful the wicked ver 24. There is none that trusteth so much in God but he hath néede of continual incouragement thereto Psalme 32. THis Psalme hath thrée parts Di. In the first the Prophet reckoneth vp their blessednesse that are fully assured of the ful forgiuenesse of al their sinnes and this is in the two first verses In the second he sheweth what gréefe both of body and soule he was in til such time as by sincere confession of his sinnes he felt that great benefit declaring also what profit came to him and others thereby ver 3.4.5.6.7 In the third be exorteth all to liue godly shewing that they that liue otherwise haue iust occasiō of sorrow the godly of spiritual reioising ver 8.9.10.11 The title A Psalme of Dauid to giue instruction vz. Se. to al sorts of men but chiefly the faithful ver 1. forgiuē i. so takē away that they are not any more thought vpon Ier. 31.33.34 is couered so that not so much as prints or steps much lesse the filthinesse of sinne appeare ver 2. imputeth not i. calleth not his sinne or iniquitie into an account but burieth the same in perpetual forgetfulnes and in whose spirit i. soule and inward man there is no guile i. subteltie he meaneth by this spéech such men as did of a sincere mind turn vnto God truly loue him which hipocrits do not though they make a shew thereof ver 3. whē I held my tongue from humble sincere confession of my sinnes my bones i. my strength which indéed consisteth in the bones for the bones vphold the body it selfe and strengthen al the parts therof I consumed i. wasted and weare away or when I roared amend it thus in my roaring i. when I was caryed away with the féeling of some present aduersitie though not with true touch of my sinne I cried roared like a wild beast rather then poured forth gronings and complaynts beseeming a man ver 4. For thine hand i. thy iudgement mighty power is heauy vpon me i. in a manner presseth me downe day and night i. continually and without any ceasing almost and my moysture i. the naturall moysture of my body whereby life is mayntained is turned into the drought of Summer i. as in the time of summer when the sunne is most hot the moysture of the earth is dryed vp so fareth it with me meaning that Gods iudgements and his own gréefs had wrought that effect in him ver 5. I acknowledged i. confessed hid I as Adam Iob 31.33 as my natural corruptiō would teach me for I thought vz. thus with my self against my self q.d. Yea though it be against my selfe the punishment he meaneth both the punishment and the sinne it selfe for he respecteth the first verse of this Psalme where hée affirmeth not only sinnes to be forgiuen but that it was wel with such mē and they were blessed in deede ver 6. When thou mayst be found which is specially the time of néed as Psal 50.15 and marke that he sayth in the beginning of this verse therfore q.d. Because thou hast shewed thy selfe so mercifull to others namely to me the godly shall repair vnto thée by praier great waters i. manifold dangers as psal 18.16 psal 69.1 him i. the faithfull godly man by one vnderstanding all the rest Ver. 7 Thou art this is the spéeche that the godly shall vse when they praye vnto the Lorde my secrete place vz. into whiche I will withdrawe my selfe to be sure and safe from mine enemies sée Psal 18.45 with ioyfull deliueraunce i. thou doest bestowe deliueraunces vpon me which are ioyfull vnto me and minister matter of greate mirth vnto others also Verse 8. in the way sée psalme 25.8 He meaneth an vpright way and godly life I will guide thée with mine eye i. I will not onelye teache thée but also ouerlooke or ouersée thée that thou mayst profite in goodnesse Verse 9. He noteth that rebellious persons agaynst God bee as bruite beasts sée Isaiah 1.3 and deuoyd of all heauenly vnderstanding be yee not c. i. Be ye not dul brutish as beasts he nameth some whom they had the greatest vse and experience of doest binde i. rule and gouerne come nere thee vz. with their mouth to hurt harme thée the Prophet meaneth that hee woulde haue them diligentlye to applye themselues to the consideration of Gods gouernmente and to profite thereby least otherwise going forwarde in their rebellion against God they inforce him to vse the bridle of his might to tame their fearcenes ver 10. Many sorrowes i. plagues and punishmentes sent from God which are called sorrowes because they make those vppon whome they light sorrowfull mercie vz. from God shall compasse him vz. on euery side noting thereby the abundance thereof ver 11. In the Lorde vz. because hee is your strength and helper vpright in heart vz. towardes God and man Ver. 1.2 Teach that true felicitie in this life Do. consisteth specially in these two partes vz. forgiuenes of sinnes and sanctification towardes God man ver 3. Sheweth that cloaking or close kéeping of sinne bringeth foorth better fruites ver 5. Teacheth humble and vnfeigned confession thereof forgiuenes alwaies following it ver 6. Teacheth the faithfull alwaies to haue recourse to God by praier also that God sundry times deliuereth his children from manifold dangers ver 7. God is al in al vnto his seruants ver 8. Euery faithfull man should haue
care and conscience diligently to instruct others ver 9. Beware of stubbornes in sinne for besides that it maketh men brutish it draweth Gods iudgement vpon them ver 10. The vnlikely rewarde of the wicked and the vngodly from the Lord. ver 11. Exhortation yea euen to those that haue made good procéedings in godlines is very necessary Psalme 33 THis Psalme hath two special parts Di. In the first the Prophet exhorteth good people to be thankful shewing sundry causes that shoulde moue them thereto as his power prouidence faithful performaunce of his promises and such like from ver 1. to the end of the 11. In the seconde hee sheweth that all thinges in respect of God bee as nothing shewing what a fatherly care that great God hath continually ouer his children and praying also the continuance and increase thereof from ver 12. to the end of the Psal This Psalme hath no title such a one is Psalm 10. Ver. 1. Se. In the Lorde sée Psal 32.11 it becommeth this is a reason to induce praises to God set from their duty vpright men sée Psal 32.11 to be thankeful vz. to God for all his benefits ver 2. instruments of tenne strings the proper name of this instrument is not expressed but it should séeme to be very melodious by reason of the number of strings ver 3. A new song i. not a common song but a very rare and exquisite one chearefully for such countenances the Lord loueth in his seruice ver 4. Al his workes i. whatsoeuer he doth are faithful i. true firme in respect of him from whom they come and profitable vnto vs. ver 5 He loueth i. he so fauoureth that he performeth righteousnes and iudgment I make this difference in this place betwéene these two termes that righteousnes should be referred to the good people vnderstanding thereby faythfull performance of all his promises made to them and iudgement to the vngodly meaning the punishments that he will powre forth vppon them and yet which I thinke also wil not be a misse for this place in consideration that iudgement consisteth of two partes vz. of acquiting and clearing the intent and of condemning the guilty it may be referred to the faithful also is full i. hath wonderfull plenty of the testimonies and tokens of Gods mercy ver 6. Worde of the Lord i. his commandement or effectuall speach as Psal 148.5 Heauens i. not onely heauens but the earth and al creatures whatsoeuer some creatures or a part of the workemanship for the whole and al the host of them if you referre it to the heauens alone he meaneth Sunne Moone Starres c. but if you referre it to the whole worke of creation hee meaneth then all the seuerall creatures the breath of his mouth i. by his word only sée Iob. 15.30 ver 7. He gathereth i. he hath sundred them appointed them their place as appeareth Gene. 1.9 and euer since hath as it were kept them in that compasse and so wil do of all which hee speaketh in the present tense the depth i. the waters that séeme to haue no bottome in his treasures i. hee hath shut vp the depths to be kept in a certaine place euen as it were his treasures or amongst other his treasures ver 8. Al the earth i. al the people of the earth by Metonymia ver 9. He spake c. q.d. he did with a becke as a man would say create al things sée ver 6. of this Psalm It was done i. al the worke of his creation and it stood vz. firme sure and vnmoueable ver 11. the counsell of the Lord i. whatsoeuer he hath purposed and decreed stand vz. sure and stedfast yea neuer to be ouerthrowne the thoughts of his heart the prophet speaketh herof God according to men and as they are able to conceiue of him ver 12. Blessed is that nation q.d. seeing it is so that man can do nothing and God is all in all O blessed are that people that hath the Lord for their God that is for their iudge and gouernor ver 13. All the children of men i. all men whatsoeuer and not only their persons but their deeds and workes as ver 15. ver 14. from the habitation of his dwelling i. from heauen as 1. king 8.30.43 ver 15. He fashioneth i. he not only made but now directeth and disposeth their harts and the thoughts of the same ver 16. Is not saued i. deliuered from danger or getteth the victory by the multitude of an host i. by an host consisting of very many people deliuered vz. from the danger and power of his enemies by great strength vz. of himselfe or others for him teaching that all is done and gouerned by the Lord. ver 17. A horse is a vaine helpe q.d. a horse can not helpe And we may vnderstand by horse al aide succour that man can haue deliuer any vz. that rideth vpon him by his great strength i. by any thing that is in him courage swiftnes c. sée Iob. 39.22.23 c. ver 18. The eye of the Lord i. his fauourable countenance and goodnes is yea and shal be continually ver 19. Their soules i. their liues from death i. from all manner of daunger and destruction that might bring death with it and to preserue i. féede and norish them aliue as he did Elijah by rauens in famine i. in the tyme when other people shall be oppressed with great want ver 20. Our soule i. our whole life and being our inward and our outward man wayteth for the Lord i. patiently taryeth the Lord and his leasure q.d. séeing God doth thus and thus for his children as he had declared before ver 18.19 This is it that we do and will do al the daies of our life trust in him with patience Our helpe i. he that helpeth vs and our shield sée Psal 3.30 Psal 11.2 Ver. 28. Our heart a principal part for God specially regardeth the heart put for the whole man q.d. we will reioyce c. in his holy name i. in his vertue power and grace as Psal 29.1 And God is called holye because there is nothing in him but holines nay hée can not away with wickednes Psal 5.4.5 Ver. 22. As wee trust in thee vz. that thou wilt shewe vs mercy not meaning that they woulde haue no more mercy shewed them then they had trust Ver. 1. The consideration of the duety we owe to God Do. should stirre vs vp to thankfulnes ver 3. God loueth chearfulnes in all the exercises that are to bee performed towardes him ver 4. Whatsoeuer God doeth is righteous good and therefore they are to blame that will dislike of his doings ver 5. God giueth plentiful testimonies of his mercy to the ende hee might thereby prouoke men to continual thankfulnes ver 6. Confirmeth this article of our faith God is the maker of heauen and earth ver 7. Gods prouidence guideth al his creatures and namely and particularly the Seas and great
a straunger another reason brought to moue God to mercy taken from his miserable estate sée 1. Chron. 29.5 Psal 119.19 where you shall haue almost the same wordes as all my Fathers he meaneth of the faythfull and godly The sence of this verse is q.d. Hearken O Lord vnto my prayers by which I pray thée that I may be deliuered from this great gréefe wherein I am I aske this at thy hands not that I am very desirous of this life but because I féele my selfe vnable of my selfe to abide such torments for I am with thée or before thée or thou being witnesse of the matter a straunger on the earth neither doe I acknowledge my countrie to be here wherein I follow my Fathers Abraham Isaac Iaakob c. who because they tended towards thée were not taken with this Worlde wherein they were conuersant but vsed themselues as straungers in another countrie hauing alwayes a minde to their home Ver. 13. From me i. from plaguing me so gréeuously my strength vz. decayed and as it were consumed thorow gréefe and vexation before I go hence vz. out of this world meaning before I dye and be not vz. aliue here on the earth amongst men Do. Ver. 1. It is good to striue to the brideling of our spéech speciallye in the presence of the wicked who will insult ouer vs if we slippe in our wordes Ver. 2. It is a hard matter to abstaine from extremities for if we are not too muche giuen to babling we be ouerflow tongued to good thinges Ver. 3. Impaciencye must be fought vgainst ver 4. Curiositie striuing to know that which doth not appertain to vs must be brideled ver 5.6 Describe the vanity shortnes of mans life and the vncertainty of his actions ver 7. God only is to be trusted vnto Ver. 8. Prayer for deliueraunce from sinne punishments due thereto would be often made Ver. 9. We should be well content with whatsoeuer God doeth Ver. 10. We are not able to indure the least of Gods punishments ver 11. Setteth out two things Gods iustice in correcting and mans sinne that pulleth correction and punishment from God Ver. 12. God in tyme of greatest affliction must be most earnestly and hartily called vpon Ver 13. If God with-holde not his wrath we shall all be consumed for our sinnes Psalme 40. THis Psalme may be deuided into thrée parts Di. In the first the Prophet declareth what great mercies the Lord had shewed to him and what he will doe for them that trust in him from verse 1. to the end of the fourth In the second he sheweth the infinitenesse of Gods workes and his owne readinesse to serue the Lorde shewing howe he had published Gods goodnes and mercy from ver 5. to the end of the tenth In the third part he prayeth for his owne deliueraunce wishing also as the ouerthrow of the vngodly so the prosperity of the good and faithful ones from ver 11. to the end of the Chapter The title is expounded before ver 1. For the Lord i. for him Se. and for help frō him inclined to me i. shewed himself fauourable as they do that bow towards one Ver. 2. Horrible pit i. pit full of feare and horror meaning by that spéech most fearefull and great daungers mirie clay by these wordes he noteth both the greatnesse of his daunger and the continuance therein by the name claye which is both weighty and also wil cleaue fast to sée Psalme 69.2 Set my féete vpon the Rock i. hath placed me where I may be safe from al iniurie meaning a most safe place ordered my goings vz. in such sorte that I am sure from stumbling or falling Verse 3. Hath put into my mouth i. hath giuen mee an occasion a new song of praise i. newly to sing a song of praise vnto him or take new song for a singular and exquisite song sée Psalme 33.3 Many shall sée it i. many shall know the benefites that God hath bestowed on me and feare vz. God the giuer thereof Ver. 4. Maketh the Lord his trust i. that trusteth in him regardeth not i. maketh little or no account of sée Psalme 15.4 as thorow their force to be brought to feare them more then God the proude vz. those that boast themselues of the things they haue turne aside vz. from the truth to lies i. lying imaginations as before Psalme 4.2 Verse 5. He ascrybeth to Gods workes not only wonderfulnes but innumerablenesse in respecte of man count in order no nor yet out of order because they are incomprehensible and infinit to thée vz. or before thée that art the only dealer therein thy thoughts this the Prophet attributeth to God that thereby he might the more easily set out Gods wonderfull affection and loue towardes vs and ouer vs. Ver. 6. Sacrifice and offring betwéene these two words I make this difference that Sacrifice respecteth sinne offrings and the other voluntarye and fréewill offrings meaning by these two all other kinds whatsoeuer thou diddest not desire vz. in respect of obedience as 1. Samuel 15.22 for otherwise God regardeth them as parts and péeces of his seruice which he himselfe prescribed but when hipocrites by cold ceremonies would thinke to appease god without true godlinesse then doth the Lord reiect them as Psalme 50.8.9 c. for mine eares hast thou prepared or as Immanuel readeth hast thou boare◠through If you take the Geneua Text there the note is good if you followe Immanuel then he meaneth acceptation and taking of him to be his faithfull seruaunt this is applyed to Christ Heb. 10.5 Verse 7. Then sayde I lo I come vz. readilye and willingly when I vnderstoode thy will in the roales of thy booke i. in the law and this he speaketh according to the Iewes both in time heretofore and at this day who writ in parchment or paper and afterwardes role them vp because they will longer last roaled then folded written of mee i. concerning mée Verse 8. Thy Lawe is within my harte i. I doe earnestlye and from the bottome of my hart reuerence imbrace and loue thy lawe sée Philip. 1.8 Verse 9. Thy righteousnesse i. howe iust and good thou art in the performaunce of thy promises Refrayne my lippes vz. from declaring that O Lord thou knowest vz. that this is true that I speake and that I vtter it from my hart Verse 10. Is verye well expounded in the Geneua note Verse 11. He beséecheth the Lord to shewe his mercye and truth towards him and to make him by effects to féele the same Verse 12. Conteyneth a reason why the Lord should shew him mercy because hee is in suche great affliction haue compassed mée vz. on euery side within and without my sinnes i. both my sinnes and the punishmentes that lye vppon mée for the same sée Psalme 32.4 Psalme 38.2.3.4 and hée meaneth by that whiche followeth that they pressed him so downe that hée was not able to lift vp his heade or as a man
that contrary to the knowledge and truth that God had manifested vnto him he had cōmitted gros iniquities Ver. 7. Purge me with Hysop no doubt hee alludeth to the ceremonies purifications of the law among which Hisope was greatly vsed as Leuit. 14.6.7 Leuit. 19.18 yet so that he would haue the truth also signifyed by these outward things and he putteth purging and Hisope and washing which were outward parts of the legal puristings for a thorow whole cleansing as ver 2. and I shall be cleane q.d. otherwise I cannot bee cleane vnlesse thou O Lord performe it indéede whiter then snow Sée Isaiah 1.16.18 for the vnderstanding of this Verse Verse 8. Make me to heare i. eyther to féele one sence being put for another a thing vsuall in Scripture or else by some one of thy Prophets or other make me to know my sinnes to bée forgiuen as Nathan pronounced the same vnto him 2. Samuel 12.13 ioye and gladnesse i. that comfortable and ioyfull message touching the frée and full pardon of my sinnes that maye make me ioyfull and glad indéede that the bones i. I my selfe both body and soule he putteth a part for the whole which thou hast broken vz. by the horror of thy gréeuous iudgementes agaynste mee for my sinne sée Psalme 38.3 may reioyce i. haue matter of reioycing ministred vnto them and performe that ioy indéede whilst that they inioye their former féelings Verse 9. Hide thy face from my sinnes i. bury them as it were in perpetuall forgetfulnesse for we doe not easily forget those things that be continually in our sight put away sée before verse 1. of this Psalme all mine iniquities one and other for so long as any sinne presseth vs the conscience can hardly be quiet Verse 10. Create in me a cleane hart he prayeth because the heart is the seat of the affections and naturallye it is inclyned to all filthinesse euery day sée Matth. 15.19 Gen. 6.5 Gen. 8.21 That God woulde reforme it taking away that filthinesse and planting goodnesse in it which he calleth creation a right spirite i. a minde frée from all hipocrisie and abhorring crooked wayes some read a stedfast spirite meaning a spirite and mynde so well stayed as might not in tyme afterward be remoued from his obedience Ver. 11. Cast me not awaye from thy presence hee vseth here a metaphor taken from Kings who will not vouchsafe such to beholde them as they hate or lyke not of thy holy spirite i. the effectes and workes of thy holy spirite for neyther doth the spirite substantiallye dwell in men as some haue dreamed neyther is the pledge of the spirite so taken awaye as some haue imagined though it be hidden sometimes vnder the ashes of corruption Verse 12. Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation i. make me to féele agayne that vnspeakeable comfort of saluation that I was wont to feere so that it séemeth that Dauid was almost at the dore of dispayre with the féeling of his sinnes the iudgements of God agaynst him for the same establish me i. make me strong and stedfast with thy frée spirite the spirite of God is called frée in diuers respects as because it is Gods effectuall instrument to set vs frée from the bondage of sinne for where the spirite of the Lord is there is fréedome 2. Corinthians 3.17 because also thereby god worketh in vs fréenesse and readinesse to the doing of those thinges which he commaundeth and lastly because it maketh vs fréelye and boldly to professe that we are Gods children as Rom. 8.15.16 some reade principall or princelike spirite meaning thereby a moste excellent spirit suche as Kings and Princes haue néede of that they may know how to guide them selues in their offices Verse 13. Thy wayes i. thy mercies louing kindnes which are called Gods wayes because he alwayes sheweth them to true penitent sinners q.d. If thou wilt pardon me my sinnes I will be thy instrumente to teach thē that shall come to the like féeling of their transgressiōs thy wonderfull mercy and goodnesse and sinners shall be vz. by that meanes conuerted vnto thée vz. from whom they haue gone astray he meaneth that hee will take paynes to winne men to god but that the profit thereof shall redounde to gods owne glory Verse 14. From blood he meaneth not only from the sinne committed in shedding Vriahs blood and others with him as 2. Sam. 11.17 but also the punishments that by that sinne he had drawne vpon himselfe whereof sée Genesis 9.5.6 God of my saluation sée Psalme 18.46 my tongue shall sing ioyfully i. chearefully and aloude prayse thy righteousnesse i. thy goodnesse faythfulnesse and truth which thou promisest and performest to thē that craue pardon and forgiuenesse Verse 15. He prayeth the Lord not onely to giue him an occasion but also to inable him to thankfulnesse and then he will performe it Verse 16. Must be vnderstoode by the way of comparison and not supplye for yet in his time sacrifices were to be vsed and that by the prescript of gods law sée Psalme 50.8.9 c. Isaiah 1.11.12 c. Verse 17. The sacrifices of God i. such as he principally alloweth and accepteth a contrite spirit i. a spirite brused and broken as it were with the feeling of the sinne committed and the acknowledgement of his owne weakenesse and vnworthinesse which as I take it the Apostle calleth godly sorrow 2. Cor. 7.10.11 Thou wilt not despise i. thou wilt graciously and mercifully accept for not refusing or despising with god is gracious accepting Verse 18. Be fauourable i. notwithstanding my sinne continue gracious and heape vp benefits vpon benefits vnto Sion i. vnto thy church and people he putteth the place where Gods people dwelt and the exercises of his religion were vsed for gods people and Churche sée Psalme 48.11 for thy good pleasure i. for thyne own goodnesse sake and not for any thing in them or me for there is nothing in vs that can procure that build the wals of Ierusalem i. not onely defend thy church by thy mighty power and prouidēce but giue it all the meanes whereby it may resist the assaults of thine enemies as walles to a citie are a good defence to saue them from the violences and outrages of their enemies Verse 19. Sacrifices of righteousnesse sée Psal 4.5 q.d. When sacrifices and burnt offrings shall be referred to a right ende God will allow and like of them then shall they i. thy people offer Calues vppon thine altar i. sacrifices of prayses and thanksgiuing vnderstanding no doubte by Calues euen the instruments of their lippes to prayse God withall sée Hosea 14.2 also Heb. 13.15 Verse 1. When we are touched with the féeling of our sinnes Do. Gods mercy is the only medicine that we must looke to for the curing of our sore Ver. 2. We must pray for pardon and full forgiuenesse of our sinnes or else it is nothing as also verse 9. of this Psalme Verse
12. Myne enemy i. mine open enemy or one that I had giuen any good cause vnto to bee mine enemy for otherwise no doubt hee or they whosoeuer they were that put this in practise against Dauid were his foes and here note that though hee seeme to speake but of one yet no doubt hee meaneth more or else vnder one most singular in that craft of dissimulation hee vnderstandeth others for hee meaneth here that by secret deuises which hee coulde not preuent hee was vnder the pretence of friendshippe almost cast away did not diffame mee sée verse 3. of this Psalme for I could haue borne it vz. better then I doe nowe because I looke for nothing from mine enemie but enemy like dealing Exalt himselfe against mee i. set himselfe against mee by worde or deede All this the Prophet speaketh by the way of comparison not denying but that his foes did defame him and oppose themselues against him but if that were compared with the hypocriticall dealings of his counterfeit friends it would appeare to bee nothing as a man would say and this wee call a denyall by the way of comparison I would haue hid me from him i. I woulde haue kept my selfe close and safe from him and his cruelties Verse 13. Hee sheweth who it was that wrought him this iniurie my companion i. my equall and of the selfesame state and condition that I my selfe was of by which wee see that this Psalme was made before hée came to the kingdome for when hee was exalted thither once none was equall vnto him my guyde vz. in matters of counsell and affaires that I had to doe and my familiar i. my deare and tender friend He meaneth no doubt some whom hee had in great regarde and estimation Ver. 14. Which delighted in consulting together q.d. with whom I tooke wonderfull pleasure to conferre of many matters and namely of the exercises of Gods religion which I suppose the Prophet meaneth by going into the house of God as companions consulting as it were together howe they might prepare themselues to his seruice behaue themselues therein Ver. 15. Let death sease vpon them vz. not onely sodainely and or euer they beware for so much the Hebrewe worde in a metaphor séemeth to import but let it take such holde of them that it may neuer leaue till it haue taken them away from amongest men Let them goe downe quicke into the graue as Korah Dathan and Abiram did Numb 16.31 Hee meaneth that hee woulde haue them dye of some sodaine death no disease or sickenesse going before it for wickednes i. all manner of vngodlinesse sée before Psalm 36.1 In their dwellinges i. in their congregations assemblies and fellowshippes putting the places where such wicked persons did méete for their méetings euen in the middest of them i. they norish it within them and haue it alwayes in their company Ver. 16. I will call vnto God i. earnestly pray vnto him will saue mee i. deliuer mee from these cruelties and daungers as Psalm 54.1 Verse 17. Euening and morning and at noone will I pray i. I will bee importunate and neuer cease till I haue obteined from hence and out of Daniel 6.10 wee may gather that in those dayes the faythfull set themselues certaine houres to pray in thereby the better to awake their sluggishnes And make a noyse i. I will bee feruent and earnest in it for many haue prayed long and yet haue wanted feruency and hee will heare my voyce i. graunt the petitions and prayers that I shall powre foorth before him wherein wee see howe hee assureth him selfe of Gods goodwill and mercy Verse 18. My soule i. my life as sundry times before in peace i. safely and soundly and with great quietnes from the battaile that was against mee i. from the great conflictes and daungers wherein I shoulde haue béene snared because they were layde and prepared against mee for many were with mee q.d. though to sée too wee were but fewe yet wee had Gods Angels with vs to dismay our enemies and to comfort vs as 2. Kinges 6.16 Ver. 19. God shall heare vz. mee and my prayers and afflict them i. whereas hee shewed mercy to mee hee shall afflict them and punish them euen hee that reigneth of olde i. hee which in nature counsell and iudgement is eternall and alwayes like to himselfe which thing the Prophet expresseth to giue the wicked to vnderstande that there is no starting holes to hyde them in from GOD because they haue no chaunges vz. from wealth honour and credit to pouerty disgrace and misery but alwayes they goe forwarde in abundance of these outwarde blessinges therefore they feare not GOD i. they neither reuerence him nor his iudgements but abusing his mercye runne riot to all wickednes and so in this verse hee putteth them out for their harde hartednes in vngodlynes Ver. 20. Hee layeth his hand first marke the sodaine chaunge of the number before he spake of them in the plurall nowe of them in the singular next note that by laying of handes vppon others hee meaneth exercising of violence towardes others yea and this outragious discurtesie is aggrauated by howe much it was practised towards them that were at peace with him i. not only such as liued quietly with him but also loued him and so by that meanes hee brake his couenaunt vz. which he had made with him all this Dauid speaketh principally of Saul and himselfe and of the couenant that passed betweene them Sée 1. Samuel 24. from verse 17. to the ende of the Chapter Verse 21. The woordes of his mouth were softer then butter i. hee made shewe in his woordes of nothing but gentlenesse and mildenesse yet warre was in his heart i. inwardly hee imagineth nothing but mischiefe and destruction for so is the woorde warre vsed here vz. put for thinges that commonly followe warres his woordes were more gentle then Oyle this I take to be but the same thing repeated in an other metaphor in summe the Prophet toucheth him here for his peruerse hipocrisie and wooluish mind as it were against him Verse 22. Cast thy burden vppon the Lorde q.d. if there bee any thing that troubleth thee or that thou thy selfe standest in neede for so much I thinke hée meaneth by the worde burden commit all the care thereof into Gods hands and power staying thy self altogether vpon his prouidence and he shall nourish thée i. vndoubtedly thou shalt not want for God wil play the part of a good Father whereunto in deede the Prophet in this place resembleth him giuing vnto euery one of his in measure and as hee shall sée to bee necessary for them for so much doeth the worde import hee will not suffer the righteous to fall for euer vz. into the wicked mans power that he should vse him as hée himselfe lusteth Verse 23. Shalt bring them downe vz. from the wealth credit and authority that nowe they are in and this hee speaketh of the vngodly and
putting the whole word for a part thereof and wil not feare vz. because I trust in him sée Psal 3.6 What flesh can do vnto mee i. any man whatsoeuer as appeareth ver 11. of this Psal and he calleth his enemies flesh as it were in conteÌ„pt that he might put his aduersaries in remeÌ„braÌ„ce of their pride who forgetting themselues did thrust in themselues into such foolish enterprises Ver. 5. Mine own words grieue me dayly q. .d. besides my enemies which much trouble mee I féele the want of Gods fauour in my affaires which doth also much grieue me he vseth words for thoughts purposes speaches déeds according to the propriety of his owne tongue which vseth it many times so generally al their thoughts i. they do nothing else in a maner but thinke deuise how to destroy me worke me mischiefe Ver. 6. They gather together vz. to conspire and take counsell against me and kéepe theÌ„selues close that their méetings practises conclusions may not be known or disclosed and by this speach he meaneth also their subtilties which they vsed secretly to intrap him sée Psal 10.8.9.10 They marke my steps some expound it thus they follow me so nigh that they are as it were at my héeles but I take this to be the simple sense they prie into my life and conuersation to sée whether they can find any thing in it blame worthie and so haue you the words vsed in sundry places 1. Pet. 2.21 Heb. 12.13 they wayte for my soule soule is here put for life as in sundry places before and when hee sayth they wayte for it hee noteth their diligence and labour to kil him and to take his life from him Ver. 7. They shal escape vz. thy iudgments by iniquitie vz. which they commit the Prophet meaneth that the wicked perswade themselues not only that they shall escape vnpunished for their wickednes but also that God will blesse them for it Sée Iohn 16.2 Cast these people down vz. from the height of pride and cruelty that they practise against thine in thine anger i. at that time which thou shalt thinke méete to declare thy wrath against them Ver. 8. Thou hast counted my wandrings i. thou knowest that all my life hath béen nothing else but a continuall flight hither and thither as though I were a vagabond I neuer being assured in any certaine place nor hauing any setled rest al my life long as it were this he alleageth to strengthen his faith that as God before had had care ouer him so he would continually after that time put my teares into thy bottle i. suffer them not to fall in vaine vppon the earth and to bee like water spilt vppon the grounde and this is spoken according to man By teares hee vnderstandeth not onely his wéeping but also that great heape of afflictions that did make him shed his teares and by bottle speaking after the manner of men who reserue precious things sundry times in such manner of vessels hee meaneth Gods continuall remembraunce or as hee sayth afterwardes in this verse register so that altogether come to this much q.d. Beholde somewhat more nighly the afflictions that I indure to the ende that thou mayest take pity vppon mee and haue mee in continuall remembraunce suffer not my teares to fall to the grounde but esteeme of them I pray thee as of a precious thing are they not in thy register q.d. yes certainely they are for by such demaundings they vse most certainely to affirme as wee haue sundry times noted before hee meaneth that the remembrance of the teares of the faithfull shall neuer bee blotted out before God Ver. 9. When I cry i. when I pray earnestly as Psalm 22.2 Psal 30.2.8 shall turne backe vz. as though they were discomfited in the day of battaile hee meaneth that they shall haue no force or power to doe him any hurt but that in the strength of God hee shall bee able to wound them this I knowe i. this I am fully perswaded of sée the word knowe so vsed 2. Corin. 5.1 for God is with mee i. taketh my part sée Psal 54.4 Psal 55.18 and this hée putteth downe as an assured reason of his perswasion Ver 10. Is the same both in wordes and sense with the first part of verse 4. in this Psalme Ver. 11. Is the same with the latter part of that verse and hee repeateth the same woordes that hee might expresse the force of the trust that hee had in God and in his promises The sense is thus much q.d. although it may séeme to men that GOD doth abuse mée withdrawing his ayde from mée and kéeping mee in suspense yet I will neuer cease to trust in his promise which shall bee strong inough to vpholde mee in all mine afflictions Verse 12. Thy vowes i. the vowes that I haue vowed vnto thee which are called Gods vowes because they did of duety afterwards belong vnto him are vpon me vz. not onely because I haue vowed the same but because it parteineth vnto me to performe them and that vppon paine of thy displeasure and wrath I will render praises vnto thée hee sheweth that hee will not be vnthankfull for the benefite receiued from God q.d. I bounde my self vnto thée by the vowes that I made when I was in danger which now I will pay vnto thée because thou hast deliuered mee the particularities of which deliueraunce hee expresseth in the next verse Ver. 13. My soule from death i. my body and life which was in the danger of death and as it were at deaths doore by reason of the rage of our enemies my féete from falling i. thou hast stayed mee vpright so that notwithstanding all the grinnes snares of the enemies I haue not fallen or stumbled that I may walke before God i. not onely lead a holy vpright and vertuous life but also commit my selfe and my affaires to Gods prouidence and protection Sée Gene. 17.1 Psalm â—â—6 8.9 and marke howe he changeth the person from the second to the third in the light of the liuing i. in this life which is called the light of the liuing because they here inioy it Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs two thinges first to runne to Gods mercy by earnest prayer in our distresses Secondly what is the outragious and cruell nature of the wicked which thing also ver 2. doeth set out vnto vs. Ver. 3. Teacheth that assured trust and confidence in God is a ready way to ouercome all feare Ver. 4. Teacheth two things first that Gods promises are and ought to be the matter of our mirth secondly that if we be fully perswaded thereof wee neede not greatly feare what flesh and blood can do against vs. Ver. 5. Teacheth vs to be moued much and to learne to make our profit by it when God crosseth vs in our purposes and attempts and the latter part of that ver and Ver. 6. Do marueilously paint out the mischieuous imaginations close conspiracies narrow markings and
crafty crueltie of the wicked which may teach the godly two things specially first in all holy wisedome to labour the preuenting of these mischiefes that are meant against them secondly to striue to liue a holy and an vpright life because the eies of the wicked are continually vpon them Ver. 7. Sheweth vs howe the wicked flatter themselues in their sinne Ver. 8. Expresseth the great care that God hath ouer his children and how dearely he accompteth euery thing that is done to them or commeth from them Ver. 9. Setteth out the force and effect of feruent prayer Ver. 10.11 Are the same with ver 4. of this Psalme Ver. 12. Teacheth vs in care and conscience to performe the holy promises we haue made vnto God specially those that concerne praise and thanksgiuing Ver. 13. Teacheth two things first that it is God alone that vpholdeth his children and deliuereth them from all dangers and distresses secondly that he doeth this to this end that by holy life and godly conuersation we should glorifie him before men Psalme 57 Di. THis Psalme may bee diuided into thrée partes In the first the Prophet calleth vppon the Lord assuring himselfe that God will graciously heare his prayers and deliuer him from ver 1. to the end of the third In the second hee declareth the dangerous and pitifull estate wherein he was and the craft and cruelty of his enemies praying deliuerance therfrom from ver 4. to the end of the 6. In the third part he sheweth his readines and inforceth himselfe to yéeld thankes to the Lord for his mercy goodnes towards him from ver 7. to the end of the Psalme The title to him that excelleth sée Psal 4. Destroy not In these words is declared the summe of those petitions which are conteined in Psalmes that haue such titles as this is as Psal 58. also Psal 59. It should appeare that Dauid was in some wonderfull feare of death and destruction and therfore praieth the Lord not to destroy him i. not onely not to suffer the wicked to destroy him but also because he alone had al power in his hands not to lay hands vpon him himself A Psal of Dauid on Michtam sée Psal 56 in the title whē he fled from Saul the history hereof is put down at large 1. Sam. 22.1 1. Sam. 24.1.2.3 c. In the caue or rather into the caue He meaneth either Adullam or else an other caue in En-gedi for which sée the places before noted so that in this title wee may sée the occasion of the writing and making of this Psalme vz. Dauids great daunger and affliction Ver. 1. Haue mercy vppon mee O God haue mercy vpon mee this is a most vehement request which also may appeare by the doubling of the words by the which also he sheweth that he was in very great danger for my soule trusteth in thée this word soule importeth that he trusted in God with all his heart which is the part that God especially regardeth and in the shadowe of thy winges i. thy sauegarde prouidence and protection it is a metaphor borrowed from chickens who lye close vnder the hennes wings till the kyte be passed ouer sée Psal 17.8 Wil I trust vz. because I haue heretofore found it good the Prophet meaneth that he had trusted did and would continually trust in Gods almighty protection onely till these afflictions ouerpasse It appeareth that Dauid had more troubles then one yea that hee had as it were flouds of them which maketh him here to resēble his afflictions to a storme or tēpest not meaning by the word til that when the tempest was appeased hee woulde then cease to trust in God but that hee would both then and for euer hang vppon him so haue you the word till vsed Psal 110. ver 1. Ver. 2. I will call i. I will pray vnto the most high God the Prophet addeth this to strengthen his fayth because he whom he would inuocate had all power in his hand and hée strengtheneth himselfe also by that which followeth vz. that god doth faithfully performe his promises made him for God neuer vseth to leaue a worke vnperfite that hee hath begunne but alwaies continueth his benefits and goodnes towards those that are his Ver. 3. Hee will sende from heauen vz. either one or many Angels rather thē I shoulde want helpe and succour and saue mée i. deliuer mee from the reproofe hee meaneth by this worde all that either closely or openly coulde be done or sayd against him of him i. not onely of Saul though he be the chiefe but of those that take part with him against mee that woulde swallow mee sée Psalm 56.1 God will sende his mercy and his trueth this may serue to expound by the way of addition these wordes hee wil send from heauen in the beginning of this verse or else wee may expound them thus hee wil sende vz. vnto mee making mee féele by experience that which I haue had heretofore but in perswasion his mercy and his trueth by mercy hee meaneth the manifestation of his goodwill and grace towardes him and by trueth hee meaneth the faithfulnes and true performance that God obserueth in keeping his promises Verse 4. My soule i. my whole life and body is amonge Lions i. greedy and cruell persons sée Psalm 35.17 Hée meaneth his enemies whome hee resembleth to Lions because they were full of rage and cruelty meaning also by this manner of speach and those that followe in this verse that hee was in wonderfull daunger I lye among the children of men i. such as haue nothing more then that corruption which they haue brought from their fathers which is nothing else but al maner of naughtines and cruelty that are set on fire vz. against mee and that through the malice and mischiefe of their owne heartes without any cause on my part giuen whose téeth are speares and arrowes and their tongue a sharpe sword by téeth and tongue which are the instruments wherby men speake he vnderstandeth the false and hateful accusations that Sauls flatterers made against him and in that he resembleth them to speares arrowes and swordes hee meaneth that they were sharpe kéene and persing euen to the wounding of him sée Psal 120.4 also Psalm 55.21 also Psal 59.7 Ver. 5. Exalt thy selfe O God aboue the heauen hee prouoketh the Lorde as it were by prayer to declare his power q.d. shewe thy might and power which is farre aboue the heauens here vppon the earth in ouerthrowing and confounding mine enemies and let thy glory bee vz. made manifest and appeare vpon all the earth i. all the earth ouer to the ende that thy glory may bee extolled and magnified amongst men which can hardly be if I be oppressed for that should be with the dishonour of thy name Ver. 6. They vz. the wicked and vngodly my deadly enemies haue layd a net for my steppes i. haue either narowly watched me in my conuersation as before Psal 56.6 or else
haue laide snares in my way to trappe me as I go that I may thereby fall into their daunger and this latter I rather allowe of and my soule i. my life and body as sundry times before is pressed down vz. with their cruelty and mine owne misery the Prophet meaneth by this manner of speach the great daunger that hee was in They haue digged a pit before me i. they haue craftely deuised wayes and meanes to intrappe mee and that in the way as I should walke for I thinke that by laying of nets digging of pits the Prophet meaneth to note their subtilty and are fallē into the middest of it i. the mischiefe and hurt which they had prepared against mee is light vpon their owne heads sée Psal 7.15.16 Ver. 7. My heart is prepared O God my heart is prepared by doubling the speach the Prophet noteth not onely how ready he was but also howe resolute a purpose he carried with him to praise God and when he speaketh of the heart hee setteth it against hypocrites who haue nothing in their hart but all in their mouthes sée ver 1. of this Psalme I will sing vz. thy prayses and by singing he meaneth that he would publish them aloud with his tongue as well as haue them in his heart and giue prayse vz. to thee that art worthy all praise Verse 8. Awake my tongue hee stirreth vp the partes and members of his body to a certain liuelines and praysing the Lord sée Psalm 16.9 Awake viall and harp the better to inforce himself to this great duety he addeth certaine musicall instruments sée Psal 32.2 also Psal 43.4 I will awake earely vz. in the morning q. d. I will not be sluggish to praise GOD yea I will breake my sleepe rather then fayle that duety Ver. 9. The Prophet meaneth that hee will spreade abroade the prayses of God in all places and to all persons among whomsoeuer hee shall come and no doubt but in spirite hee did foresée the vocation of the gentiles who were to bee called to the knowledge of God Ver. 10. For thy mercy is great vnto the heauens and thy trueth vnto the cloudes i. thy goodnes and faithfulnes fulfil the whole worlde so that all people in euery place vnder heauen knowe thee to be mercifull and true in thy promises Ver. 11. Is the same with ver 5. both in wordes and meaning in which the Prophet beséecheth the Lord to declare his power not onely in the country of Iudea but also to exercise his iudgement throughout the whole world in succouring the innocent and in punishing the wicked Ver. 1. Teacheth vs in all our prayers to cleaue to Gods mercy Do. and not to our merits it instructeth vs also in our distresses and at all other times to hang vpon his great power and wonderful prouidence Ver. 2. Gods power Gods promise are two very good grounds of our prayers Ver. 3. Teacheth vs to bee assured to obtaine those things that wee shall aske according to his will Ver. 4. Setteth out the cruelty outrage and wonderful bitternes both of word and heart that the wicked haue Ver. 5. Teacheth vs to pray for the manifestation of Gods iustice and glory Ver. 6. Describeth the mischieuous subtilty of the wicked against the vngodly into which notwithstanding through Gods iust iudgement they themselues do fal Ver. 7. Teacheth to bee ready and willing to praise God Ver. 8. Teacheth vs to inforce al the parts and members of our body thereto and to vse al holy meanes either inwarde or outward wherby we may be prouoked to the performance of that duty Ver. 9. Teacheth vs neuer to be ashamed to do it in euery place and before all persons that other men may be drawne by our examples to do the like Ver. 10. Declareth for what causes wee shoulde praise God vz. for his mercy and for his faythfulnes Ver. 11. Is the same with verse 5. of this Psalme both in sense doctrine Psalme 58. THis Psalme may be diuided into two parts Di In the first hee declareth that the wicked are not onely frée from al goodnes but replenished on the other side with all maner of corruption and vngodlines and this reacheth from ver 1. to the ende of the fift In the second he maketh an earnest praier against the wicked shewing that in their ouerthrow the godly shall haue an occasion of mirth giuen them and other men shal be instructed in the iustice and righteousnes of God and this reacheth from ver 6. to the end of the Psalme Se. The title of this Psalme is expounded before Psal 57. Ver. 1. Is it true vz. that yee pretend and speake that yee speake iustly and deale vprightly q.d. no. For by such interrogations they doe certainely deny the thing O congregation hee speaketh no doubt of Sauls counsellers and courtiers against whom he inueigheth here speake ye iustly vz. concerning me my causes or do ye not rather for Sauls pleasure flatter him and flaunder me O sonnes of men sée this expounded before Psal 4.2 Iudge ye vprightly vz. of me and my matters q.d. no. The sense of this verse together is this much Hee directeth this speach to his enemies who were of Sauls court and counsell as if he should say thus I make you iudges whether vnder the shadowe of assembling your selues to consult for the common wealth and for a good iust matter you go not about to oppresse me that am innocent guiltlesse Ver. 2. Yea rather q.d. yee are so farre from that that yee execute the contrary in your heart i. secretly and priuily your handes execute cruelty the Prophet chargeth them with two thinges here first diuising of wickednes then practising and performing of the same by hand he meaneth not only the power they had to worke wickednes but that they thēselues with their owne hands were the executioners of the cruelty they had deuised sée Micah 2.1 vppon the earth i. vpon the people inhabiting the earth meaning also by this manner of speach that their cruelty was manifest as being séene and felt of men Ver. 3. The wicked in this verse the other following he setteth out the cause why Sauls courtiers commit al these things first by reason of the natural corruptiō which is in them maketh them to goe astray from God secondly because they carry with thē a fetled purpose to al maner of euil and wil not be reclaimed from it by any meanes Are straungers vz. from God and godlines as with whom they haue no maner of acquaintance at al frō the wombe vz. of their mother euen from the belly vz. of their mother haue they erred to wit from the right way of holines goodnes q.d. it is not to bee marueiled at that they are so wicked for it is no new thing because they haue had it euē from their birth Ver. 4. Their poison i. the malice of their harts and the mischieuous wordes that they vtter like the
experience he had had in times past of Gods goodnesse towardes him and this is in verse 3.4.5 In the thirde hee prophecieth of the continuance of his kingdome and promiseth thankfulnesse vnto God for the same and this is in verse 6.7.8 The Title of this Psalme is expounded before Psalme 4. Verse 1. Se. Heare my crie i. graunt my earnest request and the same is meant by giue eare vnto my prayer not that Dauid doubted whether God heard or no but that he would fayne with some spéede haue had his sute yéelded vnto Verse 2. From the ends of the earth it should rather be from the ends of the lande vz. of Israell for Dauid flying fore feare of his sonne Abshalon vpon which occasion I suppose this Psalme was made passed ouer Iordan to Mahanaim whether also Abshalon followed him Samuel 17.24 will I crye vnto thée i. Pray earnestlye and feruently when my hart is oppressed vz. with sorrow and gréefe to sée my sonne rise vp agaynst me and my people also to followe him bring mée vnto the Rocke i. set me vpon a verye high and safe place from whence I may behold my enimies and be safe from their force that is higher then I i. that is more sure and safe then I and all the forces I haue or am able to make Ver. 3. For thou hast bin mine hope i. he alone in whom I haue hoped and trusted and a strong towre i. a most sure defence kéeping me always safe sound from the force of mine enemies for though he speak but in the singular nūber of one yet no doubt he meaneth the rest and this verse containeth a reason of his prayer taken from former experience Verse 4. I shall dwell in thy tabernacle tabernacle is not put here for the Arke but it is put for a tent or pauilion being a metaphor taken from warfare where those that are in the kings tente dwell as it were in a very safe place because the king and those that are with him be alwayes the safeliest prouided for To dwell then in Gods Tabernacle is to haue abiding in such a place as where nothing can hurte him and this sence may appeare to be right by the other member of this verse for euer i. al the dayes of my life vpon the earth and euer after when I shal be receiued to thée and my trust shall be vnder the shadow of thy winges q.d. This shall bee my trust that lying vnder thy protection I shall be safe sée Psalme 17.8 Ver. 5. Hast heard my desires i. graunted the thinges I prayde for thou haste giuen an heritage both in this life vz. the lawfull inioying of earthly things which doe indéede appertain to the only seruaunts of God and also in the life to come prepared for those that feare his name i. that of a certayne childlike reuerence that they haue of his Maiestie in their harts yéeld vnto him that seruice in this life that he requireth of them Verse 6. Thou shalt giue the King i. me that am the King speaking of himselfe in the third person a long life his yeares shall be as many ages vz of men and their posterity layde together he meaneth nothing else but that he should liue and raigne long This was fulfilled certaynly in Dauid who raigned King forty yeares but specially it is accomplished in Christ whose Kingdome indureth for euer Verse 7. He Marke how he speaketh still of himselfe in the thirde person shall dwell before God i. shall haue God alwayes gracious and fauourable vnto him by reason of his fatherly prouidence and care that he hath ouer his For to dwell before God is not only to liue in his presēce for the wicked are neuer remoued from that but to fynde him gracious louing as those whom the Prince continually vouchsafeth his sight for euer i. a long time if you referre it to Dauid but perpetually if you referre it to Christ prepare vz. for the King mercy and faithfulnesse i. by mercy he meaneth compassions that Magistrates vse as when in pronouncing sentence agaynst any they shew that they do it with a tender hart and by faythfulnesse he meaneth truth equity and vpright dealing rendring to euery man according to his cause that they may preserue him vz. in his kingdome and make his raigne and gouernment sure Sée Prouerbs 20.28 also Prouerb 29.14 Verse 8. So will I alwayes sing prayse vnto thy name i. continually prayse thy maiestie for inabling me to execute my office in performing dayly my vowes q.d. by this meanes shall my prayse and thanksgiuing appeare in that I will performe as signes of my thankfulnesse and obedience the vowes that I haue made vnto thée Do. Verse 1. Teacheth vs so to be earnest in prayer with our God not that he hath néede thereof but for our owne cause because it is a good meanes to cause vs to spéede Verse 2. Teacheth that prayer is not tied to any place as to think that for the places sake our prayers should be the better it teacheth also that in the heauinesse of our hart we should then specially praye as also Iames 5.13 Verse 3. Teacheth that nothing can more forciblye cause vs to hope in God then the vnfayned remembraunce of the ayde that we haue receiued from him Verse 4. Teacheth that God alone must be our refuge and protection Verse 5. Sheweth that God graciously graunteth the holy prayers of his Seruaunts and neuer destituteth those eyther of bodily or spirituall blessings that call vpon him Verse 6. Long life to all and namely the long raignes of Kinges and Princes is a speciall gift of God Verse 7. Teacheth that Magistrates knowe not how to rule vnlesse the Lorde apt them for it it teacheth also that tender hartednesse and vpright execution of iustice be the proppes and stayes of kingdomes and countries Verse 8. Teacheth Gods children thankfulnesse yea continuall thankfulnesse and the manifesting of that thankfulnesse by the exercises of Gods holy religion and the fruits of obedience Psalme 62. THis Psalme though somewhat shorte Di. hath yet foure speciall parts In the first is comprehended his entraunce or Exordium wherein the Prophet sheweth that he hangeth only on God and this is in the two first verses In the second he reproueth his enemies for their mischieuous imaginations lyings flatteries c. shewing what iudgement shall fall vpon them therefore Verse 3.4 In the third part he propoundeth the doctrine of confidence in God exhorting the faithfull to hang vpon him because man is but vaine and dehorting the wicked from their sinne and this reacheth from verse 5. to the end of the 10. In the fourth he confirmeth his doctrine shewing that God hath iudgement in the one hand and mercy in the other to render to euery one according to their déeds and this is in the two last verses The title of this Psalm is expounded before Psal 39.1 Ver. 1. Se. yet my soule q.d. notwithstanding al the afflictions
followeth in the Psalme Ver. 8. I am become a straunger vnto my brethren i. euen the dearest friendes I haue haue as it were thrust me out of their familiaritie friendship acquaintance and euen an aliant i. as one that were vtterly vnknowne vnto my mothers sonnes sée Psalme 50.20 he meaneth nothing else but that they who by nature were bound to loue him did most hate and despise him and therefore no maruaile though other did so so that he was as it were forsaken of all Verse 9. For the zeale of thine house i. the great and earnest affection that I haue to maintaine thy honour and glory and to vphold thy Church hath eaten me a notable metaphor by which the Prophet sheweth that care and affection to promote Gods glory and Church had euen as it were consumed him this is applyed to Christ Iohn 2.17 and the rebukes of them i. of the wicked that rebuked thée vz. vniustly and without cause whereby the Prophet noteth the vilenesse of the vngodly who spared not to lode the Lord with reproches are fallen vpon me i. haue wounded me euen as though they had bin directed against my selfe Verse 10. I wept vz. Seing all things so disordred and the name of God so reproched and my soule fasted by soule he meaneth either the body as psalme 16.10 or else the whole man putting a part for the whole fasting being an effectuall instrument to humble the same but that was to my reproofe q.d. mine enemies did so much more mock and despise me therefore Verse 11 I put on sacke also vz. in signe of mourning which was a common thing among the Iewes sée for this verse and the other that went next before Psalme 35.13 and I became a Prouerbe vnto them i. they made mee and my doings a by-word amongst them q.d. when they woulde note a contemptible person or thing then they would name me and my matters Verse 12. They that sate in the gate i. the Iudges Counsellors or magistrates whose order it was to sit there that the people might haue frée accesse vnto them sée Gen. 34.20 Prouerb 22.22 Spake of me vz. in mockery and scornefully and the drunkards sang of me by drunkards he meaneth those that haunted the places of drunkennesse as Tauernes Alehouses c. And by singing hee meaneth that they made songes and ieasts against him q.d. all persons both high and lowe contemne me and they vtter their reproches both publikelye and priuately Verse 13. In an acceptable time i. in such a time as it shall please thée to heare me for that time specially is acceptable euen in the multitude of thy mercy i. I come to make my prayer vnto thée trusting in that and not in any thing in my selfe sée Psalme 51.1 heare me i. graunt me my request as sundry times before in the truth i. according to truth the word in being put for according of thy saluation i. of that deliueraunce and succor that thou hast promised to send me and all those that trust in thee Verse 14. Deliuer me out of the myre i. out of the afflictions wherein I am that I sinke not vz. vnder the burden or in the myre of those troubles that I indure and not of the déepe waters sée verse 2. This verse and the next following is nothing but the same in sence with verse 1 of this Psalme Verse 15. The pit shut her mouth vpon me by pit he vnderstandeth the troubles and afflictions in which he was and by not shutting the mouth vpon him he meaneth that hee woulde not haue the multitude nor the weight of his afflictions to swallow him vp q.d. bring to passe that I perish not in this trouble and great crosse Verse 16. Heare me O Lord vz. in my prayers and graunt my requests for thy louing kindnesse is good d.q. I aske it for thy goodnesse sake only and hope to obteine because in goodnes thou deniest not thy children turne vnto me i. make it appeare by effect that thou hast heard my prayer in giuing me succour according to the multitude of thy tender mercies sée Psal 51.1 Verse 17. And hide not thy face i. thy fauoure and goodnesse make hast vz. to helpe me and heare me i. graunt me my requests and prayers Verse 18. Draw neare vnto my soule i. showe that thou hast care of me and my life and this he speaketh according to the féeling of the flesh for men thinke that God is farre from them when they perceiue not his succour and ayde and redéeme it vz. from the rage and violence of the enemies deliuer me vz. from daungers and distresses because of mine enemies i. not only because mine enemies doe assault me but also least they should reioyce in my ouerthrow or else that being set frée I may reioyce ouer them Verse 19. My reproofe my shame and my dishonour i. the reproofe shame and dishonor which I beare and suffer sée ver 5. of this Psalme he vseth 3. wordes signifying one thing therby to set out the greatnesse of his reproch are before thée i. naked and open in thy sight as al other things are sée Heb. 4.13 Ver. 20. Reproofe i. the slaunders and reproches of mine enemies hath brokē my hart i. hath brought great gréefe vnto me and as it were wounded me at the hart and I am full of heauinesse vz. by reason thereof i. of their reproches backbitings but there was none vz. that woulde pittie me in my distresses and for comforters i. I looked also for some to comfort me but I found none at al Verse 21. For they i. mine enemies gaue me gall i. moste bitter thinges such as were rebukes taunts c. in my meate i. in stéede of my meate meaning by meate comfort and in my thirst i. in my great afflictions putting thirst or want of drinke which is one for many they gaue me viniger i. they added affliction to my affliction noting by this manner of spéeche their hard hartednesse and that they did vnto him the worst that possible they could and note that this which Dauid here speaketh of himselfe in fygure was playnelye and according to the letter accomplished in our Sauiour Christ as appeareth Matt. 27.48 Verse 22. Let their Table meaning them that had dealte so wickedly and ill with him By Table other Metaphors and similitudes which he vseth he meaneth al thinges that serue to this present life and the commodities thereof He meaneth that all the good and prosperity they haue shoulde bee turned to euill and to torment vnto them and this is the sence generallye but let vs looke vpon it somewhat more particularly By Table wee may vnderstande their daynties sette vppon the Table and by these wordes Bee a snare before them he meaneth not only in their sight but also to intangle and catche them q.d. Euen in the middest of their daynties let them perishe Nay let their very daynties be turned into destruction to them and their prosperity their
ruine i. let euen those things that they supposed were wealth and defence vnto them be their destruction and ouerthrowe Dauid wisheth not this but in respect that they were enemies to God and hys Church knowing also by the spirite of Prophecy that the Lord had giuen them ouer as also S. Paule himselfe alleageth this place Rom. 11.9 Ver. 23. Let their eyes be blinded that they sée not and make their loynes alwayes to tremble by eyes and loynes principall partes of a man wee maye vnderstande the whole man or else thus that the Prophet desireth the blinding of them in their sight and the weakening of them in their loynes that so they might not be able to hurt him or else by wishing their eyes to be blinded he meaneth the depriuing of them of all reason and vnderstanding so that they may remaine without iudgement as a blind man doth without light and by making their loines alway to tremble he vnderstandeth the astonishing and weakening of their power and force because that in the loines and raines mans strength doth principallye consist Verse 24. Poure out vz. in great measure and abundaunce take them or else take hold of them and that in such sort that they may not escape hee desireth the Lord to punish them most sharply euen as angry folkes are wont to punish those that are vnder their handes and that they might be destroyde in the Lords wrath Ver. 25. Let their habitation i. not only the place where they dwel but euen their very offices and functions sée Acts 1.20 be void vz. by thy iust taking of thē away from amongst mē and let none vz. of their séed posterity dwell in their tents vz. that they haue dwelt in he meaneth that he would haue them die without heire or issue Ver. 26. Whom thou hast smitten i. chastised and that with a fatherly correction whom thou hast wounded vz. with sorrow by al this he meaneth that the wicked layd gréeuous affliction punishments vpon those whom god in fatherly loue had chastised to humble them to bring thē to amendmēt Ver. 27. lay iniquitie i. punishment for iniquity whiche is called iniquity not that it is so but because the wicked so estéeme vpon their iniquity q.d. plague thē punish thē thorowly for their sinne and let thē not come into thy righteousnes i. let them neuer performe such holinesse of life as thou allowest or else let thē not be reckned amongst suche righteous persons as thou acceptest putting righteousnes for righteous men this latter séemeth to be the beter sence by reason of that which followeth Ver. 28. Let thē be put i. vtterly blotted out of the booke of life by this he vnderstandeth the eternall counsell of God by which he ordeineth predestinateth his owne to saluation according to his good pleasure he meaneth not that euer they were writtē there for good but because they were hipocrites and so séemed to be elected he prayeth the Lord to make it knowne vnto all that they are not of the number of his elect neither written in their Catalogue and all this he speaketh according to man as though God kept a booke of names sée Exod. 32.32 Phil. 4.3 neither let them be written with the righteous i. let them not be accounted numbred or estéemed as they or with them Ver. 29. When I am poore i. contemned and despised of men as commonly poore people are and in heauinesse vz. by reason of mine oppressions on euerye side shall exalte mée vz. into a high and sure place where I shall be frée from the force and rage of myne enemies Verse 30. I will prayse vz. when I shall bee deliuered the name of GOD i. his mighte maiestie power goodnesse c. as Psalm 20.1 with a song vz. apte méete and made for that purpose and magnifye him i. extoll and set him forth with thanksgiuing vz. for his louing kindnes and mercy toward me Ver. 31. This vz. prayse and thanks giuing for his benefits shall please the Lorde i. bee acceptable in his sighte better then a yong Bullocke that hath hornes and hoofes i. which is apt and méete for his age to be offered in sacrifice meaning thereby also any other beast whatsoeuer which the Lord had commanded to be offered Verse 32. The humble i. the good godly people that are afflicted in the world shall sée this vz. Iudgement of God vpon the wicked and mercy to his own children and they that seeke God i. those that professe his religion cal vpon his name as verse 6. of this Psalme shal be glad vz. for the execution and performaunce of that iudgment and mercy and your hart shall liue he sodaynly chaungeth the person directing his spéech to the afflicted ones q.d. you that for the greatnesse of my calamitie and your owne misery séemed as it were to be wounded at the hearte shall haue such great ioye that you shall séeme as it were to be restored from death to life Verse 33. For the Lord heareth the poore i. graunteth them that are afflicted their petitions and requests and despiseth not i. doth not onely not neglect but very greatly regardeth and highly estéemeth his prisoners i. those that suffer imprisonment or any manner of calamitie for the mayntainaunce of his truth and cause Verse 34. Let heauen and earth praise him vz. after their maner and kinde and in such sort as he inableth them the seas al that moueth in them he exhorteth the creatures to praise the Lord but al that is done to prouoke man to the same for the wonderfull goodnesse of God towards his people Verse 35. For God will saue i. not only deliuer from dangers but bring to eternall rest Sion i. his Church as Psalm 51.18 and build the Cities of Iudah vz. which were decayed and throwne down by the force of the aduersaries he meaneth by these spéeches that God will haue a care ouer his whole Church and the particular congregations thereof that men maye dwell there i. in the Church and haue it in possession vz. from the stirres and troubles of the vngodly Ver. 36. The séede also of his seruauntes i. the godlye and their posterity who are Gods seruaunts shall inherite it i. the Churche and the graces that God shall bestow vpon the same meaning that they shall be made partakers of all good things and they that loue his name i. feare his maiestie and serue him according to his will reuealed in his word shall dwell therein i. in the Church and congregation of God Do. Verse 1. Teacheth vs in time of great gréefe to flée to God for succour Ver. 2. sheweth that the more troubles we indure the more néede haue wee to drawe nigh to God by prayer Verse 3. Teacheth vs though we haue prayed long yet neuer to leaue off til God graunt our requests Verse 4. Setteth out the multitude power and oppression of the vngodly not as to dismay vs but to teach vs to denie
our selues and to hang wholy vpon God for deliueraunce Ver. 5. Sheweth that we néede not much to regard what men saye of vs so that wee haue a cleare conscience before the Lord. Verse 6. Teacheth vs two thinges first the care that we should haue to pray for other men that they fall not from God through our afflictions secondly that other mens troubles shoulde not cause vs to reuolt from the truth Verse 7. Teacheth that it is good to suffer for a good cause Verse 8. Sheweth that in afflictions both friends and kinsfolkes doe many times forsake those to whom they are bound Verse 9. Teacheth vs to be earnestly moued for God and his glory Verse 10. Sheweth the mischieuous nature of the wicked who misconster euery good thing that the godly doe Ver. 11. Teacheth vs not to leaue off mourning when mourning is required though the wicked deride vs for it Ver. 12. Teacheth vs that al for the moste part high and low good and bad are enemies to Gods children Verse 13 Teacheth vs first to come to God by prayer in the time of our néede secondlye to doe it hauing a trust in his abundance mercy and thirdlye to cleaue for the strengthening of our prayers to the truth of Gods promises Verse 14. teacheth vs to craue deliueraunce out of troubles at Gods handes who onely can and will performe the same for vs. Verse 15. Teacheth vs the more that afflictions are multiplyed the more earnestlye to call vppon GOD. Ver. 16. Our prayers must bee grounded vppon the wonderfull and vnspeakeable mercies of our God towardes vs. Verse 17. Teacheth vs that the féeling of Gods fauour is no smal comfort in the time of our afflictions Verse 18. teacheth vs to praye for deliueraunce and that least the enemyes insulte ouer much Verse 19. Teacheth vs that it is no small comforte to vs that God knoweth vs and our afflictions and our aduersaries and their dealinges Ver. 20. Teacheth vs that it is no new thing that the godlye are many times destituted of those helpes which they made account of Verse 21. Teacheth vs that the wicked are voyde of bowels of compassion adding affliction to miserye Verse 22. Teacheth that the wicked thorowe Gods iust iudgementes maye many times bee snared in their pleasure and prosperitye Verse 23. Teacheth that GOD sundrye tymes in iustice depriueth them of all iudgement and taketh from them all strength and courage Verse 24. Sheweth that the wicked are not able to escape Gods wrath and displeasure Verse 27. That GOD also sometimes leaueth them childlesse Verse 26. Setteth out the hard hartednesse of the vngodlye who neuer pitie any though in neuer so greate miserie Verse 27. Teacheth that Gods iudgementes manye tymes doe ouertake the wicked in their transgressions Verse 28. Sheweth that Hipocrites are not within the compasse of Gods election howsoeuer they bee admitted to the societye of the Churche Verse 29. Teacheth that GOD is all in all for his to deliuer them from distresse Verse 30. Teacheth vs to prayse and thanke GOD for his benefites bestowed vppon vs. Verse 31. Teacheth vs that spirituall seruice is more acceptable to GOD then all outwarde Sacrifices whatsoeuer Verse 32. Teacheth vs that greate pleasure shall come vnto Gods Children by consideration of the blessinges that hee bestoweth vppon some of them Verse 33. Teacheth vs the wonderfull prouidence and care that God hath ouer those that suffer any thing for his cause Verse 34. Sheweth that if dumbe Creatures must prayse the Lord much more the reasonable are bounde to it and amongest them those that he accounteth as his Sonnes and Seruauntes Verse 35. Teacheth not onelye Gods care and loue for his Churche but that in the middest of all miseries hee will haue a people that shall continuallye call vpon him in spirite and truth Verse 36. Sheweth that incorporation into the Churche appertaineth vnto the faythfull and their posteritye after them Psalme 70 Di THis Psalme séemeth to be the same both in wordes and matter almost with the last part of Psalme 40. from verse 13. to the ende of the Psalme whether it shall be good to looke backe agayne for the more playne sence and vnderstanding thereof and yet notwithstanding something shall be sayd here First the Psalme it selfe may fitly be deuided into two parts vz. first that the Prophet maketh prayer for himselfe that he may spéedily be deliuered out of his daungers and this is comprehended in the first and last verses of this Psalme Secondly he prayeth for the ouerthrow of the wicked and for the prosperity of those that loue the Lorde and this is comprehended in verse 2.3.4 Se. The title is expounded before Psalme 4. and psalme 38. in the titles therof Verse 1. To deliuer me vz. from the daungers and enemies whiche doe as it were ouerwhelme mee make haste to helpe mee vz. oute of this distresse wherein I am Verse 2. Let them be confounded vz. among themselues and in their owne vnderstandinges and put to shame vz. euen in the sighte and presence of men before whome they thinke to attayne great glorye in banding themselues agaynst mee that séeke my soule i. my life vz. to destroye it and take it awaye let them be turned backwarde vz. as men discomfyted in warre that flée before their enemies and put to rebuke vz. openly and before others that desire myne hurt vz. eyther secretlye within them or openly by wordes and wishing Verse 3. For a rewarde of their shame i. as a iust recompēce of that shame and ignominie which they thought to bring vppon me whiche sayde vz. when I was in trouble Aha aha i. did outwardlye by wordes and countenaunce testifye the great ioy they had conceaued for mine affliction Verse 4. But let all those that séeke thee i. call vppon thée in their afflictions and that according to the rule of thy will sette foorth in thy worde bée ioyfull and glad in thée i. for thée thy power and great workes that thou performest on their behalfe that loue thy saluation i. like of allow and wishe for the great deliueraunces that thou bestowest vpon thy people Verse 5. Now I am poore and néed◠i. I am destitute of aide help and succour make hast to me i. to deliuer or help me as verse 1. of this psalm thou art mine helper vz. in time of daunger and distresse and that word thou importeth as much as if he shoulde saye thou alone and my deliuerer vz. oute of affliction and trouble make no tarrying i. delaye not or put not off to helpe me Do Verse 1. Teacheth vs that in extremity of daunger prayer to God is a notable refuge Ver. 2. Teacheth vs first that we may sometimes pray agaynste the vngodly secondly is pointeth out the mischieuous minds and nature of the wicked thirdly it teacheth vs not so much as to wish euill muche lesse to doe euill to Gods children Verse 3. Sheweth that God can and will sometimes in his iudgement bring
trueth Verse 8. Among the Gods vz. of the Gentiles and which they worship as Gods but yet are not so there is none like thée O Lorde vz. in any respect hee sheweth that the Gentiles gods are false and counterfeit because they haue no testimony of their might and power Sée Psalm 115.2.3.4 c. Sée also against the vanity of them Isaiah 44. almost throughout and there is none vz. amongest either them or amongst all the creatures in the worlde no all the creatures set together that can doe like thy workes i. can do such workes as thou hast done and dayly doest for all that they doe they do by thee as in whom they liue moue and haue their being whereas thou doest that of thy selfe only whatsoeuer pleaseth thée both in heauen in earth Ver. 9. All nations vz. of the earth whom thou hast made vz. by thy mighty power for without thée they were not neither can be shal come vz. either willingly or by constraint and worship i. either truely or hipocritically serue thée before thée i. in thy presence at thy presence and in the assembly of thy Saints and shal glorifie thy name i. shall either soundly or else for fashion sake acknowledge thy might maiesty and power for so is name taken here as Psal 20.1 Some vnderstande this of the calling of the Gentiles I wil not greatly contend but methinketh it were better to bée vnderstood of a constremed and counterfeit confession such as you shal sée in Abimilech Gene. 20. throughout and in Pharaohs Exod. 9.27 and in some other chapiters of that booke Ver. 10. For thou art great vz. aboue all and declarest that greatnes and excellency of thine by many thinges but specially by thy works and doest vz. dayly and continually wonderous things i. matter farre beyond the reach and compasse of mans wit and reason and therefore very wonderful thou art God alone q.d. though many haue the name of God yet in déede both the thing and the name doth only belong to thée Verse 11. Teach me q.d. I am blind and ignoraunt and therefore humbly craue thy instruction thy way O Lord i. the way that thou thy selfe hast prescribed and is the onely way and manner to liue well and vprightly and I will vz. through thy goodnes assistaunce and strength for otherwise I can doe nothing of my selfe walke i. frame and fashion my conuersation in thy trueth i. according to that rule of trueth and righteousnes which thou thy selfe hast prescribed in thy worde knit vz. fast and sure mine heart i. the affection and perswasion of my heart vnto thée vz. and the trueth of thy promises q.d. bring to passe that my heart being fréed from all feare and care of my enemies it may rest wholly in thy feare This manner of speach declareth that mans heart is distracted and as it were diuided into sundry partes till God haue driuen it to himselfe and helde it fast in his obedience wherefore by this worde hee meaneth that euen they that are wel affected are yet notwithstanding subiect to so many stūblings that they should quickly vanish and bee spilt as water were it not that god strēgtened them with constancy that I may fear thy name i. beare a louing reuerence to thy maiesty and trueth Ver. 12. I wil praise thée O Lord my god vz. when thou shalt haue taught me thy trueth and deliuered mee from mine enemies with al my heart i. vnfeignedly and not outwardly in wordes onely but also inwardly in deed and trueth yea I wil glorifie thy name i. set foorth the praise of thy maiesty might and power for euer i. both in this life and in the world to come or else it may be taken for continually Verse 13. For great is thy mercy towardes me i. thou hast and doest by effect declare the riches of thy goodnes towardes mee and thou hast deliuered my soule i. thou hast set my life or whole man frée for otherwise nothing can touch the soule from the lowest graue i. from most great deepe and extreme dangers it is a metaphor as they that are buried séeme in mans iudgement past hope of life and yet God notwithstanding will rayse them vp againe so when Dauid seemed to be past all recouery by reason of his distresses then did the Lorde most mightily deliuer him Ver. 14. O God the proude vz. persons of the worlde who are not prouoked by any wrong I haue done them but only by their owne pride for so much I suppose the Hebrewe word importeth are risen against mee vz. with great force multitude and counsel thinking to destroy me and the assemblies i. great troupes and multitudes of violent men the Hebrewe worde in déede importeth them that trust in their owne strength who are sayd to bée mighty or violent because with a certaine violent outrage they trouble all and labour to destroy euery thing experience teacheth the trueth of this for we sée that there is no measure kept where pride and violence or outrage preuaileth haue sought vz. very diligently my soule i. my life to wit that they might take it from me sée Matth. 2.20 and haue not set thée vz. who séest and knowest all wickednes and wilt in good time punish the same before them hee meaneth that they had no feare or regarde of God at all but supposed that God did not behold them which is a manifest token of extreme licenciousnes and impiety Ver. 15. But thou O Lorde art a pitiful God and merciful vz. to them that turne to thée and cal vpon thee in truth slowe to anger vz. against any though neuer so wicked looking by long suffering for their amendment and great in kindnes i. of wonderfull great kindnes and loue specially to thy seruants and trueth he meaneth by trueth the faithful accomplishment of all Gods promises and this verse is a certaine description of the nature of God and séemeth to be taken out of Exod. 34.6 Ver. 16. Turne vz. thy fauourable and louing countenance vnto me vz. which am distressed on euery side hee prayeth that hee may in this his misery féele Gods goodnes and mercy and haue mercy vpon me i. make thy mercy appeare towardes me in deliuering mee from the power of these violent men giue thy strength by this spéech he meaneth not to craue all the strength and power of God but to intreate the Lord to giue him strength and ability to passe through al the brunts hee should indure vnto thy seruaunt i. vnto him whome thou hast chosen to be thy seruant true it is the worde importeth slaue or bond seruant which word the Prophet also vseth to moue the Lorde to mercy and saue i. deliuer from daunger and distresse the sonne of thy handmayd i. such a one as hath béene begotten of faithful parents and brought vp in the couenaunt and is as it were a houshold seruant of the Church Sée Psalm 116.16 Verse 17. Shew a token of thy goodnes towards mee
the singular to the plural vnderstanding by this word he euery man Verse 6. In the morning i. before it bee cutte downe and the heate of the Sunne parche it it flourisheth and groweth that is the grasse prospereth and thriueth but in the euening vz. towardes the declining of the sunne at whiche time husbandmen suppose the grasse will cutte better and the mowers the heat of the daye being somewhat spent are the better able to indure labour it is cut down vz. by the mower with his sythe withereth vz. somewhat that night before the sunne set and so is more and more withered with the heate of the sunne the daye or dayes following q.d. Euen so fareth it with mans life for by this similitude he noteth the breuitie and shortnesse thereof a very vsuall thing in the scripture Isaiah 40.6 1 Pet. 1.24 Iam. 1.10.11 Ver. 7. For we are consumed by thyne anger he séemeth to allude to some great and particular iudgement layde vpon the people of which sée Num. 14. q.d. Our case by reason of thy iudgement sore vpon vs is more gréeuous then other mens cases are and by thy wrath vz. agaynste vs for our sinnes wée are troubled vz. verye sore and on euerye syde stricken as it were with greate feare Verse 8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee vz. that so thou mightest remember them and punishe vs for them and vz. thou hast set our secret sinnes i. the sinnes which we our selues though not of and therefore supposed were hidden before thée in the light of thy countenaunce i. openly in thy sight and before thy face Ver. 9. For all our dayes i. al the dayes of our life are past vz. already so that they cannot be called back agayn in thine anger vz. against vs for our sinnes we have spent our yeres i. the yeares of our life are gone as a thought i. sodainly as a thought commeth into our minds and passeth away again so sodainly are our dayes passed some read as a word or a tale that is tolde whatsoeuer it be the sence commeth all to one end vz. to note the vanitie shortnesse of mans life Verse 10. The time of our life is thréescore yeares and tenne i. ordinarilye and commonlye men liue not beyonde it yea if there be one that reacheth vnto it there are a hundred which dye before and if they be of strength i. if eyther the dayes of our life or the parties themselues haue thorow Gods blessing more strength then other men haue foure skore yeares vz. at the vttermoste q.d. That is the greatest age which almost they come vnto yet their strength q.d. that strength and excellency whereof commonly they brag boast is but labor and sorrow i. conteineth nothing in it but al maner of affliction toile gréefe dayly experience of the most aged men doth sufficientlye prooue the same vnto vs for it is cut off i. that same excellent strength and force of men which they bragge of is by death thorowe Gods appoyntmente made nothing and that quicklye vz. in the twinckling of an eye or in the turning of a hande and wée vz. mortall men that were flie awaye i. wee quicklye departe oute of this world and lyfe Verse 11. Who knoweth the power of thy wrath q.d. None at all though thy hande bée heauye vppon vs or of thyne anger according to thy feare i. who standeth in awe of thyne anger so much as thou and it oughtest to be feared for so must the latter part of this verse be read oute of Immanuel As for that in the Geneua text for according to thy feare is thine anger i. men féele thine anger according to the feare that they haue conceaued of thée caryeth with it as little or no sence in regarde of the place so lesse truth because Gods iudgements doe many times lye heauie vpon those men that haue no feare of his iudgements at all Verse 12. Teache vs so to number our dayes i. make vs so to vnderstand how shorte a space we haue to liue that we may apply our harts vnto wisdome i. that we may thereby become more circumspecte and héedye howe we spende euen that shorte tyme that we haue Verse 13. Returne vz. to vs in mercye and loue i. shewe some signes of thy fauour and grace q.d. hitherto thou haste bene angrye agaynste vs nowe at the length shew some fauoure towards vs O Lorde howe long vz. wilte thou bee angrye with vs and shewe vs the testimonyes of thy wrath and bee pacifyed towardes thy seruauntes i. take pleasure gentlye and graciously to handle vs whome thou haste vouchsafed worthye of this honour to be called thy seruaunts Verse 14. Fill vs with thy mercye i. make vs féele thy goodnesse in greate abundaunce and plentifullye in the morning i. eyther in the flower of our age as ver 5. of this Psalme or else in time conuenient as sundry times before some take it to be put for continually so shall we reioyce and be glad i. so we shal not only haue occasion of reioycing and gladnesse but we wil also performe prayses vnto thée for the same al our dayes i. al the dayes of our life or so long as we liue sée Psalm 146.1 Verse 15. Comfort vz. with thy grace goodnesse and fauour vs vz. now afflicted according to the dayes that thou hast afflicted vs vz. in Egypt as maye appeare from Exod. 1. to the 12. chapter q.d. graunt that the comfort which we shall receiue from thée may be equall yea more with the calamities which we haue indured and according to the yeares i. let thy comfort be aunswerable to the multitude of yeares that we haue séene euill i. wherein wee haue suffered and borne affliction or punishmente For euill is vsed here as Amos 3 6. no doubte in consyderation of the weakenesse and corruption of their owne nature and of the multitude of afflictions that commonlye lye vpon them and of the hardnesse to apply Gods fauour and goodnesse towardes them the godly had néed to pray that Gods graces may rather excéed their miseries then be equal with them or like vnto them Ver. 16. More playnly the wordes would be placed thus let thy worke toward thy seruaunt bee séene i. let that which thou wilt doe for thy seruaunts for vnder one he meaneth all the rest of the people appeare and be made manifest before men vnderstanding by the worde Worke some singular protection sauegarde and delyueraunce that GOD should worke for his people and thy glorye i. and let thy glory also appeare not only vpon them or towardes them but also vpon their children i. vppon their whole race and posteritie so that there are two endes touched in this verse the one is Gods glorye the other is the sauegard of Gods people and the defence of their séede Verse 17. And let the beautie of the Lord our God be vpon vs first marke how he changeth the person from the second to the third next that
cause of all goodnesse towardes all his creatures Verse 29 teacheth vs that the wante of féeling of Gods fauour is the fountayne of all woe disquietnesse death c. Verse 30 teacheth vs that the continuaunce of Creatures is not onely by an ordinary course of nature but specially by the commaundement and blessing of almighty GOD. Verse 31 teacheth vs to prayse GOD continually for his mercy and to pray for the continuaunce thereof Verse 32 teacheth vs to stande in awe of so great a Maiestye as can doe whatsoeuer pleaseth him both in heauen and in earth Verse 33 teacheth vs to carrye with vs holy purposes to serue the Lord as long as we liue and carefully to labour the performance thereof Verse 34 teacheth vs to pray that euen our prayers maye bée regarded in Gods sight Verse 35 teacheth vs that we may sometimes pray against the wicked and vngodly also that we should carefully stirre vp both our selues and others to prayse the Lorde Psalme 105 Di. THis Psalme as I take it may be deuided into thrée partes In the firste hée exhorteth to prayse GOD for his mercies shewing who they are that shoulde doe it from the first verse to the ende of the sixte In the seconde part hee resiteth the particular graces that GOD bestowed vppon them from the tyme of their firste calling till their comming oute of Egipt from verse seuen to the ende of the 26. In the thirde hee setteth out both what iudgementes GOD bringeth vpon their enemies for their sakes and also what mercies he sheweth them after their deliuery from verse 27 to the end of the Psalme Se. Though there be no Title of this Psalme declaring who made it yet it should appeare by 1. Chronic. 16.7.8 c. that Dauid made it and committed it to Asaph and his brethren to sing it And it hangeth wel with the other Psalms before going vz. Psalme 103. and Psalme 104. and also with Psalme 106.107 following al being Psalms to stir vp the Church to prayse God partly for his graces towards the Church Psalme 103 and generallye towardes all creatures Psalme 104 and partly for benefites vppon the faythfull euen by trying and correcting them Psalme 105 106. and lastlye for graces towardes all men Psalme 107. Verse 1. Prayse the Lord vz. all ye good and faythful people he would haue them to shew themselues thankefull and to set forth his glorye for graces receaued and call vpon his name i. feare his Maiesty but specially pray vnto him putting one part of Gods seruice for the whole declare vz. openly and playnly and that in euery place his workes i. the maruaylous thinges that hée hath done among the people vz. not onely of Iudea but of the whole earth Verse 2. Sing vnto him sing prayse vnto him vz. alone the doubling of the worde serueth both to stirre vs vp and also to note the excellency of that Sacrifice of thanksgiuing Some make this difference betwéene the two wordes that the firste singing shoulde bée with the mouth and the latter singing with musicall Instrumentes according to the Lawe and talke vz. amongest your selues openlye and euerye where of all his wondrous workes vz. whiche hée hath done for you and your Fathers so that wée shoulde as neare as wée canne call to remembraunce all Gods graces and mercyes bestowed vppon vs. Verse 3. Reioyce in his holye name i. shewe your selues gladde in that greate power and Maiestye of his which besydes the excellencye thereof contayneth in it holinesse also lette the hearte i. the inwarde affection as well as the outwarde behauiour of them that séeke the Lorde vz. vnfeignedlye and with a good harte vnderstanding by séeking of the Lorde seruing of him according to his will reuealed in his worde reioyce vz. in the Lorde and bée glad euen for this that hée giueth them grace to séeke and serue him Verse 4. Séeke the Lorde vz. earnestlye and that euen now while hée maye bée founde as Isaiah 55.6 and his strength 1. the Arke of the Couenaunte from whence the Lorde gaue euidente testimonye of his power and myghte Sée 2. Chronicles 6. verse 41. also Psalme 78. verse 61. séeke his face i. the arke of couenaunte whiche is also called Gods face because from thence GOD gaue playne testimonies of his fauour and goodnesse towards his people continually i. so long as you liue q.d. Be neuer wearye of doing that dutie Verse 5. Remember i. déepely and diligently thinke vpon that you maye thereby bee the better stirred vp to praise him his marueilous workes i. the great and wonderfull things which he hath don for his people he calleth thē maruailous because the Gods marueilous power declared it selfe in thē euen so that a man might easily iudge that they came from him that he hath done vz. in time heretofore and that for you your fathers his wonders i. the strange things which he hath done far beyond the reache and compasse of mans wit and the iudgementes of his mouth i both the punishments whiche he hath threatned against others and also the law and word he hath giuen vnto you for I would referre it to both these Verse 6. Ye séede of Abraham i. O yée that come of Abraham and his posteritie according vnto the flesh his seruaunt i. that serued GOD hee setteth before them their Fathers example the better to draw them on to the performaunce of that great dutye ye children of Iaakob i. O ye that come of Iaakob wch are his elect i. which he hath fréely chosen from amongst al other nations and here he vseth another reason fet from their election to draw them on to obedience Verse 7. Hée vz. alone and none other but he is the Lord our God i. he that gouerneth vs and vpon whome we our selues depend his iudgementes vz. agaynst sinne and vngodlinesse meaning by iudgements punishments are thorow all the earth i. are made manifest in all the world though perhaps men haue not eyes to sée the same or else we may take iudgements for rule guiding and gouernment so you haue the word to iudge vsed Psalm 98 9. meaning that Gods gouernment was stretched thorow out all the world Verse 8. He hath alway remembred his couenaunt and promise vz. made with his sonnes and seruaunts mening by remembred not only thinking vppon it but also the execution and performaunce of it that he made vz. of his owne accord and frée goodnesse to a thousand generations i. not only to infinite numbers of people putting a nūber certayne for an vncertayne but also to last and indure for euer Verse 9. Euen that vz. couenaunt which he made with Abraham vz. our Father sée Genesis 12 2 3 and his oth vnto Isaak sée Genesis 26.3.4 c. and hee vseth the word oth to note the certaintie and assurednesse of the couenaunte passed betwéene God and the people Verse 10. And since vz. the time of Abraham and Izaak meaning after their death hath confirmed it vz. both
godly magistrates and ministers which the Lord giueth vs. Ver. 17.18 Teach vs that God doth fearefully punish rebels and contentious persons of what state or calling soeuer they be Ver. 19.20 See out the dotage and blockishnes of idolaters who suppose the Godhead can be fashioned or resembled by any outward thing Ver. 21.22 Teacheth that the forgetfulnes of God his benefites and workes is the high way to all manner of sinne and iniquitie Ver. 23. Teacheth two things first that our sinnes do pul destruction from the Lord vppon vs Secondly how forcible the prayers of Gods children are both for themselues and others Ver. 24. Teacheth that contempt of Gods graces offred and giuen and distrust in the trueth of his promises are two horrible grieuous iniquities Ver. 25. Setteth out what great sinnes murmuring and rebellion against the Lorde are Ver. 26.27 Declare that neither these nor any other sinnes shall escape vnpunished in the parties that do them whether they be fathers or sonnes Ver. 28. Sheweth mans readines and earnest affection to commit idolatry Ver. 29. Sheweth that mans inuentions specially in the worship and seruice of God prouoke Gods angers and bring a plague vppon them Ver. 30. Teacheth vs in the example of Phinehas to lothe and abhorre sinne Ver. 31. Teacheth vs that God graciously accepteth the déedes words of his seruants though many wayes fraught with great defectes Ver. 32. Teacheth vs how peruerse and frowarde mans nature is though the Lorde deale neuer so plentifully and mercifully with him it teacheth also that God spareth no man for his person sake in that hée punished Moses Ver. 33. Teacheth thrée things first that other mens peruersnes shoulde not make vs sinne against God secondly though it doe yet wee shall not escape vnpunished thirdly that rash and vnaduised speaches are sinne against the Lord. Ver. 34. Teacheth vs to strike and not to spare where the Lord will haue vs to destroy for then we must not be lead by our owne fonde affections Verse 35. Teacheth vs that ill company is a shrewde meane to peruerte men from goodnes Ver. 36. Teacheth vs that to serue any besides the Lorde is the next way to come to destruction both in this life and in the life to come Ver. 37. Setteth out the rage of idolaters who spare nothing no not the dearest thinges they haue Verse 38. Teacheth vs that the shedding of innocent blood slayeth the whole lande and that therefore murther shoulde not onely not bée pardoned but sharpely punished Verse 39. Teacheth vs that there is nothing that hurteth man more then in ouerwening of his owne deuises Verse 40. Teacheth vs that our sinnes turne Gods loue and fauour into hatred and displeasure Ver. 41.42 Teach vs that sinne doeth drawe euen all temporall punishmentes vppon vs as forraine gouernement oppression captiuity c. Verse 43. Teacheth vs that God doeth not once onely but sundry times deliuer his people Secondlye that many the more graces they haue from God the more they are puffed vp in their owne deuises Thirdly that sinne against God is not onely a cause to humble vs but doeth in déede humble vs though perhaps wicked men will not sée it or féele it Verse 44. Teacheth vs first that GOD hath a tender eye ouer the afflicted ones Secondly that hée neuer forsaketh them if they call earnestly vppon him Verse 45. Teacheth vs that Gods frée couenaunt and eternall mercy without any thing of ours at all are sufficient inough to mooue him to take pity vppon vs in our afflictions Ver. 46. Teacheth that GOD onely hath the touching of mens heartes to bowe them hither or thither according to his good pleasure Verse 47. Teacheth vs to pray for other and euen Gods dispersed members as for our selues also that our owne ease and prosperity or preferment shoulde not so farre preuayle with vs as to make vs to forget them Verse 48. Teacheth all men continually to prayse the Lorde and to prouoke others thereto what in them lyeth Psalme 107 I Woulde diuide this Psalme into two partes Di In the first the Prophet exhorteth the faythfull to prayse the Lord for his mercy goodnes prouidence and power towardes them from verse 1. to the ende of the 10. In the seconde hée prouoketh them to praise the Lorde for his general power prouidence and goodnes towards others from ver 21. to the end of the Psalme Se. This Psalme hath no title or inscription at all Ver. 1. Is the same both in worde and sense that verse 1. of this Psalme 106. is and therfore sée that Ver. 2. Let them which haue béene redéemed of the Lord vz. out of bondage captiuity and dispersion q.d. let them that haue receiued this benefite at the Lords handes to bée set at liberty when they were in bondage prayse him shew vz. openly and to others howe vz. graciously and mightily hée vz. alone and none but hée hath deliuered them i. fréed them being sore oppressed through the cruelty and tyrannie of them that held them vnder from the hand i. from the power and might of the oppressor i. of them that oppressed them hée putteth in this place the singular for the plurall Verse 3. And gathered them vz. againe and together and that by his mighty power out of the landes vz. rounde about them into which they were dispersed for their transgressions sake from the East and from the West from the North and from the South i. from all quarters whereunto they were dispersed that word that we turne South signifieth also Sea and so shall you finde it translated in sundry textes but the meaning is because the red Sea lay southwarde from the land of promise Verse 4. When they wandered vz. a long tyme vp and downe in the desert and wildernesse out of the way hée meaneth out of the right way which did leade them whither they woulde haue come for GOD for their disobedience made them to wander fourty yéeres in the wildernes that so they might die and not come into the lande of Canaan and found no Citie vz. all that while of their wandering to dwell in i. to stay and refresh them selues in Verse 5. Both hungry and thirsty hée meaneth that whylest they were in the wildernesse they suffered many times great want of bread and drinke yea so much that their soule faynted in them i. their life was ready to decay and there séemed to bée but little difference betwéene death and them Verse 6. Then they vz. being in this great distresse and affliction cryed vnto the Lord in their trouble i. prayed earnestly vnto him and hée deliuered them i. set them frée from their distresse i. from the distresse that they were in Verse 7. And ledde them foorth vz. of the wildernesse and that safe and sounde by the right way vz. into the promised lande that they might goe vz. through his good direction to a Citie of habitation i. not onely to a citie inhabited but to a Citie whose
vz. layde vppon them by others and the griefe and anguish of their owne heartes Verse 40. Hée powreth contempt vppon Princes i. hée maketh them plentifully to bée contemned and despised this the Prophet addeth least men shoulde thinke it did méete with none but the poore sort and causeth them to erre vz. for shame of men and want of things necessary vnderstanding by erring wandering vp and down in desert places out of the way i. in wildernesses which haue no ordinary or common way in them and all this they doe because they woulde flie the sight of men Verse 41. Yet q.d. though hée deale thus hardly with wicked and vngodly Princes yet hée dealeth otherwise with the godly poore hée rayseth vp vz. into honour wealth estimation riches c. Sée Psalm 13.7 the poore i. him that standeth in néede of his helpe and grace and féeleth that want of his owne out of misery vz. wherein hée is or lyeth and maketh him families i. increaseth his housholdes stockes and ofspring like a flocke of sheepe i. in very great number for shéepe doe yéeld a great increase and a flocke of shéep comprehendeth many in number Verse 42. The righteous i. such good men as haue their sight lightened by fayth and whome the Lorde accounteth as righteous shall sée vz. both with their bodily and spirituall eyes it vz. the effectes and testimonies of Gods prouidence spoken of before in this Psalme and reioyce vz. greatly in the Lord who doeth the same whereas the vngodly being blinde in their vnderstanding not knowing that the worlde is gouerned by Gods prouidence but by blind fortune as they imagine shall remayne blynde confounded and dumbe in themselues not hauing any thing to say against this and al iniquitie i. euery man giuen to iniquitie naming the person by the thing by reason of the abundance which is in the man Sée Iob 5.16 shall stoppe her mouth i. hée or they shall haue nothing to say against this great worke of Gods prouidence Verse 43. Who is wise vz. according to GOD for it must bée Gods wisedome and not mans that must perfourme this great thing that hée may obserue vz. in his vnderstanding and heart and that diligently and déepely these thinges i. these great and excellent matters which the Lorde worketh the Prophet meaneth both that the number of them that beholde Gods workes with earnest consideration is very smal and also that by reason of the excellency of them a man had néed to imploye all the power of his bodye and mynde to the comprehension thereof Sée Hosea 14.9 for they shall vnderstande i. sensibly perceiue and feele the louing kindnes of the Lorde vz. towardes them that bee his the Prophet addeth this reason as an incouragement vnto men to prouoke them diligently to looke into Gods wonderfull workes shewing that then men in déede begin to bee wise when they beginne to apply themselues rightly to way Gods workes Do. Ver. 1. Teacheth vs both in our owne persons and to prouoke others also to praise God for his mercies towardes vs and for the continuaunce of the same Verse 2. Sheweth that they especially are bounde to publish Gods prayses which haue receiued greatest testimonies of his fauour Ver. 3. Sheweth Gods mercies towardes his people in gathering together those that were dispersed Verse 4. and 5. Shew that then are Gods mercies most swéete when men are in greatest distresse and misery Verse 6. Teacheth first that afflictions and wantes are notable spurres to earnest prayer Secondly that the Lorde onely is to be called vppon Thirdly that hée refuseth none that call vppon him specially if it be in spirit and trueth Verse 7. Teacheth that when God is our guide wée shall goe right and prosper in those thinges which wée take in hande Ver. 8. Teacheth vs that Gods mercies bestowed vppon vs require at our handes both a priuate and a publike or open confession thereof Verse 9. Teacheth that God alone is hée who relieueth the néede of his and that with all goodnes Ver. 10.11 Teach that contempt of Gods word and rebellion against his maiesty is the occasion of all misery bondage c. Ver. 12. Teacheth first that when God forsaketh a people then they must néedes come to ruine Secondly that for the sinnes of the people hée stoppeth vp the bowels and compassion of those that might helpe them Verse 13. Conteyneth the same doctrines that ver 6. doeth as it is the same in words and sense Verse 14. Teacheth that God alone is hee that deliuereth out of captiuitie or distresse whatsoeuer meanes hée vseth therein Verse 15. Deliuereth the fame doctrines that verse 8. doeth Ver. 16. Teacheth that there is no thing or creature able to withstande Gods power or to let his purpose Ver. 17. Teacheth that all wisedome and wife men without godlines is nothing but folly also that inquities are as strong as cartropes to pull vppon vs all manner of punishments Verse 18. Teacheth vs that euen appetite to our meat is a good gift of the Lorde also that when men are in greatest extremitie then is GOD most commonly nigh vnto them Verse 19. Teacheth the same doctrines that verse 6. doeth Verse 20. Teacheth that Gods only word is of power sufficient to doe whatsoeuer it shall please him Verse 21. Setteth out the same doctrines with verse 8. Verse 22. Teacheth vs not onely to publish Gods great woorkes but also to doe it chearefully gladly and willingly Verse 23. Teacheth that nauigation the calling of a mariner and the trade of marâ—haundife are not of themselues thinges vnlawefull Verse 24. Sheweth that Gods power and glory appeareth as well on the Sea as on the Lande Verse 25. Sheweth that stormes tempestes and the swelling of the Sea arise not by fortune or vppon naturall causes onely but by the speciall commaundement and appoyntment of God Verse 26. Doeth not onely set foorth gods great power that worketh such great thinges but sheweth that men are not blockes and voyde of affection as the Stoickes imagined but haue their passions which of themselues in some respect are not euill but the extremitie of them onelye Verse 27. teacheth that there is no policy wisedome witte or cunning agaynst the Lord. Verse 28 is the same in words meaning and doctrines with verse 6. Verse 29 teacheth that God only maketh the weather and seas calme sée Mat. 8 26 27. Verse 30 teacheth that men deliuered from some perill may oughte to reioyce also that God graciously graunteth men euen the things they desire and many times more then they wish also Verse 31 conteineth the same doctrines that verse 8 doth Ver. 32 teacheth vs that no place or people should hinder vs from praysing of God for his graces nay the more the greater men the rather we should do it to the end that they by our examples might be drawn on to the like Ver. 33 teacheth first that God guideth and gouerneth thinges here below whatsoeuer a company of dizy
matter of no smal comfort Ver. 16. Teacheth vs that it is a good thing to be borne of good parentes but that it is much better to haue our names written in the booke of life also that though mischief be deuised against Gods seruauntes or they themselues somewhat fal into it yet that God will either preuent the mischiefe or else dispatch them out of distresse Ver. 17. Teacheth vs that thankesgiuing and prayer should alwaies be ioyned together Verse 18. Is the same with ver 14. and deliuereth the same doctrines also it teacheth vs not to be ashamed openly to praise God for his mercies Ver. 19. teacheth vs also to yéeld him that sacrifice publikely in his Church and in the assemblies of his saints It teacheth vs also to prouoke others to praise the Lord. Psalme 117. Di. AS this Psalme is the shortest Psalme in al the booke and hath but only two verses so it specially propoundeth two things The first is a generall exhortation to al people to praise the Lorde this is in ver 1. The second comprehendeth a double reason why they should praise him vz. for his mercy in making promises and for his faithfulnes in performance of them ver 2. Se. It hath no title or inscription Ver. 1. Al nations vz. of the world whether ye be gentiles or Iewes prayse ye the Lord vz. both with heart and voyce al ye people vz. of the whole earth some vnderstand by nations all the Gentiles onely and by people the people of Israel only but I sée no reason of it for the Prophet speaketh generally to al praise him vz. incessantly and in all places This doubling of the word noteth not only how necessary the sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing is but how backwarde also wee are in it that must so often be called vpon ver 2. For his louing kindnes i. his mercy is great towards vs i. is multiplied very much and sufficiently confirmed vnto vs. The Hebrew word may be turned is strengthened vz. so that it hath preuailed against vs q.d. though we would pue it backe yet it wil ouercome vs meaning that it hath bene excéeding great and mighty one example of the continuance and increase of Gods fauour and graces read 1. King 17.14 and the trueth of the Lord indureth for euer i. Gods faithfulnes in performing his promises continueth stedfast and sure and therefore hee is worthy to be praysed of al. This is to bee referred to the continuall testimonies of Gods fatherly fauour and grace which is as it were decked with stedfastnes and firmity Verse 1. teacheth vs that it behoueth all men of the world Do. and euery particular person in the same to praise God Ver. 2 teacheth vs that Gods mercye and faithfulnes be the principall causes which should moue vs to thankfulnes and praysing of his name Psalme 118 THis Psalme séemeth to bee made eyther after that Dauid was deliuered from some great trouble in the dayes of Saule Di. or after Saules death when he was aduanced to the kingdom or after victory obtained amongst and against sundry nations with whom he fought Whatsoeuer it is it doth specialy propound thrée thinges the one is an exhortation to men to praise God and this is comprehended in the 4 first verses In the seconde hée sheweth the causes why men should doe so which though they bee many particularly expressed in the Psalme yet generally they are but these two his mercy towards his children and his iustice towards his enemies from verse 5. to the end of the 20. In the third is contayned a harty reioycing both of the people and Priests for the establishment of Dauids Kingdom and this reacheth from verse 21 to the end of the Psalm This Psalme hath no title as many other before haue not Verse 1. Se. Praise ye the Lord vz. O ye seruaunts of the Lord as Psalm 113.1 because hee is good vz. towards all but specially towards you for his mercy vz. towardes you indureth for euer i. lasteth for euer and euer he noteth the cōstancy of gods mercy towards his children and withall sheweth that the righte occasion of praysing God is rather set forth vnto vs in his mercye then in his iustice and power because we shall neuer be well disposed to prayse God vnlesse wee bée drawne vnto it by the swéetenesse of his mercy Verse 2. Let Israel i. not only them that came of Israel or Iaakob according to the flesh but the true faithful Israelites now say i. presently and without any delay confesse from their hart that his mercy indureth for euer vz. euen as they themselues by their owne practise and experience are very well able to report These wordes are expounded before verse 1. Verse 3. Let the house of Aaron i. those that are of Aarons stock and come from him meaning especially the Priests and Leuits sée Psalme 115 10. now say c. this is expounded before verse 1.2 Verse 4. Let them that feare the Lord i. that serue and worship him in al holy reuerēce sée Psalme 115 11 13 All the rest is expounded before in this Psalme marke that he tieth his spéeche to the true seruaunts of God because that although many Israelites according to the flesh occupied a place in the church yet they were notwithstanding straungers from it Ver. 5. I called vpon the Lord vz. by earnest and harty prayer in trouble i. when I was in trouble sée Psalme 1.20 ◠and the Lord heard me i. graunted me the requests and prayers which I made vnto him and set me at large i. at liberty taking me out of the distresse wherein I was sée for this purpose Psal 4.1 In this verse also marke that the Prophet commeth from the generall to his owne particular person declaring that as he himself had marks and tokens of Gods goodnesse towards him so hee had also thereby occasion giuen him as well as the rest to prayse the Lord. Verse 6. The Lord is with me vz. in all distresse hee meaneth by this spéech that God tooke his part against al his enemies therefore I will not feare what man can do against me i. I wil not care for al that man can doe or deuise whatsoeuer it be by man he meaneth multitudes of men and great personages q.d. be they neuer so many or neuer so great yet I wil not feare Thus wee sée how the Prophet hauing felt Gods assistaunce in former time and obtayned sundry victories assureth himself of Gods perpetual aide in time to come such confidence and assured perswasion sée before Psal 3.6 also Psal 27 3. Ver 7. The Lord is with me i. not only present but also on my side and taketh my part among them that helpe me vz. being thus cast down and afflicted the prophet meaneth that seing God taketh his part he shal preuaile otherwise if he had al the helpe in the world it could not stand therfore shal I sée my desire vpon my enemies i. I shall
this restoring of him to a better estate and refreshing him ouer all his miseries according to thy worde sée verse 25 of this Psalme Verse 29. Take vz. thorowe thy goodnesse and mercye from mée vz. which am so much inclyned thereto the way of lying i. the order trade and course of lying vnderstanding thereby all manner of corruption whatsoeuer agaynst GOD or man and graunt me graciously i. of thy great grace and goodnesse giue to mee thy Lawe i. the knowledge and practise of it that according to the same I maye leade my lyfe for it is not to bée doubted but that he had the Law q.d. Kéepe mée from all lying vanitie and sinne from the whiche that hée mighte bée the better preserued hée desireth to bee instructed in the doctrine of GOD his law Verse 30. I haue chosen vz. thorow the light that thou hast reuealed vnto me by the worke of thy spirite the waye of truth i. that path that leadeth into truth and well doing and thy iudgementes i. thy Lawe and commaundementes whiche hee calleth iudgementes because according to the same will he pronounce sentence haue I layde before mee vz. not onlye to looke vpon them but also as the rule of my life and behauioure Immanuell readeth this verse thus The way of truth which I chose and of thy iudgementes which I set before me making it as it were an exposition of the latter part of the other verse q.d. Graunt me graciously thy lawe which I acknowledge and take to be the way of truth c. Ver. 31. I haue cleaued vz. vnfaignedly and with a good hart meaning by this Metaphor of cleauing continuing and perseuering in GOD his Lawe sticking so fast vnto it as nothing coulde remooue him from it sée Romanes 12 9. to thy testimonies O Lord i. to thy law confounde me not i. let me not bee confounded and ashamed q.d. suffer me not to slide or fall into suche infirmitie eyther of woorde or déede that my life shoulde be shamefull vnto mée and I skorned of the enemies of thy law Ver. 32. I will runne vz. chearefullye and swiftlye the waye of thy commaundementes i. that waye order and course of life whiche thy commaundementes shewe me he meaneth that he will bee prompte and ready to kéepe Gods lawe when thou shalt inlarge mine hart some expounde it thus when thou shalt haue set mée out of daunger and giuen me thereby an occasion of great reioycing I rather would expounde it thus when thou shalt haue made my vnderstanding and spirite which of it selfe is narrow and straight not able to contain or conceaue any good things capable by inlarging and opening of it to containe and conceaue thy gifts and graces sée 1. King 4 29 concerning the inlarging of Salomons hart which in my iudgemente serueth very wel to open this place Do. Verse 25 teacheth vs in distresse and affliction to call vppon GOD by earnest prayers also that one good grounde of our prayers is Gods promises made vnto vs in his word Verse 26 teacheth vs that God is nigh to the faythfull prayers of his poore seruaunts also that we are ignoraunt of Gods law till it please him in mercye to vouchsafe to teache vs. Verse 27 teacheth vs carefullye and continuallye to meditate in Gods worde Verse 28 sheweth that Gods children are many times broughte verye lowe but yet the hope that they haue in GOD his promises doeth raise them vp agayne Verse 29 teacheth vs to abhorre as all sinne generally so particularlye lying and falshood also that Gods worde rightly vsed is a great mean to vanquishe sinne by Verse 30 teacheth vs that GOD his word shoulde be sette before vs in all the particular actions of this life Verse 31 teacheth vs to perseuer and continue in the profession of Gods truth all the dayes of our lyfe Verse 32 teacheth vs to go on forward in the race that is set before vs and neuer to be weary of wel doing He. Di. IN this whole part which consisteth of earnest prayer vnto God the Prophet first beséecheth the Lord to giue him good things as amongst others the knowledge and obedience of his law Ver. 33 34 35 38 40 secondly he praieth him to giue strength to auoyd euil things Ver. 36 37 39. Se. Verse 33 Teach me vz. which of my selfe am so blind ignorant and vnapte to euery good thing O Lord vz. whom alone I feare and worship the way of thy statutes i. that order of life which thy law setteth out ver 32. he called it the way of his commaundements and I will kéepe it vz. thorow thine assistance and goodnesse for otherwise no man can do any thing that good is vnto the end vz. of my life meaning that he would obserue Gods law al his life long sée verse 112 of this Psalme afterwards Ver. 34. Giue me vnderstanding vz. of thy will reuealed in thy word and I will kéepe thy law vz. thorow thy goodnesse and assistaunce as before not onlye in my hart but in my conuersation outwardlye yea I will kéepe it with my whole hart i. soundly sincerelye and with an vnfeigned affection Meaning that in the obseruation and obedyence of Gods lawe he would auoyde all hipocrisie Verse 35. Directe mée vz. which thorow mine owne corruption am readye to runne out of the way in the path of thy commaundements i. in the waye and order of life which thy commaundements would haue me to tread for therein i. both in thy Lawe and in a conuersation according to the same is my delighte i. I take singular ioye and pleasure Verse 36. Inclyne vz. thorowe the exercises of thy worde and the working of thy spirite mine hearte i. the affections and desires of my harte vnto thy Testimonyes i. to imbrace the knowledge and practise of thy worde and not to couetousnesse i. gréedye affecting and desyring of that whiche appertayneth to an other man hee putteth one kinde of sinne which is in déede the roote of all euill for al other transgressions and vices whatsoeuer as he did before the word lying ver 29. of this Psalme Ver. 37. Turne away mine eyes by the eyes he meaneth all other senses because they are the messengers which conuey or bring things to our other senses and the windowes or gates as it were by which euil entereth into vs from regarding i. from beholding or looking vpon he prayeth against the beginning of euill which being once ouercome processe and procéeding in it néed not to be feared vanity i. vaine things with the loue whereof men may easily bee ouertaken q.d. remooue the affections of my mind from these things which men do greatly desire and delight in lest otherwise I being caryed away from thy word I imbrace vayne things with other men quicken mee i. make me not only liuely to do thy will but giue me grace to liue in it all the dayes of my life in thy way i. in thy lawe see ver 15. of this Psalme Verse 38. Stablish