Abel and the rooâ— of that holy progeny wherein the Church was afterward established V. 26. Enos Sorrowful Psal. 9. 20. that the Nations may know themselves to be but Enos i. e. woful men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then began men to call the Worship of God grew more publick and solemne and in a sort restored and revived again in the persons and families of Seth and Enos having bin almost buried in the paucity and privacy of the godly before this time a separation now being made by them from the profane society of the wicked such as were generaly the posterity of Cain CHAP. V. Ver. 3. IN his own likenesse after his image such as he was now sinful not as he was created Holy Yet still God was the Father of spirits the God and Creator of the spirits of all flesh Heb. 12. 9. Numb 16. 22. V. 4. And he begat sonnes and daughters after Seth yet not excluding some to be begotten before Seth as Cain and others And the same is likely to be understood of the rest of the ten Patriarches in this chapter before the flood That they begat sons and daughters as well before as after the birth of those Patriarchs by whom the line of the Genealogy and Chronology is drawn For it is scarce probable that in this first Age of the world before the flood wherein mankinde had most need of multiiplication the Patriarchs should be so old as the half of them above 100. yea Jared 162 Lamecb 182. Methusalah 187. Noah 500. before they had any children though indeed Noah for his part had no more then three when the flood came 1 Pet. 3. 20. But so old they were before that sonne was borne who was the Progenitor of our Saviour and in whose race the main progresse and succession of the true Church did consist V. 5. All the dayes Adam was living in Lamechs dayes V. 21. Enoch walked with God the seventh of Adam followed not the wickednesse of his age But pleased God prophesied saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Sants to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude ver 14 15. And Henoch was not died not as others but was translated by faith God took him body and soule as after he did Elias that he should not see death and he was not found Heb. 11. 5. after he had lived on earth so many yeares as there are dayes in our yeare Thus was he a pledge and pawne of the Resurrection and life eternal and celestial and prophesied of the last and general judgement Adam and Methusalah and five Patriarchs between them were living witnesses of his Translation V. 27. All the dayes of Methusalah the longest liver and died the last of the nine Patriarchs in the beginning of the yeare of the flood V. 29. Noah Thus Lamech his father prophesied of him at his birth presaging comfort and rest by him in the midst of all miseries in those evil and uncomfortable times V. 32. And Noah begat i. e. began to beget So chap. 11. 26. and chap. 7 10. Japheth the eldest Sem the second Chaâ—â— youngest Of the LXX-Chronology in this Chapter They extend the age of Methusalah beyond the flood contrary to Scripture and adde almost 1600. yeares to the true Chronology in this and the eleventh chapters Haply out of some considerations touching the Heathens for whom that Greek Translation was made But the LXX now is no where extant but patched infinitely CHAP. VI. Ver. 1. WHen men began to multiply very greatly and specially Cains wicked progeny and wickednesse with them and daughters the occasion both of the corruption and calamity set forth in the ensuing story V. 2. That the sonnes of God Professors of the true Worship of God Deut. 14. 1. 2 Cor. 6. 18. 1 John 3. 1. Which here grew remisse in Religion Daughters of men of the profane race of Cain that had little of God or his image in them in their mindes or manners but were meer men 1 Cor. 3. 3. natural men unregenerate and out of the Church and such these their daughters were Faire without respect to spiritual beauty not minding at all what they were for Religion and manners Thus beauty intangleth the fond and fleshly affection Wives Loved liked and chosen only for Beauties sake Gods Law after forbade such marriages with those out of the Church Deut. 7. 3 4. Exod. 34. 16. 2 Cor. 6. 14. V. 3. My spirit In the Patriarchs and specially in Noah a Preacher of righteousnesse 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. 2 Pet. 2. 5. And by good motions and checks of conscience in the men of these times As Nehem. 9. 30. For that he also is flesh even my people also all mankinde v. 12. are fleshly not having the Spirit Jude v. 19 Rom. 8 8 9 Gal. 5. 16 17. 120 years granted for trial of their repentance the long suffering of God waiting whether in this space of time while the Ark was a preparing they would repent 1 Pet. 3. 20. by mortification of the flesh and vivificatiâ— of the Spirit or as St. Peter expresseth it be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the Spirit ch 4. 6. agreeing with that of Paul 1 Cor. 5. 5. This was twenty yeares before the birth of Japheth V. 4. Giants Men of huge stature and strength beyond others in those dayes such as Og was of the race of giants and the Anakimâ— in Moses time Numb 13. 33. Amorites Amos 2 9 Deut. 3. 11. Goliath Isbbi-benob Saph Lahmi in Davids time 2 Sam. 21. 16 18. 1 Chron. 20. 5 6 8 Men who in the pride and confidence of their bodies greatnesse were apostates from God oppressors of men fierce and cruel And also after that After those unlawful mixtures and marriages v. 2. many of their seed became such Giants and after that destruction threatened v. 3. V. 5. Every imaginariâ—n This heightens the sinfulness of this age Mic. 7. 3. But Gen. 8. 21. More strongly proves the universal corruption of mans nature by the fall V. 15. 300 cubits The length is ten times the height and six times the breadth resembling for the fashion of it a mans coffin V. 16. In a cubit shalt finish it The Ark not the window Doore Wide to receive an Elephant closed up and pitched belike when all were in and that by God himself ch 7. 16. With lower second and third stories These stories considered with the quantity and kinde of the cubits a common cubit then being longer then our cubits now and the sacred cubit being double to the common cubit as appears by comparing 1 Kings 7. 15. with 2 Chron. 3. 15. not to speak of a Geometrical cubit six times as some alledge as great as a common cubit we may easily conceive the capacity
properties and qualifications stand in awe and sinne not Ephes. IV. 26. verse 4 Be anrgy and sinne not And that sense the word here used will bear David speaking thus to his friends Let not your indignation and just resentment of these scandals and confusions in my sufferings proceed to a sinful murmuring against God but consider of it wisely in your most retired thoughts and be silent contented and quiet into thy house chapter V verse 7 So farre as it was lawful for David toward thy holy Temple And so David Psal. XXVII 4. and XXIX 9. and LXV 4. and LXVIII 29. and CXXXVIII 2. And yet in Davids dayes the Temple was not built He minded that which after his dayes he knew presently should be And meane time he stiles the Arke or Tabernacle by the name of the Temple See the Observations on Exod. XXXIII 7. rebuke me not Psal. chapter VI verse 1 XXXVIII 1. heale me David was in some soar sicknesse at this time verse 2 bed to swim See the Observations on Josh. XI 4. verse 6 If I have done this Whereof Cush Sauls Courtier or Favourite chapter VII verse 3 one of his Tribe doth falsely accuse me return thou on high To ascend verse 7 and set thy self on thy high tribunal and judgement-seat 1 Kings X. 19. And this to judge for me and against Cush as it followeth in the rest of the Psalme Out of the mouth This is alluded to Mat. chapter VIII verse 2 XXI 16. What is man This verse 4 and ver 5 6. are applied to Christ by the Apostle Heb. II. 6 9. 1 Cor. XV. 27. Ephes. I. 22. so taking in both Christ the head and mankinde specialy the faithful as members shewing thereby that mysticaly and propheticaly in these words is intimated the humiliation and exaltation of the man Christ Jesus O thou enemie A kinde of scoff and derision chapter IX verse 6 whereby David upbraids him for his bloody designes and threats Know thy name will Know experimentaly verse 10 practicaly verse 20. in all their hearts and souls in themselves as the phrases of Scripture are Josh. XXIII 14. 1 Sam. VI. 9. Heb. X. 34. Of this knowledge is that Iohn XVII 3. and 1 Iohn II. 3 4 5. and chap. III. 19 24. and chap. IV. 6 7 8 13. and chap. V. 2. 18 19. 20. Noëtical speculative knowledge swimming only in the braine and not sinking into the heart is none of this knowledge till thou finde none Rid the world of them chapter X verse 15 and their sinnes at once flee a bird 1 Sam. chapter XI verse 1 XXVI 19. If the foundations In Church and Kingdome verse 3 what can He help but suffer in such a general ruine The fool Psal. chapter XIV verse 1 X. 4. and LIII 1. The three first verses of this Psalme are by Saint Paul applied to all mankinde in general in the state of the Fall and natural corruption Rom. III. 10 11 12. usury Of this see Exod. chapter XV verse 5 XXII 25. Levit. XXV 36 37. Deut. XXIII 19 20. Neh. V. 17. Levit. XXVIII 8. And the Annotations on Ezek. XVIII 8. and XXII 12 13. Mat. XXV 27. that hasten Or give gifts to another god chapter XVI verse 4 See Ezek. XVI 33 34. The true God needs them not ver 2. But false gods do which gifts do redound in the end to the dammage and sorrowes of the givers their drink-offerings of blood Their Offerings and Sacrifices of mans blood The drink-offerings to the true God were of wine according to his Law Num. XV. 5. But Idolaters in stead thereof did many times offer mans blood Pauls readinesse to be offered Phil. II. 17. 2 Tim. IV. 6. imports no more then his willingnesse to die and spend his blood for Christs cause and the good of his Church and people their names See the Observations on Josh. XXIII 7. I have set the Lord Acts II. 25 31. verse 8 and XIII 35 37. David speaks here of himself in this regard as having Christ in his loins in a Prophetical spirit relating to Christ. right hand Psal. CIX 31. CX 5. CXXI 5. not be moved Psal. CXVIII 6. CXXXV 1. Rom. VIII 31 c. my glory My tongue verse 9 Acts II. 26. Psal. XXX 12. and LVII 8. and CVIII 2. Gen. XLIX 6. my flesh also As Rom. VIII 19. 21. my soul in hell A Prophesie of Christs Resurrection verse 10 David speaks here in the Person of Christ. Soul Sometimes is taken properly sometimes improperly for the whole person of man Gen. XIV 12. Acts XXVII 37. sometimes for the life of the person sometimes for the body Gen. XVII 21. sometimes for the dead carkasse Levit. XIX 28. and XXI 1 2. Num. VI. 6. and V. 2 9 10. Hag. II. 14. And so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken also Here my soul i. e. my self hell the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken for the grave Psal. CXLI 7. and LXXXVI 13. and XXX 13. and LV. 15. Gen. XXXVII 35. and XLII 3. 1 Kings II. 6 9. Num. XVI 30. Jonah II. 1 2. Not for a place of souls under the earth See Doctor Rainolds Praelect 81. 82. upon the Apocryphal books and Robert Parker upon Christs Descent into hell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken for death or the state of the dead for the place invisible for the grave in relation to the body Acts II. 27. And in relation to the soul for heaven to the godly soul as in our Creed and for Hell to the soul ungodly and so most usualy Christs soul did not descend to the lower parts or that imaginary place of Limbus Patrum This place here meant is a place of punishment and therefore it is mentioned as a mercy that Christ was thence delivered Christs soul was not therefore there in triumph The scope of the Apostles in citing this place is not to deale about the deliverance of Christs soul out of Hell but punctualy of Christs Resurrection They inferre nothing else out of this Text. But Resurrection is properly of the Body not of the Soul Gehenna is sometimes taken for the Grave and most-times further for Hell it self The true meaning and sense of the Article of Christs Descent into Hell as the Latines very improperly translate the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemes to be thus rendered rather he went into the place of invisible souls and to be understood of Christs Soul for his body remained in the Grave And his soul in that interim to passe to the place of souls to Heaven or Paradise as the souls of the godly did and his principaly As the souls of the wicked went to Hell For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a general name doth certainly and evidently signifie both places And thus the Articles go on methodicaly without any tautologie That after Christs death his body was buried in the Grave his Soul went to the place of blessed souls and the third day both soul and body were
Ophir 1 Kings IX 28. Uphaz Jer. X. 9. This is the chiefest gold Dan X. 5. Job XXVIII 15. Psal. CXIX 72. See the Observations on Esay XIII 12. great reward Which reward yet is of grace verse 11 not of merit Rom. VIII 3. through Gods free grace and bounty not the merit of our works The Apostle doth thus distinguish of merit Rom. IV. 4 5. and XI 6. There is no merit properly if the work be not properly out own and not otherwise due debt and justly equal to the reward They are justly due out of his true and free promise who can Where then is that possibility verse 12 and facility of fulfilling the Law even unto works of Supererogation whereof Papists do so much brag dominion over me There are sinnes reigning and not reigning but rebelling verse 13 Rom. VI. 12 22. and VII 15 20. The Lord hear thee This Psalme chapter XXI verse 1 and the next are composed by David for a publike forme of a Prayer in the one of a Thanksgiving in the other to be used by the people for himself the King They seeme to stretch this Psalme too farre and that without ground who make it to be a Prophesie of Christs Sufferings and his deliverances out of them for which the Church with him triumpheth As also the next Psalme to gratulate the victory and Salvation of Christ. Save Lord verse 9 let the King hear us Most here understand God or the Messias Some David The LXX not observing or keeping the Hebrew distinction Athnach render it thus Lord save the King and hear us when we call upon thee for ever and ever Psal. chapter XXI verse 4 LXXXIX 29 36 37. and LXI 6 7. David lived but seventy years yet in his royal posterity for many ages and in Christ the Sonne of David Matth. XXII 42. for ever and ever eternaly Rom. VI. 9. Apoc. I. 18. Heb. VII 25. See the Observations on Deut. XV. 17. Thine hand King Davids hand chapter XXII verse 8 In some Psalmes there are passages that properly and literaly belong to David and to Christ only as David was a Type of him But in this Psalme are some Passages as ver 16 17 18. besides many other which are applied to Christ in the New Testament as ver 1 7 8 22 27. which literaly and properly belong to Christ and are appliable to him only or to him more then to David Then here is no place left for that question of the Eunuch Acts VIII 34. The allegations out of this Psalme Matth. XXVII 46 35 43. Heb. II. 12. and the body of the Psalme it self do shew that little of it can be applied to David as a Type most of it is proper and peculiar to Christ alone as I formerly said 1 Pet. I. 11 12. my God Jesus on the Crosse little before his death verse 1 about the ninth hour cryed out these words with a loud voice Matth. XXVII 46. Heb. V. 7. upon the weight of Gods wrath under the burden of our sinnes The Deity by a special providence and dispensation withdrawing and suspending its influence from the Humanity for this time God withdrawing all sense of his favour from him Not that the hypostatical union of both natures was then or ever severed or dissolved But yet he suffered chiefly in his soul all the paines pangs and agonies of a justly angry and punishing God even more then can either be expressed or imagined even so farre above the measure of ordinary sufferings as himself was above ordinary men without any influence or joy or comfort streaming from the Vision of God upon his mind and wil for that time So that he suffered as in body so in soul in his whole man as in his sensual part so in his intellectual also in his whole soul and body and in all the parts powers and faculties of them And the greatest sufferings as was said that could be sustained in this life Lam. I. 12. yet without any derogation to the integrity purity innocencie dignity of the person of Christ our Surety and Saviour These words then are not a complaint out of impatience ignorance disobedience or diffidence They are the words of sense not of infidelity See ver 24. Luke XXIII 46. He strongly calls him his God even in that instant of these suffering so expressing his firme faith in him But they are a Protestation of the bitternesse of his Passion so stricken smitten of God and afflicted and so farre prevailing on him in whom the spirit of fortitude had his residence forsaken me This sense of dereliction and carencie of Divine favour for the time as it was the Fathers pleasure to have it so so the Sonnes office called him unto it and he did not contract it by any fault of his but did voluntarily undertake it for our sinnes and the expiation of them as he did the death it self So that in this then there could not be any defect or defanlt of faith and hope requisite in him And likewise that Prayer and Speech Matth. XXVI 39. bewrayes the sense of the flesh but joyned with the obedience of the Spirit in him A double Will in him against Monothelites but joyned both in one holy obedience and subjection All which shew the nature of sinne the infinite wrath of God against it the infinite Love of the Father and the Sonne towards the children of men and the verity of Christs Humane Nature both in body and soul. roaring Like that of Lions Psal. XXXII 3. and XXXVIII 8. Matth. XXVI 38. Marke XIV 33. Luke XXII 44. so that he had need of an Angel for his Comforter Yet he so wrestles and prevailes that no signe of halting was left remaining after no signe or voice of despair as some are shamelesly wronged to charge upon him All the agonies of Christs soul ceased with his death but thou hearest not We read that God ever heard him verse 2 ver 24. John XI 42. Heb. V. 7. But here this Prayer was only conditional a signification of a natural desire not an absolute and plenary Prayer inhabit the praises of Israel Whose praise thou art verse 3 Deut. X. 21. And they praise thee in thy House and Sanctuary Thou art still praised by them for thy benefits to them and acknowledged their holy one Our fathers And shall I be so forsaken verse 4 not heard nor holpen nor delivered Thus he aggravates his complaint rouzeth up his faith bowes and moves God to mercie Cried Crying or clamor verse 5 and Prayer are oft conjoyned Psal III. 4. and XVIII 7. Jer. VII 16. Jonas III. 8. Micah III. 4. a worme So vile and contemptible in the eyes of men verse 6 Esay LIII 2 3. as Job XXV 6. Esay XLI 14. Not only made lower then the Angels Psal. VIII 5. Heb. II. 7. but disesteemed more then Barrabas or the two theives All they that see me This verse verse 7 and the next we see fulfilled in the History of Christs Passion
IV. 8. As we have heard Psal. XLIV 1. verse 8 seene By experience because of thy judgements In confounding thine enemies verse 11 and defending the people tell the towers Mark if any of them be demolished verse 12 or hurt by the enemie that ye may tell it How God had preserved and kept them verse 13 a parable A sententious chapter XLIX verse 4 grave witty dark saying Prov. I. 6. not beseeming simple ones Prov. XXVI 7. used by Balaam Num. XXIII and XXIV by Ezekiel at Gods command chap. XVII 2. and XX. 49. and much by our Saviour himself in his preaching Matth. XIII 35. sometimes in plainer maner Mark IV. 33 sometimes in intended obscurity Luke VIII 10. requiring sharpnesse of wit to understanded and expound them Here the Psalmists extraordinary Preface ushering it in and this enigmatical maner of delivering it argues the matter to be of great weight and difficulty As indeed it is that which so much troubleth and puzleth the wisest and the best men of the world the afflictions and miseries of the godly and the prosperities of the wicked See Psal. XXXVII 1. and LXXIII 2 12. and XCIV 3 4. Job XXI 7 13. Jer. XII 1. Hab. I. 4 5. And the wicked thereby take encouragement to evil and nourish impious conceipts in their hearts touching God and his providence Iob XXI 14 15. Psal. X. 3 6 11 13. and XIV 1. and XCIV 7 8. Mal. II 17. and III. 15. See more of this in the Observations on Psal. XXXVII 1. should I fear The godly should not fear verse 5 dismay or be discouraged at the evils and miseries of this life boast The wicked and wealthy verse 6 cannot save the life of others or their own life from death And that ends all their jollity and prosperity wise men die Eccl. II. 16. and III. 19. verse 10 Their inward thought They hunted after honour verse 11 and a famous memorial Neverthelesse They shall have no more good by their honours verse 12 then the others had by their riches they abide not in life thereby one night the longer Psal. XXXVII 36. 1. Iohn II. 17. abideth not Heb. Abideth not for a night Which text many Jews and other Writers both old and new do urge for their opinion that Adam fell the same day wherein he was created which point the great Linguist and Chronologer Master Hugh Broughton doth presse and prosecute even with some heat and overmuch passion at large But the learned Gataker doth clear this text from any such meaning and gives reasons most probable That Adam did not fall the same day wherein he was created in his Cinnus p. 189. 198. yet their posterity Not warned thereby verse 13 but commend their fathers foolish courses and continue in them Psal. X. 3. like sheep Rotten sheep that die of themselves verse 14 feel on them And devour them and the upright The righteous in Christ men of sincere integrity in the morning Of the resurrection when Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse shall arise at his second coming But God This answers that question verse 15 verse 5. will redeeme c. Raise up my body and receive me into everlasting life which is here opposed to all the worldly prosperity of faithlesse wicked men See Gen. V. 24. Psal. LXXIII 24. John XIV 3. Acts VII 15. 1 Thes. IV. 14. A clear testimony of the resurrection of the body the immortality of the soul and the life everlasting Be not thou afraid Stumble not verse 16 nor be offended at the prosperity of the wicked never see light Job XXXIII 28 30. Psal. LVI 13. nor the light of heaven verse 19 Matth. VIII 12. man Verse 12. verse 20 beasts The Sheep verse 14. Asaph Either the Author chapter L 2 Chron. XXIX 30. Or chief Singer to whom and his sons and posterity it was committed 1 Chron. XVI 5 7. and XXV 2. to tune it and sing it and play it upon musical instruments And thus Psal. LXXIII to LXXXIII are entituled all to or for Asaph The mighty God God himself is brought in as a Judge upon the Bench verse 1 arraigning convincing sentencing and judging his people the perfection of beauty Psal. XLVIII 2. Lam. II. 15. verse 2 a fire As at Mount Sinai verse 3 when he gave his Law Heb. XII 18 19. call to the heavens As Deut. IV. 26. verse 4 and XXX 19. and XXXI 28 and XXXII 1. Esay I. 2. Micah VI. 1 2. not reprove thee for thy Sacrifices Jer. VII 22. verse 8 They used to weary God with outward Offerings Esay I. 11 14. and LXVI 3. Micah VI. 6 7 Hos. VI. 6. Amos IV. 4 5. The meaning here is according to that 1 Sam. XV. 22. Offer The inward verse 14 and real and substantial part of the Covenant is the thing which God requireth obedience and service in spirit and truth The rejecting the former and the exacting this later is the maine matter of this majestical Psalme verse 23. Hos. XIV 3. Heb. XIIâ— 15. pay thy vowes Of vowes see the Annotations on Jonah I 16. But unto the wicked Here God sentenceth those grosse hypocrites that place all Religion in outward Rites and Ceremonies verse 16 neglecting the maine duties of Piety and Righteousnesse Against whom is the maine bent and drift of this Psalme And speakest against Psal. LXIX 13. verse 20 The godly do otherwise Psal. XXVI 4. 5. Nathan To reprove him for his sinne chapter LI so long unrepented 2 Sam. XI and XII chapters Written upon that argument though not at that time gone in Gen. VI. 4. Bathsheba The daughter of Eliam 2 Sam. XI 3. called also Bathshua daughter of Ammiel 1 Chron. III. 5. Have mercie A rare example of repentance verse 1 and useful against despair as his fearful fall should make us watchful over our selves not presume of our own strength but ever to eye trust to and depend upon God and his preventing assisting Grace Mercie here and the multitude of Gods tender mercies is his Citie of Refuge and shute-anchor No defense for himself no other plea can he make wash me And so verse 7. verse 2 alluding to the Legal washings Levit. XI 25 32. Exod. XIX 10. Num. XIX 19. Thus he prayes and thus he deals throughout this Psalme even after Nathans absolution And thus true Penitents will do For I acknowledge Prov. XXVIII 13. 1. verse 3 John I. 9. So Esay LIX 12. Jer. III. 13. Cited Rom. III. 4. with no variation in sense thee only Not because he a King and so exempt from the power of others verse 4 But because this was his greatest grief to offend God 1 Sam. II. 24 25. and such a God so good to him 2 Sam. VII 18 19. and that God should so suffer in this his sinne 2 Sam. XII 14. who yet only could pardon his sinne Matth. IX 3. as against whom and whose commandment properly all sinne is committed in thy sight God then sees the sinnes of his Saints yea more he
and was made a Sacrifice for sinne for us 2 Cor. V. 21. Esay LIII 6. Yet this may have a right understanding of Christs spiritual children who are subject to the lapses and infirmities of sinne 1 John I. 8. Rom. VII 15. sworne Of Oaths verse 35 see the Observations on Hos. IV. 15. as the Moone Which although it sometime waxeth verse 37 and sometime waineth and sometime seemes to be gone a fit resemblance of the state of Christs Church yet is continualy renewed and so stable Witnesse See Jer. XXXIII 20 21. And Christ is so called Apoc. I. 5. Esay LV. 4. But thou The Psalmist complaineth of the miseries of the Church verse 38 whereby all the former Promises seeme to be frustrated youth hast thou shortned Wherein by thy promises he should have flourished verse 45 and grown up as a youth how short How vaine verse 47 momentanie and uncertaine yet am I thy creature the footsteps of thine Anointed verse 51 This may be referred to Christ and his Offices and Works in us and for us or to Christians which follow his footsteps Blessed The voice of faith verse 52 and joy as finding an issue out of the temptation and rejoycing in the midst of tribulation This is the end of the third Book of Psalmes See the Observations on Psal. XLI ult and on LXXII ult of Moses This seemes inspired and penned by Moses for the use of the people chapter XC when upon the returne of the Spies they had murmured against God and he had sentenced to death all above twenty years old Num. XIV 22 23 29 34. Returne The body to the earth verse 3 the soul to God that gave it watch The night divided into four Watches verse 4 the evening midnight cock-crowing dawning threescore years and ten So for the most part verse 10 And so in David And none of the Kings of Judah or Israel after him attained to those years Or seventy here in regard of that judgement denounced Num. XIV 29. even according to thy fear verse 11 so is thy wrath Thy wrath is as thy feare teacheth it to be which teacheth us to fear thee for thy wrath But who knoweth the power of it to number They might number the utmost extent of them verse 12 upon that judgement Num. XIV But not how much sooner they might die establish Esay XXVI 12. verse 17 he shall deliver thee Having practised in the second verse what he taught in the first chapter XCI verse 3 Here he teacheth others to do the like applies his example to them not be afraid Esay XLIII 2. verse 5 emphatical expressions and rhetorical amplifications allowed in all humane Authors Not yet implying that we are actualy deliveâ—ed in all such dangers but that at least they shall work for our good if we be not delivered out of them Rom. VIII 28. his Angels charge over thee Alledged by the Devil to Christ verse 11 Mat. IV. 6. in all thy wayes Of holinesse and righteousnesse These words the Devil omits as making against his temptation which was against the minde of the text tread upon the lion Esay XI 6 9. verse 13 Hos. II. 18. without harme or damage Not as the Pope applied it to his treading upon the neck of the Emperour on high Safely above all perils and dangers verse 14 with long life If God shall see it good and fit for him verse 16 Otherwise a good man may be cut off by Plague or warre for the Sabbath day For the Rest on this day chapter XCII see the Observations on Exod. XII 16. For Hallowing it That was by an holy convocation by offering of Sacrifices singing Psalmes reading and expounding and hearing Scriptures Praying Disputing and Conferring by meditating on Gods word and works and doing works of mercy Exod. XX. 10. Esay LVIII 13. Jer. XVII 21 22. Levit. XXIII 3. Num XXVIII 9 10. Acts XIII 15. and XV. 21. and XVI 13. and XVII 2. and XVIII 4. Matth. XII 2 7 8 11 12. as the Palme tree The LXX read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 12 which signifies indeed a tree As the Hebrew word here doth And the meaning of the whole verse imports Yet hence many learned men taking it up one from another have raised that fable of a wondrous bird called a Phoenix which yet never was seene or known in the world holinesse becometh thy house In the services chapter XCIII verse 5 and servants of it and all professors of so holy a God The Lord knoweth Cited chapter XCIV verse 11 1 Cor. III. 20. But judgement shall returne unto righteousnesse Though they might seeme awhile parted verse 15 yet they shall returne and meet and the wicked shall be punished and the godly rewarded O come Davids Psalme chapter XCV verse 1 though without his Title as appears Heb. III. 7. and IV. 7. to day This extends to the whole time wherein Christ speaketh by his Gospel verse 7 Heb. III. 7. 13 15. and IV. 7 8. So 2 Cor. VI. 2. Provocation Meribah verse 8 in the Hebrew temptation Massah in the Hebrew See Exod. XVII 1 7. Num. XX. 1 3 13. Deut. VI. 16. tempted me Tempted Christ verse 9 1 Cor. X. 9. my work Works Heb. III. 9. of miraculous mercies and judgements I sware At Kadesh-barneah verse 11 Num. XIV 21 c. Heb. III. 17 19. my rest Canaan a Type of a better Rest Heb. IV. 3 8 9 11. O sing This Psalme chapter XCVI verse 1 and Psalme CV 1 15. with small alterations make up that Psalme composed by David upon the bringing of the Ark from Obed-Edoms house into the Citie of David 1 Chron. XVI 8 36. a new song See the Observations on Psal. XXXIII 3. beauty of holinesse In the glorious holy Sanctuary searoare In token of joy verse 9 the trees Humane affections ascribed to insensible creatures verse 11 thereby to set out mans duty verse 12 for the cometh Or when he cometh Which may relate to Christs coming into the world verse 13 Matth. XII 20. Acts X. 42. and ch XVII 31. Psal. XCVIII 9. and CX 6. Esay II. 4. and XI 3 4. and XVI 5. 2 Tim. IV. 1. Apoc. XIX 11. The Lord reighneth Here seemes the Kingdome chapter XCVII verse 1 both of God and of Christ to be majesticaly described a new song See the Observations on Psal. chapter XCVIII verse 1 XXXIII 3. made known Esay LII 10. Let the sea roare Psal. verse 2 XCVI 11. let the people tremble And so chapter XCIX verse 7 the earth be moved that is with a reverend fear at his Presence and appearance verse 1 Or though they be stirred up with anger Apoc. XI 17 18. Acts XVII 13. The Kings strength God mixeth his power with justice verse 4 Job XXXVI 5. Moses and Aaron among his Priests Moses did many things of the Priestly office verse 6 And the word Cohen here used doth signifie also a Prince and principal officer as 2 Sam. VIII 18. and in many other places
He at thy right hand ready to assist thee O Christ as Psal. XVI 8. and CIX 31. Shall strike through Kings Psal. II. 2 4 5. even the highest Powers and Potentates that oppose Christ and his Kingdome 2 Cor. X. 5. In the day of his wrath the time appointed in Gods wisdome the time of his just will so to punish them with plagues temporal eternal in this life in that to come 1 Thes. I. 9 10. Not that Christ the Lord shall be exempted from this powerful conquest and overthrow of his enemies the Sonne being in all things coequal consubstantial with the Father And so the Act coming from the Father by the Sonne But in this speech relation is had to Christ as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God and Man as the King Mediatour and receiving his Office from the Father He shall judge The Lord at thy right hand shall execute judgements and punishments verse 6 among the heathen Psal. II. 1. Acts IV. 27. all his enemies whatsoever he shall fill the places with the dead bodies All places with the carkases of the slaine See Jer. XVI 4. A figurative and poetical expression of an huge slaughter such as was that of the Jewes at the final destruction of Jerusalem after the death of our Saviour he shall wound the head in many countries Wound or strike through Head for heads collectively Psal. LXVIII 21. in many or great countries See that Apoc. XX. 9 10. He Christ the Lord. verse 7 Thus the Prophet passeth from the Father to the Sonne The Father acteth by the Sonne the Sonne from the Father shall drink of the brook in the way In pursuing the victory over his enemies he shall do as Gideons souldiers did Judg. VII 7. admit of no delaies which occasioned that interdict adjuration and curse of Saul 1 Sam. XIV 24. Or rather these words seeme to have relation to Christs state of Humiliation and the rather because of that opposition thereunto in the words following And so here we have Christs exinanition and exaltation his passion and resurrection whereby he was brought to sit at the right hand of the Father verse 1. drink In passing through this valley of tears in this world he shall drink deeply of the cup of sorrowes the waters floods and torrents of afflictions and miseries should overtake and encompasse him if not overwhelme and drowne him Psal. LXXXVIII 7. 17. See Jer. XXV 15 16. and chap. XLIX 12. Matth. XX. 22. John XVIII 11. Matth. XXVI 39. in the way Of this life the way of doing his fathers will for the work of mans redemption Phil. II. 7 8. He hid for the time the luster and beams of his Divine Majesty that it might not hinder the sufferings and death of his Humanity 1 Cor. II. 8. Matth. XVII 9. therefore Thus Christ came from his humiliation to his exaltation from his Priesthood to his Kingdome Therefore here notes not a Merit preceding in Christ meriting for himself this exaltation or his glorie either in body or soul his life eternal All necessarily followed upon that hypostatical Union which he could not merit to himself All Christ did was to merit for us The particle here notes the consequence or sequel and order the means and manner how he came to this exaltation shal he lift up the head Be exalted sit at Gods right hand See for the phrase Psal. III. 3. and XXVII 6. Jer. LII 31. Lam. II. 10. sublimi feriet sydera vertice Praise This is one of the Alphabetical Psalmes chapter CXI verse 1 And so is the next Psalme Thereby to help memory and to mark out the excellency of these Psalmes See the Observations on the beginning of the Book of Psalmes wonderful works In Egypt verse 4. 5. meat Manna and Quails Covenant Though they by their sinnes often and grievously provoked him heathen Canaanites verse 6 Praise chapter CXII verse 1 See the former Psalme wealth See the Observations on Psal. XXXVII 1. verse 3 light in darknesse Esay LVIII 10. Job XI 17. Psal. XXXVII 6. verse 4 of evil tydings Prov. I. 33. Otherwise is it with the wicked verse 7 Jer. XLIX 23. gnash with his teeth See that Luke XIII verse 10 28. who humbleth himself to behold Psal. chapter CXIII verse 6 CXXXVIII 6. and CXXXIX 1 c. Job XXXIV 21 22. Prov. V. 21. Jer. XVI 17. contrary to that Psal. LXXIII 11. and LXIV 6. and XCIV 7 10. Job XXII 12 13. He raiseth 1 Sam. II. 8. verse 7 mountains skipped Sinai chapter CXIV verse 4 Horeb quaked and shaked Exod. XIX 18. Hab. III. 6 10. Psal LXVIII 8. Their idols are Not like unto our God chapter CXV verse 4 verse 3. are like unto them As much without sense and reason verse 8 as blocks and stones their help Theirs that trust in him or one person verse 9 put for another which is not unusual hath he given To their use verse 16 in this world Or the earth also is the Lords which he hath given to the children of men The dead praise not Psal. verse 17 VI. 5. and XXX 9. and LXXXVIII 10 11 12. Esay XXXVIII 18. I love This may seeme to be Davids Psalme chapter CXVI verse 1 upon his new coming to the Kingdome Therefore The experience of Gods hearing our prayers verse 2 doth hearten us to pray the more Pains of hell The sorrowes and straits of death verse 3 and the grave Psal. XVIII 5 6. Gratious The issue and effect of Prayer verse 5 thy rest Thy quiet comfortable estate in God without trouble of conscience verse 7 and that because of Gods goodnesse and good dealing towards thee I beleeved 2 Cor. verse 10 IV. 13. upon consideration of the Premises his Faith thus triumphed notwithstanding his afflictions I was greatly afflicted The Hebrew word here hath an Active forme but in a Passive signification As sometimes an Hebrew word in a Passive forme is of an Active signification See Esay XXI 10. and chap. XXV 9. and LIII 7. and Ezek XIV 4 7. haste verse 11 All men are liers Even the Prophets as Samuel that promised to me the Kingdome Yea all men in comparison of God unable to help in time of need Rom. III. 4. cup of salvations Used in the Israelites Peace-offerings of Thanksgivings verse 13 and in the Meat-offerings joyned to them and to their whole-burnt offerings and used in their holy Feasts 1 Chron. XVI 1 2 3 whence that seemes to be Luke XXII 17. vowes Made in mine adversity verse 14 Of vowes see the Annotations on Jonah I. 16. Pretious Psal. LXXII verse 15 14. which God shewes in preserving my life from death in the midst of all mine enemies Praise The Apostle alledgeth this to prove Gods mercy to the Gentiles chapter CXVII verse 1 that they should therefore glorifie him O give thanks This may seeme to be Davids Psalme chapter CXVIII verse 1 and likely inspired and composed upon his returne from his last victory over the Ammonites 2 Sam.
Whether thou wilt or no when thou shalt in vaine call to rocks to hide thee into judgement If not in this life yet at thy death thy doomesday and at the judgement of the great day Jude 6. called The terror of the Lord 2 Cor. V. 10. Acts XVII 30. See Esay XXVIII 17. Therefore remove sorrow Sinne verse 10 which is the true cause of sorrow as the end will prove Prov. XIV 13. and the true cause of Gods indignation Or particularly this sinne of thy indignation and all inordinate passions thy swelling and storming at the will and wayes of God or at any serious advice given thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Remember 1. Chron. XXVIII 9. Prov. XXIII 17. thy Creator Heb. chapter XII verse 1 Creators Father Sonne and Holy Ghost So God my Makers Job XXXV 10. The Makers of Israel Psal. CXLIX 1. thy Makers is thy husbands Esay LIV. 5. Gods created Gen. I. 1. youth Youth is slippery prone to lusts and sensual pleasures apt to put off the evil day farre from them to look on death and judgement as at a great distance as evil men use to do Ezek. XII 27. Amos VI. 3. 2 Pet. III. 3 4. Solomon here calls on them to remember themselves better to minde God in the Spring of their age to present the first-fruits to God as young Samuel Jeremy and Timothy did and not to leave and reserve the dregs and snuffs to God while the evil dayes Old age is very unfit to begin so great a work in Old age will bring evils enough of its own besides While the Sunne Before the sight of thine eyes grow dimme Or verse 2 before thy most delightful and pleasant things begin to grow unwelcome unpleasant to thee The darknesse of lights about them as of the Sun candles torches c. Whence we need Spectacles Returning of the clouds after the raine alludes to the winterly state of old age In summer after raine the clouds break up and fair weather comes Not so in winter So in youth Not so in old age nor the clouds return One grief comes upon the neck of another as the billows of the sea wallow and tumble upon the back one of another A proverbial speech as Psal. XLII 7. the Keepers of the house The hands and armes verse 3 Some here take in the head and ribs and outward senses and inward faculties but not so properly strong men Thighs and legs Here some take in the feet Grinders The teeth They come not with us into the world And they commonly leave old men before they go out of the world look out of the windows The eyes out of the eye-lids darkened A further degree of dimnesse then that ver 2. And the doores Old men shall shut the street-dooers shall stay within doores because the weaknesse of their appetite and digestion when the sound of the grinding with the teeth was low and doth cause them to eat little and so weakens their bodies to stir abroad Others by streets here understand those Pipes and passages which are for the meat to go down to the stomach and for the breath and aire to go down to the lungs which passages have doores and covers which open and shut And these being weakened in old age breed weaknesse of the body and difficulty of swallowing and of speaking Those which stretch the words to the Hearing or to the eye-lids or to all the senses seeme to misse most of the true meaning doores Lips When for want of teeth the meat is rolled and ravelled in the mouth and hath need of shut lips to keep it from falling out of the mouth at the voice of the bird Shall wake out of sleep at every little noise through the badnesse of sleeping and wearines to lie long in bed by reason of little ease and much paine and akings daughters of musik That we can neither sing our selves nor be delighted with the musik of others 2 Sam. XIX 34 35. afraid of that which is high To go up it verse 5 being weak and short-winded And fear stumbling at every little stone in the way Both heights and hollows in the way annoy their goings almond-tree The gray-hairs which some call the white flowers of the Church-yard grashoppers Every light thing shall be a burthen to them who are now already become a burthen to themselves and desire shall faile The lust of the flesh libido As also the lust of the eye and the pride of life In decrepit age all these desires die though they reigned and raged in him before long home The grave his own house and long home Nox est perpetua Vna dormienda Esay XIV 18. never to returne hither again Job VII 10. But long to abide there till the Resurrection-day mourners Jer. IX 17. verse 6 and XXII 18. Amos V. 16. See Job III. 8. silver cord The marrow of the back-bone be loosed or lessened and contracted whence old men grow crooked and bending in the back Some take this for the sinewes which are the ligaments of all the members and are loosened by cold humours and palsie-distempers golden bowle The heart the blood of it or the pericardion or the brain pan pia-mater and pericranion Some understand this of the cista fellis the gaul and choler which easily breaks out in old men Some of the skull parted in the sâ—tures and seams of it diseases grow round as a bowle-golden for the colour and precious use of it in preserving the brains or the pitcher be broken at the fountain By fountain we may understand those principal parts as the Heart Head Liver from whence the vital supplies of spirit heat blood sense and motion are drawn into the body By Cisterne the same aforesaid or those places of the body whereinto those vital supplies are drawn and conveyed By the pitcher and wheele the veins arteries and sinewes which as subservient instruments do conveigh those supplies into the several parts of the body Some understand by the pitcher the bladder and by the cisterne the belly that neither duly performe their office by the fountaine or spring the issuing forth of the water the retentive faculty of the muskle at the neck of the bladder being broken so that water the urine issueth from him insensibly without stay the wheele broken at the cisterne The Lungs broken off from their motion of inspiration and respiration by phlegme from the stomach stopping and stifling the Lungs The Lungs are as the wheele transmitting the aire in and out up and down and when this free course is stopped then follows ratling in the throat and death after The stomach is the cisterne from all the body And the spirit shall returne Gen. II. 7. Joh XXXIV 14 15. verse 7 And even the wisest Heathen have avouched the immortality of the soul and a life of joy or paine after this life ended according to our carriage here So Socrates Plato Cicero Plutarch Epicharmus Euripides Lucretius Heraclitus Virgil and others
I will be in my bringing of them out of Egypt notwithstanding all Pharaohs obstinacie V. 7. breathed To shew that mans spirit is not of the earth as his body but of nothing by the insufflation of God and so differing from the spirit of beasts Job 33. 4. Eccles 3. 21. It hath iâ—s immediate original from the Father of spirits who did by creating infuse it or by infusion create it V. 8. planted On the third day chap. 1 11 12. Eastward From Moses in the wildernesse where he wrote this History in Eden A part of Mesopotamia V. 9. tree of life Because naturaly much but sacramentaly more it conduced thereunto tree of knowledge From the event in respect of our first parents V. 10. went out of Eden Flowing into it from above V. 11. Pison A part of Tygris Paâ—itygris or Pisotygris Havilah From Havilah the sonne of Cush Gen 10. 7. 25. 18 1 Sam. 15. 7. V. 13. Gihon The lower part of Euphrates Ethiopia Cush i. e. the Westerne Ethiopia adjacent to the Desert Arabia V. 14. Hiddekel The upper part of Tygris Euphrates Called the river the great river Deut. 1. 7. 11 24. Rev. 9. 14. V. 17. Thou shalt not eate of it The thing in it selfe indifferent but made unlawful to him by Gods command both sheâ— the Lords absolute dominion over him and his sin to be the greater and more notorious if he disobeyed it surely die Be subject to mortality misery death and to him which hath the power of death that is the Devil Heb. 2. 14. A man sentenced to death we count him a dead man dead in Law though he and his execution be reprieved for a time If he had not sinned he had continued in a safe and blessed condition free from death and all maner of evil V. 19. and brought them unto Adam Gen. 7. v. 8. 9. V. 20. And Adam gave names Not that the names must needs be given according to their natures V. 21. ribs With the flesh v 23. The want of which rib God could and easily did sufficiently supply by closing up the flesh instead thereof V. 22. made he a woman 1 Cor. 11. 8. brought her to the man As to her husband Thus the married estate honourable in the state of Innocency Matth 19. 4 5 6. V. 23. This is now bone c. He knew it partly of himself but more by divine revelation V. 24. Therefore shall a man leave c. These seeme to be rather the words of God Matth. 19. 4. 5. then of Adam or of Moses And are spoken both simply Gen. 24. 58 59. and comparatively rather leave the duty of children to parents then of husband to wife when any such case of necessity shall fall out And they Explained by twaine Matth. 19. 5 6. by two 1 Cor. 6. 16. Against Polygamy and unlawful divorces and carnal copulation out of marriage V. 25. both naked c. That shameful through sin since the Fall Rom. 6. 21. which was not so before not shall be after the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 43. CHAP. III. â—â—rs 1. SErpent Divers sorts are of them Some specious and beautiful to the eye subtil Prudent Matth. 10. 16. crafty 2. Cor. 11. 3. and so the fitter instrument for Satan he said Many Angels fell Mar. 5. 9 12. 2 4. Pet. 2. Jude v. 6. having one for Principal Matth. 25. 41. And they fell from the beginning 1 John 3. 8. Now they are called Devils or Daemons of their knowledge and cunning still remaining One of them if not the Principal opened here the Serpents mouth and caused it to speak with mans voice 2 Cor. 11. 3. as the Lord did with Balaâ—ms Asse And the Devil did this speedily after mans creation Whence he is called a Murtherer from the beginning Joh. 8. 44. and that old Serpent which deceiveth the whole world Rev. 12. 9. yea hath God This would be an abrupt beginning But it seemes to presuppose a Precedent parley in a more cunning and winning way V. 2. And the woman said She wonders not at the Serpents speaking and speaking so or it may be she did at the first for a while at least though it be not here expressed yet haply conceiving that her knowledge in some things was to increase by experience as our blessed Saviour did Luke 2. 52. He came to finde fruit on the fig-tree when the time of figs was not yet Mar. 11. 13. And she being not apt bâ— able to suspect any evil or sinne as not knowing the fall of the Angels or any evil to be in the world she might the rather entertaine this conference V. 3. Neither shall ye touchit lest ye die These words may be uttered with a good intention and receive a good interpretation in answer to the Serpents question she hereby heightening Prohibition to the utmost to put the greater â—ie upon her obediente and averring and ascertaining the danger and death which otherwise would ensue as Matth. 15. 32. compared with Marke 8. 3. V. 4. ye shall not surely die Thus the Devil is a liar and the father of it John 8. 44. V. 5. as Gods Satan might be pretend to meane it of the Angels But the woman conceived it of the true God in plurality of persons as appears v. 22. Knowing Satan abuseth the name of the treeâ— to a wrong sense pretending all good but intending all wofull knowledge of sinne and misery by it experimentally V. 6. And when the woman saw c. Here was the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life 1 John 2. 16. And thus through his eating by one man sinne and death entered into the world In Adam all his posterity sinned being then in his â—oines Rom. 5. 12 19. And in Adam all die 1 Cor 15. 22. Rom 5. 15 16 17 18. and he did eate Yet it is said Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression â— Tim. 2. 14. She first and deepest in the transgression and she not the Devil immediately the meanes to induce her husband to sinne she giving the forbidden fruit to him with words to perswade him v. 17. though she did not purposely deceive him as the Devil did purposely deceive hee V. 7. And the eyes of them both Small distance then betweene the time of both their eating naked In body before without shame while without sin chap. 2. 25. But now experimentally they know that they were naked both in body and soule with shame as Exod. 32. 25. through guilt of sinne and sting of conscience they sewed A silly shift And therefore notwithstanding this they seek to hide themselves v. 8. But for their souls they did not nor indeed could make any shift at all aprons To cover especially those parts of all most uncomely now which serve for generation By which sinne hath its derivation to all mankinde V. 8. voice of the Lord God walking Either in an humane shape or otherwise without that
gate of Heaven chap. 28. 17. Therefore in a special manner they should prepare and sanctifie themselves I will make And perform my vow an Altar V. 1 7. after a pillar v. 14. of my distresse About twenty seven yeares ago V. 4. And all their eare-rings Idolatrous monuments Hos. 2. 13. Judg 8. 24 25 26. 27. Deut. 7. 25 26. Exod. 32 2 3 4. under an oak From the knowledge of his family and people Esay 30. 22. Under an oak by Shechem Joshuah set up a great stone for a witnesse of the peoples Covenant with God Josh. 24. 26 27. And there the Shechemites made Abimelech King Judg. 9. 6. Oakes and groves of trees forbidden in worship and used by idolaters Esay 1. 29. by Shechem Shiloh and the Tabernacle of God were after there or by Shechem Josh. 24. 1 25 26. V. 5. Terrour of God Ch. 34. â—0 In all humane reason they easily might have destroyed him and his Exod. 23. 27. Josh. 2. 9 11. Gods restraining hand upon the wicked See Annot. on ch 20. 6. V. 7. An Altar According to part of his vowe ch 28. 22. El-Bethel Here he addes to the former name chap. 28. 19. V. 8. Rebekahs nurse Sent with Rebekah ch 24. 59. And Jacob being now returned into Canaan and being there now about seven yeares and not very far from his fathers house she thence might come to him of her owne accord or he send for her or fetch her if she did not return into Mesopotamia and thence come along with Jacob. V. 9. Again This is the seventh time God revealed himself to Jacob in special manner ch 28. 13. 31. 3 11. 32. 1 2 24. v. 35. 1. V. 10. But Israel shall be thy name Confirmes this name to him the second time See Annotat. on chap. 32. 28. V. 11. I am God Almighty Confirmes and amplifies the Promises made ch 28. and ch 32. Kings Thus God gives him the blessing of Abraham ch 28. 4. 17. 6. V. 12. To thee Not to Esau. V. 13. And God went up Chap. 17. 22. Judges 13. 20. V. 14. Set up a pillar Repaired the old set up neare thirty yeares ago ch 28. 18. or rather a new one in the very place here named a drink-offering thereon and he poured oile thereon These in use before the Ceremonial Law by Moses chap. 28. 18. V. 16. A little way About a mile short of Bethlehem ch 48. 7. 2 King 5. 19. Ephrath Which is Bethlehem v. 19. The Prophet joyns them And thou Bethlehem Ephrata Micah 5. 2. called also Bethlehem-Judah to distinguish it from another in Galilee in the tribe of Zebulun Here our Saviour was borne V. 17. This sonne also Ch 30. 24. V. 18. As her soule was in departing To God that gave it Eccl. 12. 7. being it self immortal as appeareth here and as is confessed by Heathens themselves as Plato Aristotle Cicero and others and so again life is restored when the soule comes again into the body 1 Kings 17. 21 22. for she died Who formerly would die for want of children ch 30. 1. Ben-oni The like case is 1 Sam. 4. 20 21. Benjamin Psal. 80. 17. Now was Joseph about twelve or thirteen yeares old six yeares old when he came from Laban and six or seven yeares more since he came into Canaan till the birth of Benjamin after Dinah's ravishing And Bâ—njamin was twenty seven or tweney eight when he went into Egypt with his ten sons Joseph then being fourty and Benjamin younger then he twelve or thirteen yeares V. 19. Buried in the way About this place many infants were murdered by Herod Mat 2. 16 18 Jer. 31. 15. V. 20. A pillar Monuments and memorials for the dead are lawful and useful too unto this day Till Moses time and after that to Sauls time 1 Sam. 10. 2. V. 21. Tower of Edar i e Of the flock Micah 4. 8. It may be hereabouts the Angels appeared to the shepherds Luke 2. 8. V. 22. His fathers Concubine See Annot. on ch 22. 24. and on ch 25. 1. By this he justly lost his birth-right ch 49. 4. 1 Chron. 5. 1. So Absalom sinned with his fathers Concubines 2 Sam. 16. 22. And as David abstained from them afterwards 2 Sam. 20. 3. so likely Jacob did from Bilhah and Israel heard it Here is an empty space left in the line with a mark to move consideration As likewise in Gen. 4. 8. And also a pause or breaking off as to a new matter even in the midst of the verse So in Deuteron 2. 8. twelve He had no more after Dinah was a daughter and Joseph was one of the twelve yet after when the twelve tribes were accounted and setled Ephraim and Manasse were put in and Joseph and Levi in a sort left out Levi for any land by lot in Canaan They are called the twelve Patriarchs Acts 7. 8. and twelve tribes Acts 26. 7. Their names engraved on twelve precious stones on the High Priests plate Exod. 28. 21 29. and on the twelve gates of the new Jerusalem Ezech. 48. 31. Apoc 21. 12. The Apostles of Christ were twelve and their names written on the twelve foundations of the wall or the City of the new Jerusalem Apoc. 21. 14. V. 23. The sonnes of Leah The sons of the wives by themselves and of the Concubines by themselves V. 26. In Padan Aram Except Benjamin which is so plain in the former part of this chapter as no Reader could mistake it And so no need of an exception of him to be named V. 27. And Jacob came unto Isaac His sons though borne out of the land of Canaan come with him into the land whereas Esau and his sonnes though borne in the land do go out and give place Jacob and his wives children and family came to him and removed their habitations thither Though in all likelihood living divers years in Canaan before and that not far from Isaac he did before this time come to visit his blinde and aged father unto Mamre See Annot. on ch 13. 18. and on 23. 2. V. 29. And died Long after Jacobs rerurn to him for he lived till the yeare before Josephs advancement in Egypt or till the time of his advancement He being sixty when Jacob was borne and Jacob being one hundred and twenty when Joseph was advanced in Egypt and one hundred and thirty when he stood before Pharaoh which sixty and one hundred and twenty make up the full life of Isaac Esau and Jacob buried him So Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham ch 25. 9. CHAP. XXXVI Verse 1. NOw these are the generations of Esau 1. Chron. 1. 35. All this shewes the accomplishment of that Oracle given to Rebekah ch 25. 23. As also of that temporal blessing wherewith his father blessed him ch 27. 39 40. And likewise of the Promise to Abraham ch 22. 17. V. 2. Esau took his wives Ch. 26. 34. 28. 9. Many here have two names Adah Called Bashemath ch 26. 34. Aholibamah Called Judith
have lien among the pots A promise and consolation for the future verse 13 ministring more arguments of praising God Though in the times of Heli and Saul ye have lien in black darknesse of afflictions as a Skullion lies in a Campe or Leaguer among pots as the wings of a Dove Shining and bright When the Almighty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 14 the alsufficient scattered Dispersed discomfited vanquished the Kings by his powerful presence that they did flee apace verse 12. Or when he shall so do so continuing and amplifying the former Promise Kings His and their enemies in Canaan in it In thy inheritance wherein thy Congregation did dwell it was white An embleme of prosperity and joy shall be black no more as verse 13. but joyous and prosperous or white with the dead bones of the scattered slaughtered enemies Salmon Judg. IX 48. A Mountain nigh Shechem and Samaria in the tribe of Ephraim not farre from Iordan likely snow was much upon it as the hill of Bashan Of Bashan verse 15 see the Annotations on Micah VII 14. The hill of Sion doth equal yea excell it by reason of all its spiritual prerogatives and priviledges as verse 16. Or thus the Hill of Bashan is an hill of God i. e. a most excellent hill for so the Hebrews expresse the most excellent things See the Observations on Ionah III. 3. and on 1 Sam. XIV 15. It is an high hill All this is true yet falls short of the hill of Sion as it is in the next verse Why leap ye Insult proudly verse 16 vaunt it above the hill of Sion dwell Psal. LXXXVII 1 2. and CXXXII 13 14. This doth infinitely advance this humble hill of Sion above you for ever And not flit with his Ark and Tabernacle from place to place as formerly The Chariots Gods glory in Sion by the multitudes of his ministring Angels verse 17 Heb. XII 22. as it was in Sinai when he gave the fiery Law Deut. XXXIII 2. Gal. III. 19. Acts VII 53. Or rather these words may have a direct relation to the glorious maner of Christs Ascention with the attendance of infinite Angels Angels appeared and ministred at his Incarnation Luke II. 9 13. Heb. I. 6. And why not so or more at his Ascention into the highest heavens See Acts I. 10. well might the Angels then sing that song Apoc. V. 11 12. We read of a Charet of fire and horses of fire at the rapture of Elias And of a mountain full of horses and Charets of fire round about Eliseus in his defense And why not these Angels here to attend our Saviours triumphant Ascention set down in the next verse Thou hast ascended Literaly and typicaly true verse 18 after a sort in Gods dealing with David But without any type it is Mysticaly most trâ—e and most verified in Christ and his Ascention into Heaven And so David here turns his speech to Christ himself Whereunto the Apostle doth apply it Ephes. IV. 8. Ascended in his humane nature properly In Eph. IV. 8 9 10. He is said to descend which being understood of his Divine nature is spoken improperly But Christ being God and Man in one person That one Person without dissolving it by reason of the Union of both natures in it admits properly and truly of such speeches as containe the Proprieties of either Nature the natures themselvs their properties neverthelesse remaining ever realy distinguished The person then of Christ without the conversion of the one Nature into the other in proper speech did ascend in his Humanity by the power of his Deity localy from mount Olivet into that third heaven of Paul which our Saviour cals his Fathers house Iohn XIV 2. above these visible heavens Eph. IV. 10. Our Saviours humane Nature then is contained in Heaven Acts III. 21. is not in the Popish hoasts and much lesse every where according to the Ubiquitarian fancie Though a time was when Christ in his body was in the grave in his soul in Paradise in his Divine nature or Deity every where yet without dissolving the Unity of his Person captivity captive Lead and taken them captives or a multitude of captives subdued thine enemies unto thee made them thy captives Judg. V. 12. Not leading the Fathers out of Limbus Patrum but captiving the World and the Flesh Sinne and Satan Death and Damnation which otherwise held Gods people in captivity and slavery Col. I. 15. received gifts for men Taken gifts for them i. e. receiving gave as the phrase is Exod. XXV 2. And in divers other places taking is used for giving 1 King III. 24 and XVII 10. Judg. XIV 2. And giving is sometimes used for taking as Gen. XLII 30. What the chief of the Gifts were are specified Ephes. IV. 11 12. rebellious also Even the most averse and rebellious of them that God might dwell in them as Soul made a Paul Tit. III. 3 4 5. dwell in them Jah in them not they dwell in the Church Blessed David blesseth God verse 19 as it may seeme for the fruits and benefits of Christs Ascention which do follow loadeth us With those gifts and blessings which Christ received for us verse 18. and unto God the Lord Here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath the points of Elohim verse 20 not of Adonai And so still when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Adonai are joyned together lest otherwise Adonai should be twise read But where Adonai is not conjoyned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath the pricks of Adonai more often then of Elohim Or Jehovi here may be used as a more pathetical kinde of expression as in Gen. XV. 2 8. Deut. III. 24. issues from death As 1 Cor. X. 13. But God This seemes to be the fruit and powerful effect of Christs Ascention verse 21 upon his enemies The Lord said Num. verse 22 XXI 34. and Exod. XIV 13 14. i. e. as I did from Og King of Bashan and from Pharaoh at the red sea Thus he recals to their memories these two great victories and to strengthen their faith for like victories over their enemies in Davids dayes or in times of future extremities thy foot may be dipped So great should the slaughter of them be verse 23 When God takes publike vengeance and executes his judgements upon his enemies the godly who execute the same may therein rejoyce and say as Jehu did 2 Kings IX 10 36. thy goings In the procedure of the verse verse 24 the Prophet goeth from the second person to the third person So Gen. XLIX 9. And it is very frequent with the Hebrews to passe from one person to another Thy goings then and thy doings thy wayes and administrations i. e. when God marched out of Egypt through the Wildernesse before his people or when David brought the Ark into Jerusalem The singers All sorts verse 25 in their rancks praised God damzels As Exod. XV. 20 21. Iudg. V. 1. and Chap. XI 34. 1 Sam. XVIII 9 7. Blesse ye
XII 29. on my side Heb. verse 6 XIII 6. Psal. LVI 4. 11. All nations David had to deale with all the neighbouring nations round about him verse 10 Thou Speaking to the enemie verse 13 Open to me The gates of the Sanctuarie verse 19 or house of God the gates of the Court thereof which the Levitical Porters were to do for men to come and serve the Lord. of righteousnesse For the righteous and cleane only were to enter in thereat 2 Chron. XXIII 19. See Esay XXVI 2. Apoc. XXI 27. The stone David Typicaly verse 22 His Sonne the Messias Realy Mat. XXI 42. Ephes. II. 20. builders refused The Rulers refused David in the reignes of Saul and Ishbosheth The Priests and Elders refused Christ Mark XII 2 10. Luke XIX 14. 1 Pet. II. 7. the head stone Acts IV. 11. Luke XX. 17. Of this stone see more Esay XXVIII 16. Dan. II. 34 35 45. Zech. III. 9. Rom. IX 33. the day A chief and choise day of God shewing his mercie verse 24 Save nowâ—beseech thee Heb. Hoshiahâ— na verse 25 in Greek sounded Hosanna wherewith Christ is welcomed to Jerusalem and the Temple Mat. XXI 9 15. Luke XIX 37 38. we have blessed you These seeme to be the Priests words verse 26 relating to Num. VI. 23. light Prosperity verse 27 under the Kingdome of David and Christ. even unto the hornes of the Altar Likely the hornes of the Altar Exod. XXVII 2. intended for that use Or sacrifices abundantly all the Court over till you come to the hornes of the Altar Levit. IV. 7. Blessed Of this Psalme see the Observations on the beginning of the Book of Psalmes chapter CXIX verse 1 David probably is the penman of it The stile is plaine fitted for all capacities And the Alphabetical order was used for help of memory It is full of the ardent pious affections of a religious soul. Petitions for saving knowledge and gracious assistance from God and Promises of all holy sincere obedience thereupon are in every Octonarie with wondrous art and variety of sense yet running much upon the same words without any tautologie Before I was afflicted So verse 71. verse 67 Before I spake or answered is not so proper an interpretation of this place though it pleased Junius unlesse we understand it thus Before I cried out by reason of affliction my soul is continualy in my hand i. e. verse 109 my life is dayly in danger As Iudg. XII 3. 1 Sam. XIX 5. and chap. XXVIII 21. Many read this text in thy hand or hands understanding Gods hand which imports not danger but safety and security as Psal. XXXI 5. Luke XXIII 46. 1 Pet. IV. 19. And is indeed a wrong reading and breeds sundry senses not consonant or consisting with the tenour of this verse any iniquity either in me verse 133 subjective or of others against me objective And so the later way may be understood that Gal. II. 7 90 Ephes. VI. 12. Heb. XII 4. Psal. XLIX 5. and XL. 12. and LXV 3. and XXXIX 8. A song of degrees or ascensions chapter CXX heights or excellencies This and the fourteene Psalmes following have this Title prefixed The meaning whereof is variously conjectured As thus That they were to be sung with a loud voice as 1 Chron. XV. 16. Or upon the steps and degrees of the staires ascending to the Court of the people or to that of the Priests which they say were fifteene in number according to these number of these Psalms Or in the coming of the Ark into the Temple Or in their returne out of Babylon Or to be sung in their returne into their own land in the time of the Messias Others have other conjectures yet without any certaine determination neither is it much material Of these four bear Davids title and some of the rest not unlikely were penned by him I David likely verse 1 from lying lips Of such as falsely accused him to Saul verse 2 1 Sam. XXIV 9. and chap. XXVI 19. what shall be given What good or profit shalt thou get or gaine by it verse 3 sharp arrowes Such is a false tongue verse 4 or such are the plagues God will render as a reward unto it Woe is me Laments verse 5 that in his exile he was forced to dwell so long with the cruel and barbarous posterity of Mesech the sonne of Japhet Gen. X. 2. and of Kedar the sonne of Ishmael Gen. XXV 13. or rather with men of like evil cruel conditions to them hills Moriah chapter CXXI verse 1 and Zion where God dwelleth But most to God himself verse 2. The Sunne By its parching heat verse 6 as Ionah IV. 8. Nor the Moon by its cold vapors Gen. XXXI 40. nor any discommodity shall be able to annoy thee Psal. XCI 5. I David having brought the Ark of the testimony to Ierusalem chapter CXXII verse 1 and setled the Thrones of judgement there pens this Psalme of joy and gladnesse therefore Praising the Citie and praying for the prosperity of it testimonie The Ark. verse 4 See the Observations on Ex. 25. 16. thrones of judgement Both Ecclesiastical verse 5 and Civil as God had commanded Deut. XVII 8 c. the captivity of Zion Out of Babylon chapter CXXVI verse 1 which returne figured our Redemption by Christ. that dreame So incredible it was and the joy of it that we half doubted whether it were true or but a dreame As Peter did Acts XII 9 11. See Esay XXIX 7 8. And the like speech we read of in Abdolominus when he was taken from manuring the earth to possesse a Kingdome and in Isaacus Angelus when he was suddenly lifted up to the Empire and in that famous Iohn Chrysostome when he was first chosen into the Presbyterie Turn again Prayes that the deliverance begun verse 4 may be carried on and brought to perfection For it had many stops and hinderances as appears in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah They that sow in tears That went mournfuly into captivity verse 5 shall return joyfuly for Solomon Seemes to be inspired and penned for Solomon chapter CXXVII by David a litle before his death Psal. LXXII title Except the Lord This is true generaly verse 1 yet may relate to the future building of the Temple by Solomon and the safe keeping of the Citie Ierusalem or rather to the building of Solomons house and posterity so By building verse 2 keeping blessing their labours without sorrow he giveth Or surely will give or rightly doth give his beloved Whom he loves and who in assurance of his love commits himself to him and his care The Hebrew word Iedid seemes to allude to Solomons name Iedidiah 2 Sam. XII 25. his darling sleep Or quiet rest without carking care and sorrow The Hebrew word is written with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a quiet dumb letter otherwise then usual to denote the more quietnesse And this rest not your care and toil but Gods blessing will bring unto you Prov. X. 22.
Angels Yet it faileth sometimes which is the case of most of these moral observations is servant As it were a servant verse 7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Heathen Author rod of his anger Wherewith he whipt others verse 8 his underlings scorner Psal. verse 10 CI. 5. That takes and turnes every thing to the worst loveth Affects verse 11 though he can never effect it strange women Chap. verse 14 II 16. and V. 3 and VII 5 27. and chap. XXIII 27 28. Eccles. VII 26. of a childe Chap. verse 15 XIII 24. and XIX 18. and XXIII 13. and VI. 23. and XXIX 15 17. giveth to the rich With a minde to get more then he gave verse 16 and by his countenance to colour and cover his oppressive practises and scape with them by such briberie he shall not thrive Bow down Here seemes to begin some alteration of stile and method verse 17 He seemes to assume a new kinde of bespeaking his sonne differing from that in the twelve preceding Chapters and much like that in the nine first Wherein the several documents and instructions are prosecuted in more verses then one a pleasant thing Psal. XIX 11. verse 18 and CXIX 103. more pleasant then all the tastlesse fooleries of this present world fitted Whereby to get a singular dexterity and volubility in holy language Matth. XII 24. thy trust Ephes. I. 13. verse 19 even to thee We must read the Scripture as men do Statute-books holding themselves as much concerned therein as any others binding themselves in every precept threatning themselves in every threat blessing themselves in every promise For these are verba vivenda non legenda excellent things Princely things verse 20 rare and royal sentences chap. VIII 6. the certaintie Col. II. 2. verse 21 2 Cor. IV. 13. Rob not By might verse 22 as the greater fish devour the lesser nor yet by false judgments Zech. VII 10. plead Without fee verse 23 for they come forma pauperis chap. XXIII 11. Job XXI 21. spoile Pay them in their kinde chiefly when the cold grave shall hold their bodies and hot hell hold their souls angrie man Anger is a short madnesse verse 24 He rageth and casteth fire-brands Fit to live alone as dragons and wilde beasts to be looked on only as through a grate chap. XV. 18. and XXVI 21. and XXIX 22. lest Sinne is as a leprosie and infectious plague land-mark Deut. XXVII 17. verse 28 and chap. XIX 14. and XXIII 10. diligent Chap. XXVII 23. verse 29 Ezra VI. 13. and VII 26. Gen. XLI 39 40 46. and chap. XLVII 6. 1 Kings XI 28. to eate feed not without fear chapter XXIII verse 1 Jude verse 12. a knife Bridle thy appetite verse 2 Or otherwise thou dost put a knife to thy throat and diggest thy grave with thy teeth for meat and the board kils more then the musket and the sword Luke XXI 34. deceitful An hook under that bait verse 3 to be rich 1 Tim. VI. 9 10. verse 4 James III. 15. 1 John II. 15 16 17. wilt thou Cast a leering eye after such vanities verse 5 and flie a fooles pitch is not Hath no solid subsistence though we call riches substance 1 Cor. VII 31. Earth is hanged upon nothing as Job speaketh And so all earthly things Amos VI. 13. Esay XXVIII 15. eate thou not A miserly fordid muckworme verse 6 thinketh Grudgeth at his guests as one willing to starve even his own genius sweet words Which he hath spoak to thee verse 8 or rather thy chearful words at his table speak not Chap. IX 7 8. verse 9 Matth. VII 6. land mark Chap. XXII 28. verse 10 Deut. XIX 14. and XXVII 17. Ovidius ad Deum Terminum Omnis erit sine te litigiosus ager Plead Chap. XXII 23. verse 11 Job XXXI 23. and XXVI 14. Psal. XC 11. Eccles. VI. 10. God is the great Master of the wards apply Busie them about the best things verse 12 withhold not correction Chap. XIII 24. verse 13 and Chap. XIX 18. and chap. XXII 25. and shalt deliver This a means for it verse 14 And if it succeed not yet thou hast done thy duty and so shalt deliver thine own soul and have thy reward As the Phisitian hath his fee whether the Patient live or die shall rejoyce Chap. X. 1. verse 15 and chap. XV. 20. 3 John 4. 1 Thes. III. 9. envie sinners Chap. XXIV 1 19. verse 17 and chap. III. 31. Psal. XXXVII 1. and LXXIII 3. feare This cures one of the fret all the day long Waking walking and lying down in his fear in continual communion with him and conformity to him ch XXVIII 14. 1 Pet. I. 17. Phil. II. 12. 2 Cor. VII 11. an end Chap. X. 28. verse 18 An end of the sinners prosperitie Job VIII 13 14. and chap. XI 20. and XVIII 14. Psal. CXII 10. And an end and reward to those that fear God Psal. XXXVII 37 38. and LVIII 11. Wine-bibbers Verse 29 35. verse 20 Rom. XIII 13. Ephes. V. 18. Mat. XXIV 49. Buy the truth Tit. I. 9. verse 23 Phil. I. 27. Iude 3. Either live with it or die for it The father Chap. X. 1. verse 24 and chap. XV. 20. thy heart This the seat of our affections verse 26 and fountain of our actions Mark VII 21. Matth. XII 34 35. And therefore that care and caveat is given of it Prov IV. 23. And God so craveth and wisheth it Deut. V. 29. and complains of the want of it Matth. XV. 8. yea and deals as Ioseph with his brethren concerning Benjamin Gen. XLIII 3. no seeing his face without it thine eyes Look well to this patterne and copie get a ful prospect and fix and feed thine eyes hereupon a whore Chap. XXII 14. verse 27 See chap. V. 15. who hath woe Chap. XX. 1. verse 29 mixt wine Chap. IX 2. Psal. LXXV 8. verse 30 moveth Sparkleth verse 31 as the most generous wine useth to do strange women Drunckennesse ushers in whordome verse 33 Wine the milk of Venus and strange things and sights disturbing the braine Et geminum Solem duplices consurgere Thebas midst of the Sea Thy braines shall turne round verse 34 thy self reel as a ship tossed at Sea Psal. CVII 27. Or thy braines swim as if at Sea and so drunckenly dream as if thou wert at Sea Or be so stupid and senselesse in this druncken lethargie as to be fearlesse and carelesse in the greatest danger whatsoever and not refuse or forbear to sleep on the top of maâ—â— not sick A druncken man verse 35 we say takes no hurt feels no blows no smart is turned into a beast yea a block I will seek it yet again Though they be sick with it yet after their recoverie and that fit past they will to it again For drunckennesse inflaming increaseth thirst Deut. XXIX 19. and thirst drunckennesse and so the drunckard irrecoverable to be with them In their state chapter XXIV verse 1 and at their stay
disease but this vanity and vexation passeth on from one generation to another that they are thus variously affected towards their Princes in all ages shall not rejoyce in him But grow wearie of him whom now they so zealously affect and with so much loyaltie adhere unto and shall wish for another Surely this Must needs be a vanitie and vexation to people but to Princes specialy Keep thy foot Having searched and found verse 1 That neither humane Wisdome and Knowledge chapter V nor Pleasures nor Riches nor Honours or Crowns can make men happy but are all full of vanitie and vexation and that it is a thing beyond the sphere and activitie of any creature for to do He now ascends higher to search for it in the worship and service of God And discovers even here much vanity not in the thing it self but as it is performed by vaine and foolish men And therfore for remedy of this he prescribes sundry Caveats to prevent it And first this in these words Keep thy foot Where the letters are plural the Points direct to read it in the singular number That all and every one should look well to his affections and inward man that all be composed and in a right temper when he goes to worship God Ps. LVII 7 8. and CIII 1. See Exod. III. 5. and chap. XIX 21. Josh. V. 15. house of God The Gate of Heaven Gen. XXVIII 17. Psal. CXVIII 20. the beauty of holinesse Psal. XCVI 9. This the likeliest place where Felicitie is to be found But here then our preparation before and our deportment in this place must be as in the Presence of God looking him full in the face ready to hear As Acts X. 33. which includes obedience in it Psal. LXXXV 8. Job XXXIV 32. 1 Sam. III. 10. Acts IX 6. James I. 19. the sacrifice of fooles Outward services and ceremonies foolish sinners are apt enough to to load God with even to loathing Esay I. 11 14. So as their heart and inward man in spirit and truth may be free to themselves and farre enough from God 1 Sam. XV. 22. that they do evil In so doing doubling their iniquity by a seeming sanctitie Ios. XI 12. Esay LXVI 3. nor rash In prayer to God verse 2 Rom. VIII 26. nor hastie precipitate unadvised for God is in heaven Job XXVI 14. Esay LVII 15. Come thou with all possible reverence humilitie and self-abasement Job XLII 6. Gen. XVIII 27. few Luke XVIII 13. Matth. XXVI 39 42 44. Against battologie Matth. VI. 7. Prov. X. 19. For a dream Multitude of businesse produceth dreames verse 3 multitude of words which usualy are rash hasty and sudden produceth folly specialy in Prayer to God chap. X. 14. Vowest Of vowes verse 4 see my Annotations on Jonah I. 16. Better It is a voluntarie service to vow verse 5 Num. XXX But being lawfully made must be performed Deut. XXIII 21 22 23. neither say thou before the Angel Exod. XXIII 20 21. verse 6 that Angel of the Covenant Mal. III. 1. Psal. II. 12. For in the multitude of dreams Verse 3. verse 7 Prov. X. 19. As in those are many Vanities so vaine will thy many words and excuses be in pleading an erroneous mistake and extenuating the non-performances of thy vowes and promises to God but fear thou God The true remedy against the former vanities of rash vowes and prayers and addresses to God The fear of God is the foundation of all holy duties Marvaile not Be not amazed verse 8 or astonished to doubt of God or his Providence or to forsake his service Many are sorely tempted hereby for he that is higher There lies an appeale to an higher Court. And wherein they deale proudly he is above them Exod. XVIII 11. Psal. LXXVI 12. higher then they Higher here in the plural number may relate to the holy Trinity or to Angels by whom God doth punish Princes Esay XXXVII 36. Acts XII 23. Moreover the profit of the earth Is for all men verse 9 and uses and above all other profits the King 1 Chron. XXVII 26. 2 Chron. XXVI 10. Amos VII 1. The commendation of tillage and grasing And this shewes the vanity of earthly felicity When the highest stands in need of the lowest to sustaine and support them Shall not be satisfied with silver The loving and desiring doth increase with the having verse 10 It cannot therefore be mans chiefest good seeing it doth not terminate and satisfie the appetite They can never say It is enough but are like the grave and barren womb Prov. XXX 15 16. What good Little else verse 11 and that is small enough The sleep And herein he hath advantage over that great rich man verse 12 And this vanity of riches he pursueth in the five verses following He resumeth in this verse 18 and the two next verses his former assertion touching the right use of Riches And concludeth with it as he did chap. II. 24 25 26. An evil Another and another chapter VI verse 1 one still after another our lives full of them And yet we vainly dote on this life which is indeed but a lingring death common Usual among all sorts of men an epidemical evil disease God hath given In way of Providence verse 2 as he maketh his Sunne to shine and raine to fall on the good and bad Wanteth nothing That he can justly and reasonably desire though indeed this covetous mans desires are bottomlesse and boundlesse And he wants all things not having power to make use of any thing but a stranger Hos. VII 9. Jer. V. 17. Lam. V. 2. many years And many children verse 3 not like him chap. IV. 8. But filled both with children and years and yet not filled with good with the comfortable use and fruition of his blessings and estate lives beside it is not master of it but mastered by it no burial Deut. XXVIII 26. Jer. XXII 19. through enemies or greedy heirs to such covetous caitifs and niggardly misers an untimely birth An abortive that comes from birth to burial from womb to tomb Matth. XXVI 24. is better then he He is in rest having never had sense or reason to feel losse or paâ—ne ver 4 5. A thousand years Which never man yet did yet hath he seene no good Better then to have beene without those years verse 6 they did but lengthen his misery Prov. XV. 15. Job XIV 1. to one place The house appointed for all living Job XXX 23. Esay L. 11. Thus he findes in the end all to be vanity and vexation of spirit For his mouth For food verse 7 and rayment for his body This is all he can have of all his worldly labours And a little of this would suffice him appetite Yet that is never filled it is insatiable chap. V. 16. nor can be filled with these worldly things much lesse his soul can Riches have no suitablenesse with it no proportion either in excellency or in duration unto it Wise more then
the foole Speaking with relation to wealth verse 8 and the event of outward things These things promiscuously happen to all without peculiar prerogative to any and beyond their own natural use they are not able to supply a wise man more then a fool and the fool may have as much and as much also of them as the wise Better is the sight of the eyes To enjoy quietly and contentedly what a man hath in present possession verse 9 then to wander and rove up and down in desire and pursuit of what we have not and cannot hardly attaine but endlesly weary our selves in hawking and hunting after them which never will nor can satisfie That which hath beene verse 10 the name And nature of it is known already That which is hoped for hereafter is yet unknown That it is man Man still earthly Adam sorry man be his wealth or greatnesse what it will And God will make him know himself so to be Psal. IX 20. Ezek. XXVIII 6 9. Esay II. 22. and XXXI 3. Contend with To enter plea against God or require a reason of his judgements or strive against this streame thinking to alter or break through the order bounds of his Providence or decrees Esay XLV 9. Job IX 2 3 12. and IV. 17. and chap. XXXIV 23. Jer. L. 44. Rom. IX 20. Seeing there be many things A solemne conclusion of all the former discoveries of vanities in the Creatures verse 11 averring that first set down chap. I. 3. which is the maine matter of this Book What is man the better In regard of sound and solid happinesse for any or for all the former vanities For who knoweth The animal creatures by instinct of nature know what is good for them verse 12 to maintaine their being and well-being to remedy their maladies But man knoweth not what is good for him What is best for him in this life as to the things of this life Whether to be rich or poor c. Achitophel might have lived longer with lesse wisdome Nabal with lesse riches Herod with lesse pride and praise c. God is pleased to shew man the only good Mic. VI. 8. and Solomon chap. XII ver 13 14. vaine life This life it self a vaine shadow Psal. CXLIV 4. and XXXIX 6. Job XIV 2. and chap. VIII 1 Chron. XXIX 15. What shall be after him He cannot promise to himself when he is gone any satisfactorie content in name family and posterity no more then he could in his life-time to himself chap. II. 18 19. Nescis quid serus vesper vehat A good name chapter VII verse 1 Solomon in this Chapter proceeds to many other particular meanes and remedies for healing the vanities and vexations of this life and procuring tranquility and peace of minde in the midst of them Yet here and there he doth intermix some more vanities and vexations The first meanes and remedy here is a Good Name or Fame The first letter of the Hebrew word for Good is here greater then ordinary to intimate belike the great and extraordinary goodnesse of a good name Which is better to a man to his conscience and soul then a precious ointment is to his body It refresheth and cheereth and comforteth the soul and conscience in the very midst of all wrongs and sufferings and specially at the hour of death and remaines fresh after the body rots in the grave They leave their names for a blessing and are had in everlasting remembrance whereas the memory of the wicked shall rot Job XVIII 17. Prov. X. 17. and they leave their names as a curse and a stinking snuff behinde them Esay LXV 15. yea in this life this fattens the bones Prov. XV. 30. And procures reverence and esteeme in the consciences of others And is rather to be chosen then all riches Prov. XXII 1. Herein the Hebrew is a Paranomasia of the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the same is in Cant. I. 3. and the day of death To such a man of a good name or to any man relation being had to the many vanities and vexations of this life Job XIV 1. Life begins with crying 2 Nondum loquitur infans tamen sic prophetat And Lawyers define life by crying without which they are counted still-borne 3 Now that day that delivers a man from them is better then that which lets in and puts a man in possession of them Which makes Solomon here prefer his coffin before his cradle to the house of mourning So wise men do And fools they are that do the contrary verse 4. This is better for the living as the former for the dead for this is the end of all men Here is the reason men will so fall into deep and due consideration of their own dying life as Job XXX 33. Psal. XXXIX 4 5. and XC 12. that life is but to lie a dying and so be weined from the vaine jollities of this life and wrought to humiliation mortification and preparation for a better life From which Feasting calls us off See Josh. XXIII 14. Heb. IX 2. And againe Amos VI. 3 6. Deut. VIII 12 14. Esay XXII 12 13 14. and chap. V. 12. Sorrow is better James IV. verse 3 9 Luke VI. 21. 25. Matth. V. 4. yet this is a Paradox to the world which is alwayes set upon the merry pin to be as merry Greeks to eat and drink and laugh and play and labours to banish all sorrow away as the bane of their life sadnesse of the countenance In our selves by grave thoughts and sad and serious meditations and considerations or of a sower and severe yet sure friend the heart is made better The better part is bettered the inward man is amended by abandoning those loose noisome and destructive vanities and jollities of laughter and of penitential humiliation compunction contrition of mortality death judgment These sorrowful tears have much joy in them they wash away the filth of sin as sweet April showers they bring on amaine the May-flowers of Grace and Glorie And therefore where ever the body is upon several occasions yet the heart of the wise is here he numbereth the dayes of his life and the dayes of darknesse Psal. XC 12. Eccles. XI 8. And where ever the body is yet the heart of fooles is on effuse mirth runs a madding the way to rejoyce in a thing of nought Amos VI. 13. is on foolish follies in the filth and froth whereof is bred and fed that woful worme that never dies Job XXI 12 13. Yet their laughter is indeed but the hypocrisie of mirth as the crackling of thornes under a pot a sudden blaze soone gone as sudden lightning which yet is followed with the rending and roaring of thunder-claps Luke VI. 25. Psalme CXVIII 12. The rebuke of the wise Prov. XIII 18. verse 5 and chap. XV. 31 32. ch XXVII 6. Psal CXLI 5. An enemie in this case many times proves a good and
doth supply and minister the former yea and hath the dominion in humane affairs above all other things money is the measure of all things buyeth all things Money is the sinewes of warre beares the masterie in matches and marriages and Law-suits effecteth all things Curse not the King Notwithstanding his errours in government verse 20 or miscarriages in living or wrongs done to thee Exod. XXII 28. 2 Pet. II. 10. no not in thy thought Or conscience or heart Thought is not free Jer. IV. 14. Esay LIX 7. Psal. LXII 4. It will likely break forth for a bird of the aire The danger if thou mutter it in hugger-mugger God can reveale it by brute creatures birds and beasts by inanimate creatures See Gen. IV. 11. Esay XXVI 21. Hab. II. 11. As Luke XIX 40. So in this case However Kings themselves have long eares Yea we say walls and hedges have ears See that Ester II. 22. And consider the discovery of our hellish Powder-plot Cast thy bread It must be thine chapter XI verse 1 well gotten Ephes. IV. 28. upon the waters Where it may seeme clearly cast away as if it were throwne into the Sea lost because the poor cannot recompence thee againe Luke XIV 12 13 14. Yet lend in that manner looking for nothing againe Luke VI. 35. God will repay it Prov. XIX 17. Esay LVIII 7. Yet some by water here do understand moist and fertil soile well watered or grounds on the sides of waters such as on the banks of Nilus which yeeld increase very abundantly And that so plentifully God will reward thy almes to the poor In the former Chapter as the Great Annotations do well observe Solomon shewed the excellent use of true wisdome as a means of tranquility of minde and Remedy against the vanity and vexation of outward things in Ordering our behaviour aright toward Superiours for prevention of those dangers which their displeasure might subject us unto In this Chapter he further discovereth the use thereof unto the same end of comfortable living so still pursuing his principal argument touching tranquility and comfort of life in Ordering our behaviour towards Inferiours those especially that are in want shalt finde it after Gal. VI. 9. Prov. XI 25. and XIX 17. James V. 7. 2 Cor. IX 6 10. Matth. XIX 21. Deut. XV. 9 10. to seven and also to eight Micah V. verse 2 5. To many as waters formerly in the plural number may likewise intimate The necessity of a man may require it when his person doth not deserve it And thy ability must guide thee to Give with discretion Psal. CXII 5. Luke VI. 30. Prov. XXXI 20. thou knowest not what evil Therefore sowe whilest thou hast it work while the toole is in thy hand James IV. 14. Prov. XXVII 1. By bounty evil of punishments and judgements is prevented by unmercifulnesse to the poor it is procured If the clouds They emptie themselves in showers for the good of the earth verse 3 So should rich men do Psal. CXII 9. And the showers fal upon all the ground this as well as that And so should the full and rich not too solicitously enquire who it is to whom they give He is a man and needie man and if the tree fall Fall it must and man must die And as death leaves him judgement findes him and sentence goes upon him for the right hand or the left according to his carriage towards the poor Matth. XXV 33 46. Or This seemes a vulgar Proverb touching things of small concerment care or choise And to imply that our ordinarie almes should fall upon any this or that poor and be distributed as it were with a blinde hand or hood-winkt eye without any over-curious choise He that observeth the winde We must not stand scrupling and casting perils and objections and pretences to hinder or delay our Alms-giving and come with our Talent tied up in a napkin Whereas any pertext serves the covetous miser not to give What is the way of the Spirit Of the winde verse 5 say some John III. 8. Of the Soul rather how it comes into the body and quickens it Nor how the bones Psal. CXXXIX 14 15 16. Job X. 8 13. Knowest not the works of God The works of his Providence how he may dispose of thy life and state and ability of doing good And therefore thou must take the present season and opportunity and not delay and defer it lest the Lord haply will put thee out of all capacitie and meanes to do it Neither knowest thou by what secret and wondrous wayes he may recompence thy liberality In the morning At all times verse 6 upon every occasion and opportunity chap. IX 10. John IX 4 Begin betimes and continue to the end lose not a day Whether shall prosper Though sometimes thy bounty prove misplaced and it be ten to one if any cured Leper returne to give thanks yet thy reward is sure from God Heb. VI. 10. Matth. X. 41 42. 1 Kings XVII 13 16. The light is sweet The light of life as appears in the opposition verse 7 verse 8. And specialy a lightsome joyful life is such Job II. 4. 1 Kings XX. 32. Esther VII 3. Life was given as a prey and reward to Ebedmelech and Baruc Jer. XXXIX 18. and XLV 5. Yet consider it will end in death dayes of darknesse will come Therefore unto compleat happinesse there is yet more to be done not only to gaine and secure the comforts of this life and tranquility of minde here amidst all the vanities and vexations of it In which search and point Solomon had hitherto laboured But also to get the assurance of a better life after this which is the businesse of Solomon in the remaining part of this Book But if a man live And sit in the worlds warme Sun-shine verse 8 and say he shall never be moved Job XXI 7 13. yet let him remember That the light will be turned into darknesse the dark dayes will come of old age and death chap. VI. 4. Job X. 21. Psal. VIII 12 13. and CXLIII 3. and they so many as that the lightsome days of life will seeme but a warm gleame a momentanie glance which remembrance should coole our hot desires after the vanites of this life and lay our lusts a bleeding and a dying at our feet 1 Pet. II. 12. All that cometh every man every thing that hapneth is vanity Rejoyce O young man No encouragement verse 9 but a scoff and ironie derides his folly Like that of Elias to the Baalites and many more in Scripture and walk in the wayes Go on in the choise and chase of thy hearts desires But know thou To thy cost though such would faine baffle their knowledge and blinde the eye of their understanding yet it will not be As Esay XXVI 11. 1 King XXII 25. 2 Pet. III. 5. that for all these things This mars the mirth leavens all is sowre sauce to his sweet meats God will bring thee
like fathers unto the sins of the fathers also either enhauncing or lengthening the judgements to make their sufferings the more exemplarie that men may observe how execution of vengeance though delayed for a time yet at length falleth with a full storme on the race of the wicked 1 Sam. III. 12. Lam. V. 7. Matth. XXIII 32 35 36. 1 Thes. II. 15 16. a blessing in it The little liquor in the cluster argued life and sap to be in the plant verse 8 and so hope of recovery to become fruitful againe not destroy them all A Remnant still reserved and saved ver 9. for the propagating of the Church Jer. XXX 11. Amos. IX 8. Sharon Under Libanus verse 10 1 Chron. XXVII 29. valley of Achor Neere Jericho that prepare a table for that troope Feasts verse 11 for their troope of idols pointed at as it were with the finger in contempt by the Prophet here Some by this troope understand the hoast of heaven Some one particular Star as Jupiter that furnish the drink-offering Heb. that fill mixture i. e. wine Apoc. XIV 10. Psal. LXXV 8. Prov. IX 2. strong wine is in these places meant without mixture of water For they would not offer such to their Idols though in their ordinary drinking they did mix it for themselves behold A strange alteration verse 13 four times repeated by another name Verse 16. verse 15 chap. LXII 2 4 12. as being in another state and condition then you or they formerly Such a name as should be used not in Cursing but in Blessing See Hos. I. 6 9. and II. 1 23. Rom IX 26. 1 Pet. II. 10. I create new heavens A further more strange alteration verse 17 Make as it were a new world Their change shall be such that coming suddenly out of such adversity into such prosperity they shall seeme to be in a new in another world But this is chiefly applyable to the times of the Gospel under Christ in a spiritual sense in regard of those plentiful endowments of spiritual graces that therein should abound John I. 16 17 Acts II. 17 33. Heb. IX 9 12. And hereunto is this change applied chap. LXVI 22. 2 Cor. V. 17. begun here to be perfected in heaven 2 Pet. III. 13. Apoc. XXI 1 5. and the former Jer. III. 16. 1 Cor. II. 9. 2 Cor. III. 7 10. But be ye glad Gods speech verse 18 as chap. III. 10. and XXX 10. the childe He that was once a childe verse 20 None among them young or old should be taken away by untimely death but should live to the utmost course of nature wont usualy to be attained verse 22. but the sinner Such among them as remained still unreformed unrefined unreclaimed though he live never so long shall at length prove a cursed wretch as the dayes of a tree As the Oake verse 22 and Elme before they call Chap. LVIII verse 24 9. Psal. XXXII 5. Dan. X. 12. and IX 20 23. Luke XV. 18 20. Acts X. 44. and XI 15. John XIV 13 14. and XV. 7 16. and XVI 23 24 26. The wolf and the lamb Such as had beene of a wolvish disposition formerly verse 25 should now be thus transformed All shall be harmlesse ch XI 6 9. Another Sermon chapter LXVI like the former and that as in matter so also in many expressions agreeing with it The heaven in my throne Cited Acts VII verse 1 48 49 50. See Psalme CIII 19. Matth. V. 34. where is the House That ye have or should or can build unto me when as I fill heaven and earth with my presence Jer. XXIII 24 See 1 Kings VIII 27. Acts XVII 14 25. And this is to take off their minds from the Temple of Jerusalem wherein they over-much trusted and gloried Jer. VII 4. place of my rest Psal. CXXXII 8 14. Not but that he can well be without them as he was also before they were He needs no house to receive him nor service of man to be done to him Psal. XVI 2. and L. 10 11. He needs not these things as their idols do contrite spirit John IV. verse 2 21 23 24. God looks to him more then to his material Temple Psal. XXXIV 18. and CXXXVIII 6. He that killeth an Oxe For sacrifice verse 3 As in the Temple so in their Sacrifices the Jewes much confided and boasted 2 Chron. XIII 10 11. But when they rested in these outward things and exercises without any grace and goodnesse in the soul and with much filthinesse and wickednesse in their hearts and lives God loaths their persons and their sacrifices chap. I. 11 14. Prov. XV. 8. and XXI 27. Jer. VI. 20. and VII 21 22 23. Amos V. 21 22 23. Micah VI. 6 7. Ezek. XX. 39. blessed an idol With a Present or oblation Gen. XXXIII 10. and XLIII 11. I also will choose An implication of a Retaliation verse 4 As chap. LXV 12. Levit. XXVI 27 28. Psal. XVIII 26. Jer. XXXIV 17. their delusions Passively or objectively their illusions or mockages that they shall be exposed and subject unto As they have made choice of such wayes and courses as please not me so will I make choice of such things for them as they shall finde small pleasure in their fears Prov. X. 24. that cast you out Either by unjust Censure under pretence of a legal proceeding verse 5 or that shun you as persons so polluted and defiled that there is no dealing with you without being defiled by you See John IX 34. and XVI 2. See chap. LXV 5. Lam. IV. 15. Niddui a word of this root is the lowest degree of Excommunication in the Jewish Church for my Names sake For your loyalty to me As Matth. X. 22. Let the Lord be glorified Spoken in way of derision Let him manifest his might and majesty in doing some remarkable matter for you if ye be so dear to him as ye deeme your selves to be Thus jearing their trust and confidence in God As chap. V. 19. Psal. XXII 7 8. Matth. XXVII 43. 2 Pet. III. 3 4. but he shall appear The answer to that jear A voice Esay breaks out into these words verse 6 as if in a Prophetical rapture he heard the noise and voice Like that chap. XIII 4. Jer. L. 22 28. and LI. 54. A voice of noise of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Chaldeans or by the Romanes from the Temple To control their vaine confidence in it as implying how little relief or safeguard they should then receive from it Lam. II. 20. to his enemies Most likely the obstinately wicked amongst the Jewes verse V. 14. chap. LXV 6 7 and I. 24. Before she travelled A prophecie of the strange sudden verse 7 and unexpected restitution of the Church and the dilatation of it into all parts This may relate to the delivery out of Babylon by Cyrus done at an instant by his Proclamation not with so much ado as that was out of Egypt Here Zion is like the Hebrew