ready for men and haeh given forth a commission for making offer of it and for applying it to the benefit of the believer He sent redemption to his people 2. Whosoever do receive the message of Redemption sent unto them God is entered with them in an everlasting and unchangeable Covenant for grace and salvation unto them He hath commanded his Covenant for ever 3. Wherein soever God hath â—ngaged himself by Covenant we must not suspect him to be otherwayes minded then he hath spoken but must in faith and fear subscribe to his declaration lest we take his Name in vain For holy and reverend is his Name Ver. 10. The feare of the LORD is the beginning of wisdome a good understanding have all they that do his Commandments his praise endureth for ever The tenth motive to praise God is from the fruit of believing and obeying him Whence learn 1. As it iâ— true wisdome to know the Lords will and to observe it so then do men begin to give proof of wisdom in them when they begin to make conscience of the obedience of faith and to stand in awe to misbelieve Gods Word or disobey his commands For the feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom 2. Howsoever the wicked who follow their own counsel may seem wise to worldlings and the Lords children to be simple and witlesse yet in effect the man that studieth constantly unto the obedience of faith is the only wise man A good understanding have all they that do his Commandments 3. Albeit many do neglect to praise God yet he shall not want praise for the matter of his praise shall endure and he shall provide such as shall praise him from generation to generation and for evermore His praise endureth for ever PSALM CXII Ver. 1. PRaise ye the LORD Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD that delighteth greatly in his Commandments THis Psalme is a praising of God for blessing of the beleevers and the whole Psalme doth prove that the beleever is blessed which Proposition is set down v. 1. and confirmed with so many reasons as there are verses following Whence learn 1. Albeit in singing of some certain Psalm or part thereof there be nothing directly spoken of the Lord or to the Lord yet he is praised when his truth is our song or when his works and doctrine is our song as here it is said Praise ye the Lord. And thereafter the blessedness of the believer taketh up all the Psalme 2. It is the Lords praise that his servants are the only blessed people in the world Praise ye the Lord why because Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. 3. He is not the blessed man who is most obâ—ervant to catch all opportunities to have pleasure profit and worldly preferment and careth not how he cometh by them but he is the blessed man who is most observant of Gods will and careful to follow it Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. 4. As there is matter of great delight and contentment in Gods Word unto all them who feare God so the true mark of a sound believer and fearer of God is delighting to know beleeve and obey Gods Word for so he describeth the man that feareth God He delighteth greatly in his Commandments Ver. 2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the upright shall be blessed The first proof of the believers blessednesse is the blessing of his children if God shall see it good to give him sons and daughters of his body or the blessing of those that do by his teaching and example follow the footsteps of his faith and obedience Whence learn 1 Albeit we are bound to serve God whether he give unto us benefits or not albeit our service at the best be but a very weak endeavour and many wayes tainted and albeit we be unprofitable servants presupposing we could so serve as we should give perfect obedience and do all that is commanded yet it pleaseth God to allure us unto his service by propounding rewards and encouragements unto us as in this Psalme we see 2. The best way to bring a blessing on our children and posterity is to feare God by our instruction and example to teach them to follow us in the Lords fear For their seed shal be mighty upon earth even Kings and Priests unto God whatsoever shall be their worldly portion 3. Albeit few do believe yet is it true that upright dealing hath better fruits then wittie projecting and cunning catching The generation of the upright shall be blessed Ver. 3. Wealth and riches shall be in his house and his righteousnesse endureth for ever The second proof of the believers felicity is the blessing of him in his outward estate Whence learn 1. Whether God shall give more or lesse to the upright man one way or other it shall be more useful to him then all the wealth of the wicked can be to them Wealth and riches shal be in his house 2. Besides the temporal commodity and fruits in this life of the believers righteous carriage gracious rewards are laid up for him in another life for ever His righteousnesse endureth for ever Ver. 4. Vnto the upright there ariseth light in the darknesse he is gracious and full of compassion and righteous The third proof of the believers blessednesse is comfort in all troubles and a deliverance out of all difficulties as the fruit of Gods grace enduring in him Whence learn 1. Albeit the Lord will not exempt the believer from dark passages of his providence or from affliction and perplexity yet he will make him sure of comfort direction and a good event Unto the upright there ariseth light in darknesse 2. The light and comfort which is bestowed upon the upright is the fruit of Gods grace toward him and of the juncture of saving graces in him for the words may be extended both to God and to the believer by Gods donation He is gracious and full of compassion and righteous which is true of the believer in some degree and of God it is true absolutely and infinitely Ver. 5. A good man sheweth favour and lendeth he will guide his affaires with discretion A fourth proof of the believers blessednesse is from his properties or fruitfulness of his faith in the works of justice and mercy dispensed with discretion Whence learn 1. The believer to whom God hath extended favour and kindness will be good to them among whom he liveth and by the fruits of equity love kindnesse and mercy will give evidence of Gods grace dwelling in him for here the believer is called A good man who sheweth mercy and lendeth 2. Grace and godlinesse sound and fruitful faith do not make men to become fooles without discretion but do consist well with prudence and discretion in ordering their affaires wisely and do teach them to give when what and to whom they should give as the circumstances of time and place and person need of the
favour of their Master or Mistresse so fares it oft-times with the believer for his outward condition as the similitude and present case of the Church here teacheth Behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their Masters 6. It is fitting that the persecuted believer have a low estimation of himself before God be patient under his hand submissive to his dispensation and hopefull of help in his addresse unto God for so much the similitude from servants behaviour toward their master and mistresse doth teach As the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistresse so our eyes wait upon the Lord. 7. The interest which the believer hath in God under any relation hath comfort sufficient included in it as here the Lords being Master is sufficient to sweeten bondage of servant and handmaid but Covenant-interest sweeteneth it much more Our eyes are upon the Lord our God 8. As masters and mistresses are taught to shew pitty mercy bounty and protection unto their servants on the one hand and servants are here taught on the other hand by their good behaviour not to marre their favour so the believer is taught to behave himselfe before God as a servant indeed by endeavouring indeed to obey God 9. The terme of the Saints patience and waiting is till God shew mercy Behold as the eyes of the servants c. so our eyes wait on the Lord our God until that he have mercy on us Vers. 3. Have mercy upon us O LORD have mercy upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt 4. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud From his prayer for comfort and relief Learn 1. Whatsoever aileth the Church the Lords mercy is the remedy Have mercy 2. Each member of the Church should be sensible of the trouble of the whole body and deal for it as for himself Have mercy upon us O Lord. 3. As misery is more pressing so should petitions be doubled and poured forth in the Lords bosome Have mercy have mercy upon us 4. Contempt disdain and derision of Gods suffering servants is the heaviest and most grievous part of their affliction Have mercy upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt 5. They that prosper in wickednesse are ready instruments to afflict the godly and to persecute them for righteousnesse and to mock the godly in their misery when they have wrongfully troubled them Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of them that are at ease 6. So long as persecutors and oppressors of Gods Church do prosper and finde successe in their wayes they will not cease to please themselves in their wicked course and despise both the persons and the cause of Gods people whatsoever be said against them Our soul is filled with the contempt of the proud PSALME CXXIV THe scope of this Psalme is first to acknowledge the delivery of the Church to be evidently the Lords own work the danger being so great out of which they were lately delivered v. 1 2 3 4 5. and next to blesse the Lord for their preservation v. 6 7 8. Vers. 1. IF it had not been the LORD who was on our side now may Israel say 2. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side when â—en rose up against us 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us 4. Then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over our soul. 5. Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. In the acknowledgment of their wonderful delivery the Psalmist doth shew that their adversaries on the one hand were so strong so many so crafty so cruel malicious and the Lords people on the other hand were so weak and so destitute of all counsell and help that their deliverance could be ascribed to no cause save to Gods strong power assisting his own Whence learn 1. Albeit the Lord do suffer his Church sundry times to be brought near to destruction yet alwayes doth he prove himselfe the Churches friend and helper against their enemies If it had not been the Lord who was on our side 2. The Lord so doth help his people as he draweth forth the acknowledgement of their weaknesse to help themselves and of utter impossibility to be safe without his assistance If the Lord had not been on our side may Israel now say 3. After we are delivered out of a danger we should study to apprehend it no lesse livelily then when we are in the danger and that so much the more as we are naturally disposed to the contrary as the repeating and new representing of the danger they were in doth import and teach 4. Men in the state of nature are ready to be party adversaries unto the Church If the Lord had not been on our side when men rose up against us 5. The wicked have an appetite after the blood of Gods people as wilde beasts have after their prey Then they had swallowed us up quick 6. If God should not bridle the fury of the wicked against his people the worldly strength of the godly to defend themselves is nothing Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us 7. If the wickednesse of the world were let loose against Gods people it should runne as violently against the Church as floods of water against those that are within the channell Then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over our soul. 8. The more the matter of the Churches delivery is looked upon the danger is the better seen and the greatnesse of their delivery also as the insisting in the similitude doth teach Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Vers. 6. Blessed be the LORD who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth 7. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers the snare is broken and we are escaped 8. Our help is in the Name of the LORD who made heaven and earth In the Churches thanksgiving for their delivery they make a threefold use of their experience First they praise and blesse Gods goodnesse v. 6. Secondly they make much of the benefit and rejoyce therein v. 7. And thirdly they strengthen their faith in God for time to come v. 8. Whence learn 1. It is our duty after delivery from dangers to acknowledge not only Gods power for us but his goodnesse also toward us and to acknowledge him the fountaine of all blessednesse upon that occasion Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us as a prâ—y to their teeth 2. As the Churches enemies are superiour to her in worldly strength so also in policy craftinesse and wordly wit as the fowler is craftier then the bird Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers 3. According as the danger is fearful so is the delivery sweet and joyful The snare is broken
persons there remaineth much inbred corruption and many not only bodily but also and especially sinful infirmitiâ—s diseases and maladies of our soules whereby we become unable to do the good which we would or to eschew the evil which we would not do and of these diseases God becometh a Physician to heale them all by his Spirit of Sanctification bestowed upon all whom he justifieth Who healeth all thy diseases Vers. 4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies The third reason of thanksgiving is for delivering of him graciously from perishing and the fourth reason is for giving unto him mercifully many good things By destruction here he meaneth not only the danger of being killed by his enemies but also and especially the state of condemnation and perishing in Gods wrath from which the man justified is redeemed by the Mediator Whence learn 1. The benefit of preservation from eternal death is given unto the man to whom all iniquity is forgiven for here these benefits are joyned the one with the other 2. The deliverances which are given to believers as well bodily as spiritual temporal as well as everlasting do come to us in the way of Redemption made by our kinde and faithful Kinsman Jesus Christ Who redeemeth thy life from destruction 3. A man must be sensible of the merit of sin and see himself in the state of perdition for sin before he can put a right estimation upon his delivery he must count himself a lost man till the LORDS Redeemer deliver him as we may perceive in the Prophet saying He hath redeemed thy life from destruction 4. The favour which God bestoweth upon a believer is not in giving unto him one or two or some few evidences of his love and mercie but in a constant compassing of him on every hand in every thing so that he shall turn him about to what Aâ—t he will he is circled round about with love and mercy supplying wants preventingâ— or mitigating and seasoning his troubles reclaiming him from sin and directing him in Gods way Who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies 5. The evidences of Gods kindnesse and mercie to a man is not only a meanes to glorifie God but also a meanes to put respect and honour yea and a crown of glory on the head of the believer in the sight of all who look upon him therefore saith he Who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies Ver. 5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the Eagles The fifth reason of thanksgiving is not only for blessing the use of the creatures unto him but also and especially for feeding him with spiritual food and giving comfortable refreshments to his Church set forth under the similitude of corporal â—eeding upon dainties The sixth reason is for comforting his spirit and reviving it in its dead condition as the Eagle is revived and renewed after casting her bill Whence learn 1. The blessing of God upon the believer maketh the use of Gods benefits and his ordinary meales and morsels savourie and sweet because he hath all that is given to him with Gods allowance and good-will Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things 2. The Lord after spiritual hunger and thirst giveth such satisfaction to the soul of the believer as banquet-chear and dainties do give to a hungry and thiâ—sty man as the similitude here sheweth Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things 3. As the Eagle decayeth and groweth lean when her bill or beak groweth so long and crooked as she cannot eat for it and when she casteth her bill and her beak is now fitted better to take her food then she is revived and strengthened and as it were groweth young again so fareth it with the soul of the believer which sometimes is so exercised and troubled as it refuseth comfort and lieth in a dead condition but when the Lord reneweth the sense of his love it is a new life and the inner man is revived again Thy youth is renewed as the Eagle 4. It is an act of thanksgiving unto God to give account to our selves and to reckon over to our own soules what the Lord hath bestowed on us and done for us as appeareth in the Prophets practice here speaking all this to his own soul in reckoning over the benefits Ver. 6. The LORD executeth righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed He goeth on in his thanksgiving and ascendeth from the mercies shewn to himself unto the praising of Gods righteousnesse and mercifulnesse toward all believers as well as toward himself according as every ones need doth require and here is the seventh reason of Gods praise for maintaining the cause of all his oppressed people Whence learn 1. The sight of Gods goodnesse towards our selves should lead us to the observation of Gods goodnesse to all his children in common and unto his righteous holy and gracious nature as the example of the Psalmist teacheth us 2. As to be oppressed was not Davids lot alone but is the common condition whereunto the godly in all ages are subject so to have God the defender and the avenger of those that oppresse them was not the priviledge of David alone but common to him and all Gods children For the Lord executeth righteousnesse and judgement for all that are oppressed Ver. 7. He made known his wayes unto Moses his acts unto the children of Israel The eighth reason of Gods praise is for his revealing of his will and works to his Prophet Moses and to the people of Israel Whenee learn 1. The knowledge of Gods will of his way of dealing with men and of his works are mysteries which men cannot understand till the Lord reveal all to them It is he who maketh his wayes known 2. As God hath the choosing of people to whom so also of the men by whom he will reveal himself and his wayes He made known his wayes unto Moses his acts to the children of Israel 3. As the revealing of Gods way wherein he will walk with us and of his way wherein he will have us to walk before him is no small mercie to his Church so is it no small obligation put upon his people and matter of praise and thanks unto God for this is made here the matter of the Churches thanks and of Gods praise That he made known hâ—s wayes to Moses and made Israel to see that he wrought as he had spoken He made known his acts to the children of Israel Ver. 8. The LORD is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy The ninth reason of Gods praise is for his merciful and gracious nature expressed in sundry titles Whence learn 1. The Lord is compassionate toward us in our miseries and ready to pardon our sins The Lord is merciful 2. The Lord is not hindered by our unworthinesse to do us good when we come unto him but is ready
for at the Churches hâ—nd is expected only of believers the spiritual children of Abrahams and Iacobs faith and obedience O ye seed of Abraham his servant ye children of Iacob his chosen 7. As the consideration of Gods grace bestowing spiritual priviledges on us doth oblige us unto praising and serving God so also it serveth to stir us up to the duty for therefore are the faithful called The seed of Abraham his servant the children of Iacob his chosen Vers. 7. He is the LORD our God his judgements are in all the earth 8. He hath remembred his Covenant for ever the word which he commanded to a thousand generations 9. Which Covenant he made with Abraham and his Oath unto Isaac 10. And confirmed the same unto Iacob for a law and to Israel for an everlasting Covenant 11. Saying Vnto thee will I give the land of Canaan the lot of your inheritance In the first rank of reasons taken from the Lords Covenant with Abraham Isaac and Iacob and from his care of their persons Learne 1. Our priviledge to be in Covenant with God is a special reason of thanks and praise to him He is the Lord our God 2. The Lords sovereignty without the Church in all Nations of the world and in his exercising of justice among all men as it is the Lords praise and the Churches profit so it is the Churches obligation unto the thankful acknowledging thereof for the greatnesse of Gods dominion over all the earth doth commend the speciality of his respect to his Church His judgements are in all the earth 3. As the Covenant of God is not for a day or for temporal favours only but also and especially for spiritual everlasting mercies so the Lord forgetteth neither lesse nor more of that which he hath promised but albeit long time may intervene before the performance of his promise yet neverthelesse he remembereth it still till it be fulfilled He hath remembered his Covenant for ever 4 The experience of every age and proof had of Gods faithfulness should force men in every age to bear witnesse unto the Lords stedfastnesse in his Covenant He hath remembred his Covenant for ever the word which he hath commanded to a thousand generations 5. The word which the Lord hath said he will do in special his promises shall certainly take effect in due time and order given by Magistrates for executing of their decrees is but a shadow of the effectual accomplishment of Gods promises which are called here A word which he commanded to a thousand generations 6. Gods Covenant made with our fathers in our name is to be laid hold on by us their children as the example of the Israelites here doth teach us Which Covenant he made with Abraham 7. For further engaging and confirming the children of Covenanters there is need to repeat and apply the Covenant unto their children and posterity For he gave his Oath unto Isaac and confirmed the same unto Iacob 8. The Covenant of grace is an everlasting Covenanâ— with all who do embrace it for the Covenant made with Abraham was an Oath unto Isaac 9. It is not free for the children of Covenanters to embrace or reject as they please the Covenant of God made with their fathers because the Lord imposed the Covenant upon the posterity as a duty whereunto they were obliged from generation to generation For he confirmed the same unto Iacob for a law and to Israel for an everlasting Covenant 10. The Covenant of grace made with Abraham Isaac and Iacob and with believers after them did consist in promises made by God and embraced of them by faith as here it is described for the everlasting Covenant is expounded to be the Lords saying Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan the lot of thy inheritance which promise being received by faith became a Covenant with the believer 11. The everlasting Covenant of grace propounded in whatsoever expressions was one and the same in substance unto the believers for these promises to wit In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed Gen. 12.3 and again Tell the starres so shall thy seed be which promise Abraham receiving believed in the Lord and he counted it unto him for righteousnesse Gen. 15.6 And I will be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Gen. 17.7 or I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee the land wherein thou art a stranger all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession and I will be their God Gen. 17.8 whereunto this place doth relate are all taken up here in the free and gracious promise of giving everlasting life to the believers shadowed forth in the typical termes of giving the land of Canaan for the lot of their inâ—eritance Ver. 12. When they were but a few men in number yea very few and strangers in it 13. When they went from one Nation to another from one Kingdome to another people 14. He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakes 15. Saying Touch not mine anointed and do my Prophets no harme In the care which God had of the persons of Abraham Isaac and Iacob who were in Covenant with him Learne 1. They who are in Covenant with God may be found at sometimes but a small number They were but a few men in number yea very few 2. They who are in Covenant with Goâ— for a promised blessing may be far from appearance of the possible possession of what is promised as Abraham Isaac and Iacob were a very few men and strangers in the land of promise 3. As the paucity meanness low condition unworthinesse and weakness of men doth not hinder God to enter into Covenant with them but rather by this meanes he commendeth the freedome and riches of his grace unto them so is it requisite in them who enter into Covenant with God that they be stripped bare of all conceit of both their own and their fathers worthinesse and yet not be hindered thereby from believing embracing and holding fast the Covenant for this did Abraham Isaac and Iacob when they were very few and strangers in the land promised unto them 4. They who have the promises both of this life and the life to come may be pilgrims and sojourners without any dwelling place in the world The Patriarchs went from one Nation to another from one Kingdome to another people 5. In whatsoever worldly condition believers are and whatsoever they want in things earthly yet they want not the love and good will of God they have alwayes the defence and protection of God as his federates He suffered no man to do them wrong 6. No power or place how high soever no worldly authority on earth no law nor priviledge of any person or Kingdom is a sufficient plea for troubling Gods servants walking in his service He reproved Kingâ— for their sakes 8. The person of every believer walking in Gods way is sacred
is polluted whatsoever be the cause which is pretended They shed innocent blood and the land was polluted with blood 6. The highest point of holinesse in a false Religion is but filthinesse and pollution and no invention of man can make the followeâ—s therof more holy by observation thereof but doth pollute them still the more they follow them For thus were they defiled with their own works 7. Following of mens inventions in Religion is Idolatry or spirituall adultery because God is forsaken in so farre and another god and lord in Religion is received in Gods stead for so much faith the Text They went a whoring with their own inventions Ver. 40. Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance 41. And he gave them into the hand of the heathen and they that hated them ruled over them 42. Their enemies also oppressed them and they were brought into subjection under their hand Here is shewen what followed on their following of their own inventions to wit slavery and subjection unto men in Gods indignation Whence learn 1. When men do follow sin and their own wayes wrath followeth them For therefore was the wrath of God kindled against his own people 2. When from the Word of the Lord men will not believe how odious superstition is to him he will make them finde it by his plagues For therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled 3. No priviledge can make men so lovely before God as the love of â—dols and Images in the matter of Religion doth make them to be loathed of him His wraâ—h was kindled even against his own people insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance 4. When Gods people do follow the superstition of Idolaters either by complying to gratifie them or in way of pleasing themselves it is justice with God to make Idolaters their masters and to make his people lose the benefit hoped for by complyance And he gave them into the hand of the heathen 5. It is righteousnesse with God to put his people under the yoke of men that hate them when they have cast off the easie yoke of God who loveth them And when men follow wayes which God abhorreth God justly doth make them suffer what they do most abhorre He gave them over into the hand of the heathen and they that hated them ruled over them 6. The sins of Gods people do make open way for their enemies and do put strength courage and victory into their hands and lest the Lords people should not be moved by that change of government he makes their burden under their enemies unsupportable Their enemies also oppressed them 7. When people will not humble themselves in the way of repentance it is righteousnesse with God to bring them low by judgements as here is seen The Israelites do not repent of their sins And they were brought into subjection under their enemies hand Ver. 43. Many times did he deliver them but they provoked him with their counsel and were brought low for their iniquity 44. Neverthelesse he regarded their affliction when he heard their cry 45. And he remembred for them his Covenant and repented according to the multitude of his mercies 46. He made them also to be pitied of all that carried them captives The ninth and last point of confession is of a heap of manifold sins often repeated notwithstanding which God did shew pity to his people for his Covenants cause Whence learn 1. The Lord leaveth no means unessayed to gain his people sometimes he puts them to sore trouble sometimes he delivereth them and exerciseth them with the vicissitude of calamities and deliveries if by any means they may be saved Many times did he deliver them 2. Such is our wickednesse and perverse nature that still we give the Lord a bad meeting for his mercies and instead of thankfulnesse do provoke him by doing and following what we our selves think fittest as is to be seen in the Israelites Many times did God deliver them but they provoked him with their counsel 3. Men in the course of their sins have high and self-pleasing conceits of themselves and no impenitency is without pride but by sad judgements God many times maketh them lie low in affliction who do not walk humbly in the way of obedience as here we see the Israelites provoked God by their counsel that is by their own devices conceits and inventions But they were made low by their iniquities 4. Albeit Gods people oft-times provoke him and in their prosperity do not regard God nor his commands yet God regards them so as both after a whiles prosperity to correct them and after a whiles adversity to comfort them Neverthelesse he regarded their affliction 5. God by heavy affliction moveth men to cry unto him who otherwise would not have called upon him at all as his dealing with proud provoking Israel here doth shew who in affliction are made to cry 6. Albeit there be commonly great unsoundnesse in the cry of oppressed people yet God will hear that cry and help them out of a temporal trouble as here He regarded their affliction when he heard their cry 7. As when Gods people do abuse his grace and do forget their Covenant and are plagued for their sins the good of the Covenant and confederacy with God is obscured buried and as it were forgotten So when the Lord doth change his dispensation the benefit and good of the Covenant is brought to light again for then God taketh occasion to shew that albeit his people do forget the Covenant yet he forgets it not For he remembered for them or for their behalfe his Covenant 8. The unchangeablenesse of Gods merciful nature and love to his people maketh him change the course of justice into mercie and no other change except of this dispensation is meant by Gods repentance when it is said And he repented according to the multitude of his mercies 9. The mercy of the Lord is so large as the multitude of former sins and abused by-past favours cannot hinder the sinner once again to come unto the inexhaustible fountaine of grace and cannot hinder God once more to shew mercy to a sinner yea albeit God hath entered in judgment with the sinner and hath begun to poure our deserved wrath upon him even justice thus begun to be executed cannot hinder God to hold his hand and shew mercy once again to the sinner for here experience teacheth that oft times when he had entered in judgement with Israel He repented according to the multitude of his mercies 10. God hath the ruling of all mens affections to make them turne as he pleaseth God mixeth the most bitter cup of judgement given to his people to drinke with the ingredient of compassion and what pity his people do finde from any hand it is the fruit effect and evidence of Gods pitie toward them He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried
thing to see a godly person 〈◊〉 be in fear of death bodily and spirituall temporal and everlasting at one time The sorrows of death compassed me and the paines of hell got hold upon me 2. The trouble of minde and conscience also whereunto Gods children are subject as they are found in their several degrees cannot easily be expressed therefore here are divers words used Sorrowes of death paines of hell trouble and felt sorrow 3. The greatnesse of the trouble danger misery and straits whereinto the Lord doth cast his own doth lay a greater obligation on them who are delivered from those evils and maketh Gods glory to be the more manifested in their bringing out of them as the scope of the Psalmists laying forth of his troubles here doth teach us Vers. 4. Then called I upon the Name of the LORD O LORD I beseech thee deliver my soul. From his course taken to have relief by calling on God Learn 1. The only true remedy of a grieved soul is God being called upon by prayer for he is a strong refuge whereunto the humble soul may flee and be exalted I called upon the Name of the Lord. 2. There is place and time for prayer even when the danger seemeth greatest and the condition of the party supplicant appeareth desperate as here we see When the paines of hell caught hold upon me then called I on the Name of the Lord. 3. Whether our desires be laid open before God in many words or few it is not material before God such a hearty speech as this will passe before God for prayer O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul. Vers. 5. Gracious is the LORD and righteous yea our God is merciful 6. The LORD preserveth the simple I was brought low and he helped me From the fountaine of grace and mercy whence he was helped Learn 1. Gods gracious and merciful actions do give evidence of his gracious nature and readinesse to shew favour to all men who according to the tenor of the Covenant of grace do â—all on him as here the Psalmist to shew the cause of his receiving actually a good answer saith Gracious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is mercifull 2. There is nothing wanting in Gods attributes which may give assurance to the believing supplicant to have his request granted he is gracious and standeth not for the persons unworthinesse he is just and righteous and will not faile to keep Covenant and performe all promises he is mercifull and doth not stand to pardon sinne iniquity and transgressions Gracious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful 3. The Lords children commonly are not the worldly-wisest people but for the most part are of mean worldly wit and whosoever of them hath any measure of prudence they are for the course which they keep in trials and troubles accounted foolish yea and in their own estimation they are very witlesse and dare not leane 〈◊〉 their own understanding but do seek to be directed of God therefore they are here and elsewhere called simple 4. Such as are emptied of conceit of their own wisdome and seek their direction protection and preservation from God do lie nearest unto the fountain of Gods mercy and help in every difficulty For the Lord preserveth the simple 5. Any one example of Gods grace and mercy to any believer is sufficienr to prove Gods nature inclination readinesse and good will to every believer that calleth on him so reasoneth the Psalmist I was brought low and he helped me Vers. 7. Returne unto thy rest O my soul for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee 8. For thou hast delivered 〈◊〉 soul from death mine eyes from teares and my feet from falling Here is a twofold use of this experience one to settle his confidence on God another to praise God for the experience of so great a delivery Whence learn 1. The general use of all the experiences of Gods favour which we finde is the strengthening of our faith in God as here we are taught 2. 〈◊〉 trouble and tentations do not overcome our faith yet the 〈…〉 usually do peâ—â—urbe if not the peace of 〈◊〉 conscienâ—◠〈…〉 least the peâ—â—â— of our minde and sometâ—â—â—â— the peace of both for O 〈◊〉 returne to thy rest imports a disquieting of him from his rest 3. As we should study not only to lay hold on God by faith but also to rest and acquiesce in his love and truth confidently so should we take advantage of every fresh experience of Gods favour whereby we encourage our selves to relie upon Gods grace and mercy as here the Psalmist doth Returne unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee 4. Meditation of Gods goodnesse to us and speaking of iâ— in the third person is a ready way to bring us unto nearer accesse unto God and to speak unto his Majesty in the second person as here we see For thou hast delivered my soul from death saith he directing his speech to God 5. When outward trouble and inward tentations do set upon a soul at one time when men do shew their wrath and God hideth his face it is a sad condition able to draw teares from the stoutest heart and to put him in hazard of sinning and in peril to perish Thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from teares and my feet from falling 6. As an humble and sensible soul will pack up many troubles joyned together in one so a thankfull soul will branch one mercy out in sundry particular branches as here the Psalmist distinguisheth the delivery of his soul from death of his eyes from teares and of his feet from falling Vers. 9. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living The second engagement by way of thankfulnesse is unto a more holy way of walking with God whereunto as his faith made him confident that he should attain v. 10. so his recovery from desperation made him a debtor to pursue the duty v. 11. and a debtor in so high a measure as he knew not how to be thankfull v. 1â— Fâ—om his hopefull engagement to a holy carriage before God and his Church Learn 1. It is a good use of experiences of Gods goodnesse unto us to engage and oblige our selves to a more sure and holy ordering of our wayes as the Psalmist did I will walk before the Lord. 2. As the time of our life is the proper opportunity of shewing our thankfulnesse to God so the visible 〈…〉 is the fittest society we can live in for expressing our thankfulnesse for while we are living and living among the godly beside whose society the rest of the world is as a company of dead corpses we have time and place oâ— maâ—â—â—esting our obedience unto God I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living 3. As a sincere conversation hath God and men to be witnesses unto it so should the upright servant of God study to
face of sinne and to be diverted from sinning by the sight of Gods judgement threatened and executed upon the wicked horrour hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law and this is the fourth felt fruit of his faith 7. As Gods children are in this world strangers and pilgrims in affection and dealt with as strangers where they live so also are they oft-times banished from their native Countrey Thy statutes have been my song in the house of my pilgrimage 8. Wheresoever the believer is and whatsoever be his outward condition the Word of God received by faith shall bear him company and furnish him with matter of comfort and rejoycing Thy statutes have been my song in the houâ—e of my pilgrimage and this is the fifth felt fruit of his faith 9. The knowledge and deep impression of the Majesty of God as he revealeth himselfe in his works and Word is a powerfull meanes to strengthen us in the obedience of faith I have remâ—mbred thy Name O Lord and have kept thy Law and this is the sixth felt fruit of his faith 10. Well spent time in secret when we are solitary shall be rewarded openly by a good carriage in society and company I remembred thy Name in the night I have kept thy law 11. It is no small benefit to see and observe what good we have had by our obedience to God and how grace hath been rewarded by grace in our persons This I had to wit all the former fruits because I kept thy precepts and this is the seventh felt fruit of faith that a man may enjoy the approbation and comfort of the fruits of faith 12. Those are reckoned keepers of Gods precepts not who have no sinne in them but who study to be free of sinne and to do Gods will This I had because I kept thy precepts 13. It is wisdome to reckon what good we have by faith in God and to endeavour to please him rather then to reckon our temporary and light afflictions in our service as here we are taught CHETH Vers. 57. Thou art my portion O LORD I have said that I would keep thy words 58. I intreated thy favour with my whole heart be mercifull unto me according to thy Word 59. I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies 60. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments 61. The bands of the wicked have robbed me but I have not forgotten thy Law 62. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgements 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy precepts 64. The earth O LORD is full of thy mercy teach me thy statutes In this section he laboureth to confirme his faith and to comfort himselfe in the certainty of his regeneration by eight properties of a sound believer or eight marks of a new creature The first whereof is his choosing of God for his portion Whence learn 1. Such as God hath chosen and effectually called they get grace to make God their choice their delight and their portion and such as have chosen God for their portion have an evidence of their regeneration and election also for here David maketh this a mark of his regeneration Thou art my portion O Lord. 2. It is another mark of regeneration after believing in God and choosing of him for our portion to resolve to bring out the fruits of faith in new obedience as David did I have said that I will keep thy words 3. As it is usuall for Gods children now and then because of sinne falling out to be exercised with the sense of Gods displeasure so it is a mark of a new creature not to lie stupid and senslesse under this exercise but to deal with God earnestly for restoring the sense of reconciliation and giving new experience of his mercy as the Psalmist did I intreated thy favour with my whole heart and this is the third evidence of a new creature 4. The penitent believer hath the Word of grace and Covenant of God for his assurance to be heard when he seeketh mercy Be mercifull to me according to thy Word 5. The searching in what condition we are in and examination of our wayes according to the Word and renewing of repentance with an endeavour of amendment is a fourth mark of a new creature I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies 6. When we do see our sin we are naturally slow to amend our doings but the sooner we turne us to the way of Gods obedience we speed the better and the more speedy the reforming of our life be the more sound mark is it of a new creature I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments 7. Enduring of persecution and spoiling of our goods for adhering to Gods Word without forsaking of our cause is a fifth mark of a new creature The bands of the wicked have robbed me but I have not forgotten thy law 8 As it is the lot of Gods children who resolve to be godly to suffer persecution and to be forced either to lose their temporal goods or else to lose a good cause and a good conscience so it is the wisdome of the godly to remember what the Lords Word requireth of us and speaketh unto us and this shall comfort our conscience more then the losse of things temporal can trouble our mindes The bands of the wicked robbed me but I have not forgotten thy Law 9. A sixth mark of a new creature is to be so farre from fretting under hard exercise as to thank God in secret chearfully for his gracious Word and for all the passages of his providence where none seeth us and where there is no hazard of ostentation At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgements 10. A seventh mark of a renewed creature is to associate our selves and keep communion with such as are truly gracious and do fear God indeed as we are able to discerne them I am a companion of all them that fear thee 11. The fear of God is evidenced by believing and obeying the doctrine and direction of the Scripture and no other wayes I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy precepts 12. The eighth mark of a new creature is not to rest in any measure of renovation but earnestly to deal with God for the encrease of saving knowledge and fruitfull obedience of it for Teach me thy statutes is the prayer of the man of God in whom all the former marks are found 13. As the whole creatures are witnesses of Gods bounty to man and partakers of that bounty themselves so are they pawnes of Gods pleasure to bestow upon his servants greater gifts then these even the encrease of sanctification in further illumination of minde and reformation of life for this the Psalmist useth for an argument to
have I cried unto thee O LORD 2. Lord heare my voice let thine eares be attentive to the voice of my supplications In the first two verses we have his distresse and prayer for relief in general termes Whence learn 1. The dearest Saints of God have been hardly exercised by trouble in their spirits and brought into danger of desperation sometime while they seemed to themselves to be in a lost condition like a man ready to drown in deep waters Out of the depths did I cry unto thee O Lord. 2. How desperate soever our condition or case of our soul seem unto us to be yet should we not cease from prayer unto God Out of the depths have I cried vnto thee O Lord. 3 Albeit our prayers seem to us sometime to be misregarded of God and neglected yet should we not give way to such thoughts as those but should double our petitions so much the more as tentations do disswade us to pray as the Psalmist did Lord hear my voice let thine eares be attentive to the voice of my supplications Ver. 3. If thou LORD shouldest mark iniquities O LORD who shall stâ—an 4. But there is forgivenesse with thee that thou mayest be feared In these two verses we have the objection made against his prayer from the conscience of his sins according to the law and his answer unto the objection from the mercy of God according to the grounds of the Gospel Whence learn 1. Sin furnisheth ground to all our vexations and tentations and objections made against our prayers our comfort and our faith as the experience of the Psalmist doth teach us against whom his iniquities here stood up to hinder his answer from God 2. In the case of conscience wherein sin is justly charged upon us there is no shift for us to deny or excuse sin it must be confessed and laid open before God as the Psalmist doth here 3. If the Lord should deal with Supplicants in the way of strict justice according to the tenour of the Law or Covenant of works no man could escape condemnation and the curse If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand that is no man should stand 4. He who is fled for refuge unto Gods mercy according to the Covenant of grace in Christ Jesus may decline judgement according to the Covenant of works and betake him unto the way of Justification by faith according to the Covenant of grace whereby remission of sin is promised to the beleever If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand but there is forgiveness with thee 5. The belief of Gods mercifulnesse doth open our mouth in prayer and encourageth us unto the hearty worship service and obedience of God whereunto otherwise we could never have heart nor hand But forgivenesse is with thee that thou mayest be feared 6. Then is grace and mercy in God rightly made use of when we feare to offend God so much the more as we believe him to be gracious to forgive the penitent Supplicant Forgivenesse is with thee that thou mayest be feared Ver. 5. I wait for the LORD my soul doth wait and in his Word do I hope 6. My soule waiteth for the LORD more then they that watch for the morning I say more then they that watch for the morning Having prayed and wrastled by faith against the terrour of Gods justice he waiteth for a good answer and for consolation Whence learn 1. Albeit the Lord doth not at first heal the conscience of sin and the smart of it yet the believer may surely expect comfort from him I wait for the Lord. 2. Then doth faith its own part when it frameth the heart to patient waiting on God and hope in him My soule doth wait 3. He that waiteth for a good answer from the Lord must have the Word of Promise made in the Gospel to such as seek mercy from God for the warrant of his hope My soul doth wait and in his Word do I hope 4. He that waiteth on God for comfort should perswade himself of his speeding and must not slack his hope for a delay but grow in desire after the Lord more then the Watchman waiteth for the morning My soule waiteth for the Lord more then they that watch for the morning I say more then they that watch for the morning Ver. 7. Let Israel hope in the LORD for with the LORD there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities In the latter part of the Psalme it is presupposed he hath goâ—ten comfort and here he exhorteth all the Lords people to follow his example in the day of their outward trouble and perplexity of conscience assuring them of grace to be found in God to their full satisfaction Whence learn 1. When God hath delivered us out of straits it is our duty to extend the fruit of that mercy as far as we may and to exhort others according to our place to follow the way of faith in God Let Israel hope in the Lord. 2. Mercy according to the Covenant of grace giveth the same ground of hope unto every one within the Church which it giveth to the Psalmist or to a Writer of the Scripture Let Israel hopâ— in â—e Lord for with the Lord there is mercy saith the Psalmist from his own experience 3. So many straits as the Lords people can fall into so many escapes and deliveries hath the Lord in store for them With him is plenteous Redemption 4. As sin is the root of all trouble and the chief evil of Gods people so the remission of sin is the chief cure of all their trouble and this the believer may be sure of He shall redeem Israel from iniquities 5. When the Lord forgiveth sin to his own he forgiveth all sin lesse and more whereof his believing childe is guilty He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities 6. The delivery of Gods people from sin and trouble floweâ—h all from the Covenant of Redemption and every delivery of them is a part of the execution of that Covenant With him is plenteous Redemption and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities PSALME CXXXI Ver. 1. LORD my heart is not haughtie nor mine eyes loftie neither do I exercise my self in great matters or in things too high for me 2. Surely I have behaved my selfe as a childe that is weaned of his mother my soule is even as a weaned childe 3. Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever IN this Psalme the Prophet minding to teach the godly to be humble before God however matters go with them doth propound his own example v. 1 2. that so the believer may persevere in hope v. 3. He proveth his humility by the lowlinesse of his heart sobriety of carriage and keeping himself within his vocation v. 1. and by the submission of his will unto Gods dispensation v. 2. the use and profit whereof as
Sun to rule by day for his mercy endureth for ever 9. The Moone and Starres to rule by night for his mercy endureth for ever From the reasons of praise and thanks to be given to God which are taken from his works of Creation Learn 1. Every work of God is wonderful and able to make a man astonished if it be well considered To him who doth great wonders 2. Whatsoever instruments the Lord is pleased to use in any of his wonderful works he alone is the worker and will not communicate the glory of the work with any creature To him who alone doth great wonders 3. The constancy of Gods mercy to his own doth make the use of Gods wonderful power constantly forth-coming to them as their need requireth For his mercy endureth for ever 4. The making of the Heaven as it is a wonderful work and a matter of constant praise unto God so a wonderous benefit unto his people in many respects To him that made the Heavens 5. The wisdom of God appearing in the fabrick of heaven as it is worthy to be praised because it is of so large a compasse as the motion of it shall be no wayes troublesome to man the stars so glorious an ornament so useful to man and so regular in their motion as is wonderful To him that by wisdom made the Heavens 6. It is the mercy of God that the Heavens do continue in their service to sinful men For his mercy endureth for ever 7. The earths standing up above the wâ—ters which by course of nature should be above the earth is a standing miracle for the use of man that he might have a pleasant dwelling while he is in the world To him that stretched forth the earth above the waters 8. It is the mercy of God that the waters do not return to their natural course to cover the earth as they did in the flood of Noah For his mercy endureth for ever 9. The illumination of the world by so great lights as might at once shine upon the one half of the earth which otherwise should be in darknesse for the most part is a matter of Gods praise and mans profit deserving thanks from man unto God To him who made great lights 10. It is the Lords mercy that he hath not changed this course nor removed this much abused benefit from us For his mercie endureth for ever 11. The making the Sun to be the fixed fountain of day-light rather then to have served the world with the light which shined the first three dayes of the Creation is for the greater benefit of man as for many other reasons so for this that every part of the day might be better distinguished according to the motion of the body of the Sun The Sun to rule the day 12. That God hath not discharged the Sun to shine upon sinful men who deserve to live in darknesse is a proof of his endlesse mercy to his own For his mercy endureth for ever 13. The tempering of the darknesse of the night by the Moones light and by the light of the starres in their courses is a matter of Gods praise and of mans comfort and the continuing of this favour still is the evidence of his mercy to his people He maketh the Moone and Starres to rule by night for his mercy endureth for ever Ver. 10. To him that smote Egypt in their first-borne fer his mercy endureth for ever 11. And brought out Israel from among them for his mercy endureth for ever 12. With a strong hand and with a stretched out arme for his mercy endureth for ever 13. To him which divided the Red-sea into parts for his mercy endureth for ever 14. And made Israel to passe thorow the midst of it for his mercy endureth for ever 15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his hoste in the Red sea for his mercy endureth for ever 16. To him which led his people thorow the wildernesse for his mercy endureth for ever 17. To him which smote great Kings for his mercy endureth for ever 18. And slew famous Kings for his mercy endureth for ever 19. Sihon King of the Amorites for his mercy endureth for ever 20. And Og the King of Bashan for his mercy endureth for ever 21. And gave their land for an heritage for his mercy endureth for ever 22. Even an heritage unto Israel his servant for his mercy endureth for ever In the reasons of Gods praise taken from the work of delivery of Israel out of Egypt convoying of them through the wildernesse and planting them in Canaan Learn 1. The Lord should be praised for the works of Creation as by all men so especially by those who are partakers of the benefit of Redemption and those only who are sensible of the benefit of Redemption will give him praise for the works of Creation and common Providence as the fastening of the duty of praise especially upon Israel here doth teach us 2. The Lords preserving of his Church from the beginning doth concern the true members of the Church in all times after to be thankful for it no lesse then for the continuing of the course of the Heavens Sun Moon and Stars as the context of the Psalm doth hold forth 3. The Lords punishing of the enemies of his Church in Egypt is an obligation on the Church to praise him for ever and his constant mercy giveth assurance that he will avenge the quarrel of his oppressed people in all ages To him that smote Egypt in their first-borne for his mercy endureth for ever 4. The delivery of Israel from the bondage of Egypt is a matter of Gods perpetual praise and it is a pledge of Gods mercy to his Church in all ages He brought out Israel from amongst them for his mercy endureth for ever 5. As the work of the Churches delivery is more difficult so doth the Lord put forth more clearly his Omnipotency for perfecting of it as appeared in Israels bringing forth out of Egypt with a strong hand and out-stretched arme 6. One proof of Gods power manifested for his Church is a pawne of his purpose to give so oft proof as need shall be of his power for his peoples relief For his mercy endureth for ever 7. The most improbable deliverances from danger are very possible to God who can turn the sea into dry land for his peoples escaping To him which divided the sea into parts 8. The constancy of Gods mercy to his Church maketh his dividing of the sea a pawne of his power and purpose to deliver his Church how great soever their straits shall be For his mercy endureth for ever 9. It is a work of no lesse mercy and power to give his people grace to make use of an offered meanes of delivery then to prepare the deliverance for them but the constancy of Gods mercy doth not only provide the meanes but also giveth his people grace to make use thereof in all ages He made Israel to passe through