be devoured by ravenous Beasts and Birds 3. Their bloud have they shed like water round about Jerusalem and there was none to bury them 3. For they valued the shedding of their bloud no more then the pouring out of water which flowed in such abundance about Jerusalem that they left not men enow alive to take care of the Interment of the dead 4. We are become a reproach to our neighbours a scorn and derision to them that are round about us 4. And we that remain lead a most despicable life being not onely scorned and abused but openly derided and made the sport of the Edomites and other Nations which formerly stood in awe of us 5. How long LORD wilt thou be angry for ever shall thy jealousie burn like fire 5. And which is saddest of all we have long complained of this and find no relief but onely in our most passionate cries to Thee O Lord the effects of whose just anger and jealousie we groan under because we have forsaken Thee and been unfaithfull to our Covenant with Thee but hope it will not always last nor proceed to make an utter end of us 6. Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name 6. Pour it out rather in as full a measure and with as little pity as they did our bloud Ver. 3. upon the Babylonians who though they have conquered many Kingdoms do not acknowledge Thee at all nor ascribe their successes to thy Power but to their Idols whom they serve and honour with that worship which is due to Thee alone 7. For they have devoured Jacob and laid wast his dwelling-place 7. They have been the Instruments indeed of thy vengeance but have executed it with such cruelty that not content with the conquest of us they have sought our total extirpation having depopulated our Country and made that pleasant Land a Wilderness which Thou gavest to Jacob and his Seed for their habitation 8. O Remember not against us former iniquities let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us for we are brought very low 8. O let not his vertue and the Covenant Thou madest with him be forgotten when Thou reckonest with us for the sins of our Fore-fathers the punishment of which we beseech Thee that we may bear no longer speed our deliverance Good Lord and how unworthy soever we be let thy tender compassion prevail with Thee to save us from utter ruin which is very near so few so broken and spent we are unless seasonably prevented by thy mercy 9. Help us O God of our salvation for the glory of thy name and deliver us and purge away our sins for thy names sake 9. Send us that seasonable help O God from whom alone we expect it and have heretofore very often received it for it will tend much to the honour of thy almighty Goodness which in former times was much celebrated but of late hath been exceedingly disparaged to save us now when none is able to preserve us upon that account be pleased to pass by our sins and to interpose for our deliverance lest Thou suffer together with us 10. Wherefore should the heathen say Where is their God let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the bloud of thy servants which is shed 10. While the Idolatrous Nations utter this insolent language which is exceeding grievous nay insupportable to us If their God be so great in Himself and so kind to them as they pretend why doth He not take their part and appear for their deliverance O that Thou wouldst put them to silence by taking such an open and remarkable vengeance on these blasphemous Nations for the bloud they have shed that not onely we but all the world may see Thou hast a care of us thy Servants 11. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die 11. Let the sighs and groans of those who lie in prison be as prevalent with Thee as thee prayers and magnifie thy power by preserving the lives of those whom they have condemned to die 12. And render unto our neighbours seven fold into their bosom their reproach wherewith they have reproached thee O LORD 12. And when Thou hast done with the Babylonians reckon with our neighbours also who have insulted over us and derided us or rather have spoken so reproachfully of Thee O God that they justly deserve not onely to be paid home in their kind but to be made seven times more contemptible then we have been 13. So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever we will shew forth thy praise to all generations 13. So we thy people being conducted again to our Land and happily restored to live under thy Government there will never cease to give thanks unto Thee for thy benefits bestowed upon us And be carefull to transmit the memory of them to those who shall come after us that all future Generations may perpetuate thy praises PSALM LXXX To the chief-Musician upon Shoshannim Eduth A Psalm of Asaph ARGUMENT This Psalm is something of kin to the former deprecating the displeasure of the Almighty in a time of great calamity Which as all that I have met withall think was either in the captivity of Judah and Benjamin by Nebuchadnezzar or of the Ten Tribes by Salmanassar But it seems to me rather to have been penned between these two in the time of Hezekiah who had wrote a Letter you find 2 Chron. XXXI 6. to the remnant that were escaped out of the hand of the King of Assyria especially to Ephraim and Manasseh the Tribes nearest to them that they would come to the House of the Lord at Jerusalem and keep the Passover with them which summons several of them obeyed Ver. 11. 18. and kept the Feast as long again as they were wont Ver. 23. And when this was finished they all went through the Country and threw down all the High places and Altars that they found not onely in Judah but in Benjamin also Ephraim and Manasseh 2 Chron. XXXI 1. But after this happy settlement you reade there XXXII 1. that the Land was invaded by Senacherib and sorely distressed to the great discouragement no doubt of those who had joined in the Reformation which moved Asaph mentioned 2 Chron. XXIX 30. see the Argument of LXXIII Psal most earnestly to beseech God Ver. 2. of this Psalm that he would be pleased to stir up Himself before Ephraim and Manasseh as well as Benjamin who was so linkt to Judah that part of Jerusalem and of the Temple stood in that Tribe and let them see by a remarkable deliverance that their zeal for the purity of their Religion was acceptable to Him Another reason indeed there may be given which I have not omitted in my Paraphrase why these three are joined
means dost restore my strength and makest my youth and freshness return like the Eagles O that I may with fresh delight and joy be still praising Thee and be lifted up to heaven as they are when they have renewed their plumes in more vigorous love and affectionate desires and indeavours to imploy all my renewed strength in thy faithfull service 6. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed 6. Nor am I alone obliged to my gracious Lord for his singular favour to me but blessed be his name He relieves all those who suffer wrong and doth justice upon their oppressours who are too mighty for them 7. He made known his ways unto Moses his acts unto the children of Israel 7. Moses and the rest of our Forefathers are witnesses of this whom the Lord delivered in a stupendious manner out of the house of bondage 8. The LORD is mercifull and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy 8. And by other methods of his Providence towards them and dealings with them declared how bountifull his blessed nature is and how ready to forgive forbearing long when men deserve to be punished and soon releasing them from their pain when they heartily repent of their folly 9. He will not always chide neither will he keep his anger for ever 9. He doth not love blessed be his Name to be always chastising us for our faults And when He doth chastise us He neither loves to prolong our miseries nor to inflict them proportionable to our deserts 10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities 10. No Blessed be his holy Name there is mercy even in our punishments our sufferings are never so great as our sins but we might justly suffer a great deal more then we do for our faults 11. For as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him 11. And were we never so obedient there is not a greater disproportion between the vast circumference of the heavens and this little spot of earth then there is between his mercies towards us and our small services 12. As far as the east is from the west so far hath he removed our transgressions from us 12. To those mercies alone it is to be ascribed that we are not bemoaning our selves under innumerable miseries but He hath quite taken away his wrath from us and adored be his goodness perfectly remitted the punishment due to our manifold offences 13. Like as a father pitieth his children so the LORD pitieth them that fear him 13. O what bowels of mercy are these No father can be more indulgent and tender-hearted to his returning children then the Lord blessed be his Name is to those who so reform by his chastisements as to fear hereafter to offend Him 14. For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are dust 14. He easily relents and takes compassion on them considering how frail he hath made them and how soon of themselves they will moulder into the dust out of which He took them 15. As for man his days are as grass as a flower of the field so he flourisheth 15. For what is man that the Almighty should contend with him He looks fresh and fair but alas is as feeble as the grass and as a flower in the field whose beauty is far greater then its strength 16. For the wind passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more 16. Many accidents snatch him away even in his prime Just as the biting wind to which the field flowers are exposed blasts them on a sudden and they spring up no more in the place that was adorned with them 17. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him and his righteousness unto childrens children 17. O how much doth this magnifie the wonderfull mercy of our God! who designs to be everlastingly kind blessed be his Goodness to such short-liv'd creatures as we are rewarding the faithfull services of a few years with eternal life to our selves and with many blessings to our posterity in future generations 18. To such as keep his covenant and to those that remember his commandments to doe them 18. There is no doubt of this which hath been verified in those who have sincerely kept their faith with Him and not onely promised but constantly performed the obedience they owed Him 19. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his kingdom ruleth over all 19. For none can hinder Thee O most mighty Lord from being as kind as Thou pleasest who art the universal Monarch the blessed and onely Potentate to whom not onely the greatest men on earth but the highest powers in heaven are subject 20. Bless the LORD ye his angels that excell in strength that doe his commandments hearkening unto the voice of his word 20. Let the Angels therefore who know his greatness power and gracious Providence better then I bless his holy Name Let those mighty ones whose strength surpasses all the powers on earth and yet never dispute his sacred commands give praise unto Him with all their might and with the same chearfulness wherewith they obey his word 21. Bless ye the LORD all ye his hosts ye ministers of his that doe his pleasure 21. Let the whole company of heaven all the several hosts of those glorious creatures who have been imployed by His Majesty so many ways for our good and understand how much we are beholden to his love speak good of his Name and bless his Mercy both to themselves and unto us 22. Bless the LORD all his works in all places of his dominion bless the LORD O my soul 22. Yea let every creature throughout the wide world proclaim as well as it is able the loving kindness of the Lord let none of them be silent but all with one consent bless his holy Name And thou O my soul be sure thou never forget to make one O fail not to bear thy part in this joyfull quire that daily sing his praise PSALM CIV ARGUMENT The foregoing and the following Psalm being certainly composed by David the Greeks and from them several other ancient interpreters have ascribed this also to the same Authour For which they had this further reason that it begins as Aben Ezra observes just as the foregoing Psalm ends and celebrates the mighty power and goodness of God in the fabrick of the world as the CIII doth his benefits to himself and to the rest of the children of men As for the occasion of it we may look upon it as a probable opinion that when David thought of building a House for the Divine Service and God sent Nathan to forbid him 2 Sam. VII 5. he fell not long after into the contemplation of the Majesty of God who having built this great world as his Temple needed none of his erecting though He
give my self unto prayer 4. Who have been so far from doing them any harm that I have deserved well of them 1 Sam. XIX 4 5. and even now when they requite my kindness with indeavours to destroy me do nothing but recommend my self by prayer to thy protection refusing to make use of the opportunity I had to revenge my self upon them 1 Sam. XXIV 9 10 c. 5. And they have rewarded me evil for good and hatred for my love 5. And yet this will not mollifie them but still they are so extreamly ungratefull as to repay my kindness with new attempts to doe me mischief 1 Sam. XXVI 2. And the more affection I express with the greater hatred am I prosecuted 6. Set thou a wicked man over him and let Satan stand at his right hand 6. So implacable is his malice who is the principal Authour of the calumnies wherewith I am loaded 1 Sam. XXII 9 11. against whom therefore I implore thy justice O most righteous Judge of the world Let the worst man that can be found be appointed to hear his cause when he is accused and his most malicious Adversary plead against him 7. When he shall be judged let him be condemned and let his prayer become sin 7. When sentence is given let him be condemned to be as guilty as really he is and if he petition for a pardon let it not onely be rejected but prove an aggravation of his crimes 8. Let his days be few and let another take his office 8. Let him and the false Traitour who in future times will use the Messiah as now they do me be cut off before his time and his Office 1 Sam. XXI 7. XXII 9. wherein he behaves himself with such insufferable insolence and falshood be transferred to a better man 9. Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow 9. Let not his Fatherless Children succeed him in any thing that he hath nor his Widow have any thing left to maintain her 10. Let his children be continually vagabonds and beg let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places 10. Let them not have so much as an house wherein to put their heads but be perpetual Vagabonds supporting a miserable life by begging an Alms and seeking where to lodge because their own dwellings are laid waste and desolate 11. Let the extortioner catch all that he hath and let the stranger spoil his labour 11. Let his Creditour pretending a judgment seize on all his estate and a stranger by that means reap the fruit of all his care and labour 12. Let there be none to extend mercy unto him neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children 12. Let no man shew the least kindness to his memory or upon that account bestow an Alms upon his Fatherless Children 13. Let his posterity be cut off and in the generation following let their name be blotted out 13. Let them rather be odious for his sake and the sooner destroyed so that they be the last of the name and in the next generation not one of that family be found 14. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembred with the LORD and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out 14. But according to the just sentence of thy Law XX. Exod. 5. let the punishments which were due long ago but thy patience moved Thee to forbear fall all upon him let him suffer for the sins of his progenitours on both side in whose wicked steps he would not cease to tread 15. Let them be before the LORD continually that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth 15. Let it be seen that their wickedness is not forgotten though committed many years ago but prosecute it with a continued vengeance till no body remember that there were such people in the world 16. Because that he remembred not to shew mercy but persecuted the poor and needy man that he might even slay the broken in heart 16. This will be but a deserved recompense of all his cruelties For as he let all benefits slip out of his mind and was ungratefull to those who had obliged him so he had no sense of that common compassion which is due to the calamitous but when he saw me in a necessitous condition destitute of Friends and dejected in spirit made no other use of it but to persecute me to the death 17. As he loved cursing so let it come unto him as he delighted not in blessing so let it be far from him 17. What can be more just then that the mischief in which he delighted and both wished and designed to others should fall upon himself and that he should never meet with the blessing of those righteous courses which he always hated and avoided 18. As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment so let it come into his bowels like water and like oyl into his bones 18. His very business was to slander others every where taking a pride in the mischievous effects of his cursed lies and therefore let him feel the miserable fruit of this wickedness spreading himself like the water he drinks into every vein of him and sticking as close to him as oyl unto the bones 19. Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually 19. Let him be involved in perpetual misfortunes and miseries and never be able to shake them off Let him be hampered in straits and difficulties without any possibility of getting out 20. Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD and of them that speak evil against my soul 20. This shall most certainly be the reward which the righteous Lord will give to my malicious adversaries for all the pains they have taken by slanderous reports and calumnies to take away my life 21. But do thou for me O GOD the Lord for thy names sake because thy mercy is good deliver thou me 21. Which I commend to thy protection O Lord the Governour of all things beseeching Thee to take my part and appear for me though not for my honour yet for thy own whose kindness is so exceeding bountifull unto all that for that reason I am incouraged to hope Thou wilt deliver me to whom Thou hast engaged thy self by many promises of mercy 22. For I am poor and needy and my heart is wounded within me 22. Which I never needed more then now for I am so poor and forsaken of all my friends 1 Sam. XXV 8 c. that I am ready to faint away with grief and sorrow like one that is wounded at the very heart 23. I am gone like the shadow when it declineth I am tossed up and down as the locust 23. The evening shadow doth not vanish sooner then I from the place of my present abode 1 Sam. XXII 1 3 5. XXIII 13 14. which I am forced to quit on a sudden and to wander like the
ye servants of the LORD praise the name of the LORD 1. O Ye Ministers of the Lord and whosoever you are that love his Service praise his eternal Majesty be not remiss in this heavenly imployment but with your best affections praise the power wisedom and goodness of his eternal Providence 2. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore 2. Praise him now in this present Age and wish that those incomparable perfections of his may be celebrated with the praises of those that live in future times as long as the world shall last 3. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised 3. And not onely here in this little spot of earth but wheresoever the Sun shines and lets men see how splendid and glorious his Majesty is 4. The LORD is high above all nations and his glory above the heavens 4. For all the Nations of the earth are his and but a little parcel of his supreme Dominion which extends far beyond the Sun and Moon and Stars whose light is but a dim resemblance of the brightness of his glory 5. Who is like unto the LORD our God who dwelleth on high 5. Do not think that any of them though worshipped by other Nations as gods is comparable to that great Lord and our most gracious God whom we adore for the very place where his glorious Majesty resides is far higher then they 6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth 6. And it is a great condescension in him that He will have any respect to the most illustrious of those celestial bodies though He be so gracious also as to extend his kind and carefull Providence even to us who dwell upon this earth 7. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill 7. Where among other manifest tokens of his stupendious goodness He is pleased to take special notice of those whom the world despises and to raise them out of a mean nay sordid condition to such a pitch of honour and dignity 8. That he may set him with princes even with the princes of his people 8. That at last they are advanced to sit upon a Throne and made the Governours of his own people 1 Sam. II. 8. 2 Sam. VII 8 9. compared with 1. XXIV 14. 9. He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyfull mother of children Praise ye the LORD 9. And which is still more strange He opens the barren womb which according to the course of nature would have brought forth nothing and makes a numerous Family spring from thence to the great joy of her that bears them 1 Sam. I. 20. II. 21. Praise the Lord in these and such like wonderfull works of his PSALM CXIV ARGUMENT As the foregoing Psalm puts them in mind of several works of the Divine Providence about particular persons so this makes a brief narration of some miraculous works wherein the Lord declared his power when He brought the whole Jewish Nation out of the Egyptian bondage 1. WHen Israel went out of Egypt the house of Jacob from a people of strange language 1. WHen our Forefathers with their whole Family were brought out of Egypt and not one of them left behind among that barbarous people who had long oppressed them 2. Judah was his sanctuary and Israel his dominion 2. There was a most glorious appearance of God among them by that bright cloud the token of his presence which then had no other peculiar place for its sanctuary but stood over the whole Camp of Israel XIII Exod. 21. XIV Numb 14. whom He then took for his peculiar Kingdom XIX Exod. 6. 3. The sea saw it and fled Fordan was driven back 3. At which appearance the red Sea forsook its channel and left a dry path for them to march through XIV Exod. 21 24. and so did Jordan also afterwards to make way for their easie entrance into Canaan III. Josh 15 16. 4. The mountains skipped like rams and the little hills like lambs 4. All the Mountains great and small which adjoined unto Sinai trembled and leaped like so many affrighted rams or little lambs before the same most dreadfull Majesty XIX Exod. 18. 5. What ailed thee O thou sea that thou fleddest thou Jordan that thou wast driven back 5. To what else shall we ascribe that sudden ebb of the Sea and that no less strange retreat of Jordan when it overflowed all its banks 6. Ye mountains that ye skipped like rams and ye little hills like lambs 6. What made the mountains and hills leap up like affrighted rams or lambs as if they would run away from the place where they were so firmly fixed 7. Tremble thou earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the God of Jacob 7. But onely the glorious presence of the Divine Majesty who was then bringing his people to the rest He had promised to give them And let the whole earth be afraid and tremble before that great Lord who hath honoured us so far as peculiarly to be our God 8. Which turned the tock into a standing water the flint into a fountain of waters 8. And was so kind as to supply the necessities of our Forefathers even when they murmured against Him by a new Miracle bringing out of hard rocks as hard as flint such plenty of water as if they had been dissolved into lakes or rivers XVII Exod. 8. XX. Numb 11. PSALM CXV ARGUMENT There is great reason to think that this Psalm was made in some time of sore distress when their Pagan Enemies began to boast and brag as if their gods were too hard for the God of Israel But by whom it was made or on what particular occasion there are so many conjectures that it will be no presumption to interpose mine which is this That when Jehoshaphat saw that vast Army which we reade of 2 Chron. XX. 2. composed of several Nations coming against him and after his prayer to God for deliverance was incouraged by a Prophet to hope for it Ver. 14 15. and had by the Levites given Him thanks for this hope he or that Prophet composed this Hymn to quicken and confirm their faith in God unto which you reade he exhorted them Ver. 20. And it is likely that this was the Hymn which by common consent the Singers were appointed to use when they went out to encounter those Enemies saying not onely those words which we reade there Ver. 21. Praise the Lord for his mercy endureth for ever but these Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truths sake c. 1. NOT unto us O LORD not unto us but unto thy name give glory for thy mercy and for thy truths sake 1. PRosper our arms O Lord and give us the victory over these
Address thy self unto Him in his holy place and the Lord shall bestow on thee whatsoever blessings thou askest of Him yea maist thou be so happy as to see Jerusalem the Seat of Justice and Religion in a flourishing condition all thy life long 6. Yea thou shalt see thy childrens children and peace upon Israel 6. And long maist thou live to such a good old age as to see thy Childrens Children and the whole Nation all the time in a prosperous tranquillity PSALM CXXIX A Song of degrees See CXX ARGUMENT This Psalm was made when some new Calamity threatned them either by Senacherib or as Theodoret thinks by those Nations which combined to destroy the Jews as soon as they returned from the Captivity of Babylon When they were taught by Ezra or some such holy man to recount what God had done for them ever since they were a people and to denounce the divine Vengeance against those that now sought their ruine The former conjecture seems the truer because as yet he saith vers 2. their Enemies had not prevailed against them unless we expound that phrase as I have done in the Paraphrase according to the received interpretation of the Psalm that they had not quite destroyed them and made them cease to be a Nation 1. MAny a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say 1. OUR Adversaries may Israel now upon this occasion say have very often and very sorely distressed us ever since we began to be a People 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me 2. It is hard to number how oft or to tell into how great straits they have reduced us ever since we began to be a Nation and yet by the special favour of God they have not been able to compass their desire of our utter extirpation 3. The plowers plowed upon my back they made long their furrows 3. They have laid us sometimes exceeding low and not onely scourged us so severely that the marks of it might be seen as plainly as the furrows are which the Plough makes in the ground but long continued also our vexation and torment 4. The LORD is righteous he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked 4. But the Lord at last in much mercy hath made good his faithfull Promises and broken in pieces the power of wicked Oppressours that they might not always hold us under their yoke and thus miserably tyrannize over us 5. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion 5. And may all those that still hate us and our Religion never have better success but be shamefully defeated and forced to desist in all their attempts upon us 6. Let them be as the grass upon the house tops which withereth afore it groweth up 6. Let none of their designs ever come to maturity but be blasted like the grass upon the house-top which having no root withers of it self and needs no bodies hand to pluck it up 7. Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosome 7. And as it lies unregarded by those that reap or that carry in the fruits of the Earth so let these men and all their enterprises become contemptible and be looked upon as good for nothing 8. Neither do they which goe by say The blessing of the LORD be upon you we bless you in the Name of the LORD 8. Let all their hopes so speedily vanish that there be none to favour them nor so much as to wish prosperity to them No more then there are gathethers of such withered grass appear to whom the Passingers after the usual form II. Ruth 4. should say The Lord give you a good harvest We pray God you may reape the fruit of your labours PSALM CXXX A Song of degrees See CXX ARGUMENT Some think David made this Prayer after he had plunged himself into a very deep guilt by his sin with Bathsheba I rather think when he was persecuted by Saul and reduced to so low a condition that his heart began to sink within him For the flouds of ungodly men as he speaks XVIII Psal 4. made him afraid that he should one day perish in them 1 Sam. XXIX 1. and he complains elsewhere that he sunk in the mire where there was no standing c. LXIX Psal 2 14 15. In this condition he implores the divine Mercy with great earnestness and beseeches him to pardon his sins and the sins of all the people which made them deserve that ill government under Saul and his Flatterers It is the last but one of the VII penitential Psalms 1. OVT of the depths have I cried unto thee O LORD 1. IN the greatest straits when I can see no bottom no end of my troubles but I still sink lower and lower into them I never despair of thy mercy O Lord but cry unto Thee most earnestly to deliver me 2. LORD here my voice let thiâ—… ears be attâ—… to the voice of my supplications 2. Vouchsafe good Lord the Governour of all things to grant my Petition Do not reject it I humbly beseech Thee but give me a favourable answer when I deprecate thy displeasure 3. If thou LORD shouldest mark iniquities O Lord who shall stand 3. I do not plead any merits of mine but rather accuse my self before Thee knowing that if I were the most innocent person in the world yet if Thou Lord shouldest strictly examine my life and proceed against me according to my deserts Lord what would become of me I should certainly be condemned 4. But there is forgiveness with thee that thou maist be feared 4. But Thou most graciously invitest us unto thy service by thy readiness to pardon all those that are truly penitent without the hope of which we could not so much as think of becoming religious 5. I wait for the LORD my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope 5. This incourages me to wait and expect when the Lord will deliver me my Soul is earnestly bent to expect this happy time which I believe will come because I have his Promise for it on which I depend 6. My soul waiteth for the Lord more then they that watch for the morning I say more then they that watch for the morning 6. I direct my thoughts to the Lord alone for safety and relief which I implore incessantly with my early Prayers For they that watch in the Temple for the break of day I say the Priests that watch in the Temple for the break of day are not more forward then I to offer up their morning Sacrifice to the Lord. 7. Let Israel hope in the LORD for with the LORD there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption 7. In whom let all his People place their trust and confidence for the Lord is very ready to doe good and hath more ways then we can imagine to rescue those that hope in Him out of the
heart and representing the inextricable straits and difficulties wherein I am expose my self unto Him as an object of his pity 3. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me then thou knewest my path in the may wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me 3. Now that I am utterly at a loss and ready to faint away in a confusion of thoughts Thou knowest very well a way for my escape though by the intelligence they hold with my Enemies 1 Sam. XXIV 1. they have blockt up all the Passages which I am acquainted withall and laid Ambushes for me in every Rode 4. I looked on my right hand and beheld but there was no man that would know me refuge failed me no man cared for my soul 4. Look about thee O my Soul and see if thou canst spy any hope of relief from thy best and most powerfull Friends there are none of them that dare own thee nor do I know whither to fly for safety if any of them would be so kind as to invent a means and open a way for my deliverance from the present danger 5. I cried unto thee O LORD I said Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living 5. All that I can doe is to recommend my self to Thee O Lord by fervent Prayers saying I trust my self with thy Almighty Goodness as in a sure Sanctuary I have nothing else in the world to depend upon but Thee alone by whom I will hope to be protected and provided for as long as I live 6. Attend unto my cry for I am brought very low deliver me from my persecutors for they are stronger then I. 6. O let my importunate cry prevail for some relief which will come most seasonably in this exceeding great necessity rescue me now that I may not fall into the hands of my Persecutours who are every way except in these cries unto and confidence in Thee much too strong for me 7. Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise thy Name the righteous shall compass me about for thou shalt deal bountifully with me 7. Bring me with life and liberty out of this dismal cave wherein I am pent up that I may make my thankfull acknowledgments to thy Almighty Goodness which shall attract the admiration of all good men and provoke them unanimously to joyn together with me in praising Thee when they see that Thou art the most righteous Judge and bountifull Benefactour of those that commit themselves unto Thee PSALM CXLIII A Psalm of David ARGUMENT To the Title of A Psalm of David Theodoret says he found in some Greek Copies these words added to explain the time of its composition when Absalom his Son persecuted him Which he confesses was not then in the Hebrew no more then it is now nor in other Interpreters of the Psalms but agrees well enough he thinks with the truth of the story So he that was the Authour of the vulgar Latine thought also though there are some passages in the Psalm which sound as if it had been made during the persecution of Saul at some time when he was in the like distress with that described in the foregoing For v. 3 4. he uses some of the same expressions which we find there and represents himself as in danger to be buried in some such Cave as that mentioned in the last verse of Psalm CVLII where he begs as he doth here for a speedy deliverance Yet for all this there are other passages which will incline us to adhere to the forenamed Addition and apply the Psalm to his flight from Absalom For then it was he had most reason to fear lest God should deal with him according to his sins which he deprecates v. 2. with such a deep sense of his unworthiness that it hath made this to be numbred among the penitential Psalms and is the last of them The memory of also of God's former deliverances of him a great while before v. 5. may well refer to what He had done for him not onely against Saul but before he knew him which as he doth not forget so he hoped the Lord would now remember and grant him the like again when he was in the like distresses 1. HEar my prayer O LORD give ear to my supplications in thy faithfulness answer me and in thy righteousness 1. I Renew my requests and my earnest supplications unto Thee O Lord for some relief in these new straits and difficulties into which I am faln hoping though I am very unworthy yet in thy abundant mercy Thou wilt faithfully fulfil the promises Thou hast made to me 2. And enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified 2. My sins indeed 2 Sam. XII 9 10 11. have justly brought these troubles upon me but I humbly beseech Thee to own me still for thy Servant and not to call me unto a severe account for what I have done amiss but to deal favourably with me For if thou shouldest proceed according to the rigour of the Law the best man living much less so great a Sinner as I will not be acquitted at thy Tribunal 3. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul he hath smitten my life down to the ground he hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been long dead 3. And I am not so bad but my Enemy that persecutes me is far worse who without any provocation seeks my life and hath already utterly despoiled me of all the comforts of it 2 Sam. XV. 30. and forced me to seek my safety in holes and obscure places in the Wilderness XVII 16. where I seem to be buried alive without any hope of a resurrection 4. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me my heart within me is desolate 4. Which as it calls to mind the distress wherein I was when in my flight from Saul I hid my self in Caves see CXLII 3. so it hath the same effect upon me for I am ready to swoun away in this great perplexity which hath struck me with such astonishment that I have no strength remaining in me 5. I remember the days of old I meditate on all thy works I muse on the work of thy hands 5. Till I call to mind withall not onely what Thou didst for me in that former persecution but long before in my younger days when I was delivered by Thee from the greatest dangers 1 Sam. XVII 34 c. on these wonderfull works I meditate and consider with my self that not by my own strength but by thy stupendious power I was then preserved 6. I stretch forth my hands unto thee my soul thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land Selah 6. And then I feel my fainting Spirits return again and though I despair of humane help I make my prayer unto Thee with a cherefull confidence for thy relief which I long for and expect with as eager desire as the parched ground gasps for
may well be a warning to all fell Tyrants not to be so fierce and outragious which will onely present Thee with the fairer opportunity to glorifie thy self and raise thy praise to a greater height as Thou hast now done by suppressing the Assyrians fury who if they have any reliques of wrath which may boil up again in their hearts Thou shalt chain it up and not suffer it to break forth to our further disturbance 11. Vow and pay unto the LORD your God let all that are round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared 11. And let this excite you all who are thus marvellously delivered to make more liberal promises of gratefull Sacrifices as well as to perform those which you have already vowed to the great Lord your most gracious God who so far excells all others that the Nations round about us who hear the fame of this shall reproach you if you be forgetfull of his benefits by the presents which they shall make to Him 2 Chr. XXXII 23. who ought to be feared by all his Friends and is most terrible to his Enemies 12. He shall cut off the spirit of princes he is terrible to the kings of the earth 12. For he can easily with a sudden stroke not onely take down the proud stomach but take away the life of the fiercest Captains and Commanders 2 Chr. XXXII 21. yea make the greatest Monarchs who keep the world in awe quake and tremble at his dreadfull executions PSALM LXXVII To the chief Musician to Jeduthun A Psalm of Asaph ARGUMENT A Psalm composed by Asaph and sent by him to that Song-Master who was over the Children of Jeduthun in which I imagined at first sight that he represented the sad condition of Hezekiah and the motions of his heart towards God in his sickness 2 Chron. XXXII 24. XXXVIII Isa 1. But upon further consideration it appears from the latter part of it that he bewails the calamity of all the Nation either when Senacherib over-ran the Country or else in the Captivity of Babylon If we refer it to the latter then it was not Asaph the Seer whom I mentioned before Psalm LXXIII that made this Psalm but some other in after times see Psal LXXIV who laments the long continuance of their Captivity which looked like an utter forsaking by God but he comforts himself at last with the remembrance of what God had done formerly for them when he delivered them out of the Egyptian bondage 1. I Cried unto God with my voice even unto God with my voice and he gave ear unto me 1. I Have incessantly made my prayer to God and I will still most earnestly intreat his favour To Him who hath justly afflicted us and can alone relieve us have I again and again renewed my importunate suit which I hope will at last prevail with Him for deliverance 2. In the day of my trouble I sought the LORD my sore ran in the night and ceased not my soul refused to be comforted 2. I have not negligently discharged this Duty but as the distress is great wherein we are so I have restlesly implored help from the Lord In the night when men are wont to bury their troubles in sleep I have with unwearied diligence spread out my hands unto Him in token that all my dependence is upon His power alone resolving to admit of no consolation till I obtained a gracious Answer from Him 3. I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed Selah 3. I remembred indeed how kind God had been unto us in former times but this onely gave me the greater trouble when I compared it with our present miseries and the more I mused on it the more my spirit was disturbed and miserably afflicted 4. Thou holdest mine eyes waking I am so troubled that I cannot speak 4. Insomuch that I could not close my eyes to take a wink of sleep nor open my mouth such was my perturbation and astonishment to express the heaviness of my grief 5. I have considered the days of old the years of aucient times 5. All that I could doe was to recount thy mercifull Providences over our Forefathers in times past and ponder seriously what wonders Thou didst for them many ages agone 6. I call to remembrance my song in the night I commune with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search 6. I called to mind all the Songs I had indited to celebrate the memory of those ancient benefits and spent whole nights in silent meditations and diligent inquiries which I revolved to and fro in my mind why He who had taken such care of our Ancestours had so long rejected us 7. Will the LORD cast off for ever and will he be favourable no more 7. Will the Lord thought I abandon us for ever Is He so incensed against us that He will never be reconciled nor intend to shew us any more favour 8. Is his mercy clean gone for ever doth his promise fail for evermore 8. Is his infinite mercy which is the fountain of all his benefits quite exhausted and will He never hereafter speak a word of comfort to us 9. Hath God forgotten to be gracious hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies Selah 9. Hath God whose property it is to shew mercy quite laid aside all thoughts of exercising his clemency towards us or have we so highly provoked Him to anger that He hath no regard at all unto our miseries 10. And I said This is my infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High 10. But having thus complained and said within my self This is the thing which sorely afflicts me to see such alterations in the proceedings of the most High that the same hand which formerly protected us now severely scourges us 11. I will remember the works of the LORD surely I will remember thy wonders of old 11. I presently considered that there might be a change again and resolved to comfort my self with the remembrance of the former works of the Lord and to go back as far as the Miracle Thou didst for us in bringing us up out of the Land of Egypt when our deserts were as small as in these days 12. I will meditate also of all thy work and talk of thy doings 12. Of all the ensuing wonders I will think rather then on our present miseries I will not omit one of them but instead of these complaints make them the constant subject of my discourse 13. Thy way O God is in the sanctuary who is so great a God as our God 13. From which I cannot but conclude that the method of thy Providence O God is not onely perfectly holy and just but quite out of our reach nor is thy Power inferiour but as Thou dost not proceed in the common way of our thoughts so none can resist what thy incomparable Majesty thinks fit to effect 14. Thou art the God that
our Defender 2 King XIX 19. 10. For a day in thy courts is better then a thousand I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tents of wickedness 10. For one day spent in thy Courts is far more pleasant than a thousand in any other place and I had rather lie at the Gates of thy House then live in the most splendid condition in Idolatrous Countries 11. For the LORD God is a sun and shield the LORD will give grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly 11. For though our happiness be sometimes clouded yet the Lord like the Sun will dispell the darkness of affliction and having brought us out of a disconsolate condition defend and secure us in a better 2 King XX. 6. The Lord will give those favour with others and advance them to great honour 2 Chron. XXXII 22 23. He will never be sparing of his blessings but heap them abundantly on those who sincerely doe his will in all things 2 King XVIII 5 6. XX. 3. 12. O LORD of hosts blessed is the man that trusteth in thee 12. O most mighty Lord who commandest all the host of heaven happy is that man who by his integrity preserves this hope and confidence in Thee though for the present he be restrained from the delightfull injoyment of Thee in thy Temple PSALM LXXXV To the chief Musician A Psalm for the Sons of Korah ARGUMENT It is thought by many that this Psalm was composed by some of the Sons of Korah after David's banishment from Jerusalem by his Son Absalom called a Captivity as we reaâ—… Psal XIV ult and his happy restauration to his Kingdom though not to such a settlement as they desired But it may be as well or better applied to the miraculous providence which drove Senacherib out of the Land who had taken many Captives V. Isa 13. and restored them to the happy liberty whose loss they bewailed in the Psalm foregoing Which way soever we understand it the composure is such that it might be much better used by them after their return from the Captivity of Babylon then at any other time when they were infested with many enemies who disturbed their peaceable injoyment of their Country and Religion And therefore it is possible it might be reviewed if not made in those days and delivered to the chief Master of Musick in the Temple to be sung presently after the Foundation of it was laid III. Ezr. 10 11 c. but the Work hindred from proceeding by the opposition of their enemies And so I shall interpret it 1. LORD thou hast been favourable unto thy land thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. 1. THou hast been exceeding kind unto us O Lord and we most thankfully acknowledge the favour Thou hast done us in delivering us the posterity of Jacob out of our sad Captivity and restoring us to the Land in which Thou thy self hast chosen to dwell I. Ezra 2. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people thou hast covered all their sin Selah 2. Our sins kept us from it in banishment a long time but now Thou hast graciously pardoned both our Idolatry and all the other crimes for which we justly suffered 3. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath thou hast turned thy self from the fierceness of thine anger 3. Thou hast put an end to the sore punishments which in thy heavy displeasure Thou inflictedst on us and turned thy severity which like sire had almost consumed us into great clemency and mercy toward us 4. Turn us O God of our salvation and cause thine anger towards us to cease 4. Compleat good Lord our deliverance which Thou hast thus graciously begun and let not our ingratitude provoke Thee to continue this new vexation and trouble that is befaln us IV. Ezra 4 5 21 23. 5. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations 5. Which forces us to sigh and say in the anguish of our Souls will there never be an end of our miseries Is it not enough that the foregoing generation hath felt the sad effects of thine anger but it must extend it self to us also and our posterity 6. Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee 6. Will it not be more for thy honour not onely to preserve this feeble life which Thou hast bestowed on us but to give us a perfect recovery that thy people may have nothing to damp their joy and intire satisfaction in thy goodness to them 7. Shew us thy mercy O LORD and grant us thy salvation 7. Make us so happy good Lord and though we deserve indeed to be more miserable then we are yet let thy mercy prevail with Thee to grant us a compleat deliverance 8. I will hear what God the LORD will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints but let them not turn again to folly 8. I will wait patiently upon the Lord the Judge of the world for a gracious Answer to these Prayers hoping that He will not condemn us to further punishment but settle his people who devoutly worship Him in a prosperous tranquillity provided they return not again to their old Idolatry 9. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him that glory may dwell in our land 9. He will be so far from deserting those who fear to offend Him that I am confident the time approaches when He will finish what He hath begun to doe for us in rebuilding our Temple V. Ezra 2 8. VI. 7 8 c. and restoring our Country to its ancient dignity and splendour 10. Mercy and truth are met together righteousness and peace have kissed each other 10. For methinks I see goodness and fidelity justice and concord which are the principal glory of a Kingdom meeting together like ancient Friends which have been long absent and embracing each other 11. Truth shall spring out of the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven 11. And as Truth and Honesty with all other Vertues shall grow and flourish among us like Flowers and Herbs in the Spring after a tedious Winter so God shall faithfully fulfill his promises to us and exercise a most gracious providence over us 12. Yea the LORD shall give that which is good and our land shall yield her increase 12. Yea the Lord will doe us good beyond our expectation and reward our fruitfulness in good works with such a large and plentifull increase of the fruits of the earth as shall demonstrate the bounty of heaven to us 13. Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps 13. He will govern us with great justice and mercy having his faithfull promises always before his eyes from that rule He will never swerve but stedfastly proceed by it as the constant method He will hold in his Divine Administrations PSALM
LXXXVI A Prayer of David ARGUMENT The Title satisfies us that David was the Authour of this Psalm which the Collectour of this third Book found I suppose after the other two were made up and published and so placed it here among those which belong to the same subject For though it was composed by David when he was so persecuted either by Saul or Absalom that he was stript of all he had and left in a most forlorn condition Ver. 1. yet Theodoret thinks it was made with a prospect of the attempt which the Assyrians made upon Jerusalem and the hope which Hezekiah then placed in God for deliverance Which Notion it is likely he had from the Jews who say that this Prayer was made use of by Hezekiah in the time of that sore distress for the first words of this Psalm are the same with his in 2 King XIX 16. and the eighth and ninth Verses may very fitly be accommodated to that History as I have there observed but the rest a great deal better to David 1. BOW down thine ear O LORD hear me for I am poor and needy 1. THere cannot be a fitter object of thy Mercy O Lord then thy poor Supplicant who beseeches Thee graciously to condescend to his request for else he is utterly undone being quite destitute of all humane help 2. Preserve my soul for I am holy O thou my God save thy servant that trusteth in thee 2. And yet my life is in imminent danger unless Thou dost preserve it as many reasons make me hope Thou wilt for as Thou the righteous Judge hast been long my benefactour and I am perfectly innocent of that my enemies charge me withal so I my self have been a reliever of others in their need and besides am a faithfull servant of thine who depends intirely upon Thee and hath no confidence in any thing but onely thy Almighty Goodness 3. Be mercifull unto me O Lord for I cry unto thee daily 3. Whose mercifull help I have also implored with most importunate and incessant prayers which is another reason of my hope that Thou wilt take compassion upon me O Lord 4. Rejoice the soul of thy servant for unto thee O LORD do I lift up my soul 4. And turn the present sorrow of thy servant into joy and gladness For I have placed my hope intirely in Thee O Lord and expect nothing but from Thee alone 5. For thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee 5. Who art no less bountifull which is another exceeding great encouragement to me then I am indigent ready also to pardon those that have offended Thee yea to shew abundant kindness to every one of them in their greatest distress when with unfeigned devotion they call upon Thee 6. Give ear O LORD unto my prayer and attend to the voice of my supplications 6. As I now do O Lord most humbly beseeching Thee with repeated intreaties to give a favourable answer to these prayers and supplications whereby I deprecate thy displeasure and sue unto Thee for favour 7. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee for thou wilt answer me 7. Which I beseech Thee let me the rather obtain because my distress is so great and so urgent that thy power will now be the more magnified in delivering me as heretofore Thou hast been wont to doe upon such earnest petitions as these are unto Thee 8. Among the gods there is none like unto thee O LORD neither are there any works like unto thy works 8. For nothing is too hard for Thee nor art Thou unwilling to doe more kindnesses for us because Thou hast done so many already But as appears by thy unparallel'd works dost incomparably excell whatsoever strangers think 2 King XVIII 15. all those that are worshipped in the world as gods who are not able so much as to help and preserve themselves 9. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee O LORD and shall glorifie thy name 9. Which shall move all our neighbouring Nations 2 Chron. XXXII 23. as all the rest shall do in the days of that Great King which we expect XV. Rom. 9. to acknowledge Thee O Lord to be their Creatour and with humble veneration to submit themselves unto Thee and to honour Thee with their highest praises 10. For thou art great and doest wondrous things thou art God alone 10. For they shall clearly see by the magnificence of thy marvellous works that Thou art infinitely superiour to all those Powers whom they adore And that in truth there is no God but Thou thy self alone 11. Teach me thy way O LORD I will walk in thy truth unite my heart to fear thy name 11. Which I so firmly believe that I desire nothing more then to be perfectly instructed in all thy will which I will sincerely observe knit my heart O Lord in such pious affections to Thee that it may never in the least dissent from Thee nor be disturbed with any vain cares but intirely bent to study this alone what is pleasing unto Thee 12. I will praise thee O LORD my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy name for evermore 12. Whom I am bound to praise both as the fupreme Lord of all and as my most bountifull Benefactour with all the powers of my Soul and accordingly I do now most thankfully acknowledge Thee and will never cease to honour Thee and to doe Thee service as long as I have any Being 13. For great is thy mercy toward me and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell 13. For the benefits Thou hast bestowed on me are as inestimable as they are innumerable I owe my very life to Thee which hath been often snatched out of the extreamest dangers wherein I had inevitably perished if Thou hadst not mercifully delivered me 1 Sam. XXIII c. 14. O God the proud are risen against me and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul and have not set thee before them 14. Behold O God a new opportunity to glorifie that mercy for proud and ambitious men 2 Sam. XV. 1 2 c. have made an insurrection against me and raised a most formidable Army 2 Sam. XV. 12 13. to take away that life which Thou hast so miraculously preserved having no regard to thy Providence nor refusing any means whereby they may satisfie their unjust desires 15. But thou O LORD art a God full of compassion and gracious long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and truth 15. All our comfort is that Thou not they dost govern the world who art no less compassionate then Thou art powerfull readily forgiving offences or bearing long before Thou punishest Them chusing rather to heap thy benefits upon us and never failing to perform thy faithfull promises 16. O turn unto me and have mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant and save the son of
thine handmaid 16. In confidence of which I humbly beseech thy favour and gracious pardon though I have highly offended Thee Assist thy poor servant by thy irresistible power against those mighty forces which are ready to assault me O deliver me who am here humbled in the lowest manner before Thee looking upon my self as more absolutely thine then any slave that is born in our house can be ours 17. Shew me a token for good that they which hate me may see it and be ashamed because thou LORD hast holpen me and comforted me 17. Vouchsafe me now in this great distress such manifest tokens of thy favour towards me that I may not onely be delivered but all may take notice of it And good men thereby be encouraged to hope in Thee but they that hate me be utterly confounded to see him whom they intended to destroy not onely preserved but blessed with comforts proportionable to the sorrow he hath indured PSALM LXXXVII A Psalm or Song for the Sons of Korah ARGUMENT It is as uncertain when this Psalm-Song see LXVII was composed as which of the Sons of Korah was the Authour of it But it is manifest enough that it was written in commendation of Jerusalem situate in the holy Mountains of Sion where David built his Palace and afterward settled the Ark and of Moriah where Solomon built the Temple There are those that think it was composed upon the Anniversary of the Birth or Coronation of some great Prince such as Hezekiah in whose days this City was made more famous by the glorious deliverance which God gave it from the power of the King of Assyria's Army But this is a mere conjecture and I shall follow the vulgar opinion according to which the beginning of this Psalm must be lookt upon as very abrupt but expresses the greater rapture of joyfull admiration wherein the Psalmist was 1. HIS foundations is in the holy mountains 1. GReat is the strength and beauty of this place which is founded by God in the high Mountains which He hath peculiarly chosen for the seat of his Kingdom and of his Priesthood 2. The LORD loveth the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob. 2. Though the Lord loves all the habitations of his people yet none are so dear unto Him as those within the Gates of Jerusalem A principal part of which is Sion 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee O city of God Selah 3. There is no City in the world of which such glorious things are foretold or of which any thing can now be said comparable to what we can truly boast of thee that art the City which God Himself hath separated for his own habitation 4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me behold Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia this man was born there 4. I do not deny the due praises which belong to other places and Countries but rather am wont to make honourable mention among my acquaintance and familiars of Egypt and of Babylon and of those who are nearer to us the Philistines Tyrians and Arabians bidding them observe that such a notable person was born among them 5. And of Sion it shall be said This and that man was born in her and the Highest himself shall establish her 5. But what is this to Sion of whom it shall be said in future times that not such a single person but this and that man a great many Worthies and far more eminent both in Learning and in Arms but especially in Piety were born in her for she hath no meaner instructour than the most high who shall settle her in a flourishing estate by educating and forming her inhabitants to the most excellent qualities 6. The LORD shall count when he writeth up the people that this man was born there Selah 6. So that when He himself whose eyes nothing can escape shall look over the register of those Nations and count the famous men they have produced He shall find onely some one great man and he comparatively of no great value was born among them 7. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there all my springs are in thee 7. But in thee O City of God He shall find multitudes of excellent persons all eminent in their kind even among those of lower rank as well as in the higher And there shall be a constant succession of such as there is of water from a spring PSALM LXXXVIII A Song or Psalm for the Sons of Korah to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite ARGUMENT Who this Heman was is uncertain Not he who was the famous Singer in David's time for he was of the Tribe of Levi 1 Chron. VI. 32. XV. 17. whereas this was descended from Zerah who was one of the Sons of Judah 1 Chron. II. 6. where we find indeed not onely Heman but Ethan to whom the next Psalm is ascribed mentioned as two of Zerah's Sons But we cannot reasonably think that they were in those early times the Authours of these two Psalms because Ethan plainly makes mention of David and the promise which God had passed to him of a perpetual Kingdom It remains therefore that these two here mentioned were of the posterity of those Sons of Zerah and thence called Ezrahites and had the Names of their noble Ancestours given them to perpetuate the memory of those who were so famous for wisedom 1 King IV. 31. But in what time they lived cannot be certainly determined It is probable when Jechoniah otherwise called Jehojachin or after him Zedekiah was taken and carried captive to Babylon together with abundance of the Nobility and the principal Commanders and Artizans 2 King XXIV 14 15 16. In some of which ranks I suppose this Heman was who being cast into a dark prison which hath made some fancy Jehojachin himself to have made it Ver. 6 8. or otherwise as miserably treated as if he had been in a dungeon bewails his private calamity as Ethan in the next Psalm doth the publick Why it is called a Song-Psalm see upon the Title of Psal LXVII It was to be sung by the Sons of Korah interchangeably which is the meaning of Leannoth upon a Flute or Pipe see Psal LIII to the known tune of Maschil see Psal XXXII Some passages in it may be applied to our Saviour's Death and Burial in his Grave which the Prophet Isaiah compares to a Prison and so is used by our Church upon Good Friday 1. O LORD God of my salvation I have cried day and night before thee 1. O Mighty Lord by whose gracious care and good providence I have been hitherto preserved and on whom all my hopes of safety still depend I have not failed in this sore affliction to implore thy mercy with most earnest cries without any intermission 2. Let my prayer come before thee incline thine ear unto my cry 2. Let them at last prevail I beseech
foot-steps signifies properly the heel of a mans foot and from thence is translated to signifie the end of any thing as in Psal CXIX 33. Which notion of it in my judgment best suits with all that goes before in this Psalm concerning the stability of David's Kingdom which their enemies now boasted as we would express it in our present language they saw upon its last legs And the truth is it was never restored to that Family till Christ the great Son of David came to whom some passages in this Psalm are applied by the Jews themselves in both the Beresiths and in other Books to which Abenezra and R. Solomon consent Why this Psalm is called Maschil see Psal XXXII But why any should fancy as some have done that it was made by Jehojachin after he came out of Prison 2 King XXV 27 28. I cannot conceive unless the first words moved them to think that he who in the foregoing Psalm speaks of himself as in a Dungeon gives God thanks here for his deliverance 1. I Will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations 1. THE innumerable calamities that are befaln us shall not blot out the memory of the innumerable benefits which the Lord hath formerly bestowed on us but I will sing of them without ceasing and indeavour to make all posterity believe notwithstanding our present desolation that Thou art faithfull and constant to thy word 2. For I have said Mercy shall be built up for ever thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens 2. For I am confident thy Mercy which is immovable and indures for ever will raise us out of these ruines thy promises being as firm and stedfast as the heavens in which we see an image of the unchangeableness of thy Nature and of thy will 3. I have made a convenant with my chosen I have sworn unto David my servant 3. Which Thou didst declare by thy Prophet saying 1 Sam. XVI 13. 2 Sam. III. 9 10. V. 2. VII 15 16 28. I have chosen David my faithfull Servant to be the Governour of my people and have made a Covenant with him confirmed by an Oath 4. Thy seed will I establish for ever and build up thy throne to all generations Selah 4. That not onely he but his Children after him shall be settled in the Throne which though it totter sometime or be thrown down shall be raised again and continued throughout all succeeding generations 5. And the heavens shall praise thy wonders O LORD thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints 5. For which stupendious kindness if we should forget to praise Thee or in this our calamitous condition distrust thy power and fidelity to make it good the heavenly inhabitants will not fail to doe it but in their holy Assemblies confess them both with their solemn praises 6. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD 6. For there are none of the powers of the air they know much less any upon earth that can resist the Lord and hinder the fulfilling of his will The mightiest among themselves they are sensible are not to be compared with his Majesty to whom they are but Ministers 7. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him 7. And when they assemble in the greatest numbers and make the most glorious Court stand in great fear and dread of Him attending with awfull reverence what commands He will be pleased to lay upon them 8. O LORD God of hosts who is a strong LORD like unto thee or to thy faithfulness round about thee 8. With whom I will join O Lord the Commander of all these heavenly Hosts and celebrate thy Name on earth as they do in heaven saying Where is he among them all that can equal Thee O most powerfull Lord whose Faithfulness is as ready to fulfill thy Promises as the Angels are to execute thy Commands 9. Thou rulest the raging of the Sea when the waves thereof arise thou stillest them 9. The Sea it self which submits to no body else is under thy Government who when it is a calm makest it swell as if it would overflow the earth and reducest it when it is in its greatest rage to a perfect stilness again 10. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces as one that is slain thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm 10. There the Egyptians who had been wounded before with many other grievous plagues were utterly overthrown and with the like irresistible power the Canaanites were scattered at the entrance of thy people into the promised Land 11. The heavens are thine the earth also is thine as for the world and the fulness thereof thou hast founded them 11. For Thou art the owner of things both in heaven and earth and hast the justest right to dispose of them to whom Thou pleasest because the world and all the inhabitants of it are thy Creatures 12. The north and the south thou hast created them Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name 12. Whether we cast our eyes to the Southern or Northern parts of the earth to the West towards Tabor or Eastwards towards Hermon they all acknowledge Thee their Creatour and rejoice in thy bountifull Providence which inriches them with all things needfull for them 13. Thou hast a mighty arm strong is thy hand and high is thy right hand 13. And thy power extending it self throughout the whole always effects in every place whatsoever Thou designest whether it be to punish evil-doers or to preserve and exalt them that doe well 14. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne mercy and truth shall go before thy face 14. But none shall be able to say Thou doest them any wrong Because Thou dost not rule the world merely by thy absolute power but hast placed thy principal glory in justice and equity mercy and fidelity from which Thou never swervest 15. Blessed is the people that know the joyfull sound they shall walk O LORD in the light of thy countenance 15. Happy then are the people who live under thy righteous and mercifull Government and hear the Trumpet sound which signifies the royal presence of thy Majesty among them and calls them to attend upon Thee X. Numb 10. They shall spend their days most chearfully O Lord being secure of thy favour which will let them want nothing that is good for them 16. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted 16. They shall not barely rejoice but triumph and that continually in thy love to them and thy power to defend them and walking in thy holy Laws shall by thy goodness be highly exalted and made superiour to all their enemies 17. For thou art the glory of their
strength and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted 17. For they owe not their conquests to their own valour or forces though never so great but it is Thou who givest illustrious Victories to the smallest Armies And therefore by thy favour we hope that our Empire which is now broken shall be raised again to its former splendour 18. For the LORD is our defence and the holy One of Israel is our King 18. For the Lord is still our Protectour though our Prince be taken and made unable to defend us He whom Israel adores and acknowledges infinitely to transcend all other Beings is our King and Governour 19. Then thou spakest in vision to the holy One and saidest I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people 19. Who then didst reveal thy mind in a Vision to the holy Prophet Samuel 1 Sam. XVI 1. when the Philistines defied Israel and grew terrible to them XVII 10 11 24. saying I have provided myself a valiant Champion 1 Sam. XVI 18. to be your deliverer 2 Sam. III. 18. I have designed a person of singular worth from among the common people 1 Sam. XVI 11. to be promoted to the Kingdom 20. I have found David my servant with my holy oil have I anointed him 20. I have observed David 1 Sam. XVI 1. and find him a man that will faithfully serve me Go and anoint him with the holy Oil for I intend him for the Governour of my people 21. With whom my hand shall be established mine arm also shall strengthen him 21. With whom I will always be powerfully present for his assistance 1 Sam. XVII 45 c. and never desert him as I did Saul XVIII 12 24 28. But my mighty power shall extraordinarily strengthen him in all his enterprises 1 Sam. XXX 6. 2 Sam. VIII 6 14. 22. The enemy shall not exact upon him nor the son of wickedness afflict him 22. The subtilest of his enemies shall not be able to circumvent him nor the most malicious how powerfull soever oppress him 23. And I will beat down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him 23. But after all their vain attempts I will not onely protect him from their crafty violence but subdue all his adversaries under him and destroy those that hate him 2 Sam. VII 9. 24. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him and in my name shall his born be exalted 24. He shall ever find me not onely faithfull in my promise to him but kind above his expectation and by my powerfull assistance and his confidence in it his authority shall be highly exalted 1 Chron. XIV 17. 2 Sam. VII 9. VIII 13. 25. I will set his hand also in the sea and his right hand in the rivers 25. On one hand he shall conquer the Philistines and those that live upon the coast of the Sea 2 Sam. VIII 1. and on the other hand the Syrians as far as Tigris and Euphrates 2 Sam. VIII 9 c. X. 16 19. 26. He shall cry unto me Thou art my father my God and the rock of my salvation 26. For he shall intirely depend on me in all his distresses and fly to me for succour as a Child to his Parent saying with more then usual love and confidence Thou art my Father as well as my omnipotent God from whom alone I expect protection and deliverance 27. Also I will make him my first-born higher then the kings of the earth 27. Which I will never fail to afford him till I raise him to the prime dignity among all those whom I call my Sons and set him so high above all other Kings in the world that he shall be a most eminent Type of my Son Christ the King of kings and the Lord of lords 28. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore and my covenant shall stand fast with him 28. Nothing shall alter these kind intentions toward him but I will always have a love for him and faithfully perform my Covenant with him 29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever and his throne as the days of heaven 29. Which is that his Family shall never be extinct but notwithstanding the changes which all things are subject unto here below have the royal power continued in it as long as the heavens endure 2 Sam. VII 16 28 29. I. Luke 32 33. 30. If his children forsake my law and walk not in my judgments 30. If his Successours indeed shall depart from the Law which I have given you by my Servant Moses and not judge my people righteously 31. If they break my statutes and keep not my commandments 31. If they prophanely neglect or corrupt my Religion and observe not the rest of the Rules of life which I have enjoined them 32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes 32. Then will I execute the threatnings which are in my Law XXVI Levit. upon them and punish their transgressions with sore diseases and their Idolatries with several plagues 2 Sam. VII 14. 33. Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail 33. But I will not so chastise them as never more to doe good to his Family 2 Sam. VII 25. but will still have a kindness for it and faithfully keep my promise with it 1 King XI 34 36. XV. 4. 2 King VIII 19 c. 34. My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips 34. I will not violate the Covenant I have made with David 2 Chron. XXI 7. nor retract the promise which I have solemnly passed to his Family 35. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David 35. For I have unalterably sworn by my own incommunicable excellencies that I will as soon cease to be what I am as deceive him 36. His seed shall endure for ever and his throne as the sun before me 36. His Family as I said Verse 29. shall never be quite extinct but always remain in my favour and hold the royal dignity as long as the Sun shineth 37. It shall be established for ever as the moon and as a faithfull witness in heaven Selah 37. The Moon may as well fall from her Orb as his Authority fall to the ground and rise no more Let that be a witness of my fidelity when you look upon it XXXIII Jer. 20 21. and conclude that after all the changes and eclipses his Kingdom may suffer it shall stand as fast as that and all the rest of the heavenly bodies 38. But thou hast cast off and abhorred thou hast been wroth with thine anointed 38. But all these promises alas so sacredly confirmed and oft repeated have not secured it from a dismal subversion For Thou hast rejected with the greatest contempt and indignation our Sovereign one of the posterity of David and
his lawfull successour in the Kingdom 2 King XXIV 20. XXV 6 7. IV. Lam. 20. 39. Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant thou hast prophaned his crown by casting it to the ground 39. Thou seemest not to regard the Covenant made with that thy faithfull Servant which Thou promisedst not to break Ver. 34. and instead of raising his Family higher then all other Kings Ver. 27. hast suffered it to lose all its Authority which together with the royal Diadem is vilely trodden under foot 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges thou hast brought his strong holds to ruine 40. Thou hast broken down all the walls of Jerusalem 2 King XXV 10. and made all his fortified places a mere desolation 41. All that pass by the way spoil him he is a reproach to his neighbours 41. So that he hath no defence against those who have a mind to make a prey of him 2 King XXIV 2. and is now scorned and derided by those who formerly dreaded him 42. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice 42. Thou hast made his adversaries whom Thou promisedst to depress Ver. 23. far stronger then himself they have executed all that they designed and now triumph in his ruin 43. Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword and hast not made him to stand in the battel 43. His forces have done him no service but being shamefully routed durst never rally again to make any opposition to their enemies 44. Thou hast made his glory to cease and cast his throne down to the ground 44. Thou hast put out that splendour which we thought should have been perpetual Ver. 37 38. and hast utterly overturned his Kingdom 45. The days of his youth hast thou shortned thou hast covered him with shame Selah 45. Thou hast made a speedy end of the reign of Jehojachin who in his youth is made a slave 2 King XXIV 8 c. and suffered Zedekiah to be most disgracefully condemned as a rebel to lose his eyes and remain a prisoner all the days of his life 2 King XXV 6 7. 46. How long LORD wilt thou hide thy self for ever shall thy wrath burn like fire 46. O what a sad condition is this in which Thou seemest wholly to neglect us But O Lord wilt Thou never appear for us again and put a period to our miseries wilt Thou let thy anger burn till we be utterly consumed 47. Remember how short my time is wherefore hast thou made all men in vain 47. Our natural weakness pleads for some mercy and imboldens us to beseech Thee that since we must not onely die unavoidably but a short time will bring us to our graves Thou wilt be pleased to let us spend that little time in more ease and not live as if we were made for nothing else but onely to be miserable and to die 48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave Selah 48. For where is the man whose constitution is so firm that he shall not yield to death For what ability have we though our enemies should not thus destroy us to defend our selves from the power of the grave 49. LORD where are thy former loving-kindnesses which thou swarest unto David in thy truth 49. Lord what a difference is there between our times and those when Thou wast so exceeding good to David And swarest most faithfully to continue to him for ever thy loving-kindness which we beseech Thee now restore unto us 50. Remember LORD the reproach of thy servants how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people 50. Shew O Lord that Thou dost not forget the scoffs and jeers whereby our enemies augment the sufferings of thy servants there is nothing I lay to heart so much as all the reproaches of many and mighty Nations 51. Wherewith thine enemies have reproached O LORD wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed 51. Who are thy enemies as well as ours and have blasphemed Thee O Lord and mockt at Thee as if our slavery were the effect of thy inability to protect us and as if there were an end of the Family and Kingdom of David thine anointed which Thou saidest should last for ever 52. Blessed be the LORD for evermore Amen and amen 52. But let them laugh on neither their scoffs nor our calamity shall hinder us from praising the Lord and speaking good of Him continually in assured hope that He will at last deliver us Let it be so we beseech Thee Let it be so as we desire and hope that we may ever praise Thee for our happy restauration The End of the THIRD Book of Psalms The Fourth BOOK OF PSALMS PSALM XC A Prayer of Moses the man of God ARGUMENT Here begins the FOVRTH Book of Psalms in this differing from the rest that as those of the first Book are most of them ascribed to David and those of the second in great part to the Sons of Korah and those of the third to Asaph so there are few of these whose Authour is certainly known and therefore I suppose were all put together in one and the same Collection The first of them indeed being made by Moses the Hebrews have entertained a conceit which Saint Hierom and Saint Hilary also follow that he was the Authour also of the Ten next immediately insuing But as there is no reason for that it will appear in due place so I can see no cause why we should fancy David or some of the Children of Moses in his time or a singer of that name as Aben Ezra conjectures to have composed this present Psalm when not onely the Title expresly gives it to that Moses who was the Man of God as their Law giver is called XXXIII Deut. 1. or that famous Prophet by whom God spake to them but the Chaldee Paraphrase and the very matter of the Psalm sufficiently shew that it was a Meditation of his when the people offended so highly against God in the Wilderness especially by murmuring at the Relation the Spies brought them of the good Land XIV Numb that He shortned their lives to seventy or eighty years at the most and suffered them not to arrive at the age of their Ancestours or of Moses Caleb and Joshua whose lives he prolonged to an hundred and twenty years Which grievous punishment Moses prays God they may lay to heart seriously and so recover his favour Ver. 12 c. who is the eternal God as he tells them in the beginning of the Psalm and had been in a particular manner kind to their Progenitours in former Generations This is the substance of the Psalm which the Collectour of this Book thought fit to place in the very beginning of it because of the great antiquity of this Psalm and the dignity of its Authour 1. LORD thou hast been our dwelling-place
in all generations 1. O Lord who sustainest and governest the whole world Thou hast been the constant Protectour of our Nation for many Ages having afforded all things necessary for the defence and security of our Forefathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob when they had no certain dwelling-place but were strangers in the Land whither we are going and supported us in the Land of Egypt where in a time of dearth Thou madest an ample provision for us as Thou hast also done hitherto in this barren desert 2. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God 2. Where though we have no Towns nor Houses we ought to think our selves safe and to trust in Thee who art the same mighty God Thou ever wast not onely before we and our Forefathers were made but before the mountains arose out of the waters and Thou commandedst the rest of the earth and this beautifull world to appear and ever wilt be whatever changes there be here without any alteration 3. Thou turnest man to destruction and sayest Return ye children of men 3. We have highly offended Thee indeed and so did our first Parents who became thereby most wretched and miserable Creatures and were doomed by Thee to return to the dust out of which they were formed as all their posterity must do whensoever Thou summonest them to obey that sentence Thou hast passed upon them 4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night 4. And should we have a reprieve for a longer time then our first Father Adam and some of his successours had who lived near to a thousand years we should be wretched still especially when we compared our selves with Thee in whose account the longest life is as inconsiderable as one day and that when it is spent and gone nay as three or four hours which pass away in sleep 5. Thou carriest them away as with a floud they are as a sleep in the morning they are like grass which groweth up 5. But alas in these ages Thou carriest men away suddenly as a violent torrent doth those things it meets withall in its passage they vanish like a dream when we awake and are as grass which in the morning is grown higher and stronger then it was 6. In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up in the evening it is cut down and withereth 6. But how flourishing and fresh soever it then appear is cut down before night and loses all its beauty such is the frailty of man who now is in vigorous health and anon languishes and falls to the earth 7. For we are consumed by thine anger and by thy wrath are we troubled 7. This I am sure is our condition who have so provoked Thee to anger by our sins that we perish in an instant XVI Numb 35 46. and are perpetually disturbed with dreadfull apprehensions of thy heaviest displeasure XVII Numb 12 13. 8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance 8. After many threatnings Thou hast proceeded as a righteous Judge to call us to a severe account for all our foul crimes though never so secretly committed and makest it appear by our punishments to all the world XIV Numb 20 c. that we are a perverse generation though we pretend to thy service 9. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath we spend our years as a tale that is told 9. For we constantly feel some effects or other of thine anger whereby our lives decline exceeding fast and many times before we can say what 's this is at an end 10. The days of our year are threescore years and ten and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years yet is their strength labour and sorrow for it is soon cut off and we flie away 10. We fall short of the days of our Forefathers being now all doomed to perish in the Wilderness and not to exceed commonly the age of LXX or if men be of a vigorous constitution at most of LXXX years the best part of which also is spent in toilsome travels XX. Num. 14. XXI 4. XXXI 11. II. Deut. 1 3 c. and much sorrow and vexation to see the strongest among us cut down like grass in a moment or at least making great haste unto their graves 11. Who knoweth the power of thine anger even according to thy fear so is thy wrath 11. And yet alas who is there that seriously considers and lays to heart the dreadfull effects of thy displeasure which irresistibly falls upon us XXV Num. 1 2 3 c. or with such a pious fear as it ought to excite takes any care to prevent more terrible punishments then those we have felt already 12. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisedom 12. Lord do Thou touch us with a sense of thy judgments that we may not presume thus foolishly to offend Thee as our Fathers have done but making a just account of the shortness and uncertainty of our lives may wisely apply our selves to make the best use we can of them in repenting of our sins 13. Return O LORD how long and let it repent thee concerning thy servants 13. And then be pleased to turn thy severity into kindness towards us Let it suffice good Lord that we have indured so many and long punishments and now at last revoke or mitigate the sentence Thou hast past upon us who though very disobedient are thy servants 14. O satisfie us early with thy mercy that we may rejoice and be glad all our days 14. O let us see some appearance of thy love to us which may satisfie and chear our languishing souls like the morning light after a tedious night and instead of sighs and groans fill us with shouts of joy all the remainder of our days 15. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen evil 15. Compensate our past troubles with future comforts and make our happiness to equal if not exceed the misery we have suffered 16. Let thy work appear unto thy servants and thy glory unto their children 16. Declare to all the world that Thou hast not quite forsaken us thy servants but wilt still work wonders for us and doe more glorious and magnificent things for our Children though we have sinned against Thee XX. Numb 17 18 c. XXXI 2. II. Deut. 25. III. 24. 17. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us and establish thou the work of our hands upon us yea the work of our hands establish thou it 17. Let them inherit by the special favour of the Lord our God that lovely and pleasant Land XLIX Gen. 15. VIII Deut. 7 8 c. which He hath promised to give us and for that end direct
expect an happy issue of all the vexation which they gave them 1. O LORD God to whom vengeance belongeth O God to whom vengeance belongeth shew thy self 1. O Eternal Lord the Sovereign of the world in whose power it is to punish the highest offendors and to whom alone it belongs to take revenge on those who oppress thy people when they should protect them make thy justice conspicuous in a severe vengeance upon them 2. Lift up thy self thou judge of the earth render a reward to the proud 2. Call them to an account O Thou righteous Judge of the whole earth And by making them suffer according to the wrong they have done let those proud men who have acted as if they thought none could controle them know they have a Superiour 3. LORD how long shall the wicked how long shall the wicked triumph 3. We can scarce behold these wicked men without indignation it tempts us to impatience O Lord to see how they prosper and triumph in their injurious proceedings 4. How long shall they utter and speak hard things and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves 4. And to hear their insolent and provoking language for they care not what they say but as they intolerably abuse us so they audaciously blaspheme Thee the whole company of them priding themselves in the mischief they doe and scornfully deriding those that tell them thy judgments will overtake them 5. They break in pieces thy people O LORD and afflict thine heritage 5. They have crushed thy people so that they dare scarce complain of their tyranny which cruelly afflicts those who are dear unto Thee with all manner of rapines and extortions 6. They slay the widow and the stranger and murther the fatherless 6. They have no compassion upon the widow or the stranger but the rather spoil them nay condemn them to die upon false accusations that they may possess themselves of their estates because they have no Patron to defend them and in the same manner they murther for it is no better the poor fatherless children whom they ought to protect from violence 7. Yet they say The LORD shall not see neither shall the God of Jacob regard it 7. And to harden themselves in their wickedness they say what do you tell us of the Lord He knows not or minds not what we doe here though there are such evident demonstrations of the Divine providence over Jacob and his posterity yet for all that they fancy He doth not regard nor will call them to any account for their doings 8. Vnderstand ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise 8. What stupid wretches are these who think themselves the wisest but are in truth the most brutish of all mankind whom I would advise if they have not perfectly lost their reason to consider this and sure they are not such fools but they may soon understand it 9. He that planted the ear shall he not hear He that formed the eye shall he not see 9. Shall not He hear your blasphemies who gave you the faculty of hearing and shall not He see all you doe who gave you the power of seeing Is it possible He should give to others what he wants Himself 10. He that chastiseth the heathen shall not he correct he that teacheth man knowledge shall not he know 10. He that taught all Nations his will shall not He correct them when they transgress it To what purpose did he make man to know the difference between good and evil but that he should observe it and expect if he did not to suffer for it 11. The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanity 11. Let them devise what ways they please and flatter themselves with hopes to escape his vengeance the Lord knows them all and will make them see one day that all such counsels and contrivances are but mere folly and vanity 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O LORD and teachest him out of thy law 12. And far better had it been for them to have been punished sooner For not he that prospers in his wickedness is happy but he whom Thou chastenest O Lord when he doth amiss and thereby teachest to study and obey thy Law with greater care and diligence 13. That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity untill the pit be digged for the wicked 13. Which will quiet his mind under all his troubles and at last procure the removal of them when absolute destruction and ruin mean time is preparing for the ungodly 14. For the LORD will not cast off his people neither will he forsake his inheritance 14. For the Lord will never abandon the care of his people nor leave those whom He owns for his peculiar possession to be utterly undone by the oppressions which for a time they may endure 15. But judgment shall return unto righteousness and all the upright in heart shall follow it 15. But how much soever his judgments may seem to depart from the rules of righteousness while the wicked flourish and the godly are afflicted they shall at last return to such a perfect conformity with them that all honest hearted men shall be incouraged thereby still to follow the Lord and by no means to depart from their integrity though all things look as if they were unequally carried 16. Who will rise up for me against the evil doers or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity 16. Let them learn by my example not to despond for who is it but He alone from whom I have expected and still do expect to receive protection and help against these malicious men who make no conscience of what they doe and design my utter ruin 17. Vnless the LORD had been my help my soul had almost dwelt in silence 17. Whose power also is so great that if the Lord had not seasonably interposed for my assistance and deliverance I had not now been praying to Him but laid in a silent grave 18. When I said My foot slippeth thy mercy O LORD held me up 18. This was my constant support if at any time my heart even failed me and I was ready to conclude I cannot subsist any longer then thy mercy O Lord sent me relief and preserved me from the danger wherein I was afraid I should have unavoidably perished 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul 19. I have had innumerable perplexed thoughts and anxious cares which have extreamly disquieted me But as soon as ever I reflected on thy goodness justice and truth they all vanished and I felt such consolation from thence as revived my dejected soul 20. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee which frameth mischief by a law 20. And made me say I will never imagin it possible that Thou shouldest favour the tyrannical proceedings of these unrighteous Judges who not onely oppress thy people but doe it in
souls of his saints he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked 10. But do not content your selves merely with this passion of joy if you truly love the Lord hate every thing which you know is displeasing to Him so shall you have the Lord of all things for your continual keeper who preserves the lives of sincerely pious men and watches over them with such a carefull providence that when they are in the power of the wicked He will not suffer them to destroy them 11. Light is soweâ—… for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart 11. Be not discouraged though the world should frown upon you but rest assured that God designs you in due time more chearfull and happy days which if you continue faithfull and serve Him with upright hearts shall as certainly come as the corn at last springs up after it hath lain all winter in the ground 12. Rejoice in the LORD ye righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness 12. Let all truly good men rely on this and rejoice in their worst estate that they serve such a gracious Lord Let them give thanks unto Him for his benefits and gratefully commemorate how kind and gracious He hath been unto them that it may be kept in perpetual remembrance PSALM XCVIII A Psalm ARGUMENT There is no Title here but onely this A Psalm to which the Greeks add of David who it is very probable was the Authour or if he was not it was made by some holy man in imitation of what David saith in the XCVI of many of whose expressions this Psalm consists upon occasion of some remarkable deliverance which God had newly granted to Israel as an earnest of future blessings especially of the coming of that great blessing the Lord Christ to give compleat Salvation to his people 1. O Sing unto the LORD a new song for he hath done marvellous things his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory 1. O Let the new and extraordinary benefits which the Lord hath bestowed upon us provoke you to sing praises unto Him with fresh devotion for He hath done stupendious things and by his Almighty goodness alone and incomparable strength hath wrought salvation for those who were as unworthy to be helped by Him as they were unable to help themselves 2. The LORD hath made known his salvation his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen 2. The Lord hath declared by the wonders He hath done how mighty He is to save and deliver He made the Gentile world apparently see that He is the just rewarder of all those who piously obey Him and will not let the wicked escape unpunished 3. He hath remembred his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God 3. He hath not forgot his ancient Covenant with our Forefathers but so faithfully performed what his mere mercy moved Him to promise 1. Luke 54 72. that all mankind have seen what our gracious God hath done and partake of his Divine benefits 4. Make a joyfull noise unto the LORD all the earth make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise 4. Let them all therefore shout for joy let them cry aloud and with strong and chearfull voices sing hymns of thanks and praise unto the Lord. 5. Sing unto the LORD with the harp with the harp and the voice of a psalm 5. Let nothing be wanting to express your joyfull sense of the goodness of the Lord but let the Harp accompany your songs let the sweet sound of the Harp I say and the sound of your voices be mixt together with your Psalms 6. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyfull noise before the LORD the King 6. And let the Trumpet also and Cornet proclaim with a louder sound the exceeding greatness of your joy while you shout with triumphant acclamations to Him and acknowledge the Lord to be your King 7. Let the sea roar and the fulness thereof the world and they that dwell therein 7. Let the noise of his praises be heard like thunder throughout all the habitable world both among those that live on the Sea and those that are upon the Land 8. Let the flouds clap their hands let the hills be joyfull together 8. Let high as well as low applaud their happiness and joyn together with one consent to express by all the tokens of joy the singular pleasure and satisfaction they feel in their hearts 9. Before the LORD for he cometh to judge the earth with righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with equity 9. Let them meet the Lord with forward affections who is coming to reform the earth and will govern mankind by righteous and mercifull Laws distributing to every man according to his works PSALM XCIX ARGUMENT The Greeks intitle David to this Psalm which seems to have been made upon the same occasion and to the same end with the three foregoing onely with these two differences First that from the consideration of the royal power of the Lord who had manifested himself by some notable conquests over his enemies to be the onely Monarch whose Sovereignty extends over all the world they should mix fear and trembling together with that joy and exultation to which in the former Psalm he had excited them And secondly that he doth not so plainly as in those Psalms prophesie of the Kingdom of the Lord Christ But there are many passages as Theodoret observes which may be applied to the appearing of our Saviour and the infidelity of the Jews Saint Austin and Saint Ambrose apply to him that passage upon which the Roman Church builds the lawfulness of worshipping Images Ver. 5. where the vulgar Latin reading adorate scabellum pedum ejus worship his footstool those two Fathers think there is no way to reconcile this with that command Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him onely shalt thou serve but by expounding this of the flesh of Christ which is the footstool they say which the Psalmist exhorts all men to worship so far were those holy men from allowing adoration to any thing that is not God or hath not a personal union with Him And indeed Christ was represented by the Ark which was the Divine footstool here spoken of but not to be adored no more then the Hill on which it stood concerning which the Psalmist speaks in the last Verse just as he doth of the Ark in this and therefore we ought to understand both passages alike the particle in the Hebrew being the very same before footstool and before Hill and translate them thus worship at or before or towards his footstool and holy Hill as elsewhere he speaks of worshipping towards his Temple V. 8. CXXXVIII 2. And so Menochius very honestly here expounds this passage in these words worship in his Temple turning your faces towards the Ark on which
is the propitiatory which is his footstool since he sits on the wings of the Cherubins 1. THe LORD reigneth let the people tremble he sitteth between the cherubims let the earth be moved 1. LET the people fret and be tumultuous if they please it will do them no service for the Lord is the supreme Governour of the world whether they will or no and they had better with a pious fear submit themselves unto Him Though the whole earth should be in an uproar we are safe and secure for the Lord is attended with innumerable heavenly Ministers who are a Guard to his faithfull worshippers 2. The LORD is great in Sion and he is high above all people 2. The Lord whose Palace is in Sion is transcendently great there is no power on earth able to oppose Him who infinitely surpasses the united strength of all people 3. Let them praise thy great and terrible name for it is holy 3. Let them all therefore praise and reverently acknowledge thy mighty and dreadfull Majesty for that alone is every way most excellent and hath no equal and therefore worthy of all veneration 4. The Kings strength also loveth judgment thou dost establish equity thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 4. For though none can resist Him yet He is not a King that uses his power to wrong or oppress his Subjects but to do them right and give them relief in which He delights This is thy character O Lord who hast established most equal Laws among us and hitherto governed the seed of Jacob with exact justice and singular mercy 5. Exalt ye the LORD our God and worship at his footstool for he is holy 5. Do you therefore above all other people extoll the Lord our God both in your thoughts affections and words and turning your faces towards the Ark of his presence prostrate your selves before his Majesty in token of your absolute subjection to Him For He is incomparably above all other Beings and the proper object of your adoration 6. Moses and Aaron among his priests and Samuel among them that call upon his name they called upon the LORD and he answered them 6. Thus did Moses and Aaron two of his principal and most famous Ministers XXXII Exod. 11. XVI Numb 45 46. and thus did Samuel one of his greatest Prophets that were wont to intercede for you 1 Sam. VII 5 8 9. VIII 5. XII 19. These holy men fell down before Him to make their humble supplications to Him and He gave them what they desired 7. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar they kept his testimonies and the ordinance that he gave them 7. He spake to them in a familiar manner telling them his mind out of a pillar of cloud wherein He appeared to them XXXIII Exod. 9 10. XII Numb 5. XVI 42. 1 Sam. III. 10. and they like faithfull servants of his conformed themselves to his precepts by which He testified his will to them and worshipped him after that manner that He appointed them 8. Thou answeredst them O LORD our God thou wast a God that forgavest them though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions 8. Whereby they obtained great favour with Thee O Lord our God for when they prayed to Thee Thou fulfilledst their petitions passing by for their sakes the sins of those who had highly offended Thee but taking a most severe vengeance on all those who contemned their authority and were contriving how to depose them XII Numb 2 9 10. XVI 3 31 35. 1 Sam. VIII 7 8 9 c. 9. Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy hill for the LORD our God is holy 9. Imitate therefore the piety of those admirable men and raise your thoughts and affections and voices to extoll and magnifie the Lord our God as much as you are able for you can never do it enough And in token of your absolute subjection to Him go and prostrate your selves before Him at his house on the holy hill of Sion for the Lord our God is incomparably above all other Beings and alone worthy of your adoration PSALM C. A Psalm of Praise ARGUMENT There is no other Psalm hath the like Title with this which is called a Psalm of Praise or rather of Thanksgiving and acknowledgment for Divine blessings as the word is translated below Verse 4. and in most other places For which reason I suppose it is that the Hebrews imagin as the Chaldee Paraphrase as well as other of their Authours tells us it was peculiarly appointed to be sung when their sacrifices of thanksgiving were offered mentioned VII Levit. 12 13. The Companies also or Quires of them who gave thanks to God are called by this Name XII Nehem. 31 38. Which makes it probable that the Levites sang this Song upon that occasion which the Greeks think was made by David who invites all the world to join with the Israelites in the service of Him who was kind and gracious to them beyond expression Accordingly we Christians now properly use it in acknowledgment of God's wonderfull love to us in Christ by whom we offer up continually spiritual sacrifices for redeeming us by the sacrifice He made of himself for making the world anew and creating us again unto good works according to his faithfull promises which we may depend upon for ever I do not know but the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made Ver. 3. may be used here as it is 1 Sam. XII 6. for advancing raising or preferring them as He is there said to have done Moses and Aaron making them to be what they then were a famous people in a good Land which seems to agree best with the following words and not we our selves and therefore I have not omitted that sense For to deny that we created our selves is altogether needless but that it is not to be ascribed to our industry or wit that we are raised to a happy condition is a proper expression of humility 1. MAKE a joyfull noise unto the LORD all ye lands 1. LET all the people of the earth lift up their voices in triumphant Songs to the honour of the Lord who deserves all our praises 2. Serve the LORD with gladness come before his presence with singing 2. Make the service of the Lord your delight nay greatest pleasure and when you approach into his Tabernacle shout for joy that you are admitted into his blessed presence to praise Him with your chearfull hymns 3. Know ye that the LORD he is God it is he that hath made us and not we our selves we are his people and the sheep of his pasture 3. Consider that the Lord whom you worship is the Creatour and the Governour of the world who gave us our Being and all the good things we enjoy His we are and by his power and goodness not our own we are become so great and mighty a Nation whom out of his own mere good will alone He hath made his peculiar people of
whom He takes a tender care 4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise be thankfull unto him and bless his name 4. When you enter therefore into the gates of his Sanctuary present Him not merely with the sacrifices of beasts but with the most acceptable sacrifice of hearty Thanksgiving and as you stand in his Courts attending on Him cease not to sing his praises Thank Him I say for all his benefits and praise his incomparable perfections 5. For the LORD is good his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations 5. For as his power is transcendent so is his goodness as appears by his never-failing bounty towards us and his stedfast faithfulness to his word for the mercy promised to our Forefathers He hath exactly fulfilled in our days and will continue to all succeeding generations PSALM CI. A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The Title tells us who made this Psalm and the matter of it is so plain that any body may see it is a pious resolution of David to govern first himself and then his Court and then his Kingdom with so much care that the good might expect all favour from him but no wicked man of any sort have the least countenance or incouragement The onely difficulty is to know when he composed it whether before or after he was settled in his Kingdom The first words of it seem to countenance those who think he was possessed of it and newly entred upon the Government which he thankfully acknowledges But the words that follow verse 2. O when wilt Thou come unto me seem to justifie their opinion who think he was now under Saul's persecution yet having confidence in God's promises which he long'd to see fulfilled made this religious Vow of being a good King and proposed to himself an excellent form and manner of life when God should be pleased to perform them To reconcile both these there is a middle way lies open to every ones view that reads his history For upon the death of Saul he was immediately promoted to the Kingdom though not intirely but resolved then with himself how well he would govern when God should make him King over all Israel as He had done over Judah And so I shall order my Paraphrase supposing him to reign now in Hebron 2 Sam. II. 1 2 3 4. and expecting to reign in Jerusalem 2 Sam V. 3 4 5. which I presume he here calls the City of God Ver. 8. because there he intended to settle the Ark as well as to fix his Court when he should be possessed of it That passage indeed hath induced some to think that he composed this Psalm after he had made an attempt to bring the Ark thither but failing in it 2 Sam. VI. 9 10. sighs here for its enjoyment Which I shall not dispute because I would not prolong this preface unnecessarily It is sufficient in my judgment to say that it doth not seem likely he would defer this resolution so long after he was installed in his Kingdom For it required time to prepare a place for the reception of the Ark sutable to the Majesty it represented 1. I Will sing of mercy and judgment unto thee O LORD will I sing 1. I Will never forget but celebrate with perpetual praises that mercy which hath raised me from a low condition unto the Throne and that just punishment which I see inflicted upon all my opposers both which I ascribe O Lord to Thee alone and not to my vertue or valour and therefore to Thee will I sing my gratefull Hymns 2. I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way O when wilt thou come unto me I will walk within my house with a perfect heart 2. Nor will I satifie my self merely with Songs of praise but study with all diligence integrity of life and purity of manners O when wilt Thou perfect what Thou hast begun for me and settle me peaceably in my Kingdom Then I shall be able to live more regularly then now in this state of war and confusion 2 Sam. III. 1 39. and so I resolve to doe sincerely indeavouring to make my self an absolute pattern of piety and vertue to all my Court. 3. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside it shall not cleave to me 3. No pretended reasons of state and politick ends shall make me so much as project any thing against the Law to which I will ever tie my self For I abhor the practices of those who decline that Rule to pursue their own private desires no such corrupt principles shall be entertained in my mind 4. A froward heart shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person 4. I will turn him instantly out of my service who shall dare to suggest to me any crooked counsels I will have no familiarity with him much less make him my favourite who makes no conscience how he compasses his ends 5. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer 5. I will be so far from listening to their private whispers who by secret calumnies and detractions indeavour to supplant their fellow-servants that I will severely punish and banish them my Court nor will I indure those whose pride makes them overlook all others as if they were another sort of Creatures or whose unsatiable covetousness and ambition makes them study their own advancement more then the publick good 6. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me 6. I will look out for trusty persons men fearing God and of clear integrity and in what part of the Country soever I find them make them of my Privy Council and no man shall bear any other Office in my Court but he that lives unblameably 7. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight 7. No subtil knave that is made up of shifts and tricks or that devises cunning cheats to oppress my subjects shall remain in my service Though he have craftily got into it under a guise of simplicity yet no false informer flatterer or any other sort of Liar shall continue in my favour 8. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD 8. As soon as ever I am settled in my Throne I will use my utmost diligence to reform the whole Nation especially the place of thy peculiar residence which ought to be an example to the rest of the Kingdom taking care that all offenders be severely punished in the Courts of Justice and if there be no other remedy cutting off those evil members who have got an incurable habit of doing wickedly PSALM CII A Prayer of the afflicted when
they may also look upon themselves as a people created a-new to praise the Lord. 19. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary from heaven did the LORD behold the earth 19. Because in much mercy He hath been pleased to preserve a miserable Nation from utter destruction and though He be infinitely exalted above all our thoughts yet the Lord hath graciously condescended to mind the afflicted condition of this distressed Country 20. To hear the groaning of the prisoner to loose those that are appointed to death 20. And to be moved by our groans to deliver us out of a sad captivity and to revive us when we had reason to look upon our selves as dead and hopeless 21. To declare the name of the LORD in Sion and his praise in Jerusalem 21. That we might go and recount in his Temple the famous things which He hath done and make the holy City sound with the praises of his power goodness and truth which He hath declared in our restauration 22. When the people are gathered together and the kingdoms to serve the LORD 22. When all the people shall be gathered together there to worship the Divine Majesty and other Kingdoms join with us unanimously in his service 23. He weakened my strength in the way he shortned my days 23. I had hopes to have lived to see this blessed time and thought I had been in the way to it III. Ezra 8 c. But He hath stopt our vigorous beginnings IV. Ezra 4. and thereby so sorely afflicted me that I feel I am like to fall short of my expectations 24. I said O my God take me not away in the midst of my days thy years are throughout all generations 24. Though I prayed most earnestly to Him and said O my God who hast so graciously begun our deliverance take me not away before it be compleatly finished but let me see thy promise fulfilled which Thou who diest not as we do I am sure wilt not fail to make good 25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of thy hands 25. For it cannot be too hard for Thee to raise Sion out of her ruins who hast many ages ago created this goodly fabrick of heaven and earth by thy eternal Word I. Heb. 10. 26. They shall perish but thou shalt endure yea all of them shall wax old like a garment as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed 26. And Thou dost neither decay nor alter in process of time as thy creatures do some of which shall perish but Thou shalt eternally subsist and all of them shall grow old like our garments with long wearing even the heavens themselves which now enwrap the earth as our cloaths do our bodies shall be folded up I. Heb. 12. and laid aside like a tattered garment when Thou shalt command that alteration 27. But thou art the same and thy years shall have no end 27. But Thou and thy Word art still the very same and shalt always continue so without any the least variation 28. The children of thy servants shall continue and their seed shall be established before thee 28. Yet all that I conclude from hence is onely this that though I do not live to see our perfect restauration yet according to thy unalterable purpose the Temple and Jerusalem shall be rebuilt and the children of thy servants who now are in great distress be peaceably settled there yea their posterity after them remain unmovable in thy favour and enjoy the tokens of thy Divine presence among them PSALM CIII A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The Title tells us this Psalm is one of Davids and the third fourth and fifth Verses may satisfie us that he composed it after his recovery from a dangerous sickness to such a vigorous health as the Eagles have when they renew their plumes To that he alludes Ver. 5. as Euthymius and Saint Hierom understand it The latter of which says upon XL. Isaiah that he had often taught the Eagles do no otherway return to youthfulness when they are old but onely mutatione pennarum by change of their feathers I have expressed this a little more largely then ordinary in the Paraphrase as I have done in the rest of the Psalm to fit it the better to their use now that have escaped the like danger who should take occasion when they thank God for such a blessing to imitate David in making a thankfull commemoration of the rest of his mercies both to him and to others both in the present and in past ages And the more to excite devout souls to this and that I might make their thankfulness the more affectionate if they please to make use of this Hymn for that purpose I have oft repeated the beginning of the Psalm which I think refers to the whole and likewise put it into a little different form of a soul actually praising God without the least alteration of the sense 1. BLess the LORD O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name 1. BLessed for ever blessed be the Lord of life and health and all other blessings Blessed be his eternal power wisedom and goodness with my whole heart do I bless Him with my most ardent love and the devoutest affections of my soul 2. Bless the LORD O my soul and forget not all his benefits 2. Which shall be every day thus employed and praise his name with continual pleasure I will never forget how shouldst thou prove so ungratefull O my soul as not to acknowledge the inestimable benefits I have received from his bounty which are more then thought can number 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases 3. More particularly I render Thee O Lord my most hearty thanks for thy late mercies vouchsafed to me Blessed be thy mercifull kindness that after a short correction for my faults Thou hast graciously pardoned them and healed all the sores and grievous wounds which they had made 4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies 4. Blessed be God who hath saved me from death and not onely spared my life but surrounded it most graciously with I know not how many benefits which make it exceeding delightfull to me I owe my friends lovers and acquaintance my carefull attendants my warm and quiet habitation the plentifull estate Thou hast given me the liberal provision Thou makest for me with all the rest of thy mercies to the bowels of thy tender compassions towards me 5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles 5. Blessed be thy almighty Goodness that my mouth which lately disgusted all things or was restrained from what is desired or was prescribed that which was disgustfull to it can now relish its food again and is satisfied with many good things I can never sufficiently bless thy Goodness who by this
of various sorts of locusts X. Exod. 5 12 c. 35. And did eat up all the herbs in their land and devoured the fruit of their ground 35. Which by his command came and covered the whole face of the Country eating up the very leaves of the trees as well as all the grass and herbs upon the ground X. Exod. 15. 36. He smote also all the first-born in their land the chief of all their strength 36. And at last He finished these plagues in the slaughter of all the first-born both of man and beast the Angel of the Lord killing in one and the same night XII Exod. 29. the principal prop of every Family and the best of all their flocks and their herds 37. He brought them forth also with silver and gold and there was not one feeble person among their tribes 37. Which terrible destruction so affrighted them that they not onely let Israel go but were forward to thrust them out of Egypt and that loaded with silver and gold XII Exod. 31 35. And which is very wonderfull among so many thousand persons Ver. 37. there was not one at that time so feeble as to be unable to travel 38. Egypt was glad when they departed for the fear of them fell upon them 38. And great was the joy at their departure not onely among the Israelites but among the Egyptians who thought themselves not safe till the Israelites had their liberty but were in dread of another plague which they thought might kill them as the former had done their children XII Exod. 33. 39. He spread a cloud for a covering and fire to give light in the night 39. Nor did the Divine providence desert our Fathers after it had brought them out of Egypt but lest they should suffer any prejudice by the exceeding great heats or mistake their way in a desolate wilderness He defended them in the day from the scorching rays of the Sun by a cloud which it self gave them light to comfort and if need were to guide them in the night XIII Exod. 21 22. 40. The people asked and he brought quails and satisfied them with the bread of heaven 40. He provided also a delicate food for that vast multitude even when they were so ungratefull as to murmur against Him XVI Exod. 12 c. sending them in the evening such flights of quails and in the morning such showrs of corn out of the clouds as abundantly satisfied every one of them 41. He opened the rock and the waters gushed out they ran in the dry places like a river 41. And when they murmured again for want of drink XVII Exod. 2 6. He was so kind as to stop their complaints by making water to spring out of a rock from whence it gusht so constantly and in such abundance that it made a stream which followed them in all the parched grounds through which they marched 42. For he remembred his holy promise and Abraham his servant 42. For the Lord was resolved punctually to perform his promise passed in former ages XV. Gen. 18. II. Exod. 24. which made Him reward the fidelity of his servant Abraham even upon his incredulous posterity at that very time which He had prefixed for it XV. Gen. 13. XII Exod. 41. 43. And he brought forth his people with joy and his chosen with gladness 43. When with much mirth and joy He brought his people out of the Egyptian bondage and made them shout to see the difference He made between them and the Egyptians who were drowned in the red Sea while they were conducted safe through it on dry Land XV. Exod. 1 13 19. 44. And gave them the lands of the heathen and they inherited the labour of the people 44. And in conclusion He cast out seven Nations to make room for them in the Land of Canaan where their posterity took possession of Cities and Towns Fields and Vineyards which the labour of others had built and planted for them VI. Deut. 10 11. XXIV Josh 13. 45. That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws Praise ye the LORD 45. That they might have the more leisure to purge the Country of all its ancient superstition and filthiness and set themselves heartily to worship God after that manner that He prescribed in a strict observance of all the rest of his holy Laws For which and all other his benefits excite your selves to praise the Lord. PSALM CVI. Hallelujah i. e. Praise the Lord. ARGUMENT There is little doubt to be made but this is the Title of the Psalm as it is of many other CXI c. whereby the Authour excites them to acknowledge God's bounty to their ungratefull Forefathers For as in the foregoing Psalm they are the words of Theodoret the Divine Benefits are commemorated so in this the Psalmist both commemorates them and also upbraids the ingratitude of those that received them Which magnified the mercies of God the more in being so very kind to those wicked people that when He punished them He did not utterly destroy them The opinion of that Father is that the Psalm was composed in the person of the more pious sort of people who bewail the common calamities and implore the Divine indulgence And most Interpreters that I have met withall imagin it to have been made in the time of the Captivity of Babylon but the proof of it is very weak For the last verse but one upon which they ground that conjecture may have another construction and mean no more but this that God would be pleased when the Nation or any part of it should be carried captive to take pity upon them and restore them again to their Country Or rather in my opinion it refers to those who in the days of Saul or before were taken prisoners by the Philistines and other Nations whom David prays God to gather to their own Land again that they might worship Him in that place which He had prepared for the Ark of his presence For it seems plain enough that this was one of the Psalms which he delivered then to Asaph the first verse and the two last being set down in the 1 Chron. XVI 36 37 as the beginning and ending of another Psalm which can be none but this which he then gave in with the other two there mentioned XCVI and CV to praise the Lord withall 1. PRaise ye the LORD O give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 1. O Make your thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of all the World who was exceeding gracious to your Forefathers and will continue his kindness you may hope unto all succeeding ages 2. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD who can shew forth all his praise 2. Praise Him with all your might for when you have done your best you must acknowledge that it is impossible to express your obligations to his omnipotent Goodness For who is able to tell how miraculous that
the service of Devils but offered their bloud the bloud of innocent babes even of their own sons and daughters as I said upon the Altars of the Idols of Canaan prophaning thereby the holy Land with the most impious and unnatural Murthers 39. Thus were they defiled with their own works and went a whoring with their own inventions 39. Besides other abominable works wherewith they defiled themselves such as Whoredom and all manner of beastly lusts which were the filthy vices of those Nations whom God cast out before them XVIII Lev. 24 25 27 28 c. 40. Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance 40. And so contrary to nature as well as his Law that the Lord was exceeding angry with them II. Judg. 14 20. and the more because He had made them his people whom He now abominated as impure and unclean though once they had been very dear unto Him 41. And he gave them into the hand of the heathen and they that hated them ruled over them 41. And thereupon delivered them up to the power of those impious Nations with whom they contracted friendship when they should have destroyed them III. Judg. 3 5. IV. 2. XIII 1. who retaining still their ancient hatred exercised a rigorous tyranny over them IV. Judg. 3. 42. Their enemies also oppressed them and they were brought into subjection under their hand 42. And so did many other of their neighbouring enemies the Mesopotamians and Moabites III. Judg. 8 12. the Midianites and Amalekites VI. 2 3 c. and such like X. 7 8. who not onely grievously afflicted them but deservedly made those their subjects nay slaves who would not serve their gracious God 43. Many times did he deliver them but they provoked him with their counsel and were brought low for their iniquity 43. Who still continued so kind to them that upon the first sign of their repentance He constantly raised up the spirit of some great Man or other to rescue them from every one of these Oppressours though they as constantly provoked Him again by relapsing to their former Idolatry which in the issue brought them exceeding low X. Judg. 8 9. 44. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction when he heard their cry 44. And yet such was his tender compassion towards them He did not absolutely refuse to help even these base revolters X. Judg. 14 15 16. when in their distress they made a lamentable moan and promised amendment 45. And he remembred for them his covenant and repented according to the multitude of his mercies 45. For He was not unmindfull of the Covenant He had made with their Forefathers XXVI Levit. 42 44 45. XXX Deut. 1 2 3. but let them reap the benefit of it in ceasing to punish them and when they deserved to be utterly destroyed bestowing many and exceeding great blessings on them 46. He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives 46. For He inclined the hearts even of those who had subdued and implacably hated them unto some compassion towards them so that they did not indeavour their total extirpation XIII Judg. 1. XIV 2. XV. 9 10 c. 47. Save us O LORD our God and gather us from among the heathen to give thanks unto thy holy name and to triumph in thy praise 47. And therefore we humbly hope still in the same great mercies and beseech Thee O most mighty Lord who hast been wont to doe our Nation good to deliver us how unworthy soever from all our present enemies and to restore such of us as are faln into their hands unto their own Country that they may join with us in giving thanks to thy incomparable goodness and setting forth thy praises with the greatest joy and triumph saying 48. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting and let all the people say Amen Praise ye the LORD 48. Let the great Lord of all the world who hath been so gracious unto Israel as to chuse them for his own peculiar people be most heartily blessed and praised Let all generations bless Him as long as the world shall last and unto all eternity and let all his people concur in these desires and wish it may be so let them all praise the Lord and desire He may be ever praised The End of the FOVRTH Book of Psalms The Fifth BOOK OF PSALMS PSALM CVII ARGUMENT The Fifth Book of Psalms which consists most of Praises and Thanksgivings begins here with an exhortation to those whom God according to the Prayer foregoing CVI. 47. had delivered from Pagan servitude to acknowledge that singular benefit with their hearty Thanksgivings and thence to take occasion to magnifie his mercifull Providence over all other men not onely of that but of all Nations when they addressed themselves unto Him in their distresses For instance Travellers in the desart who have lost their way Prisoners Sick people Mariners Husbandmen even whole Countries the Psalmist shews are made strangely prosperous if they have a regard to God and on the other side fall into great misery if they neglect Him It had been endless to enumerate all other cases but by these any man may understand if he please as he observes in the conclusion how good the Lord is and ready to help those who fly unto Him for succour whatsoever their condition be The Authour of the Psalm is unknown but if I have guessed aright at the connexion of this with the foregoing Psalm it is most probable it was composed by David who having in the CV put them in mind as Theodoret observes of the promises made to the Patriarchs and of the blessings bestowed on their posterity and in the CVI. of their horrid ingratitude for such benefits and the punishments for that cause inflicted upon them declares in this Psalm the inexplicable kindness of God in their freedom from slavery and in his carefull Providence as I said over all mankind which might give them the greater incouragement to hope in Him if they served Him faithfully who had taken them for his peculiar people 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 1. O Make your gratefull acknowledgments to the great Lord of the world of whose Goodness you and your Forefathers have had such long experience that you may conclude his loving kindness will extend it self to all succeeding ages 2. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy 2. Let them especially call upon one another to give thanks unto his Goodness whom the Lord hath graciously redeemed from a sad Captivity into which they were reduced by their prevailing enemies 3. And gathered them out of the lands from the east and from the west from the north and from the south 3. And hath brought them back to their own Country again from all the Lands on every side into
Locust which flies or is driven with the wind uncertainly from place to place 24. My knees are weak through fasting and my flesh faileth of fatness 24. And for want of food in those desart places I am sometimes scarce able to remove for my body which heretofore was plump and fat 1 Sam. XVI 12. is now grown lank and thin like one of those miserable lean Creatures 25. I became also a reproach unto them when they looked upon me they shaked their heads 25. Which instead of moving their pity hath exposed me to such contempt and scorn that when I am seen by any of them they deride and scoff at me as an undone wretch that vainly hopes to escape their hands 26. Help me O LORD my God O save me according to thy mercy 26. But my hope is that Thou O Lord who hast hitherto been my most gracious God wilt seasonably interpose for my relief and deliver me out of that tender mercy which is wont to extend it self to those who have nothing else to depend upon 27. That they may know that this is thy hand that thou LORD hast done it 27. Whereby they themselves may be convinced and forced to acknowledge that not by chance no more then by my small forces but by thy Almighty power alone and thy care of me O Lord I am delivered 28. Let them curse but bless thou when they arise let them be ashamed but let thy servant rejoice 28. Thy blessing and protection I implore which if Thou wilt vouchsafe me let them go on to curse and slander me as long as they please it shall not hurt me nay let them assault me with armed force they shall onely be confounded at their vain attempt and give thy servant the greater cause to rejoice at their disappointment 29. Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame and let them cover themselves with their own confusion as with a mantle 29. Which shall so increase the confusion of my malicious adversaries that they shall not be able to bear the disgrace but wish they could hide themselves from the sight of their shame which their own wickedness hath brought upon them 30. I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth yea I will praise him among the multitude 30. In hope of which defeat I now beforehand to the Lord the best expressions of my gratitude that I am able to make not onely in private but in the greatest Assemblies where I will not cease to praise his Almighty love 31. For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor to save him from those that condemn his soul 31. And bid them trust in God who hath pleaded my cause and rescued me from death and will ever be the Advocate of him that hath no helper but depends on his goodness to deliver him from the hands of those Judges who prosecute the unjust sentence they have passed upon him to lose his life PSALM CX A Psalm of David ARGUMENT There is the same reason to think this Psalm was composed by David not by some other concerning David that there is to conclude all the rest to be so which have the same Title And then as it is very plain he speaks of some person much greater then himself whom he calls his Lord so it can be no other but the Lord Christ of whom he here prophesies Not as he is wont to doe elsewhere with respect to himself in the first place as His type and figure but in plain words which can belong to none but Christ alone For no other King but He can be said in any sense to sit at God's right hand nor was there any Priest of the order of Melchisedek that could be a shadow of him David indeed seems once to have exercised the Office of a Priest when he blessed the people at the bringing of the Ark to Sion 2 Sam. VI. 18. and so to have been then both King and Priest in one person as Melchifedek was but not a Priest for ever on whom the Office was perpetually established and that by an Oath as it was on the Priest here mentioned And therefore it is in vain to endeavour to accommodate any part of this Psalm to David who conquered many of the neighbouring Countries smote their Kings made them bring him tributes and at last smote the head of the Country of Rabbah as some render the last words of the sixth verse of this Psalm that is the King of the Children of Ammon But still we are to seek how the rest can be applied to him who never had any pretence to such an authority as is here described nor can in any sense call himself my Lord but as our Lord Christ hath demonstrated spake concerning Him XXII Matt. 43 c. and his Exaltation after his Resurrection from the dead as Saint Peter and Saint Paul also shew II. Act. 34 35. 1 Cor XV. 25. IV. Hebr. 1 13. V. 6. when He set up another Priesthood and abolished that of Moses which change is here predicted And though the Jews have taken a great deal of pains to wrest this Psalm to another sense yet they are so divided in their opinions about it speaking inconsistent things like drunken men as Saint Chrysostom's words are or rather says he like men in the dark running against one another that from thence alone we may be satisfied they are in the wrong and have their eyes blinded else they would not have embraced such interpretations as those which may be seen in them that have written upon this Psalm Which some of the Jews themselves such as R. Moses Hadarsan Saadias Gaon and divers others whom I might mention have been forced to acknowledge belongs to Christ and is a very plain prediction of his Divinity his royal Dignity his Priesthood and his victories and triumphs which the Psalmist sets forth as follows 1. THe LORD said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy footstool 1. THis is the decree of the eternal LORD that the great person whom we expect and whom I honour as my Lord and Master shall be advanced after his sufferings to the highest dignity 1 King II. 19. in the heavens and reign with Him as the King of all the world till He have perfectly subdued X. Josh 24. the most powerfull opposers of his Kingdom and overcome death it self by whom all mankind are conquered 1 Cor. XV. 25 26. 2. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Sion rule thou in the mids of thine enemies 2. The eternal Lord wâ—… hath thus decreed to honour Thee O most mighty Prince will make Sion first of all to feel how powerfull thy Scepter is I. Act. 8. II. 34 37. and thence extend thy Empire over all the Earth where I wish Thou mayest and foretell Thou wilt prevail over all Infidelity Idolatry Superstition and Impiety which will set themselves against thy Authority 3. Thy people shall be willing in
both by my Birth and by my Education and by this marvellous Deliverance whereby Thou hast rescued me from the power of death which had in a manner taken hold of me 17. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the LORD 17. I can never sure prove ungratefull to Thee unto whom I am tied by so many bonds But will always be making Thee my most thankfull solemn acknowledgments for the benefits I have received And together with those praises and thanksgivings wait upon thy Goodness for the like mercies in time to come 18. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people 18. I resolve again religiously to make good these and all other my vows wherein I stand ingaged to the Lord and that not onely in private but here at this solemnity in the face of all his people 19. In the courts of the LORD's house in the midst of thee O Jerusalem Praise ye the LORD 19. When they are gathered together at his House in the midst of the holy City of our God where they meet to worship Him and to doe Him honour There let them all join with me to bless and praise the great Creatour and Preserver of all things PSALM CXVII ARGUMENT This Psalm like the CX seems to be altogether Prophetical of the joy that all the world should conceive at the coming of the Messiah to give Salvation first to the Jews and then to all other Nations according to his faithfull promise Saint Paul applies the first words of it to this business Rom. XV. 11. and some of the Hebrews justifie his application confessing that this Psalm belongs to that matter The brevity of it makes it the more remarkable and easier to be remembred both by Jews and Gentiles 1. O Praise the LORD all ye nations praise him all ye people 1. LET not the praises which are due to the great Lord of all be confined to our Nation but let all people upon the face of the earth praise Him Let all mankind sing thankfull hymns unto Him 2. For his mercifull kindness is great towards us and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever Praise ye the LORD 2. For they are all concerned in his transcendent kindness which hath done mighty things for us and the Lord who changes not will never fail to perform his faithfull promises to the worlds end Therefore let us all join our praises to our common Benefactour PSALM CXVIII ARGUMENT There is nothing more probable then that David composed this Psalm after God had settled him upon the Throne of Israel as well as Judah and also subdued the Philistines who hoped to have crusht him before he grew too powerfull 2 Sam. V. 17. together with other enemies round about him who though they are not mentioned yet in all likelihood joyned with them as we may gather from Ver. 10 11. of this Psalm compared with 2 Sam. VII 1. For that it was written after he had brought the Ark to Jerusalem mentioned there Chap. VI. and placed it in the House he had prepared for it seems very plain from Ver. 19. of this Psalm Where he begins to praise God in such words as had not their compleat fulfilling till the Lord 's Christ whom the Jews rejected and said He shall not reign over us was made King of the World For to Him R. Solomon himself acknowledges those words The stone which the builders refused c. are to be applied And as the latter part of the Psalm is a Prophecy of Christ in David his Type so the former part may be accommodated to all Christians who being persecuted as Theodoret speaks and tormented and disgracefully treated by many Princes and their people by Kings and Governours got a glorious Victory over them all after they had indured a thousand deaths It seems also to have been pronounced at first in some solemn assembly of all the people met together to praise the Lord for his benefits And it is the common opinion of most Interpreters that they all had a part in this Psalm The greatest part of which was spoken by David who begins with a declaration how much he was indebted to God desiring all to assist him in his praises And then coming in a solemn procession I suppose to the Gates of the Tabernacle calls upon the Porters Verse 19. to open them to him that he might praise God in his Sanctuary which he doth in the very entrance Ver. 20 and then in the Courts of his House Ver. 21. After which all the people shout and magnifie the Divine Goodness in making him who was banished from his Country their King Ver. 22 c. And then the Priests come forth and bless both the King and people in the Name of the Lord Ver. 26 and exhort them to be thankfull Ver. 27 And then David seems to take the words out of their mouth and to declare that he will never be unmindfull of God's benefits desiring all the people also to remember them Ver. 28 29. According to which account of the Psalm I have ordered the Paraphrase 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD for he is good because his mercy endureth for ever 1. O Make your thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of all the world who as He is the Authour of all good and hath been exceeding bountifull unto us so will continue his kindness to all succeeding generations 2. Let Israel now say that his mercy endureth for ever 2. Let the Children of Israel who have had such long experience of his love and now see his promises fulfilled let them confess and thankfully acknowledge that his kindness continues to all generations 3. Let the house of Aaron now say that his mercy endureth for ever 3. Let the Priests and the Levites whose business it is to attend upon His service confess now and thankfully acknowledge that his kindness extends unto all ages 4. Let them now that fear the LORD say that his mercy endureth for ever 4. And let all the devout Worshippers of the Lord of whatsoever Nation they be join together with us for there is one Lord of all who dispenses various benefits to every one of us and confess now most thankfully that there is no end of his kindness 5. I called upon the LORD in distress the LORD answered me and set me in a large place 5. You may see an example of it in me who was in grievous straits and dangers 1 Sam. XXIII 26. XXVII 1. but then imploring the Divine Protection the Lord not onely delivered me but placed me in a secure estate free from all such molestation 2 Sam. V. 3. VII 1. 6. The LORD is on my side I will not fear what can man doe unto me 6. For the Lord it is evident takes my part and therefore though I have many enemies I am not afraid of them for when He is for me what disturbance can men be they
it is to minister to the Lord give you his Blessing from the holy place into which you are come to worship Him 27. God is the LORD which hath shewed us light bind the sacrifice with cords even unto the horns of the altar 27. Who is the omnipotent Lord most faithfull to his promise who hath put an end to our troubles and made peace among us O be not ungratefull to Him but solemnize this day with festival joys bind your sacrifices with cords and bring them to the corners of the Altar to be offered as testimonies of your love and thankfulness unto Him 28. Thou art my God and I wiâ—…â—…ise thee thâ—… 〈◊〉 my God I will exalt thee 28. And so for my part I am resolved who must own Thee to be my most gracious God and almighty Deliverer to whom therefore I will make continually my most thankfull acknowledgments to thy almighty Goodness alone I owe this greatness to which I am promoted and therefore I will never cease to speak the highest things I am able in thy praise 29. O give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 29. And let all good men join together with me and make their thankfull acknowledgments to the great Lord of the world who as He is the Authour of all good and hath been exceeding bountifull unto us so will continue his kindness unto all succeeding generations PSALM CXIX ARGUMENT This Psalm is contrived so artificially that one would think at first sight it was made after the foregoing when God had subdued the rest of David's enemies 2 Sam. VIII X. and given him leisure for such curious composures For it is divided into as many Parts as there are Letters in the Hebrew Alphabet each Part containing eight Verses and every one of those verses beginning with that Letter wherewith that Part begins The Verses for instance of the First Part all begin with Aleph or A and all of the Second with Beth or B c. And thence this Psalm is called in the Masora the great Alphabet which is an indication that David was now in a very sedate condition under no extraordinary motions when he penned this Psalm but quietly considered things as they were represented to his remembrance But when we observe how frequently he mentions his affliction as lying actually upon him now wâ—… he wrote these Meditations it forces u◠〈◊〉 â—onclude that it was penned during Saâ—…s persecution In which there were I suppose some quiet intervals see Verse 54. either between the time that Saul having his life given him by David resolved to persecute him no more 1 Sam. XXIV and his renewed attempts to destroy him upon the information the Ziphites again gave him 1 Sam. XXVI or after David's fresh demonstration of his loyalty to him before he went to Gath or while he was in that City where he had liberty to meditate on the excellence of God's Laws and the happiness of those that kept them and the comfort they were to him in his affliction which he found to be so sweet and so great that he begs of God little else but that he might be more and more in love with them which were already so much his delight that he mentions them under one name or other in every Verse of this Psalm none excepted but one Ver. 122 or two at the most Ver. 90 where he celebrating God's Faithfulness which relates to the stedfastness of his promise called in this Psalm his word it may well be thought to be no exception to that observation I shall not be so curious as to examine the nice difference which is made by some between Laws Statutes Testimonies Judgments Precepts c. because they seem here to be used promiscuously or if there be any peculiar meaning in some Verses I shall endeavour to express it plainly in the Paraphrase Theodoret hath a conjecture concerning David's design in this Psalm both in his preface to it and upon Ver. 157. which I shall mention that the Reader may take his choice David it is well known had great varieties in his condition for he both fled from enemies and chased them lived sometimes very melancholy and again most pleasantly ran in God's ways and stumbled and rose again to run that good course Now all these things says he and it is not improbable David afterward collected into this one Psalm connecting all the Prayers which He had made to God at several times and on several occasions and putting them together in this admirable Meditation divided into XXII Parts which propound one and the same most profitable lesson to all men and teaches them how it is possible to live vertuously in the worst condition Nor doth he neglect dogmatical instruction as he speaks but adds it to the other so that this Psalm is sufficient to perfect those that study exquisite vertue and to stir up the diligence of those that are lazy to comfort those that are sad to correct the negligent and in one word to afford all manner of medicines for the cure of the various diseases of mankind And if it would not have made this Book too big I should have taken the pains to shew the design of every Part in an Argument before it ALEPH. PART I. 1. BLessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the LORD 1. HAppy more happy then can be expressed are those men who do not take the liberty to live as they list but making the Law of the Lord their Rule order their life in an exact conformity therewith 2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart 2. The stricter they keep unto that Rule wherein He hath testified his will unto us most heartily studying to please Him intirely devoting themselves to seek his favour in this way alone the Happier still they are 3. They also doe no iniquity they walk in his ways 3. Especially when they will not be tempted to doe an evil action though it were to gain the greatest good in this world but constantly adhere to Him in the way which He hath prescribed them 4. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently 4. We are infinitely beholden to Thee therefore O Lord that Thou hast obliged us to be so happy by requiring us to use our utmost diligence to observe thy Precepts which we our selves know to be good for us with all care and exactness 5. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes 5. O that I may ever be one of those happy men I have no greater wish then this that all the actions of my life may be ordered and governed according to thy Will 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy commandments 6. Then shall I never be disappointed of my hopes nor blush at the crimes which are laid to my charge when my own conscience tells me that there is not one of
weight of my affliction support and strengthen me according to thy promise that I may never take any undue course for ease and relief 29. Remove from me the way of lying and grant me thy law graciously 29. Far be all fraud and falshood from me whereby my enemies contrive to undo me I desire not to learn any of their wicked Arts but onely beseech Thee to give me grace to observe thy Laws constantly 30. I have chosen the way of truth thy judgments have I laid before me 30. That 's the way I have resolved upon to deal truly and sincerely squaring all my actions according to thy judgments which I have laid before me as the most equal Rule of my life 31. I have stuck unto thy testimonies O LORD put me not to shame 31. And hitherto I have kept my resolution and never started from thy Testimonies Preserve me good Lord that I may not hereafter disgrace my self by doing any thing contrary to them nor be disappointed of my hope by falling into the hands of those that seek my ruin 32. I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart 32. And when Thou shalt have filled my heart with joy by freeing me from these grievous straits I will doe Thee better service and be more forward chearfully to execute all thy Commandments HE. V. 33. Teach me O LORD the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it unto the end 33. Instruct me therefore good Lord more and more in the right way of serving Thee and I will shew my self most thankfull for it by keeping exactly to it all the days of my life 34. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart 34. Illuminate my mind to understand the excellence of thy Law and then I shall not onely observe it but set my self to doe it with a watchfull impartial and most affectionate diligence 35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments for therein do I delight 35. Be Thou my Leader and Guide that I may not stray from the path of thy Commandments wherein I find the greatest satisfaction 36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness 36. Incline my heart always to seek its contentment in thy testimonies and suffer it not to be drawn away by the desire of worldly goods which having no measure is never satisfied 37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 37. Help me to overlook those empty honours and fading beauties which we are apt to behold with too much admiration and with lively affections and vigorous indeavours to persist in the pursuit of thy favour in the way Thou hast set before me 38. Stablish thy word unto thy servant who is devoted to thy fear 38. And at last make good thy promise to thy servant 2 Sam. V. 2. who fears to doe any thing to offend Thee though thereby he might win a Crown 39. Turn away my reproach which I fear for thy judgments are good 39. Turn from me that disgrace of which I cannot but be sometime afraid 1 Sam. XXVII 1. and must certainly suffer if I fall into my enemies hands for Thou wilt proceed I know according to thy own judgments which are all equitable mercifull and gracious 40. Behold I have longed after thy precepts quicken me in thy righteousness 40. I appeal to Thee whether I have not a great zeal for thy Precepts unto which I desire above all things to be conform'd let me not perish therefore in these troubles but in much mercy revive me according to thy faithfull promise VAV. VI. 41. Let thy mercies come also unto me O LORD even thy salvation according to thy word 41. To those infinite mercies of thine which moved Thee to make me such gracious promises I betake my self and beseech Thee to let me feel the happy effects of both in my deliverance 42. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me for I trust in thy word 42. So shall I be able to put to silence those that reproach me for my confidence in Thee which they call a vain presumption but is a humble reliance on thy own gracious promises to me 43. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth for I have hoped in thy judgments 43. Which till Thou art pleased to fulfill do not so far abandon me as to let me be disheartned in asserting their truth and faithfulness which I am wont to oppose to all the threats of my enemies for my whole dependance is on this that Thou wilt not fail me but pronounce a righteous sentence for me 44. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever 44. And I for my part promise when Thou shalt be so gracious to me not to suffer my self to grow more negligent in thy service but to be more carefull then ever in the observance of thy Laws to the very end of my days 45. And I will walk at liberty for I seek thy precepts 45. For then I shall have no such incumbrances on me as I now have in these straits and difficulties from which when Thou freest me I will doe my duty with the greater chearfulness and joy for it is not liberty no nor a Kingdom that I seek so much as better advantages to fulfill thy Precepts 46. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings and will not be ashamed 46. Which I will not be ashamed to justifie before the greatest persons in the world to be the most excellent Rule of life and the best testimony of thy love to us and will doe it with such reasons that they shall never be able to disprove me 47. And I will delight my self in thy commandments which I have loved 47. Nor will I confute my self by leading a voluptuous life when I have liberty to doe as I list but as I have hitherto preferred thy Commandments before all other things so then will I take the highest pleasure in them 48. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments which I have loved and I will meditate in thy statutes 48. Not onely in their study but shew the truth of my love to them by a diligent and zealous practice of them which shall be the end of my meditation in them ZAIN VII 49. Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope 49. Be pleased therefore in due time to perform the promise which Thou hast long ago made unto thy servant 2 Sam. V. 2. and when I thought of no such thing given me an assured hope of it 1 Sam. XVI 11 12 13. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickned me 50. Which as it hath been the occasion of many and great troubles to me so hath comforted me under them all and even when I despaired of safety revived my spirit and restored my courage
to life again 51. The proud have had me greatly in derision yet have I not declined from thy law 51. Though my insulting enemies mocked exceedingly at my hope and in the pride of their hearts attempted by the most unjust means to destroy me it never moved me to imitate them by taking any unlawfull method for my preservation 52. I remembred thy judgments of old O LORD and have comforted my self 52. But I called to mind O Lord how in all foregoing ages Thou hast suffered good men to fall into great calamities thereby to render them at last the more illustrious and with this consideration also I comforted my self 53. Horrour hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law 53. I have been seised indeed sometime with an horrible fear when I thought what sort of men were my persecutours who stuck at nothing which would serve their ends having no regard to right or wrong 54. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage 54. Yet in all my wandrings up and down 1 Sam. XXII 1 2 5. XXIII 13. I never tarried long in any place but I passed the time delightfully in composing some such Song as this in praise of thy Statutes 55. I have remembred thy name O LORD in the night and have kept thy law 55. When others were asleep I was calling to mind how good how powerfull and how faithfull Thou art and resolving with my self still to observe thy Laws 56. This I had because I kept thy precepts 56. Which make those so happy that obey them that I ascribe this sweet composure of mind and chearfulness of spirit under all my grievous afflictions to my strict observance of them CHETH VIII 57. Thou art my portion O LORD I have said that I would keep thy words 57. I have no possessions in this world I Sam. XXVI 19. which I see others greedily sharing among them But I do not think my self poor as long as I have an interest in thy love and in thy promises O Lord whose words I have resolved to keep as the greatest treasure 58. I intreated thy favour with my whole heart be mercifull unto me according to thy word 58. For there is nothing comparable to thy favour which I have besought with the heartiest affection and the most importunate prayers and do again beseech Thee to deal mercifully with me according to thy repeated promises unto me 59. I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testimonies 59. For upon serious deliberation what course of life it was best to take I rejected all other which with specious shews of worldly advantages would have seduced me and determined to be guided wholly by thy Testimonies 60. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments 60. And being thus resolved I admitted no further debate about it but instantly without any delay set my self to the strict observance of thy Commandments 61. The bands of the wicked have robbed me but I have not forgotten thy law 61. Nor hath any thing been able to remove me from this resolution but though I have been beset with troops of wicked men who stript me of all I had 1 Sam. XXIII 26. it did not make me forget my duty nor put me upon any unlawfull means of being revenged of them 1 Sam. XXIV 6 7. 62. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments 62. But have blessed Thee both night and day and arose at midnight to give Thee thanks for those just and good Laws which Thou hast taught me to observe 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy precepts 63. Associating my self willingly with none but such as fear to offend Thee and do religiously observe thy Precepts who are all truly dear unto me 64. The earth O LORD is full of thy mercy teach me thy statutes 64. And no other thing do I desire of Thee O Lord whose kindness is so great that it dispenses its blessings plentifully throughout all the earth but that Thou wilt instruct me still to serve Thee as I ought TETH IX 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant O LORD according unto thy word 65. Many other benefits I will thankfull acknowledge O Lord Thou hast bestowed upon thy servant with whom Thou hast faithfully kept thy Word 66. Teach me good judgment and knowledge for I have believed thy commandments 66. And I am not ignorant of thy Commandments which by thy grace I have believed to be the onely way to happiness but still I need thy further assistance to give me a delightfull taste and thorough sense of what I know which I beseech Thee add to the rest of the benefits I have received from Thee 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word 67. And if it be necessary for this end to deprive me still of all other delights I submit unto it for I must confess I committed many errours before I was thus afflicted which since I have corrected and grown more strictly observant of thy Word 68. Thou art good and doest good teach me thy statutes 68. Thou art in thy own nature kind and good and nothing else can proceed from Thee who designest our good even when Thou afflictest us Take what methods Thou pleasest with me onely teach me effectually to doe as Thou wouldst have me 69. The proud have forged a lie against me but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart 69. They that disdain to be tied to the common and plain rules of honesty have taken a great deal of pains to invent a lie against me 1 Sam. XXIV 9. but as I am hitherto conscious of no such guilt so I will always confute them by an impartial and most hearty observance of thy Precepts 70. Their heart is as far as grease but I delight in thy law 70. Which give me infinitely greater satisfaction in a poor starved condition then all the dull delights of sense which they enjoy in the fullest plenty of worldly prosperity 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes 71. This they stupidly imagin is the onely happiness but I can truly say it was more happy for me that I was afflicted for thereby I learnt to apply my self more seriously to thy Statutes 72. The law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver 72. Whereby thy will is declared unto us by a voice from heaven XX. Exod. 1. which I prefer before all the gold and silver in the Kingdom JOD X. 73. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may learn thy commandments 73. Desert me not then who am thine own workmanship that neither hath nor hopeth for any thing but thy almighty Power and desires above all things to comprehend fully what thy will is that he may obey it 74. They
degree that I am tormented to see my enemies so forgetfull of their own interest as not to regard thy words 140. Thy word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it 140. Which I know to be infallibly true and perfectly free from all falshood and deceit which is the reason of that ardent affection thy servant hath unto them 141. I am small and despised yet do not I forget thy precepts 141. Which will not suffer me though I am mean and contemptible in the eyes of my enemies who are honourable and mighty to be guilty of neglecting any of thy Precepts 142. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and thy law is the truth 142. For still I think with my self that thy justice goodness and fidelity are unchangeable and whatsoever Thou hast said in thy Law is the very truth upon which we may certainly depend and never be deceived 143. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me yet thy commandments are my delights 143. And therefore though I am unexpectedly 1 Sam. XX. 3. involved in very sore straits and difficulties yet I do not forsake but find great consolation in the study of thy Commandments 144. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting give me understanding and I shall live 144. Especially in this consideration which comes often into my mind Verse 140 142. that all the declarations Thou hast made of thy will to us are so just and true that they will never fail our expectation O give me wisedom to order my life according to them and then it shall not be in the power of my enemies to make me miserable KOPH XIX 145. I cried with my whole heart hear me O LORD I will keep thy statutes 145. I have besought thy favour in this sorrowfull and distressed condition with most vehement cries and hearty affection Be pleased to rescue me out of it O Lord and I promise with the greater care to observe thy Statutes 146. I cried unto thee save me and I shall keep thy testimonies 146. I have made it my constant business to cry unto Thee for help from whom alone I seek it deliver me I again beseech Thee and I will not fail to make good my promise of observing thy Testimonies 147. I prevented the dawning of the morning and cried I hoped in thy word 147. I have sent up early cries unto Thee before the morning light appeared constantly expecting the performance of thy promise to me 148. Mine eyes prevent the night watches that I might meditate in thy word 148. Nor have I been less forward in the study of my duty then in the imploring of thy mercy but have awaked before all the watches were set to meditate in thy word 149. Hear my voice according unto thy loving kindness O LORD quicken me according to thy judgment 149. Let my prayer prevail with Thee O Lord for that favour and kindness which I have oft experienced and preserve my life as Thou hast done hitherto by such means as Thou judgest best for me 150. They draw nigh that follow after mischief they are far from thy law 150. I am closely beset Thou seest and in danger to be seized 1 Sam. XXIII 26. by those who as they persecute me and seek my ruin so care not by what wicked arts they compass their design for they have no regard at all to thy Law 151. Thou art near O LORD and all thy commandments are truth 151. My onely comfort is that they cannot approach so near to hurt me as Thou O Lord art to defend and preserve me and that all thy promises annexed to thy Commandments still I think of that Ver. 142. shall faithfully be fulfilled 152. Concerning thy testimonies I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever 152. This hath ever been my support long before I fell into these troubles that whatsoever Thou hast testified to be thy will and pleasure is firm and stedfast and shall never fail those that depend upon it Verse 144. RESH XX. 153. Consider mine affliction and deliver me for I do not forget thy law 153. Shew then that Thou dost not neglect me but art as mindfull of me as I am of thy Law in this afflicted condition out of which I beseech Thee to deliver me for none of the evils that have befaln me have made me forget my duty to Thee 153. Consider mine affliction and deliver me for I do not forget thy law 154. I appeal to Thee whether I have not a righteous cause beseeching Thee to doe me justice upon my enemies 1 Sam. XXIV 15. and rescue me from their persecutions for I am in great danger of perishing but depend upon thy promise for my safety 155. Salvation is far from the wicked for they seek not thy statutes 155. Far be it from Thee to afford any help to the wicked for they have no regard to thy Statutes but seek onely how they may satisfie their own lewd and cruel desires 156. Great are thy tender mercies O LORD quicken me according to thy judgments 156. To which I oppose the bowels of thy compassion O Lord whose tender mercies are many and great and will preserve my life I hope according to thy wonted care over me and kindness to me Ver. 149. 157. Many are my persecutours and mine enemies yet do I not decline from thy testimonies 157. I am not discouraged either by the number or the strength which are both very great of those that persecute me with a deadly enmity which doth not move me in the least to depart from thy Testimonies XIX Lev. 18. by seeking their destruction as they do mine 1 Sam. XXIV XXVI 158. I beheld the transgressours and was grieved because they kept not thy word 158. It onely provokes my sorrow to see that there is no faith nor truth nor gratitude in them 1 Sam. XXIV 17 c. XXVI 2. and troubles me beyond measure that they have no regard to what Thou commandest or forbiddest 159. Consider how I love thy precepts quicken me O LORD according to thy loving kindness 159. Such is the love I have to thy Precepts which I beseech Thee let the world see Thou dost observe and both preserve my life O Lord and according to the exceeding greatness of thy goodness deliver me out of this sad condition 160. Thy word is true from the beginning and every one of thy righteous judgements endureth for ever 160. As I doubt not Thou wilt for none of thy promises have ever failed but the very first of them which Thou madest to our Forefather Abraham XII Gen. 2. hath been faithfully fulfilled and so shall every thing else which Thou hast resolved and declared to be thy will be punctually performed to the end of the world SCHIN XXI 161. Princes have persecuted me without a cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy word 161. The Rulers and prime Counsellours of the Kingdom persecute me for pretended crimes of which as I am not
guilty so I do not fear so much what they can doe against me as lest I should doe any thing in my own vindication against thy word 1 Sam. XXIV 6. XXVI 9. 162. I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth great spoil 162. I would not purchase my liberty my peace or the honour they enjoy by any unlawfull actions for I take far more joy in doing thy will and in what Thou hast promised to doe for me then in the compleatest Victory over all my enemies 163. I hate and abhor lying but thy law do I love 163. I hate all fraud and deceit even to the degree of abhorrence and abomination but most heartily love those honest courses to which thy Law directs me 164. Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments 164. It is the subject of my perpetual thanks and praise that I have the happiness to be acquainted with the justice and goodness of those Laws whereby Thou governest us 165. Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them 165. The observance of which gives such inward satisfaction and brings so many and great blessings to those who truly love them that they take all things which befall them in good part and nothing will tempt them to turn aside and leave those vertuous paths wherein they lead them 166. LORD I have hoped for thy salvation and done thy commandments 166. I have met with the most grievous discouragements But Lord in the midst of the greatest straits I have expected deliverance onely from Thee and never done any thing for my preservation contrary to thy Commandments 167. My soul hath kept thy testimonies and I love them exceedingly 167. All my care hath been still most heartily to observe thy Testimonies which I prefer infinitely before all earthly injoyments 168. I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies for all my ways are before thee 168. There is not one of thy Laws of any sort but I have carefully observed even then when I might have privily broken them and been a gainer by it 1 Sam. XXIV 4 c. for I knew that nothing can be done so secretly but Thou art perfectly acquainted with it TAV. XXII 169. Let my cry come near before thee O LORD give me understanding according to thy word 169. As Thou art also with my most earnest petitions to which I beseech Thee O Lord vouchsafe a gracious answer and in the first place teach me according as Thou hast promised to walk not onely innocently but prudently in the midst of all the snares that are laid for me 170. Let my supplication come before thee deliver me according to thy word 170. Do not deny admittance to this humble suit but in due time grant this further request that I may according to the same promise be perfectly delivered from this long persecution 171. My lips shall utter praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes 171. Then will I praise Thee without ceasing first for instructing me how to please Thee in all things 172. My tongue shall speak of thy word for all thy commandments are righteousness 172. And next for fulfilling thy promise to me which I will loudly proclaim with my thankfull acknowledgments that whatsoever Thou hast said is truly and faithfully performed 173. Let thine hand help me for I have chosen thy precepts 173. Let thy Divine power therefore succour me in this weak and distressed condition wherein I am for I relie on that alone having resolved to be guided wholly by thy Precepts 174. I have longed for thy salvation O LORD and thy law is my delight 174. And I have long expected with most ardent desires thy help O Lord for my deliverance delighting my self in the mean time in thy Laws while Thou art pleased to delay it 175. Let my soul live and it shall praise thee and let thy judgments help me 175. O let me not perish in these straits wherein I am involved but spare my life according to thy wonted kindness and I will spend it in thy praises Send me relief by executing the judgments Thou hast decreed against my enemies 176. I have gone astray like a lost sheep seek thy servant for I do not forget thy commandments 176. Who have so chased me from place to place during this tedious banishment that like a wandring sheep which hath lost its way I know not whither to betake my self for safety But be Thou pleased like a carefull shepherd to look after me and to put thy servant into the right way of escaping all the dangers to which I am exposed and of recovering my liberty rest and peace again For how hard soever my condition hath been I can still seriously profess it I have not been careless in the observance of thy Commandments PSALM CXX A Song of degrees ARGUMENT There can no certain account be given why this and XIV other Psalms which follow are called Songs of degrees or ascents Their conjecture seems to me most probable who think this Title denotes either the elevation of the voice in the singing these Songs or the excellence of the composure or of the Musick to which they were set or the high esteem they had of them upon some account or other particularly because they were so fit for their use though most of them composed in former times at and after their return from the Captivity of Babylon Then some think this Title was given to them because they sung them as they went up to their own Country again But this present Psalm seems to have been made by David when the calumnies of Doeg and others forced him to flee his Country and to go as far as the Kedarens or Arabians Ver. 6. whose company was very irksome to him We do not reade indeed in his History that he was there but we may well think he sought for safety in more places then are particularly mentioned and might as well be there as among the Moabites and in the wilderness of Paran 1 Sam. XXV 1. which was not far from them As for Mesech I take that to signifie not a place but the length of time which he staid there before he durst stir from thence or which he was forced to spend in exile as all the ancient Interpreters except one understand it See Bochart in his Phaleg L. III. Cap. 12. 1. IN my distress I cried unto the LORD and he heard me 1. I Have had frequent experience of the goodness of the Lord who when I have earnestly implored his help in my straits and difficulties hath constantly relieved me 2. Deliver my soul O LORD from lying lips and from a deceitfull tongue 2. May it please Thee O Lord still to continue thy mercy toward me and now that men strike at my life by calumnies and cunningly devised lies 1 Sam. XXII 9. XXIV 9. to preserve me from the danger into which they have thrown me 3. What shall be given unto
thankfull acknowledgments to the Lord in the place where He dwells and makes Himself present among us 2. Our feet shall stand within thy gates O Jerusalem 2. Which motion ought to be the more readily embraced because now He hath fixed his habitation and we need not travel further then Jerusalem to enquire after the Ark of his presence 3. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together 3. To Jerusalem I say that fair and beautifull City whose buildings do not now lie scattered and divided but are all compacted and united together as we ought to be in a goodly order 1 Sam. V. 9. 1 Chron. XI 8. 4. Whither the tribes go up the tribes of the LORD unto the testimony of Israel to give thanks unto the name of the LORD 4. Thither all the XII Tribes of Israel who own the great LORD for their God go up from all the parts of the Country by his special Commandment XXIII Exod. 17. to acknowledge before the Ark of his Testimony XXV Exod. 21 22. all the benefits they have received from his almighty Goodness and this above the rest that He thereby testifies his singular care and providence over them 5. For there are set thrones of judgment the thrones of the house of David 5. Thither also they repair for Justice for the supreme Judicatory of the Kingdom sits there 2 Chr. XIX 8. and there is the seat of the Royal Family where David and his Sons have their residence and govern the people 2 Sam. VIII 15 18. 6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee 6. O let this be part of your devout prayers when you come there that God would preserve Jerusalem in peace Happy shall they be who out of love to the Religion and Justice which is administred in thee O beloved City contribute their indeavours as well as their prayers for thy safety and prosperity 7. Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces 7. Let no enemy this shall be my constant prayer approach so much as to thy out-works to disturb thee and let plenty of all good things abound within thy Palaces 8. For my brethren and companions sakes I will now say Peace be within thee 8. The kindness I have for my kindred and my neighbours and friends whether in the City or the Country will not let me cease my earnest prayers to God that He will confer his blessings on thee 9. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good 9. But above all the love I have to the Lord our God whose house is here whither all his devout servants resort to worship Him and celebrate his Name shall excite not onely my prayers but my study to promote thy welfare PSALM CXXIII A Song of degrees ARGUMENT This Psalm it is certain was composed in a time of great distress when they were extreamly afflicted by some haughty and insolent enemies Ver. 3 4. who those enemies were there are several conjectures And I will add mine that this short form of prayer was made by some pious person when the King of Assyria whose pride the Prophet Isaiah describes VIII 7. and many other places sent Rabshakeh and other of his Captains to besiege Jerusalem where they poured out most contemptuous nay blasphemous words against God and his people 2 King XVIII XIX It is probable if this conjecture be admitted that it was made by Isaiah whom Hezekiah desired to lift up his prayer for the remnant that was left 2 King XIX 4. XXXVII Isa 4. Accordingly we reade 2 Chron. XXXII 20. both he and Hezekiah cried unto the Lord and we may suppose lift up his eyes to heaven and said these words 1. UNto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the heavens 1. THough all humane help fail us in this sore distress yet I do not despair of relief from Thee O Lord whose Majesty and Power incomparably excells all earthly Monarchs 2. Behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God untill that he have mercy upon us 2. Behold how not onely I but the rest of thy faithfull people wait upon Thee submitting our selves to this severe punishment as poor slaves do to the stroke of their offended Master or Mistress and resolving to bear it patiently till Thou our LORD who doest inflict it wilt be pleased to shew thy self our most gracious God and in much pity towards us remove it 3. Have mercy upon us O LORD have mercy upon us for we are exceedingly filled with contempt 3. O be gracious unto us good Lord be gracious unto us and in much mercy take away this heavy scourge from us for we are become so beyond all measure contemptible 2 King XVIII 23 24. XIX 34. that we can scarce any longer indure it 4. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud 4. We have a long time groaned under the intollerable load of the derision and contempt of those whose constant prosperity puffs them up with pride nay makes them insolently oppress all those who are unable to resist them PSALM CXXIV A Song of degrees of David ARGUMENT If the Title had not told us that this is a Psalm of David's I should have thought it had been composed by the Authour of the former to acknowledge the wonderfull power and goodness of God in delivering them from Senacherib's Army which came in like a floud LIX Isa 19. and had overflown all the Country as far as Jerusalem VIII Isa 7 8. which might well make them be called proud waters as the Psalmist here speaks Ver. 5. because they fancied nothing could stand before them Such it seems were either the Philistines upon whom when they spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim the Lord broke forth as a breach of waters 2 Sam. V. 19 or the Ammonites and their Associates 2 Sam. X. 6 15 16. Of A Song of degrees see CXX 1. IF it had not been the LORD who was on our side now may Israel say 1. IF we had not had such a mighty helper as the Lord who took our part may Israel now most thankfully acknowledge 2. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side when men rose up against us 2. If it had not been the Lord whom none can resist who took our part when such numerous enemies united their forces as one man to make war upon us 3. Then they had swallowed us up quick when their wrath was kindled against us 3. They would then have made but one morsel of our small Army and in the furious rage wherein they were have immediately devoured us as monstrous beasts doe their prey which they greedily swallow down alive 4. Then the waters had overwhelmed us the stream had gone over
our soul 4. Then they would have overrun all the Country like a violent torrent and we should have been buried in the floud 5. Then the proud waters had gone over our soul 5. Having once made a wide breach by the overthrow of our Army they would have poured in more numerous forces upon us till like an inundation of water which swells more and more they had wholly overwhelmed us 6. Blessed be the LORD who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth 6. Thanks be to the Lord to whose infinite mercies we ought to ascribe it that He hath not permitted them to domineer over us and execute their cruel intentions against us 7. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers the snare is broken and we are escaped 7. They thought they had laid their design so strongly that we could not escape no more then a little bird which a fowler hath taken in his snare but blessed be the Lord who hath assisted our weakness their plot is defeated they are broken in pieces and we thereby most wonderfully delivered 8. Our help is in the name of the LORD who made heaven and earth 8. This was not a work of our wit no more then of our power nor were we beholden to the help of any of our neighbours but we owe it wholly to his almighty Goodness who commands because He made all Creatures in whom we ought to place our confidence for ever PSALM CXXV A Song of degrees ARGUMENT We may well look upon this Psalm as a pious Exhortation to the people to trust in God when Senacherib's Army threatned to destroy Jerusalem And perhaps these were some of the comfortable words which we reade 2 Chron. XXXII 6 7 8. Hezekiah then spake to them when God chastised them by that rod of his anger as He calls Senacherib X. Isa 5. which the Psalmist here foretold Ver. 3. should not long afflict them Of A Song of degrees see CXX 1. THey that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever 1. THere are none so safe as they that repose a pious confidence in the Lord by which they shall both maintain themselves in a settled peace and tranquillity and remain for ever as unmoveable conspicuous and illustrious as mount Sion 2. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever 2. For as Jerusalem is surrounded with high hills which make it not easily accessible by any enemies so the Divine providence incompasses his people who depend upon Him to guard and defend them from all dangers not onely now but in all succeeding ages to the end of the world 3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity 3. The power of wicked Tyrants indeed may heavily afflict the righteous for a time but they shall not always harrass their Country nor continue their oppression so long as quite to tire out the patience of the righteous and tempt them to forsake their pious confidence in Him and lay hold on any means though never so unjust of obtaining deliverance 4. Do good O LORD unto those that be good and to them that are upright in their hearts 4. To prevent so great an evil be pleased now good Lord to deal well with those who are truly good and reward their fidelity who notwithstanding all these calamities sincerely persist in thy ways and preserve their integrity 5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity but peace shall be upon Israel 5. But as for those who instead of growing bettter by these oppressions decline more and more from the ways of piety unto the most perverse and crooked courses the Lord shall deliver them over to be punished with their oppressours when Israel after all these sore afflictions shall be settled again in peace and happiness PSALM CXXVI A Song of degrees ARGUMENT This Psalm is so universally thought to be a joyfull Song composed by Ezra or some such good man when they returned out of Babylon that I shall seek for no other interpretation But observe with Theodoret that when Cyrus gave them all leave to return to their own Land some were so ill minded that they chose to continue where they were But such as had any sense of the piety of their Forefathers and desired to see the worship of God according to the Law restored gladly embraced the opportunity of returning to their own Country Where they thought themselves so happy in the liberty which they enjoyed that they pray Ver. 4. all the rest of the Nation who remained still behind would come and partake of it This is the most received sense else I should have thought the deliverance from Senacherib might be here celebrated who had carried many of them Captive V. Isa 13. and other places and when they were delivered from his oppression they were indeed like men that dreamed as the Psalmist here speaks For awaking in the morning and seeing his vast Army to be dead Corpses 2 King XIX 35. they could scarce believe what they beheld with their eyes it was so wonderfull And perhaps it was first made then and afterward applied with some alteration to their return from Babylon See CXXXIII 1. WHen the LORD turned again the captivity of Sion we were like them that dream 1. TO the Lord alone must we ascribe this wonderfull change which is like the sudden recovery of health out of a tedious and desperate sickness For when the proclamation unexpectedly came forth to give us liberty to return to our own Country out of a long captivity I. Ezra 2 3. we could scarce believe it but were apt to look upon our selves as onely in a dream of so great a happiness 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing then said they among the heathen The LORD hath done great things for them 2. Which presently turned our heaviness into such a heighth of joy that it filled all places with our mirth especially with chearfull hymns in which the heathen themselves accompanied us saying This truly is the Lord's work who hath magnified his power in the strange deliverance of this Nation 3. The LORD hath done great things for us whereof we are glad 3. And truly so He hath we should be very ungratefull if we should not thankfull if we should not thankfully acknowledge the singular benefits which strangers admire the Lord hath not onely restored our liberty but declared the greatness of his power in this deliverance which justly fills us with joy and triumph 4. Turn again our captivity O LORD as the streams in the south 4. O that the Lord would be pleased to perfect what He hath begun and bring back in greater numbers the rest of
potent Kings who presuming of their strength opposed the accomplishment of his promises to you 11. Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan and all the kingdoms of Canaan 11. First of all Sihon King of the Amorites who were esteemed invincible XXI Numb 24. II. Amos 9. and then Og that giantly King of Bashan XXI Numb 33. III. Deut. II. and at last all the Kingdoms and Kings of the Land of Canaan XII Josh 7 24. 12. And gave their land for an heritage an heritage unto Israel his people 12. Which He graciously bestowed upon us the Children of Israel as an inheritance we should hold of Him by a Divine right of which none while we continue his obedient people shall be able to dispossess us 13. Thy name O LORD endureth for ever and thy memorial O LORD throughout all generations 13. O Lord how astonishing is this thy omnipotent Goodness the fame of which shall never be forgotten But an illustrious memory O Lord shall be continued of it from generation to generation 14. For the LORD will judge his people and he will repent himself concerning his servants 14. For though our enemies may sometimes oppress us when we offend Him yet the Lord at last will take the part of his people and deliver them and being reconciled unto his servants will turn his severity into kindness towards them 15. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold the work of mens hands 15. It is not in the power of the Idols which the heathen worship to divert his kindness from us for they are of no more value then the silver and the gold of which they are made and are so far from being able to doe any thing that they themselves are made by those that adore them 16. They have mouths but they speak not eyes have they but they see not 16. They are mere Images of things without their life having mouths but cannot give a word of advice or comfort to their supplicants and eyes also but cannot see much less prevent any danger that doth approach them 17. They have ears but they hear not neither is there any breath in their mouths 17. Ears they have but cannot hear a word that is said to them and noses also but they do not so much as breathe much less can they smell the odours that are offered to them 18. They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them 18. They that make them therefore or put any confidence in them are as senseless as themselves having eyes for instance but do not see that brutes are more excellent then such gods and that no help is to be expected from them 19. Bless the LORD O house of Israel bless the LORD O house of Aaron 19. O how much then are we all bound to bless the Lord the Creatour of all who hath freed us from this stupid blindness Let the whole Nation of the Children of Israel especially the Priests of the Lord praise Him and give thanks to Him who hath better instructed them 20. Bless the LORD O house of Levi ye that fear the LORD bless the LORD 20. Let all the Levites declare how gracious He is yea let all his pious Worshippers of whatsoever Nation they be join in this heavenly imployment of speaking good of the Lord. 21. Blessed be the LORD out of Sion which dwelleth at Jerusalem Praise ye the LORD 21. Let them all say with one accord the Lord be ever praised in this holy place who though He be the owner of all the World yet makes his special residence at Jerusalem The honour the heathens give to their lifeless Images ought to excite you all with the greater devotion to praise the Lord of the World PSALM CXXXVI ARGUMENT This Psalm like the former is a commemoration of the goodness of God expressed in his wonderfull works particularly those He had done for that Nation And it is likely was composed to be sung upon the great Festivals as every day I suppose they sung the foregoing which is of the same strain with this and contains much of the same matter onely here at every half Verse one half of the Quire answers to the other in these words For his mercy endureth for ever A form of acknowledgment prescribed by David to be used continually in the Divine Service 1 Chron. XVI 41 and accordingly followed by Solomon 2. Chron. VII 3 6. when he dedicated the Temple and by Jehoshaphat when by the incouragement of a Prophet he went out to incounter a vast Army with small Forces 2 Chron. XX. 21. and here is repeated six and twenty times to make them the more sensible that they owed all they had to the mere bounty of God and to excite them to depend intirely upon it and rest assured it would never fail them if they did piously and most heartily acknowledge it Such repetitions we use now in our earnest Prayers when we say Lord have mercy upon us c. which are no more vain then these I have variously expressed the sense of this repeated acknowledgment according as the other part of the several verses seemed to direct me 1. O Give thanks unto the LORD for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 1. OFfer your thankfull Hymns unto the Lord of all who is as good as He is great and will continue his kindness which hath been exceeding abundant towards us unto all succeeding generations 2. O give thanks unto the God of gods for his mercy endureth for ever 2. He is the Sovereign of all the heavenly Hosts and therefore praise Him and give thanks unto Him for He can imploy them all for your help and protection as He hath in former times and you need not doubt of his kindness which continues unto all Ages 3. O give thanks unto the Lord of lords for his mercy endureth for ever 3. All the Kings and Princes of the Earth are his Subjects upon which account also give Him praise and thanks For his kindness endures throughout all Ages to defend you as He hath done hitherto from their tyrannical violence 4. To him who alone doth great wonders for his mercy endureth for ever 4. He it is and He alone whose Works are so great that they surprise all those who seriously consider them with wonder and astonishment and therefore give Him praise and thanks For his kindness will never fail still to imploy his infinite Power for the good of those who are truly gratefull to Him 5. To him that by wisdome made the heavens for his mercy endureth for ever 5. Look upon the Heavens and behold with admiration and praise the splendour and the order wherein his wisdome hath contrived and setled them For his kindness is as large and as firm and durable as they 6. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters for his mercy endureth for ever 6. And then look down to the Earth and thankfully praise Him
who brought it out of the waters and preserves it in its just extent from being again overflowed by them for his kindness is no less immoveable and by length of time can never be impaired 7. To him that made great lights for his mercy endureth for ever 7. Witness those great Lights which never go out but always call upon us to praise and give thanks to Him who made them to illuminate the world and to be the emblems of his kindness which sends its benign influences continually upon us unto all generations 8. The Sun to rule by day for his mercy endureth for ever 8. By day the Sun exerts his power to quicken all inferiour Beings and excites us to praise Him and be thankfull to Him whose kindness thereby perpetually administers to us all necessary things and will do so to the end of the world 9. The Moon and Stars to rule by night for his mercy endureth for ever 9. And by night the Moon or the Stars supply its place and let us see how much we are bound to praise and thank Him whose kindness is so constant that in the worst condition it will never quite forsake us 10. To him that smote Egypt in their first-born for his mercy endureth for ever 10. We must needs say so and think our selves ingaged above all others to give Him thanks if we call to mind that memorable night XII Exod. 29. when He punished the Egyptians with the loss of all their first-born For his kindness still continues for ever to relieve those that are injured and to punish their insolent Oppressours 11. And brought out Israel from among them for his mercy endureth for ever 11. Let us not forget how after that stroke He brought our Forefathers out of the cruel Bondage wherein they had long held them XII Exod. 41 42. but thankfully acknowledg that wonderfull deliverance For it is an argument why we should never distrust his kindness in the sorest straits that can befall us 12. With a strong hand and with a stretched out arm for his mercy endureth for ever 12. His Power let us remember is irresistible which first by lesser then by greater signs and wonders delivered us out of their hands VI. Exod. 5 6. VII VIII c. to praise and magnify Him whose kindness is stupendiously great and will never cease to succour those who depend upon Him 13. To him which divided the red Sea into parts for his mercy endureth for ever 13. Let us therefore give thanks to him who when our Forefathers utterly despaired of safety XIV Exod. 10 11. commanded the red Sea to retire and leave a broad way for them to pass v. 21. which plainly proves that his kindness is inexhausted and alway ready to help us in the most dreadfull dangers 14. And made Israel to pass thorough the midst of it for his mercy endureth for ever 14. For he led them safely through the very midst of the Sea which rose up like a wall on either hand of them XIV Exod. 22. and will by his kindness eternally secure all those that piously confide in Him 15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the red Sea for his mercy endureth for ever 15. But throw those that oppose Him headlong into destruction as He did Pharaoh and his Host in the very same place where Israel was preserved XIV Exod. 27 c. For his kindness loves to compleat his favours and perfect what He hath begun for his people 16. To him which led his people through the wilderness for his mercy endureth for ever 16. And accordingly when He had thus delivered them He led his people by the direction of a glorious Cloud through an untrodden Desert and there with our thankfull praises let it be remembred made a miraculous provision for them Exod. XVI For his endless kindness wheresoever they went still with new Benefits pursued them 17. To him which smote great Kings for his mercy endureth for ever 17. When potent Kings opposed their passage to the promised Land He utterly discomfited them to his praise be it thankfully acknowledged For his kindness was not stopt by difficulties but ever overcame them 18. And slew famous kings for his mercy endureth for ever 18. Though they were Kings famous for their prowess yet such was his for ever to be praised kindness towards us He gave us as easy and as absolute a victory over them as He had done before over Pharaoh and his Host 19. Sihon king of the Amorites for his mercy endureth for ever 19. Over Sihon King of that fierce Nation of the Amorites who were thought invincible II. Amos 9. For his kindness was mightier then they and gave us this as an earnest of future conquests over our Enemies 20. And Og the king of Bashan for his mercy endureth for ever 20. Over that huge Tyrant Og the King of Bashan III. Deut. 11. For his kindness added that as a new pledge of what He intended to doe for us when we came into Canaan 21. And gave their land for an heritage for his mercy endureth for ever 21. And gave both their Countries to be held of Him as a perpetual inheritance For his kindness doth not decay nor loves to revoke his Favours but continues to the latest Posterity 22. Even an heritage unto Israel his servant for his mercy endureth for ever 22. An Inheritance they were which he setled upon us the Children of Israel as long as we continue his faithfull Servants For his kindness hath no end but delights to perpetuate his Mercies to those who are worthy of them 23. Who remembred us in our low estate for his mercy endureth for ever 23. Nay when for our Sins we were severely afflicted and in danger to be thrown out of this good Land into which at last He brought us Judg. II III IV c. He was pleased graciously to relieve us For his kindness pardoned our ingratitude and was as forward as ever to bestow fresh Benefits upon us 24. And hath redeemed us from our enemies for his mercy endureth for ever 24. And rescued us many a time when we cryed unto Him from the power of those that tyrannized over us For his kindness was not spent by the frequent deliverances it had given us but still granted new matter for our thanksgivings to Him 25. Who giveth food to all flesh for his mercy endureth for ever 25. Whose Bounty is not confined to us alone but supplies the wants of all mankind yea of all living Creatures For his kindness hath no bounds nor will ever cease to make a plentifull provision for them 26. O give thanks unto the God of heaven for his mercy endureth for ever 26. O raise your hearts to give Him thanks with the highest praises whose power extends it self beyond this Earth even unto the highest Heavens For his kindness is so unwearied that we may hope from thence to be ever receiving more and more of his Blessings PSALM CXXXVII
ARGUMENT This is a mournfull Song composed by some of the captive Levites in Babylon when he reflected upon their sad parting with their dear Country and the scorn wherewith their insulting Enemies treated them in that strange land Which he foresaw God would severely punish by the hand of some other cruel People who should shew them as little mercy as they had shewed the Israelites The vulgar Latine ascribes this Psalm to Jeremiah upon which Inscription Theodoret who found it also in some Greek Copies in his time passes this censure that the bold Authour of it wanted wit as the Inscription it self openly proclaims for Jeremiah was not carried captive into Babylon but when he had staid some time in Judea was compelled by the disobedient Jews to go down with them into Egypt Yet there are those who to excuse this would have us think that Jeremiah sent this Psalm to the Captives in Babylon and that it is called a Psalm of David for so it is in the vulgar Latine also because made after the example of his Psalms As Virgil said he sung Ascroeum carmen among the Romans when he made his Georgicks in imitation of Hesiod In the Paraphrase of the first Verse I have followed a conjecture of Saint Chrysostom's that the Captives were not suffered at their first coming thither to dwell within any of their Towns or Cities but were dispersed all along several Rivers of the Country where they built Tabernacles or Cottages for themselves and perhaps were forced to drain those moist places to make them wholesome 1. BY the rivers of Babylon there we sat down yea we wept when we remembred Sion 1. WHen we were transported from our own Country into the Land of Babylon and had the sides of Euphrates and several of its Rivers I. Ezek. 1. assigned for our habitation there we sate down in a sorrowfull posture and could not refrain from tears when we called to mind the happy days which we enjoyed in the holy Hill of Sion 2. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof 2. We brought our harps along with us wherewith we were wont to praise the Lord 1 Chron. XV. 16. But as our fruitfull vines and figtrees under which we formerly sate were turned into barren willows and osiers so all our mirth and joy was turned into such heaviness and sorrow of heart that we let all our Instruments of Musick hang neglected upon the boughs of those dolefull trees 3. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song and they that wasted us required of us mirth saying Sing us one of the songs of Sion 3. For when our new Masters who had carried us away captive they that had laid Jerusalem on heaps and had power to doe what they pleased with us required us between jest and earnest to entertain them with our Musick and to let them hear one of those Songs which were wont to be sung in the Temple 4. How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land 4. Neither fear nor favour could extort this service from our Levites but they resolutely answered As those Songs were not made for pastime and sport but in honour of the great Lord of the world So how can you imagin that miserable slaves are disposed to sing and to sing those Songs in the Land where we are exiles which recount the mercies of God unto us in our once most flourishing Countrey 5. If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning 5. No said I then within my self if I forget thy desolations O Jerusalem though never so far removed from thee so as to gratifie their desires by prophaning thy Musick and thy Songs then let my right hand be benummed or quite lose its skill of touching the harp any more 6. If I do not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy 6. Let me be struck dumb and never be able to move my tongue if I be not so mindfull of thee as never to sing again till I see Jerusalem and her holy Solemnities restored 7. Remember O LORD the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said Rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof 7. Which joyfull day I hope will come when Thou O Lord wilt call our enemies to an account And first of all reckon with the Edomites XLIX Jer. 10. XXV Ezek. 12. who instead of pitying Jerusalem as became kind neighbours and relations were glad to see the day of its desolations and incouraged our destroyers with their acclamations saying Lay it flat lay it even with the ground upon which it stands 8. O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us 8. And then shall your turns come O ye Babylonians who have laid waste so many Nations but shall one day be made desolate your selves XIII Isa 19 c. And may that Prince and people prosper and be happy L. Jer. 9 41. who shall pay you in your kind and use you as barbarously as you used us LI. Jer. 24 35 49. 9. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones 9. He shall be praised and thought to have done a worthy work who shall snatch your sucking children from their mothers breasts and have no more mercy on them then upon the whelps of wolves or such like creatures but shall dash out their brains against the walls of your houses or stones in the street XIII Isa 16. that there may be no remains of such a cruel generation LI. Jer. 62. PSALM CXXXVIII A Psalm of David ARGUMENT This is one of David's Psalms as the Title assures us wherein he thankfully acknowledges God's Goodness to him in advancing him from a low and afflicted condition to the royal dignity which remarkable change would invite he thought other Kings and Princes to have a very great regard to his Divine Majesty who he hoped therefore would support and defend him in his new-gotten Kingdom by the same Almighty power which raised him unto it 1. I Will praise thee with my whole heart before the gods will I sing praise unto thee 1. I Will make Thee my thankfull acknowledgments O Lord with the devoutest affections of my heart thy holy Angels shall be witnesses of my gratitude which I will express in Psalms and Hymns in the presence of the great Assembly of the Judges XXII Exod. 9. LXXXII Psal 1 6. that they may remember to whom they owe their power and authority 2. I will worship towards thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name 2. I will prostrate my self in the humblest adorations of Thee toward the place where the Monument of thy Divine Presence is and acknowledge how much I am indebted to thy almighty
Goodness first for promising me out of thy mere grace and favour the royal Dignity and then for performing thy promise most faithfully For Thou hast manifested thy most excellent power and goodness to me in nothing so much as in punctually fulfilling thy promise 1 Sam. XVI 13. nowithstanding all the opposition which was made to it nay in raising me higher then I expected 3. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul 3. I had long ago faln short of this honour to which I am advanced hadst not Thou during all the time of Saul's persecution as readily relieved me as I cried to Thee and mightily supported my spirit by a couragious faith and hope in Thee 4. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee O LORD when they hear the words of thy mouth 4. Which will move sure all our neighbouring Kings who have any knowledge of my affairs 2 Sam. V. 11 12. VIII 10. to join with me in praising Thee O Lord when they shall hear by how many strange providences Thou hast brought to pass that which Thou promisedst to me by thy Prophet 5. Yea they shall sing in the ways of the LORD for great is the glory of the LORD 5. The wonderfull ways whereby the Lord brings things about shall be the subject of their Songs and they shall think it their greatest happiness to be guided and governed by Him for they shall confess that none can doe such glorious things as the Lord hath wrought 6. Though the LORD be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly but the proud he knoweth afar off 6. Whose sublime greatness doth not make Him neglect as they see in me the meanest persons especially when their minds are as humble as their conditions but will not let Him stoop to the loftiest Princes as they may see in Saul whom He despises when they are forgetfull of Him and ungratefull to Him for his benefits 7. Though I walk in the mids of trouble thou wilt revive me thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies and thy right hand shall save me 7. Which have been so great to me that should I fall again into the same straits wherein I was before and be incompassed with them I should hope that Thou wouldst preserve me and bring me safe out of them all Thy power I am confident will repress the violent assaults of my enemies and by thy almighty Goodness I shall be delivered from their wrath and fury 2 Sam. V. 17 c. VIII 1 c. 8. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me thy mercy O LORD endureth for ever forsake not the works of thine own hands 8. The Lord who hath begun will go on to finish his gracious intentions towards me not for my merits I know they are none at all but for thy own mercy sake O Lord which as it was the sole motive to what Thou hast done for me so will I hope for it is still the same and ever will be incline Thee to preserve and settle me in that dignity to which not my ambition but thy own good will and pleasure hath promoted me PSALM CXXXIX To the chief Musician A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The two last Verses of this Psalm seem to me a sufficient indication that David to whom the Title ascribes it composed it when he lay under the imputation of having evil designs upon Saul 1. Sam. XXIV 9. which as he protests against in several parts of other Psalms and calls God often to witness his integrity so here he appeals unto Him in a set and solemn meditation composed on purposed to represent before Him the clearness of his intentions which never suffered such designs to enter into his thoughts And who could believe that a man who seriously acknowledged it was impossible to conceal any thing from God's all-seeing eye who formes us in the womb should be so impudent as to make this appeal unto Him if he were conscious to himself of any such guilt And which is more how could he be confident as he declares he was Ver. 19. that God would make his innocence evidently appear by destroying his opposers if he did not know they were calumniatours whose vile aspersions when God had effectually confuted he delivered this Psalm to the Master of the Musick as a lasting testimony of his sincerity all along before he came to the Kingdom and a constant admonishment to himself and others never to promote any designs for the future by sinister arts though managed so secretly that they lay hid from the eyes of all the world since God cannot but be privy to them who loves righteousness and hates all iniquity 1. O LORD thou hast searched me and known me 1. I Am accused O Lord of grievous crimes but my comfort is Thou seest I am not guilty of them For the exactest survey cannot make any thing so well known to us as I am to Thee who art thoroughly acquainted with me 2. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising thou understandest my thought afar off 2. Thou knowest what designs I have when I sit musing at home and what I go about when I stir abroad nay my inclinations are so perfectly understood by Thee that before I have conceived any design it is visible unto Thee 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways 3. Nothing can be so narrowly sifted as all the motions of my body and mind both by day and by night are scanned by thy all-penetrating eye which comprehends and is intimately privy to all the ends which I pursue 4. For there is not a word in my tongue but lo O LORD thou knowest it altogether 4. When I am about to speak Thou O Lord such is thy most admirable wisedom needest not to be informed what it is but knowest before I open my mouth every thing I intend to utter 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me 5. Whatsoever I have done long ago is as well known to Thee as that which is lately past or which I am about to doe For I am so invironed by Thee and so absolutely in thy power that I cannot possibly escape thy notice nor so much as stir without thy leave 6. Such knowledge is too wonderfull for me it is high I cannot attain unto it 6. O amazing height of understanding It is in vain to think I can hide any thing from it which so far surpasses all I can say or conceive that it excells even my admiration 7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence 7. Into what world shall I go where Thou art not as present as Thou art in this It is impossible for me should I make never so much haste to get out of thy sight 8. If I ascend up into heaven thou art there if I make my bed in hell behold
a refreshing showre 7. Hear me speedily O LORD my spirit faileth hide not thy face from me lest I be like unto them that goe down into the pit 7. Do not delay it O Lord I most earnestly beseech Thee for I am not able to hold out much longer in this great extremity deny not my humble request lest I be utterly lost as I am in danger without all hope of recovery 2 Sam. XVII 16. 8. Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning for in thee do I trust cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee 8. Though this night be very sad yet let me hear according to the confidence I repose in thy mercy better news and see my Affairs in a more comfortable posture in the morning 2 Sam. XVII 22 23. shew me which way I shall direct my course and provide for my safety v. 24 27. for I depend intirely upon Thee 9. Deliver me O LORD from mine enemies I flee unto thee to hide me 9. Let me not fall into the hand of my Enemies from whom I am now flying but know not whither to go but onely to Thee for shelter and protection 10. Teach me to doe thy will for thou art my God thy Spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightness 10. Whose guidance I beseech as well as defence that I may doe nothing no not for my preservation but what is perfectly agreeable to thy Laws for thy favour is my security which I know is not otherways to be obtained and therefore I desire the conduct of thy good Spirit which is ready to assist those that seek it as well to lead me in the plain path of justice and piety as to suggest to me the way and means of escaping the snares of my Enemies and of coming into an honest Country where I may be free from the fear of being betrayed to them 11. Quicken me O LORD for thy Names sake for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble 11. I have nothing to move Thee to it but onely the honour it will be unto thy Majesty in respect to which I hope O Lord Thou wilt preserve me from perishing and restore me again to my Kingdome For though my straits are so great that my life is in extream danger yet nothing can hinder the performance of thy just and faithfull promise to me 12. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies and destroy all them that afflict my soul for I am thy servant 12. Thy mercy also surpasses all the malice of my Enemies whom I trust Thou wilt cut off and destroy rather then let me continue in these hazzards for I am thy Minister and though never so unworthy am appointed by Thee to govern thy people in which office I will doe Thee all faithfull service PSALM CXLIV A Psalm of David ARGUMENT The Inscription will not let us doubt that David was the Authour of this Psalm but that it was a Triumph after his victory over Goliath as the vulgar Latine hath it is asserted without ground For though some Greek Copies have such an addition to the Inscription yet Theodoret says that as he could find it in the Hebrew so it was not to be met withall in any other Interpreters no not in the LXX in the Hexaplus And it plainly appears by the second Verse that it was composed after he came to the Kingdome and not then till he had got some victories over those that opposed him Nay there are so many expressions here like to those we meet withall in the XVIII Psalm that it hath inclined some to think it was made at the same time and for the same purpose with that of which it looks like a compendium and might be intended for a short form of thanksgiving for his deliverance from all his Enemies But if the expressions be carefully examined their opinion will appear to be truer who think it was composed not after God had given him rest from all his Enemies but after those two victories over the Philistines mentioned 2 Sam. V. if not before them For as he still mentions more opposers who were unsubdued v. 7 11 so he doth not say as in the XVIII Psalm that God had cast forth lightnings and shot his arrows against them c. but desires Him here v. 5 6. that He would appear in that manner for him acknowledging that not onely his Kingdome but his Courage his Victories and Successes were all to be ascribed unto God 1. BLessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight 1. PRaised be the Lord by me and by all men else by whom I have been kept in safety as in an impregnable fortress and who hath given me both strength and skill to handle my Arms whensoever I ingaged either in single combate or in battles 2. My goodness and my fortress my high tower and my deliverer my shield and he in whom I trust who subdueth my under me 2. I ever found Him very mercifull unto me when I was in any danger for He still preserved me as in a strong hold nay set me out of the reach of the most potent Enemies either making a way for my escape when they surrounded me or protecting me in their most furious assaults upon me and as I reposed a constant trust in Him so He hath never failed my expectation but after long contests made all Israel submit themselves unto my Empire 2 Sam. V. 1 c. 3. LORD what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the son of man that thou makest account of him 3. I am astonished O Lord at this thy wonderfull Goodness and know not what to say but onely admire that Thou shouldst take such care of so poor a thing as man is at the best especially of me a miserable wretch whom Thou hast honoured with most glorious Successes 4. Man is like to vanity his days are as a shadow that passeth away 4. Man alas is but a breath which presently vanishes what a marvel is it then that I should have strength to atchieve such things his life is exceeding short and uncertain and yet such is thy stupendious Goodness I am not onely alive notwithstanding all the hazzards through which I have run but in a little time have performed such memorable acts that the same of them will last for ever 5. Bow they heavens O LORD and come down touch the mountains and they shall smoke 5. Proceed O Lord to perfect my conquest and now that new Enemies are combined against me 2 Sam. VIII let thy Majesty appear as it hath done formerly see Psal XVIII 9. for my assistance and defence and as soon as the proudest opposers feel that Thou art present they will vanish away like smoak 6. Cast forth lightning and scatter them shoot out thine arrows and destroy them 6. Let them be dispersed by flashes of Lightning in their